Sure, you may have considered customizing your backyard before — maybe adding a deck, seating area or a pool. But you probably never imagined it could be quite like this! Introducing automated decks, which come with an incredible feature that hides away benches, grills and more. In other words, the deck opens to reveal the perfect outdoor setup.
We have the builders behind Dr. Decks to thank for this genius invention. At first glance, the structure may look like a plain, flat, wooden deck. But hiding underneath is whatever your heart desires. The team customizes each project to suit your needs, so if you’re looking to tuck away a grill, lounge chair or even a TV — you name it and Dr. Decks will build it!
Here’s an example of what Dr. Decks calls a “phantom BBQ,” a grill hidden beneath the deck to be revealed when you’re ready to cook.
To get started, send a request on the Dr. Decks website for the team to visit your house. They’ll drop by and learn about what you’ve been dreaming up for your backyard. They’ll then develop 3-D renderings to show you what your yard could look like before moving on to the building phase.
The decks go up like any other, and they need a sturdy foundation, framework, all of that good stuff. The end result, however, is far from average.
The realm of custom automated decks is certainly a niche market and there aren’t many companies doing what Dr. Decks does. One company in South Africa offers automatic decks built on top of pools, so when the pool is closed for the winter, you can transform it into a seating area instead of simply having a covered pool in the middle of your yard.
If you think that’s incredible, you’re going to love what Dr. Decks has come up with. Take a look at some of their past projects, and you might find yourself requesting an appointment with these builders yourself.
The Processco Van is the greatest thing to arrive on wheels since the invention of the food truck. This mobile vehicle does exactly what its name implies: It drives around bringing sparkling wine to bubbly-loving partygoers. What more could you possibly ask for?
Whether you’re planning a wedding or hosting a summer get-together, a boozy addition like this would surely make your party even better.
We have Joe Bruce and Ben Broad, aka the Bubble Bros, to thank for converting a vintage three-wheeled van into a well-oiled prosecco-delivery machine.
The pair founded the Prosecco Van in 2015 and have been making people’s lives better ever since — one perfectly chilled glass of bubbly at a time.
Check out the Prosecco Van in action:
Unfortunately, the Prosecco Van is only available in the U.K., but thankfully, the idea of a mobile bar is fast becoming a trend. You know what that means: Americans are getting in on the action, and there are several options for drinks-on-wheels in the States now, too.
So, whether you’re planning an outdoor wedding or just want to make your summer BBQ the talk of the town, these mobile bars are definitely worth looking into.
Eleven-year-old Mason Ramsey is known in his local community of Golconda, Illinois, as “Little Hank.” When you hear how smoothly he sings Hank Williams’ song “Lovesick Blues,” you’ll understand exactly how he got his nickname.
Mason was filmed yodeling at his local Walmart in Harrisburg, and the video has since gone viral.
Videos of him singing have garnered millions of views online. Once you give this a listen, you’ll know why:
This isn’t the first time Mason has sang a Hank Williams tune for an audience. You’ll find several videos of performances he’s given in the past online, like this one he gave for a local radio station:
If you’re a fan of Mason’s voice, you may also want to follow his YouTube channel. He’s been singing Williams’ songs since he was just three years old. Here he is singing “This Old Country Church”:
Mason definitely has the voice of a country crooner, and now that millions are tuning in to hear him sing, he’s got the audience he needs to potentially have his singing career really take off!
His recent visit on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” — his first time on an airplane! — will probably help that a lot:
And to think, it all started right there in his local Walmart. Bravo, “Little Hank,” bravo!
For most of us, Sunday nights with the family are synonymous with good food, decent conversation and (best-case scenario) a strong sense of togetherness.
But for the LeBaron family, these get-togethers are extra special.
This past Easter, the family came together to perform “One Day More” from the musical “Les Miserables.” How was it? Let’s just say that not every family can sing like this.
A family member posted a video of the song to Facebook, and it has since gotten more than nine million views.
Give this talented family a listen, and you’ll definitely see what all of the hype is about:
Not your typical Sunday night with the family — unless you’re a part of the LeBaron family, that is. According to Jayson LeBaron, this is something he and his siblings grew up doing together with their family.
“We’ve all grown up singing together and we all married musically talented people,” he told 24News. “My dad plays the piano and has been our accompanist growing up and my mom has been our music director. We all got involved with musical theater and did a lot of shows in high school and college. Music has been a unifying thing in our family, though we are all over Utah now from Kaysville to Salt Lake to St. George; we come together in the good times and during the trials with music keeping us real, and keeping us together, and keeping us happy.”
And you can tell how typical an evening like this is by the way the kids playing in the background of the video are totally indifferent to what’s going on around them. For them, this is just your average family get-together. Can you imagine?
Blindsided by the internet’s response to their Facebook post, they created a YouTube channel which, at the moment, only contains that one video. Stay tuned for more! We can’t wait to see what they perform next.
“We are just a music loving family from Utah and hope to inspire others to love, laugh, and sing with their families,” they wrote on YouTube.
Apparently, the video was intended to be a Mother’s Day gift, which is adorable.
“We recorded this because my mom wanted this as a present for her for Mother’s Day,” said Jordon LeBaron, who posted the video to Facebook, in an interview with Deseret News. “That’s the only thing she wanted. So we got together and my brother pulled up the karaoke track. We ran through it a couple times and then we recorded it. We honestly didn’t expect a response of this magnitude.”
Les Miserables
If you aren’t familiar with “Les Miserables,” it’s a musical based on a novel by the same name written by Victor Hugo. The musical first took the stage in 1980 and has been taking audiences by storm ever since.
It tells the story of a French peasant, recently released from prison after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving nephew. The story unfolds against the backdrop of 19th-century France during a revolutionary period.
RELATED: This boy wowed Walmart customers with a spontaneous performance!
The Target obsession is real for many women. We can all relate to those stories of entering Target with a three-item shopping list and emerging with an entire trunk’s worth of purchases. One woman’s husband sums up his wife’s addiction perfectly in a five-minute video. In it, he “diagnoses” her condition, calling it “Shopping at Target Disorder.”
Penn Holderness opens the video by asking, “Do you have an STD?” As watchers presumably gasp in horror, they soon learn that he’s actually referring to “Shopping at Target Disorder.” Pretty clever, though we’d argue that the Target version is much less worrisome than your average STD.
It seems like it’s a real issue for this couple, however—especially for Penn. His wife, Kim, doesn’t seem to mind as much.
He describes what it’s like to live with someone who has Shopping at Target Disorder:
“She’d be like, ‘Hey honey, I’ll be right back, I just need dish soap,'” he said in the parody video. “Two hours later, she’s back with nine full bags, including a golden Easter bunny, a bowl that doesn’t match any of our other bowls, and a cheesy statement T-shirt. And she forgot the soap.”
Yeah … we’ve all been there.
See the rest of the hilarious video below:
The husband has a solution or “cure” for his wife’s Target problem, however. He’s going to follow her around the store with an air horn and make it go off any time she reaches for something that’s not on their shopping list.
Good luck with that! You can’t stand in the way of a woman and her love for Target!
There are plenty of reasons to obsess over the retailer. Between the collaborations with people like Chip and Joanna Gaines, the dollar section and more, it’s almost too easy to get lost in the Target aisles.
The comedienne duo Leeann & Michelle made a parody video blaming the Gaines family for their love of shopping at Target, saying, “Look what Joanna made us do,” in this spoof of Taylor Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.”
And couples have even shot their wedding photos at Target. Michael Delvalle and Isabella Sablan chose to head to Target to have their photos taken after a small wedding ceremony. Because the love of Target runs deep.
Miriam Lujan and her friends were enjoying themselves at a Jason Aldean concert when shots rang out in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, 2017. Sue Ann Cornwell and her sister, Billie Jo LaCount, were also in the concert audience and were nearby Lujan when the shooting began.
Cornwell didn’t know Lujan—but that didn’t stop the 52-year-old from shielding the expectant mother. Months later, Lujan had her baby, and Cornwell recently got the chance to meet the little boy she helped to save.
A total of 58 people were killed and hundreds were injured during the Las Vegas shooting, but Lujan and the sisters who kept her safe were all among the survivors.
Lujan and Cornwell, who reconnected via Facebook, told the story of the horrific event to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Apparently, it was LaCount who first placed a backpack on top of Lujan’s belly to try and shield the baby. Lujan was seven months pregnant at the time. Then, Cornwell laid on top of her sister and Lujan, acting as a human shield to the women.
It was pure luck that Cornwell and Lujan happened to find each other on Facebook, and they decided to meet for the first time since the shooting. Lujan gave birth to a baby boy, Xander, on Nov. 26 and, of course, he came along to meet Cornwell, too.
The women recalled that once the shooting stopped, Cornwell and her sister were able to get Lujan out of the area safely.
After that, Lujan did her best to remain calm and not think about the tragic night, so as not to become too stressed during her pregnancy. Despite her best attempts to forget the terrifying events that took place that night, Lujan couldn’t help but remember the people who worked so hard to protect her.
“When you meet people like that, you kind of just keep thinking about them,” she told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Cornwell happily held Lujan’s baby during their reunion, and even though he’s only 4 months old, she said the little guy is already “part of history.”
“He’s already part of history, and he doesn’t even know it,” Cornwell told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Out of all the ugly, here’s this child that survived. … One day his mom is going to have a story to tell him.”
Cornwell and her sister are heroes for ensuring Lujan and her baby stayed safe—and they’re not alone in their heroic efforts. There were many who worked to protect loved ones as well as to save the lives of complete strangers.
For instance, Sonny Melton is just one of the many people who will be remembered as heroes. Because of him, his wife, Heather, survived even though he did not.
“He saved my life. He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back,” Heather told WSMV. “I want everyone to know what a kind-hearted, loving man he was, but at this point, I can barely breathe.”
Wife of Sonny Melton, Heather Gulish Melton: "He saved my life. He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back." pic.twitter.com/yfdSFdC4rL
In a Facebook post, the hospital said his visit “helped heal hearts and cheer those who were wounded in this tragedy.”
Months after the shooting, it’s heartwarming to see that the people who were involved are able to stay connected and heal together. Cornwell, Lujan and little Xander are the perfect example of just how strong a bond the survivors now share with one another.
If you secretly love sobbing along with each and every episode of “This Is Us,” you need to see this film. The creator of “This Is Us,” Dan Fogelman, has taken his ability to make the entire world cry to the world of cinema. He’s written and directed a movie called “Life Itself,” so make sure you’ve got your tissues handy.
Fogelman is pairing up with Amazon Studios to bring you the movie version of “This Is Us” that you never knew you needed. The movie is coming to theaters this fall, so you’ve got some time to stock up on chocolates, tissues and whatever other type of comfort items you know you’ll need to get through this film.
The official trailer’s been released, but the exact plot line is still a little unclear. Knowing Fogelman’s style, however, it’s going to be filled with moments of intense joy coupled with tragedy. Because that’s what makes up, well, life itself, after all.
According to Amazon Studios, “‘Life Itself’ centers on a couple that lead a multi generational love story spanning both decades and continents, from the streets of New York to the Spanish countryside, and are all connected by a single event.”
The film stars Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde, along with Mandy Patinkin, Olivia Cooke, Laia Costa, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas.
