TODAY IS:
National Vinyl Record Day
National Middle Child Day
TODAY’S TOPICS:
Backhanded compliments …Al Roker was recently featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show to talk about his new book,You Look So Much Better in Person. But it's not just a funny book title – it’s a backhanded compliment both he and Kelly get from fans regularly. During the interview Kelly said, “I love the title. Anybody that knows me that sees your book, buys your book, reads your book, is going to laugh because literally the thing said most to me in my life, in my career … is, ‘You look so much better in person.’ I honestly thought it was just me.” (Country Living)
This is really cool …A company named The Zebra will pay its employees to adopt a pet. The Zebra, an insurance comparison site, announced in a statement that it will now cover "expenses up to $300 annually for employees welcoming a new cat or dog." Not only that, but employees will also be offered a "pawternity" leave -- paid time off to get acquainted with their new furry friend. (Travel & Leisure)
The holidays are coming …Apparently Brach’s is releasing a bag of candy corn with flavors that taste like a Thanksgiving dinner. Each candy corn is a different flavor of the dinner -- Green Beans, Roasted Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Ginger Glazed Carrot, Sweet Potato Pie, and Stuffing.Yum?(Delish)
Speaking of the holidays …You’re going to see Halloween candy in stores much earlier than usual. Candy companies like Hershey have requested that retailers set up their Halloween displays earlier this year in an effort to help with sales -- since Trick-or-Treating will likely be cancelled due to COVID concerns. Don’t expect to see fancy packaging this year either. Mondelez, the company behind Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish will focus on family-size packs of their candies because they predict parents will arrange small get-togethers instead of typical Halloween celebrations. Even Hershey announced limited Halloween packaging, choosing to save money and keep their normal packaging due to the uncertainty of the season. (Eater)
Van life ...With job losses, high housing prices, more people working remotely and people wanting to travel safely during these times of coronavirus, many people have romanticized about just hitting the road and living the “van life.”
Does this appeal to you? If so, here are some things people living the van life say you should know …
- Working from the road can sometimes be a challenge – especially when it comes to having reliable internet.
- Even though life on the road sounds like it’s all about freedom and flexibility, you’ll spend a lot of your time getting organized and planning ahead.
- Vans can need a lot of maintenance. And if it breaks down, you can be left with nowhere to stay for days at a time.
- Driving a van, converted bus or RV can be stressful – especially on city streets.
- You need to provide your own water and power.
- With a small fridge and limited space, you’ll have to shop more often.
- Staying at campgrounds and RV parks can cost anywhere from $30 to more than $100 a night. Finding free places to camp can be difficult and time-consuming.
- Van life can get lonely at times.
- If you are traveling with a partner, living in a small space together can be hard on a relationship.
- It’s not as glamorous as people make it seem on social media. (Insider)