Blogs Archives

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Wednesday, June 2

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TODAY IS:
  • National Running Day: A good day to go for a run
  • National Leave the Office Earlier Day: A good day to shut it down early
  • National Rocky Road Day: A good day for some ice cream
  • National Bubba Day: A day to celebrate all the Bubbas out there

You can add “Karens” to the endangered species list. Thanks to the popular meme describing entitled white woman asking to speak to the manager, 2020 saw a sharp drop in the number of newborn babies named Karen — according to the Social Security Administration. Although the name’s popularity has been in a steady decline for decades, last year saw the name drop 171 spots on the name popularity list to number-831. There were only 325 baby girls named Karen last year. Karen is on a pace to fall off the top 1000 names list in 2021. (Yahoo)

Have you ever had a crush on a co-worker? According to a new YouGov poll, that puts you in the majority of Americans. 54% of us admit to having the hots for a colleague. More guys than women have had a co-worker crush. Nearly 60% of men and just under 50% of women admit to it.  The pollsters didn’t ask people if they ever acted on those crushes.

Forget mama bears … It’s a teen dog mom you have to fear. A teenager in California has gone viral after physically pushing a bear off the wall of her backyard, in order to save her dogs. The security camera video shows the bear and two cubs on the wall. The cubs run off when the dogs start barking but the mama bear is seen attempting to claw at one of the four dogs. 17-year-old Hailey then ran over, shoved the bear back, then grabbed her dogs and went inside. Her cousin posted the video to TikTok. (Newsweek)

NBC says cicadas have stopped making noise in certain parts of the country because temperatures have dipped below 70 degrees. Cicadas don’t like cold weather and stop singing and mating when temps dive into the 60’s. However, our temps locally will be rising in to the 80s by week’s end, so the noise could return quickly.
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Wednesday, June 2

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Mariah Carey is pushing back against her brother’s lawsuit ignited by her memoir.
According to the New York Post, she wants Morgan Carey‘s action tossed out, claiming her book is a “matter of public interest.” Her attorneys argue that the combination of her fame and a desire to encourage young people who have difficult family backgrounds should require more evidence to prove defamation.
Morgan Carey’s feathers were clearly ruffled by references that he calls “mere gossip and of prurient interest” — and make him appear violent toward their father. He insists the opposite was true.
He adds that The Meaning of Mariah Carey harmed his reputation and caused a potential deal for a film project to fall through.
Morgan isn’t the only Carey angry with Mariah’s book. Their sister Alison filed suit back in February.

Taylor Swift is reportedly looking to bounce back from her disastrous Cats experience by joining the cast of yet another all-star blockbuster film.
According to Showbiz 411, Tay is set to climb aboard a Depression-era period drama that’s tentatively titled Canterbury Glass. The flick, which already stars Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Rami Malek and Anya Taylor-Joy, will be directed by David O. Russell — the man behind films like Silver Linings Playbook and I Heart Huckabees.

Lance Bass and husband Michael Turchin are finally going to start the family they’ve been planning — with a set of twins!
Lance tells People magazine, “We told our friends and family about the ninth week, when we finally felt comfortable. You think you’re going to jinx it or something.” Michael adds  “We went through nine different egg donors, which is rare. We picked a donor for some of them. We got all the way down the path of about to retrieve their eggs. Some just wouldn’t produce enough eggs, some weren’t good genetic matches. If you’re going to be a match, you don’t want to even risk it.”
The twins — one boy, one girl — are due this fall.
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Tuesday, June 1

