Celebrate Spring With a Floral Spring Brunch

Winter is nearing its end, and with that comes the glorious spring season. With everything in bloom, floral eye candy is popping up in our gardens and at parks around town. We’ve got flowers on the mind, so today we’ve teamed up with Triscuit to help you welcome the season with spring-themed party ideas chock full of blooms and delicious treats. Floral attire is a must at this shindig, as are a bellini or two :) For the finishing touch, we’ve got three Triscuit appetizers topped with simple ingredients that will keep you coming back for more. Dare I say we didn’t have any left at the end of our shoot!

Triscuit + Serrano Ham + Manchego Cheese + Watermelon

This decadent appetizer is one part crunchy, two parts salty and one part sweet. And it couldn’t be better.

Ingredients:

– Triscuit crackers

– serrano ham

– manchego cheese

– watermelon

Purchase the above ingredients and get making!

Start by tearing off a thin strip of serrano ham to fit onto your cracker. Then add a small piece of manchego cheese and a tiny bite of watermelon.

Who knew watermelon would go so well with cheese and ham?!

Triscuit + Brie Cheese + Fig Jam + Marcona Almonds

This flavor combination will leave an aftertaste you’ll want to keep forever.

Ingredients:

– Triscuit crackers

– Brie cheese

– fig jam

– Marcona almonds

We went for goat cheese brie!

First try to cut a wedge of Brie cheese to add to your Triscuit. If your cheese is too gooey, just smear some on top. Then add a touch of fig jam for some sweetness, and finish off with a single marcona almond.

You’ll have a spring in your step after you eat a few of these!

Triscuit + Smoked Salmon + Avocado + Lemon Juice

A classic pairing of smoked salmon and avocado tastes light and fresh atop a Triscuit. Douse it with a squeeze of lemon to bring out the flavors.

Ingredients:

– Triscuit crackers

– smoked salmon

– avocado

– lemon juice

Pop off the tip of the avocado to check on the color. If it’s bright green, your avocado is perfectly ripe.

Add some smoked salmon to your cracker, then top it with a small slice of avocado. Simply add a few drops of lemon to the top for a citrus kick.

Flavor-packed FTW! Triscuit crackers are made for more… and more they get with these amazing toppings. Not a fan of salmon? Not a problem. There are so many topping combinations that taste great with Triscuit. The possibilities are endless!

Floral Centerpiece

To amp up our theme, we made a floral centerpiece in pink hues.

Pick up some seasonal flowers and greens from a nearby market, some floral foam and a vase. Start out by soaking your foam. Next, add your greens, then your focal flowers and finally your fillers. Check out our Floral Design Class for more tips and tricks.

So pretty!

DIY Table Weights

Sometimes spring brings breezy weather, so to keep your tablecloth from blowing in the wind, use these DIY table weights.

Simply grab a two-inch diameter washer from a hardware store, then print out our donut printables and tape them on top.

Spring Garland

A floral garland is a must!

For this DIY, we got large flower pots and filled them with sand. Then we purchased two rods and had them cut to six and a half feet. We added eye hooks to the top, then strung flowers on twine and hung them between the eye hooks. Bury your rods in the sand to hold your garland up over the table. For extra cute points, get mini balloons that spell “spring,” and string them alongside the flowers.

Serve fairy bread and bellinis for a sweet finish. Your friends will just LOVE this little soirée.

We cut out our fairy bread with flower-shaped cookie cutters to go the extra mile.

Cheers to the warmer weather!

What else would you add to this spring soirée? Tweet us your ideas @BritandCo!

This post is a collaboration with Triscuit.

DIY Production and Styling: Roxy Taghavian and Anita Yung

Photography: Brittany Griffin
Modeling: Kelly Bryden, Marisa Kumtong, Victoria Haas, Paige Sager

Mallory Levy leads a busy creative life in NYC as head of social for Brit+Co. She wrapped 2023 with a dreamy forest wedding and bucket-list honeymoon to Australia and is back to work creating clever and often hilarious posts for our Brit + Co followers, from snappy recipe Reels to inspiring quotes to celebrity interviews and more. Where does she get her inspiration to bring you the best social content?

“I’m lucky to be within walking distance of world-class museums, theater, and cool events, like fashion week. The inspiration is endless!” she says. “Social media can get overwhelming at times, but I often come away feeling more inspired than anything else. It’s a great way to connect with other creators and find new inspiration, which fuels my creativity to deliver fresh, engaging social media content every day.”

Mallory’s secret to bringing her inspiration to life? She uses Adobe Express, the all-in-one AI content creation app, to ideate and design colorful and engaging content on-the-go. “The features on the all-new Adobe Express mobile app make editing and collaborating on projects easier than ever!” she says. “Because we’re a remote team, I’m very rarely at my desk, so being able to ideate and create, or make adjustments, when I’m out and about is truly game-changing.”

