All Things Ice Cream with Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Founder, Jeni Britton Bauer

Jeni Britton Bauer Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams headshot

Are you more of a Salty Caramel or a Gooey Butter Cake kinda gal? Ice cream maker and entrepreneur Jeni Britton Bauer has developed thousands of crave-able flavor combinations over the last two decades building her eponymous brand, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. Listen in as Jeni shares how she went from humble beginnings living off of $638 a month (scooping ice cream at a local Ohio farmer's market) to building a $100 million dessert brand recognized across the US.

Jeni also weighs in on the cup versus cone debate, the number one ice cream flavor combo that all humans tend to love, and how to learn more about yourself based on your favorite ice cream flavor. Tune into this special episode that was recorded live in front of hundreds of female entrepreneurs as part of Selfmade, Brit + Co's 10-week startup school for anyone who wants to start or grow a business.

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In the seemingly endless world of fast food indulgences, few sweet treats evoke as much delight (and debate) as the iconic McDonald'sMcFlurry. In the rare case that theirice cream machine isn’t broken(IYKYK), there’s a small array of McDonald's McFlurry flavors to pick from. Though their OG McFlurry menu has dwindled in recent years, McDonald’s continues to kill the ice cream treat game –square-stemmed spoonsincluded.

Join me as I delve into the most classic McDonald’s McFlurry flavors, ranking them by taste. Plus, stay tuned for some shockingly unique international McFlurry flavors you can find around the world!

Ranking All The McDonald's McFlurry Flavors

Oreo McFlurry: 9/10

The Oreo McFlurry lands right on top for me. Oreos are a superior mix-in, because they’re bulkier than your average M&M or Butterfinger bar, giving the McFlurry more body in each bite. I enjoy how unlike the M&M McFlurry flavor, the Oreos retain their original texture: crunchy and light. They’re the perfect complement to the soft serve. My only complaint is that there could be more!

Image via Amazon

Crunch McFlurry: 5/10

I can’t hate a Crunch bar. I think the naturally-airy texture of the candy pairs really well with the soft ice cream McDonald’s uses for their McFlurries. I think the Crunch bar is very humble – landing neutrally in the middle of my ranking. It’s not outstanding, but it’s not terrible, either.

Image via Amazon

Butterfinger McFlurry: 4/10

I’m sorry to this McDonald’s McFlurry flavor, but I will always opt for Butterfinger offerings from other drive-thrus if I have the option. McD’s Butterfinger McFlurry variety is good, but not great. I just think I’m such a chocolate fiend that I demand a lot more chocolate in my McFlurries than the average person. The volume of candy included in this pick is definitely disappointing.

Image via Hershey

Heath McFlurry: 3/10

If I had to say one thing about the Heath-flavored McFlurry, it’d be “meh.” Like I’ve mentioned already, I’m always left wishing for more mix-ins, volume-wise. The Heath pieces in this McDonald’s McFlurry are few and far between, and it really makes me feel like I’m missing something with each scoop.

M&Ms McFlurry: 2/10

While I could eat handful after handful of M&Ms, I am not a fan of the classic M&Ms McFlurry. I hate how the M&Ms turn hard and frozen when they’re mixed into the vanilla soft serve ice cream. The hard texture makes each bite truly dreadful! Plus, I’ve never once had an appropriate amount of candies to balance out the creamy ice cream component – every M&Ms McFlurry I’ve ordered is simply lacking in the mix-ins department.

More Cool McDonald's McFlurry Flavors Around The World

Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry (Ireland)

I am truly fuming with jealousy that McDonald’s Ireland gets to have the Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry. They’re my #1 Easter candy, and so addictive that I could eat a whole bag. When you mix that with soft serve, how could it be bad?! My only concern is, like with the M&Ms, the candies would freeze up and get hard, making it difficult to eat.

Siakam Swirl McFlurry (Canada)

The Siakam Swirl McFlurry, available in Canada (minus Quebec), blends smooth ice cream with hot chocolate fudge and red Smarties, a hard-shelled chocolate candy. I love that the hot fudge is included in this flavor – I think it’d add an interesting flavor effect with the mix-ins.

Daim McFlurry (Denmark)

This McFlurry flavor from Denmark looks so good! The Daim McFlurry fuses Daim candies (chocolate and almond) with the classic ice cream base. The McDonald’s Denmark site says that it’s made with fresh milk, which makes a huge difference in taste and texture. The smoother ice cream looks like it pairs exceptionally well with the crunchy candy.

