14 Pastel Cakes for Early Spring Soirées

Spring will be here before you know it. You know what that means? Pretty pastels are coming back in for the season! Since we’re color-lovers here at Brit HQ, we decided to round up a whole bunch of pastel cakes to inspire your spring baking.

Need to tune up your tiered cake baking skills? Then check out our 35-minute Cake Baking 101 E-Class. You’ll bake up a delicious three-layer vanilla buttercream cake with a step-by-step tutorial.

Plus, you’ll brush up on the basics of cake baking equipment, ingredients, and methods for baking a cake from scratch. Not to mention, you’ll whip up a batch of homemade buttercream and learn how to fill and frost your three-layer cake with tips to execute a smooth, professional finish. Now isn’t that the icing on the cake? ;)

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Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s make a pretty pastel cake that will take the cake at your next spring celebration.

1. Birthday Party Ice Cream Cake: How delightful does this ice cream cake look? That’s a lot of fun in just one cake. (via Sweetapolita)

2. Colorful Cake: So. Much. Color! We are in LOVE with this rainbow cake. (via Indulgy)

3. Pastel Swirl Cake: You can easily make this super pretty ombre swirl cake. Plus, it comes with a video tutorial! (via Sweetapolita)

4. Birthday Cheesecake: Who knew cheesecake could look so lovely? Plus, it has a fun birthday surprise inside. (via Sprinkle Bakes)

5. Cherry-Vanilla Layer Cake: Make this yummy cherry cake and top it off with a robin’s egg blue vanilla frosting. (via Sprinkle Bakes)

6. Heart-Shaped Mini Cakes: Show someone how much you love them with these adorable heart mini cakes. (via Babble)

7. Easy + Colorful Cake: Brighten up a traditional cake by piping the top with multi-colored rosettes. (Mirror Mirror)

8. Mini Brownie Cakes: This adorable brownie cake is small in size and BIG on flavor. Just add frosting and sprinkles. (via Betty Crocker)

9. Frozen Princess Cake: Did your little one love the movie Frozen? Then make her this cute princess cake with meringue kisses on top. (via Coco Cake Land)

10. Pastel Confetti Cake: This pretty pastel cake is a labor of love, but it sure does take the cake when it comes to spring desserts. (Brit + Co)

11. Ombre Rose Cake: Give this pretty-in-pink cake a whirl with ombre rose embellishments. It’s easier than you think! Promise. (via BS’ In The Kitchen)

12. Birthday Party Cake: Add a pop of color to a simple vanilla cake baked in a bundt pan by drizzling colored frosting all over. (via lisa leonard blog)

13. Cake Decoration Lettering: Add a pastel message to your cake by using colored gum or fondant. (via Maiko Nagao)

14. Strawberry Roll Cake: A perfect cake for a spring get-together. This treat is easy to make and scrumptious to boot. (via tablespoon)

All of these are a piece of cake, right? ;) Now that you’ve got the basics down and a pinboard full of inspiration, make sure to grab our Cake Baking 101 Kit from the Brit + Co. Shop. It’s a complement kit to the Cake Baking 101 E-Class and has everything you need to get started on your cake baking adventures.

Already a cake-baking machine? Show us your pretty cake creations on Instagram. Make sure to use #britstagram so we can check them out!

I’m calling it now – blueberry milk nailsare out, and cereal milk nails are in. The Nails.INC x Froot Loops collab has landed at the perfect time, ready to adorn your nails with the vibrant colors of the nostalgic cereal (forever standing out from the too-light blue nail trend).

Why I’m *totally* sold on the new 7-piece collection? When the polishes dry, they smell exactly like Froot Loops. If that’s not setting your flip phone lip gloss-loving, Claire’s-shopping, body glitter-fanatic inner child’s heart aglow right now, I don’t know what to tell you.

About The Froot Loops Nail Polishes from Nails.INC

The shades included in the collaborative drop embrace all things neon, recalling the color-covered days of my youth. It makes me want to pour out a bowl of cerealand dig in!

Each one is formulated for long-wear, so your electric mani lasts you all week. For those accustomed to painting with a wide brush for quick and easy application, these bottles have it all.

Whether you’re sporting the coral-y pink to a picnic in the park, or layering on the head-turning green for a chaotic (yet fun) night out, the Nails.INC x Froot Loops collection is the absolute best way to end your summer.

#FollowYourNose ($8)

This neon pink undoubtedly channels all of the Barbie hype this season.

Feeling Fruity ($8)

This yellow shade might not be your normal go-to, but the fruity scent will draw you into its supercharged summer energy!