According to Fogelman, this is a movie he’s always wanted to make, which makes it all the more exciting (for him and … well, everyone).
He tweeted about the film’s official trailer, writing, “Spent months in NYC and Spain with this incredible cast — it’s the movie I’ve wanted to make my entire life and I just can’t wait.”
Spent months in NYC and Spain with this incredible cast – it's the movie I've wanted to make my entire life and I just can't wait. Here's a first look! #LifeItselfhttps://t.co/JWFTnWtrSq
Despite the fact that Fogelman’s hit show just wrapped its second season, he’s giving fans more to look forward to. Not only will the movie reportedly release on Sept. 21, but season 3 of “This Is Us” will also probably air around the same time, as September is the month when seasons 1 and 2 came to television screens across America.
Viewers are more than ready to bawl their eyes out, too.
One fan “can’t wait to cry”:
Oh my god all my dreams are coming true, Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde are playing a couple in the movie Life Itself and I can't wait to cry because it's by the This is Us guy
September will undoubtedly be a tear-filled month, but this time also comes with the promise of stellar depictions of couples on-screen. According to Fogelman, there will be even more Rebecca and Jack origin stories to look forward to in season 3.
During a Q&A session at the SXSW Film Festival, he said, “[the third season is a] big Vietnam season for us. We’re doing some cool stuff. Milo (Ventimiglia) will get a real showcase as younger Jack and there will be more Jack and Rebecca origin stories,” according to Deadline Hollywood.
So, between Isaac and Wilde in “Life Itself” and Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia on “This Is Us,” there are going to be plenty of couples to completely fall in love with this fall.
And just in case you’re wondering, Amazon Prime members will have access to this film, but it’s coming to theaters first, according to the official “Life Itself” Twitter account.
Australia has officially joined the ranks of 25 other countries that have legalized same-sex marriage. And to celebrate, major tech company Apple created a video called “First Dance.” Not only is this a promo for the iPhone X, which was used to shoot the commercial, but it’s also a celebration of marriage equality.
The video showcases weddings of real-life same-sex couples. The moments are intimate—first dances, kisses and more—and giving this a watch will have you feeling joyful.
Make sure you’ve got your tissues handy for this one, guys and gals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlNKiH1iBk
The visuals accompanied by the beautiful song “Never Tear Us Apart” by Courtney Barnett make for one overwhelmingly joyful experience. So much so that people online can’t quit talking about it.
From the moment the video was released on Feb. 24, people have been brought to tears by the advertisement’s unabashed celebration of love. Twitter was practically flooded with folks crying happy tears!
“Have tissues handy,” one Twitter user warns—appropriately so:
“We’ve voted today for equality, for love, it’s time for more marriages, more commitment, more love, more respect,” Australia’s Prime Minister said in an address to the house. “This is Australia: fair, diverse, loving and filled with respect.”
Not only are Australians happy, but people all over the world are enjoying the news.
This isn’t the first time Apple has celebrated or been a supporter of equality, either. This ad, for example, which was released back in November, celebrates our differences as people:
Of course, according to a diversity and inclusion report released by the company as up-to-date as July 2017, the company is still predominantly male, coming in at 32 percent female worldwide. So the company still has some work to do as far as leveling the playing field. But Apple also has more African American and Latino employees than many of its competitors, according to Tech Crunch.
Unfortunately, creating inclusion and equal opportunities for everyone isn’t something that can happen overnight, but when there are small victories, they’re worth celebrating. That’s likely why the latest ads from Apple have been met with so much praise.
The earlier you can learn not to let hurdles stand in your way—literally and figuratively—the better.
Thanks to an obstacle course his dad built for him, one toddler is getting that lesson out of the way early. His dad set up an entire set of obstacles for him in their backyard in Bucyrus, Ohio, and watching him complete it is equal parts adorable and inspiring!
The toddler, 3-year-old Kelson Masayoshi Koge—or just “Yoshi,” for short—couldn’t have been more excited to complete these backyard obstacles, and lucky for us it was all caught on video. Yoshi’s mom, Kimberly Koge, first posted the video back in 2015, and it has since racked up more than 500,000 views on YouTube and more than 120 million views on Facebook.
“My toddler is obsessed with ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ so my husband made him a course today, and he killed it,” the proud mom wrote in the description of the original YouTube video.
Viewers couldn’t help but write comments about some of their favorite moments.
“OMG, is he the cutest little guy ever!!!!! How fun is this! He did kill it. My fave is when he shimmies under the low bar!!!!” one person wrote on YouTube. “Look at him pumping his widdle arms as he runs,” another said.
Overall, people thought this was pretty “epic”—especially for a little boy.
And Yoshi actually developed quite the fan base. As more people viewed the video, he even grabbed the attention of NBC’s pint-sized talent show “Little Big Shots,” which is hosted by Steve Harvey. Yoshi appeared on the show in 2016, and completed an even more intense course and even got a play-by-play of his run called by “American Ninja Warrior” host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4PEKJ5HtqI
And to think, all of this was started by an impromptu backyard setup.
Yoshi’s dad, Ken Koge, told the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, “The more we watched the show ‘American Ninja Warrior,’ the more he would want to do it. So, we would put something down and he would jump over it or climb up the couch. I was cleaning the garage one day before dinner, and he was out there with me and asked me if we could make a course. So, we just put out a few pieces of wood here and there and just made something of a makeshift course, and he was all excited.”
The makings of a champion right there!
Since the video was originally posted in 2015, the family has blessed the online world with even more videos of Yoshi.
This isn’t the only time parents have gone above and beyond to deliver obstacle courses for their kids, either. In 2016, one Colorado dad built an impressive backyard course for his 5-year-old daughter. He even went so far as to have the dad provide commentary and set up an audience of stuffed animals to cheer little Lylah on!
Kids make parents do the darnedest things! What lengths have you gone to to see your kid’s dreams come true?
Eleven years ago, Jennifer Jones’ life changed forever when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The genetic disease produces a thick mucus in the respiratory system, causing lung infections and making it difficult to breathe over time.
In October 2017, Jones received a donation that would change her life forever: a new set of lungs from an anonymous donor. Just moments after surgery, the Minnesota woman was able to breathe on her own — no oxygen tanks or anything! — for the first time in years. Her fiancé caught the moment she took her first unassisted breath on video, and you’ve got to see it to realize just how miraculous it was.
The video was posted to YouTube and has made the rounds online, racking in over 1.5 million views. It’s hard to describe exactly how watching her reaction will make you feel — but it’s fairly safe to say it’ll have you appreciating the little things in life afterwards.
See the incredible moment play out for yourself:
Since the surgery in October, Jones and her fiancé Rob Ronnenberg have posted updates about her progress. From her first steps four days after her lung transplant to a very special message on National Donor Day, the couple is allowing the online world a glimpse into what life is like after receiving an organ donation.
In the video for National Donor Day, Jones recalled what it was like taking that first unassisted breath from her hospital bed.
“I remember taking that first breath,” she said. “I was afraid. I was afraid that the lungs weren’t going to work. You have all of these fears going through your head. But I took this breath, and it was so unbelievably incredible.”
She continued, laughing, “It took my breath away, pretty much!”
In the same update video, Ronnenberg explained the intention behind filming this moment in the first place.
“She had just come out of surgery, and she was pretty heavily medicated still, so I wanted her to be able to see it one day,” he said. “All of the attention [the video has received], it’s not about Jennifer. It’s not about us. It’s about the donor family. It’s about their gift. So, I hope that we will one day be able to share that video with them, as well.”
The couple is dedicated to raising awareness about cystic fibrosis. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, more than 30,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with the disease.
More than just raising awareness about Jones’ disease, they want to stress the importance of organ donation.
“This has definitely been very special to me, and it will always be my miracle. But it’ll be their legacy,” Jones said. They also encouraged others to register to be organ donate: “Please register and talk to others about donating your organs.”
The newly married Liz and Scott Shoesmith met two years ago via the Tinder dating app. Liz told the Daily Mail she learned Scott was deaf after a Google search revealed the information before their date, but she decided to continue with their plans of meeting in person. Andit’s a good thing she did! After a couple years of dating, the pair decided to get married, and Liz planned a special surprise for her groom.
The bride said her soon-to-be husband cried throughout the entire song, and when you see the touching moment play out for yourself, you’ll know why:
The couple’s story was originally shared with the Love What Matters site and, since then, this moment has been viewed online millions of times.
“Even though Scott is deaf, I have never felt more heard in my life. For every joy he has brought into my life over the last two years, I wanted to surprise him with my entrance,” she told Love What Matters. “I won’t lie, I was terrified before walking into the ceremony. But the moment I locked eyes with him I never looked away and it was a special moment just between the two of us. He held it together for a few seconds before crying the whole way through the song. He has re-watched the video a hundred times since and he still cries every time!”
Here are some photos their wedding photographer, Dreamlife Photos & Video, posted to Facebook:
How sweet!
Apparently, Liz began to learn sign language shortly after she and Scott began dating. And leading up to their wedding day on Jan. 27, she taught herself how to sign the lyrics to the song. Clearly, her husband-to-be was incredibly touched:
“I only knew the Auslan alphabet when I was seven years old. So I taught myself sign language by using the internet, off apps and videos. Every time I practiced the song, I was getting it wrong,” Liz told the Daily Mail. “I got lucky on the day, I didn’t make any mistakes. Everything just came naturally from my heart, and not my head.”
And the end result was an incredibly touching moment between the bride and groom.
Since getting married, the couple is striving for inclusion for not just the deaf, but for all people through the charity organization Liz runs called The Inclusive Foundation. The bride is even auctioning off her wedding dress to raise funds for the cause:
Congratulations to the happy couple! May every day be just as special as their wedding day!
OK. So kids may be up on all of the latest technology. But parents, if you’re looking for a way to school the kiddos, all you have to do is pull out a relic from the past. As evidenced when one mom filmed her son struggling to use a rotary phone.
Kimberly Phillips caught her son, Braylon, on camera, trying to use this old-school phone, and boy are we glad she did! Since posting the video to Facebook on Jan. 7, it’s been viewed 18 million times—likely giving everyone a good laugh.
According to CNN, the first push-button phones didn’t become popular until the early 1970s and, before that, different versions of the rotary phone had been around since the 1930s. So if you grew up in the ’60s, ’70s and even ’80s, you’re probably familiar with these rotary-style phones. Otherwise, it’s been smartphones since day one.
And clearly—when it comes to going backwards from a smartphone—the struggle is real:
The teen can be heard saying, “where’s the zero?” and “I messed up,” as he begins to get frustrated by the dialing method. Then he turns to his mom and says, “Y’all went through this struggle?”
It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?
Finally, at the end of the video, too frustrated to go on, he does what any of us would have done in that situation—reached for his cell phone to solve the problem! This is an “ask Siri” moment if ever there was one!
Many people who saw the video online commented with similar stories. One person wrote, “This reminds me of when my niece found a collection of LPs in her grandmother’s closet and was so excited to find ‘big, black CDs.'”
“Reminds me when my daughter asked me what ‘rewind’ meant,” another shared. Talk about a “senior” moment!
Moments like these are so relatable because, well, moms and dads—we’ve all been there.
Dawne Kirkwood, who had sported dreadlocks for 20 years, decided it was time for a change. And not just a moderate change, either. Nope. Kirkwood opted to shave her head entirely. But though she was happy with the results, she wasn’t exactly sure how her husband would react.
