T LOunge for November 20th 2024

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PinYun House Restaurant – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We’re in a let’s-make-some-noise sort of mood today, probably feeling a little restless after our trip. Also, because it’s WEDNESDAY and that fact always tends to put some ants in our pants. So let’s spread out and cause some clatter and commotion, yes? Or maybe just sit sullenly in the corner, if that’s your pref. It’s all good in the LOunge.

Dressing for Oz
To create the costumes for the new “Wicked” movie, the filmmakers turned to Paul Tazewell, a Tony Award winner who knows his way around the Emerald City.
Paul Tazewell was 16 years old and living in Akron, Ohio, the first time he designed costumes for “The Wiz.” It was a high school production, and much of the work happened in his family’s dining room.
He has been summoned back to Oz several times since that first show — a workshop here, an NBC broadcast there. So when the director Jon M. Chu asked him to design the costumes for Universal’s long-awaited film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” there was little learning curve to speak of.

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 3 Gets Release Date: “Eat Your Heart Out”
Showtime’s hit survival drama returns Feb. 14, 2025.
The hit survival horror and coming-of-age drama will return Feb. 14, 2025, with Showtime having some cheeky fun by using Valentine’s Day to mark the return of its Emmy-nominated series about stranded teenagers who resort to cannibalism in order to survive.
The creepy and violent, albeit brief, teaser (below) announcing the release date certainly leans into the holiday irony, telling viewers to, quite literally, “Eat your heart out.” Season three will launch with two episodes streaming and on demand for Paramount+ and Paramount+ With Showtime subscribers before its linear Showtime debut two days later on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Netflix’s My Life With the Walter Boys season two is coming very soon
Production has wrapped, and we’ve got everything crossed for a 2025 release date.
The first season of My Life With the Walter Boys, which features 10 episodes, immediately skyrocketed in popularity on the streamer and social media. Within days of its premiere, it claimed the top spot on Netflix’s Global English Top 10 TV List, with over 20 million views and counting. It’s also reached the Top 10 in 88 countries across the world.
Based on Ali Novak’s Wattpad novel of the same name, My Life With the Walter Boys season one hit Netflix in December 2023. The show follows the story of Jackie Howard, a 15-year-old Manhattanite whose whole life turns upside down after she loses her parents and sister in an accident. She then has to move to Colorado with her guardian, Dr Katherine Walter, who was her mother’s best friend at Columbia University.

The 2025 hair trends to know for the year ahead
Here are the headliners.
If you want a jumpstart on the 2025 hair trends, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been in touch with the leading hair pros and tastemakers to get their steer on what will be hot hair-wise for the year ahead.
One major take? Fresh interpretations of trad trends are in. “We’re seeing an increased interest in reinventing classic hairstyles in a modern way, like a messy textured bob as opposed to something laser cut.” notes Joanna Christie, CMO at Treatwell. “Continuing on from this theme, hairstyles that highlight a person’s natural texture have grown in popularity, over drastic hair texture changes that come from straightening treatments,” Joanna adds.

Oxblood nails are a classic for a reason and they’re the shade of the season
Top tips.
In case you missed it, oxblood ruled the AW25 runways. The shade has dominated head-to-toe outfits and accessories and now, oxblood nails are headlining beauty trends.
It may not come as a surprise, shades of deep red – merlot, burgundy, maroon – take off each autumn-winter because they’re just so classic. But just because they’re easy to anticipate, doesn’t make them any less stunning.

11 best under eye patches 2024 for dark circles, depuffing and dryness
Ready for eye-opening results?
When I’m stressed, overheated, have a headache or just have really tired eyes, I always reach for under eye patches.
Why? These little patch pals are your best friend for a quick fix that sees sleepy peepers turn to bright-and-bushy-tailed eyes that look awake, alert and ready to face the day. Or, if you need to relax after a stressful day (because #life), they can equally deliver some much needed rest and relaxation. In fact, we’ll say that they pretty much force you to lie down and close your eyes, and that’s always a win in our book.

