Gwyneth Paltrow Just Stayed in the $40,000 Airbnb Rental of Your Dreams

When you head to Mexico for a tropical getaway, we’re guessing you probably dream about booking that super unique Airbnb property that looks like a seashell but instead opt for a nice room close to the beach that’ll actually leave you with enough cash to sip on a margarita or two. But that’s not the life the founder of GOOP (which had a $90K item in its holiday guide) is about. When Gwyneth Paltrow uses Airbnb, she goes for a $30 million villa that rents for $8,045 a night (or $40,000 a week).

The notoriously luxurious celeb recently went on a trip with her friends, children and new beau Brad Flachuk to Punta Mita, Mexico where she did in fact stay in an Airbnb rental that you too can book… if you’re willing to drop most (or maybe all) of your annual salary on a week long trip.

The villa (which you can check out here) features not one but two outdoor infinity pools, a home theater and farm-to-table meals prepared by the estate’s chef. The central structure of the villa is the grand dining room and living palapa where guest can enjoy oceanfront seating and a dining table for 12.

Gwyneth seemed to be impressed with her first Airbnb experience considering she posted this dreamy sunset photo alongside the caption, “@airbnb who knew?? Such a beautiful trip. Adiós Vallarta. Hasta la próxima!”

After Gwyneth’s holiday gift guide and now this $40K rental, we’re seriously starting to wonder if she ends up spending less than $1,000 any time she leaves the house. Our vote? It’s highly unlikely.

What’s the most luxurious Airbnb rental you’ve spotted on the site? Share a link with us on Twitter @britandco.

(Photos via Airbnb, @gwynethpaltrow Matthew Eisman/Getty)

It might be time to clear out some shelf space because Gwyneth Paltrow's brand, Goop, just dropped over a dozen budget-friendly products on Amazon and Target. Everything is under $40, but the products still feel like a luxurious treat! Called good.clean.goop, there's something for everyone to scoop up from this new line, from skincare to haircareto wellness gummies,! Here's what you can shop right now!

Shop good.clean.goop Here!

The Naked Elixir Body Oil: Amazon + Target

Made with vitamin E oil, turmeric, and saffron, this body oil is designed to moisturize your skin and make it glow!

The Daily Juice Cleanser: Amazon + Target

This gel-to-foam cleanser cleanses, brightens, and detoxifies. Basically, everything you'd want a cleanser to do for you, this does.

The Powerscrub Scalp Detox Clarifying Shampoo: Amazon + Target

This shampoo leaves your hair feeling so clean and healthy, thanks to its European salt scrub and Vitamin E components.

The Healthy Aging Serum: Amazon + Target

This serum does it all. It targets wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and dullness — allowing you to be your most confident self.

The Illuminator 10% Glycolic Toner: Amazon + Target

This Goop toner is alcohol-free (major plus) and exfoliates the outermost layer of dead skin, leaving you looking glowy and fresh.

The Body Smoother Replenishing Cream: Amazon + Target

Made with avocado oil and cupuacu butter, this body cream feels like a drink of water for your skin.

The Wide-Awake Eye Serum: Amazon + Target

If you find yourself staying up way too late scrolling through TikTok, this eye serum might be your new best friend. It's designed to visibly smooth lines and wrinkles and reduce puffiness, making it look like you got a full night's rest!

The Body Facial Exfoliating Scrub: Amazon + Target

This two-in-one body wash cleanses and exfoliates your skin, leaving you with the perfect glow!

The Nutrient-Rich Daily Moisturizer: Amazon + Target

This gel cream feels luxurious on your skin and helps maintain your moisture while strengthening your skin barrier. It's the ultimate addition to your skincare routine.

The Fruit Facial Exfoliating Scrub: Amazon + Target

This fruity scrub provides physical and chemical exfoliation and lets you have glowy skin in a matter of minutes!

