Tag: holidays

Is It Possible to Eat So Much on Thanksgiving, Your Stomach Explodes?

It’s the annual battle between your willpower and your waistband. Every Thanksgiving, Americans load up on stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, and more… and then go back for seconds.

With the average person scarfing down 3,000 calories and a stick of butter in one meal, you might start to wonder: could you actually eat so much your stomach explodes?

Short answer? Yes… technically. Long answer? You’re probably safe, unless you’re also snacking on forks.

“Gastrointestinal perforation”

A gastrointestinal perforation (the fancy medical term for a “burst gut”) is a real and very serious thing. But according to experts, it almost never happens just from overeating. More common culprits are things like swallowing sharp objects, ingesting harmful chemicals, or certain serious illnesses.

Your stomach is tougher than you think

Your stomach is built to take a beating. Its muscular walls are thick and stretchable, and the human body has a few built-in safety features that kick in when you’ve pushed things too far. Chief among them: vomiting. Basically, if your stomach’s too full to handle another bite, it’ll usually toss in the towel and toss everything else out with it.

What’s more likely to happen

So if you go too hard on the pumpkin pie, you’re far more likely to end up with indigestion, heartburn, or a case of the food sweats than an actual internal explosion. Still, good reasons to pace yourself.

So this Thanksgiving, enjoy the meal and even seconds. Just maybe leave a little room for your dignity. And pie. Always pie.

47% Would Sit at the Kids’ Table to Avoid the Adults

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about gratitude, family, and stretchy pants. But if you’ve ever survived one of those dinners that goes from cranberry sauce to crisis in 20 minutes flat, you already know: it’s not the turkey that gets roasted the hardest.

A poll commissioned by St. Francis Winery revealed that nearly half of Americans (47%) would be open to sitting at the kids’ table to avoid enduring another grown-up food fight over hot topics.

Millennials were especially eager to dodge the drama, with 62% saying they’d happily swap chairs with the juice-box crowd.

So, what exactly are we all trying to avoid this year? According to the survey, here are the top 10 conversation landmines that can turn your gravy boat into a sinking ship:

  1. Politics: No surprise here. Nothing like a heated debate about the Electoral College to ruin the mashed potatoes.
  2. Money: “So, how much are you making now?” is not the vibe.
  3. Appearance or Weight: Don’t be the person who says, “Oh, more stuffing, huh?” (Looking at you, Grandma.)
  4. Religion: Keep the faith talk light or off the table altogether.
  5. Exes: Wondering why your nephew’s girlfriend didn’t come this year? Maybe don’t bring it up unless you want to see him cry.
  6. Mental Health: Important, yes. But on Thanksgiving, nothing’s more important than stuffing and pie.
  7. Career Woes: Let them enjoy their sweet potatoes in peace. No need to remind them they just got laid off.
  8. Personal Struggles: Same goes for any tough life updates. Thanksgiving isn’t a therapy session.
  9. Relationship Status: Wanna make things uncomfortable? Just ask that couple who’ve been dating for eight years, “So, when are you getting married?”
  10. Absent Family Members: Talking smack about relatives who aren’t there is a fast track to arguments and awkward silences.

There’s plenty of other stuff to talk about without making things cringe. So pour the wine, pass the rolls, and stick to safe topics like football, pie, or how wild it is that cranberry sauce still comes in a can.

So, maybe take a cue from the kids’ table this year. Sure, the four-year-old is eating with her hands… but at least she didn’t bring up inflation.

Starbucks’ Holiday Cups Are Here; But the Internet Only Wants “Bearista” Cups

November means different things to different people. Some are here for Thanksgiving. Some are just pretending that it’s still October, or already December.

And then there are the true Starbucks die-hards who lose their minds every year over their new holiday cups.

Well, the time has arrived. Starbucks’ 2025 holiday lineup officially dropped November 6th, complete with four new hot cups and two cold ones. They’re all festive shades of red and green, decked out in plaid and “apron-inspired” ribbon patterns that look like something your grandma might wear while making fudge. Adorable, sure… but they’ve already been completely upstaged.

The real star of the show this year? The “bear-ista” cold cup.

It’s a clear, bear-shaped glass with a little hat for a lid, and it looks exactly like one of those honey bottles. Naturally, social media is in a full-blown frenzy. People are hunting these things like they’re made of solid gold… or at least solid caffeine.

You can get one, but only for a limited time, and brace yourself: a 20-ounce bear-ista cup costs $29.95. Yes, nearly 30 bucks for something you’ll probably forget in your car after one use. But Starbucks swears it “brings instant joy to every sip,” so maybe it also pays your bills and tells you you’re pretty.

If you’d rather not spend thirty bucks to drink out of a glass teddy bear, there’s good news: Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day is next Thursday, November 13th.

