LIFESTYLE
Five Years Into Marital Bliss! This Lovely Couple Renewed Their Vows in an Enchanting Ceremony
Love can be likened to fine wine; it gets better with time. In this video, the lovely couple celebrated their union once more after 5 years of marital bliss.
It was a breathtaking outdoor ceremony, with family and friends present to share in their joy. The bride was an absolute vision of timeless elegance and grace in her breathtaking dress. As she walked down the aisle one more time to her handsome groom, she glowed effortlessly. The couple renewed their vows, pledging their hearts one more time to forever and to the beautiful bond they share. Five years down the line, and they are clearly still smitten by each other. With the chemistry they exude, you can tell that, given the chance, they will do this over and over again. 😍
Enjoy the video below:
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
A high school teacher has gone viral for her atypical appetite, but one of her simplest snacks is winning people over.
Courtney Cook Bales, 36, has acquired a devoted TikTok following for her video series about her daily lunches, which usually consist of unusual, savory pairings that she puts together in her Georgia classroom. While Bales has used ingredients like whole green onions, marinated eggs, and spicy ramen, the snack that has captured the internet’s attention is simply made up of a sweet potato and a block of cheese.
The mom-of-four often constructs easy “ploughman’s lunches” in her classroom that do not require much cooking or too many complicated ingredients. While the exact sweet potato and the cheeses vary in the recipe, Bales typically bakes the potato for over an hour and stuffs the cheese inside the potato so that it all melts together and can be eaten with just her hands — no silverware needed.
“It’s just so wholesome, so filling, it really gives me energy,” Bales said in a video posted December 10, which has since garnered over five million views.
The teacher uses Japanese or white sweet potatoes and adds dairy like cheddar, butterkäse, and cottage cheese. In a video earlier this month, Bales recommended letting the potato cool for hours so that it becomes syrupy before the cheese is added. Although the only two ingredients really needed are the potato and cheese, Bales often adds toppings like macaroni salad, sweet onion cups and pickles.
Courtney Cook Bales has gone viral on TikTok for her unusual snack pairings (TikTok/Courtney Cook Bales)
TikTok users have been equally grossed out and delighted over the “addictive” snacking series, with one comment on Bales’s posts reading: “I’m disturbed but intrigued at the same time.”
“Girl you’ve got TikTok on a sweet potato/cheese chokehold,” another wrote, with a third chiming in: “The amount of people you’ve influenced between the ploughman lunches and the sweet potatoes need to be studied.”
“You’d make a good saleswoman. Everything you eat, I WANT. Even if I know I don’t like it I want it. And on that note tomorrow I will be getting sweet potatoes for lunch,” another wrote.
Other TikTokers shared their experience trying Bales’s snack, with one writing: “I know this wasn’t really your intention, but you have me eating a sweet potato and cheese every dang day and it keeps me so full and cuts out so much food noise!! So not only have I added more fiber, I’m eating way less junk. So thank you!”
Bales told People that she did not expect viral fame from her cravings, gaining more than one million followers in under seven months, but said, “We are all figuring things out for the first time, and people will always have opinions, but I am learning to live for myself rather than shaping my choices around people who may not understand me.
“If my videos help someone feel more confident, joyful, and free with their own food choices, then that is exactly the message I hope to share.”
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The Grinch is one of the holiday season’s most familiar icons. The grumpy, green, fur-covered misanthrope who plotted to sabotage Christmas in Dr Seuss’s classic 1957 work has now become a quintessential part of the yearly festive ritual he so despised.
But beneath that snarl and green fur, what kind of creature is he, really? Not even Dr Seuss really had an answer.
As an anatomist, I can’t help but wonder what the Grinch would look like on the dissection table – and what his skeleton, muscles and brain can tell us about his unique origins.
The skull
The Grinch’s most recognisable feature is, of course, his face. And underlying these characteristic features would be a unique skull – unlike anything you’d find in Whoville or on Earth.