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While serving with the Army overseas in South Korea, Michael Steponovich worked closely with a German Shepard named Popeye, who was an expert at detecting explosives.
When Michael finished his career with the Army and moved to Las Vegas, he knew he’d miss his partner Popeye.
But, luckily, Popeye was also nearing retirement.
The charity group American Humane worked with Michael’s new employer — MGM Resorts International — to get Popeye back to America and back to Michael.
It all worked out. Michael was recently reunited with Popeye and filed official adoption papers.
It didn’t take long for Popeye to recognize Michael’s voice and the two continued their relationship as if they were never separated.
But now, they are both retired from the military and Michael was able to tell Popeye that he no longer needed to work. Instead, he’ll be able to relax and have fun at “Fort Couch” — as well as explore the great outdoors, including the beautiful state parks and trails in the Las Vegas Valley. (Las Vegas Sun)
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The Daily Dish – Tuesday, June 1

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Gavin MacLeod, who played Captain Stubing on The Love Boat and Murray on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, died Saturday at his home in Palm Desert, California. He was 90.
A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed, but MacLeod had been in ill health for the past few months.
The actor appeared as a guest on a ton of shows — including Perry Mason, Ben Casey, Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, The Big Valley, The Andy Griffith Show, My Favorite Martian and Hogan’s Heroes. He also appeared in the films The Sand Pebbles, The Party and Kelly’s Heroes.
Ed Asner, his co-star on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, tells Variety that MacLeod “made everything easy” while on the set, and off the set, Asner says, “I realized that whenever I was tense, (MacLeod) was there to relieve it. I treasured his friendship.”

Kim Kardashian has filed a restraining order against an alleged stalker. TMZ reports the reality star accuses 32-year-old Charles Peter Zelenoff of taking multiple videos of the exterior of her house and posting online about wanting to be in a relationship with her. A judge has ordered Zelenoff to stay 100 yards away from the star. Kardashian’s lawyer says he’s been convicted of battery twice in the past.

Pictures surfaced last week of actor MILES TELLER and his wife having a blast in Hawaii with AARON RODGERS and SHAILENE WOODLEY.  But it wasn’t ALL fun and games for Miles . . . because he was ASSAULTED.
On Wednesday, he and his wife were at a restaurant called the Monkeypod Kitchen in Maui.  Miles went to the bathroom, where he was punched in the face by a wedding planner.
It turns out Miles and his wife got married there in 2019, and this guy was THEIR wedding planner.  And he thinks Miles still owes him $60,000, so he decided to take it out of his FACE.
Police are investigating, but nobody’s been arrested yet.
... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Tuesday, June 1

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Tuesday, June 1. TODAY IS:
  • National Say Something Nice Day: A good day to compliment someone.
  • National Go Barefoot Day: Time to ditch your shoes.

It’s June … which, of course, means it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Forget iced tea and ice cream – over on the Hallmark Channel it’s all about hot chocolate and gingerbread. Hallmark will be airing Christmas movies every Thursday and Friday night starting this Thursday. (BHG)

Seems like a no-brainer – especially this year – but a survey has found that warm weather makes us want to do more. According to the survey, the average person is 31% more social in the summer than in the winter. And 50% say summer is their busiest time of year.

Sometimes it is incredibly important to pay close attention to the instructions your gym trainer gives you. A woman has gone viral on TikTok, after revealing how she sent pics of herself in her underwear to her trainer. But this wasn’t a case of sexting to the wrong person – or even the right person. Seems her trainer told her to take “before” pics of herself in her bra and underwear so she could see her transformation. But she mistakenly thought she was supposed to send the pics to him. In the video, which she titled “How do I go back?” she shared screenshots of their text chain, including where he lets her know the pics were actually meant for her, not for him. He even shares that he was out to dinner with his girlfriend when he got the text. Oops. (Independent)

Is working from home here to stay? Every week there are more surveys coming out showing how people want to keep working remotely. The latest is a survey by FlexJobs, which found that 65% of people surveyed said they want to continue work from home full-time. 56% went so far as to say they would quit their jobs if they had to go back to the office. Reasons people want to keeping working from home? No commuting hassles, they save money by working from home, and greater flexibility and work-life balance. (Well and Good)
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Tuesday, June 1

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Singer B.J. THOMAS died Saturday after a battle with lung cancer.  He was 78 years old.  B.J. is best known for the song Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1970, because it was featured in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.  (It was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.)
B.J.’s other hits included Hooked on a Feeling(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, and I Just Can’t Help Believing. He also did the “Growing Pains”  theme song, As Long as We Got Each Other.

