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Tag: TikTok

  • ‘Your first mistake was going to a chain steakhouse restaurant’: Woman goes to California Texas Roadhouse. Then she cuts her steak–and is disgusted

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    Properly cooking a steak is somewhere between an art and a science. There are multiple variables that come into play: the thickness, type, and quality of the cut; its temperature, seasoning, and marinade; and the cooking method itself.

    Get them all right and it’s a culinary delight. Get even one wrong and you may be guilty of a crime against cattle.

    The latter purportedly happened to one Texas Roadhouse customer earlier this month. On Oct. 10, Kort (@kortlynn333) posted a video showing the disappointing takeout she says she got from the chain steakhouse’s Visalia, California, location.

    “Visalia Texas Roadhouse do better!! Ordered the New York Strip medium!” a voiceover on Kort’s TikTok says. “Also got the smothered chicken with onions AND jack cheese!”

    The steak in the video is red and raw-looking with a very thin amount of the edge seared—in all likelihood, cooked rare. The chicken is missing the pepper jack cheese. Kort shows the receipt to prove that she did, in fact, order the steak medium and the chicken with cheese.

    Kort’s TikTok has nearly 37,000 views as of this writing.

    Mistakes can happen in any restaurant. After all, on a busy night, they’ll often serve hundreds of customers. At that volume, there’s bound to be a mishap or two.

    Still, Kort’s post has people weighing in on Texas Roadhouse and its Visalia location specifically. It’s further giving rise to questions about whether chain restaurants, steakhouses in particular, are inferior.

    The rise of chain restaurants

    People have been dining in restaurants for thousands of years. For much of that time, the vast majority of restaurants were sole proprietorships, meaning each had its own particular flavor.

    There was no such thing as a chain restaurant in America until early in the 20th century, when A&W (yes, like the root beer) and White Castle opened for business within a few years of one another.

    In the century since, chain restaurants have flourished. From Maine to Mississippi to Hawaii and beyond, you can walk into a Texas Roadhouse and expect essentially the same dining experience.

    There’s comfort in the familiar, and in a country as vast as ours, it’s nice to be able to have that common experience.

    But not everyone is a fan of chain restaurants. Critics say too much of their food is pre-fab and that the emphasis on consistency creates a generic quality.

    There can admittedly be something jarring about going into a restaurant that thoroughly clashes with the local culture. A Texas Roadhouse in Houston is one thing, after all; one in Wahiawa quite another.

    Down with chain steakhouses?

    Some people who commented on Kort’s TikTok said that you should never get steak from a chain.

    “Your first mistake was going to a chain steakhouse restaurant, especially in Visalia,” a person going by Cassiopeia wrote, adding, “Please always avoid chain restaurants like that if you want quality.”

    A second agreed, “Don’t order [steaks] at Texas Roadhouse; just get the apps and burgers. Cook your own steak. (Their steak is bland and unseasoned).”

    Texas Roadhouse did not immediately respond to an email from the Mary Sue.

    It’s also true that there’s sometimes quite a difference in quality between locations, even in the same town.

    As a user named Ashley opined about the Visalia location in response to Kort’s post, “Their food is so Mid!”

    Briana offered, “The one in Fresno is better.”

    Others came to the chain’s defense. A woman going by knottypiiine said Kort’s steak “looks delicious.”

    “I love the Visalia Texas Roadhouse,” she said.

    Kort may not have liked her meal that night, but that doesn’t mean she’s off Texas Roadhouse for good.

    “We love Texas Roadhouse, but this time I was so disappointed in [how] the steak was cooked,” she said.

    Elsewhere in the comments, Kort said she had requested a refund. It’s not clear if she’s received one. Kort did not immediately respond to a direct message sent via TikTok.

    @kortlynn333 So disappointed and called them and waited for someone to answer and they never answered! #texasroadhouse #disappointed #steak #raw #visalia ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

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    Claire Goforth

    Claire Goforth is a contributing writer to The Mary Sue. Her work has appeared in the Guardian, Al Jazeera America, the Miami New Times, Folio Weekly, the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, the Florida Times-Union, the Daily Dot, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. Find her online at bsky.app/profile/clairegoforth.bsky.social and x.com/claire_goforth.

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  • Why Gen-Z Is Turning to TikTok for Their Benefits Info

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    The complexity of the U.S. healthcare system is only one reason it’s more important than ever for workers and employers to have a proper handle on workplace benefits. In a rapidly changing labor market, coupled with shifting employee expectations, the right benefits package can be a big motivator for workers, and a draw for highly qualified job applicants. But a new report suggests that many employers may not be adequately explaining their companies’ benefits to their employees. It’s a wakeup call for business onwers to drag their communications into the 21 century and educate people versus the social media platform that are the source of most of their online information.