Structurally, the Grinch’s facial skeleton would blend primate and canine traits: short, broad snout, high cranium and powerful jaws. It’s a face evolved for expression, adeptly capable of sneering, gloating and ultimately smiling with genuine warmth.
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Jim Carrey as the Grinch in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (Universal)
His zygomatic arches (cheekbones) are broad and flared to accommodate for the large zygomaticus major muscles needed to lift the corners of his mouth into his exaggerated, mischievous smirk.
Beneath his eyes would be a large bony canal, carrying nerves to his whisker-like facial hairs – granting exquisite tactile sensitivity to changes in air currents. Like a cat’s whiskers, they’d help him sense approaching Whos or dangling baubles – crucial for a creature who thrives on stealth.
His teeth would be similar to a chimp’s, with sharp canines for tearing through Who “roast beast”, sturdy molars for grinding tougher festive fare and incisors adapted for nibbling fruitcake or the occasional candy cane.
The upper jaw, or maxilla, would be robust and slightly vaulted, lending resonance to that infamous laugh echoing through Mount Crumpit.
The face
The Grinch’s yellow eyes, with large, forward-facing eye sockets, suggest a crepuscular lifestyle: most active at dawn and dusk.
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The Grinch’s yellow eyes are reminiscent of an owl or a cat (Getty Images)
Many animals with yellow eyes, such as owls and cats, are adapted to low light. The yellow pigment filters blue light and sharpens contrast, allowing movement to be detected in the half-light. Perfect for a nocturnal gift thief.
His nasal aperture would be tall and narrow, with a complex set of internal conchae (nasal bones) to warm the cold alpine air of Mount Crumpit. The constant twitching of his nose might indicate a highly attuned sense of smell to detect roast beast from a distance.
The Grinch’s expressiveness would involve a complex set of muscles – many of which would be unusually large so he can convey every scheme, doubt, pang of guilt and emotion he experiences. For example, he would probably have very distinct levator labii superioris alaeque nasi – “Elvis muscles” – so he can lift his upper lip sneeringly.
The spine
If you watch the Grinch walk, he’s upright but fluid, almost serpentine. His spine would probably resemble a cross between a gibbon and a cat – long, flexible and sinuous.
About the author
Lucy E. Hyde is a Lecturer in Anatomy at the University of Bristol.
This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
The lower back would be extended and highly mobile, allowing that characteristic slouch and coiled posture. The thoracic vertebrae (found in the middle and upper back) would produce a gentle outward curve – creating a hunched silhouette suited to skulking. His cervical vertebrae (neck bones) would be elongated, letting him tilt and crane his head with exaggerated expressiveness.
Like a cat, he’d be digitigrade – meaning he walks on the balls of his feet and toes rather than on the soles (as humans do). This stance softens each step – allowing for the quiet, agile motion needed to lurk through Whoville stealing presents on Christmas eve.
Though his pelvis supports an upright posture, his centre of gravity sits slightly forward and low — a design that sits somewhere between human and primate.
The brain
Anatomy often mirrors personality. Judging by behaviour, the Grinch’s frontal lobes, particularly his prefrontal cortex, would be on the small side – explaining his flat and small forehead.
Given this region governs planning, impulse control and moral reasoning, it would explain why he lacks these faculties at the story’s start. Having a smaller frontal lobe also explains his rash decisions and inability to foresee consequences beyond the next stolen bauble.
His temporal lobes would be large and active. They process sound and memory – ideal for recognising (and despising) Whoville’s Christmas carols. They also house functional areas that process smells – important for sniffing out hidden cans of Who-Hash.
His occipital and parietal lobes would also be well developed, supporting the sharp vision, coordination and spatial awareness he needed to climb, leap and slide down chimneys.
The Grinch’s amygdala (also involved in experiencing emotions) would probably be hypertrophied – explaining his emotional volatility, paranoia and exaggerated reactions. Combined with his limbic system, part of the brain’s memory and emotion centre, creates a creature ruled by passion and reactivity.