She and her daughter staged a reveal, having her husband stand with his back turned to her until she was ready to show him her new look. Thankfully, the daughter caught the moment on camera—because seriously, the husband and father had the best reaction to his wife’s shaved head.
The daughter posted the video to Twitter with the caption, “So after 20 years of growing her dreads my mom wanted to cut off her hair. She wasn’t sure how my dad would react tho….but this is how he did.”
So after 20 years of growing her dreads my mom wanted to cut off her hair. She wasn’t sure how my dad would react tho….but this is how he did. 😭🤧 pic.twitter.com/Nih3jH2qSb
The video shows a nervous Kirkwood coming around the corner and waiting for her husband to turn around. Upon seeing her for the first time he exclaimed, “Oh wow!” He continued, “Oh, you are so hot!” and then went in for a big hug. The amount of love and support he showed is absolutely incredible. Bravo!
Little did the family know that this video would go viral. It’s been viewed over 5 million times. And because so many people wanted to see what Dawne looked like before the chop, her daughter kindly posted some photos of her long hair, too.
For everyone asking about my moms hair length before she cut her hair. There you go 💃🏽 pic.twitter.com/aBYFSgEADF
Not only did people give compliments, but they shared empowering stories of their own:
You look fabulous darling! <3 Absolutely fabulous! I had long hair too and ended up shavin it all off a few years ago, no problems, no nothin and I loved it! It felt amazing and for the first time I felt beautiful! You look so beautiful! I might do it again someday! pic.twitter.com/FRVhVoryRk
Of course, this isn’t the first time that a dad’s reaction has been completely inspiring. John Marshall shaved his head and got a tattoo shaped like his son’s cancer scar after learning that his son was struggling with self-confidence. The son told his dad his scar made him feel like a “monster,” and that was all the dad needed to hear to act.
“I told him if people wanted to stare, they could stare at both of us,” the dad told BuzzFeed.
These men are helping their loved ones love the skin they’re in, and we couldn’t be more here for it. Here’s to all of the incredibly supportive husbands, partners and parents out there! We couldn’t be more grateful for you.
The 2018 flu seasonhas been record-breaking, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, numbers of those infected are only continuing to rise. So, now more than ever, it’s important for everyone to take precautions to limit their risk of contracting or spreading the flu virus. One very tired, very hard-working nurse has some ideas for how people can do that and so she posted a video full of advice based on seeing ER visitors during flu season.
On Jan. 27, nurse Katherine Lockler filmed a Facebook video in her car immediately after ending a 12-hour night shift at the ER. She was exhausted, she had been “yelled at” by hospital patients and was probably just ready to go home and sleep. Instead, she felt it was important to share some advice for the public: Avoid the ER if you don’t have the flu or a medical emergency.
“Please don’t bring your healthy children, especially your newborn babies, into the emergency,” Lockler said. “If you don’t have what I call a true emergency, this would not be the time to come to the emergency room.”
“If you’re not aware of how the flu is spread, the only way you can get it is through your eyes, your nose or your mouth,” she said. Whether you have the flu or not one key preventative measure you can take to avoid getting or spreading the virus is “wash your stinkin’ hands,” the nurse said.
Lockler also recommended self-medicating with the proper dosage of Tylenol, Motrin or ibuprofen if you do contract the flu. Some people come into the ER to complain that they took pain management pills but they didn’t help, she said. Those people simply need to know they can take higher doses.
When it comes to avoiding germs, you should also be mindful of not sneezing or coughing into your hands and opt to use the bend of your elbow to contain the germs instead. She even demonstrated how easy it is!
Lockler, who has been a nurse for almost 18 years, said there is so much that can be done to prevent to spread of the flu virus that people just aren’t doing.
“The biggest problem for me was seeing people come in to visit and not only being exposed to this awful flu virus, but not taking the correct precautions to get themselves disinfected before going out in the world,” Lockler told the Pensacola News Journal.
Her video has been viewed nearly 10 million times since Lockler posted it three weeks ago. After some people apparently complained that she was a little too sarcastic in her video, it has even spurred an online petition to support her and other nurses and doctors who are “spreading of education during this horrible flu season.”
She would also like to remind you to be kind to the nurses and doctors who are working long hours on their feet to see an overwhelming amount of patients this flu season.
“Please thank an ER nurse — and every nurse and doctor [who] is taking care of sick people right now,” Lockler said. “We’re putting ourselves into the thick of some nasty germs to help.”
So, wash your hands and thank any medical professionals you know!
Sure, the focus should be on the incredible athletes showcasing their talents at the 2018 Winter Olympics. But the internet has found its latest star and it’s a child trying to lick the lens of NBC’s camera. It’s become a viral moment that made many people — especially parents — laugh and probably cringe. Because yeah: Parents know exactly what this is like.
An insatiable curiosity is what makes being a kid so interesting, but it can also be exhausting for parents. A constant need to touch, pull and lick is something to which parents around the world can relate. This mom in Pyeongchang, South Korea, who can be seen pulling her child away from the camera, is definitely transcending language barriers and cultural divides in this moment:
It’s not always the parents that are doing the wrangling. Sometimes the kids try to control the situations and feel “embarrassed” by their parents. Even celebrities aren’t immune to this kind of thing! Another major “break the internet” parent-child moment was when six-year-old Blue Ivy told Beyoncé and Jay-Z to stop clapping at the Grammys.
Parents and children have a lot to deal with, but it’s the moments like these that prove you’re not alone in your struggles. And that’s why this kid at the Olympics has provided many laughs and a collective sigh of relief.
The 2018 Winter Olympics are underway until Feb. 25, so be sure to tune in for more internet trending-worthy highlight moments from athletes and fans!
Based on what we’ve heard thus far, Justin Timberlake’s new “Man of the Woods” album is not going to disappoint. He’s released three tracks from the album and the latest is a song called “Say Something,” featuring country musician Chris Stapleton. There’s a music video to accompany the song’s release, and trust us — it’s a must-see.
“Say Something” has a different feel compared to the previously released “Filthy” and “Supplies,” one that’s perhaps truer to his Tennessee roots. After all, that’s kind of what the latest “Man of the Woods” is all about — a returning home. It’s Justin, as you’ve never seen him before.
“This album is really inspired by my son, my wife, my family, but more so than any other album I’ve ever written — where I’m from. And it’s personal,” he said in a video introducing the album.
The “Say Something” video features Timberlake in the historic Bradbury Building in Los Angeles, riding an elevator to different floors. On each floor, he encounters more musicians, including Stapleton. Eventually, the elevator reaches the bottom floor, and Stapleton and Timberlake meet in the middle, each strumming a guitar.
The video’s powerful finish will give you chills (that can’t just be us, right?):
Incredible, right? Even more impressive is that the video was shot live. La Blogotheque, the film company that shot the video, tweeted details about filming:
17 musicians, a 60 people choir, 5 floors, 2 elevators, 1 camera and so many microphones: it’s @JTimberlake and @ChrisStapleton's new video clip, shot live by La Blogothèque at the amazing Bradbury Building in Los Angeles. https://t.co/FXpX4F7LBb
The lyrics feature this line “everybody says say something that says something,” and this video and song seems to be Timberlake’s way of speaking his truth. He sings “sometimes the greatest way to say something is to say nothing at all,” but a song like this speaks magnitudes. Although, it’s not exactly clear what Timberlake is providing commentary on, that’s part of the beauty of the song — you can apply a meaning that’s empowering to you.
Fans seem to be loving the latest music video and song to come from Timberlake. Twitter was flooded with words of praise to the two musicians. “Unreal,” one fan wrote in response to the video:
So Timberlake has definitely succeeded in getting everyone hyped for his full album release, and fingers crossed we’ll be seeing more of Stapleton and Timberlake together. At, say, the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show, for instance? We can only hope!
And if you can’t get enough of his latest sound, be sure to check Timberlake out when he goes on tour, too. It’s sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience to see songs like these performed live.
This high school freshman loves a little friendly competition, which he recently proved in a video that’s since gone viral. Sean Kennedy, a student at Southern Cayuga Central School in Aurora, New York, challenged the rival school’s cheerleaders to a gymnastics battle while attending a basketball game, and it led to an epic series of flips that you’ve just gotta see for yourself.
Thankfully, a friend of Kennedy’s was nearby and able to film the interaction between Kennedy and the cheerleaders. The video shows Kennedy approaching the cheerleaders and asking them if they’d like to participate in a gymnastics-style showdown. When there are no takers, Kennedy performs a back handspring and walks away.
This encourages one brave cheerleader to then show Kennedy what she’s got. Of course, Kennedy’s got a response to her moves and, all in all, the interaction’s pretty incredible.
The video, which has been viewed over 11 million times, was posted alongside the caption, “Posting this vid on every platform possible because my best friend’s an ICON,” and the fans in the gym where the competition took place couldn’t agree more.
People online are loving the video, too. On Twitter, they keep making comparisons to the cheer film “Bring It On,” because this is basically the 2018 version.
Even though these schools have a “rivalry,” Kennedy admits this was all in good fun.
“Healthy competition is important in furthering our skills and I respect the cheerleaders who clapped back,” he told BuzzFeed. “All we wanted to do was to get the crowd energized and make the basketball game more amusing.”
After all, for Kennedy, gymnastics is just “a way to express [himself] and have fun,” the told The Citizen.
Seems as though he did a really great job of encouraging competition and building excitement. He told The Citizen that it was “the most [he’d] ever heard anyone cheer at a high school basketball game.” So, mission accomplished. He showed school spirit to the max and the end result—well, it was awesome.
It must have been a cold January morning in Arkansas, because a pond had completely iced over enough for a baby deer to get stranded. Thankfully, some people who lived nearby spotted the deer and were ready to risk walking across the pond to help get the animal to safety.
“I was going out to feed farm animals when I saw a large dark spot on the ice in my pond. After getting closer I realized it was a small deer. I called my son and he sent my grandson out to help,” one of the people behind the rescue mission explained. “He put on his waders and rescued the deer.”
They caught the sweet moment on video, seen above.
At first, the deer seems frightened—naturally. But eventually, the doe lets the man pick her up and carry her to the edge of the pond. He’s careful as he makes his way across the ice, breaking it where he can. Thankfully, the pond isn’t very deep, so there isn’t much risk of going under. After a couple of close calls and one minor slip, the pair are able to make it back to solid ground. But the young deer seems cold and disoriented.
Someone half-jokingly asks off camera, “Can we keep her?” But the person filming is adamant about letting her get back into the wild. The deer isn’t exactly quick to run off, though, so they set up a temporary shelter for it, just until it’s ready to brave the wilderness once again.
“We made a lean-to out of pallets and put straw and corn in it. Then we put the deer in it. The next morning the deer was gone,” reads the explanation in the video’s caption.
This deer isn’t the only animal that’s suffered from the recent cold surge, either. Iguanas in Florida were frozen when Winter Storm Grayson brought cold temperatures and even snow to Florida. Sharks were also stranded due to cold shock in the Cape Cod area.
But unless the young deer in the video above finds itself stuck in the middle of a pond again, it should be more than equipped to handle the winter weather. You see, deer have a special fur coat that makes surviving freezing temperatures possible.
