We’ve been seeing these 2022 home decor everywhere

Last year we saw everyone decorating their spaces to maximize comfort, and this year, home interiors have been taken to the next level—think soft edges, more plants, mindful touches of luxury, and upgrading our outdoor space. Trust us, these home decor trends are perfect for families and it’s easier than you think to incorporate them into your home.

Home Decor Trends for 2022: DIY & Upcycling Is Bigger than Ever

In the pursuit of making your home your own (and not looking like everyone else's on the 'gram), DIY projects along with upcycling is making a comeback. Maybe it has to do with the copious amounts of how-tos on TikTok but we aren't mad about it. Excuse us while we head to Goodwill, buy a collection of glass vases for $5, and create our #trashtoterracotta collection as a weekend family project.

PS: Don't Miss Our Favorite TikTok Parenting Advice, Especially the Grocery Kart Hack

Home Decor Trend for 2022: Curvy & Organic-Shaped Furniture & Decor

best home decor trends 2022
Amazon

You've probably already seen the curved sofas and side tables popping up on your Pinterest feed, but the look is just getting started. Soft, rounded furniture adds a nice contrast to those hard, square edges of living rooms of yore—and will make the room you're hanging in even more appealing and cozy. Bonus: this sofa is covered in this year's must-have fabric of the moment, soft and luxurious velvet, and it's available in an orangey-brown velvet too if the white version seems too scary with kids. 

To buy: Modular Sofa, $1900

Home Decor Trend for 2022: Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

home decor trends for 2022
Randy Fath via Unsplash

If there's anything we've learned through the pandemic, it's that our enjoying our outdoors—whether via a balcony, patio, or a full-blown backyard—is clutch to surviving at home, so we might as well make it as nice as possible, right? Fire tables, heated lamps (to keep that outdoor living going strong through the cooler months), outdoor rugs, and accessories like pizza ovens will continue to be popular through 2022.

Decorist designer Mikayla Keating recommends the following to maximize your outdoor space. "Keep the walkways clear for easy movement (at least four feet of space which also allows the kids to run around the area without running into things) and choose furniture that offers flexibility and versatility like side tables and benches that also double as storage." Another way to make your outdoor space feel extra special? "Don't skip out on lighting. Exterior lighting is just as important as interior lighting. String lighting or installed hardwired lights can really elevate your space."

Home Decor Trend for 2022: Plants, Plants & More Plants

home decor trends for 2022
via CB2

In 2019 we predicted Biophilic design would be huge, and while we were right, it also shows no sign of slowing down. After you add an olive tree to your living room (replacing the Fiddle Leaf Fig as this year's must-have statement plant), pick up other plant babies to sprinkle around the other rooms of the house. Of course, if keeping more than one plant alive is too much to ask for (we all have a lot on our plate), these faux plants will fool anyone into thinking they are real. 

And if you fall into the camp of more (real) plants, the better it may be time to start growing a hydroponic garden (another rising home trend for 2022) on your countertop that yields herbs, fruits, and veggies. 

Home Decor Trend for 2022: Smarter Furniture

home decor trends for 2022
via Lovesac

We've all seen smart TVs, but now you can have a smarter sofa. Designs like built-in USB ports, lighting, and even built-in AC outlets are becoming more and more standard, but if you want to take your movie and tv show watching to the next level, check out Lovesac's newest sofa called STEALTHTECH. This modular sofa comes built-in with immersive surround sound (the speakers are embedded in the sofa), a subwoofer, and wireless charging. You'll not only hear the audio, but you'll also feel it too.

Home Decor Trends for 2022: Make (More) Room for Pets

Pandemic pets are a thing, and now, pampering those pets via home design is the (obvious) next step. From luxury dog rooms and dog beds to 'catified' homes, our pets are getting the home makeover treatment. We especially love this closet-turned-cat room by @newbuild_newlyweds.

Home Decor Trends for 2022: Unexpected Touches of Luxury

picture of a built-in laundry room, a great laundry room storage idea
iStock

We're all guilty of buying things in the moment cause they fit the need (we're looking at you IKEA) but now that we're spending so much time at home, we're seeing that adding a few touches of luxury, especially in unexpected places, are bringing small moments of joy—something Marie Kondo can get behind. So whether it's adding a touch of luxury to your bedside table through a Jo Malone candle or going bigger with a luxury kid's room, gaming room, fancified garage, or laundry room, the point is, these intentional choices to treat yourself at home are well worth the cost. 