Toucan Sam Approved ($8)

This vibrant turquoise blue hue pairs well with a fruity drink.

Toucan Play At That Game ($8)

A neon orange that plays at coral pink is *def* getting added to my cart.

Ce-real Talk ($8)

Green is just that girl, and this brightened-up pick is sure to catch some attention.

Scented Nail Polish Duo ($15)

This pink-and-green duo does it all – multicolor mani, anyone?

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Header photo by Caleb Minear / PEXELS + Image via Nails.INC

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

It finally happened — interior design girlies are officially out of the beige phase. Now, there’s nothing wrong with home decor that’s entirely beige-focused. It’s practical, looks good, and pretty much matches with anything (cue the many plants and succulents that are currently filling living rooms). While Pinterest neutrals have proven successfully tasteful, it seems that Tikok is officially saying goodbye to the “sad beige aesthetic” once and for all. What is it being replaced with, you ask? Well, lots of color. And get this — not all of the colors even match.

www.tiktok.com

a millenial that now despises millenial gray

After a self-proclaimed millennial threw away the monotones and grays, she opted for a green couch that “started it all.” From there, she added a reddish pink rug, an array of patterned and solid throw pillows, a varied sized gallery wall (which are all the rage right now, BTW) , and of course — some much-needed plants. Commenters described the decoration upheaval as a “house vs. home” while others praised the colorful prints and vibes.

Another content creator is going viral for his interior decorating tips and tricks that inspire vibrant and creative apartment decor. From kitchen doorways with red and blue glass panels to bright stick-on kitchen tiles, @want.zamora documented his interior design journey as he “escaped the said beige aesthetic.” Now, the internet isn’t entirely happy with the term “sad” because many still prefer beige colors. The argument is that they tend to bring a sense of calmness — especially for people diagnosed with ADHD — and is completely based on personal preference.

In fact, one mom told Today that the neutral-dominated trend wasn’t necessarily bland, but made it much easier to maintain instead of constantly redecorating. As someone who just moved into a new apartment with nothing but a suitcase, I can confirm that designing a living space is totally stressful, much less redesigning one that you’ve already lived in for a long period of time.

Moral of the story: If you’re happier around neutral colors — center your home around nuanced beiges, whites, and grays. If you’re not, then take the TikTok plunge — add more colorful pieces to your home that aren’t necessarily color-coordinated. No matter which you choose, you can never go wrong when it comes to your own living area! Plus, we all know at this point that trends come and go. Happy decorating!

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Lead image via B+C

While it's always nice to see something realistic represented in our favorite TV shows, there are few things more painful than watching a TV breakup. Even when we don't actually know fictional characters IRL, it's absolutely devastating to see them break each other's hearts. (Although, it's equally as bad as never seeing your favorite prospective couple get together — I will never forgive The 100 for what they did to Clarke and Bellamy!!).

Keep reading to see some of our most heartbreaking splits — and then check outWhat Being Team Conrad Or Jeremiah Says About Your Dream TV Boyfriendto put a smile back on your face.

Image via NBC

Ross and Rachel from Friends

Friends is one of the most iconic sitcoms of all times, and Ross and Rachel is definitely one of the most devastating TV breakups. In season 3, this iconic couple decides to take a break in and in "The One with the Morning After," Ross wakes up with another woman named Chloe at the exact moment Rachel shows up at his door. Rachel finds out about the affair, and after a fight in Monica's living room, the couple calls it quits.

Regardless of how you feel about Ross claiming they "were on a break" when he slept with Chloe, seeing Rachel's reaction (and knowing the trust between them was broken) is one of the worst moments in the whole show. Just thinking about it makes my stomach bottom out!

Image via The CW/WB

Rory and Jess from Gilmore Girls

This is one of my personal most-devastating TV breakups because it seems like, out of all of Rory's boyfriends, Rory and Jess are just perfect for each other when they start dating. Not only does their love of books bring them closer together, but their personalities are so compatible. But when Jess leaves for California at the end of season 3 — without saying anything to Rory, I might add — is unacceptable! It breaks my heart, and based on the final look he gives Rory during A Year in the Life, he also regrets it BIG TIME.

Image via The CW/WB

Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries

This Vampire Diaries couple was truly endgame, and the will-they-won't-they of it all was one of my favorite things about the show. So when they broke up (to my horror), I was devastated.

Damon and Elena admit they're bad for each other in the season 5 episode "While You Were Sleeping" (then Damon tells her he doesn't even want to be friends. Ouch!!), but it's the season finale, "Home," that makes me extra emotional. When Damon gets stuck with Bonnie on the Other Side, he says goodbye to Elena, who's begging him not to leave but can neither see nor hear him. Say it with me: gut! wrenching!