We have a feeling this deer will be just fine, because nature is an incredible thing. And if it should find itself in another predicament, let’s hope there are more kind humans nearby to help out!
Po’s not the only bear who’s got some major skills. Sure—the main character of “Kung Fu Panda” has some awe-worthy Kung Fu moves, but there’s a real-life black bear that may just give the panda a run for his money. Footage of a black bear yielding a stick of bamboo was caught at the ASA Zoo in Japan, and it’s really quite impressive. To prove it—it’s gotten over 6 million views on YouTube.
Clearly, the bear’s talents are nothing to scoff at! The video runs for over three minutes, and the bear is twirling the stick between his paws the entire time. He really seems like he could go all day, not that he’s trying to show off or anything.
Watch the bear in action:
For comparison, you can see that Po the panda is quite handy with bamboo, too.
He’s got talent—there’s no denying it. But, hey this is an animated movie, after all. This black bear’s the real deal, which makes him all the more special, if you ask us.
People immediately noticed the similarities between the animated panda and the real-life bear online:
But, the title’s the easy part. Learning to twirl the bamboo like that was the hard part!
Of course, this black bear isn’t the only animal that’s got some real natural abilities. In fact, a whale recently picked up on the fact that a shark was nearby and was able to save a diver by trying to tuck her under its fin and even lifting her out of the water.
It’s really something, isn’t it?
Whether you’re a fan of Po, the black bear or this whale, there’s no denying these animals all have their own unique capabilities, and really—that’s what makes animals so great!
If you’d like to spend even more of your time looking at animal videos (we can’t say we’d blame you!), there’s even more where these came from!
Love makes the world go ’round, and these babies know it. They can’t seem to stop hugging each other, and it’s pretty much the cutest thing we’ve ever seen. These four sisters — who are actually quadruplets — aren’t strangers to the internet. If you follow the Webb family on Facebook, you’ve been able to watch these little girls grow up, and they couldn’t be more adorable. The recent video of the love fest has gone viral on Facebook, having been viewed over 55 million times, and if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s most certainly worth a watch.
Abigail, Emily, Grace and McKayla were born in Alberta, Canada in 2016. The identical quadruplets were conceived naturally, without the use of any fertility drugs. According to Global News, the couple were told by a nurse that the odds of having natural quadruplets are one in 67 million.
The girls are growing up quickly. But they’re not too grown to accept hugs — and plenty of them.
In the video, you see the sisters exchange hugs multiple times as they listen to the “Moana” soundtrack. Because who doesn’t love a good hug session and Disney movie combo, after all?
These sisters don’t mind sharing hugs, but that probably has something to do with their special bond.
“They definitely miss each other when they’re apart from their sisters,” their mom, Bethani Webb told Today.com shortly after the girls were born. They didn’t even like having to be separated to be in their own incubators at the hospital.
“Right now, they’re all in one crib, which is nice. Before, they were in their incubators, they were all separate and they definitely had some separation anxiety,” she said back when her daughters were born.
Good thing they’ll grow up together and give as many hugs as they want now!
Clearly, these babies can’t get enough hugs, and the internet can’t get enough of this video! They keep re-posting it online:
We’re convinced that sending this video to someone is like sending a hug virtually, so if you know someone who could use a hug on this Monday morning, you know what to do!
The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Simplemost may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.
Winter storm Grayson pummeled the East Coast this week — it even brought snow to Florida! Some of us are definitely braving this bomb cyclone winter storm better than others. This video footage of a deer munching on a tree outside of a home proves that a little snow won’t stop wild animals. Freezing temps? Bring it on, this buck says! It’s nothing he can’t handle!
The video was posted to the CBS New York Facebook page. Filmed by Theresa Nicholson in Staten Island, the footage shows a huge buck just munching away on a tree outside of Nicholson’s home. It was shared with the caption, “This hungry buck didn’t seem to mind the storm in Staten Island!” And it most certainly did not!
Some animals aren’t faring quite so well in the severe cold temperatures. The bomb cyclone winter storm has actually caused sharks to freeze to death off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy said two thresher sharks were found Dec. 27, “likely stranded due to cold shock.”
Meanwhile in Florida, frozen iguanas are falling from the trees. It looks scary, but the good news is that the cold won’t necessarily kill them. Apparently, if frozen iguanas are left alone to thaw in the sun, they will start to be able to move again. (Just be cautious around them, because they can bite!)
The scene at my backyard swimming pool this 40-degree South Florida morning: A frozen iguana. pic.twitter.com/SufdQI0QBx
“Don’t assume that they’re dead,” Kristen Sommers of the nonnative fish and wildlife program for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told CBS News. It’s just that it’s “too cold for them to move,” she said. So, if you happen to see one, leave him be (and keep other pets away).
As for deer, they’re much more equipped to thrive in a cold climate thanks to their thick fur. Their winter coat is especially designed to keep them insulated. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, “The underfur traps layers of air, with warmer layers closer to the skin.”
Animal guru Jack Hubley also explained how their fur works in their favor on WGAL:
So, these deer should have no trouble weathering Winter Storm Grayson. Let’s hope the same is true for the sharks, iguanas and many other affected animals, too!
The last thing you might expect to see while swimming in shallow water in the Bahamas is a group of sharks. But, as a shocking viral video shows, as soon as one little boy jumped in, four sharks started heading his way.
Thankfully, a man on the beach was flying a drone to capture footage of the clear blue waters and was able to spot the nearby sharks that were threatening the boy. Upon seeing them encroaching, Artem Tkachenko, who was operating the drone, yelled at the boy to run. Thanks to his warning, the child was able to get out of the water safely.
You can see in the footage that this was most certainly a close call for the little boy. One shark actually got quite close to him before turning away. Watch as the young boy gets out of the water in the knick of time:
This certainly isn’t the first time an unsuspecting swimmer has had an encounter with sharks while on vacation in the Bahamas. According to Shark Attack Data, there have been 98 reported shark attacks in the Bahamas, with the most recent occurring in August 2016.
Just like the boy in the drone video, a woman who was swimming last year while on vacation in the Caribbean had no idea a shark was nearby. But unlike him, she was attacked, according to news.com.au. The shark that attacked her was reportedly a nurse shark, which could be the type that were headed for the little boy in the video, too.
According to National Geographic, nurse sharks are sea-floor sharks, meaning they could swim in shallow waters similar to where the boy was swimming. They’re also mostly docile around humans when they’re unprovoked, which could be why they don’t get too close to the child in the clip.
Shark Sider reports that nurse sharks swim in groups of as many as 40 sharks, which could also explain why four so quickly surround the boy at once. The boy was lucky to be able to avoid a run-in with these creatures, but this video can definitely serve as a reminder to be careful and aware when enjoying a swim in the ocean, no matter how shallow the waters.
This July, a little boy named Antonio Vargas Jr. lost his mother. When Christmas came around, his father Antonio Vargas Sr. wanted to do something a little extra special. So he went to a Build-A-Bear store and created a very unique gift: A plush monkey that played audio recordings of Antonio Jr.’s late mother’s voice.
Vargas Sr. filmed the moment his son opened the gift, as the boy immediately burst into tears upon hearing his mother’s voice. Watching this video will have you reaching for the tissues, too:
The stuffed monkey played his mother’s voice saying three phrases:
“I love you to the world and back,” “Give me a big hug. I love you,” and “I love you guys so much, and I will always love you.” How truly touching.
The fact that the stuffed animal was a monkey held significance, too. “We always called our son our little monkey. So on Christmas Day, his dream came true!!! I love my little man with all my heart, Daddy loves you,” the dad wrote on Facebook.
Vargas Sr.’s video gained quite a bit of attention online, and has already been viewed over 600,000 times on YouTube. People wrote in to tell the father what a great gift he had given to his son.
“That is beautiful…Your son will cherish that forever. You are an awesome Dad…God Bless you All,” one person commented on Facebook, and many other wrote in sharing similar sentiments.
Having others reach out touched the father, and he wrote a big thank you to everyone for their kind words on a GoFundMe page that has been set up to help the family.
“I want to start by saying Thank You from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been very supportive of the video and who took the time to express their sincere condolences,” Vargas Sr. wrote.
The father continued, “Because this happened so fast we did not expect anyone to offer a helping hand, but due to multiple request we decided to create an account for those interested in helping. I would also like to express my deepest condolences and prayers to those who have also lost a loved one and may God continue to bless your family.”
This was a very touching moment between father and son, and hopefully the little monkey will serve as a reminder of the late mother. Wishing all the best to this family!
‘Tis the season for giving, and these kids are a perfect example of what this time of year is all about.
A group of students recently banded together to raise money in order to replace a Nintendo 3DS XL that had been stolen from a fellow student. Shawn Hawkins, a high school student, had written about his stolen Nintendo on the white boards of classrooms around his school. It turns out the Nintendo had been given to him by his late grandmother.
“The announcement that Shawn wrote on the board was basically him begging for his 3DS XL back,” Shawna Cantiliano, a fellow classmate, told Nintendo Life. “[The message also said] that he would not tell anyone if it was returned, that it means a lot—it was a gift from his grandma.”
Cantiliano and her friend, Piper, were moved to do something about it. After posting on social media to announce that they were collecting money for the Nintendo, the pair also reached out to a teacher, Ms. Grimm, to see if she could help. “My teacher said she’d buy it!,” Cantiliano told People magazine. “She said to raise what ever donations I can and she’d just pay the difference.”
And that’s exactly how it went down. When the students went to present Hawkins with the gift, he couldn’t believe what was happening. Thankfully, the sweet moment was caught on camera.
You can tell by Hawkins’ face that he is both shocked and extremely touched to find out that his classmates have replaced his stolen game console. And instead of reaching for the Nintendo, he goes in for a big hug, exclaiming, “Thank you! You’re an angel from God.” Such an incredibly sweet moment.
The video has gained quite a bit of attention online, and people are getting all sorts of emotional over how truly touching this story is.
People on Reddit are responding as well, saying things such as, “The look on that kid’s face made me tear up a bit.” We feel you!
This story illustrates what the season is all about, so if you weren’t in the Christmas spirit before—we have a feeling you are now. Here’s hoping you carry that feeling with you all season long.
Yes, the holidays are a crazy time filled with shopping, wrapping, cooking and getting the house decorated for all the festivities. But remember when the holidays used to be fun? Kyle Gunderson of California decided to bring laughter back into the Christmas season in a hilarious way.
Instead of just decorating his home with pretty lights and greenery, Gunderson decided to take a different approach. He challenged himself to cover the house in as many holiday puns as possible. Gunderson calls the resulting masterpiece his “Winter Punderland.”
You have to admire Kyle’s creativity. He incorporated 10 holiday puns into his Christmas decorations this year. Can you guess them? Check them out in his Instagram post.
Kyle’s efforts took a lot of time and effort, which he shared in a few sneak peeks along the way. Back in December, he praised his wife Cori’s Photoshop skills in creating their “Christmas Matt.”
Kyle also recorded a video tour of his decorations. With a glass of red wine in her hand and a Santa hat on her head, Cori walks the viewers through some of the clever plays on holiday phrases. She seems to be a pretty good sport through it all. Although you have to wonder if this is what she had in mind when her husband said he’d take care of the Christmas decorations.
My LOL moment was the “gingerbread man.”