    According to a new survey from New York-based financial services outfit Equitable, younger members of the workforce are turning to online sources and social media to help them properly understand the workplace benefits they’re offered. You might think “great! Job done…less effort for the HR team!” but the data shows otherwise: some 40 percent of the 1,000 people Equitable surveyed said they didn’t feel confident in understanding the voluntary benefits their employer offered. And while the data show 55 percent of all workers “still rely on HR materials and information sessions from employers to understand their workplace benefits,” 37 percent of Gen-Z have used social platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Reddit and even YouTube (that great source of “how to” videos) to seek out benefits information — the highest percentage of any generation responding to the survey. Meanwhile, Millennials lead the age groups who use AI for the same info: fully 30 percent say they’ve used AI like this. 

    What’s driving the trend of people trying to figure out benefits on their own? It may be mostly about medical costs in the complex, layered U.S. health system. Equitable’s data show 80 percent of Americans think an unplanned medical expense — like an accident, or a sudden serious illness — could “derail” their long term financial planning. Younger workers are more anxious, with 89 percent of Gen-Z and Millennial workers feeling this way, compared to 65 percent of baby boomers. This could be thanks to the macroeconomic financial disparities between generations, with report after report showing how the boomer generation has money set aside in ways that’re inaccessible to younger generations.

    The amounts of money concerned aren’t that onerous, either: Equitable’s data show that over a quarter of the people who say an unexpected bill could upset their plans pin the financially damaging limit at around $1,000. 

    Why should you care about this? 

    Equitable’s report has a clear reason for you: it notes that a survey of over 500 small to medium-size businesses, nearly every respondent said voluntary workplace benefits are “key to attracting and retaining employees.” And nearly three in four small business owners think these benefits show that they’re caring and committed employers. Reputations like this, a recent report showed, are perhaps more important than they’ve ever been. 

    But the same survey said four in 10 employers said low participation was a barrier for them offering or expanding voluntary benefits. What may be driving this? Overly complex, old-fashioned pamphlets perhaps? Or a benefits education program that’s slightly out of date with current offerings from third party suppliers? 

    The big take-away is that younger workers really are looking for meaningful workplace benefits when they’re choosing which jobs to apply for — and emphasizing those that can benefit their mental health. As Gen-Z joins the workforce in increasing numbers, this is definitely something you need to plan for, lest you may miss out on excellent new talent. 

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  • ‘I’m sifting everything from now on’: California woman starts making Betty Crocker brownies. Then she sees something moving

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    A California woman’s baking session turned from sweet to sickening when she discovered something alive in her brownie mix. Safe to say, she probably didn’t end up finishing the baking process.

    Woman Finds Maggot in Brownie Mix

    In a viral video with more than 65,000 views, content creator Jay (@justenejanik) captures the disturbing moment she realizes what was in her Betty Crocker brownie mix. The video shows what appears to be a maggot covered in brownie powder, clearly moving around in the sifter.

    “Bro, it’s like a maggot or something,” someone says in the video as they film the unwelcome discovery.

    “We decided to make some brownies today and after sifting why did we find THIS???? Be careful when using @Betty Crocker mix yall,” she said in the caption.

    The fact that she was sifting the mix (a step many home bakers skip) saved her from baking the contaminated ingredients into her brownies. Had she simply dumped the mix into a bowl as the package instructions suggest, the maggot likely would have ended up in the finished product.

    Why You Should Sift

    Jay’s experience serves as an unexpected argument for the extra step of sifting dry baking ingredients. Even when using pre-mixed products. While sifting is traditionally done to break up clumps and aerate flour for lighter baked goods, it apparently has the added benefit of catching unwanted protein sources before they end up in your dessert.

    Are Maggots Safe to Eat?

    Maggots are fly larvae that are often found around contaminated food. While most foods with maggots aren’t safe to eat, the bigger concern is what the larvae have been exposed to, Healthline reported.

    Healthline explains that houseflies commonly use animal and human feces as breeding sites. This is as well as garbage and rotting organic material. This means maggots can carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella enteritidis and E. coli. If consumed, these bacteria can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramping, and fatigue.

    The good news, according to Healthline, is that cooking typically kills both maggots and any bacteria they carry. However, the publication notes that eating maggot-infested food raw or discovering contamination after the fact can lead to bacterial poisoning or even myiasis, an infection where maggots infest living tissue in the gastrointestinal tract.

    For packaged dry goods like brownie mix, contamination typically occurs either during the manufacturing process. Or due to improper storage conditions that allow pests to access the product. Healthline recommends keeping food storage areas clean and dry, and inspecting packages for any signs of damage or pest activity before use.

    FDA Allows Insect Parts in Food—But Has Limits

    While Jay’s maggot discovery is understandably disturbing, it may be surprising to learn that some level of insect contamination is actually legally allowed in processed foods. According to CBS News, the FDA permits what it calls “food defects”—the unavoidable byproduct of growing and harvesting food.