RELATED: Laundry Rooms Hacks You Can Easily Replicate

Home Decor Trends for 2022: Natural & Sustainable Materials

Anthropologie

Natural materials are gaining loads of attention and for good reason. They add texture and dimension to a room and warm up a space quickly. They are also easy to take care of and clean. And some, like wool, are naturally stain-resistant.

Thankfully, you can find plenty of options at your local thrift store or flea market (hitting upon that sustainability trend). Current favorites sustainable pieces feature rattan—but use this trendy home item sparingly—otherwise, you'll find yourself outdated in no time. 

Home Decor Trends: Paint in Evergreen Fog

Sherwin-Williams

On the tails of "cottagecore" and "farmhouse style," Sherwin-Williams' color of the year, Evergreen Fog, is nostalgic, neutral, and warm—blurring the harsh line that was previously dominated by all shades of gray. This color translates well to any project—whether you are looking to update your kitchen cabinets, add an accent color behind your shelves, or cover your walls from floor to ceiling, Evergreen Fog strikes the perfect balance of adding a splash of color without overwhelming the room (not to mention works conveniently well as a backdrop to natural furniture like cane and bamboo). 

To buy: Sherwin-Williams

 

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Space trivia for kids is perfect for a night under the stars

Whether you’ve got a would-be astronaut in your household or are just looking for quirky or interesting facts for kids, there’s no denying that space is a fascinating topic. From the moon and stars to space exploration, here’s some of our favorite space trivia for kids.

1. The moon is very hot (224 degrees Fahrenheit, average) during the day but very cold (-243 degrees average) at night.

2. Venus spins clockwise. It’s the only planet that does!

3. One teaspoon of a neutron star would weigh six-billion tons.

4. Sally Ride was the first American woman to fly in space, on June 18, 1983.

5. One million Earths could fit inside the sun!

6. Even in an airplane, a trip to Pluto would take about 800 years. 

7. Ham the Astrochimp was the first hominid in space, launched on Jan. 31, 1961. 

8. Neptune’s days are 16 hours long.

Astronaut in space
NASA via Unsplash

9. It takes eight minutes and 19 seconds for light to travel from the sun to Earth.

10. The footprints on the moon will be there for 100 million years. 

11. A neutron star can spin 600 times in one second. 

12. Jupiter is the fastest spinning planet in the solar system (it only takes about 10 hours to complete a full rotation on its axis). 

13. Sound does not carry in space. 

14. The Earth's core is as hot as the surface of the sun. 

15. The very first animals in space were fruit flies...they were sent up in 1947 and recovered alive. 

16. In 2011, ten-year-old Kathryn Aurora Gray discovered a supernova (a star that has run out of energy, explodes and then collapses before it dies) that no one else had seen before. 

Chabot Space & Science Center

17. Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has saltwater geysers that are 20x taller than Mt. Everest. 

18. Saturn's rings are made from trillions of chunks of orbiting ice. 

19. Alpha Centauri isn't a star, but a star system. It is 4.22 light years away. 

20. One day on Venus is almost 8 months on Earth. 

21. Golf is one of only two sports ever played on the moon. In 1971, Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron while on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. The other sport was a javelin toss, during the same visit. 

22. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is the Solar System's longest raging storm: it has been observed for more than 200 years. 

23. Mercury and Venus do not have moons. (They are the only two planets in our solar system that don't!)

24. There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sands on Earth. 

 

space trivia for kids
NASA via Unsplash

25. Mars has the biggest volcano (so far) ever discovered in the solar system. 

26. Jupiter's red spot, which scientists have been observing for 150 years, is changing shape and might be shrinking

27. Since there is no atmosphere in space, it is completely silent. 

Take a break from watering holes and splash pads and add adventure to your water play this summer with help from Chicago boat tour companies. You’ll learn a bit of city and architectural history and take in a whole lotta gorgeous views cruising Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. From finding the best seat for Navy Pier’s weekly fireworks to cruises that let you bring your pup, scroll through and start planning.

Boats

Tall Ship Windy

Navigate Chicago's waterways and feel the spirit of centuries past in a 75-minute authentic tall ship sail. Select from Skyline and Architectural, Lake Michigan Maritime Stories or Pirates and Ghosts themes. Tall Ship Windy is a great post for viewing Navy Pier's weekly fireworks and the annual Chicago Air & Water Show in August. 