Adobe Express makes designing easy and fast for anyone – even if you’re not a pro – with thousands of beautiful, professionally designed templates and a massive selection of assets for your Instagram and TikTok content, flyers, logos, and more. Plus, Adobe’s Firefly generative AI technology, which allows you to create the perfect image, edit with ease, and generate and customize amazing text effects with styles or textures that really stand out. All these features are now available on the mobile app.

In this fresh, new Reel, Mallory shares a day in her colorful life as she creates standout visual assets for Brit+Co’s social channels using the generative AI features in the new Adobe Express mobile app. Check it out below!

What a fun, creative job, right? “My day-to-day is genuinely such a blast. I love having the creative freedom to run with my ideas and infuse some of my own humor and pop into our content,” says Mallory. “Most of my friends and family don’t believe that this is what I get to do every day!”

Looking to improve your social content game? Here are tips for saving time and making an impact on social media for your work, side hustle, or to build your personal brand.

1. Engage with your audience: Engaging your audience with content that resonates can lead to higher reach and visibility. Thanks to Mallory’s constant performance monitoring, we know our B+C follower loves to treat herself and her besties, she’s super creative, indulges in celebrity news (especially nostalgia TV), and gets joy from entertaining, travel, food, and decor. Knowing this, Mallory creates fun, interactive posts like polls and quizzes, and always keeps our content fresh and interesting using the massive library of fonts, photos, and design assets in Adobe Express.

“I’m always out and about filming fun content for TikTok and our other video platforms,” says Mallory. “Adobe Express makes it so easy to add clips, music, and captions (and record voiceovers!) so I can edit it all together in real time.”

2. Generate anything you can imagine: AI has become a powerful tool for content creators, helping them enhance their creative work and simplify tasks. Leveraging the right AI tools can help you work and create high-performing content faster! The new Adobe Express mobile app is packed with AI goodness that makes complicated tasks simple. For example, speech to animation lets anyone easily animate extraordinary characters using their own voice. Adobe’s Firefly generative AI, which is designed to be safe for commercial use, helps creators ideate, generate, and edit stunning images and turn text and headlines into attention-grabbing designs – all on-the-go and in just a few taps. And the Adobe Express Generative Fill feature even lets you insert, remove, or replace people, objects, backgrounds and more with just a description.

“The AI tools are fantastic,” says Mallory. “Even the most obscure ask in the Text-to-Image feature will yield dozens of options. My favorite hack is to include “hand drawn” or “illustrated” in the prompt box to get a more authentic/stylized result.”

3. Embrace trends: Hopping on social trends quickly can boost your visibility and relevance. Constant collaboration ensures our team is on top of what people are talking about – and Mallory takes that to social media to make sure our POV is part of the conversation. The ever-changing nature of marketing and social media can make it hard to keep up! With the Adobe Express TikTok Creative Assistant tool on the desktop version, you can easily ideate and search what’s trending, so you’re in-the-know and able to reach more followers and stand out with your creative take on the latest trends. Then head to the mobile app to quickly schedule or post the content directly to your necessary social platforms! More on that below.

4. Keep it short and sweet: Attention spans on social are short, so it's best to keep your content concise and to the point. Use clear and concise language and don’t be too fussy (sound like the real person you are!). Break things up with text with photos, emojis, and bullet points to make your content more scannable.

5. Create a consistent visual style: While our audience can have slight nuances across our social channels, Mallory makes sure our content is instantly recognizable. Using tools like brand kits in Adobe Express (shown below) can help you easily stay consistent and on brand, easily saving and applying colors, fonts, filters, and imagery to any asset to create a cohesive look and feel across assets – and in a fraction of the time.

6. Repurpose content: Repurposing our top-performing content into different formats or for different platforms helps stretch the impact of a post and helps us test performance. Sometimes a post that didn’t perform well in the past kills months later!

7. Schedule ahead: In today’s on-demand world, consistency is key to keeping your social audience engaged. Develop a content calendar and schedule posts in advance to ensure a steady stream of content. With easy-to-use tools like the Adobe Express Content Scheduler, you can quickly plan, preview, schedule, and publish in a few clicks to all your social media channels and on-the-go.

8. Leverage data: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your social media content and identify trends, patterns, and audience preferences. Analyzing data can help you achieve a successful content strategy and focus on creating content that inspires, delights, and keeps your audience coming back for more!

Download the all-newAdobe Express mobile app today to try out all the innovative and fun features, including Adobe Firefly generative AI—a one-stop shop for all your content needs!

