Chipotle Will Start Offering Dessert Now Because Heaven Is a Place on Earth

Kat Armstrong
Apr 26, 2017

While we didn’t hear much about Chipotle in the news before 2015, they were in some major hot water after an e.Coli outbreak caused a number of people to get sick that year. To combat the blowout from the news, the fast food chain has spent a few years fixing their bad press by regularly offering free burritos and, in 2016, a new menu item (spicy Chorizo sausage burritos!). Now, after some speculation, everyone’s favorite burrito chain is finally coming out with a dessert item, and we are here for it.

According to the Business Insider, Chipotle will start offering Mexican Buñuelos in select markets this spring. Like other fast food chains, the company will be testing the new menu item in select locations to see how they do and tweak the menu before they send the new recipe nationwide. Earlier this month, Taco Bell also updated their Tex-Mex breakfast menu with a breakfast taco with eggs for a shell.

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Made some #bunuelos for everyone at work, I need to start selling them :b #pandulce #cooklife #cheflife

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For those not in the know, buñuelos are a fried tortilla or dough sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and honey, and often accompanied by a dip. Chipotle picked this dessert because of the fact that they have most of the ingredients in their restaurants already, which makes us suspect they will use their classic tortilla chips in a new way to create this crunchy fried dessert.

While the restaurant has said in the past that they will test two desserts, this is the only one we’ve heard about since that announcement back in 2016.

What’s your favorite Mexican dessert? Tell us @BritandCo!

(h/t Teen Vogue; photos via Instagram + Joe Radle/Getty)

The Panera Menu Just Got A Tasty Facelift – Here Are The New Items You Can Order Now

It appears Panera's new era is here with an updated lineup of sandwiches, salads, and sides. The Panera menu got a massive facelift at the beginning of April 2024 with new items and OG faves that feature never-before-seen recipe enhancements.

“We are getting back to Panera at its best with these menu updates that are centered completely on our guests and what they love about us,” said Alicia Mowder, SVP of Product Strategy & Insights at Panera Bread. “We’ve listened to thousands of guests on our path to unveiling more than 20 new or enhanced menu items and are thrilled to bring these products to Panera bakery-cafes nationwide.”

With promises of more satisfying portions and better value, I truly cannot wait to experience the rejuvenated Panera menu! It's looking mighty tasty. Scroll for everything that's new to the Panera menu and available to order now!

All-New Items On The Panera Menu

Chicken Bacon Rancher

This new sammie features slabs of grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, and ranch dressing on Panera's Black Pepper Focaccia bread, and it looks divine. I'm not entirely big on bacon, but I think this stack has the perfect balance between ingredients. That focaccia, though!

Ciabatta Cheesesteak

I could really go for one of these right now. With this newcomer sandwich, strips of tender marinated sliced steak, provolone cheese, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and a pile of zesty-sweet Panera Peppadew™ peppers are layered between bodied slices of ciabatta.

Toasted Italiano

The Toasted Italiano is everything you could ever want from an Italian sub. Black Forest ham, soppressata, provolone, romaine, red onion, sliced pepperoncini peppers (YUM!), garlic aioli, and Greek dressing meld miraculously together on Panera’s toasted French baguette bread.

Tomato Basil BLT

This sandwich is the result of when a classic BLT meets fresh Italian flavors like tomato and basil. It boasts strips of applewood smoked bacon, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli, and salt and pepper all slathered onto Panera's Tomato Basil Miche bread.

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Oh wow. This mac makes we want to act up! Sultry, stringy white cheddar sauce hugs every single inch of the shell pasta included in this bowl. You can also order it in a cup as a side dish or in one of Panera's famed bread bowls. The cheesy goodness gets topped off with crispy bits of applewood smoked bacon. I'm drooling, honestly.