The responses to the Gundersons’ holiday spirit raced around the internet faster than Santa’s sleigh goes around the world. The video has been shared more than 250,000 times on Facebook and fans shared their love of the cheesy Christmas jokes.
But the Gundersons aren’t the only ones who enjoy throwing around the festive wordplay. Just search for #winterpunderland on all of the various social media platforms and see what you can find! Here are just a couple giggle-worthy examples.
If you’re an animal fan, then you’ll love Instagram user helenhirst’s punny jokes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/wvyYoaH3RA/
How about a viking joke mixed in with a little holiday hilarity?
Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear! – a woman telling her husband about a viking's vast knowledge of weather #winterpunderland
It’s hard not to love Disney’s “Moana” — the story of a determined girl who tries to stop a curse plaguing her island home is brave and uplifting. Thanks to its funny moments from Dwayne Johnson, who plays a demi-god named Maui who travels with Moana across the sea, even adults get super invested in this movie. To prove just how much one man can adore a Disney film, this talented guy built a real-life replica of the hook that Maui carries in the movie.
As you’ll see in the video below, which documents the entire process, this man’s wood-working skills are impressive. Beginning with what looks like nothing more than a few two-by-four blocks of wood, he creates a hook that is practically identical to Maui’s:
It may not have magical powers—but that doesn’t make it any less incredible. Especially with that glow-in-the-dark feature. Too cool!
If you’re interested in creating a real-life version of Maui’s hook for yourself and your kids, there are online tutorials that show you how it’s done.
This example uses foam to craft a life-size hook:
This one will show you in more detail how to make a kid-size version out of wood:
Of course, you’ve got to be pretty handy to pull off these DIYs, so if hitting the store is more your speed, we certainly don’t blame you. Luckily, there are some great options available online. Stores such as Walmart and Toys “R” Us carry versions your kids will love.
Two children were rescued from a burning apartment by a homeless man, according to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.
The fire happened around 11:33 a.m on Dec. 1. Officials say it started in the kitchen as a cooking fire.
According to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue on Twitter, 36-year-old Anival Angelo saw smoke coming from the door of the apartment and heard the two children crying. Despite being locked with a deadbolt, he was able to pull open the security door and save both children from the blaze.
Two small children, 10 mons & 3 yrs were rescued from a burning apt by a homeless man who jumped a locked gate, then pulled a dead-bolt locked security door open to safety. Both kids will be okay. The man is a TRUE HERO. pic.twitter.com/jImwAklmcB
The two children, who are 10 months old and 3 years old, were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. It is not believed that their lives are in danger.
Damage to the apartment is estimated at $50,000.
Reports at the scene indicate that the children were dropped off by their mother to their grandfather’s residence. The stove burst into flames while he was cooking fries and chicken, so he used a window to get outside.
The grandfather was apparently in the back of the apartment and couldn’t get to the front, which is where the children were.
The second annual “A Very Pentatonix Christmas” special is airing on Nov. 27, but NBC is already teasing the musical greatness that will soon be coming to your television screen. Based on the clip they released of Pentatonix and Jennifer Hudson singing “How Great Thou Art”—you’ll want to tune in!
The Pentatonix a cappella group won “The Sing Off” back in 2011, and they’ve been making incredible music using only their combined voices ever since. But when they do decide to team up with other artists, the results are amazing, and this video proves it.
To sing “How Great Thou Art,” they collaborated with none other than powerhouse vocalist Jennifer Hudson, and the performance is too good to describe with words. You have to hear it to believe it:
Their voices come together seamlessly, and when Hudson is singing on her own, it’s truly miraculous. She hits those high notes perfectly and, ultimately, delivers one killer performance. Naturally, people can’t stop talking about this duet online. One person called the collaboration “phenomenal” on Twitter:
I literally caught myself holding my breath while I watched. Phenomenal.
This is just one of many incredible performances that the NBC TV special has in store. Kermit the Frog, Jay Leno and even more celebrities are also scheduled to make appearances.
The show airs at 10/9 central on Nov. 27, so make sure you’re in front of the TV to catch these incredible musical renditions.
In case you’re dying to let the holiday music listening party begin—you’re in luck! You don’t have to wait until Nov. 27 to start listening to the Pentatonix’s take on Christmas classics. Here’s their version of “Away In A Manger” to get things started:
Follow that up with “Little Drummer Boy.”
There’s even more where that came from on their official YouTube channel.
Now you’re well on your way to getting in the Christmas spirit. Tune in on Nov. 27 for all of the Christmas joy you can handle!
Justin Page didn’t want to put off asking his girlfriend, Brittany Duncan, to marry him, even though she was away on a mission trip helping children in Africa. So he flew to Africa to surprise the love of his life. Not only was Duncan not expecting to see her boyfriend, but she definitely wasn’t expecting him to drop to one knee.
Those who were with Duncan on her mission trip were more than happy to help Page plan his surprise proposal. Telling Duncan they would be dressing up as superheroes for a skit, the volunteers broke up into several superhero-themed groups. Duncan was dressed up as Thor to lead her group, and Page disguised himself as Iron Man.
When the group leaders began performing their skit, Page made his move. Of course, given the superhero theme, Duncan wasn’t surprised to see Iron Man. But she was shocked when Iron Man took off his mask. She immediately burst into tears.
Then Page dropped to one knee. Duncan clutched him and cried as he said, “Will you marry me?” Of course, she said, “yes!”
After an amazing proposal like that, we have high hopes for one incredible wedding for these two. According to a Facebook update from Duncan’s mother, the two are set to be married in less than one month.
This certainly isn’t the first time a man has gone above and beyond to make a proposal special. Eric Martinez planned a “Little Mermaid” engagement photo shoot to immediately follow his surprise proposal. As you can imagine, the results were stunning:
We applaud these men for going above and beyond. And once you see this sweet, superhero proposal unfold in the video below, we think you’ll agree—themed proposals are the way to go!
What’s the most one-of-a-kind proposal you’ve ever been witness to?
Having leftover Halloween candy can be a blessing and a curse. It’s nice to sneak a piece of chocolate or two every once in a while, but with the onslaught of Thanksgiving and Christmas baked goods right around the corner, it’s not always ideal to have that many sweet treats calling your name.
So, what to do with all of that candy? You could stick it all in the freezer, or you could whip up a few of these creative recipes and call it a day!
The video below includes step-by-step instructions for turning leftover Halloween candy into delicious new treats. The best part is that these four recipes are definitely crowd pleasers. So, make a few batches before your next get-together so you can get rid of a whole bunch of sweets at once.
1. Hard Candies
Got a ton of Jolly Ranchers left in the candy bucket? Melt them down three at a time to form rainbow lollipops. That should help you get rid of them quickly!
2. Caramels
Halloween may be over, but fall is still in full effect. Melt those caramels to make an amazing caramel apple treat. You can even crush up chocolate candies to use as a topping! Now, you’ve got a delicious snack and much less candy on your hands.
3. Chocolates
Chocolate and fruit makes a great combo. So, melt down chocolate leftovers and dip some strawberries into them, why don’t you?
4. Gummies
If you’ve got gummy bears or other gummy candies, there’s a really creative (and tasty) use for them. Throw them into popsicle molds, add soda and freeze. Simple as that. It’s a great way to get rid of leftovers in a flash.
Watch the video below for more information on preparing each of the above recipes—and prepare to say goodbye to that lingering Halloween candy once and for all!
Of course, there are tons of other ideas for using leftover candies online. We also love the idea of using leftover Hershey bars to make s’mores dip, for example.
Roman McConn is a 6-year-old boy with a special place in his heart for animals and he’s using his adorableness to help shelter dogs get adopted. His mom Jennifer McConn filmed a video of Roman pleaing for a home for a deaf 5-year-old Labrador named Legend, and it’s since gone viral. We’re not surprised, because this video is seriously too sweet!
In the video, Roman fills in the audience on all of the fun details about the dog. For instance, Lege d has a tickle spot and is “super funny,” the little boy said. The dog is also deaf and needs to find a home that’s “experienced with a dog that’s deaf,” he explained.
“We really, really need him a home,” Roman said in the video. “We hope Legend gets adopted.”
Since Roman’s video was originally posted to Facebook, it has garnered 49,000 views. On Nov. 2, Legend was still looking for a home, but at the time of publication, Legend was no longer listed as up for adoption on the Human Society of Skagit Valley website. It’s possible that this Roman and Jennifer’s efforts to find Legend a home may have been successful! (Update, 11/10/17: Simplemost reached out to the shelter and learned Legend has not yet been adopted!)
This isn’t the first time Roman and his mom have made videos to help their local shelter place animals in loving homes, either—here’s one they recently made about another pup named Cambria. This is definitely a passion for the 6-year-old, and it has been for quite some time. When Roman was just four years old, he apparently gave up gifts at his birthday party and asked that guests instead make donations. “His fourth birthday he gave up gifts, to receive money as donations and he donated that back to a local rescue,” the mom told King 5 news.
Given the attention Legend’s video has gotten, it seems as though Roman and his mom have found a great way to help get dogs adopted. Cute kids and cute animals make a great combo.
Weddings are always beautiful, if you ask us. But one wedding had something that made it a little extra special. The bride decided to sing to the groom as she walked down the aisle, and we’re fairly certain there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
Instead of walking down the aisle while a song was playing, the bride, Allison Thurman, decided to personalize the moment and actually sing “Can’t Help Falling In Love” as she was escorted down the aisle to meet her groom.
This was caught on video and posted to Facebook. Since then, it’s been making its way around the internet, and has been seen by over five million people. While the camera stays on mostly on the bride, you do get to see a bit of the groom’s reaction. He is so overcome with emotion at one point that he has to bend over and rest his hands on his knees. So basically, he is all of us. Watch the beautiful moment unfold:
Based on the Facebook comments, this video has inspired others to do something similar at their own weddings. And whether folks were inspired to do this at their own weddings or not, there was one common theme for those who watched this video—happy tears. “I’m literally crying. So beautiful,” one person wrote on Facebook.
This certainly isn’t the first time a bride has absolutely stunned a groom, however. Some have surprised their husbands-to-be with a song, as this bride did, and others have done it by just being themselves. There’s something about seeing your bride walk down the aisle that grooms just can’t handle.
Thankfully for the rest of us, there’s evidence of both online. Like the reaction to this bride who sang “Look at Me” as she walked down the aisle, and this groom who had the best reaction to his bride approaching him. How sweet!
There’s just something about weddings that gets us reaching for the tissues.
Skydiving isn’t for the faint of heart, but one adventurous grandma was up for the challenge. Accompanied by her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Ella Campbell, 94, went skydiving to celebrate her birthday, and we can’t help admiring her chutzpah. When asked why she decided to give skydiving a try, she responded, “‘Cause I’m nuts!”
“I probably won’t make it another year,” she explained further, “so it had to be this year.” We’re not so sure. Campbell seems pretty feisty. Surely there’s more than enough time to check some additional items off her bucket list?
We’ll let you be the judge. The Above the Poconos Skydivers group caught everything on camera, from the jump through to the landing, and it really is incredible to watch:
Campbell maintained her composure from the moment she jumped all the way through to her graceful landing. Once she was on the ground, she had just one thing to say: “Holy cow!”