Video Direction & Editing by Mallory Levy.

We are now two for two on expecting Taylor Swift to announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) during an acceptance speech and getting an album announcement instead. After showing up to the 2022 VMAs in a "Look What You Made Me Do"-inspired outfit and announcing Midnights, Taylor Swift wore a black and white ensemble on the 2024 Grammys red carpet before telling the world her new album The Tortured Poets Department was on its way!

And while accepting the 2024 iHeart Radio Music Award for Artist of the Year, Taylor also promises the rest of 2024 will be just as exciting as 2023. "We have so many exciting things ahead of us," the 1989 (Taylor's Version)singer says after thanking iHeart and the fans. "Most importantly, I have a brand new album called The Tortured Poets Department, which comes out on April 19. I cannot wait to share it with you...I just can't wait to keep having fun with you guys because we have a lot of exciting things coming up."

One of those exciting things includes a music video, which Taylor revealed in a "TTPD Timetable" Instagram video. This first music video premieres April 19 at 8PM EST for "Fortnight." Here's everything else we know about the new Taylor Swift album, and all its pop culture references.(And everything you need to know about Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) too ;)).

What has Donna Kelce said about TTPD?

Image via David Eulitt/Getty Images

It looks like Donna Kelce has been listening to Taylor Swift's new album as much as we have! "I listened to the whole album, and I listened to it all morning long when it was released," she tells People. "I was just very impressed. She is a very talented woman, and I think it is probably her best work."

Donna also says that, rather than giving Taylor Swift life advice, she's hoping Taylor can offer her some guidance! "She doesn’t need my advice on anything. In fact, I hope she will give me advice," she continues.

Is there a Tortured Poets Department cardigan?

Image via UMG Store/Taylor Swift

Yes, you can order a Tortured Poets Department cardigan on Taylor Swift's website now (or at least, while supplies last!). The gray button down is in the same cable knit style as all her previous cardigans, which makes it the perfect collector's item! Plus, it's got that iconic "The Tortured Poets Department" patch on the bottom left of the sweater.

What is TTPD the Anthology?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift released the full version of TTPD with The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. After all those 2 references, some fans thought we'd get a Taylor Swift book, while others wondered if it was part of the TS12 countdown. Instead, it was a double album that features 31 songs instead of the initial 17! Some tracks the internet is already obsessed with are "So High School,""thanK you aIMee," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

How many songs will be on The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift dropped The Tortured Poets Department 's first song list February 5. "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" is totally referencing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour performances following her split from Joe Alwyn (you can see her crying during the set), while "Florida!!!" is all about using the southern state as an escape. Taylor Swift's dad Scott Swift recently told fans he's most excited for Swifties to hear the title track and "Florida!!!"

While we were excited for these tracks, Taylor surprised us with even more at 2AM! The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology has all the songs from the original album, plus 15 more. Here's the full tracklist for TS11:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
  2. The Tortured Poets Department
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
  4. Down Bad
  5. So Long, London
  6. But Daddy I Love Him
  7. Fresh Out the Slammer
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
  9. Guilty as Sin?
  10. Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
  12. loml
  13. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
  15. The Alchemy
  16. Clara Bow
  17. The Black Dog
  18. imgonnagetyouback
  19. The Albatross
  20. Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  21. How Did It End?
  22. So High School
  23. I Hate It Here
  24. thanK you aIMee
  25. I Look in People's Windows
  26. The Porphecy
  27. Cassandra
  28. Peter
  29. The Bolter
  30. Robin
  31. The Manuscript

What is a tortured poets department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift has spent years talking about her anxiety, her sleepless nights, and her emotions. "My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch black ink," she writes in her official Instagram post. "All's fair in love and poetry."

As far as the name, it looks like The Tortured Poets Department could be referencing her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's group chat name — "The Tortured Man Club" with Paul Mescal (who starred in Normal People while Joe starred Conversations With Friends. Both series are based on Sally Rooney books).

Taylor Swift is also making major connections to the "poetry" aspect of TTPD because ahead of the album release, she gave us a limited library installation pop-upfull of Easter eggs and references!

When is The Tortured Poets Department release date?

Image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The Tortured Poets Department dropped on April 19, 2024. Ahead of the release, Taylor Swift sent fans on a scavenger hunt to gather clues about the album. @eurosweetheart on TikTok points out that on Apple Music, certain song lyrics from Taylor's discography featured random capital letters. But when the letters were strung together, they formed words! The final message was “We hereby conduct this post mortem.”