The Bodyguard Immunity Chews

These chews are designed to keep you healthy, as they're packed with elderberry extract and vitamin D. This combination is great for supporting your immune system!

The Pleasure Seeker Daily Vegan Chews

These chocolate-raspberry chews are formulated with saffron and maca root extract, which work together to increase your desire and pleasure.

The Brain Boost Daily Vegan Chews

Sometimes our brains just need a little extra boost to get going. These latte-flavored chews are formulated with cognitive supporters, including L-theanine and caffeine.

The Skinspiration Beauty Vegan Chews

These nectarine-flavored chews are designed to support skin wellness and are specially formulated to support healthy and radiant skin.

For more of the best beauty products to shop, be sure to sign up for our weekly shopping newsletter!

Header image via Amazon

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship has captivated us throughout the years. Their story has love, family, loss, and of course, royalty. But how did the Duke and Duchess of Sussex come to be the powerful, independent couple they are today? Here's everything we know about the pair's relationship timeline, starting from the first time they met!

Mike Coppola / Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala

July 2016: Meghan and Harry meet

After initially meeting on Instagram (a classic plot point for 21st century relationships), Meghan and Harry met for a first date in London.

“I was scrolling through my feed and someone who was a friend had this video of the two of them [and Meghan], it was like a Snapchat,” Harry said of is digital introduction to Meghan in the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries. He remembers asking himself, "Who is that?"

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

November 2016: Meghan and Harry reveal they are officially dating

It was an official statement from Kensington Palace that confirmed Meghan and Harry's relationship.

At the time, Meghan faced mass amounts of sexist and racist backlash through the media for her association with the royal family. Kensington Palace denounced the hate in a statement:

“Some of this has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and Web article comments,” the statement read. “Some of it has been hidden from the public — the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriends; the bombardment of nearly every friend, coworker, and loved one in her life.”

Despite the hate, Meghan and Harry persevered as a couple.

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

September 2017: Meghan shines a light on her relationship with Harry

Meghan revealed even more information about her connection with Harry in a Vanity Faircover story in September 2017.

“We’re a couple. We’re in love,” she told Vanity Fair. “I’m sure there will be a time when we have to come forward and present ourselves, and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time. This is for us. It’s part of what makes it so special, that it’s just ours. But we’re happy. Personally, I love a great love story.”

Chris Jackson / Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

November 2017: Meghan and Harry are engaged

Meghan officially moved to London in the fall of 2017 and the couple announced their engagement not long after.

Harry proposed to Meghan at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace with a ring made from two of Princess Diana's diamonds, and she said "yes" on the spot!

An official statement from the palace detailed their engagement further:

“His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle,” it read. “His Royal Highness and Ms. Markle became engaged in London earlier this month. Prince Harry has informed Her Majesty The Queen and other close members of his family. Prince Harry has also sought and received the blessing of Ms. Markle's parents.”

Meghan recalled the moment Harry proposed on the Harry & Meghan Netflix docuseries:

“He’s down on one knee and I was like, ‘Yes!’ I was so joyful and excited. I was like, ‘Ah we’re doing this."

Ben Birchall / Getty Images

May 2018: Meghan and Harry’s wedding

Meghan and Harry got married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. They admitted a few years later that they had actually exchanged vows three days before they walked down the aisle, for the sake of privacy.

“No one knows that,” Meghan said in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. “We called the archbishop and just said, look, this thing, this spectacle is for the world, but we want our union between us, so the vows that we have framed in our room are just the two of us in our backyard with the archbishop of Canterbury.”

Millions of people tuned in for their televised wedding ceremony on May 19, 2018.

October 2018: Meghan announced her first pregnancy

On October 15, 2018, Kensington Palace released a statement informing the public that Meghan and Harry were expecting their first child the following spring.

The news broke while Meghan and Harry were on a 16-day royal tour through Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. The pair returned home and settled in at Windsor Castle's Frogmore Cottage to start prepping for the baby.