The taboos we still need to bust around disability, sex and dating
Disabled people, like you, deserve love, respect and dignity
Disability is steeped in harmful stereotypes and tropes which leads many to believe that our lives are comparable to a Greek tragedy or a life lesser than; a burden, not something one will wish upon themselves if they want to have a happy existence.
The truth is that, yes, having a condition or difference, visible or unseen, can be challenging at times but most of the barriers that come our way are external. The world simply isn’t designed for anyone who dares to deviate from what society sees as ‘normal’.
Sadly Disability is seldom synonymous with sexy, desirable or even worth investing in.

Bridgerton‘s Luke Newton is set to star in sci-fi thriller White Mars
Will he be bringing the sexy swaggering vibes to this role? Only time will tell.
Bridgerton star Luke Newton has had his glow up, now he’s entering the world of movies. He will star opposite Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale in sci-fi thriller White Mars.
It will tell the story of a malevolent entity that infiltrates a research facility in Antarctica, where Hale plays a microbiologist who teams up with Newton’s character Leo to save their fellow crew members. Will there be romantic, steamy, Bridgerton-esque vibes between the two leads? Only time will tell on that one.

How The Rockhouse Hotel Became a Cornerstone of Jamaican Hospitality
A new book looks back on a 50-year history of sustainable tourism, boutique hospitality, and Caribbean culture.
Prior to officially opening to the public as one of the first hotels on Negril, Jamaica’s West End, in 1974, the Rockhouse property was already a silver screen staple. Papillon, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the once-lost-to-time No Place Like Home each featured its jagged coast and watery caves. Paul Salmon and his partners would purchase and set about expanding the lodging in 1994. Since then Rockhouse has grown to include a foundation—started in 2004, based on its commitment to active community engagement—that has partnered with six schools in the area and the Negril Community Library. Here, Peter Jon Lindberg, editor in chief of Further Magazine, captures the guest experience of the hotel in his own firsthand account.

An Extremely Detailed Guide To The Best Ever Shampoos
Whether your hair is fine or frizzy, coloured or curly, the shampoo you use matters. Here, the experts explain exactly how to get it right.
The best shampoo? That depends on, well, quite a few factors actually. As with many things in beauty, shampoo is a subjective topic, and whatever works best for your friend may not do the same magical things for your own mane.
The good news is, we’ve done all of the legwork to help you narrow down the shampoos actually worth their salt, whatever is it you’re in the market for. A volumising formula for fine hair? We know just the thing. Something to deep clean after a week of dry shampoo? That too. Whether you’re wondering which shampoos are suitable for curls, or want to know if those shampoos for hard water really work, we’ve got you. Here, see absolutely everything you need to know about the fine art of the hair wash: including the bottles that belong in your bathroom.

15 Netflix Movies That Will Put You in the Holiday Spirit This Season
Including a Christmas special from “Espresso” queen Sabrina Carpenter.
Nothing says holiday season quite like a new slate of very merry movies on Netflix. From delightfully cheesy rom-coms to genuinely scary Christmas-themed thrillers, there’s something for everyone this year, especially if everyone happens to be a fan of stars like Lindsey Lohan, Keira Knightly, Brooke Shields, and Jennifer Coolidge. But the holiday spirit doesn’t stop there. There’s also a Christmas special from Sabrina Carpenter that is promising a slew of special guests (no spoilers) and—side note—one all-important halftime show on Christmas Day featuring the one and only Beyoncé. So, without further ado, here are 15 of the best holiday-themed movies coming to Netflix this year.