Is this an experience she’d repeat or recommend? You bet! “I might have to do this again next year,” she said. “Everybody ought to do it. It was wonderful.” We guess it’s safe to say this skydiving experience was a success.
Many people online are applauding her bravery. “AWESOME!!! God bless her heart. We love her,” one Twitter user wrote.
Campbell isn’t the only grandma to go all out in celebration of living a long life. 98-year-old Gladys nearly broke the internet several months ago with an epic birthday party photo shoot. For the very special occasion, she died her hair blue, sipped champagne straight from the bottle and ate cake with her hands:
These grandmas definitely know how to celebrate. And they’re proving—above all else—that age is nothing but a number.
Having a baby is something many couples dream about, but in one in eight cases, getting pregnant and carrying a pregnancy to full-term isn’t actually all that easy.
Houston-based vlogger, Heather, and her husband, Justin, knew all too well how difficult struggling with infertility can be.
The couple had been trying to get pregnant for exactly three years and six months when she began having strange dreams. The dreams involved visions of her mom holding a baby—and that’s when she decided to try a pregnancy test.
The test was positive and Heather was finally pregnant! In an emotional video, she announced her pregnancy and filled in viewers on her plan to tell her husband the news. It’s a plan she’d had in mind for three years, since they first began trying to conceive.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this out loud, but I’m about to tell my husband I’m pregnant,” she said. “We weren’t expecting this.”
And considering the plan was to tell her husband there was a wasp in the house so he would come home from work to get rid of it, there’s no way he was expecting to hear this news!
Heather put their dogs in T-shirts she made that read “Big Brother” and “Big Sister,” and had her pregnancy tests ready for the big reveal. Now, all she had to do was wait for her husband to get home!
When he opened the door, the dogs came rushing to him. “What’s all this?” he said. His wife responded “Read their shirts.”
“Wait. Seriously,” he said. Heather had her positive pregnancy tests available to show him, and he truly couldn’t believe the news. “No way! Oh my god,” he said before giving his wife a big hug.
But it’s important to remember that this is an issue for so many families, and that’s why one mother posted a plea on Facebook asking you to think twice before asking a couple when they’re going to have kids.
You just never know what a couple may be going through, but once you get to hold your child (whether one you carried or one you adopted, a route that some parents will choose to follow), the struggle is all worth it.
Watch this couple’s pregnancy journey begin in the video below. And prepare for happy tears!
The Miss Peru 2018 beauty pageant this weekend wasn’t just about the stunning looks of the women on stage. Instead of giving out their body’s measurements, each contestant quoted a statistic about women’s rights in their country and made a bold feminist statement.
The contestants approached the microphone and stated facts such as:
“My name is Camila Canicoba, and I represent the department of Lima. My measurements are: 2,202 cases of murdered women reported in the last nine years in my country.”
And:
“My name is Melody Calderon, and I represent La Libertad. My figures are: 61 percent of attacks on girls under five years old are committed by people close to the family.”
As the women spoke, images of women who had been murdered or assaulted flashed on the screen behind them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02w4vWOWt4
As of 2014, 36 percent of women in Peru will experience physical and/or sexual intimate abuse by a partner in her lifetime, according to the UN Women Global Database on Violence Against Women. That one-in-three statistic doesn’t take into account the countless acts of violence women experience outside of the home.
Jessica Newton, the pageant’s organizer told BuzzFeed that in her eyes, “everyone who does not denounce and everyone who does not do something to stop this is an accomplice.”
Many people online supported contestants using their platform to focus on something more important than physical appearance.
One Twitter user called the women “courageous”:
Well done, courageous women. Say they want "World Peace" and mean it.
However, the former editor of a women’s magazine in Peru named Lizzy Cantú questioned the delivery of the statistics. “I guess what is a bit problematic is that you are still using women’s measurements—bodies—to sell a message,” she told Vox. “But I do think that some messages need the widest available distribution.”
Still, the pageant’s organizer underscored that the delivery should not matter, because the message is more important. “Women can walk out naked if they want to. Naked. It’s a personal decision,” Newton told BuzzFeed. “If I walk out in a bathing suit I am just as decent as a woman who walks out in an evening dress.”
What do you think about the beauty pageant contestants sharing statistics about violence against women instead of their measurements? Let us know in the comments!
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This is one Halloween DIY you’re sure to enjoy: a pumpkin keg! Not only is a pumpkin keg easy to make, but it will look cute to have on display at a Halloween party.
“Today” posted a video that will walk you through the simple steps to bring this pumpkin keg to life. (And there are plenty of other tutorials online as well, like this one from No Spoon Necessary!)
You simply cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and guts to hollow out the insides. (It should be as bare and empty as possible inside before it holds liquid.) Then simply use an apple corer or a knife to create a circle for the keg tap. Make a hole that’s just big enough to fit the tap, as you don’t want to let liquid escape.
And there you have it. It’s as easy as that. Watch how it’s done here:
You can purchase a kit with a tap as well as a coring tool that make a hole the exact size you need on Amazon for $17.99.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can create pumpkin kegs for the remainder of the fall season and then do the same thing with a watermelon once summer rolls around!
The best part of hollowing out your pumpkin is deciding what to fill it with—there are just so many delicious concoctions to choose from! You might prefer an adult beverage, such as red sangria, or opt for a kid-friendly version of spiced cider punch. Decisions, decisions…
Creating a keg isn’t the only way you can use pumpkins as functional decor at a fall party, either. For example, Everyday Dishes offers a tutorial for turning a pumpkin into an ice chest. Simply core out the pumpkin, add ice and you’re done.
Now you’re prepared to throw the very best fall parties. Enjoy!
Talent shows are typically a little hit or miss, but these seven dancers proved that they really have what it takes to wow an audience—and took the concept of a “talent show” to a whole new level.
Not only did they manage to perfectly time their choreography, but they also completely fooled the audience in the process. Because not only are these moves a display of their skill, but they also make for a clever optical illusion.
The women stepped out wearing suits that are half white and half black. At first glance, it’s not hard to see what’s going on, and you may think it’d be easy to keep track of which leg is performing which movements—but trust us—it gets pretty confusing.
They’ve created a mashup of several songs, and as the music plays they stand still, only moving their legs to the beat of each song. (The songs they sample range from “Eye of the Tiger” to “Can’t Touch This.”) And that’s all it takes to totally trick the eyes. It’s pretty incredible, honestly.
Not Your Average Talent Show
The dance routine was part of the Silverdale First Ward LDS Talent Show, and since the video was originally posted, it’s racked up over a million views. Because clearly, people are into illusions.
The original poster noted that this was great for a group performance, and it really does seem like the perfect way to nail a dance routine, even if you’re not the most skilled dancer.
And these costumes would also be fun for Halloween if you’re looking to dress your family or friend group in matching costumes. Now, you have just to practice your dance moves!
Check out this video for all of the inspiration you’ll need to enter a talent show or pull off a very memorable group costume. It gets really good around the 42-second mark.
The project took her 25 hours, spread over the course of 8 days, to build—and just two minutes to fall. Her triple spiral video’s been watched over 38 million times on YouTube alone.
Hevesh has made a name for herself in this space; she’s created complex commercial campaigns for Honda and Ford, among others. Her videos have been featured on networks like NBC, FOX News, CNN and CBS.
She started playing with dominoes in 2009 when she was 10, and she got into the whole thing simply by searching “dominoes” on YouTube.
“Take it slow, be very cautious when you’re building, and if it falls down, know that it’s part of the domino process,” Hevesh, who is now 18, told CBS News.
The teen from New Hampshire says she owns about 70,000 dominoes, and she also has a Guinness World Record under her belt. She was part of a team that set a record in 2016 for the most dominoes toppled in a circle. The amount the toppled? A cool 76,017!
Check out Hevesh’s YouTube channel for tons of other mesmerizing videos of her work. This video that she created with a fellow domino artist several years ago is the most-watched on her channel with a whopping 85 million views:
Hevesh was in the routine of posting new clips of her projects to her channel every Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. That may no longer be the case, however, as this domino artist extraordinaire heads off to travel during a “gap year” before she starts her freshman year of college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, next fall. (Famous Rensselaer alums include Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, as well as a bunch of NASA employees and astronauts.)
There are many reasons to love Costco. After all, who doesn’t love savings, buying in bulk and scoring free samples? But for some unsuspecting customers, a trip to Costco became a whole lot better when two piano players sat down to play an Adele tune.
The action was caught on video and, since it was first posted online a couple of years ago, it’s gotten over four million views. Apparently, a woman was shopping in Costco when she heard a salesman playing Adele’s “Someone Like You” on the piano, and she decided to join in, too.
Thankfully, their off-the-cuff duet was caught on camera:
As you can see in the video, there were those who were too focused on getting to the free samples to stop and listen, but then there were those who couldn’t help but be drawn in by the melody. Did you notice the dad dancing with his son just off to the side of the camera? We think it makes this moment all the more special.
Obviously, those who saw this go down in person really appreciated the performance. But on top of that, millions of people who watched this online chimed in on YouTube to comment upon how truly beautiful this moment was.
“…and then something wonderful happened at the local Costco,” one person commented.
“So awesome! Why does that make me tear up?” wrote another.
The person responsible for posting the video, YouTuber hyp3r247, wrote that this experience “Totally made [her] day,” and we’re fairly certain it made the shopping experience extra special for every other shopper, too.
This isn’t the first time an incredible piano performance has gone down at Costco, either. Back in 2011, this little kid amazed customers with his piano playing skills:
One of the biggest, most special moments of any wedding is watching the bride walk down the aisle. But for groom Quintin Reed, seeing his bride Ashleigh walk toward him was extra special, and a bit overwhelming—in the best way.
“My uncle, who was the officiant, told me to look down at my watch until the moment was right. My heart was pounding so incredibly fast,” the groom told the Huffington Post. “Then the moment came. She walks around the corner and when she was about 50 feet from me, my uncle told me to look up at my bride. And when I did, my heart became overwhelmed with joy and my entire body just became numb as I witnessed the most beautiful woman ever in front of me.”
As his soon-to-be-wife approached, Reed couldn’t contain his tears. First, he looked up and brought his hands to his face. Then, he was so overcome with emotion, he could no longer stand. His bride literally made him go weak in the knees. And it doesn’t get much sweeter than that.
Of course, this also made the bride become emotional, and she started to cry as well. She certainly wasn’t expecting a reaction like this from her beau.
“I thought he would be a little emotional but I never would have imagined he would have fallen to his knees like he did,” the bride told People magazine. “As soon as I saw him sigh and look up to the sky, I lost my breath. It was the most romantic moment I had ever and probably will ever experience.”
The couple first met three years ago in college at Lindenwood University. They wed on Oct. 7 in a gorgeous, love-filled ceremony at the Cottleville Wine Cellar in Cottleville, Missouri. They said their special day couldn’t have been more perfect.
“The foundation of our relationship has been trust, communication, respect, love, kindness, laughter, hugs and high-fives,” the groom told the Huffington Post. “Our wedding day was perfect!”
Watch the groom’s incredible reaction to his bride below—and make sure you have some tissues handy. There won’t be a dry eye in the house once this video plays!
Taylor Winston’s Marine Corps training came in handy when gunfire rained down on a country musical festival in Las Vegas on Oct. 1. The former Marine did what he had to do to help save lives that night—which happened to involve stealing a truck.