That’s when you can get a reusable holiday cup for free with any handcrafted holiday drink. Basically, buy a Peppermint Mocha, get your participation trophy for caring about the holidays this much.

So whether you’re in it for the caffeine, the clout, or just to feel something in this economy, Starbucks has officially declared it holiday season. Grab your drink, grab your cup, and prepare to argue about which red-and-green design “feels more Christmas.”

@baristalife333

it is 20oz/591mL. cup is shaped like a teddy bear holding a Starbucks cup cost $29.99 will be available November 6 #starbucks #teddybear #starbucksbarista #holidayvibes #creatorsearchinsights

♬ All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

People Are Trying to Move Trick-or-Treating, So It Always Falls on a Saturday

Every year, the same debate comes creeping back like a haunted house fog machine: Should we move Halloween to a weekend?

Luckily this year it’s on a Friday, so no one is complaining. But with October 31st falling on a random weekday most years, parents and candy-loving kids have long wished the holiday could just live on the final Saturday of October. But despite a Change.org petition that’s racked up over 150,000 signatures, the government still isn’t budging.

So now, there’s a new plan on the table: Instead of trying to shift Halloween itself, why not create an entirely new holiday just for trick-or-treating?

Introducing National Trick or Treat Day.

Yep, it’s official-ish. The folks behind the Halloween petition are pivoting their energy into starting a new holiday that would always land on the last Saturday in October. That way, families could enjoy trick-or-treating on a weekend without disrupting the traditional October 31st Halloween date. And honestly, it’s a pretty clever workaround.

The idea already has a spot on the National Day Calendar website, which tracks all the unofficial holidays we never knew we needed (looking at you, National Taco Day). But whether National Trick or Treat Day actually catches on remains to be seen. It could become a fun bonus night of candy and costumes… or fade into obscurity by Thanksgiving.

The original push to move Halloween came from safety and sanity concerns.

Supporters argue that Saturday celebrations are safer for kids, more convenient for working parents, and less of a nightmare for teachers dealing with sugar-zonked students on November 1st. Critics, of course, say Halloween is Halloween, and you can’t just reschedule spooky season like it’s a dentist appointment.

So will National Trick or Treat Day stick? Time will tell. But if you love candy, costumes, and avoiding weeknight chaos, don’t be surprised if this “bonus” Halloween becomes a thing.

More Milk Duds for everyone!

Halloween Candy Odds: What Kids Are Most (and Least) Likely to Get

You send your kid out in a $40 costume with a $3 plastic pumpkin, hoping they return with enough sugar to last through Thanksgiving. But what exactly are they bringing home? Here are their Halloween candy odds.

The stats nerds at the online gambling site The Action Network crunched numbers from DoorDash, Instacart, and other candy sources, and came up with Vegas-style odds on what will be landing in that bucket.

So, when your kid walks through the door with a pillowcase full of sugar, you’ll know the odds of finding what you’re looking for. Here’s what your little monster is most (and least) likely to drag home.

10 Candies with the Highest Odds

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – 67%

Practically a Halloween guarantee. If your kid doesn’t come back with at least one, did they even go out?

Peanut M&M’s – 65%

Solid choice. Somehow feel healthier even though they’re not.

M&M’s – 62%

The peanut-free classic ranks first in most likely to break open and be found loose in the bottom of the bag.

Kit Kat – 60%

Break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar and toss it directly into my face.

Snickers – 58%

When your neighbors go full-size, it’s usually this. Respect.

Sour Patch Kids – 55%

First they’re sour, then they’re gone. Kids trade for these like they’re currency.

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate – 50%

The bar that started it all. Still holding strong.

Milky Way – 45%

Like a Snickers without the crunch. The soft-spoken cousin.

Twix – 33%

Whether you’re Left Twix or Right Twix, you’re still only getting one.

Gummy Bears – 33%

Classic, chewy, and just the second non-chocolate candy on the list.

Tricks in the Treats: The Low-Probability Oddballs

  • Candy Corn – 23%: You either love it or hate it. There is no in between.
  • Raisins – 4%: Someone out there still thinks this counts as a treat. It doesn’t.
  • Toothbrush – 2%: There’s always one house, usually owned by a dentist with a guilt complex.

If you live in Mississippi, your kid has a 46% chance of getting candy corn. But kids in Hawaii can breathe easy, just an 11% chance.

Happy Halloween! May the Reese’s odds be ever in your favor.

“Adultoween” Is the New Holiday Every Parent Wants

Kids might have trick-or-treating, but adults are out here trying to claim Halloween for themselves as well – and honestly, they’ve got a pretty good case.

If you haven’t heard of “Adultoween” yet, here’s what all those grown-ups (especially parents) are getting on board with.