Dominic Lipinski / Getty Images

May 2019: Meghan and Harry welcome their first child

The couple welcomed their first son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019."We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019. Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz," an Instagram post from @sussexroyal read. "The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives."

Chris Jackson / Getty Images

January 2020: The couple steps back from their roles in the royal family

After "many months" of deliberation, Meghan and Harry had decided to "transition" from the royal family in early 2020.

In an official statement, they shared their plans to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family, become financially independent from Her Majesty, and split time between the United States and United Kingdom.

"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity," the statement read. "We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties."

They moved to the U.S. a couple months later, staying in Montecito, California until they bought a home in Santa Barbara in the summer of 2020.

November 2020: Meghan announced she had a miscarriage with her second child

Meghan admitted she experienced a miscarriage with her second pregnancy, writing in a vulnerable New York Times op-ed essay that the loss of her second pregnancy with Prince Harry felt like “an almost unbearable grief.”

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second,” Meghan wrote. “Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears. Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal.”

March 2021: Interview with Oprah

The couple sat down for a very candidinterview with Oprah in March 2021, coming clean on multiple topics that had arose since living in the public eye. From Meghan’s mental health to the dynamic of the royal family – including the racism Meghan had experienced since becoming a member – they spoke honestly.

Yui Mok / Getty Images

June 2021: Meghan and Harry welcome their daughter, Lilibet

The pair publicly announced their second pregnancy in February 2021, welcoming their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten Windsor, a few months later.

Lilibet was born on June 4, 2021 in Santa Barbara, California.

Kirsty O'Connor / Getty Images

June 2022: Meghan and Harry attend the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Meghan and Harry headed to Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking their first joint appearance in the U.K. in over two years at that point.

The two weren’t publicly mingling with other senior royalty in attendance, though they reportedly introduced Lilibet to the Queen in private during their trip.

"They aren't part of the [working] royal family anymore, and that's a decision they have taken — but maybe [the public] hasn't quite accepted that yet," a source close to the couple told Peoplein 2022. "Yes, they were low-key. They paid their respects and went home."

September 2022: Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral

Meghan and Harry were called to Windsor Castle on September 8, 2022, shortly after Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96.

They briefly reunited with Kate Middleton and Prince William to support the royal family amid the news. According to Kensington Palace, the rare meeting was actually William's idea, with a source noting that it "was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family."

Sascha Schuermann / Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

December 2022: The Harry & Meghan docuseries drops

The first volume Meghan & Harry Netflix docuseries hit screens on December 8, 2022. The pair addressed their full love story, their new family, and dived deeper on their reasons for distancing from the royal family in the three-part series.

Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

March 2023: Meghan and Harry were told to leave their royal residence in the U.K.

Meghan and Harry were asked to “vacate” Frogmore Cottage in the spring of 2023.

"We can confirm The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage," a spokesperson for the couple's Archewell Foundation told People.

Andrew Chin / Getty Images

January 2024: The truth comes to light about Queen Elizabeth’s blessing for Meghan and Harry’s daughter’s name

An inside source disputed the claim that the late Queen Elizabeth had not given Meghan and Harry her blessing to name their daughter after her known nickname, Lilibet.

“Meghan and Harry 100 percent got permission from the queen to use the name Lilibet,” the insider said. “The report is not true. [Harry and Meghan] don’t know where this is coming from...They’re shocked that this is coming now; it seems out of nowhere and out of left field. They just feel like it’s more of the same spear campaign that continues against them.”

Chris Jackson / Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

March 2024: Meghan and Harry were in Austin, Texas for SXSW

Meghan was slated to speak on a South by Southwest panel for International Women’s Day 2024, so she and Harry traveled to Austin, Texas.

While they were in Austin, the couple had a date night at Soho House Austin.

“They were happy and in great spirits,” an eyewitness told People. “Harry was very animated throughout the dinner. They were super low key and seemed happy to be around the upbeat vibes at the lively venue.”

