by Furnishly | Jan 19, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
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Anyone obsessed with popcorn knows that microwavable bags aren’t always the way to go. Popping your own kernels allows you to make as much as you want and season it according to your preferences, whether that’s light salt, tons of butter, sweet — the list goes on. To avoid making a mess by popping popcorn on your stove (not to mention potentially scorching your cookware like I once did to my mom’s 20-year-old saucepan…), there’s a handy gadget that we think you need to check out: the Hotpop Microwave Popcorn Popper.
With over 15,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, this silicone popcorn maker is the ultimate movie night tool. And as an added bonus, you can get your own as part of a special sale exclusive to Kitchn that’s taking place now through Jan. 23. Just use the code 15HOTPOPJAN at checkout to take 15 percent off. The discount only applies to four colors, Transparent Purple, Dark Orchid, Black, and Cherry, which you’ll be directed to when you click below.
There are a few things that make this Hotpop stand out from other popcorn makers. Unlike hot air popcorn makers, this is an all-in-one popper so it also doubles as a serving bowl. You can easily clean it when you’re done, rather than cleaning out your appliance and then washing the serving bowl. And although there are glass microwave poppers that we like, the heat-resistant BPA-free silicone of the Hotpop means that you don’t have to worry about it breaking. Plus, it collapses down to just two inches tall when you’re done so it’s easy to store just about anywhere.
To use the Hotpop, all you have to do is add kernels to the bowl, plus your favorite seasonings, and then stick it in the microwave. It’s said to make up to 15 cups of popcorn but can also take as little as 1 tablespoon of kernels if you’re looking for a personal snack. Tons of reviewers have also commented on how few unpopped kernels they were left with when compared to microwaveable bags.
“I had been using about a half cup of popcorn on my stovetop, but using a third of a cup in the Hotpop gave me a full bowl of popcorn. There were 10 unpopped kernels, but what really impressed me was that all of the popped corn was fluffy,” one reviewer wrote. And even if you’re left with unpopped kernels, you can go ahead and reheat those!
There are a few things that make this Hotpop stand out from other popcorn makers. Unlike hot air popcorn makers, this is an all-in-one popper so it also doubles as a serving bowl. You can easily clean it when you’re done, rather than cleaning out your appliance and then washing the serving bowl. And although there are glass microwave poppers that we like, the heat-resistant BPA-free silicone of the Hotpop means that you don’t have to worry about it breaking. Plus, it collapses down to just two inches tall when you’re done so it’s easy to store just about anywhere.
“I cannot believe how easy it was to make perfect popcorn and use the same bowl to eat out of. I have let all my friends know about this! Buy it!” another customer said, adding that they’re throwing out their old popcorn maker.
Several reviewers also raved about how easy this gadget is to clean and store, especially when compared to bulkier popcorn makers. “Cleaning is a snap: swish the sides and lid with warm, soapy water, turn upside down in the drain to air dry, snap down to closed position and back in the cabinet it goes. I didn’t have to find cabinet space since I put it on top of the baking sheets,” one person commented.
While a microwavable popcorn maker might not seem totally necessary, it’ll be one of those gadgets that you’ll ask yourself how you lived so long without it. Skip the long ingredient list on microwavable bags and pop your own kernels with this super easy-to-use Hotpop Microwave Popcorn Popper. You’ll thank us during your next movie night!
by Furnishly | Dec 26, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
Nicoletta Richardson
Entertainment Editor
In her spare time, Nicoletta loves marathoning the latest Netflix show, doing at-home workouts, and nurturing her plant babies. Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, AFAR, Tasting Table, and Travel + Leisure, among others. A graduate from Fairfield University, Nicoletta majored in English and minored in Art History and Anthropology, and she not-so-secretly dreams of exploring her family lineage in Greece one day.
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by Furnishly | Dec 19, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
TikTok is a treasure trove of viral videos and life hacks that you never knew you needed. Between dance challenges, home trends, and comedic yet relatable skits about life with a roommate, the video sharing network has it all. You can even do some apartment hunting on the platform, which segues into the next big trend: “The Holiday”-inspired swap videos.
In a bid to recreate “The Holiday,” one of the most-loved festive romantic comedies of all time starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz, TikTok users are sharing their desire to trade houses or apartments with someone else in another country.