At the Eras Tour shows in Tokyo, Taylor Swift explained when she started working on TTPD. “I’ve been working on Tortured Poets since right after I turned in Midnights,” she said onstage. “So, you turn in an album months in advance…and I’ve been working on it for about two years. I kept working on it throughout the U.S. tour and when it was perfect, in my opinion, when it was good enough for you, I finished it.”

"Soon you'll get to hear it, soon we'll get to experience it together," she continued. "I'm over the moon about the fact that you guys care about my music...Everyone’s like, ‘Why do you make so many albums?’ And I’m like, ‘Man, because I love it! I love it so much! I’m having fun, leave me alone.'”

The brand new album follows Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version). When Midnights was announced after Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), I wondered whether she'd have a two rerecordings, one new album pattern and it looks like that's what we're getting!

What is Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift's new album (which is also referred to as TS11) is called The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor Swift announced the album while accepting the award for Best Pop Album at the 2024 Grammys. Just like "Daylight" at the end of Lover sets up Midnights, I think "Dear Reader" sets up The Tortured Poets Department.

In honor of the eclipse on April 8, Taylor Swift posted the first lyrics from TS11! "Crowd goes wild at her fingertips // Half moonshine // Full eclipse," the lyric post (which ended up being from "Clara Bow") reads. "The first line makes you think of someone who’s famous (Clara Bow was an actress) and...moonshine was a type of alcohol that was popular during prohibition during the 1920s which is when Clara Bow was famous," one comment reads.

Taylor's official announcement features even more beautiful language that evokes the same emotion "The Lakes" does, and TTPD is very similar to Folklore and Evermore in terms of lyrics, but the sound reminds me of 1989. It also has ties to Reputation.

"I think the two albums are sisters albums, but in like an opposite way," one Reddit user says. "Reputation is all black, this one is going to be all white and softly coded." Another agrees: "Reputation is presented as a dark album but is truly a love album...This one is presented as soft and white but I bet the lyrics will be devastating."

TS11 has the same lyrical prowess as songs like "Would've, Should've, Could've," The National's "The Alcott" (on which Taylor's a featured artist), and "You're Losing Me." Taylor is all about looking past appearances and telling a complex story, and The Tortured Poets Department will be no different. Just like Reputation is an edgy, glittery, emotionally-charged version of the beginning of her relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, I totally agree that TTPD looks grounded, airbrushed, and dreamy from the outside, but the lyrics are SAD.

During her Eras Tour show in Sydney, Australia, Taylor played another round of suspicious surprise songs. While sitting at the piano, Taylor Swift takes her earpiece out and calls attention to the keyboard. "Do you hear that?" she says (via TikTok). "My damn keyboard's playing a synth sound." She then does what she almost always does when dropping an Easter egg: she smirks.

"That sound is how the album starts, mark my words," one comment reads. Another says, "That smirk tells me everything I need to know."

Will The Tortured Poets Department be explicit?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

There are 7 explicit songs on the original The Tortured Poets Department: "The Tortured Poets Department," "Down Bad," "But Daddy I Love Him," "Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)," "loml," "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

On The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, "The Black Dog," "thanK you aIMee," "Cassandra," and "The Bolter" are also explicit.

What is The Albatross about?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

During one of her Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Australia, Taylor Swift announced a new version of The Tortured Poets Department featuring exclusive bonus track "The Albatross." This new album already has some crazy track titles — all with pretty noteworthy meanings.

According to Collins Dictionary, if you call someone an Albatross, "they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do," while a Bolter could refer to someone bolting out of a relationship (or bolting from a restaurant to a car like in this viral clip 🤨).

Meanwhile "The Alchemy" refers to the continual process of trying to turn something into gold — remember how Taylor Swift spent 6 years saying her relationship with Joe Alwyn was golden? Buckle up Swifties, TS11 is one wild ride.

What does loml mean?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

At first glance, the twelfth song on The Tortured Poets Department, "loml," means "love of my life." Some fans were wondering if the song was a nod to Harry Styles since his Harry's House finale track is "Love of My Life" (the album also features a track named "Daylight" which is another funny connection to Taylor Swift). But Taylor ends the song saying he's the "loss of my life" and I will never be the same.

How can I buy The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift store

You can order a bunch of different versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Taylor Swift's website right now, includingThe Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript" and The Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript".

Will The Tortured Poets Department have any featured artists?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Yes, The Tortured Poets Department will feature Florence + The Machine on the song "Florida!!!" and Post Malone on the song "Fortnight." And after Taylor Swift teased a variety of collaborations by posting handwritten lyrics from artists like Harry Styles and Lorde, Swifties wondered if The Tortured Poets Department will be the "collab album" we never got.

