Author: candacebd
-
Chick-Fil-A’s Chicken Parm Meal Kits: An Honest Review
Chick-Fil-A sells meal kits?! Yes, I had the same reaction. I mean, why would you make a meal offered by a fast food chain…when you could have a meal ready immediately from said chain? But then I saw the sign for the brand’s lemony-kale twist on chicken parmesan (something you won’t find on restaurant menus),…
Written by
-
The Next Time You’re Criticized, Choose ‘What’ Over ‘Why’
As a journalist, ‘why’ is my go-to. It’s how I get to the heart of issues, finding the story behind the story. But sometimes, it can hold us back—or trap us in a negative feedback loop, where we keep replaying dilemmas, using it to reinforce our biggest insecurities about ourselves. The better question, according to…
Written by
-
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup
When it’s cold outside, I want to make everything in a slow cooker, especially soup. Especially soups that are based on even heartier dishes that were never intended to be soup, like lasagna. Or, you know, chicken pot pie. I shared the recipe for a stovetop version a couple years ago, but this fall—especially with…
Written by
-
Holiday Movie Trivia for Your Zoom Party
Planning a virtual holiday party is like fighting a battle of awkwardness. Typically, all you really need to do is plan a menu, set some holiday music and decide on whether you’re doing a Secret Santa or white elephant exchange, and you’re good. But when the party takes place online, you’re playing the role of…
Written by
-
How to Make Baby Yoda-inspired Cupcakes
Wait, so you’re not hosting a watch party for one and making all kinds of Grogu-inspired treats every Friday, when a new episode of The Mandalorian hits Disney+? Huh. Strange. Well, these Baby Yoda cupcakes may just convince you to start. They’re ridiculously cute—and also ridiculously easy to make (like maybe even easier than the…
Written by
-
A Not-So-Definitive Ranking of Rankin/Bass’s Christmas Specials
I grew up watching ALL of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, from Thanksgiving Day through January 1st. Not just Santa Claus Is Coming to Town or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; I got into them all—even Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (seriously). That said, it can spark a little debate in my family as to which shows are…
Written by
-
15 Fun Gift Ideas They’ll Actually Use
You want to give a special gift, something meaningful your [insert friend/relative/beau/dog] will actually use and appreciate, not just relegate to a shelf with an “aww, that’s nice.” Every November, I start a list in Google Keep with ideas for everyone I share the holidays with, as I try to find something that captures (as…
Written by
-
Hot Chocuterie Boards Are a Thing (& They’re Wonderful)
I can’t resist a play on words, yet some are a real struggle for me to get behind. Hot Chocuterie Boards was a big one. I loved the concept—hot cocoa fixings, toppings and snacks, all arranged on a platter—but the name? It’s brilliantly close to charcuterie. So much so that I kept thinking of…hot meat…
Written by
-
20 Zoom Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt Ideas
More than a third of Americans plan on staying home this Thanksgiving (us too), but that doesn’t mean our micro holiday has to be any less festive. Zoom scavenger hunts are one of the least-awkward—and most fun—ways to connect via video chat, so we decided to put a Turkey Day spin on the trend with…
Written by
-
How Quarantine Life Inspired One Couple to Launch a Bakery
While every meme touts what a terrible year 2020 has been, there have been a few bright spots, and Ampersand Cookies is one of them. Melissa and Andrew Jones launched their company just a few months ago, and their massive, chewy-yet-still-gooey treats are already earning them a cult following on Instagram and throughout Tampa Bay.…
Written by
-
The One Thing Missing from Your Day Right Now (and Why It Matters)
Eight-ish months into the pandemic, and we’re starting to find a new normal. The “wallet, cell phone, keys” pat-down before rushing out the door has gained the additional face mask check; we’ve logged many more hours video chatting. It may not be the “normal” we want—especially as we enter the third wave of the coronavirus,…
Written by
-
The 6 Words Every People Pleaser Needs to Read
Everybody’s talking about Glennon Doyle’s ‘Untamed,’ but the one line everyone’s overlooking has been a gamechanger for me. In this book review, I’ll share my top takeaway and why it’s been so transformative.
Written by