The Best Hair Color Ideas to Try in 2025
Get ready for your next salon appointment.
If you’re looking for the best hair color ideas, you’re in the right place. There’s no better way to refresh your look than with a hair transformation, and there is certainly no shortage of cool hair color ideas trends to try right now. The biggest hair color trends of the past year have included high-fashion takes on otherwise low-maintenance color like honey blonde and expensive brunette—and, of course, lots of red and copper.
As for what’s trending for the year ahead? “Hair color in 2025 will be low-maintenance and natural while peeking interest with a play on variations of ‘color within the color,’” Diana Mildice, a colorist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon, tells Glamour. “This means we will see more dimensional blondes, reds and brunettes that have unique visual movement created by layering various colors within.”

Every Gilmore Girls Christmas Episode, Ranked
While there are lots of great Thanksgiving episodes of Gilmore Girls, personally, I’m partial to the show’s December-centered fare: Graham’s Lorelai and Bledel’s Rory were as messy and nontraditional about Christmas as I tend to be, with Lorelai saving her enthusiasm for the first frost (which, again, I would have to drive roughly four hours into the California mountains to witness for myself, not that I’m bitter). Still, catching up with the mother-daughter duo’s onscreen exploits never fails to get me into the holiday spirit.

The Health Benefits of Cacao, Explained
You’ve probably noticed that wellness influencers have been scooping powdered cacao by the spoonful into their drinks and smoothies. You’ve also probably heard them say that cacao has a ton of health benefits, including improving blood circulation, balancing the metabolism, supporting the skin, and boosting brain power. But what exactly is cacao and are the health claims about it true? And, what are the differences between cacao, cocoa, and chocolate? Here, a deep dive into everything you need to know about cacao and what it can—and can’t—do for you.

The Real Reward of All These Celebrity Lookalike Contests
Do you look like someone famous? Would you like $50 or £50 or €50? Of course you would. Just before Halloween, a zillion Wonkas descended on Washington Square Park for a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest that ended with a cameo from Timothée himself (Kylie was a no-show) and handcuffs, as one lookalike was taken into custody. Ever since, a pandemic of lookalike competitions has swept the globe, prompting clusters of men with the vaguest resemblances to our favorite celebrities to gather in parks all over.

I Made Julia Child’s Buche de Noel and It Taught Me a Lesson in Cooking With Confidence
Julia Child’s impressive chocolate-almond Christmas cake Bûche de Noël taught me to never apologize.
When I was in my early 20s, new to New York City and desperate to break into food journalism, I bought a DVD set of Julia Child’s The French Chef. To unwind, I watched Julia Child truss chickens and make omelets.
I never actually made any of her recipes, but I did learn a number of things from Julia (it’s Food & Wine’s style to refer to a source by their last name, but how can I call her anything but Julia?). I admired her presence, her voice, and the way she took up space without apology. I was in need of a shot of confidence, and Julia was my model.
Her most important lesson? “Never apologize; never explain.” She repeated it frequently — on the show and also in Food & Wine, in her December 1988 article about the French Christmas cake, Bûche de Noël.

Bonne Maman Releases Ready-to-Bake Pie Fillings for Easy Holiday Desserts
And yes, they come in an adorable (and eminently reusable) jar.
Much like Ocean Spray is synonymous with cranberries, Bonne Maman is the very picture of preserves. Just the sight of that gingham lid on a jar of Bonne Maman fruit spread is enough to make many of us start craving scones, toast, and crumpets — but soon enough, it’ll put us in mind of holiday desserts, too. The brand has just launched a new line of ready-to-use pie fillings for convenient holiday baking, and they sound like a great solution for anyone intimidated by pastry projects.
The new Bonne Maman Pie Fillings are debuting in three classic flavors: Apple, Blueberry, and Cherry — and the press release notes that they’re “perfect for creating homemade pies that will impress family and friends.” (Let’s be honest, that’s the secret goal of any baking project.)