Another clue that leads me to believe this is true is the fact that the title of this album is so much longer than her other titles — and she refers to herself as "Chairman" of the department. Who are all the constituents?! Are they all the same artists who left Scooter Braun's management last year? Only time will tell, because as far as I'm concerned, surprises aren't out of the question until the TS11 era is over!👀

What is the theory of Taylor Swift's double album?

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Throughout her stay in Sydney, Australia for the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift dropped lots — and I mean lots — of twos. @v_swiftie_ points out that in addition to holding up the number two while announcing The Tortured Poets Department, she's been playing more surprise song mashups than normal, and Taylor Nation has been posting Instagram stories featuring the number 2 instead of the number 13. And it turns out, we were right about this leading to a double album! Taylor dropped the second half of TTPD — The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology — at 2AM EST.

Are you excited for The Tortured Poets Department? What kinds of collabs or songs are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments and check out these Taylor Swift Disney Movie Posters Inspired By Her Songs for more fun content!

Lead image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

This post has been updated.


We're thrilled to kick off our new Jetset Journeys series, where we turn the best U.S. cities to explore this year into our own personal playgrounds. This is not just a travel guide but a way to spark your creativity and your wanderlust for weekend and week-long travel. Pack your bags , join us here every week, and get jetsetty this summer.

The best way to beat the summer crowds? Find those hidden off-the-beaten-path gems that are just as good, if not better, than the touristy hotspots. From the rugged Northern California coast to the lush mountains of North Carolina to the hidden corners behind Miami, NYC, and Boston (including a coastal village where Taylor Swift calls home), we take you to the lesser-known places for nature, adventure, local food and drink and landscapes that take your breath away. This is your pass to wander and embrace the unknown – with a little travel advice so you don’t get lost;)

Governor's Island, NYC

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Plans to visit NYC this summer? While you’re there, escape the city hustle for the nearby charm and total serenity of Governor's Island. This hidden gem and car-free oasis is just an 8-minute ferry ride away from Manhattan, and surrounded by lush greenery, historic buildings, and stunning views of the skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

Photo: QC NY

There’s so much to do, or simply not do, on the island depending on your mood. Rent bikes and wander along tree-lined paths, past old barracks and colonial-era houses, and picnic on the island's 173 acres of green space. During the summer, find live music, art installations, food festivals and water sports like free kayaking.

Photo: Collective Retreat

Plan to spend the night glamping at the Collective Retreat, where you can lodge in a private luxury tent with your own personal waterfront deck. Choose experiences like morning yoga, bike rides, culinary workshops and more.

Photo: Collective Retreat

The open-air restaurant offers breakfast and dinner – and an à la carte menu also available for non-guests if you're just daytripping.

Photo: Collective Retreat

Score fresh grilled seafood, farm-to-island dishes inspired by global cuisine, and cocktails with daily panoramic sunsets as your backdrop.

Photo: QC NY

Next door is an Italian luxury spa called the QC NY with outdoor spa pools, multiple saunas, steam rooms and massage services to relax and unwind.

Photo: QC NY

Whether you're seeking outdoor adventure or a weekend escape, this hidden gem promises a memorable day that will leave you refreshed, rejuvenated, and longing to return again.

Point Reyes National Seashore, California

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Just an hour drive north of San Francisco is this charming and eclectic coastal town you won’t want to miss. Think scenic hikes, hidden beaches, wildlife sightings, and local farm-to-table delights. Before heading to the Point Reyes Lighthouse or one of the many beaches along Tomales Bay (Shell Beach is my fave), plan a stroll around the quaint village of Point Reyes Station along Highway One. Here, you’ll find Point Reyes Books, Bovine Bakery, and Toby’s Feed Barn – an art gallery, coffee bar, gift shop, and organic farmers market that is a treat for the senses (there’s sometimes live music and yoga too). For something sweet, Palace Market serves up a decadent buffalo milk soft serve at the back deli - grab one on your stroll or on your way home from the beach.

Photo: Saltwater Oyster Depot

Stop at Saltwater Oyster Depot on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Inverness on the drive to Shell Beach or Tomales Bay Park for freshly shucked Tomales Bay oysters and a glass of sparkling wine in a cozy setting.

National Park Service / A. Kopshever

Love to hike? Check out the breezy Tomales Point Trail for stunning ocean views – and meet herds of tule elk on foggy mornings. Prefer to test your feet in the Pacific Ocean? Drake’s Beach – home to elephant seals during pup season – features dramatic sandstone cliffs, plus picnic tables if you want to bag your lunch.

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Grab your Instagram shot at the Cypress Tree Tunnel, a dramatic row of Monterey cypress trees that hug over you as you stroll underneath. They were planted in 1930 and lead to the Art Deco-style station used for reporting what was happening at sea. Finally, Nick’s Cove in nearby Marshall is a great seafood spot where you can wake up waterside in recently renovated and charming cottages.