    “It is economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects,” CBS News reports.

    For example, CBS News notes that chocolate can contain 30 or more insect parts per bar, coffee beans are allowed an average of 10 milligrams of animal excrement per pound, and tomato sauce can legally contain about two maggots per 16-ounce can. Canned mushrooms can have an average of 20 or more maggots per four-ounce can.

    Food safety specialist Ben Chapman told CBS News that manufacturers have quality assurance employees constantly testing samples to ensure they stay below FDA thresholds. When contamination levels are too high, the food can be sent to “rework” processes. For example, boiling cranberries to skim insect parts off the top before canning.

    Chapman emphasized to CBS News that while insect parts have a high “yuck factor,” they pose a low health risk. 

    “Insect parts are gross, but they don’t lead to foodborne illnesses,” he explained. 

    The real dangers are foodborne illnesses like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli, which contribute to more than 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually in the United States.

    @justenejanik we decided to make some brownies today and after sifting why did we find THIS???? Be careful when using @Betty Crocker mix yall #brownies #baking #bettycrocker ♬ original sound – jay

    Viewers are disgusted

    “Idk but i wouldn’t have even noticed would’ve baked that bug right up and ate it with a side of milk,” a top comment read.

    “You know whaaatttt, I’m sifting everything from now on lol,” a person said.

    “NO BECAUSE I WAS JUST ABOUT TO MAKE THIS EXACT BOX. okay now i have to sift, “another wrote.

    The Mary Sue reached out to Jay for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We also reached out to Betty Crocker via email.

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    Stacy Fernandez

    Stacy Fernández is a freelance writer, project manager, and communications specialist. She’s worked at the Texas Tribune, the Dallas Morning News, and run social for the Education Trust New York.

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  • ‘A plot twist I didn’t see coming’: NYC woman buys $500 gold Oura Ring. Then she says it landed her in the ER

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    Oura Rings offer round-the-clock health updates with a little bit of glamour, but is it all too good to be true?

    TikToker Sonam (@sonam_says) has gone viral after sharing her troubling experience with the popular product.

    She begins this clip, which has amassed 18,200 views, by saying, “I used to wear an Oura ring, and I don’t anymore, and I’ll tell you why.”

    Why did she stop wearing her Oura ring?

    “So many of you have recently found my old video on it, probably because of the Palantir U.S. government news, and also because they’re launching a new ring.”

    The previous video in question consists of an image of a very red, swollen finger with an Oura Ring on it.

    “So here’s what happened,” she said. “Mind you, this is my second Oura Ring. My first ring was in the exact same size. It flew off my hand one day when I was just like, out dancing, and I lost it. So I bought a new one. Told myself that it was just gonna be loose, and that’s OK.”

    She then detailed how she woke up one day while visiting her family with an inflamed “balloon” finger.

    “We tried all the home remedies and eventually went to the ER, and they couldn’t use their ring cutters on me because the ring is way too thick,” she explained. “[They] also said they couldn’t drill through it because it would take too long and may cause nerve damage. Really, my only option was for them to submerge my hand in ice water and numb my hand so that I couldn’t feel it. And then they went and threaded the ring off.

    “I thought maybe I had an allergic reaction to the ring, but they said, ‘No, that’s not the case. ‘They just said that you shouldn’t be wearing rings to sleep. I was like, ‘This is a sleep ring.’ So if you have one, stay vigilant, if not for your data, but for the safety of your fingers.”

    @sonam_says I’m all for health tech and data – but this one came with a plot twist I didn’t see coming ? TLDR: don’t wear it to sleep, and maybe… stay vigilant ? @ouraring #OuraRing #WellnessTech #Biohacking #SleepTracking #rednailtheory ♬ original sound – sonam_says

    This isn’t news to some

    One commenter wrote, “I put it on a smaller finger at night and put it back on the regular finger when I get up.”

    Another added, “Your fingers can swell when sleeping. [You’re] never advised to wear rings to bed.”

    “Previously, the reason I would never buy it is because I’ve lost weight enough in my life to need another ring size,” a third shared. “Now I have a second reason.”

    A couple of commenters could also relate to Sonam’s experience.

    “I actually had an allergic reaction to the ring,” said a fourth. “I wear rings all the time and I’ve never had an issue like that before just with the aura ring I think it was like the four or the three whichever one came out.”

    “Woke up one day and my wedding ring finger was swollen and my ring was hard to get off,” a fifth noted. “Had to use soap and water. Gave me anxiety for sure.”

    The issue is common

    Clearly, Sonam’s experience isn’t unique. Countless Reddit users have also reported similar ailments that developed after they started wearing Oura Rings.

    In the comments, fellow Redditors, including what appeared to be Oura’s official Reddit account, suggested trying soap and water to reduce swelling.

