T LOunge for April 8th 2024

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PinThe Spence Restaurant at The Gleneagles Townhouse – Edinburgh, UK

Well, it’s MONDAY again. This keeps happening. Best to ignore it and spend the day procrastinating in a LOunge that’s both grandiose and cozy. We’ve helpfully provided you with a veritable buffet of distractions, so settle in and get to work doing nothing.

What time the 2024 solar eclipse starts, reaches peak totality and ends today
The 2024 solar eclipse will be visible across North America today. As the moon’s position between the Earth and sun casts a shadow on North America, that shadow, or umbra, will travel along the surface from west to east at more than 1,500 miles per hour along the path of totality.
That means the eclipse will start, peak and end at different times — as will the moments of total darkness along the path of totality — and the best time to view the eclipse depends on where you are located. Some places along the path will have more totality time than others.

The First BTS Photos Of ‘White Lotus’ Season 3 Are Here
Including a shirtless Patrick Schwarzenegger and a surprise Iris Apatow sighting.
It’s almost time to book another stay at the White Lotus. This season’s group of guests will be traveling to Thailand to explore “death in Eastern religion and spirituality,” per Mike White, the creator and director of the popular HBO Max series – and some cast members are giving fans a sneak peek at what that might look like. On Saturday, April 6, actor Sam Nivola shared an Instagram carousel that appeared to feature five black-and-white behind the scenes photos from filming White Lotus Season 3.

26 engagement nail ideas that we’d marry if babes didn’t get there first
Perfect match.
Of course, engagement nails can be trickier to predict, unless you have a good inkling when bae is going to get down on one knee, or can sniff out a proposal like a basset hound. It’s always nice to be prepared (the worst that can happen is you’re left with a dreamy manicure), but if not, you can always book in for engagement nails once that ring is firmly on your finger – before introducing her to all your friends.

The most beautiful henna designs for Eid, according to celebrity henna artists
A twist on tradition.
“In many cultures, henna ceremonies mark significant rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, including puberty, engagement and marriage,” she continues. “Such events create a nurturing environment where women can freely share experiences, offer guidance, and impart wisdom to the next generation.”

How to add protein to oatmeal to actually make it a filling (and tasty) breakfast
No chalky powders necessary.
Oatmeal gets a whole lot of love come breakfast time—it’s quick to prepare, packed with nutrients, and there are a bunch of ways to make it more interesting. But the truth is, it often falls short in one very important category: protein.
Protein does so much for your body, from repairing muscles after exercise to keeping you full and satisfied.

Baby Reindeer sees one man turn his experience with a female stalker into a Netflix series
“It’s a stalker story turned on its head. It takes a trope and turns it on its head.”
“Stalking on television tends to be very sexed up. It has a mystique. It’s somebody in a dark alley way. It’s somebody who’s really sexy, who’s very normal, but then they go strange bit by bit,” Gadd said in an interview. “But stalking is a mental illness. I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn’t seen on television before. It’s a stalker story turned on its head. It takes a trope and turns it on its head.”

Shellac nails: what they are, benefits and how they differ to gel
Choosing the right mani for you.
If you love a fresh, shiny manicure, chances are, you’ll have already come across shellac nails. The long-lasting nail polish is known for its staying power and deliciously glossy finish. Manicurists have long given shellac their seal of approval and its a hit amongst those who favour a life-proof, chip-resistant manicure.
The most common misconception when it comes to shellac though, is that they’re simply any old gel nail, but, shellac is a little more specific than that.

Queen Camilla’s Son Tom Parker Bowles Is Writing a Royal Cookbook
Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes From Queen Victoria to Charles III will be released in the fall.
“As a food history geek, I cannot tell you how exciting it has been to write this book,” Parker Bowles said in a statement. “To read original recipes in the royal archive in Windsor, and disappear into the lives and reigns (and eating habits) of sovereigns from Queen Victoria onwards. But this is not about roast cygnet, ortolans and snipe stuffed with foie gras – rather a proper cookbook, filled with recipes that I’ve loved cooking. And hope that you will too.”