John Mayer is cooking up a mysterious new project, but he’s not quite ready to reveal the details just yet.
On Friday, he teased something called “Sob Rock” and encouraged fans to go to SobRock.net where they can fill out a sign up sheet to learn more.
“Sob Rock is coming soon,” the site reads. “We can’t tell you whose album it is yet, but sign up below to learn more as it’s announced.”
If you fill out the form, you get a message that says, “Thanks for signing up. Stay tuned for more information on Sob Rock soon!”
In the meantime, if you use the Sob Rock hashtag on Twitter, an emoji of John’s face pops up. So start tweeting your best guesses!
... [Read Full Story]

THE HAPPY HEADLINE OF THE DAY – FRIDAY, MAY 28

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84 year-old Henlay Foster has finally graduated from Washington University.He earned his degree by taking virtual classes from his home in Rockville, Maryland. Foster now has a degree in music. He was nine credits short of graduating when he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Germany as a young man. When Foster returned to the United States, he started working instead of returning to school. Foster plans to celebrate his graduation this weekend with an Italian dinner.... [Read Full Story]

THE DAILY DISH – FRIDAY, MAY 28

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Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are no longer talking. A source tells OK! Magazine that there is a lot of pain and rage about breaking off the engagement. Jen might look happy back with Ben, but what we didn’t see was the agony and pain that she went through breaking off her engagement to A-Rod and breaking up their kids who had become so close. Jennifer is angry about what Alex did when they were engaged, while Alex is angry about what Jennifer did after they broke the engagement off. Which explains why they are no longer speaking.... [Read Full Story]

COFFEE TALK FROM HONOR CREDIT UNION – FRIDAY, MAY 28

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Here’s something to consider as we approach the holiday weekend … You’re not imagining it — time really does fly when you’re having fun. A study from Ohio State found that our brains perceive time as going by faster during positive activities. And, of course, when it’s a negative activity – like a dreaded work meeting – the brain perceives time as going more slowly. In other words, your three-day weekend is going to feel like it lasted one day. So enjoy!... [Read Full Story]

MUSIC NEWS – FRIDAY, MAY 28

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Camila Cabello’s singing voice didn’t get her the audition that landed her in Fifth Harmony — her tears sealed the deal.
Simon Cowell remembers Camila’s first day on the X Factor set, where she was thought to be an also-ran. Cowell says she wasn’t even meant to audition. Since the auditions were running on time, Camila was a reserve. Cowell went backstage and saw her lying on the floor crying. He asked what was wrong. She said, “They won’t let me audition.” Cowell then said just go out and audition. She did, and it was amazing.... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Thursday, May 27

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Girl Scout Troop 627 of Johnson City, Tennessee, was extra motivated to sell cookies this year because they vowed to donate a portion of their proceeds to a local animal shelter.
Their campaign was a huge success and, earlier this month, they were able to wheel in piles of food bags, supplies, and toys to the shelter — over $700 worth in all.
One troop member — Elliot Guinn — said the troop’s shared love for animals inspired the act of kindness. She called the decision to donate “easy” because the troop wanted to “help the animals and help them get new homes.” (WJHL-TV)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Thursday, May 27

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Brad Pitt has been granted joint custody of his six children with Angelina JoliePage Six reports.
The exes have been fighting through the courts for nearly five years, and it may not be over. A source said it was a “tentative decision,” and that Angelina is continuing her legal fight.
The judge in the case made his decision after months of witness testimony, including child services professionals and therapists.
Angie filed for divorce in 2016 immediately after Brad allegedly got physical with their then-15-year-old son Maddox during a flight.