Asheville, North Carolina

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Just a two-hour drive from Charlotte is this bohemian haven for nature lovers. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has it all: a vibrant art and music scene, award-winning eateries inspired by global and Appalachian influences, and all the outdoorsy adventure nature lovers love to do.

National Park Service

Travel along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway toward The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you can hike, bike, and go chasing waterfalls. The Deep Creek Waterfall hike is a 5-mile loop known for its three beautiful waterfalls. The Oconaluftee River Trail is another option for a photo-worthy wildflower hike in spring.

Photo: Omni Grove Park Inn

Post-hike, book a treatment (they offer day passes) at the subterranean spa at the Omni Grove Park Inn and float underneath cavernous rock walls, arches and tunnels. Relax, unwind, and feel so rejuvenated.

Photo: Biltmore Estate

Feel like you're in Paris at the 19th-century chateau-style home of George Washington Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate. Take a self-guided tour of the sprawling 8,000 acres of gardens designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (of NYC's Central Park fame).

Photo: Corner Kitchen

Downtown Asheville is full of historic charm with colorful murals, independent boutiques, and delicious eateries. Set in a vintage home in the historic Biltmore Village, Corner Kitchen is a farm-to-table favorite with elevated Southern-style cuisine. Try it for brunch!

For a worthy splurge, try the James Beard Award-winning Cúrate for Spanish tapas or Southern comfort food at local favorite Tastee Diner. For your sweet tooth, try the Mexican-style Oaxaca drinking chocolate or sign up for a wine and chocolate tasting at French Broad Chocolates.

Photo: Capella on 9

Indulge in a rooftop cocktail with a view at Capella on 9. Try the Got U-Bae with Rye whiskey, coffee liqueur, and walnut bitters or the Capella G&T with gin, star anise, lemon, and cucumber. Cheers!

Photo: Asheville Visitor Center

Finally, art studio hop in the River Arts District, located on Asheville's picturesque French Broad River, for a taste of the arts and craft scene to wrap your Asheville to do list.

Watch Hill, Rhode Island

Photo: Ocean House Rhode Island

Taylor Swift's home is located in this most quintessential New England beach town, which is just one reason we love it so much. Just 1.5 hours from Boston, in the town of Westerly, this coastal village is straight out of a Nancy Meyers set and makes for the perfect beach day or weekend. The pristine beaches do not disappoint with beautiful white sand and picturesque dunes. Think Hamptons vibe but with a bit more chill.

Photo by Josh Duke

Pop your swimsuit on and rent beach cruisers at Napatree Bikes, which will deliver your bikes to your airbnb or wherever you choose to stay (Watch Hill Inn and Ocean House are splurgy but worth it if you’re up for a luxe experience – bikes included!).

Photo: Ocean House

Spend the day sunning and splashing at Watch Hill beach and grab a bite after at the historic Ocean House, which opened in 1868 just after the Civil War. Dress code: resort casual.

The Ocean House offers a Sunday Jazz Brunch with unlimited sparkling wine, towering charcuterie, raw bar, and a la carte breakfast or lunch, like carrot cake pancakes, Prime Rib hash, or the classics: New England Clam Chowder or Lobster Roll. Musician Greg performs a combo of jazz, blues, and soul while you enjoy a glass of post-beach sparkling.

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The Olympia Tea Room is another must for lunch and boasts a view of Taylor’s house on the hill, which is hard to miss in town (shown above). Don’t get too boozy at Ocean House because there’s more fun to be had in this tiny posh village. Hop back on your bike and head to the Watch Hill Lighthouse, a classic old lighthouse that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Bay.

Photo: Napatree Point Conservation Area

On your way back, shop in the charming town for your summer capsule or coastal modern home goods, or take a nature walk at the Napatree Point Conservation Area and discover your inner bird watcher.

Coral Gables, Florida

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Away from the South Beach crowds and bustling streets of Brickell is Coral Gables, located southwest of downtown Miami. With its architecture and charming streets, it’s easy to see why the Gables is nicknamed “The City Beautiful.” Stroll-friendly downtown Coral Gables is home to a number of restaurants and cafes. Enjoy a Ferrero Rocher croissant and eggs Benedict for brunch at Bachour, or stroll on over to Giralda Plaza where there is no shortage of dining options, from pasta and spritzes at Luca Osteria to Peruvian dishes at Divino Ceviche.