The Best Cookbooks to Gift This Year, According to Our Food Editors
We’ve got titles for everyone on your list.
As someone who owns over 160 cookbooks (dozens of which I’ve collaborated on), I like to think I have a knack for what makes a stand-out title. So, too, do my food-obsessed colleagues at Good Housekeeping, who make dishes from cookbooks in our Test Kitchen and at home. Together, we’ve compiled this list of the best cookbooks to give as presents this year, whether you’re looking for a college cookbook for a newbie chef or a pro cookbook for a seasoned foodie. You’ll find titles for every level in the kitchen, ranging from general techniques, specific cuisines, the best baking books and some of our all-time favorites.

The surprisingly selfish reason people give terrible gifts
And what to do with presents you just don’t want.
Standard etiquette advises us to remain gracious even in the face of laughably bad gifts, but research in the social psychology of gift-giving suggests we might be granting bad gift-givers too much benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, an ill-fitting gift is ill-fitting on purpose; it’s not mere miscommunication, but negative, even resentful communication. At the heart of solving this perennial problem is taking a good hard look at what motivates us to confer gifts unto others in the first place.

Singing ‘Wicked’ Fans Are Anything but Popular
Some fans who have attended early screenings of the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical have treated it as a singalong. Not everyone is thrilled.
Angela Weir went into a screening of “Wicked” on Monday night ready to be transported to the Land of Oz. But when Glinda (Ariana Grande) began to sing “Popular,” one of the musical’s early numbers, she was not the only one singing.
“It started slow. Then people heard each other — it was like they encouraged each other,” Weir said on Tuesday. “It was a beautiful scene, and then you’re taken out of it.”
As anticipation builds for the film’s release on Friday, some fans who have attended early screenings have ignored theater norms to sing right along with their favorite characters, much to the chagrin and annoyance of other “Wicked” enthusiasts. Many have taken to social media to issue a strict edict: Shush.

Keke Palmer Tells RuPaul How She’s Surviving the Fame Game
When RuPaul read KeKe Palmer’s new memoir-cum-self-help-book Master of Me this summer, he knew it had to be the November selection for his book club. “This book is a life hack,” Ru exclaimed when the two got together earlier this month over Zoom. “This is a way for someone to navigate life in the 21st century.” Palmer, of course, has always been something of a wise sage, but the book gets especially candid about those moments when she didn’t feel all that confident or valued in an entertainment industry that’s notoriously cutthroat. “All of us have a version of us that we show the world,” Palmer explained. And for her, comedy and extroversion sometimes functioned as “defense mechanism in order to deal with some of my own sensitivity.” Along the way, she’s mastered a variety of self-care methods, from yoga and journaling to bible study and juice cleanses. As she told Ru: “All of them are welcome and all of them are at your well.”

Liqueur vs. Liquor: What’s the Difference?
Hint: if you like amaretto, Cointreau, or Irish cream, you’re already a fan of liqueur.
Spirits, booze, liquor … liqueur? What is liqueur anyway? Liqueur is actually a type of spirit or liquor, which itself is a grain-based, distilled alcoholic beverage. A liqueur is a distilled spirit like vodka or brandy that is sweetened with sugar or syrup, and oftentimes it also contains flavoring agents such as fruit, herbs, and oils.
Most liqueurs are sweet, but some have a bitter taste as well, depending on the herbs used. Flavors are added by steeping or percolating fruit or plants in liquor. The word liqueur comes from the Latin word liquefacere, which means “to make liquid.” Ahead, learn more about liqueur, plus a few of our favorite recipes.

What Is Treacle? Here’s What to Know About the British Sweetener
Plus, how to use it in desserts and savory dishes.
Whether treacle is a staple in your kitchen, or you just recently heard of the syrup while watching Harry Potter or The Great British Baking Show, the British sweetener has certainly made its sweet mark on the world. Though not well known in the United States, treacle is sold in the United Kingdom and throughout many former British colonies. It’s used mainly for sweet confections, but you can also find it made into a glaze for savory dishes. Ahead, you’ll learn everything you need to know about treacle, including its varieties and how to use it.

[Photo Credit: fourseasons.com]

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