I’m Stealing My Grandma’s $9 Style Hack That Makes Putting on Jewelry a Breeze
Teeny-tiny clasps have met their match.
My great-grandma was always someone I admired. She was witty, intelligent, kind, and didn’t miss a beat when it came to all things beauty and fashion. I remember sitting on the edge of her tub watching in awe of how she did her makeup and laced herself in all-gold accessories. It was always so impressive how quickly she was able to put on her earrings, bracelets, and necklaces before dashing out the door. She wasn’t above a good clip-on earring, and her secret for getting her necklaces on and off with no frustration was latching a magnet fastener to both ends of her necklaces and bracelets — genius.

A 1930s Fashion History Lesson: Goddess Gowns, Surrealism, and More Trends of the Escapist Era
“‘Take off that stiff girdle,’ your vendeuse orders sternly. ‘You can’t be fitted into that. It makes you into a tube.’” And with that, came the 1930s! Just half a decade prior, the tubular look was the cat’s pajamas, but, per Vogue’s feature “The Figure Then the Frock,” in its April 15, 1931 edition, this new era was all about the glorious female form. The natural curvature the flapper tried so hard to distract from was now a woman’s prize possession.
“Vionnet started it all,” the article continues, “with her dresses that wrap and cling.” If the 1920s birthed a new Art Deco movement, the 1930s was the era of the Neoclassical. And the woman? She was goddess divine.

How to Use the 6-to-1 Grocery Shopping Method to Save Time and Money
Chef Will Coleman’s supermarket strategy just may be the key to beating inflation.
Grocery prices are at an all-time high, with the shopping cart contents of a $100 shopping list from 2019 reportedly costing $137 as of April 2024. That’s a 37% increase and far heftier than average wage increases and inflation rates in that five-year period. Shopping more strategically may help Americans stay within budget at the supermarket, and this brilliant trick doesn’t feel frugal — just efficient, smart, and celebratory of the best thing in life: Food.
Here’s how to try the 6-to-1 grocery shopping method, wherever and whenever you shop.

Director of Tom Holland-Led ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Responds to “Deplorable Racial Abuse” of Castmember
Director Jamie Lloyd shared a statement condemning the harassment of an unnamed castmember following the production’s full cast announcement.
Jamie Lloyd, director of the Tom Holland-led West End revival of Romeo & Juliet, released a statement Friday condemning an incident of “deplorable racial abuse” against an unnamed castmember.
“Following the announcement of our Romeo & Juliet cast, there has been a barrage of deplorable racial abuse online directed towards a member of our company,” Lloyd’s theater company wrote on social media. “This must stop. We are working with a remarkable group of artists. We insist that they are free to create work without facing online harassment.”

The terrifying and awesome power of solar eclipses
Eclipses inspire awe, create opportunities for science — and cause angst among energy-grid operators.
Today, millions of people will gather to marvel at the total solar eclipse.
The awe that eclipses inspire is profound. “You suddenly feel as though you can see the clockwork of the solar system. Where you think you lived doesn’t look like the same place anymore,” Ernie Wright, who creates data visualizations and eclipse maps for NASA, told Vox.
“We kind of know — in the back of our minds — that we live in a giant ball and it revolves around a hot ball of gas, and we’re floating in space. But you don’t really believe it until you see something like a total solar eclipse, where everything is all lined up and you go whoaaa.”

Becoming Prince Andrew: Video reveals incredible transformation of Scoop star Rufus Sewell
The Holiday actor has left many fans reeling with his uncanny likeness to Prince Andrew in the new film Scoop
Scoop, which was released at the end of last week, is based on the book Scoops: Behind The Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interview by Sam McAlister, a barrister turned super-producer who secured the Prince Andrew interview for Newsnight. She wrote about the experience in the April 2024 issue of Tatler, offering readers the inside story as to how she landed the scoop of the century. The film has been met with acclaim by critics and viewers alike, with many left stunned by Sewell’s likeness to the Duke.