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Lead photo by Chris Jackson / Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation.

As far as we’re concerned, aging is a sign of beauty — a sign of strength, resilience and courage. Nobody makes it into a new decade by accident, so aging should be praised and celebrated, with women commended for each new year. In a society where youth is the ultimate goal, it’s time to change the narrative.

We’re not the only ones who believe this. In fact, many of your favorite female celebrities have their own opinions on aging as a woman, and they’re pretty incredible. Keep reading for inspiring quotes on aging from all of your favorite celebs.

Sarah Jessica Parker

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Sarah Jessica Parker Talks Plastic Surgery and Aging in Hollywood

"I don't really think about my age, I don't see it as something to worry about," she told Vogue Paris in an interview. "I don't see the point of trying to suspend time…At times I have the impression that others may be more concerned about my appearance, which is rather strange. Like the fact that I have wrinkles or white hair...One day I was sitting next to a very close friend, a woman younger than me. I wasn't wearing any make-up, my hair was pulled back in a bun, with some gray hair, and it caused quite a fuss.” Sarah has no interest in internalizing critiques from the media, either. “I think there are more interesting things to do with my time, don't you? I just really can't be the person that others expect me to be."

​Taraji P. Henson

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Taraji P. Henson Brings Mental Health Resources To Black Women At HBCUs | The View

“Yes, applaud that! You know why? I want to be the representation for women that your sexy...never dies until you’re in the box,” Taraji exclaimed to the audience on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “Listen, it’s how you feel. I decided I wasn’t going to allow the world — men of this industry — to dictate how I live my life and how I age. I’m going to turn 50 just like I turned 30, except, you know, my knees are a little different. But I’m not going to buy into ‘my career is over’ or ‘life for me is over’ or ‘my sexy is over’ or ‘I shouldn’t wear this.’ I’m going to do what I feel.”

​Rebecca Minkoff

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There Is Nothing Wrong With Growing Slow And Steady According To Rebecca Minkoff | Forbes

“We’re not dying at 50. What are we doing with this next 40 years? Going to boohoo about not being 25?” Rebecca said to StyleLikeU. “I don't need to be who I was when I was 32. I need to be who I am. There’s no such thing as aging gracefully and there's no graceful or ungraceful way to do it — you just do it. I don't want to be one of those people who's like, ‘Oh, you’re 50, you have to cut your hair short.’ I used to be the person who was like, ‘That’s not age-appropriate,’ and now I’m like, ‘Fuck those rules!’ There’s something about not playing small in a world that always makes you feel that way, that is an act of bravery and beauty like no other.”

​Tracee Ellis Ross

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3 Reasons Tracee Ellis Ross Loves Getting Older | Health

"Well, I personally have always loved getting older, like genuinely, I think it's an honor to get older," she said to NPR. "Not everybody gets to get older, and I'm not sure why we don't look at it that way."

​Brooke Shields

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Kirsten Dunst, Brooke Shields & Kelly Clarkson Talk Female Empowerment, Aging In Hollywood

In a TikTok post, Brooke got candid about aging. "I can't say I love wrinkles, because that would be, like, a lie," Shields said. "But what I will say is that I have earned them, and they're from smiling, so I don't want to eradicate everything that shows my maturity and my growth and who I am today, and I'm not trying to be like I was when I was 15."

Cyndi Lauper

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Cyndi Lauper: Women Are More Than Their Age

Cyndi is perfectly content with aging, and she wants you to know it. “Age has nothing to do with it. You'll get wherever it is you want to go at whatever time in your life you want to do it,” she told AARP The Magazine. “We are brainwashed about what age you're supposed to marry, what age you're supposed to have a kid, what age you're supposed to do this or that.”