Stroopwafel McFlurry (Netherlands)

It’s only right that McDonald’s Netherlands has a Stroopwafel McFlurry. I need to find acopycat recipe, ASAP! The stickiness of the wafers and caramel would be divine.

Pinguinos McFlurry (Mexico)

Mexican McDonald’s must be so scrumptious, because they have a Pinguinos McFlurry! If you’ve never had Pinguinos, they’re basically the same thing as Hostess Cupcakes. I can only imagine how yummy the cakey, sugary pastry would meld with ice cream. Delish!

Pistachio McFlurry (Italy)

I am concerningly obsessed with pistachio-flavored anything, and I think this Pistachio McFlurry from McDonald’s Italy belongs in my belly right this instant. It looks like it has some crunchy pistachio bits mixed in, with a green-ish pistachio syrup drizzled on top. OMG.

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Images via McDonald's.

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The Lion King is one of the most beloved Disney movies — like, of all time — which means that its fans are VERY protective of it. Everyone was a little apprehensive about the live-action remake, but whether you loved it or hated it, one thing's for sure: the cast knocked it out of the park. Mufasa: The Lion King brings back all your favorites (including Beyoncé, Donald Glover, and James Earl Jones, no biggie) but we'll also see (er, hear) Beyoncé's daughterBlue Ivy Carter! Here's everything we know about the new Disney movie.

What will Mufasa: The Lion King be about?

Image via Walt Disney Pictures

I don't know a single '90s kid who doesn't LOVE the character of Mufasa, and Mufasa: The Lion King is all about the future king's coming-of-age story. Rafiki tells Kiara (Simba and Nala's daughter) the story of how Mufasa began his journey as an orphaned cub — and how everything changes when he meets Taka, the heir to the royal bloodline.

When is Mufasa: The Lion King coming out?

Image via Walt Disney Pictures

Mufasa: The Lion King will hit theaters December 20, 2024. I don't know about you, but the holidays are ALWAYS a good time for a Disney movie. I will be seated.

Is Beyoncé in Mufasa: The Lion King?

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Yes, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter returns to Mufasa: The Lion King as Nala, as well as Aaron Pierre as Mufasa, John Kani as Rafiki, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, Donald Glover as Simba, and we'll also see Blue Ivy Carter as Kiara!! I'm super excited that Blue Ivy is in this new Disney movie because it makes it even more of a family affair. Any movie that includes an IRL parent and child in the cast automatically pulls at my heartstrings!

Mufasa also stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Taka, Tiffany Boone as Sarabi, Kagiso Lediga as Young Rafiki, Preston Nyman as Zazu, Mads Mikkelsen as Kiros, Thandiwe Newton as Taka’s mother Eshe, Lennie James as Taka’s father Obasi, Anika Noni Rose as Mufasa’s mother Afia, and Keith David as Mufasa’s father Masego.

Why does Scar hate Mufasa so much?

Image via Walt Disney Pictures

Scar is Mufasa's little brother, and throughout their lives, Scar's secretly desired to overthrow Mufasa and take the throne for himself. His hatred for Mufasa and his family is intensified when Simba is born, making Simba next in line for the throne instead of Scar himself.

The story takes heavy inspiration from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, as well as some inspo from the stories of Moses and Joseph in the Bible.

How many Oscars did Lion King win?

Image via Walt Disney Pictures

The original Lion King won two Oscars in 1995 for Best Original Score and Best Original Song, and its music also ~scored~ some Golden Globes, Grammys, and American Music Awards.

Mufasa: The Lion King is just one of the new Disney movies coming our way. Let us know which one you're most excited for in the comments and check out our TikTok for more pop culture news!

Lead image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

From fashion to home decor to DIY and family content, our friend Steffy does it all – from the comfort of her home. She has built a loyal following doing what she loves and inspires us through her creativity on so many levels. But overnight success isn’t a thing and she has worked hard over the last decade to get where she is today – running a successful creative business full-time. Thanks to getting help on the tax front with TurboTax and expanding her niche, Steffy shares how she built her online business in this fun reel for creatives looking to do the same!