Literary Gold From the Gilded Age, in Poster Form
For lovers of vintage books and periodicals, “The Art of the Literary Poster” celebrates a vibrant niche in late-19th-century advertising.
Images like these, as Allison Rudnick writes in her introduction to “The Art of the Literary Poster” (Metropolitan Museum of Art/Yale University Press, $50), “epitomized the vanguard in graphic design.” (Rudnick is an associate curator at the Met, where an exhibit featuring dozens of these artifacts runs through June 11). They also provided a rare platform for gifted female illustrators of the era like Florence Lundborg and Ethel Reed — even if those efforts were often damned with faint, feminizing praise in contrast to the output of their male counterparts.

9 Food Scraps You Should Never Throw Away—and the Best Ways to Use Them
Reusing those leftover bones, peels, rinds, and more is a win-win-win in terms of flavor, sustainability, and your budget.
Cutting down on food waste is not only a smart strategy for the planet, but also for your budget. I grew up in a household where we didn’t throw away a lot of food, and then worked in restaurants where there is often a lot of waste, so it’s something I try to be very mindful of.
Reducing food waste is a multi-pronged approach for me. I try to be careful when I go food shopping and buy only the perishable foods I plan to use, and then I store them properly at home to keep them fresh for as long as possible. The other part of my strategy is to reuse those leftover bits that often wind up in the trash (or, hopefully, the compost bin). There’s a lot of value and flavor in citrus peels, Parmesan rinds, and slightly wilted herbs, for example, and once you know how to use them, you’ll waste less and enjoy them more.

How to Store Cooked Rice Safely—and the Best Way to Reheat It, According to Experts
There has been a lot of social media buzz about not eating leftover rice—we talked to food safety experts to set the record straight.
If you follow food news, you’ve likely heard the buzz about leftover rice and food safety. Specifically, social media creators have been warning against eating leftover cooked rice, noting its potential link to food poisoning. In fact, the commotion has been so widespread that the phenomenon has been dubbed “fried rice syndrome” and “reheat syndrome.” However, this social media fuss only tells part of the story because it is possible to eat cooked rice safely; it comes down to storing it correctly. Not only is proper storage key for avoiding food poisoning, but it’s essential for maintaining its quality, too. We spoke to experts to learn how to store cooked rice the right way, along with the best methods for reheating rice and tips for reducing the risk of food poisoning.

Yes, There Is a Right Way to Wash Lettuce—Here’s How to Do It
Learn which method is expert-approved.
From vibrant salads to delicious sandwiches, lettuce is a staple in many dishes—and it’s a constant in most fridges; we always have lettuce on hand. But in order to enjoy all that lettuce has to offer, it’s crucial to wash it well. After all, lettuce grows close to the ground, making it prone to picking up dirt and bugs. It’s also typically eaten raw, so the leaves aren’t exposed to heat—a factor that can kill potentially harmful bacteria. Thus, eating unwashed lettuce can pose the risk of foodborne illness, along with unwelcome grit (and insects!) in your food. Learn how to wash lettuce properly, including different methods, best lettuce-washing practices, and answers to frequently asked questions, according to experts.

The Total Solar Eclipse Month Is Here — Along With a Spectacular Meteor Shower, a Planet Sighting, and More in April’s Night Sky
From an eclipse to planet sightings, April’s sky-watching will be out of this world
It’s the month we’ve all been waiting for. In just a few days, the total solar eclipse will delight skywatchers along a 100-mile-wide strip of North America, known as the path of totality. This April 8 marvel is expected to draw tens of millions of viewers — especially since the contiguous U.S. won’t see another total solar eclipse until 2044.
Yet the eclipse isn’t the only sight to watch for in the skies this April. In addition to the moon-meets-sun spectacle, we have meteor showers, planet sightings, and more on the horizon. Here are the top astronomical highlights to bookmark this month.

[Photo Credit: gleneagles.com]

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