The heart
No anatomical analysis of the Grinch is complete without addressing the moment when “his heart grew three sizes”.
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A Newcastle United fan wears a Grinch mask (AFP via Getty Images)
Biologically, such a sudden expansion would be catastrophic. In humans and other mammals, cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) is a dangerous condition linked to heart failure, arrhythmias and poor pumping efficiency.
A real heart simply cannot enlarge in an instant of emotional revelation. But the brain can change rapidly.
The Grinch’s transformation is probably better understood as a neurological shift – with increased activity and connectivity occurring between the prefrontal cortex (empathy and regulation) and the limbic system (emotion and reward). His “growing heart” is probably not an anatomical miracle but a metaphor for his brain becoming more socially attuned.
Anatomy of a redemption arc
To anatomists, the Grinch is more than a Christmas curiosity. He’s a case study in form and function. And in his final form, anatomy and morality align.
The muscles that once powered a sneer now lift into a genuine smile. The hands that stole presents now carve roast beast. His limbic system now fires with satisfaction.
So perhaps the real message of the Grinch’s anatomy is this: change is always possible.
Marketsquare, one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous grocery retail brands, owned by Sundry Markets Limited, has reaffirmed its commitment to community development with a food donation initiative that supported about 100 vulnerable individuals in Rivers State. This effort is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which aims to improve lives and foster social impact.
Speaking on the initiative, Emmanuel Patrick Isangediok, Head of Marketing at Sundry Markets, highlighted the company’s dedication to giving back to the communities where it operates:
“We believe that giving back is not just a responsibility but a privilege. Each beneficiary received food items worth ₦50,000, and we hope this gesture brings relief and contributes to the well-being of families during these challenging times.”
Beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation for Marketsquare’s generosity, noting that the support would significantly ease their burdens. This initiative underscores Marketsquare’s unwavering commitment to making a tangible difference in society.
Over the years, Sundry Markets Limited is said to have consistently championed impactful CSR projects, including food donations to flood victims at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, medical outreaches, and blood donation drives to mark World Blood Donor Day. These efforts are aimed at reflecting the company’s dedication to improving lives and strengthening community resilience.
Through initiatives like this, Sundry Markets Limited is set to continue demonstrating that business success and social impact go hand in hand.
About Marketsquare
Marketsquare, owned by Sundry Markets Limited, is one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous grocery retail brands, renowned for its customer-centric approach and commitment to quality and affordability. Beyond retail, the company actively engages in initiatives that promote social welfare and sustainable development. Marketsquare currently operates 37 stores across 16 cities in Nigeria.
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More than 30 tons of cooked chicken have been recalled in the U.S. due to a major health risk.
Suzanna’s Kitchen, based in Georgia, has announced a nationwide recall on approximately 62,550 pounds of fully cooked, bone-in breaded chicken products, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
The recall is due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The product contains soy, a known allergen, which is not present on the label.
The recall affects eight-piece cut, bone-in breaded chicken portions dispatched in 18-pound cases. The cases had four units of the FULLY COOKED BREADED CHICKEN PORTION, with the case code “P-1380 126237 B30851 23:11 K04” printed on the side of the packaging.
Products that are subject to the recall have the USDA mark of inspection on the case’s label and establishment number “P-1380” printed on the side of the package.
Suzanna’s Kitchen’s chicken was recalled after soy, which is not a listed ingredient, was found in product (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The issue was discovered after Suzanna’s Kitchen told FSIS that it “identified chicken product containing soy that had been mislabeled with a non-allergen containing product code,” according to the announcement.
The recalled cooked chicken was shipped to restaurants nationwide. While no illnesses have been reported to date, the FSIS is concerned that restaurants still have the product in their freezers and is urging businesses to throw the chicken away immediately.