NBC didn’t have to travel far to find a replacement for Ellen DeGeneres — they simply promoted Kelly Clarkson to the featured daytime slot.
The Kelly Clarkson Show — which is owned by NBC’s syndication arm — will take over for Ellen in the fall of 2022. Kel’s contract runs through the end of 2023, and producers say, “We’re working on some big plans for season three and are looking forward to becoming the premier show in daytime for years to come.” (Hollywood Reporter)

Howard University will name its College of Fine Arts after the late Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther star graduated from Howard in 2000. (TMZ)

Chris Noth confirms that he’ll reprise his Mr. Big role in the Sex and the City sequel series at HBO Max. Production on the 10-episode series is set to begin this summer. (Deadline)

The “Star Wars” sequel trilogy left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans . . . in part because it seemed to lack focus and direction. That’s because J.J. ABRAMS did the first one . . . then another guy came in and wrote and directed the second one, and he didn’t necessarily follow up on all the plot threads in J.J.’s movie. Then a THIRD guy was hired to write and direct the last movie, but he quit over creative differences, and J.J. had to jump back in and take over. And in a new interview, J.J. says, quote, “I feel like what I’ve learned as a lesson a few times now . . . is that you have to plan things as best you can, and you always need to be able to respond to the unexpected. “Having a plan I have learned . . . in some cases the hard way . . . is the most critical thing, because otherwise, you don’t know what you’re setting up.  You don’t know what to emphasize . . . you want to be leading to something inevitable.”
... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Thursday, May 27

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TODAY IS:
  • Grape Popsicle Day

Here’s something to consider as we approach the holiday weekend … You’re not imagining it — time really does fly when you’re having fun. A study from Ohio State found that our brains perceive time as going by faster during positive activities. And, of course, when it’s a negative activity – like a dreaded work meeting – the brain perceives time as going more slowly. In other words, your three-day weekend is going to feel like it lasted one day. So stop and enjoy it!

Want to go vegan or vegetarian but just haven’t been able to quit meat? Here’s an easy (and healthy) middle ground – eat a plant-based meal for dinner. Researchers in China found that having a plant-based meal at dinner can reduce the risk of heart disease by 10%. Seems it’s all about timing – because people who eat too many refined carbs and fatty meats at dinner have a greater risk of heart disease than those who eat that way in the morning. So … have that bacon for breakfast if you want, but skip it at dinner.

I’ve told you in a past edition of Coffee Talk about “geriatric millennials.” Now those millennials have more to worry about related to their geriatric status! Too much TV during midlife can put your brain at risk for dementia. New research shows watching TV each day during adulthood can age the brain faster. Screen time apparently affects the “grey matter” in your brain. That’s the stuff that helps coordinate muscle control, seeing, hearing, decision-making and other important brain functions. Studies show a zero-point-five percent decline in grey matter volume for every additional hour of TV viewed. So go on and pop open a book.

When you hit the road, do you make a road trip playlist? You’re not alone. A new survey found that 60% of people taking a road trip make a play list to set the mood. How essential is the perfect playlist? 35% of those surveyed said they would turn the car around if they didn’t have the right tunes. What are some of the must-have songs on the perfect road trip playlist? Here are the Top 5, according to the survey:
  1. “Sweet Home Alabama,” Lynyrd Skynyrd — 39%
  2. “Hotel California,” The Eagles — 29%
  3. “Life Is a Highway,” Tom Cochrane — 27%
  4. “Take Me Home Country Roads,” John Denver — 26%
  5. “On the Road Again,” Willie Nelson — 25%
47% of those surveyed said they have a road trip memory tied to a particular song.
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Thursday, May 27

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Vogue magazine published Ariana Grande’s wedding photos. On May 15th, Ari and Dalton Gomez exchanged vows at their home before less than 20 close friends and family.
She wore a custom-designed Vera Wang gown. Her lily-white silk charmeuse dress featured a sculpted neckline and plunging back.
Ariana paid tribute to her Sweetener era by wearing an upside-down pearl and diamond earring. That combo matches the engagement ring that Dalton gave her.
Joan Grande and her father Ed Butera were on either side of Ariana to give her away.
Among her 55 tattoos, Ari chose to conceal several on her arms for the special day. (Vogue)