Coral Gables written by Alexandra Hurtado

Photo: Alexandra Hurtado

After satisfying your stomach, wander over to the locally-owned bookshop Books & Books or promenade along Miracle Mile, where you can shop or check and see if a show is happening at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. No car? No problem. While Downtown Coral Gables is walkable, there is a trolley that makes getting around convenient, especially if it’s too hot out — you are in South Florida after all. One of the stops that you can hop off at is the Shops of Merrick Park, an outdoor mall featuring your favorite shops like Anthropologie, Madewell, Nordstrom, and Sephora.

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Also located within Coral Gables is the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (pro tip: you'll need a car to get here).” Nearby you’ll also find Matheson Hammock Park, which has an atoll pool and boasts scenic views. Full of hidden gems, Coral Gables is an area worth exploring on your next visit to the Magic City.

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Of course, there is more to the Gables than just dining and shopping. Nestled in the heart of Coral Gables is The Biltmore, a historic hotel that exudes elegance and glamour. An Instagram lover’s paradise! You can make a reservation for afternoon tea in the hotel’s grand lobby, or swing by one of The Biltmore's bars or restaurants.

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I haven't even seen season 3 of Bridgertonin all its friends-to-lovers, springtime, romantic glory, and I'm already thinking about Bridgerton season 4. I'm a sucker for any storyline about siblings, and while we're still waiting on official confirmation, it looks like season 4 of Bridgerton will follow Benedict and his love interest Sophie — who may have already been cast 👀. Here's everything you need to know about season 4 of the hit TV show. And check out everything you need to know about The Bridgerton World Tour!

Will there be season 4 of Bridgerton?

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Yes, we're getting a Bridgerton season 4! After the popularity of the first season, Netflix renewed the series for another two seasons in 2021. I'm expecting the senior season of the Shondaland show to follow An Offer from a Gentleman, which revolves around second-eldest son Benedict. The novel has major Cinderella vibes, and follows servant Sophie, who falls in love with Benedict at a masquerade ball. Dreamy!

Bridgerton showrunner Jess Bronwell confirmed that the end of Bridgerton season 3 (which hits Netflix June 13) will have some major clues as to next season's couple. “I do think that there are some clues at the end of season 3 of where we’re headed,” she tells TV Insider. “So yeah, I leave that to fans to pick apart, but I think we’re tipping our hand just a little bit."

Who's in the Bridgerton season 4 cast?

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We're sure to see Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, as well as Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, and Florence Hunt as the rest of the Bridgertons + their spouses.

As for the role of Sophie, rumor has it we might see Masali Baduza join the Netflix show. You might recognize the actress from movies like The Woman King and Slumber Party Massacre. "They never disappoint, casting geniuses," one Reddit user says. "If this is true, I love it!"

While the absolutely *radiant* Masali would do a wonderful job as Sophie, some fans of the series have hesitations over a Black woman playing the role of a servant — especially if the theory the show will place her in the white Cowper family is true. "As a Black woman, just no," another user says. "Sophie is the love interest who in my opinion is the most sh*tted on by her Bridgerton and the story of a white person trying to hide their association with a Black person is a little too real."

"It makes me uncomfortable too," another adds. "Actually the entire Benophie plot sounds awful if I’m honest but to then put it on a Black woman on top of that makes it even worse."

When is Bridgerton season 4 coming out?

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Considering part one of Bridgerton season 3 is hitting Netflix May 16, 2024, we definitely won't see season 4 of Bridgerton for awhile. So far, there have been two years in between each season, so I'm expecting season 4 to start streaming in 2026.

How many episodes will season 4 of Bridgerton have?

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Considering all three seasons of Bridgerton so far have eight episodes each, we can expect Netflix to keep up that pattern. Having the same number of episodes each season means the pace and arc for each Bridgerton sibling will be equal, making it a much more balanced watching experience!

Will Bridgerton have all 8 seasons?

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Yes, Bridgerton will have all 8 seasons, one for each Bridgerton sibling — at least, that's the plan. "This being a family of eight children and there being eight books, I would love to be able to focus and really tell stories and love stories for all the Bridgerton siblings. For each character, for sure," showrunner Chris Van Dusen tells Collider.

After Bridgerton season 4, I'm most interested to see youngest sibling Hyacinth's love story play out! Seeing her arc throughout all eight seasons, especially mirrored with the way her brothers and sisters evolve over the course of the show, is going to be the perfect way to wrap this series up.

What are you looking forward to the most for Bridgerton season 4? Follow us on Facebook for more TV show news!

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I never thought we'd get a Taylor Swift album with multiple songs referencing Matty Healy, but after multiple listens, the internet is convinced The Tortured Poets Department(the first edition, at least) has a ton of references to The 1975 frontman. (Only time will tell if TS12 references Matty too!) One song in particular has sent everyone into a tizzy: "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived." Here's why fans think the song is about Taylor Swift & Matty Healy.