Soybeans are identified as one of the nine major food allergies in the U.S., along with wheat, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, milk, peanuts, and sesame. Allergic reactions to these nine foods vary but can involve “hives and lip swelling to severe, life-threatening symptoms, often called anaphylaxis, that may involve fatal respiratory problems and shock,” according to the FDA.
In October, another popular chicken product was recalled. Hormel Foods recalled nearly 4.9 million pounds of its frozen boneless chicken products distributed to restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial food outlets.
The recall came after customer reports of metal fragments found in chicken breast and thigh products. FSIS said Hormel traced the contamination to a damaged conveyor belt used during production. No injuries or illnesses have been reported. The products are only sold to food service companies, not directly to consumers.
There have been many different food recalls in the U.S. this year due to allergy risks. Last month, Silvestri Sweets Inc. recalled two different varieties of its Choceur-branded Holiday Barks — Cookie Butter flavor and Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon flavor — both sold at Aldi.
The recall was initiated after it was discovered that there was a packaging mix-up, as the Cookie Butter Holiday Bark was placed in the Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon packaging and vice versa. Because of the packaging error, the cookie butter bark may contain undeclared pecans, and the other bark may contain undeclared wheat, posing the risk of “serious or life-threatening allergic reactions” to consumers allergic to the ingredient.
“The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin.
As I reflect on 2025, I’m filled with a deep sense of validation and quiet gratitude. This was the year when seeds planted in uncertainty began to bloom in the open. A year that reminded me that sometimes the world may not understand your work immediately, but purpose has perfect timing.
Five years ago, at the height of the pandemic, I took a risk many thought unrealistic. I chartered the first direct flight between Nigeria and the Caribbean, connecting Lagos to Montego Bay. It was a heavy lift financially, emotionally, and logistically, yet it carried a conviction bigger than the moment. I called it The Flight of Hope because it symbolised a dream for Africa and the Caribbean to reconnect in ways that go beyond memory.
This year, that dream came full circle.
Exactly five years later, on December 21st, 2025, Air Peace will begin monthly commercial flights to the Caribbean. The same route once flown under uncertainty will now fly as part of our collective future. Watching that happen has been one of the most affirming moments of my professional life. What once felt invisible is now a permanent part of our continental story.
2025 also brought a new wave of Africa-Caribbean integration: visa waivers, investment forums, cultural exchanges, presidential visits and private-sector leadership. Each milestone, whether flights to Antigua and St Kitts, or Afreximbank’s expanding Global Africa Initiative, has shown that the bridge we once imagined is now taking structural form.
I’m grateful to have contributed to this movement in my own way. This year, I strengthened high-level engagements across the Caribbean, particularly in tourism and cultural diplomacy work that aligns naturally with the mission I’ve carried for more than a decade through NTT Global Destinations. Our landmark side event at the 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Jamaica remained a highlight. Under the theme “From Shared Roots to a Shared Future,” we created space for leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs and policymakers to engage not just emotionally, but economically.
Through initiatives like Motherland Reconnect, we continued to link African and Caribbean entrepreneurs, creatives, and SMEs. We’re unlocking a potential $20 billion corridor that merges tourism, culture, and commerce, proving that shared history can lead to shared prosperity. This is the type of work that proves that connection is not just sentimental, it is strategic.
Beyond the Africa-Caribbean corridor, 2025 expanded my footprint in global tourism policy and advocacy. Through my work with the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) as Partner on International Relations and Strategic Engagements, I’ve focused on positioning Nigerian tourism not as leisure, but as an economic policy. From visa advocacy and international partnerships to preferential B2B access for Nigerian agents, we are slowly shifting from dependence to competitiveness.
This year also marked significant progress in the Halal tourism and ethical economy, a space I believe will define the future of inclusive tourism. Through our developing Halal Tours & Hub, we’re aligning SMEs, creatives, and tourism operators to tap into a global halal economy valued at over $7 trillion. Beyond faith, this is about equity, opportunity and economic dignity.