Shania Twain is headed back to Las Vegas for 14 new dates of her Let’s Go! residency show at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. She’ll hit the stage late in 2021, with six shows taking place in December and eight more the following February.
Shania first launched her Vegas residency in December of 2019, and was planning several more shows for 2020 before the COVID-19 shutdowns. Shania is the creative director as well as the star of her show.
When she gets back to Sin City, she’ll have a lot of company: Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood have all announced new residencies, while Gwen Stefani is returning this fall for her own show at Zappos, Just a Girl.
Tickets for Shania’s newly announced dates go on sale to the general public June 1 at 10AM PT.
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, May 26

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In Cabot, Arkansas, little league pitcher Jett Morris stepped onto the field and threw out the first pitch.
Little did he know that the person wearing the catcher’s mask was actually his dad, Joe, who had been overseas with the Navy for a whole year.
After the pitch, Joe took off the mask, revealing his identity, much to the delight of Jett and the rest of the family.
Jett, of course, was very excited. Jett’s sisters — Alexa and Saylor — as well as his mom, Melissa, then joined him in running to home plate for a family hug, making it the most memorable ballgame the family had ever been a part of. (KLRT-TV)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Wednesday, May 26

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The nominees for the 48th annual Daytime Emmy Awards have been announced.
The beleaguered Ellen DeGeneres was snubbed in the Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host category. Drew Barrymore, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest are among the nominees. Ellen’s show, however, did earn a nod in the show category.
Meanwhile, Alex Trebek and Larry King received posthumous nominations.
The show will air June 25th in primetime on CBS and Paramount Plus.

Kevin Spacey‘s return to film isn’t sitting well with one of his sexual assault accusers.
The actor is reportedly set to star in a new Italian film, which will be his first acting role since he was accused of multiple acts of sexual misconduct. One of his accusers, Mark Ebenhoch, who claims Spacey tried to have sex with him on the set of Outbreak in 1995, is outraged over the actor’s new role in which he plays a cop investigating a man wrongfully accused of sexually abusing children, according to TMZ. Ebenhock calls the casting of Spacey in that role “absurd,” given his history of sexual misconduct.

Seth Rogen thinks comedians should stop complaining about “cancel culture.”
The star appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday and said he doesn’t understand why people like Donald Glover, Chris Rock and Billy Crystal are up in arms about it.
Seth admitted that jokes in his old movies “have not aged well,” but added, “I think that’s the nature of comedy. I think conceptually those movies are sound and I think there’s a reason they’ve lasted. Jokes are not things that necessarily are built to last.”
Rogen said there’s nothing wrong with accountability. “In my Twitter I’ve never made a joke that’s outwardly horrific in some way, and if you have, I would question why you did that. Saying terrible things is bad, so if you’ve said something terrible, then it’s something you should confront in some way, shape or form. I don’t think that’s ‘cancel culture,’ that’s you saying something terrible, if that’s what you’ve done.”
Rogen suggested that “if you’ve made a joke that’s aged terribly, accept it. And if you don’t think it’s aged terribly, then say that.”
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The Coast Social Network with Berrien Community Foundation – Wednesday, May 26

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Susan Matheny from Berrien Community Foundation and Kortney Moore from Calling All Colors join Zack on the Coast Social Network this morning to talk about BCF’s “For Good” Grants, and how Calling All Colors used their grant to continue connecting St. Joseph and Benton Harbor students together. Find more details on grants at berriencommunity.org.... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Wednesday, May 26

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TODAY IS:
  • Blueberry Cheesecake Day: A good day for some cheesecake.
  • DRACULA DAY – Even if it’s hot outside, maybe consider wearing a turtleneck today.
  • SALLY RIDE DAY – Honoring the first American woman in space. Sally Ride was part of the Space Shuttle Challenger mission in 1983. She was also the youngest astronaut – going to space when she was 32. She died of pancreatic cancer in 2012. By the way…the Wilson Pickett song ‘Mustang Sally’ was written decades before she blasted off for space; the line ‘ride, Sally, ride’ just happens to be a nice coincidence.
  • NATIONAL PAPER AIRPLANE DAY – The first paper airplanes are believed to have originated in China about 2,000 years ago. The largest paper airplane was made in Germany in 2013 and had a wingspan of nearly 60 feet.