Image via Erika Doss/Prime Video

Conrad and Belly from The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty fans are PASSIONATE about whether they're team Conrad or team Jeremiah (trick question, my OTP is Taylor and Stephen), and even the most dedicated Conrad stan hates the prom scene. You know, when he breaks up with Belly at her prom, in the rain. I know he just thinks Belly deserves better, but it's still very painful to watch.

Image via FOX

Schmidt and Cece from New Girl

When I hear "devastating TV breakup" I IMMEDIATELY think of Schmidt and Cece from New Girl. Schmidt gets away with a lot of ridiculous things throughout this show, but dating two girls at one time is not one of them. After Nick has a hard time keeping Schmidt's love life a secret, Schmidt finally comes clean to Cece in "Double Date," leaving both her and me in tears. No matter how many times you rewatch the show, it truly feels like their relationship (and maybe even the friend group) will never recover.

Image via BBC/Prime Video

Fleabag and The Priest on Fleabag

In the history of TV, I don't think I've ever heard anything as heartbreaking as "I love you," "It'll pass." Like, who approved that line?! The viral moment comes at the end of the Fleabag series finale, when Fleabag is sitting with The Priest at the bus stop. Over the course of the series, we not only see how much these two care about each other, but how well they know each other (like how The Priest recognizes when Fleabag zones out). To be loved is to be known, and that's what makes this devastating TV breakup even more devastating.

Image via HBO

Carrie and Aidan on Sex and the City

After so much back and forth, it's hard to accept Carrie and Aidan's final breakup on SATC. But in season 4's "Change of a Dress," Carrie realizes she's not ready for marriage and Aidan realizes he doesn't trust her after her affair with Big. The combo of broken trust and being at two different life stages makes this extra painful to watch, and I don't think any amount of rewatches (or And Just Like That binges) is going to change that.

What's YOUR most devastating TV breakup? Let us know on Facebook!

Lead image via The CW/The WB

Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris caused quite a stir at Elton John's Oscars afterparty, but for good reason! After dodging dating rumors for quite awhile, they dressed to impress and made their first public debut as a couple! Sophia even wore her best accessory — a mega-watt smile — that further confirms this blissful pair.

While some people love to know whencelebrity couples fell in love, the details about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris' relationship have people wondering when this couple actually got together. Well, our wait is over because Sophia decided to open about what led to her romance with Ashlyn Harris and why certain rumors hold no merit!

Since we're clearly tuned in to this love story, here's everything you need to know about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris's relationship!

Who is Sophia Bush?

Image via Robin L Marshall/Getty Images

Sophia Bush has had a lengthy career as an actress, and she's most recognized for her portrayal of Brooke Davis in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. She's also appeared in Nip/Tuck, Chicago Fire, Incredibles 2, and John Tucker Must Die. When she's not showing off her acting chops, she hosts the Drama Queens podcast alongside former One Tree Hill castmates Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz!

Who is Ashlyn Harris?

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for W Magazine

Ashlyn Harris is a former U.S. soccer player who had a successful run — no pun intended — as a goalkeeper during the career. She also won the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada and continued making an impressionable mark. However, she announced her retirementin 2022 and — per her Instagrampage — has gone on to become the Global Creative Advisor for Gotham FC and Adidas Football.

When did the dating rumors about Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris start?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images and Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

June 2023

Rumors about a possible connection between Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris swirled last summer when Cosmopolitanreported they were on a panel at Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity. Sophia shared a pic of the two at the festival on Instagramand wrote, "Love you @ashlynharris24 and @sophieannkelly" towards the end of her caption.

A source told Page Six, "It’s very new...They are definitely a couple.” But, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris didn't confirm or deny anything at that time.

When did Sophia Bush file for divorce from Grant Hughes?

Image via Leigh Vogel/Getty Images

August 2023

A couple of months after Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were seen getting cozy together, Sophia filed for divorce from her former husband Grant Hughes. Peopleshared that they were only married for a little over a year — 13 months — but didn't end on a bad terms. A source then told Entertainment Tonight, "Grant and Sophia are better off as friends and they weren’t getting enough time with each other before their breakup."

When did Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger file for divorce?

Image via Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

October 2023

While things seemed to quiet down, Ashlyn Harris soon filed for divorce from Ali Krieger after getting married towards the end of 2019. What's interesting is that a source told Peoplethis decision wasn't surprising. "Although it’s new information to the public, Ashlyn and Ali’s divorce began months ago and they have been living apart since the summer,” the source said.