Southwest Chicken Ranch Salad

All the vibrant colors of this salad are calling to me! This Southwest-inspired salad highlights a bed of romaine tossed in ranch dressing with grilled chicken, chipotle aioli, fresh avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, fresh cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips joining in on the delicious fun.

Ranch Cobb Salad

There's nothing like a Cobb salad, TBH. This brand-new take from Panera features romaine and mixed greens tossed in ranch dressing, which gets topped with grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, applewood smoked bacon, feta cheese, and a hard-boiled egg – a classic!

Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains

It's nice to see that Panera's boosting their salads with more grains, a la Sweetgreen or CAVA. This dish takes on Mediterranean flavors, hosting a medley of farro, red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers, sliced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of Panera’s Mediterranean shawarma seasoning. Is it lunchtime yet?!

Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains

Balsamic lovers, rise up! This fresh new fare from the Panera menu has romaine, mixed greens, farro, red rice, sliced cucumbers, pepperoncini peppers, fresh avocado, feta, pumpkin seeds, and a dose of balsamic vinaigrette and Green Goddess dressing.

Panera Menu Items That Got Upgraded

Bravo Club Sandwich

There are 13 items on the Panera menu that received recipe enhancements alongside the newly-debuted dishes. According to Debbie Roberts, the Chief Operating Officer at Panera Bread, the upgrades resulted from customer and employee feedback.

“Panera’s New Era is incredibly exciting, not only for our guests, but also our associates, who will be able to renew their focus on our core menu and serve our guests more efficiently with enhanced portions and better value,” said Roberts. “We are eager to get back to our roots within these core categories and unveil these delicious new menu innovations, all while providing an exceptional guest experience.”

The first menu item that got a facelift is the Bravo Club, which features oven-roasted turkey breast, Black Forest ham, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, signature Bravo sauce, and salt and pepper on Tomato Basil Miche bread.

Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt

Next up is the Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, and it looks insanely good. The balance Panera has created between smoked chicken, aged white cheddar, fresh sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers, and chipotle aioli in this sandwich is super impressive. It's all laid atop their Black Pepper Focaccia!

Toasted Frontega Chicken Sandwich

If mozzarella is involved, I'm 1000% there. This enhanced sammie has it all: smoked, pulled chicken, fresh mozz, vine-ripened tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, chipotle aioli, and salt and pepper all inside Panera's Black Pepper Focaccia.

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Melt

You really can't go wrong with Buffalo flavors, but it appears Panera has leveled up even more with the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Melt! Smoked, pulled chicken, American cheese, red onions, and spicy Buffalo sauce get piled onto a toasted French Baguette for a heavenly bite filled with cheesiness, crunchiness, and spice.

Smokehouse BBQ Chicken Sandwich

One of the more simplistic items on the Panera menu, this sandwich has a nice mix of chicken, BBQ sauce, red onions, and aged white cheddar on ciabatta.

Grilled Chicken & Avocado BLT

I fear I could eat one of these every day, it looks so yum. Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh sliced avocado, garlic aioli, and salt and pepper layer in between Panera's Country Rustic Sourdough bread in this dish!

Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich

The new-and-improved Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich isn't just turkey and cheddar. This pick features the classic meat and cheese combo alongside stacks of fresh tomato, mixed greens, onions, and garlic aioli – all stacked high between sourdough bread slices.

Green Goddess Chicken Cobb Salad

This one's for the girls and guys who eat their greens! Fitted with a hearty (but still light) mix of romaine, mixed greens, Green Goddess dressing, grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, fresh avocado, applewood smoked bacon and a hard-boiled egg, this salad definitely lands on the more satisfying, filling side of things.

Fuji Apple Chicken Salad

Apples on salad are ahh-mazing! The enhanced Panera menu is embracing the savory-sweet flavor combo with this chicken-filled salad topped with crisp apple chips. It highlights a bed of romaine and mixed greens that is tossed in a sweet white balsamic vinaigrette, then topped with grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, red onions, toasted pecan pieces, feta crumbles, and the apple chips.