This year was not without its challenges, moments of redirection, lessons in patience, and reminders that pioneering work can be lonely. But 2025 taught me that the reward for perseverance is not applause; it is permanence. It is seeing the blueprint you sketched years ago become part of a broader movement, with many hands now building the bridge.
As I step into 2026, I do so with clarity. I’m preparing to launch a Continental Public-Private Impact Portfolio, a strategic framework that ties together my work across tourism, trade, halal economy and diaspora relations. The goal is simple: to make the bridge not just visible, but valuable. Not just symbolic, but economically significant.
I close this year with profound gratitude to my team, partners, collaborators and every institution that believed in the vision long before it was fashionable. And above all, to God, whose timing continues to affirm that no labour of purpose is wasted.
Five years ago, I was a dreamer with a flight plan. Today, I stand as a cultural diplomat, tourism diplomacy leader, building bankable tourism ecosystems across Africa, the Caribbean and the Halal Economy. 2025 was the year the bridge became global. 2026 will be the year we strengthen it for generations to come.
The post #BN2025Epilogues: In 2025, Elizabeth Agboola Spread Her Wings and Developed Innovations appeared first on BellaNaija – Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
LIFESTYLE
Am I more likely to get prostate cancer as I get older? As Sir Cliff Richard opens up about diagnosis
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Legendary singer and actor Sir Cliff Richard has publicly spoken out about how he was diagnosed with prostate cancer after a health check ahead of a tour, revealing he has been receiving treatment for the past year.
The 85-year-old singer said his cancer had “gone at the moment” and backed calls for a national screening test for men in an interview on ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
During the interview, Richard said: “I don’t know whether it’s going to come back. We can’t tell those sort of things but we need to, absolutely, I’m convinced, get there, get tested, get checked.”
The singer – who is known for decades of hits including The Young Ones, We Don’t Talk Anymore and Summer Holiday – said he was diagnosed after a health check for his insurance ahead of a concert tour of Australia and New Zealand.
In light of this news, we spoke to Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, about how the risk of prostate cancer changes as we age. She also highlighted some other risk factors to be aware of.
What causes prostate cancer and how does age play into this?
“Prostate cancer is caused when the cells within the prostate mutate to a point where they’re not growing normally, and they start to grow much more quickly,” explains Rylance. “What we know is that as we age, those mutations happen more frequently in our bodies, so that’s why across many different cancers your risk of cancer goes up as you get older.”
At what age do cases of prostate cancer tend to peak?
“What we can see very clearly is there’s a steep upward trend up to the age of 74 and then it starts to drop down,” says Rylance. “So, each year you get older (up to the age of 74) it becomes more likely that you will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and beyond that it starts to come down again.
“The reason that this goes down is that beyond that age people have lots of other competing health conditions above this age or are not living beyond that stage.”
What are some other factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer?
“Prostate Cancer UK has an online risk checker that asks about your age, your ethnicity and about whether you have a family history of prostate cancer. It can then give you some more personalised information,” says Rylance.
“The general population’s risk goes up from the age of 50, but if you are one of the men at higher risk of prostate cancer – either because you are a black man, or because you have close relatives who’ve had prostate cancer, or because you have the BRCA gene variant in your family – the risk starts younger.”
Is it possible to get prostate cancer under 40?
“One of my team did some analysis on looking at diagnoses of men under the age of 40, and in the whole country found on average about 10 diagnoses each year under the age of 40,” says Rylance. “So, it’s very, very rare before the age of 40, and even in that 40 to 44 age category, it’s still pretty rare. It starts to noticeably pick up from the age of 45 and for most men, that risk picks up from the age of 50.”
What is a PSA test and how often should you be doing them?
“The best test for prostate cancer is the PSA blood test,” says Rylance. “It’s testing for a protein that’s produced by the prostate and if it shows that your levels are raised, you would be sent for more tests.