This is also around the time it was speculated Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris had their first official date. A rep told People, "Grant will always want the best for Sophia, and is supportive of all that makes her happy and fulfilled." We guess it helps he and Sophia had a solid friendship before getting married!

As for Ali Krieger, she basically let the world know things were business as usual with an Instagrampost. She captioned a pic of her playing soccer with, "Preparing for playoffs while in my Beyoncé lemonade era." A comment from user @lgbtlfg said, "the fact that a lot of players in these comment’s usually mind their business and stay out of drama but are supporting ali should tell everyone all they need to know."

The only thing Ashlyn said about it on Instagramis that she never intended for her and Ali's divorce to be made a public matter. A portion of her note says, "This process is never easy, but we were making our way through."

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris publicly talked about their relationship?

Image via Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Tequila Don Julio

March 2024

Besides showing up to Elton John's Oscars afterparty together, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris were previously tight-lipped about their relationship. The only hint Sophia offered was much more of a reflective post about 2023 on Instagramat the beginning of January. She said, "This year taught me to listen to myself and no one else. To let go of expectation that wounds and grasp possibility that frees. To not care about optics and instead invest in honesty."

But, she's since chosen to own where she is in life.

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

Sophia Bush on the cover of Glamour Magazine

April 2024

Sophia Bush has now reached a point where she's publicly ready to stand in her truth regarding her life and her relationship status so much that she penned her own cover story for Glamour. The first thing she did was open up about how she really felt about her marriage and fertility struggles.

She wrote, "But after the wedding I found myself in the depths and heartbreak of the fertility process, which was the most clarifying experience of my life. It feels like society is finally making space for brutally honest conversations about how hard and painful any fertility journey is, but I kept mine private. I was trying to get through months of endless ultrasounds, hormone shots, so many blood draws that I have scar tissue in my veins, and retrieval after retrieval, while simultaneously realizing the person I had chosen to be my partner didn’t necessarily speak the same emotional language I did.”

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

As far as her relationship with Ashlyn Harris is concerned, the star is enjoying the love that exists between them. Contrary to alleged rumors, their initial relationship was a platonic one that stemmed from a place of understanding and support.

She told Glamour,I didn’t expect to find love in this support system. I don’t know how else to say it other than: I didn’t see it until I saw it. And I think it’s very easy not to see something that’s been in front of your face for a long time when you’d never looked at it as an option and you had never been looked at as an option. What I saw was a friend with her big, happy life. And now I know she thought the same thing about me.”

She also added, "A lot of effort was made to be graceful with other people’s processing, their time and obligations, and their feelings. What felt like seconds after I started to see what was in front of me, the online rumor mill began to spit in the ugliest ways. There were blatant lies. Violent threats. There were the accusations of being a home-wrecker. The ones who said I’d left my ex because I suddenly realized I wanted to be with women—my partners have known what I’m into for as long as I have (so that’s not it, y’all, sorry!).”

Image via Lauren Dukoff/Glamour Magazine

It's safe to say that Sophia Bush is thoroughly comfortable with her love life and identity as a queer woman. She said, "I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home. I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great.”

And this is what it looks like to reclaim your narrative when so many people are looking at a brief glimpse of the lives of celebrities. We love that Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris are loving each other on their terms without feeling pressured to share anything before they were ready to. Our hope is that their love story continues to unfold beautifully.

Be sure to watch Sophia Bush's interview with Glamour's Editor-in-Chief Samantha Barry here!

Full Credits From Glamour Magazine:

Writer: Sophia Bush

Photographer: Lauren Dukoff

Stylist: Deborah Afshani

Hair: Matthew Collins

Makeup: Afton Williams

Manicure: Brittney Boyce

Have Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris made their official red carpet debut?

Image via Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Kimball Stroud & Associates

April 27, 2024

Per Glamour, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn made their official red carpet debut as a couple on Friday. They attended the White House Correspondent's dinner where they were dressed to impress in complementing black ensembles.

It's easy to see the glowing couple couldn't stop laughing and smiling as they posed for pictures that seemed to capture every good angle of their faces and style.

Image via Paul Morigi/Getty Images

After the dinner, Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris posed for more pictures on the red carpet leading to the Correspondent's after-party. Now that we're able to see their full faces, we have to talk about how well their hair and makeup complements their outfits. It's clear that Ashlyn's contour and bronzer were expertly applied to her face while Sophia's blush gave her a natural flush.

*Sigh* Their smiles are the only confirmation we need that they're enjoying the bliss of being a couple.

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This article has been updated.

Lead image via Paul Morigi/Getty Images