Ferrero (the candy folks) just dropped a new batch of stats showing that adults are fully on board with spooky season, and not just to supervise their kids or sneak one measly Reese’s from their pumpkin buckets.

The company is pushing the concept of “Adultoween” – basically, a night of Halloween celebrations sans kids. And according to their polling results, it’s got some traction.

“Adultoween” is a surprisingly popular idea

Over half of adults – 54%, to be exact – say they wish Halloween included an official night just for grown-ups. No kids. Just costumes, candy, and possibly cocktails.

Here’s a breakdown of the most fun (and petty) takeaways from their Halloween survey.

Halloween is not just for the little goblins.

62% of Americans say the holiday is just as much for adults as it is for kids. And if you’re a parent, you’re even more likely to agree – 71% say adults deserve equal rights to the spooky fun.

Candy taxes are real, and parents are enforcing them.

Two-thirds of parents say they have the “right” to dip into their kid’s leftover candy stash. 58% aren’t even waiting that long – they’ll happily sneak a treat or two during trick-or-treating. It’s called a parenting perk, look it up.

No kids? No problem. Adults are still hoarding candy.

64% of adults say they’ll buy candy in October even if no one’s trick-or-treating at their door. And 71% of parents admit to buying “extra” candy for themselves just in case.

Full-size candy bars reign supreme.

76% of adults say full-size bars are the best kind to steal. But we’re also nostalgic: 67% say they still prefer the same candy they loved as kids, and 72% stick to the classics over newfangled flavors. Why mess with a good thing?

Men take Halloween candy weirdly seriously.

52% of men buy premium candy to make sure their house gets that coveted “good candy” reputation, compared to 41% of women. And 21% of men will absolutely judge you if your candy game is weak. (15% of women admit they will too.)

It’s all about the nostalgia.

For 60% of people, the reason they love Halloween is pure nostalgia, and among parents it jumps to 68%. There’s just something about the smell of plastic masks and the sight of toilet paper on trees that brings us all back.

Is Halloween America’s favorite holiday?

47% of people said Halloween is the holiday they look forward to most. Sorry, Santa.

So should adults get their own official Halloween night? If it means fewer tantrums, more candy, and finally getting to wear a costume that doesn’t involve Disney characters, we say absolutely yes.

Only 8% of People Hate Pumpkin Spice

Happy National Pumpkin Spice Day!

So you should celebrate by ordering pumpkin-spice-something… just like you’ve been doing every day for the past month now.

A while back, researchers from Montclair State University combed through nearly 20,000 social media posts to find out if we actually love pumpkin spice as much as it seems like we do.  Yes, it’s a weird thing to “research,” but whatever.

They found that 55% of posts mentioning “pumpkin spice” or the hashtag #pumpkinspice were positive in nature… 37% were considered neutral… and only 8% were negative.

They also found that pumpkin spice fervor surged from 2011 to 2017, when it peaked. 

For the next four years, the hype was a little subdued, but it’s trending again of late… so apparently, pumpkin spice is as popular as ever. Unfortunately, or not!

Who knew people paid so much attention to pumpkin spice trends?

Joey Chestnut Wins Again, Gets Another Epic Hot Dog Intro

I never watch the puke-inducing Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. The competition itself is the grossest 10 minutes of wiener-related content on the internet… and that’s saying something.

But without fail, competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut’s intro is must-watch TV and was an unmatched level of epic once again this year. Who in their right mind starts a monologue about hot dogs with this line?

We are humbled by age in preparation for the great insult of death. But there are those who stand immortal.

@espn

Joey Chestnut is ready to go for a chance to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 👀 #joeychestnut #hotdog #glizzy #4thofjuly #july4th

♬ original sound – ESPN

Chestnut – who according to his 2025 intro was “formed from the shards of shattered angels” – returned after a year off to once again dominate the competition, horking down an insane 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. That’s one dog every 8.45 seconds! 🤮 (2nd place was 46.5 hot dogs. #pathetic)

@espn

Chestnut downs 70.5 hot dogs to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 🏆🌭 #hotdog #eating #joeychestnut #july4th #challenge

♬ original sound – ESPN

But again, I choose not to focus on the absurdity of eating nearly six dozen hot dogs in 600 seconds, and instead honor the absurd level of drama that consummate hype-man and Major League Eating co-founder George Shea brings to the event each year.

George delivered these words about Chestnut in 2019 but deserves to have them echoed about himself:

He is the silent warrior who stands where land meets horizon, steadfast and unshakable, a city on a hill lit for all to see. A poem, written using every word of every language of every country in the world. He is a bead of light floating in the dark oil of night. For he is the very vessel of our freedom – the champion of the 4th of July.

Thanks for the irrational level of drama, George. We’re here for it.

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