“You might be referred for an MRI scan which takes a really high-definition picture of the prostate to see if there’s any cause for concern. Then, if there’s something suspicious on that image, a doctor would do a biopsy and take a small sample to see if there any signs of cancer in there.”
Rylance recommends testing from the age of 50, unless you have other risk factors, such as a strong family history, and in that case she advises to start testing from your mid-40s.
“If you’re a black man, have a family history of the disease and if your first PSA result is above one, that those things suggest that your risk might be a little bit higher, so a test every 12 months would be a good idea,” advises Rylance. “But if you just have an average risk, then a test every two to three years is probably fine.”
What are some signs of prostate cancer?
Although prostate cancer is often referred to as a “silent disease” because most men with early-stage prostate cancer do not experience any symptoms, there are some signs to get checked out.
“Symptoms that people often associate with prostate cancer are problems peeing – such as stop-start peeing, urgency, needing to go a lot at night, etc,” says Rylance. “But, what’s tricky about this is that as people get older, those symptoms are incredibly common.
“But if people are having problems peeing, we would always encourage them to go and speak to their GP because these things are often caused by things that are treatable and addressable. Signs of blood either in pee or in semen should also be checked out.”
More advanced prostate cancer can cause bone pain.
“It tends to spread into the bones, so people can experience hip pain or lower back pain,” notes Rylance. “Again, that’s an incredibly common problem in older adults, so we are not suggesting that everyone who has hip pain is going to have advanced prostate cancer, but it’s always worth going to speak to your doctor about these things.”
What types of treatments are offered for prostate cancer?
“Some men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have a type of cancer that’s so slow-growing, treatment will probably cause them more bother than the cancer ever would,” says Rylance. “So, for those men, they would be recommended to have active surveillance where the cancer is monitored.”
However, if the cancer shows signs of growing or progressing, then other treatments are offered.
“If the cancer is still localised within the prostate, there are options now around focal therapy where, instead of treating the whole of the prostate, you’re just treating the area that is cancerous,” says Rylance.
“But if the cancer is a bit more spread through the prostate, then your options are either to have surgery to remove the prostate or to have radiotherapy to treat that whole prostate area and kill off those cancer cells.
“If the cancer has spread, there are more treatments available such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy, but they do have more side effects.”
What if Asake — aka Mr Money, aka Ololade mi Asake — steps into the studio with Wizkid and something magical happens? Well, fans won’t have to wonder for long. The Afrobeats superstars have just announced their joint EP, “Real Vol. 1,” set to drop this December, and anticipation is already through the roof.
The news came during a recent Apple Music session, with Wizkid grinning beside Asake as he shared: “Special announcement, 2025 Mr Money X Big Wiz project. It’s called Real, and it drops this December. For the people, Vol. 1,” while Asake nodded along in agreement.
This collaboration isn’t just about music; it’s about a genuine connection. Asake described their bond as “real” and “deep,” built on friendship and previous creative successes. Fans have already witnessed their chemistry on tracks like “MMS” from Asake’s “Lungu Boy,” which earned a Grammy nomination.
They’ve also shared major stages. Just last month, Wizkid surprised fans at Asake’s sold-out Red Bull Symphonic concert at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, where Asake performed with a 33-piece orchestra and brought out heavy hitters like Central Cee, Gunna, Fridayy, and more.
For those who have followed their journey, Real Vol. 1 promises to be the perfect fusion of friendship, creativity, and Afrobeats brilliance — something fans across the globe will want to hear as soon as December hits.
Sir Cliff Richard has issued a plea to King Charles III after revealing he has been treated for prostate cancer for the past year.
The singer, 85, said his cancer had “gone at the moment” and backed calls for a national screening test for men.
It comes after the King said his cancer treatment would be reduced in the new year, opening up on how “overwhelming” his journey has been and stressing the importance of attending screenings to help early diagnosis.
Sir Cliff added that he would like to work with His Majesty to raise awareness.