Online: tallshipwindy.com

Chicago Fireboat Tour

Ray Novak and Erich Totsch, Navy veterans and licensed Captains, invite you to cruise on a piece of Chicago history. The Fred A. Busse was the largest diesel-powered Fireboat in the world and served the Chicago Fire Department from 1937–1981. It was built to fit underneath Chicago’s bridges, minimizing response times for emergencies and helping ease congestion in a booming city. Upon her retirement, she was converted into a passenger vessel and operated tours in Sturgeon Bay, WI for almost 30 years. Her new owners renovated the retired fireboat and she is now cruising the Chicago waterways once again!

Online: fireboattours.com

Chicago Architecture Center's First Lady

Chicago Architecture Center has been running its very popular 90-minute cruise aboard The First Lady for over 25 years. Their expertly trained docent volunteers share fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings and educate on how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world's largest cities in less than 100 years. 

Online: architecture.org

Seadog Cruises

It’s fast and furious aboard the Seadog, which jets off from Navy Pier, speeds along the lakefront, then zips down the Chicago River. The fast-paced excitement makes it the most kid-friendly architectural cruise of all. Little ones love this bright red and yellow speedboat, which usually has dogs on board (bring your pet along!) and funny guides. Parents appreciate learning about Chicago’s most famous riverfront buildings while kids love the thrill.

Online: seadogcruises.com

Shoreline Sightseeing Tours

Shoreline has deep roots in Chicago, now three generations in! With 11 major touring vessels (and their 8 water taxis) they run architectural river tours that give highlights and history of Chicago's buildings and Lake Michigan tours that show off our beautiful skyline. You can grab a Shoreline cruise from Michigan Avenue Bridge, Navy Pier's Polk Bros Park and Lake tours from Navy Pier. 

Online: shorelinesightseeing.com

Wendella Boats

Wendella is the OG in Chicago architectural boat tours, in operation since 1935. Learn about 130 years of architectural innovation and the world-renowned architecture from one of their expert guides. Make it extra special by booking a sunset cruise and toast the end of the day as the sun sets on Chicago. 

Online: wendellaboats.com

Mercury Cruises

Running continuously for 85 years, Mercury is expert at showing the city's highlights in its 90-minute sightseeing adventure. They host 3D Fireworks Cruises that add excitement with the addition of 3D glasses and the Canine Cruise allows your pup to feel the wind in their fur. 

Online: mercurycruises.com

KAYAKS

Kayak Chicago

If you’re looking for a truly unique perspective of Chicago, hop into a single or double kayak and paddle your way along the river with an expert guide. Kayak Chicago offers rentals, as well as guided tours and individual and group instruction. Kids of all ages are welcome to ride along with an adult, but they need to be at least 12 to paddle a kayak on their own. On the guided architectural tour, you’ll circle the loop, glide past where the first settlers to Chicago set up a home base and discover the location of a former Capone-era hideout.

Online: kayakchicago.com

Urban Kayak

Two brothers and a lifelong friend who are native Chicagoans and self-proclaimed avid adventurers set out to showcase their hometown in a unique way. Their kayak tours will leave you with a newfound love for Chicago and if it awakens an adventurous beast in you, you can purchase a membership to visit again and again. They also offer kayak classes for kids ages 10-16 all summer long. 

Online: urbankayaks.com

TAXI

Shoreline Water Taxi

Shoreline Water Taxis are a cheap, convenient and fun mode of city transport. Travel via the Chicago River to Chinatown, Navy Pier the Museum Campus, Willis Tower, Michigan Avenue and Union Station while feeling the wind whipping through your hair. Shoreline Water Taxi service begins in April and runs through September, with additional service throughout the fall and for special events.

Online: shorelinesightseeing.com

DIY

Chicago Electric Boat

Chicago Electric Boat Company is Chicago's largest self-guided river boat rental operator. Their fleet includes eco-friendly private electric boats that create opportunities to explore our world-famous waterfront from a unique eye-level vantage point.

Renters will find five boat types: all-weather Duffy Boats with fully covered seating areas, Pontoon Boats with adjustable canopies, partially covered Donut Boats that offer 360-degree views of the city, a Vintage Yacht and refurbished 1950s-style Retro Boats for when you want to feel like a movie star.