Caesar Salad

Panera's transformed their Caesar salad to have an even better value with this round of menu enhancements. You can get this pick with or without chicken. The greens get doused in Caesar dressing, then get topped with grilled chicken, shaved parmesan cheese, black pepper, and sea salt croutons for crunch.

Greek Salad

The all-new Greek Salad can also be ordered with or without chicken. It has a classic medley of romaine, Greek dressing, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, sliced pepperoncini peppers, and salt and pepper for flavor.

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Photos via Panera.

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Mariska Hargitay’s Powerful “Me Too” Message Proves She’s Olivia Benson IRL

Mariska Hargitay is the woman of the hour anywhere she goes, with her iconic Law & Order: SVUrole as Olivia Benson under her belt for the last 25 years. The character is an absolute advocate to women — and assault victims of any gender — through her words, actions, and powerful convictions of each perpetrator on the show. She takes great care with her victims and pursues perpetrators with fervor, and slowly as you watch the show..the line blurs between Olivia and Mariska.

This isn't anything new — just recently Mariska literally stopped production on the show to help a child (who mistook her for an actual police officer) find her mom. It's just who Mariska is. She walks the walk and talks the talk — including during her speech at Variety's Power of Women's Power of Women event.

Image via NBC Universal

As a Power of Women honoree, Mariska was recognized in regards to her work as an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She took the stage and used her platform to discuss rape and assault conviction reversals, shining a light on the recent overturned ruling in Harvey Weinstein's landmark NYC case. Here's what she said:

Today I want to talk about reversing convictions, and more specifically I want to talk to you about how impossible it is to reverse mine. It’s impossible to reverse my conviction that survivors matter. It is impossible to reverse my conviction that what happens to us matters, and that our society must respond to survivors with a more a compassionate, holistically, deeper, and more nuanced understanding of what healing means.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that after a trauma, survivors can reclaim lives of hope, of possibility, of audacious risk, beautiful intimacy, and glorious, glorious abundant joy. And I stand before you as evidence of that statement.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that we must listen to survivors as experts on what justice means. It is extraordinary how little their voices are consulted, let alone incorporated, in the process of deciding how to repair harm. Justice is not a one-size-fits-all journey.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that patriarchal impunity has to end. Patriarchal impunity is when a male-dominated system exempts perpetrators from punishment. Studies show that only 20% of all rape cases in the U.S. are reported to the police, and that between 5 and 0% of all rapes result in a guilty plea or a conviction. So why do 80% of victims not report? Because they're met with a system that grants impunity to perpetrators; a system that blames victims; a system that accepts only those victims who are experienced as "real" rape; a system that completely misunderstands the neurobiology of trauma, which causes behavior in women that doesn't fit the picture of how a "real victim" would act.

Is that change needed that victims should just pull themselves together? Just buck up and report anyway? No. No, it's the system that receives them that needs to change

It is impossible to reverse my conviction — and the conviction of my extraordinary team, The Joyful Heart — that the backlog of untested rape kits can be brought to zero; that the testing of all new kits must be mandated; that we need a statewide kit tracking system; and that survivors have the right to access the status of their kits.

It is impossible to reverse my conviction that grammar — yes, grammar — that we use when we speak about rape must change. In the sentence, "A woman is raped," there's a crime and there's a victim, but there's no perpetrator. Where's the perpetrator? Where is he? Statistically, as we know, most likely he's walking free. He's so free that he doesn't even appear in the language about the crime that he committed. Is that not extraordinary? It's extraordinary that in the very grammar, the perpetrator goes free. Reintroducing perpetrators in the language of rape will make some very unwieldy grammar, but that's the nature of change. It's unwieldy, it's messy, it's uncomfortable, but it's necessary.