Turning your hobby into a career can take a little trial and error, a lot of resilience, and some good business sense. TurboTax can help you make your moves count so you can focus on what you do best! Whether TurboTax experts prepare your tax return or you do it yourself, they guarantee their calculations are always 100 percent accurate, or they’ll pay any penalties.

If you’re a creative person looking to take your hobby to the next level, here are tips for getting started and growing your business.

Choose your focus: Before Steffy started focusing on the DIY aspect of her business, her niche was in fashion, mostly vintage fashion, which helped her build a following who loved her aesthetic. “My first big win was I booked a blog a month with a major fashion brand. It was the first time I realized that big companies are paying attention to people on the Internet,” says Steffy. “Over time, working with brands just legitimized what I was doing and made me feel like, yes, this is fun, and yes, this is something that is still a hobby, but also there's a future in it as my business.”

Set clear goals: Define your career goals – actually write them down – and create a roadmap for achieving them. Set short-term and long-term goals that are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Set reasonable dates for achieving those goals and stick to them!

Create a personal brand: Establishing a strong personal brand that feels unique to you and your target audience can help you stand out in a crowded space. Make sure it’s clear what you do from your branding and what services you offer.

Develop a business mindset: Brush up on budgeting, marketing, sales, and customer service to understand how best to monetize your passion. “My first challenge was tax wise,” says Steffy. After getting hit with a big tax bill at the end of year, Steffy realized that she had to pay quarterly taxes as a freelancer to avoid hefty fees. “When you work for yourself, you're thinking you're making all this income, but really a lot of it goes back to the state and the government, and you have to really be on top of that.” TurboTax experts can help you determine all of your deductions as a freelancer and entrepreneur while helping you get your max refund.

Scale wisely: Do you invest in hiring help or do you stay small? That’s a question solopreneurs often struggle with. “I hit a certain point where I realized that I did need help. I'm still working through what that help looks like. I have a part-time employee, but I always grapple with whether I need more hours and more hands on deck,” says Steffy. Balance your creative life by contracting out the responsibilities that take up a lot of your time and that you don’t necessarily enjoy doing. Wearing too many hats can take away from your talents and lead to burnout so get help when you need it, like tax time, but choose wisely where you invest your time and money.

Adapt as you grow: Once you start to gain traction, adjust and adapt your business plan to suit your growing needs. “I was already doing DIY projects behind the scenes, but I just thought, it's not my niche. People won't be interested in this,” says Steffy about transitioning her fashion-focused brand to her other hobbies. “Then I filmed one video of DIY, peel-and-stick wallpaper, and it went viral. That's what made me realize that maybe people do come to me for my fashion, but that my fashion sense trickles down into all aspects of my life, including how I decorate.” That led Steffy to eventually writing a home decor book A Home for Every Season. “It just shifted my business completely,” she says.

Connect with other creatives: Being a solopreneur can be lonely. You have friends and family but they may not understand your business struggles. That’s where a creative community comes in. “A community definitely helps even just to have comradery and bounce ideas off of each other,” says Steffy, who often shares content with other influencers. “We're all on the Internet and then getting together and creating content and sharing it, it definitely helps lift everyone up.”

Consistently show up. Consistency is key to building a following and accomplishing your goals. “The biggest tip I would have is to just get up and do it every day,” says Steffy. “You have to have a strong foundation yourself to grow and just keep coming up with new ideas and trying new things and just showing up, not necessarily every day, but a few times a week, for your audience and trying to inspire them and be creative.”

Photos: Courtesy of Steffy.

Running a business or thinking about starting one? Make your moves count with TurboTax!*

*Experts only available with TurboTax Live. See details at turbotax.com/guarantees

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Moms juggle a lot, and oftentimes, taking a single day to celebrate them isn't nearly enough. She's the caretaker, the advice giver, the shoulder to cry on, and the cheerleader behind everyone in her crew! You just can't not give mom (that also includes all the sisters, girlfriends, mentors, wives, stepmoms, and grand-moms in your life) a much-neededspecial something to show her that you love her and you get her.

Here are some Mother's Day gifts that are just as fun to give as they are to get, from self care must-haves and trending fashion pieces to stylish home goods that'll make Mother's Day uniquely special this year.

Old Navy Cool Moms Club Graphic T-Shirt

Mom already knows she's a cool mom, but with this cozy cotton graphic tee, she'll actually get to show it off!

Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Sauté Pan

Not only is this pan aesthetically pleasing, it's practical, too! The durable nonstick coating makes cooking all kinds of foods a total breeze, plus it can even go in the oven up to temperatures of 500 degrees F.

Barzel 18K Gold Plated Woven Love Knot Stud Earrings

These classy stud earrings are worthy of everyday wear, adding a touch of elegance to mom's accessory game in an instant. They are crafted to be waterproof and tarnish-proof. Score!

Bedsure Yellow Fleece Blanket

Mom's couch blanket def needs a nice upgrade. This affordable one is the perfect solution! It's made from a crazy-soft fleece material that delivers comfort year-round. Opt for a bright color like this yellow for the warmer months!

Soft Services Green Banana Buffing Bar Microcrystal Exfoliant

These exfoliating bars smell not-to-sweet, with hints of tonka bean and musk for a very well-rounded effect. Each one is loaded with superfine sanding crystals floating throughout a moisturizing, soothing soap base that'll make mom feel like sheer luxury and super smooth.

This set of two bars is $33.

Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Cream Moisturizer

Bet you she's never felt hydration like this! The Laneige Water Bank Moisturizer provides long-lasting hydration for up to 100 hours thanks to the formulation of hyaluronic acid and squalene.

Custom Leather Jewelry Box with Name & Birth Flower Month

This convenient jewelry box is the gift for moms on the go. Its compact size makes it super travel-friendly, slipping into a backpack or purse with ease. There are spaces for everything from necklaces and bracelets to rings and earrings, and mom can customize the layout to her liking since the dividers are removable!

Threshold Ceramic Signature Chip & Dip Serving Bowl

For the mom that always welcomes you home with snacks, this sleek chip and dip serving bowl will compliment her kitchen with a limited color palette and streamlined design, so you can both get some dip on your chips with ease!

Personalized Birthdate Pendant

Shoppable at 20% off for a limited-time Mother's Say sale, the Birthdate Pendant is totally customizable, as it's based on any birthday day and month. This sweet astrological homage to mom's birthday (or any other significant date) is laid into either a 14K gold plated or sterling silver pendant that she can flaunt every single day!

Great Jones Sweet & Savory Baking Mats

Let's hear it for zero waste! This 2-piece set of baking mats is the ultimate sustainable, reusable alternative to parchment paper. Made from silicone, the mats are 100% dishwasher-friendly, BPA-free, and food- and oven-safe... plus, they have cute little illustrations for maximum enjoyment in the kitchen.

Magnolia Bakery Mother's Day Flower Cupcakes

Magnolia Bakery is so tasty, so any mama with a sweet tooth will adore a treat-filled gift like this one! This 6-pack of sweets arrives fresh and ready to eat. A vanilla cupcake base is topped with hand-piped vanilla buttercream in the shape of a flower, so who really needs a real bouquet?!

Subtl Beauty Starter Stak

Time for a touch-up? This 5-in-1 portable makeup stack is the perfect size for slotting into a purse or glove box so mom can keep her freshest face on all day! It comes complete with a cream concealer, lip and cheek color, powder bronzer, powder highlighter, and a shine-control powder for those mid-day makeup breaks.

Hedley & Bennett Smock

Aprons and smocks are made to get dirty, but you might as well gift mom one that's cute, too! This flowery pick from Hedley & Bennett x Rifle Paper Co. features all sorts of blooms to match the tone of this year's armer months. It slides on with a comfy cross-back design that keeps slips conveniently at bay in between all of mom's fun cooking and baking projects!

Salt & Stone Antioxidant Body Wash

Self-care should feel like a total treat, and this body wash from Salt & Stone ensures a pleasurable experience with each use with notes of black rose and oud. The glass bottle and firm pump really elevates this gift from your run-of-the-mill body washes!

Anthropologie Bubble Letter Monogram Necklace

This playful necklace costs under $50, making it a wonderful (and nicely personalized) affordable Mother's Day gift. Gift mom her own initial, or even give her yours as a reminder of the amazing child you are.

SeaVees Acorn Trainer

Get mom into all things trendy with some cute sneakers! If the viral Adidas Sambas aren't supportive enough for her step, these cushiony-soft green kicks from SeaVees are equally trendy with a deep green colorway and heightened heel space for added comfort.