Online: chicagoelectricboats.com

— Maria Chambers

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Spring flowers and the return of the sun are just two reasons to head to one of Seattle’s best picnic spots with the kids. The best part about these parks is that they serve up a side of fun with whatever goodies you’ve got packed in your picnic basket. Playgrounds, walking trails and bike paths are all on the menu at these places. So the next time you need to wear the kids out before bedtime (and the sun is shinning), head to one of these scenic and peaceful spots.

Jack Block Park

Although locals know this West Seattle park, it's considered a well-kept secret by those in the know. Its grassy lawns and tables are both perfect spots to set up your summer picnic, and the secluded beach will keep the kids busy skipping rocks and keeping track of the containers being loaded and offloaded in the distance. The play area is intriguing to say the least, and it makes a great launching point for a family bike ride. You can ride all the way from Jack Block to Lincoln Park without much interruption, although Salty's is a great stopping point for tots and just-learned riders.

2130 Harbor Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA

Ella Bailey Park

Magnolia is where you'll find this expansive grassy park that offers visitors some of the best views in the city. You can't beat eating lunch (or an early dinner) at this local favorite on a sunny Seattle day. It's another spot where kids can hit the playground and bike or scoot their little hearts out for some post-picnic play. Don't forget your sunscreen!

2601 W. Smith St.
Seattle, WA

Trees are in bloom at Alan Larkins Park in Seattle, a great picnic spot
Wikimedia Commons

Alvin Larkins Park

Nestled in Madrona’s business district, Alvin Larkins Park provides a relaxing spot for the community. It features benches set along a path that winds through the park, and it's landscaped with maple, pine and fir trees. Its expansive grassy area is perfect for picnicking or playing. Don’t forget to bring a frisbee!

1504 34th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98122

pixabay

Greenwood Park

Ballard’s Greenwood Park is the epitome of a community park and has recently grown to the size of an entire city block. In addition to plenty of space to picnic, families will enjoy a sports court, P-Patch garden, large trees and wide walkways (bike riding anyone?) when you visit. We're crossing our fingers that the recently added “game garden,” featuring tetherball, ping pong and cornhole will open in the near future, but until then, enjoy the wide open spaces on a warm summer day.

8905 Fremont Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98103

Kids play in the field at Meridian Playground after a family picnic
Seattle Parks/Laurel Mercury

Meridian Playground

Before you set up a picnic inside the big purple gazebo at Wallingford’s Meridian Park, take the kids to tour the Seattle Tilth Children’s Garden that borders the park. There the kiddos can roam through Sweet Cicely and fennel plants and check out strawberry bushes, too. Talk about healthy eating inspiration!

4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98103

kids are riding bikes after enjoying this picnic spot in Seattle
Seattle Parks/TIA International

Westcrest Park

Westcrest Park is Seattle’s seventh largest park, filled with sprawling spaces and gorgeous views. It provides a flat open meadow, a short walking path and an off-leash dog area that makes this a great spot to bring your fur babies to. Traipse through a vast network of forest trails featuring large Douglas fir, red cedar, maples and madrone trees. Don’t miss the view platform that offers panoramic views of Seattle's downtown skyline. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mount Baker!

9000 8th Ave. SW
Seattle, WA 98106

iStock

Cedar Park

Cedar Park sits adjacent to Cedar Park Elementary and is a favorite of neighborhood families. While the playground is closed, kiddos can bring scooters or balance bikes to ride around the paved walking path that encircles the expansive lawn, great for running and exploring. There's also a basketball court where you can challenge your kids to a game of HORSE or one-on-one. Score!

3737 N.E. 135th St.
Seattle, WA 98125

A family enjoying a summer picnic spot in Seattle at sunset
Seattle Parks/TIA International

Sunset Hill Park

Over 100 years ago, two families gifted the city of Seattle 2-plus acres of land and Sunset Hill Park was born. Located in west Ballard, Sunset Hill Park sits atop a bluff so the unobstructed views of the Olympics and Puget Sound are magnificent. Walk down the path and take in breathtaking views from new vantage points. Bring a blank for the grass or snag a picnic table to enjoy dinner with a view.