Do you want to live to 150? Researchers think it’s possible. Scientists in Singapore developed an iPhone app that uses artificial intelligence to estimate biological aging. Using blood samples from hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. and U.K., the app found that people have the capacity to basically double their life expectancy. The catch? You have to be healthy.

Memorial Day Weekend is fast-approaching … and that means so is grilling season. According to a new survey, American cheese, bacon, and lettuce are the toppings that make for the perfect burger. And when it comes to condiments, people like it simple. Ketchup (46%) and mayo (43%) were the top choices for a “perfect burger.” Sesame seed was the top choice when it came to bun options. And no surprise – fries (70%) were the top side.
How important are the right toppings? 78% said toppings could be make or break for a burger.

Speaking of Memorial Day Weekend … You may be attending some outdoor BBQs – and those BBQs will probably involve some beverages in red solo cups. Some of you seasoned solo-ers may know this, but if not, a TikToker named Lindsay Roggenbuck, known for her popular household hacks, has gone viral for letting everyone else know. You know those lines outside the cup? They are actually measurements for beverages. The top line is equivalent to a pint of beer. The line below it holds a standard 12-ounce bottle or can. The second-to-last line measures 5 ounces, a typical serving of wine. And the very last line on the cup is 1 ounce – for shots. (In the Know)
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Music News – Wednesday, May 26

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Blake Shelton is making sure nobody ever calls him a “Groomzilla” — by taking a totally hands-off approach to his wedding to Gwen Stefani.
The country superstar tells USA Today that Gwen is at the controls of every detail surrounding the ceremony. He says “I want her to do all of that stuff and handle it because it’s going to be great. She’s in the middle of planning the thing, and she’s always so mindful of me. She’s like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to just take this thing over.'”
Blake’s particularly sure that his California girl bride has a better handle on what to serve guests. As he puts it, “If I was picking our meal, it would just literally be everything fried. French fries, chicken tenders—you know, all of that stuff. I think she knows that it would be a pretty classless wedding if I was in control.”

Last year, when Sam Smith released their latest album Love Goes, touring was shut down, so they performed their new songs as a streaming event, live from London’s legendary Abbey Road studios.  But if you missed it then, you can now stream it on Netflix.
“This was such a special night for me. Getting to play in one of the most historic studios with my incredible band…was magical,” Sam writes in a note to fans.
Love Goes is the celebration of me coming home to myself,” they add. “Performing some of the songs for you all for the first time was an unforgettable experience, and I’m so happy we get to relive it. Get comfy, make yourself a cuppa and enjoy.”
In addition to new material from Love Goes, the performance features Sam performing previous hits like “Stay with Me,” and a cover of Cyndi Lauper‘s “Time After Time.”
Love Goes: Live at Abbey Road Studios is available for streaming, and is also available as a live album on Sam’s website, along with special merchandise commemorating the event.

Over the years, Katy Perry has worn some eye-popping outfits: Just her American Idol wardrobe alone is pretty vast, not to mention some of the get-ups she’s worn on stage.  And Katy says one day, she hopes to pass some of those clothes onto her daughter, Daisy Dove.
“I think about it all the time,” Katy told POPSUGAR, noting that Daisy will get “carte blanche” to raid her closet. “I do a lot of cleanups, but I do have some stuff always that I’m thinking about.”
Daisy will turn a year old in August.  In December, Katy will have even more outfits for her to choose from, as she kicks off her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency, PLAY.
... [Read Full Story]