“I’ve been involved with many charities over the years and if the King is happy to front it for us, I’m sure loads of people, I certainly would join him…,” he told former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan, who announced his diagnosis with stage four prostate cancer in June, in an interview broadcast on Monday (15 December).
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When I saw The Moon on my teaching schedule, I panicked. Despite seeing it nearly every night, I’d never paid attention to its phases beyond the occasional full moon in films. If I were going to teach this topic, I would need to learn it first.
That evening, I researched the phases of the moon: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent—each phase transitioning seamlessly into the next over a period of 29.5 days. I shared these with my students and gave them homework: Observe the moon every night for a month.
What I didn’t expect was that this assignment would change me, too. Watching the moon shrink and grow, disappear and return, I began seeing the familiarity of the cycles everywhere, including in my overflowing wardrobe. Walk with me.
The Waxing Phase: New Clothes, New Excitement
Our relationship with clothing is like the moon’s journey. When we buy something new, we’re in the waxing phase; excitement is building, and the item is growing in importance. We wear it constantly, photograph it, care for it meticulously. The dress is at its full moon, attracting attention and bringing us joy.
The Waning Phase: Fading, Tearing, Forgotten
But inevitably, the waning begins. Colours fade, seams tear, trends shift. The item that once hung at the front of our closet gets pushed to the back, then shoved into a corner, then considered for the trash bin. We treat these clothes as though they’ve completed their cycle—finished, disposable, gone.
Cycling Back: From Waning to Waxing
Meanwhile, the moon taught me that nothing truly disappears. A particular phase of the moon isn’t an ending; it’s a transition. The moon vanishes to prepare to wax again. Our clothes can do the same. Instead of discarding items in their waning phase, we can intentionally cycle them back to fullness: Dye faded fabrics. That sun-bleached black dress? Try indigo or charcoal dye. Bleach stains on a colored shirt? Tie-dye or completely bleach for a new look.
A tear doesn’t mean the end. Repair creatively. Embroider over it with colourful thread, turning damage into a decorative feature. Add patches made from contrasting fabrics, as known with the Japanese boro style for centuries.
Reconstruct entirely. A worn-out maxi dress can be transformed into a skirt. Old jeans transform into bags. Oversized shirts become crop tops. The garment changes form but continues its cycle. Replace components. Shoes and bags can be reborn with new leather, new soles, and new hardware.
Designers, Zero Waste Production
The moon’s revolution is continuous, wasting nothing as it shifts between phases. Fashion designers can adopt this idea by utilising every piece of fabric to its fullest potential. Gone were the days when tailors used fabric offcuts for simple things like dusters or inner pockets.
Today, too, designers are getting creative, using production scraps as patches for new dresses, embellishments on shoes, bags, and purses. They use materials for accessories, such as scarves and scrunchies. The lesson from the moon is that there is no waste. Every material can be switched to a new phase.
The fashion industry produces tons of textile waste annually, much of which ends up in landfills, where synthetic fabrics take decades to decompose. The moon’s cycle informs us that our clothes don’t have to die at the waning phase. With creativity and care, we can bring them back to fullness, again and again. In the coming year, whenever we notice the moon, I hope it reminds us of our clothes and how to care for them, regardless of its phase.
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Every year, somewhere between 25 million and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States.
If you’re one of the people who decorate for the holiday with a freshly cut Christmas tree, you might be wondering how to keep it looking good all the way through Santa’s visit – and maybe even a little beyond.
Curtis VanderSchaaf is a forestry specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service who knows a thing or two about conifers.
The Conversation US asked him for guidance on how to keep a fresh green Christmas tree from becoming a giant pile of brown needles, for as long as possible.
Whether you end up with a Douglas fir, a Scotch pine, a Leyland cypress, a piñon or any other evergreen, he says, the quality of care you provide is a major factor in the prolonged freshness of your tree.