7531 34th Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98117

One of Seattle's best picnic spots is Genesse Park along Lake Washington
Seattle Parks/TIA International

Genesee Park and Playfield

Close to the heart of Columbia City, Genesee Park bumps up against breezy Lake Washington. The green space features a gazebo for picnicking, bike trails and an off-leash dog area, too. This park provides the picture-perfect setting, you provide the fixings for your family picnic here.

4316 S. Genesee St.
Seattle, WA 98118

Families on the playground at Maple Leaf Park, one of Seattle's best picnic spots
Allison Sutcliffe

Maple Leaf Reservoir Park

When it comes to city parks, we can't get enough of the Maple Leaf Playground and not just because it's got lots of grass for picnicking and running around. You won't want to miss Noah’s Butterfly Garden, a sweet spot at the far end of the park, featuring a gazebo and sandbox. Plus, the loop trail that circles the park is a great spot for tots to bring bikes, trikes and scooters.

1020 N.E. 82nd St.
Seattle, WA 98115

Dahl Playfield in Seattle is a best picnic spot and playground
Seattle Parks/Laurel Mercury

Dahl Playfield

Located between Ravenna and Wedgwood, Dahl Playfield is a hidden gem in the northeast pocket of the city. You'll find plenty of room for the kids to roam and the artfully arranged rocks hollowed into half moons are perfect for crawling and sitting. Don't forget the skate park; it's great for those on two or four wheels.

7700 25th Ave. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115

— Abbey McGee, Kristina Moy & Sara Billups

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Starbucks has finally dropped its holiday cup lineup and its beyond bright and colorful.

With lots of bling, vibrant hues and color-changing options, everyone can get in on the festive collection that all comes in under $30 each. Keep scrolling to see them all!

Color Changing Hot Cup Set (6 pack)

$18.95

Cold Cup with Color Changing Stripe Straw

$3.95

Bling Cold Cups

$19.95

Jeweled Cold Cups

$18.95

Red Floral Mercury Tumbler

$19.95

Green Gradient Tumbler

$27.95

Ceramic Gold Mug

$19.95

You can find the holiday collection at your local Starbucks but don’t wait long. The limited collection is only around for the season.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Starbucks

 

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The best family vacations offer a little bit of excitement, relaxation and, if you’re lucky, the chance for your kids to learn a little bit, too. 

A vacation to Florida has lessons your children will remember for a lifetime. 

Start planning your trip today at VISITFLORIDA.com.

The Rockets That Traveled into Space

Kennedy Space Center has been the world’s launchpad for manned space flight for nearly 60 years. The names are iconic and familiar to generations: Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Atlantis and now SpaceX. At the Kennedy Visitors Center, you can stroll through a garden of rockets or watch one rise into the blue, you can meet an astronaut and see if you have the right stuff to land a space shuttle.

The Half-ton Vegetarian Known as a Sea Cow

On Florida’s central Gulf coast, adventure lovers of all ages can pay homage to a wildlife superstar: the beloved manatee. And there is literally so much to love: The typical adult manatee is 10 feet long and weighs 800 to 1,200 pounds. Which probably comes from eating 10-15 percent of its body weight every day.

The Everglades: Land of the Miccosukee

The Miccosukee have lived in the Everglades for a century and a half. In the 19th century, the Seminoles fought three wars with the United States and never surrendered. The branch of the Seminoles who called themselves Miccosukees settled here. In the 21st century, visitors who drive across the Tamiami Trail pass through their reservation.

A vacation to Florida has something for everyone—including lessons your kids will remember for a lifetime! Start planning your trip today at VISITFLORIDA.com.

The Beach With the White Skeletons of Dead Trees

Big Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville is renowned for Boneyard Beach, the final resting place for the salt-washed skeletons of live oak and cedar trees.

The History of Stock Car Racing

Like Fenway Park, Pebble Beach, Madison Square Garden and the Rose Bowl and, yes, that other racetrack in Indianapolis, Daytona International Speedway is an American sports shrine. Opened in 1959, the speedway is an annual car-racing epicenter for SpeedWeeks and the Daytona 500. But you can take a tour anytime. 

The Brave Man Who Integrated Baseball

In 1946, the great civil rights icon Jackie Robinson made not just baseball history but American history in Daytona Beach with his professional debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Triple-A minor-league club. A year later, Robinson would integrate Major League Baseball, and a game and a nation would be changed for the better. Once your kids learn the history of Jackie Robinson, take in a game at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, where you can cheer on the Daytona Cubs or Bethune-Cookman Wildcats! 