Image via NBC Universal

Hargitay continued on in her prolific speech to describe that rape shouldn't be considered a "crime of passion" because it's "not simply the next step in the trajectory of his passion" when a man takes a consensual hookup too far and assaults a woman against her will. She stated that it's "an exercise of power," doubling down that the language we use is important.

The speech went on to address that rape is both about power and control, as a "construct" that was "built, and assembled, and reinforced over time." She noted that there are people with these positions of power — and she specifically called out those in the entertainment industry — that could make a difference and aligned themselves to victims and survivors.

After this and some other remarks, Hargitay specifically called out the Weinstein conviction reversal. She said:

I do want to say something about the Harvey Weinstein conviction, specifically about the reason that it was overturned: too many women's voices. Too many women's voices were allowed to speak. Hallelujah! Amen! I can't imagine anything more beautiful than that. The Daily podcast episode talked about how it was so risky for the prosecution to have that many women testify. Risky to let women speak? You're damn right it is!

Too many women speaking brings change. Too many women speaking shakes the establishment. Too many women means we get listened to more, and people might actually hear what we have to say. Look what happened when women started saying just two words, right? Me too — just as an example — a tidal wave of change. Me too.

And then of course, there was the response: the Me Too Movement. The backlash. The examination of whether the changes that have come are lasting, or are even positive. Of course there's a backlash! What did they expect? For women to speak repeatedly, loudly, together, with a purpose — for there to be no backlash? The backlash is evidence of how powerful those voices were, how powerful those voices ARE.

Watch Mariska Hargitay's Full Speech Here

www.youtube.com

Mariska Hargitay's Gets Emotional as She Thanks Her Support System and the Women Around Her

Turns out that your TV heroes really can be your IRL heroes after all. Long live Olivia Benson! Long live Mariska Hargitay!

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Header image via NBC Universal

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The Tastiest Items On The Dunkin' Donuts Breakfast Menu, According To A Fast Food Aficionado

Other than having a massive range of tasty coffees and teas, Dunkin’ Donuts’ breakfast menu is stacked with food options. Like its competitor, the Dunkin’ Donuts’ breakfast menu includes breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and snacks. But what are the absolute best things to order from the Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast menu?

If you’re in a pinch for your morning meal, I got you. As a former barista and fast food aficionado whose taste-tested a vast amount of Dunkin’s offerings, I’m equipped to spill the beans on which foods from the Dunkin’ Donuts breakfast menu will satisfy and slay. Let’s get into it!

Wake-Up Wrap

The Wake-Up Wrap reigns supreme for me when it comes to the Dunkin' Donuts breakfast menu, TBH! It scores massive points for convenience, since you can eat it with just one hand. It's a killer road trip snack, or even a great morning commute meal if you're short on options at home.

Stuffed Bagel Minis

Oh my gosh, I could literally eat 20 of these stuffed bagel bites! As opposed to a traditional bagel (in which you'd have to smear on the cream cheese yourself), these convenient little guys are super easy to just pop in your mouth! The flavor is also impeccable and I think the balance between bread and cream cheese is expertly done.

Donuts

It wouldn't be the Dunkin' Donuts breakfast menu without donuts, of course! My favorite is definitely anything rainbow-sprinkled, but there are so many flavors and types of donuts to order, like: Churro, Cherry Blossom, Apple Crumb, Coconut, Glazed, Eclair, Buttermilk, Boston Creme, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and more!

Hash Browns

Dunkin's hash browns are heavenly, straight up. I love that they're shaped into bite-sized pieces for on-the-go enjoyment. They're even better when you stuff the Wake-Up Wrap with a few of 'em. 😉

Turkey Sausage, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

Turkey sausage is so tasty, and I'd argue this sandwich from Dunkin' beats out the regular sausage one. The amount of cheese is just perfect, too.

Sausage, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

You really can't go wrong with a SEC sammie. I love that Dunkin' serves theirs on a croissant bun rather than your run-of-the-mill English muffin or biscuit. Slather some Sriracha on this bad boy, and you're set up for an amazing morning!

