A world-renowned chocolatier shares the 2 store-bought chocolate brands he buys for himself
Chocolatier Christophe Rull shared his favorite store-bought chocolate brands. Christophe Rull is a world-renowned chocolate master, a cast member of Netflix’s “Bake Squad,” and the executive pastry chef at Los Angeles’ iconic Hotel Bel-Air. So, when it comes to anything sweet, we definitely trust his opinion. Rull is developing a chocolate program at the hotel’s…
Parents, I know Elf on the Shelf is a hassle, but I promise you one day you’ll miss it
The author loves spending the holidays with her family, even as traditions change over the years. My kids are 14 and 16 now, but they held onto their belief in Elf on the Shelf for over a decade. When they were preschoolers, I’d set up elaborate displays showing Jingle and Garland (each kid had their…
4 mistakes you should never make when hosting for the holidays, according to etiquette experts
There are a few mistakes that should be avoided when hosting for the holidays. Although hosting friends and family for the holidays can be fun, there’s no denying that doing so also comes with its fair share of stress. Without proper planning, things can even get chaotic. To avoid making etiquette mistakes in the process,…
My family didn’t look like everyone else’s growing up. My fourth-grade teacher made me feel included.
The author (not pictured) felt included by her fourth grade teacher. There’s a moment when you receive a compliment, and you shrug it off immediately as though an insect had just landed on your shoulder. That happened to me when I was sitting on the floor of my fourth-grade classroom, painting a poster for a…
My son is a recruited college athlete at Stanford. Imposter syndrome almost led him to drop out.
The author’s son (not pictured) is a college athlete at Stanford. My son has always been an athlete, and sports have always come easily to him. However, he has had a problem with confidence ever since he was 8. That was when he lost the use of most of his body due to Guillain Barre,…
Jingle all the way to the bank-Why actors are turning to made-for-TV Christmas movies for more sustainable careers
On a cold and rainy night in November, over 2,000 people trekked to a nondescript arena on Long Island for some Christmas cheer. They were there for the Great American Family Christmas Festival, an event put on by the cable TV network of the same name. For five weekends, the festival transformed the UBS Arena…
I caught the overnight Santa Claus Express from Helsinki to Lapland. St. Nick didn’t show up, but the $73 train was full of surprises.
I rode the Santa Claus Express on a trip to Finland. This month, I embarked on the overnight rail experience of a lifetime: Finland’s Santa Claus Express. The 12-hour train rides from the Finnish capital of Helsinki to Rovaniemi in Lapland — the “official home of Santa Claus,” known for its Santa Claus Village. For…
Elon Musk sparks backlash in Germany after calling the chancellor an ‘incompetent fool’ and backing the far-right AfD party
Elon Musk has stirred controversy in Germany after calling Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “incompetent fool” and backing the country’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. In a post on X, Musk first reshared a video by right-wing influencer Naomi Seibt in which she criticizes Friedrich Merz, one of the leading candidates to become Germany’s next…
Russia’s economy has irreversibly turned toward a ‘stagnation trap,’ think tank says
By the numbers, neither Western sanctions nor the costs of three years of war in Ukraine have chipped at Russia’s growth momentum. The country’s GDP is expected to expand by 4% this year. “Yet this image of resilience is deceptive,” Alexandra Prokopenko wrote for Carnegie Politika this week. “Over the past two years, Russia’s economy…