​Michelle Obama

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Does Self Confidence Grow With Age? Part 1 | The View

One of the most influential women of our time had a lot to say about aging while on tour with Oprah. "We are so ridiculous as women," Michelle said. "We don’t want to talk about our age, and then we want to act like we should look like we did when we were 20, you know? When, I’m sorry, men you can look any kind of way. And it seems to be okay…I try hard not to judge it [my body]…It’s different. You have to get to know your body, because what this body is at 56 — I can’t do the things I did when I was 36. It’s not the same body. We are living things. We’re not machines. You know, we run out of gas. We need fuel. We need sunshine and light. We need to take care of ourselves and when you don’t, as you get older, just like any living thing it begins to fail on you. And for me, I’m trying to figure out, what is that balance that I need to make sure that this body, that God gave me, that I’m taking care of it the best that I can and that it will serve me well as I get older."

​Beyoncé

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Beyoncé Commencement Speech | Dear Class Of 2020

“This is the first year that I really understand what it means to be alive and to live in the moment," Beyoncé wrote in a handwritten note on her 40th birthday, shared on her official website. "It's the first time that I have an understanding of how fragile life truly is, how hard life can be at times, and therefore how important it is to stop and smell the roses during the good times. I thought I knew that at 21 or 30...but I didn't. The more mature I become, the more I understand and the deeper my joy grows...I'm finally giving myself permission to enjoy the seeds I've worked so hard to plant my whole life. Whoever tried to condition women to feel that we are supposed to feel old or unhappy when we turn 40 got it ALL THE WAY F'd UP," she quipped. "It has absolutely been the best I've felt in my life. I'm so grateful to be GROWN, GROWN!”

​Jane Fonda

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Jane Fonda on Why at 85 She’s the Happiest She’s Ever Been: "Life Gets Better With Age" | PEOPLE

“When I was about to turn 60, I realized that I was approaching my third act—my final act—and that it wasn’t a dress rehearsal,” Jane told Glamour. “One of the things that I knew for sure is that I didn’t want to get to the end with a lot of regrets, so how I lived up until the end was what was going to determine whether or not I had regrets.” Fonda did a “life review” that helped her see things more clearly. “It totally changed the way I thought about myself and about how I wanted to live the last third of my life,” she said. “And I realized the importance of being intentional about how we go through life...When you get older, you realize that staying healthy is joyful and critical because age isn’t so much chronology. You can be very old at 84, which is my age, but you can also be very young.”

​Halle Berry

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What’s ‘Heartbreaking’ to Halle Berry 20 Years After Her Oscar Win

“We’re all going to get older. Our skin is going to shrivel up and we’re going to look different. I see things changing with my face and body, but I’ve never put all my eggs in that basket. I’ve always known that beauty is deeper than the physical body you’re walking around in," Halle told AARP. “I refuse to become someone who just tries to hold onto a youthful face and not embrace what’s most important about being beautiful — how you live your life, how you give back to others, how you connect to people, how you strengthen your mind, body, and soul and nourish yourself, how you give in a meaningful way of yourself. The most beautiful people have something radiating inside. Women are told that when we reach a certain number, we’re no longer valuable. I believe the opposite. Society should look at us as jewels as we get older. Because the older women get, the more formidable we are.”

​Sandra Oh

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Sandra Oh Opens Up About 'Killing Eve', Her Acting Career, Inspiring Change & More | TIME 100 | TIME

“I was more insecure when I was 20 than I am at 47,” Sandra told InStyle, for whom she wore a mirror sequined Gucci dress. “At 47 it’s like, ‘You need me to put on a crazy dress with mirrors? Yeah, sure. I’m going to work the s**t out of this!’ I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s, like, you give less f**ks. Aging is the greatest. It really gives you more space to be that person in the mirrored dress who has always been inside.”