Taking a vehicle that happened to have the keys in it allowed Winston to help get over 30 injured people to the hospital much faster than the first responders. But not to worry — the 29-year-old returned the truck to its rightful owner as soon as he was finished saving lives.
Now, to thank Taylor Winston for his efforts, a car dealership called B5 Motors gifted him with a brand-new truck of his own. The dealership greatly respected his ability to think clearly and help others in an emergency.
“Most of us would have ran and never came back,” Shane Beus, owner of B5 Motors of Arizona told CNN. “His military training allowed him to think in a split second what to do.”
They were first able to make contact with Winston after putting out a plea on social media using the hashtag “#HelpB5MotorsFindTaylorWinston.”
After only a few hours, the dealership had made contact with him. And just days later, the dealership posted a video of Winston receiving his brand new Ford F-150.
After receiving the keys, he admitted, “I don’t even know how to accept a gift of this caliber,” but he’s hoping to use it to give back in any way that he can.
“Helping out at a lot of country festivals and making dance floors—if anyone knows me, that’s kind of what I do, and this is going to help a lot,” he said.
Now that Winston has been given a truck, he plans to sell his previous vehicle and donate the proceeds to continue to help victims from the Las Vegas shooting. He seems truly humbled by the gift, but admits that it’s hard to think of himself as a hero.
“There’s so many others that haven been given as much credit as I [have],” he says in the Facebook video. “It’s hard to accept ‘hero’ when there’s just everyone doing what they should do. It’s great to see so many people step up.”
Julie Roberts is one of the most accomplished and prolific actresses of her generation. With a career in the entertainment industry spanning three decades, you’d think it would be difficult to pick out her best roles—let alone condense her life’s work into a mere 10 minutes. But that’s exactly what the star and host James Corden did on recent episode of his show, “The Late Late Show.”
Roberts was there to promote her latest flick, “Wonder,” set to debut in November. She and Corden managed to capture some of the most memorable moments from her 30 years in Tinsel Town, acting out scenes from many of her most iconic and beloved films, including “Steel Magnolias,” “Runaway Bride,” “Pretty Woman,” “Mystic Pizza,” “Eat Pray Love,” “Stepmom” and “Pelican Brief,” among several others.
The two ended the epic performance with a duet of Dionne Warwick’s “I Say A Little Prayer,” which featured prominently in Roberts’ 1997 hit, “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”
Corden and Roberts seem to have a lot of fun with the whole thing, at times breaking into fits of laughter. They don some amazing wigs to pull off their roles, and are aided by a number of silly props.
While it’s great to see Julia doing Julia, fellow actress Amy Landecker (“Transparent”) revealed in an appearance on “The Late Late Show” that she has actually worked as a voice double for Roberts. Commonly referred to as “audio dialogue replacement” in the industry, it is used when a line needs to be changed or rerecorded due to audio quality in a movie after the original scene has been filmed. Corden asks Landecker to recite one of Roberts’ most famous lines from “Pretty Woman”: “You guys work on commission, right? Big mistake. Huge.” We have to say—she pretty much nails it! Watch the clip below:
What a great look back at Roberts’ illustrious career. Here’s to many more great movies with her as the leading lady!
Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling are promoting their upcoming film “Blade Runner 2049,” and you might think that answering question after question in a string of interviews would become boring after a while. But these two have certainly managed to keep themselves entertained. Their lively interview with Alison Hammond of U.K. talk show “This Morning” is absolutely hilarious—and you won’t be able to watch it without laughing.
The interview begins with Hammond admitting that she’s never seen the original “Blade Runner,” which Ford starred in. And that was all it took to get these three laughing—uncontrollably.
“Blade Runner 2049” hits theaters on Oct. 6, and since you won’t actually find out a whole lot about the film through this interview, let us take a minute to fill you in.
Accordign to IMDb, the sequel picks up 30 years after the original storyline ended. LAPD Officer K, played by Gosling, is sent looking for officer Rick Deckard, played by Ford. Deckard’s been missing for 30 years, but he may hold some much-needed information that could help save society.
Here’s the trailer for your reference, too.
So, yeah—there’s some pretty serious stuff happening in this film, but you wouldn’t know if from the giggle fest that commenced on “This Morning.” Harrison did manage to make an excellent point about the film in between laughs and sips of whiskey.
“There is a darkness, and there is a dystopian atmosphere, but there is also a triumph of the human spirit,” he said. That actually seems like a lovely way to summarize this film.
So, in spite of the non-stop laughs, Hammond managed to get an great quote out of what might just be the funniest interview ever with two of Hollywood’s greatest stars—and all before afternoon had even rolled around. Not bad for a day at the office, hey?
There must be something about British talk shows because this isn’t the first time that Gosling has had a hard time keeping a straight face during an interview. Watch him lose it in this appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
It’s hard not to LOL as you watch these videos—so now we all have these talk shows to thank for giving us a little laughter in the middle of a very difficult and emotional week.
In wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, many celebrities are speaking out on the tragedy, which stands as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Now Ellen DeGeneres, who is well-known for being an uplifting presence for many during the worst of times, has added her voice to the national conversation.
In a segment for her show that was taped on Oct. 2, but aired on Oct. 3, DeGeneres spoke about the terrible events in Las Vegas as well the recent destruction in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. While many feel defeated about the state of the world after a seemingly unending series of major tragedies, DeGeneres urged viewers to focus on all the good that still remains, even after all that has transpired in recent months.
After acknowledging the devastation that has affected so many, she goes on to say, “It’s very easy to lose hope, and we cannot do that. I always say, ‘There’s a lot more good in the world than there is bad.’ And I continue to believe that.”
DeGeneres goes on to detail the many examples of kindness and goodness that she has seen since these awful events have occurred, such as the reports of people lining up at 4:30 a.m. to donate blood to the victims in Las Vegas.
She then plays a montage of the everyday heroes she has featured on her show throughout the years—people she says have personally inspired her.
She concludes the segment with the following statement: “The world is full of amazing people. Good will always win. Love will always win, and we will continue to shine a light on those people on our show.”
She then reassures her viewers that she will give them a positive escape from whatever difficult things might be going on in the world or in their lives that day.
Bravo to DeGeneres for her inspiring words. We could all use a message of hope right now.
If you knew the world was about to end, where would you go? I’m guessing Kansas isn’t the answer. But it probably should be.
Down a long dirt road in the middle of Glasco, Kansas — which has an official population of 473 and is about a two-hour drive from both Wichita and Topeka) — stands a bunker that can survive a nuclear bomb, earthquake, tornado, terrorist attack and even a pandemic. It’s called Survival Condo.
In the late 1960s, it was a missile silo. But as modern technology quickly progressed, the old silo was forgotten about. However, 10 years ago, Larry Hall purchased the bunker. He decided to build a luxury survival complex for the wealthy if Armageddon were ever to happen.
The bunker sits 201 feet below ground. It takes less than 30 seconds to go from the top floor to the bottom. Each condominium costs $3 million. The complex includes plenty of amenities. It has an indoor pool, dog park, spa, gym, cinema, grocery store, a hospital and a hydroponics room, which allows the complex to be self-sustaining.
Survival Condo is also self-sustaining when it comes to power. They have batteries that last for 15 years, wind turbines and two generators to keep the entire complex up and running.
Hall says that even if the world never comes to an end, residents who own a Survival Condo can still use the underground bunker as a vacation destination.
The penthouse condo looks like a typical luxury resort or home you’d find above ground. All of the amenities you need and the comfort you want.
Survival Condo is not the only high-end bunker complex out there.
The Vivos Shelter Network builds and manages luxury bunkers around the world. Take a peek inside the concept for one such bunker in the company’s video below:
Rising S Company also installs steel bunkers equipped to hold a year’s worth of food and withstand earthquakes. While the company’s interiors don’t look quite as high-end as Survival Condo, the general manager told CNN that bunker sales jumped 700 percent between 2015 and 2016.
What do you think: If money were no object, would you buy a survival bunker?
Jimmy Fallon’s latest skit on “The Tonight Show” will make you laugh until you cry—and that’s exactly the point.
If you’ve seen the hit drama “This is Us,” there is no doubt you had at least one cry in the first season (or every episode) and maybe a few during the season 2 premiere on Sept. 26. We’ll refrain from new season spoilers, but if you’re familiar with the show, you know that shedding a few tears is pretty much inevitable.
But while we can all cry privately in our living rooms without embarrassment, what about the people on set? How do the sound people and the directors behind the scenes manage to get through the raw emotion in the room without tearing up (or full-on sobbing)?
Well, this hilarious skit tackles that problem, casting Fallon as a boom operator on the show who just can’t seem to contain his emotions.
Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t finished season 1, you might not want to continue reading. Also, finish season 1! The rest of you, watch this funny video:
During an emotional scene between the characters Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and Kate (Chrissy Metz), Fallon’s character is just like the rest of us and simply can’t hold back the tears.
“I’m the reason that dad died and we all know it,” Metz says in the scene. “And it’s not something you can forget or get over.”
“Dad wouldn’t want … ” Brown says before stopping to say, “I’m sorry, is someone crying?”
We’d go beyond just “crying” and say Fallon is in a full-on ugly cry pretty much instantly. The rest of the crew is annoyed at first and after more than 20 takes, Metz even walks out, only for Fallon to call her a diva and say, “You’re the reason dad died.”
It’s all good in the end, though, with other people on set joining in on the cry session, including both actors and even Milo Ventimiglia, who plays Jack, their father.
It’s now official that no one is immune to the drama that plays out on set and our TV screens on Tuesday nights. You can catch “This is Us” on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC or streaming on Hulu.
Think about the last 15 Disney movies you watched. Did any of them have a mother character? Ok, there was that mom in “Moana.” And, she’s nice and all, but the wise sage that is grandma still kicks the bucket before the story can move on. So, the strong female role model still dies.
Seriously, think about it. Where are all the mamas?
“Frozen” — dead.
“The Little Mermaid” — dead.
“Aladdin” — dead.
“Finding Nemo” — dead.
“Tangled” — fake mom — pyscho; real mom might as well be — dead.
“Bambi” — dead.
“Beauty and the Beast” — dead.
“Snow White” — dead.
“Cinderella” — dead.
Dead, dead, dead. All dead.
C’mon Disney, do we really have to sit through another “Oh no, the mom died” plot line? And, what do my kids think about all this mama drama? There are two ways these stories are digested in our house: Either the kids ask a million questions — why doesn’t she have a mom? Is she dead? How did she die? Mom, are you going to die? Or, the alternative (which might be worse): They don’t ask any questions. Meaning we have desensitized our kids so much that they don’t believe moms even exist in our fairy tales — and, nobody cares or asks why.
The hilarious duo behind #IMomSoHard have their own ideas about why Disney princesses can’t have moms. In their video, “I Princess So Hard,” moms Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley cut right to the chase.
“If moms come into a story that’s supposed to last 90 minutes, she’s going to clean that sucker up,” Hensley says. “It’s going to be over in seven minutes.”
They joke that in a mom-present world, Elsa from “Frozen” wouldn’t have covered her country in snow and ice.
“The mom in ‘Frozen’ would have been like, Elsa, you get out of that room. You’re going to have to deal with it. Life is hard, put on your gloves. Everybody’s got something, Elsa.”
