Whether you're picking from your headband collection or layering bold jewelry, never underestimate the power of accessories. Nail art is one of our favorite ways to accessorize. It's an easy (and fun!) way to add color to your look, and with a plethora of shades to match your mood, season, or holiday, there's plenty to pick from. We scoured the web for 21 of the best spring nail looks for some major mani inspo!
Color Camp Art Class At-Home Super Gel ($52+): This speckled milky white look is almost guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing.
Take a walk on the rainbow side with this easy manicure — just pick your five favorite polishes and paint each finger a different color!
Chillhouse Groovy Baby Chill Tips ($16): Who says tie-dye is just for shirts? Add some retro vibes to your manicure with these non-toxic, reusable press-ons.
We love this nail polish hack that's easier than it looks.
Paintbox Like Lush + Like Flora Power Couple ($40): Color block your nails with this powerhouse duo inspired by 1970s Palm Springs.
If you love abstract art, these unique tips are just for you.
Pick a variety of different colors or alternate between a couple for a look that's totally your own.
& Other Stories Quiet Peak Nail Polish ($7): If you're looking for a more neutral polish, this shade will elevate any spring look. It's great for weddings!
It was only a matter of time before the gingham trend made its way into our manicures and we're not upset about it.
Which nail look is your favorite? Tag us with your manicures @BritandCo and check out our Nail Art online class!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations. Lead photo courtesy of Lauren Ladnier. This post has been updated.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Chris Jackson / Getty Images
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.
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.”
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
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
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."
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
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
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
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
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.
Talking money doesn't have to feel monstrous — especially if you make it fun by setting a money date. No matter your current relationship to money, this should be a time that you set aside to demystify the basics, build a healthy relationship with money, and learn ways to grow your wealth. This intentional time together allows you to give your full attention to how you relate to money and how to create the habits and lay down a healthy foundation to create financial wellness. Hopefully, you'll walk away from your money date with a confident, stress-free relationship to money.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko / PEXELS
A money date can take on many forms, but it should always align with where you are in life. If you're single — or choose to keep money separate in your relationship — then a money date can be carving out time for yourself to create a comfortable space and review your priorities, values, and overall financial goals and hopefully actually set a plan in motion to achieve those. If you're in a relationship with combined finances, a money date can also be a way for you and your significant other to come together to talk about money and what matters most to each of you in a way that makes you comfortable and makes finances more approachable. TBH, even a group of friends can also get together with the purpose of focusing on money and topics that can help each of you gain better insights and strategies into reducing financial stress and building financial wellness and wealth.
Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / PEXELS
A good starting point is to simply just...begin. One step leads into the next and before you know it, you've built life-long healthy money habits. But what does "beginning" actually look like? If you have a S.O., it's important to quickly chat with each other and establish the importance of money dates. Let them know that you want to work together to build healthy conversations around your goals and values with an emphasis on money and how that plays into your financial success. If you want to create a group of friends to have more structured conversations together, then think of 5-7 people that you think would be interested in the topic, add value to the conversation, and benefit from the discussion. And yes, even if you decide you want to focus on your money individually, you still need to structure it just like you structure time for your workouts!
No matter who you have your money date with, my best advice is to keep it consistent and have some guidelines. Being consistent means that you plan accordingly and you do the work if you want to enjoy the benefits. Set a time for individual or couple conversations — once a week for an hour is reasonable. For a group, once a month is more realistic. It will be more productive if you have the conversation in a place where you don't get distracted and where you have privacy as money can be a sensitive topic. Over a cup of coffee on the deck or a glass of wine on the couch, whatever works best for you.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska / PEXELS
There are a number of topics you should cover during a money date, which is why I suggest scheduling yours for one hour a week, same day, same time, and same place. You're establishing a habit and this is the best way for you to be consistent and reach your goal of financial health and wellness. The topics will be broad and then there should be opportunities for you to dig further down. My favorite break the ice question to get things started? Ask someone what's important to them about money.
Starting with this question will bring down some barriers and take the focus off how much money you have (quantitative) to what is important to you (qualitative). There will be plenty of time to go over numbers, but the first money date should be focused on dreams, goals, and values.
It's also critical to avoid money shaming during your conversation. Think about your relationship with money. How did you grow up learning about money? Did your parents fight about it? Was it a taboo subject that nobody spoke about? Or was there a scarcity of money? Think about it — these memories we have about money and our first introduction to money can have a negative affect on us that we don't even realize until we start to ask these questions. By starting conversations with qualitative questions first, you will quickly find out what your differences are and what the pain points are and help you identify the areas that you will need to discuss and work through more carefully.
After that, the first step in any of the following topics is to gather the information. Bring all the details with you to the date. There will be time to dig in deeper, have discussions around it, and make a decision or two — although don't worry about solving it all in one date. The point here is to make process based on the information you have at hand. The areas that you should address include the following:
Photo by Thirdman / PEXELS
Having an easy way to approach your money and having a system to manage your money will help you reduce stress around money and build confidence to move forward successfully. With the above plan, you can address both the quantitative side of your life as well as your qualitative side of your life to build wealth well. It's critical to explore the emotional side of money and what it means to you so you can better understand the best way for you to approach the dollars and sense of it.
If you're single and are thinking about when to start a money date — the best time to start is now. You're not too young and you're not too old. If you start today, you're one step closer to reaching financial peace of mind. Step one is set up time for your first date.
If you're in a relationship, the best time to start a money date is when you're beginning to discuss building a future together. When you have an SO, it takes the complications of money one step further as you each have a history with money that you bring to the table and to the relationship. Unchecked, it can cause challenges when it may be too late. Building habits early on and normalizing conversations about money will help you to implement the steps and actions that are needed to realize your goals together.
Having money dates on a regular basis will keep you consistent, disciplined, and focused financially. The benefits to a money date (and a lifelong process of money dates) is financial confidence — knowing where you stand, having the choice to do what you want with your time and money, and building a healthier, wealthier you. Money touches every aspect of your life, but money dates help you feel less stress, more in control, communicate better, and make better decisions in all of those aspects. By addressing this now, you're navigating complicated but important differences that you will want to work through together and start setting up healthy money habits now for your future.
Looking for more tools to help you jump start your road to financial freedom? Look for courses, classes, podcasts, books, spreadsheets, websites, instagram accounts that focus on to help address all things money. Check out my blogs on http://www.themoneydatebox.com where I share strategies and tools to help you get smarter about your money.
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 ;).
Image via engin akyurt/Unsplash
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Image courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
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
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.”
Image via Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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