There’s much to see and learn in Florida. Nickname? Sunshine State. Year-round temperature of our freshwater springs? 72 degrees. Miles of beaches? 825. Start planning your next adventure at VISITFLORIDA.com.

The next time you head out for a coffee run you can get some of your holiday shopping done. Grab a thoughtful gift from Starbucks while you are sipping on you favorite holiday beverage. From color changing cups to gift cards there is something for all the coffee lovers on your list.

Starbucks Holiday

Holiday Color Changing Cup ($3.00)

Starbucks new Holiday Color Changing Cup offers a festive twist to the fan-favorite drinkware, transforming from green to red when the cup contains hot liquid. 

Starbucks Holiday

Color Changing Hot Cup Set (16.95)

Starbucks new 6-pack of Color Changing Hot Cups are detailed with candy cane prints that change colors when the cups contain hot liquid. Gift them or switch up your daily coffee routine with a different cup for nearly every day of the week!

Starbucks Holiday

Glitter Cold Cup Set (18.95)

Customers can also find a new 5-pack of Glitter Cold Cups available in an assortment of colors with a subtle glitter finish that gives a little shimmer to your day.

Starbucks Holiday

Bubble Mint Cold Cup (18.95)

Nothing complements your morning cold brew on a crisp winter morning like a minty green cold cup. Starbucks new Bubble Mint Cold Cup is available exclusively at Starbucks licensed store locations in the U.S. and Canada, including those within grocers, airports, hospitals and more.

Starbucks Holiday

Stripe Straw Pack ($7.95)

Looking for a stocking stuffer? Pick up Starbucks new set of two reusable straws, made for a 24-oz cup, that also conveniently comes with a cleaning brush and beautifully designed zipper pouch.

Starbucks Holiday

Red Cup Ornament ($7.95)

Inspired by Starbucks holiday cups, this festive ornament is the perfect gift for any Starbucks fan.

Starbucks Holiday

Roastery Gifts

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery holiday collection pops with vivid cherry red, crimson, and gold items, perfect for gifting. The collection includes a Reserve Silk Christmas Scarf, Ceramic Gold Mug, Matte Red Tumbler, Mercury Red Floral Tumbler, and ‘Coffee Lover’ Embroidered Pin. Available exclusively at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries in Seattle, Chicago and New York, and select items also available for delivery through Uber Eats.  

Starbucks Holiday

Starbucks Cards

For those who won’t be exchanging gifts with their friends or loved ones in person this year, a Starbucks gift card or an eGift is a perfect way to show you’re thinking of them (with eGift, you can even send your gift via messaging platforms like iMessage). Starbucks gift cards come in a variety of festive designs and can be loaded with amounts from $5-$500.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Starbucks

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Last month Disney+ announced The Right Stuff highlighting the high-stakes space race era. The streaming service is also releasing The Real Right Stuff which is a companion piece to the scripted series. This documentary will premiere Fri., Nov. 20. 

The Real Right Stuff tells the remarkable true story of the nation’s first astronauts, the original Mercury 7, and pulls from hundreds of hours of archival film and radio broadcasts, interviews, home movies and other rare and never-before-seen material to catapult viewers back to the late 1950s. The two-hour documentary, from National Geographic will air the same day as the  season finale of The Right Stuff. 

Directed and produced by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Tom Jennings (Apollo: Missions to the Moon, Challenger Disaster: Lost Tapes), The Real Right Stuff is a gripping account of NASA’s Project Mercury program, which revolutionized America’s role in human space exploration and inspired future generations of space enthusiasts. Free of modern-day narration and interviews, the special uses Jennings’ signature style to give viewers unparalleled access to the early days of the space race.