And, they’re not wrong. But, do moms really ruin Disney movies? Do all the moms have to die? Does Belle’s mother really need to be dead in order for “Beauty and the Beast” to unfold? In a word, yes.
Think about it. If Belle had a mom, she’d change the plot from the get-go. Mom would ride shotgun on dad’s rickety invention carriage that started the whole mess, grab her dodo bird of a husband by the chin and tell him to stick to the main roads. Moms are far too practical for fairy-tale life.
In an interview with E News, Disney producer Don Hahn explains the practicality behind killing mom off. And, he basically confirms that the #IMomSoHard ladies really do know everything.
“The movies are 80 or 90 minutes long, and Disney films are about growing up. They’re about that day in your life when you have to accept responsibility. In shorthand, it’s much quicker to have characters grow up when you bump off their parents,” Hahn says. “Bambi’s mother gets killed, so he has to grow up. Belle only has a father, but he gets lost, so she has to step into that position. It’s a story shorthand.”
OK, OK, but we’d still like to see a mother-daughter relationship unfold on the big screen. Is it too much to ask to bump off the dad next time? Asking for a friend.
What does a 12-year-old newly minted millionaire do with her new found fortune? Ventriloquist and national sensation Darci Lynne Farmer won the “America’s Got Talent” season 12 title on Wednesday.
Throughout the season, she seemed to handle the pressure like a total pro. Still, you have to wonder what went through her brain as she stood on that finale stage waiting for the big announcement. Farmer admitted her nerves almost got the better of her.
“I was so stressed out. That was the longest 30 seconds of my life,” Farmer told Entertainment Tonight. “I was, like, just spit it out Ty Ty! ”
And how adorable did she look when she found out she won?
Farmer’s win capped off a run that began with her getting Mel B’s golden buzzer at the start of the season. The young girl and her bunny, Petunia, sang a rousing rendition of “Summertime’ and captured the judge’s heart, along with the rest of America. In the end, the viewers voted to give Farmer the “AGT” title and prizes.
Watch her winning performance below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ropWor8aAM
So, what’s in store for Miss Darci Lynne and her menagerie now that the season ended? The ventriloquist took some time away from her beloved puppets to share her plans for some of the $1 million prize money.
“First, I am definitely going to give some money to my mission program at church, and then I have to get my mom a dishwasher,” Farmer said. “Then I’m definitely going to get a pug, because I really want one—if my parents let me.”
Sure, she’s a television star, but it’s great to see she’s still a little girl who wants a new puppy. And, kudos to her for wanting to take care of mom and her church, too!
Hey guys, I know it's been a day, but I wanted say thanks for the experience of a lifetime!!! I cannot thank y'all enough!❤️❤️#blessed@AGTpic.twitter.com/M5a4F1GDjZ
But Farmer won’t spend that $1 million too soon. In fact, Forbes published a report about how “America’s Got Talent” pays out the prize money. The winning contestant has two choices:
Receive the $1 million prize as an annuity paid out over 40 years. This equals about $25,000 per year before taxes.
Get a lump sum payment for approximately $300,000 before taxes.
And in case you’re worried about going through Darci Lynne withdrawal now that the AGT season has ended, don’t worry: Farmer and her furry, talkative friends will soon headline a couple shows in Las Vegas that super fans can try to catch.
The morning after the live season finale, “AGT” tweeted details about the show.
The show runs for two performances (Nov. 2 and Nov. 3) at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. In addition to Farmer’s headlining act, the audience will see performances from finalists Angelica Hale, Light Balance and Preacher Lawson. For more information on tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com. Presale tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 22.
There’s nothing quite like a dog video to help improve your mood. So if you need a way to make it through the workday, just press play on this video and watch these four dogs get extremely excited when they find out they’re on the way to the park for a walk. It’s pretty hilarious!
YouTuber T3 posted the video writing, “Took the dogs to their favourite spot for a walk and they do this every time.”
Apparently, going to this spot never gets old!
The video has already gotten hundreds of thousands of views and you’ll see why. People can’t resist an adorable dog video, after all.
The dogs get increasingly more excited as they get closer and closer to their destination. All it took to cue the frenzy was their owner asking, “Where are we going?” And then they pretty much lose their minds.
Definitely make sure your volume is low — especially if you’re watching this at work right now! (We won’t tell anyone.)
The dogs are pointers, and according to the American Kennel Club, they crave exercise, so it’s no wonder they were ready to be outside. With all of that energy, they’re bound to run wild the moment they reach their favorite spot.
Commenters onlineare loving how funny the dogs’ reactions are, too.
“Love how the one in front just casually ditches the barking and just screams at 0:25,” one person commented on the video. If you missed that moment, it’s definitely worth rewatching for that moment.
Of course, the Internet is full of videos of excited pups that will surely help get you through the day.
So, if you’ve got some time to kill, you’ve already opened the door to the dog video-watching rabbit hole you’re bound to go down. Just embrace it, and let the cuteness overload begin.
The anticipation at a gender-reveal party is always high.
But for Courtney and Eric Waldrop from Albertville, Alabama, who already have three boys, finding out whether they were finally going to have a baby girl was extremely exciting. On top of that, the couple is expecting sextuplets, so they had not one but six chances to bring a little girl into the world. If there were ever a good reason to have a gender reveal party, we’d say this one was it.
When they decided to try for a fourth child, Courtney was really hoping she’d finally have a baby girl. After having difficulty conceiving, the couple sought fertility treatments. When they finally got pregnant, they found out they were having not one—but six—babies!
The couple already has one set of twins, their 5-year-old sons, and their big brother is 8.
“We’re excited, nervous, overwhelmed,” the couple told Inside Edition. “We never imagined six [babies] whatsoever.”
And now that they’re preparing for six little ones to arrive, it makes sense that they’re worried about costs. Six of everything—strollers, diapers, car seats—will be very expensive.
But their church held a fundraiser to help the family out, and they also planned an incredible gender reveal party.
You can find out what the couple’s having in the video below.
People use all kinds of cutesy gimmicks to reveal the sex of their babies, from cakes filled with pink or blue icing to releasing pink or blue balloons from a box. But the Waldrops found out the genders of their sextuplets when pink or blue smoke was emitted from sparklers. The whole thing is very cute, so if you’re planning a gender-reveal party, you may just want to keep this in mind!
As for what this couple is having—spoiler alert: There are three of each in store. The look on the mom’s face when the first girl is announced really says it all. She couldn’t be more ecstatic!
“I’m so excited,” the mom-to-be told Inside Edition. “Three girls and three boys. I mean—it couldn’t be any more perfect.”
Courtney shared a Facebook post in August featuring ultrasound pictures of the sextuplets, writing that the concern “at this point is being able to take in the huge amount of calories required to keep this many babies and myself healthy. So please pray that my appetite will allow me to eat like I’ve never eaten before.”
Despite the complications for both mom and babies that can go along with delivering six babies—from preterm birth to gestational diabetes—the family is hopeful that all will turn out well.
“It’s going to be something,” Courtney told AL.com. “We just know God is going to get us through, somehow, someway.”
According to the CDC, about 24 births involving quintuplets or higher numbers of multiples happen each year in the U.S., so the Waldrop family is certainly in select company.
Former TV host Maria Menounos was helping her mom in her battle against stage 4 brain cancer when she noticed something wasn’t quite right with her own body. Menounos was experiencing headaches, light-headedness and slurred speech.
After going to the doctor, she found she had a brain tumor, too. And now she’s opening up for the first time, just three months after undergoing surgery to remove the tumor. When she found out about the brain tumor, which was the size of a golf ball, Menounos was in a state of disbelief.
“I didn’t cry. I actually laughed,” she told People. “It’s so surreal and crazy and unbelievable that my mom has a brain tumor—and now I have one too?”
The doctors had a feeling the tumor was benign, but nonetheless, they had to remove it.
“He said, ‘I’m 98 percent sure it’s benign but we won’t know until we get in there,’” she told the magazine.
Her mother’s surgeon, Dr. Keith L. Black, was able to remove 99.9 percent of the tumor, which was indeed benign, and there’s a very low chance that it will come back. So now, it’s all about recovery and focusing on her mom’s health again for Menounos.
Watch the honest interview below:
She told “Today” that it’s been quite the process coping with her tumor and surgery, but in general, she feels very lucky.
“Overall, I feel so lucky to be functioning and to be almost normal and to not have cancer,” the 39-year-old told “Today” in her first live interview since her surgery.
She admitted to having trouble chewing on her right side, and she has to be careful about moving her head from side to side too quickly, but other than that, she’s well on her way to a full recovery. And in the meantime, Menounos is spending time with her mom, who’s also doing well at the moment.
“It’s a process. And right now, she’s stable and doing well…It’s an emotional ride,” Menounos told the news outlet.
Through all of the ups and the downs, Menounos really feels as though she’s learned a lot and gained a new perspective on life:
I’m just so much calmer I think because I just see things so differently now. I think being still is so important. I think that’s why meditation is so great for people because it creates a little time of stillness in their lives. I’ve been able to look back at everything, and I did see this all as a gift. I did shift everything into positives throughout this whole journey and I think that’s really important because we are all going to have really hard times in life.
And Menounos has had one important takeaway that we can all learn from: “It’s how we respond, how we react, how we shift to see the good. Because out of every bad thing, something good comes if you see it, if you open your mind to it.”
As Menounos continues to heal and spend time with family, she’s also got a much more exciting life event on the horizon. She and fiance, Keven Undergaro, who’s stuck by her through her recent ordeal, are planning a wedding. Here’s wishing Menounos and Undergaro a lifetime of happiness and good health!
Walt Disney World has many changes coming to the resort over the next five years. The new Toy Story Land planned for Disney’s Hollywood Studios has fans excited, for sure. In particular, the Slinky Dog Dash Coaster looks to be the new addition’s centerpiece attraction.
Fans waiting for news about the upcoming park expansion got a sneak peek at the new ride! And, Disney presented it in the most creative way, of course!
You’ve gotta love those Green Army Men!
Slinky Dog Dash Coaster Nears Completion
The arrival of the Slinky Dog cars means the new coaster is definitely getting closer to completion! The cars came from a build and design team in Germany all the way to Florida. Workers on the Disney’s Hollywood Studios site couldn’t wait for the cars to arrive. Back on Aug. 1, Disney shared the news of the placement of the coaster’s final piece of track.
“There’s been tremendous teamwork… tremendous teamwork between our ride team, or facilities team and our show team,” said Shannon Mashchack, Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering. “They have to work together to integrate all the parts and pieces that makes this the wonderful experience that it’s going to be.”
The Slinky Dog Dash will bring a new coaster to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Riders will experience a family-friendly attraction where Slinky Dog dashes, dodges, turns and drops around a track Andy built with his Mega Coaster Play Kit. Disney parks experts at TouringPlans.com anticipate the ride will have a minimum height requirement of between 32 and 35 inches. This means even little ones can enjoy a spin on the new ride!
Aliens Are Also Coming To Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land also has a second big attraction headed to the park. Alien Swirling Saucers features the cute little green guys Andy got from Pizza Planet. They zoom around in their toy flying saucers and try to capture the rider’s rocket toy vehicle with “The Claw.” Sounds like out-of-this-world fun!
Disney recently confirmed Toy Story Land is expected to open sometime in the Summer of 2018. We can’t wait!