Muffins

The absolute best muffin on the Dunkin' Donuts breakfast menu is Blueberry, no questions asked. The muffins are also available to order in Blueberry, Chocolate Chip, Coffee Cake, and Corn. I love how they taste alongside an iced latte!

Egg & Cheese Sandwich

The Egg & Cheese is pretty basic, but I love that it's a convenient option for the vegetarians stopping by Dunkin'. I wouldn't order it myself (I like my breakfast a bit heartier), but it doesn't deviate too far from the rest of the breakfast sammie lineup on the Dunkin' Donuts breakfast menu!

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

I want to like bacon, but I just don't. That's why I can't quite recommend this Dunkin' Donuts breakfast menu item. But, if you're big on bacon, you'll devour it in mere minutes.

Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich

I hate to say it, but the sourdough bread on this sammie has let me down many times. It's always come out quite hard, which makes getting a bite of the bread and the soft insides really difficult.

Snackin' Bacon

Again, I'm not a bacon stan. I'm sorry!

Bagels

I've never met a bagel I didn't like, and I think the Dunkin' bagels are decent for what they are. They're available in many different flavors: Cinnamon Raisin, Plain, Everything (my fave), Multigrain, Sesame Seed, and White Cheddar Twist.

Croissant

This plain croissant leaves much to be desired. I don't care for it too much since it's lacking in flavor and always seems enjoyably dry. I'd love to see Dunkin' add more croissant flavors to their menu!

English Muffin

The English muffin from Dunkin' is pretty much what you'd expect. It's not fancy in any way, but still a reliable form of sustenance, especially if you're looking for a breakfast menu option that's on the healthier side.

Munchkins Donut Holes

The smaller donuts, Munchkins, come in Butternut, Cinnamon, Glazed Blueberry, Glazed Old Fashioned, Jelly, and Powdered. I love the Glazed Old Fashioned and could probably eat an entire batch if I was feelin' crazy.

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Images via Dunkin'.

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Here’s When You Can Watch “Emily in Paris” Season 4

After Emily in Paris season 3 dropped on Netflix in December of 2022, we were hoping to get the fourth installment of the hit show in 2023. But production halted when the WGA writers' strike, then the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike went to affect, and our beloved cast and crew campaigned for better wages and industry protection. But with the end of the writers' strike, and new SAG negotiations, Emily in Paris season 4 finally began production in February 2024 — and I can already tell you there's sure to be plenty of drama and French fashion this time around.

Not only will we see Emily in Paris (see what I did there?!) but she's also pulling an Audrey Hepburn and taking a little Roman Holiday. That's right — our favorite Parisians are heading to Italy! If that doesn't sound like a dreamy comfort show then I don't know what does. Here's everything we know about the upcoming season of your favorite TV brain candy!!

Is Emily in Paris season 4 coming soon?

Image via Lily Collins/Instagram

Via Variety, Emily in Paris season 4 began production in Paris the week of January 15! "Did someone say Saison Quatre?!" Lily Collins says in her Instagram post announcing production. "Finally reunited with my @emilyinparis fam back in Paris and it feels so good. Although, I may need to brush up on my selfie skills for Emily’s sake…"

Now the wait is over! According to the official announcementfor Emily in Paris, we know part one drops on Netflix August 15, followed by part 2 on September 12. I've been impatiently waiting for this considering we didn't know how filming would be impacted by things like the WGA writers strike!

Is Emily in Paris filmed in Paris?

Image via Lily Collins/Instagram

Yes, Emily in Paris is filmed on location in Paris! We got our first look at Emily in Paris season 4 when Lily Collins and Ashley Park were seen filming in the City of Love (via Daily Mail). The costumes for the series are still as bold and bright as ever, with Ashley's Mindy wearing cobalt and metallic boots, and Lily's Emily dressed head-to-toe in lemon yellow. I can't wait to see what these best friends get up to this season! Check out our Paris travel recommendations to live out your own Emily in Paris dreams ;).