Frasier Sterling x Anthropologie Sunglass Case

Gifting mom this adorable case alongside a colorful pair of sunnies is the perfect way to help her kick off summertime. The fruity theme is too fun to ignore, she'll be carrying it with her everywhere she goes!

Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm

This "intensely nourishing" lip balm comes in 13 different shades that deposit a deliciously sheer sheen of color to the lips that looks stunning alone or on top of lipstick. And the best part? A tube is only $10.

Cabot Creamery Salty & Sweet Gift Box

Satisfy her cravings for both salty and sweet with this super snacky gift box filled with chocolates, salted maple crackers, raspberry jam, and a delicious mix of Cabot Creamery cheeses! With this gift, mom scores a cheese knife and a cutting board, too, for all future cheese board sharing.

Hello Adorn Tiny Links Necklace

This delicate necklace design can be representative of you and your mom's special bond, or it can simply serve as an adorable everyday piece for her collection! You can snag it either in sterling silver or a 14K gold fill material, so no mom's metal preference is left out.

Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera

For the mom who's always behind the camera (AKA all of us), this Polaroid camera delivers instant prints of her fave memories, places, and people. It'll give her a nice dose of nostalgia, too!

Nostalgia Eau De Parfum

The light white lily scent of this perfume is perfect for spring and summertime, but better yet, it'll make mom think of you every single time she spritzes it on.

Athleta Excursion Waistbag

This versatile everyday sling bag helps her keep her essentials in check with this convenient pockets, a comfy strap, and a cozy mesh material that ensures breathability in each and every wear.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This article has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Challengers is honestly just one giant tennis match. While we watch Zendaya's Tashi, Mike Faist's Art, and Josh O'Connor's Patrick play the game in a literal sense, we also see their personal relationship spiral, ricocheting back and forth as each character plays a different role every couple of years. And the crazy Challengers ending is a culmination of this intense emotional journey because it solidifies Patrick, Tashi, and Art's relationship — both to one another, but also to tennis itself.

What did the ending of The Challengers mean?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

There is a lot of tension between Tashi, Art, and Patrick throughout the movie, and it all builds to the titular Challenger match. It's Art vs. Patrick, and they're playing for way more than just the title and the money (though of course, they're definitely playing for the title and the money) — this is one final chance to prove themselves to Tashi, who's sitting court-side looking very unimpressed.

Both men lose their cool during different sets, but it's in the third and final set that everything comes to a head. At the end of the match, Patrick confesses to sleeping with Tashi using a tennis ball and racket signal only Art recognizes. For a split second Art is is complete shock, and I expected him to completely lose it. And, technically, he does, but in a totally unexpected way. Rather than jump the net and punch Patrick in the face, Art channels his emotions into his tennis, and the fury he feels actually allows him break through whatever slump he's been stuck in.

Unable to have a conversation about Patrick's secret, Art and Patrick talk with their serves and returns. And because Tashi doesn't catch the signal, for the first time in the whole movie, she's cut out of the conversation.

Did Tashi love Art and Patrick?

Image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios

Tashi's been pulling the strings ever since she met Art and Patrick, and she's never not been in control. After Patrick sends the signal, she knows something is going on between them, she just doesn't know what — and it unnerves her. Thanks to Zendaya's expert subtlety, the twitch of her eyebrow or the particularly anxious way she grips her hands are the only things that give her away. But her confusion, and the men's anger, quickly turn to pure joy in the final moments of the movie.

Patrick and Art end up playing so intensely that they meet at the net and embrace, prompting Tashi's iconic tennis yell before she gives one of her first genuine laughs of the film and the screen cuts to black. The first time I saw the movie, I thought "What?!" but the more I think about it, the clearer the Challengers ending is.

Patrick and Art (whose relationship begins six or seven years before the movie opens) haven't spoken since the big fight surrounding Tashi's injury, and their hug proves they're just happy to be playing together again. It's what they've always loved, and their fight over Tashi almost ended it forever. Tashi's pure elation shows she's happy to watch some good tennis, especially after she failed to help Art break out of his rut.

We've only seen Tashi scream like that once before, when she admits to a perfect tennis match. While Tashi does care for Patrick and Art, the end of Challengers proves the characters' true love was never really each other — it was always the game.

What did you think of the Challengers ending? After you rewatch the movie (and then rewatch it again), check out the other Most-Anticipated Spring Movies For 2024.

Lead image via Niko Tavernise/Amazon MGM Studios