​Julianne Moore

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Julianne Moore on Not Buying the "Fear of Aging" Brainwashing | Makeup & Friends | Westman Atelier

“There’s so much judgment inherent in the term ‘aging gracefully.’ Is there an ungraceful way to age? We don’t have an option of course. No one has an option about aging, so it’s not a positive or a negative thing, it just is. It’s part of the human condition, so why are we always talking about it as if it is something that we have control over?” Julianne told As If. The question Julianne thinks we should be asking ourselves instead? “How do we continue to challenge ourselves, to interest ourselves, learn new things, be more helpful to other people, be the person that your friends and family need or want? How do we continue to evolve? How do we navigate life to have even deeper experiences? That’s what aging should be about.”

​Padma Lakshmi

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Padma Lakshmi - Savoring Life as a “Top Chef” Host & Fighting for Human Rights | The Daily Show

“Growing older gracefully means having a keen curiosity about learning things about the world that you didn’t know yesterday, no matter how many yesterdays you've had,” Padma told Esquire, adding, “I don't feel guilty taking pleasure in things anymore.”

​Gwyneth Paltrow

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Gwyneth Paltrow, 50, is ‘embracing’ aging: It’s ‘weird’ to be ‘frozen in time’

"I am no longer in my 20s and 30s, I am 46 and I love being in my 40s," she said during a 2019 panel with CNN's Poppy Harlow at SXSW. "I think there is this incredible freedom that comes with a woman in her 40s and understanding that this is who I am and I've stopped worrying so much about what people think of me."

​Angelina Jolie

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Angelina Jolie's Advice to Her Younger Self!

"I look in the mirror and I see that I look like my mother, and that warms me," Jolie told InStyle in a 2018. "I also see myself aging, and I love it because it means I'm alive — I'm living and getting older. Don't love having a random dark spot from a pregnancy, sure. I see my flaws. But what I see that I like isn't about a structure or an appearance. It's more that I see my family in my face. I see my age."

​Katherine Heigl

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Katherine Heigl: Fighting The Battle Of The Aging Actress

"40 feels to me like a certain kind of freedom," Katherine wrote on Instagram. "Freedom from all the self doubt, insecurities, self loathing, uncertainties and anxieties of my 20's and 30's. Not to say I don't still have those moments but I just feel like 40 makes me older and wiser. Steadier in my convictions. More certain of my strengths. More forgiving of my faults."

How do you embrace aging? Let us know @BritandCo!

Header images courtesy of Dia Dipasupil / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment (Sarah Jessica Parker), Arturo Holmes / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment (Sandra Oh), Roy Rochlin / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment (Padma Lakshmi), Gareth Cattermole / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment (Beyoncé), Paul Morigi / Stringer (Michelle Obama).

Taylor Swift loves to reference the past in her songs. Every new album adds another layer to a whole web of lore (as the kids say), and The Tortured Poets Department is no different! There are enough pop culture references to to keep you glued to Google for the whole weekend, which is why I read every single lyric to decode each movie and literary reference so you don't have to! Keep reading for the full scoop from our fearless leader: The Chairman of the Department ;).

Literary References In The Tortured Poets Department

Image via engin akyurt/Unsplash

Down Bad — "Did You Take All My Old Clothes, Just To Leave Me Here, Naked And Alone"

While "Down Bad" feels like a reference to aliens, it's also reminding us of the story of Adam and Eve, who were left naked in the Garden of Eden after eating the Fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The "experiments" Taylor Swift references in the first verse (plus the "Fortnight" music video) are also giving Mary Shelley/Frankenstein!

Image via Amazon

So Long, London — "You Left Me At The House By The Heath"

Hampstead Heath is a beautiful area of London that reportedly inspired C.S. Lewis to write The Chronicles of Narnia in the late 30s and early 40s. As Narnia's self-proclaimed biggest fan, I'm totally claiming this indirect literary reference, especially since the Pevensies have to stay at the Professor's house when they're evacuated from London.

Image via Amazon

I Hate It Here — "I Hate It Here So I Will Go To Secret Gardens In My Mind People Need A Key To Get To"

This Taylor Swift song is all about wishing she was somewhere else during an early period of her life, and referencing The Secret Garden makes total sense. In the book, lead character Mary has to access the Secret Garden to discover the hope, joy, and healing she's lost.