“Anyone in another country wanna switch apartments with me for a week in January[?]. I live in NYC,” one user, @justjazzzyidk, wrote in a video that quickly went viral, with a staggering 4.4 million views in just four days.
The video, which pans around her modern-looking New York City apartment, has received thousands of comments. In the clip, the TikToker shows off her living and office space that features plenty of warming neutral colors, a fuzzy tub chair, and a neat desk space looking out of the window.
Speaking on their own experiences, one person in the comments suggested that she check out Love Home Swap, a home swap service that began after the founder was inspired by the movie in question. And according to a PR rep, Love Home Swap said that they have had a 51 percent increase in traffic and signups since the TikTok trend started, so some have already jumped on it.
@justjazzzyidk isn’t the only person on the platform who has gone viral for wanting to switch apartments with the aim of bringing some movie magic into their life. Massachusetts-based TikToker Grace, who posts under the handle @grace_gagnon, posted a video offering up her Boston apartment to someone who lives in England.
“Anyone in England want to switch places for the holiday? I have a studio apt on Boston’s waterfront,” she wrote. “Bonus points if you have a hot, single brother.”
Grace’s quaint but quirky studio features plenty of vintage-style decor, bold colors, and cozy accents to up to the comfort factor.
Meanwhile, @thistimeincolour lives in South London and wishes to switch houses with someone. Showing off her bold and whimsical home, the video has received some 205,400 likes in two days. “No love interest expected,” she wrote in the caption, a nod to Amanda (Diaz) and Graham’s (Jude Law) relationship in the movie.
Just from showing her pale pink front door, the home gives a quintessential British countryside vibe (albeit being in the center of London). Inside, she has decorated with plenty of color: sunshine yellows, sleek blues, emerald green, and bold pops of pink. The account, which has over 168,000 followers, is purely dedicated to showing off the stunning home *hits the follow button*. Better yet, you can check out her house tour on Apartment Therapy.
Whether or not someone should act on this trend is an entirely different story. I don’t know about you, but I would want to do about five in-person interviews before letting someone have full reign of my space. And if you’re actually considering swapping a house with someone, you should 100 percent do it through a proper house swap company like Love Home Swap.
But you can still get some design inspo and appreciate the ode to “The Holiday” via this TikTok trend — then binge-watch the movie a time or two.
by Furnishly | Dec 3, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
For many people, watching a Hallmark holiday movie or two has become a staple part of their festive routines. From sitting down to enjoy the romance of a grocery store meet-cute after your family dinner, to tuning into an extra-Christmassy Hallmark movie on Dec. 25, there’s one to fit every occasion.
While these cheese-fest movies are notorious for going a little OTT with the romance, drama, and everything in between, there are some elements of Hallmark holiday films that ring true for a lot of people.
Here are the things that Hallmark movies get right — and wrong — about the holidays.
The holidays are about spending time with loved ones: For many, being with friends and family is an essential part of the holidays, especially after 2020’s turbulent festive season. This is often presented in the plots of Hallmark holiday movies, whether it means the characters are returning to their hometowns or meeting up with their close friends and family (even if they’ve lost touch).
In “A Family Christmas Gift”, Amber’s bond with her aunt grows stronger after the pair spend the holidays together, while “A Grandpa for Christmas” shows the unconditional love between a grandfather and granddaughter who go from mere strangers to best friends, thanks to a school Christmas pageant.
There will be some stress: Whether it’s buying gifts for fussy friends and family, decking the halls, or cooking a crowd-sized dinner, there’s bound to be a few stressful moments during the holidays — both in real life and in Hallmark holiday movies.
A 2018 study conducted by OnePoll showed that 88 percent of Americans feel stressed over the festive season, stemming from guest list disagreements, cooking showdowns, and dinner table conversations.
Weaving together three family stories, “The Christmas House” tells the tale of two childhood sweethearts rekindling their relationship, a gay couple going through the adoption process, and a marriage that’s on the brink of collapse. With these emotional (and very real) themes, the stress and tension are rife.