What has Matty Healy said about "The Tortured Poets Department"?

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When asked what he'd rate his "diss track" from The Tortured Poets Department, Matty admits he hasn't actually listened to that much of the album yet (if he ever will). "My diss track? Oh!" he laughs. "I haven't really listened to that much of it, but I'm sure it's good."

Debbie Dedes, Matty's aunt, speculated right after the album drop that he wouldn't be affected too much by the music. “She writes about all her relationships, doesn't she? I don't think it will come as a shock to him at all,” she tells The Daily Mail. “He's very happy in his new relationship [with Gabbriette Bechtel] so I'm sure he will be focusing on that.”

Is "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" about Taylor Swift & Matty Healy?

Image via Francois Durand/Getty Images For Christian Dior

While Taylor Swift & Matty Healy never publicly dated until 2023, they were friends for years before that. In 2014, Taylor Swift went to her first The 1975 concert with Selena Gomez and Ellie Goulding. Then, Taylor was seen wearing one of their band shirts while Matty was spotted in a 1989 shirt. "I met Taylor Swift," Matty told Shazam Top 20 in November (via E! News). "That was really nice. We exchanged numbers. Let's see what happens."

Matty Healy & Taylor Swift continued referencing each other over the next couple years, and fans lost their minds when Matty revealed he'd collaborated on a Midnights song — even if he went on to say it was cut. After Taylor Swift performed "Anti-Hero" during a 1975 concert, and then split from boyfriend Joe Alwyn split in the spring of 2023, Taylor & Matty quickly connected. They went on to date from May to June. That brings us to "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

In the song, Taylor wonders if "rusting my sparkling summer was the goal" and talks about "your Jehovah's Witness suit" (Matty is famous for wearing suits during his concerts). She also mentions how the relationship "wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden" — which totally ties into the themes within "Guilty As Sin?" (about imaginary trysts she thought about while dating someone else).

"[These Matty Healy-focused songs] started out being like 'f*ck all of you, I love him, I’ll fix him, I don’t care what you say' to ending here basically saying 'alright yeah this guy sucks,'" one Reddit user says. "I think the order of these songs plays a huge role in this throughline of that relationship."

"Heavyweight rappers J. Cole, Drake, and Rick Ross all released diss tracks over the last couple of weeks, and none of them were as scathing as this one," another says.

How long did Taylor Swift and Matty Healy date?

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While Taylor Swift & Matty Healy officially dated during the summer of 2023, another song on TTPD, "Fresh Out The Slammer" makes me think they connected before then. Referring to her relationship as a jail, she sings about how she's connected with this person before she started dating her ex. "I'm runnin' back home to you // Frеsh out the slammer // I know who my first call will be to." (Does this mean "Illicit Affairs" from Folklore is actually about Matty Healy too?)

What other The Tortured Poets Department songs are about Matty Healy?

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It looks like "Fortnight," "The Tortured Poets Department," "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)," and "loml" are just a few of the songs that could be about Taylor Swift & Matty Healy's relationship.

The "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" Lyrics

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Verse 1: Was any of it true? // Gazing at me starry-eyed // In your Jehovah's Witness suit // Who the f-ck was that guy? // You tried to buy some pills // From a friend of friends of mine // They just ghosted you // Now you know what it feels like

Chorus: And I don't even want you back, I just want to know // If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal // And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give // A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Verse 2: You hung me on your wall // Stabbed me with your push pins // In public, showed me off // Then sank in stoned oblivion // 'Cause once your queen had come // You'd treat her likе an also-ran // You didn't measure up // In any measurе of a man

Chorus: And I don't even want you back, I just want to know // If rusting my sparkling summer was the goal // And I don't miss what we had, but could someone give // A message to the smallest man who ever lived?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Bridge: Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead? // Did you sleep with a gun underneath our bed? // Were you writin' a book? Were you a sleeper cell spy? // In fifty years, will all this be declassified? // And you'll confess why you did it and I'll say, "Good riddance" // 'Cause it wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden // I would've died for your sins, instead, I just died inside // And you deserve prison, but you won't get time // You'll slide into inboxes and slip through the bars // You crashed my party and your rental car // You said normal girls were boring // But you were gone by the morning // You kicked out the stage lights, but you're still performing

Outro: And in plain sight you hid // But you are what you did // And I'll forget you, but I'll never forgive // The smallest man who ever lived

Tell us your hottest Taylor Swift & Matty Healy take on Facebook, then read up on The Taylor Swift Boyfriends You Love, And The Ones You Didn't Know She Dated.

Lead images via Francois Durand/Getty Images For Christian Dior/Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

This post has been updated.