Image via İlknur ERDURAN/Pexels

thanK you aIMee — "I Pushed Each Boulder Up The Hill"

This seems to be another Greek mythology reference, this time to Sisyphus. He was forced by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill — and then do it again when it rolled back down. Considering this song seems to reference Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and the drama that led to Reputation, it feels like a reference to the feud that rears its head over and over again.

Image via Robin Erino/Pexels

Cassandra — "So They Killed Cassandra First Cause She Feared The Worst And Tried To Tell The Town"

In Greek mythology, Cassandra (whose name means "she who entangles men," FYI) was a beautiful woman, and princess of Troy. The god Apollo falls in love with her, and gives her the power of prophecy — that is, until she rejects him and he turns the gift into a curse where no one believes her anymore.

Image via Amazon

The Bolter — "She Fell Through The Ice, Then Came Out Alive"

This is another indirect literary reference I'm claiming that totally reminds me of Amy March from Little Women. Amy falls through the ice when the March sisters are all children living in Massachusetts. Fans have historically hated her character, which is tied to the "A curious child, ever reviled // By everyone except her own father" lyric.

Movie References In Taylor Swift's New Album

Image courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys — "I Felt More When We Played Pretend Than With All The Kens"

The internet has claimed Taylor Swift as the real-world version of Barbie, and after last year's blockbuster hit (and Taylor referencing Ken in "Hits Different") we get another nod to our favorite doll. Plus, this song reminds me of Syd from Toy Story destroying his toys, and "he was my best friend down at the sandlot" got me thinking about The Sandlot. So many movie references, so little time!

Image via Michele K Short/Sony

Guilty As Sin? — "How Can I Be Guilty As Sin?"

Taylor Swift wrote "Carolina" for the book-to-movie adaptation of Where The Crawdads Sing. In "Carolina," she sings that Kya's community has "said that I was guilty as sin and sleep in a liar’s bed.”

More Pop Culture References

Image via Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

  • The Tortured Poets Department — Taylor Swift mentions poet & writer Dylan Thomas, singer-songwriter & poet Patti Smith, and American singer Charlie Puth, boygenius singer Lucy Dacus, producer Jack Antonoff.
  • But Daddy I Love Him — This is a line in both The Little Mermaid and The Notebook.
  • Florida!!! — Florence Welch is featured on this song, which mentions a hurricane. Florence + The Machine has a song titled "Hurricane Love."
  • Guilty As Sin? — Taylor also references "The Downtown Lights" by The Blue Nile, as well as the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus in The Bible.
  • Who's Afraid Of Little Old MeWho's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf revolves around a bitter and aging couple who weaponize the youth of their guests against one another.
  • loml — "The coward claimed he was a lion" is a reference to The Wizard of Oz, while "Mr. Steal Your Girl" is a Trey Songz track.
  • I Can Do It With A Broken Heart — This whole song is about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
  • The Alchemy + The Prophecy — In Taylor Swift's TIME interview, she references Harry Potter, which has huge themes around alchemy and prophecies.
  • Clara Bow — This song references Clara Bow, Stevie Nicks, and Taylor herself!
  • So High School — Taylor Swift Mentions video game Grand Theft Auto, Artistotle, and American Pie. She also mentions games like Kiss Marry Kill, Truth or Dare, and Spin the Bottle

Which of these pop culture references in The Tortured Poets Department is your favorite? Check out the latest news on the album here!

Lead image via Amazon

Hearty dinner recipes are always going to be high on our list, but spring and summer tend to call for light lunch ideas to keep us energized and able to enjoy longer hours of sunshine everyday. I'll be the first to say that eating chicken pasta or pizza for lunch often makes me feel sluggish, so I try to stay away from them during the work day. Not only that, but I've noticed I feel better when I eat something that's a little fresher and healthier. If your summer plans include having as much energy as possible, here's 15 light lunch ideas to help you successfully get through your days!