What to consider when choosing a tree
Select a tree that looks fresh and whose needles are not brittle. You want one that has a strong fragrance and a dark natural green colour. Avoid bored holes in the wood, signs of bugs – like spider egg sacs – and other marks of pest damage. This advice holds whether you’re chopping down your own tree or buying it from a retailer.
Different species of trees have various colours, shapes, branching habits, needle types, scent and even bark type. Depending on what’s available to you, this comes down to personal preference.
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To keep a cut tree fresh, you need to provide adequate water (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – stock.adobe.com)
If you can, pick a tree that’s been harvested as recently as possible and has been watered and kept cool. Often, a tree’s freshness is directly related to the moisture content of its needles. If the stump – where the tree’s trunk was cut – is sticky with sap, that’s a good sign.
Give the tree a good shake, even a hard pound on the ground. That will dislodge any animal stowaways. If a ton of dead needles or dry limbs fall out, keep looking.
Getting your tree home
Tree farms and retail lots will net your tree. It’s a lot easier to transport with the branches tucked in. If you’re going to bring it home on top of your car, consider using a tarp to keep scratches and sap off your vehicle. Make sure the tree is securely tied down, with the trunk facing forward to reduce wind damage to the branches. Take it easy on the road.
If you’re not bringing your tree indoors right away, store it in a cool, damp area that is blocked from wind and out of the sun.
About the author
Curtis VanderSchaaf is an Assistant Professor of Forestry at Mississippi State University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
Make a fresh, straight-across cut on the butt of the tree about a half-inch to 1 inch (1 to 3 centimetres) above the original cut. After any cut, a tree tries immediately to seal off, or compartmentalise, the injury, which makes it hard for the tree to take up water. So as soon as you make the new cut, place the tree in a bucket of warm water. Make sure it stays full as the tree drinks.
If you have allergies, you may want to spray the tree with a garden hose to remove residual pollen or dust – as long as the weather’s not freezing.
Setting up your tree inside
To keep a cut tree fresh, you need to provide adequate water. Use a tree stand with a built-in reservoir, and make sure it’s always filled. A rule of thumb is 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. A freshly cut tree may use one-half to 2 gallons of water the first day, but this amount will taper as the tree acclimates to its indoor environment.
You don’t need to worry about adding anything to the water. It seems to just be an old wives’ tale that anything – including corn syrup, aspirin, vodka, soda pop, sugar or any specialised preservatives or gels – beyond H₂0 helps prolong the freshness of the tree. No special temperature is necessary either, just not freezing cold or boiling hot.
Do not drill a hole in the bottom of the tree trunk, thinking it will improve water uptake – it doesn’t.
If you have to whittle down the sides of the trunk to fit, the tree is too large for your stand. It’s the outer layers of wood that take up most of the water, so if you shave them off your tree will be in trouble.
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Secure the tree in its stand, ensuring the freshly cut stump is submerged. If it’s ever out of the water for more than about a quarter-hour or so, the cut starts the healing and sealing process and you should think about making a new cut.
Keeping the tree fresh into the New Year
Once your tree is all set up, your goal is to keep it from drying out. Remember, you want your tree to be fresh, but more importantly, you don’t want to create a fire hazard.
Keep the tree at least 3 feet (1 meter) from any heat source and minimise direct sun exposure. Lowering the temperature in the room may also help to maintain freshness.
Make sure any lights and their cords are in good condition and turn them off when you aren’t present. Unplug completely if you are leaving the house or going to bed. Occasional breaks from using the lights may help slow the tree’s drying-out process. And make sure your smoke detectors work and you have a fire extinguisher on hand just in case.
If properly cared for, a fresh tree will last for three to four weeks, often even five. If it starts to get dry at any point, the safest move is to get rid of it. Chipping it for compost is the most environmentally sustainable option when it’s time for the tree to go.
Then you can start enjoying the lengthening days and look forward to the next holiday on your calendar.