The Real Right Stuff

To underscore one of the most dramatic and tenacious times in history, “The Real Right Stuff” features:

  • Never-before-seen footage and newly synced audio – Shown for the first time are the tense moments that immediately followed the Mercury-Redstone 4 flight piloted by Virgil “Gus” Grissom.
  • Rare early radio and video recordings – Viewers experience the historic announcement of the Mercury 7 astronauts from a wide array of news outlets, all jockeying to cover America’s first space team and witness an internal government recording that outlines the formation of NASA from its predecessor, The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
  • Never-before-seen research materials from Tom Wolfe – Hear Wolfe speak with Rene Carpenter, wife of Mercury 7 astronaut Scott Carpenter, and see intimate handwritten notes compiled for Wolfe’s seminal book, “The Right Stuff.”
  • Newly digitized John Glenn home movies – From the archives of The Ohio State University, John Glenn’s rare personal family moments are captured on 8 mm and 16 mm film.
  • Exclusive unseen and rare photographs – For the first time, behind-the-scenes photographs from the infamous LIFE Magazine issue are shared, providing a glimpse into the home lives of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Rare photos from National Geographic’s top photographers who covered the Mercury space program are also revealed.

Composed by James Everingham for Bleeding Fingers Music and produced by Academy Award, Golden Globe, Tony Award and GRAMMY Award winner Hans Zimmer and Emmy-nominated Russell Emanuel, the film’s orchestral score was recorded remotely by a socially distant 44-piece orchestra in May 2020. Each musician self-recorded from home which was then seamlessly weaved together to create a breathtaking score that perfectly captures the zeitgeist of midcentury America.

The Real Right Stuff is produced by 1895 Films for National Geographic. For 1895 Films, Tom Jennings serves as executive producer and director. The film is edited and produced by David Tillman and produced by Chris Morcom. For National Geographic, Simon Raikes is executive producer.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+

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ALDI’s fall candle selection is giving us all the pumpkin spice vibes. If you are a fan of scented candles then you are going to want to scope out the selection available this month. Each week there will be a new offering you are going to want to add to your mantle or bedside table.

Huntington Home 3 Wick Candle

Huntington Home Candle

 

This selection will be available the week of Sept. 2. There are four varieties of pumpkin-themed candles —  Coconut Pumpkin Macarons, Pumpkin Chai, #PumpkinEverything, and Sweet Pumpkin Cake. If you liked these, watch out later in the month for a second set of 3 wick candles in fall scents. Each candle retails for $3.99. 

Huntington Home Ceramic Candle

These candles will also be available the week of Sept. 2. There are four scents available — Cedar Oakwood, Cranberry Clove, Harvest Skies, and Pumpkin Praline. Each candle retails for $6.99. 

Huntington Home Mercury Glass Ceramic Candles

Thiese Mercury Glass Pumpkin Candles come in three scents — Pumpkin Frosting, Pumpkin Toffee, and Sippin’ Cider. Each candle retails for $4.99.

Huntington Home 3 Wick Candles

Huntington Home Candle

The second release of the 3-wick candles is available the week of Sept. 16 and includes four scents — Apple Cider Donuts, Pine Cones & Plaid, Fall Breeze, Crisp Leaves and Hayrides & Bonfires. Each candle retails for $3.99.

 

Huntington Home Ceramic Pumpkin Candles

Huntington Home Candle
These pumpkin candles are available Sept. 30. They come in lidded ceramic jars in white or black with gold stems. Each candle retails for $6.99.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of ALDI

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3…2…1…Blast off! The Right Stuff brings us the incredible story of America’s first astronauts. The special two-episode premiere will air on Disney+ on Fri. Oct. 9. 

Based on the bestselling book by Tom Wolfe, the eight-episode season looks at the early days of the U.S. Space Program and the iconic story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury 7. Produced for National Geographic by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television, The Right Stuff takes a clear-eyed look at America’s first “reality show,” when ambitious astronauts and their families became instant celebrities in a competition of money, fame and immortality.

At the height of the Cold War in 1959, America fears it is a nation in decline as the Soviet Union dominates the space race. But, the U.S. government has a solution – put a man in space. Newly-formed NASA is given the monumental task, and a group of the nation’s best engineers estimate they’ll need decades to accomplish the feat, but they only have two years.

NASA engineers, including rocket scientist Bob Gilruth (Patrick Fischler) and Chris Kraft (Eric Ladin), work against the clock under mounting pressure from Washington. Together, they hand select seven astronauts from a pool of military test pilots. 

The two men at the center of it all are Major John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams) and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman). Other members of the Mercury 7 include Captain Gordo Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton),Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), Deke Slayton, (Micah Stock) and Gus Grissom, (Michael Trotter).

The series also examines the astronauts’ families, including Annie Glenn (Nora Zehetner), Louise Shepard (Shannon Lucio) and Trudy Cooper (Eloise Mumford).

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+

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