On April 27, Lily Collins confirmed Emily in Paris season 4 had wrapped its France shoot and that the cast & crew have swapped the City of Love for the Eternal City! "When you’re the first ones on the dance floor at the Paris wrap party. Next stop: Rome!" she says on Instagram. Late spring is literally the perfect time to film in Italy and I just know this season is going to give me more wanderlust than ever before. I need gelato!

What's Emily In Paris season 4 about?

Image via Netflix

Season 3 left us with a huge cliffhanger: Alfie breaks up with Emily, Camille learns she's pregnant with Gabriel's baby, Benoit's "Mon Soleil" has been chosen for the Eurovision Song Contest, and Emily and Gabriel realize they've been in love with each other the whole time. Whew.

Emily in Paris season 4 will have a ton of cliffhangers to bring full circle, and a bunch of damage that all the characters need to heal. We know from the Netflix TUDUM fan event that we might also see Emily have to deal with an ultimatum head-on, as well as an unexpected twist. Plus, it looks like she's heading on a "Roman holiday," according to lead actress Lily Collins. We'll take any nod to an Audrey Hepburn movie, please and thank you!

Is Alfie coming back in season 4 of Emily in Paris?

Image via Netflix

We don't have OFFICIAL word on whether Alfie (played by Lucien Laviscount) will return for Emily in Paris season 4, but we're hoping for his sake that he gets some closure. Lucien wants to come back as well! "[The dream is] to keep this gravy train going and just to kind of really live in this world a little bit longer," he says in an interview with Elle. " The writers on the show and the creators behind it and everyone that comes into contact with it is so amazing and fantastic. Their minds [have] way, way, way, way surpassed mine. So, yeah. I’ll let them do their thing.”

Who else is in the Emily in Paris season 4 cast?

Image via Netflix

We can expect the rest of the cast — Lily Collins as Emily, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel, Ashley Park as Mindy, Camille Razat as Camille, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie, Samuel Arnold as Julian, and Bruno Gouery as Luc — to return.

Will there be a season 5 of Emily in Paris?

Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix

It looks like Emily in Paris season 4 will not be the final season, according to creator Darren Star. “There’s a lot more story to tell here and we’re not wrapping things up anytime soon,” Star tells Elle. “And also hopefully season four isn’t the end either. I feel like we’re all creatively feeling like we’re in the middle of something not heading towards the end.”

Darren also told Deadline season 4 is "not necessarily conceived as a final chapter. I think like every other show, it’s a rich ensemble. There’s no end in sight until everybody feels like it’s time to end. And I don’t think this show is limited by a number of seasons, I think it’s limited by everybody’s enthusiasm and excitement about doing it and telling stories about these characters."

We'll take as many seasons of Emily in Paris as they'll give us!!

What has the cast said about Emily in Paris season 4?

Image via Marie Etchegoyen/Netflix

Lucas Bravo told People he's excited for a coming-of-age for Gabriel. "When you start a character, then there's a year where you experience the world and you mature, you become another person and you come back and it's exactly the day you left off," he says. "I'm happy that in season four I'll be able to bring more of what I became and what I've experienced in the past four years."

Even though Lily Collins is now an executive producer, she doesn't want to know TOO much about the future of the show. “Darren and I speak, on occasion, about where he’s thinking of going, but he also doesn’t wanna spoil too much for me because there is a fine line,” she tells Collider. “I don’t wanna know everything because I want to be led with the writing, but I am also curious because, as a producer wanting to celebrate the other characters, I’m very curious to see what their trajectories are."

What happened at the end of Emily in Paris season 3?