Light Lunch Ideas: Tasty Salads

Chicken Tzatziki Avocado Salad

Light lunch ideas don't have to be tasteless just because they don't cause you to feel sleepy in the middle of the day. One of the best ways to enjoy something tasty is to make a Mediterranean dish. This chicken tzatziki avocado salad is full of season, roasted chicken, feta, kale, and creamy tahini sauce. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Farro

This recipe had us at goat cheese! If you haven't had a chance to try it yet, this roasted golden beet salad with farro is a great way to introduce it to your palate. It also features shallots, thyme, and honey to balance out the crunch you'll get from the almonds! (via Brit + Co)

Chicken Cobb Salad

Add this chicken cobb salad your list of non-complicated light lunch ideas! It's full of tasty ingredients like avocados, cherry tomatoes, and eggs that'll hit the spot during lunchtime. (via Brit + Co)

Strawberry and Asparagus Salad with Chicken

Your salad needs an upgrade that involves lightweight fruit like strawberries. You can always exclude the chicken if you've been eating a meatless diet. (via Completely Delicious)

Feta Green Goddess Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

We're not sure who made this rule but pasta salad just seems to be one of the light lunch ideas that works extremely well for summer. This recipe features a homemade green goddess dressing that lightly covers the delicious ingredients, making it one of our favorite meals. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Smashed Potato Spring Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

We love that this smashed potato spring salad can be eaten during summer. The Creamy lemon dressing complements the butter lettuce, asparagus, and green onions that you'll happily devour. (via Two Peas and Their Pod)

Simple Cold Pasta Salad

Simple light lunch ideas are the stuff that our summer dreams are made of. After all, meals like this cold pasta salad are great alternatives if you're truly looking for something quick and lightweight. (via Barley and Sage)

Summer Sesame Noodles

Is it a salad or noodle dish? Maybe it's both! One thing we know is that you'll get a ton of healthy vegetables and noodles drizzled in a sauce that has sesame paste, vinegar, and more! (via Gastro Plant)

Light Lunch Ideas: Creative Sandwiches, Tacos, and Wraps 

Breakfast Bagel Sandwich with Smoked Salmon

Skipped breakfast? It happens to the best of us! Make up for it during lunch with this breakfast bagel sandwich with smoked salmon. Our mouths are already craving the herbed cream cheese that's on it. (via Vikalinka)

Smoked Turkey Sandwich with Spicy Mayo

Craving a smoked turkey sandwich that has a kick to it? Make this dish for lunch, but don't forget to bring something soothing to drink that'll help counter the mayo's spiciness! (via The Original Dish)

Tasty Tacos

Tacos Rancheros

This is technically another breakfast meal, but we like to think that some meals can double as light lunch ideas! This is a great option if you have to eat lunch early. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Kale Chicken Caesar Wraps

You've never had chicken caesar like this before. The dressing doesn't have a ton of calories so you'll get to eat something that's healthy and yummy! (via The Girl on Bloor)

Light Lunch Ideas: Veggies

Garlic Parmesan Zucchini

Our mouths are watering looking at this garlic parmesan zucchini dish! The fresh garlic and parmesan make for a dish that's full of hearty flavors without making you feel sluggish. (via The Endless Meal)

Mediterranean Sweet Potatoes

Although these aren't considered sweet potato boats, you can think of them that way thanks to their shape. The spicy chickpeas in the center offset the sweetness of the sweet potatoes while the feta adds a lightweight flavor. (via Cozy Cravings)

Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

This roasted vegetable quinoa bowl is one of the best light lunch ideas we've come across and it's gluten-free! Not only does it feature sweet potatoes, but you'll also get to savor juicy yellow squash! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Follow us on Pinterest for more light lunch ideas to cook this summer!

Lead image via Vanilla and Bean