The holiday season means bigger problems for many people, and this is showcased in the poignant Hallmark movie, “Christmas Everlasting”, where a young lady has to handle her older sister’s estate after she passes away just before Christmas. The holidays aren’t always rainbows and butterflies, and Hallmark doesn’t shy away from those difficult scenarios.
You will most likely run into someone (or everyone!) you know: A big theme in Hallmark movies involves the protagonist heading home for the holidays, which tends to be a small town with a population of no more than 3,000 people. A quiet and quaint festive season means the probability of running into someone (read: a childhood sweetheart) you know is high. Think: in the grocery store, driving a taxi cab, out on the street… the possibilities are endless.
In “A Holiday in Harlem,” Jazmin heads back to Harlem in NYC where she’s reunited with her childhood best friend, Caleb, during the annual Christmas Jamboree, and in “Tis the Season for Love”, a struggling actress returns to her hometown filled with familiar faces after ten years. You can guess what happens next.
You’ll find your soulmate during the holidays: Hallmark holiday movies are jam-packed with unplanned romances that are so sickeningly sweet, they rival even the orange juice fiasco in “Notting Hill”.
While finding your soulmate in a grocery store line or something similar is fairly unrealistic, it’s a prevalent theme throughout Hallmark’s catalog. If you’re still waiting for your own love at first sight moment — myself included — there’s a whole host of Hallmark movies where you can live out your meet-cute dreams.
A couple of examples where the characters find love in an unexpected place: “Christmas at Castle Hart” sees a woman head to Ireland in search of her Irish roots, and “The Mistletoe Inn” tells the story of an aspiring writer who visits a romance writing retreat over the holidays.
It’s always snowing: The majority of Hallmark holiday movies feature lots and lots of snow on Dec. 25, even in the locations where it doesn’t generally snow over the Christmas period.
For example, one very popular location for Hallmark holiday movies is Tennessee, where “Christmas at Graceland” and “Christmas at Dollywood” both take place. However, the city of Nashville hasn’t seen a White Christmas since 2010. Even NYC, another popular location for Hallmark movie plots, hasn’t seen snow on Christmas Day since 2009.
The good news: if you don’t get fresh powder on Christmas morning, you can always tune in to the many (almost all) Hallmark holiday movies to get your snowy fix.
You’re likely to marry into royalty: Finally, an overarching theme in a lot of Hallmark holiday movies includes the lead ending up marrying into a royal family. Now, unless you’re Meghan Markle, this doesn’t happen all too often.
“A Royal Christmas” is exactly what it says on the tin, with the main character’s boyfriend, Leo, suddenly dropping the bombshell that he is actually Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Cordinia, a fictional sovereign country. Meanwhile, in “A Royal Winter,” a woman finds herself in the middle of a real-life fairytale as she meets a local who turns out to be a prince.
by Furnishly | Dec 1, 2021 | Design Inspiration, Style
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.
“Home Alone” is one of the most iconic holiday movies of all time. From Kevin McCallister’s famous one-liners to the doozy criminal duo who made Kevin’s time alone all the more exciting, it’s a Christmas classic that never gets old. And McCallister megafans will be thrilled to know that they can celebrate the holidays with an overnight stay at the original “Home Alone” house.
Hosted by Kevin’s big brother Buzz, the infamous residence based in Chicago is opening its doors for one night only (Dec. 12) on Airbnb, allowing one lucky family to end their year with a McCallister Christmas.
During the stay, up to four guests will get free rein of the Georgian-Colonial style home, decorated with twinkling lights and a Christmas tree with all the trimmings. There will be a viewing of the film franchise’s newest holiday adventure “Home Sweet Home Alone“, classic junk food including a cheese pizza and Kraft macaroni and cheese, booby traps for mischief and mayhem, and a meet-and-greet with a real-life tarantula (if that’s your thing, it certainly isn’t mine).
Wondering how much it’ll cost? For just $25 (before fees and taxes), this deal will have you saying, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal!”
As it’s the season of giving back, Airbnb will be making a one-time donation to Chicago’s La Rabida Children’s Hospital, which is dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of life for each of its patients with complex conditions, disabilities, and chronic illness.
So if you fancy letting your inner 8-year-old child run free this festive season — without the risk of intrusion from the Wet Bandits — bookings for the “Home Alone” house will open on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. CT on the Airbnb listing.