Image via Netflix

To be fully prepared for Emily in Paris season 4, it's important to remember just what happened during season 3! The junior season was a bumpy ride for Emily, and it ends with the craziest finale yet. After Camille and Gabriel decide to get married, Camille stops the wedding, saying she knows Gabriel is in love with Emily instead of her. This declaration leads Alfie to break up with our leading lady because he refuses to be her second choice (and honestly, I respect it). That's not the only shocker because Camille also reveals that she's pregnant with Gabriel's child, which comes as a surprise to everyone. Meanwhile, Mindy learns Benoit has submitted a song (specifically "Mon Soleil") to the Eurovision Song Contest and Laurent has his heart set on opening a club in Paris.

Are you excited for Emily in Paris Season 4? Give us your craziest theory in the comments, and check out our Facebook for more pop culture news. Read up on how This Emily In Paris Theory Could Be Why Emily And Gabriel Aren’t Together (Yet).

Lead image via Netflix.

This post has been updated.

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Mandy Teefey’s Go-To Hack Will Make Social Media Suck Less

We all have big feelings. And thanks to social media and rising levels of anxiety, those feelings, well, feel bigger than ever. That’s exactly where resources like Wondermind come in. The self-proclaimed “mental health ecosystem” is all about exploring, discussing, and navigating our emotions together. This Mental Health Awareness Month, Wondermind wants you to live your mental health journey in community because Mandy Teefey, who co-founded the company with daughter Selena Gomez, knows what it’s like to walk that journey alone.

Image via Wondermind

“As I went through a very long journey of finding I did have a mental health diagnosis — and then I was misdiagnosed and then I had to go through that — I was blessed to have the resources to do that,” Teefey, who received an ADHD and trauma diagnosis after a 20-year bipolar misdiagnosis, says. “Whenever I started my journey of discovering what mental condition I had…I didn't have anybody to lean into or explain the way I was feeling.”

While these personal experiences helped Teefey better understand mental health, it wasn’t until she produced Netflix’s 2017 series 13 Reasons Whythat she saw just how far the mental health conversation goes. The hit show went viral almost as soon as it aired because of its realistic depiction of mental health and all the aftershocks of trauma.

“After we did 13 Reasons Why and saw the reaction and the need for that support, me and Selena were trying to really figure out what could be next,” Teefey says. “Everybody was releasing things [at] different times. It's like you have to have 12 apps to have a program, and then remember to use them all. So that's when we decided to create a mental fitness ecosystem. So it's all-encompassing, but there's something for everyone.”

“We're not a medicinal company [but] we do have an advisory committee that oversees everything that we do,” Teefey continues. “We're technically not doctors, but we are for everyone when it comes to feelings. Everybody has feelings and they can go to our content hub and just kind of explore that for a while.”

Image via Brit + Co

Admittedly, that exploration bit is pretty fun. The articles are inspiring, and the worksheets (which are each created by an expert) are incredibly helpful. Seeing every program, article, and podcast episode feels like an opportunity to start fresh, but once you have all the ideas in front of you, what do you actually do? Teefey recommends journaling, even if it’s just a sentence every day. (She also loves watching journaling videos from Planning Annie: “Anytime I'm feeling sad or like a little unmotivated, I put her on.”)

Journaling every day, even if your entries are short, allows you to track your mood over an extended period of time. If you notice a consistent sadness, for example, it could be a sign it’s time to check in with your doctor. Plus, journaling can help prepare you for the conversations mental health appointments bring up.

“Sometimes if you go into a therapy session and you're not really settled or concrete in who you are and what may be going on, you might go through what I went through, which is being misdiagnosed,” Teefey says. “It's more important for you to know who you are and what you need prior to going in. So you can give that to them instead of them guessing and working around that process with you.”

Image via Brit + Co

Establishing a consistent routine can help decrease your stress, whether you’re eating the same breakfast every day, or you stick to a tried and true skincare regimen like Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie does on Euphoria. I immediately thought of this teen drama when Mandy Teefey mentioned how important her 4 a.m. routine is. But while Cassie spends time doing her skincare and makeup, Teefey spends time nurturing her soul.

“If I don't have [that routine], I'm usually really off kilter,” she says. “So I get up at 4 when everyone's still asleep, and I found that time could be about me, and I'm not taking it away from anybody. And so that's really what helped me be more grounded throughout the day.”

I can attest that my own quiet time in the morning is vital for a successful day — as is knowing what my boundaries need to be. Because honestly, boundaries can change daily! Teefey and I both acknowledge we have to stay away from sad music to protect our mental health, and she also recommends staying off social media when you feel your mental health struggling.

“I can go three days without looking at social media and then when I go on there, I start having anxiety because I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven't liked this person. I haven't even liked our own pictures [for] Wondermind.’ And then I start feeling guilty,” she says. “There's just some kind of [expectation] to do social media and you really don't. Not everybody needs to know everything, you know? There's beauty in privacy.”

Even Selena Gomez admitted at the 2024 Time100 Summit that taking time off Instagram "was the most rewarding gift I gave myself."

Image via Brit + Co

The idea of staying off social media is way easier said than done (speaking from first hand experience here). If you feel like you’re drowning in engagement announcements, anxiety-inducing news, and FOMO, Teefey recommends keeping tabs on your reactions to gauge when it’s time to take a serious break.

“If it invokes any emotion that is a negative emotion, I [know] it's not worth being angry about, it's not worth losing sleep about,” she says. “It just feels like there's an unintentional taunting on social media and, ‘Wait a minute, is that about me?’ You don't know this person and then you start running with all this stuff in your mind.”

Like every area of life, social media is all about balance, and if you’re looking to unplug while still staying informed, Mandy Teefey recommends bringing a journal with you when doing your morning news scroll — that way, you can process emotions while keeping tabs on what’s happening. “If anything evokes emotion, I'm meditating during the quiet time,” she says.

Studies have found journaling can help decrease your anxiety, and that it can help you break obsessive thought cycles. And while you’re the only one who can process your thoughts and emotions, it’s important not to isolate yourself from your community — especially when you’re struggling. “You gotta build trust and you gotta build the boundary of who you volunteer [your] help to,” she says.

When it comes to her own daughters, Mandy Teefey knows it’s a process. “You have to work with them and meet them where they're at, and then see the help they need and don't assume [they’re going through] what you went through,” she says. “You've got to really understand them to be able to give that advice.”

Image via Natalie Rhea

In her own life, Mandy Teefey got to experience building that trust first-hand with Selena Gomez! “One time it was very, very cold in California and me and Selena were on the opposite sides of the pool,” she says. “We were in sweats and she says, ‘Do you trust me?’ And I went, ‘Yeah.’ And she goes ‘Okay, if you trust me, on three, we're gonna jump in this ice cold pool.’”

While Teefey wasn’t convinced, she trusted Gomez, and they both ended up in the freezing cold water! Which is both a funny story and a fond memory: “We couldn't get out of the pool because [our clothes were] so heavy. It was madness!”

“There's a lot of things I know my daughters don't tell me and that's their right,” she continues. “It's so sensitive between teenagers — especially teenagers — and their parents. They're going through that phase and they don't want to be around them and they don't wanna tell them things. It's definitely not easy but maybe put some feelers out there and just make sure that they know you're there and make it okay to have these conversations.”

Thanks to all this actionable advice, we know that Mental Health Awareness month isn’t limited to TikTok videos or Instagram posts we can reshare. There are real tips we can use to take care of ourselves — and a place to go when we need a boost.

Watch Our Full Interview With Mandy Teefey Here!

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Wondermind Co-Founder Mandy Teefey Helps Us Navigate Big Feelings For Mental Health Awareness Month

If you're struggling with your mental health, check in with your doctor or check out the mental health resources Wondermind offers. You can also use Psychology Today to find a therapist near you.

Lead image via Getty

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