    “Use cold water and gentle soap to wet your finger, and slowly twist the ring to remove it,” the account wrote. “Hold your hand up above your heart until the finger swelling is reduced, and then try to remove it.”

    “In cases of emergency, discomfort, or if you can’t remove the ring yourself, seek immediate medical attention.”

    The Mary Sue reached out to Oura Ring via email and to the creator for comment.

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    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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  • ‘You did not deserve this’: DoorDash driver says she reported being assaulted on the job. Then she gets deactivated

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    A DoorDash driver just got removed from the platform after reporting her sexual assault to the company. Many people are wondering, what’s wrong with DoorDash? 

    In a previous story posted to The Mary Sue’s news section, we covered how Livie Rose Henderson (@irlmonsterhighdoll), a dasher for the food delivery service, got sexually harassed and assaulted when a man exposed himself in front of her. Now, DoorDash has removed Henderson from the platform, a shocking update that has left many commenters confused and baffled by the company’s decision-making. 

    Henderson explains the situation

    Henderson stated that while the company did ban the customer, they banned her two days after posting her original video. She immediately appealed the ban and, within a matter of hours, got denied. She added that she can never get her DoorDash account back. 

    Henderson also clarified that TikTok has removed her videos multiple times since Oct. 12, possibly because she posted the original video she took of the indecently exposed customer.

    “ This is my third time posting this because TikTok keeps silencing me and taking my videos down and giving me strikes,” she explained. “So if I get one more strike you guys, I’m just letting you know right now my account is going to be banned.” 

    Frustrated with the situation, Henderson said, “ DoorDash punished me for exposing my assaulter, and TikTok is currently punishing me… This is the only justice I’m getting because I also reported this to the police, and the police are doing nothing.”

    Why did DoorDash remove her from the platform?

    DoorDash generally prohibits driver activity that creates an “unsafe” environment, which can include recording. Generally, the company does not want its dashers posting personal details of their customers, even if they’re doing something illegal. 

    DoorDash confirmed this in a statement made on its TikTok story and in the comments of a recent Instagram post. The TikTok story read, “Posting a customer in their home, and disclosing their personal details publicly, is a clear violation of our policies. That is the sole reason that this DoorDasher’s account was deactivated, along with the customer’s.” 

    The case concludes, but hundreds boycott

    Henderson pointed out during her update that she was the one getting most punished for being honest about the state the man was in when she arrived at his door.

    “ He’s not getting in trouble with the police. He didn’t lose his job, if he has one. What’s going on with him? Why am I getting fired?” she said. “Why are my videos getting taken down and why am I getting strikes like I’m about to lose my account? I was assaulted.” 

    Some people took issue with the way that Henderson approached the situation. “So explain why you were looking into this man’s house when [your] only job was put [the food] down, [take a] picture of [the] bag [and] walk away,” one commenter scathingly said. “No part of your job said, ‘look into customers home to see if they’re completely dressed or not.’”

    However, many expressed support for Henderson. Many viewers pointed out that if she didn’t take a video, she wouldn’t have any evidence. Hundreds of people said that they’re deleting DoorDash in Henderson’s comment section. One user even claimed that the boycott was singlehandedly lowering the company’s stock. 

    @irlmonsterhighdoll backup is @via von dutch ♬ original sound – irlmonsterhighdoll

    The Mary Sue reached out to DoorDash again to get an update. We’re also reaching out to Henderson via Instagram.

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    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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  • ‘I never noticed a difference’: Indiana woman buys can of Monster. Then she buys the same can—but it has a green tab

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    A TikTok content creator is warning her audience to be “careful” after consuming a few Monster energy drinks she posits are counterfeit. In a video with over 27,000 views, @thriftybuzinezz explained how she noticed a difference between cans with green and metallic-colored tabs. 

    “It’s making this video so you guys can be aware and be careful, OK?” she added. 

    “No [expletive], you guys. I stopped going to those gas stations. I only go to Kroger and get my drinks,” she said. “Well, someone brought me some of [the counterfeits], I drank two of them, and my stomach hurt so bad. Like I was gonna go to the hospital.”

    So, is there any actual difference between the Monster energy drinks? 

    The difference is there if you see it or drink it.

    Lots of commenters wondered why cases of Monster come with both green and silver tabs: “I work in a gas station, they come in cases with different tabs, BUT I’ve always wondered why some have green and some have regular.” 

    While some people think that silver tabbed monsters are counterfeit, they’re still a part of the company. But there is a difference that Monster connoisseurs have noticed between tab colors and cans. 

    One Reddit post speculated that silver tabbed monsters are counterfeit, to which a commenter replied, “There are a bunch of different flavors that have the silver tabs. It was a supply issue. Different batches taste different sometimes.” 

    Some users claimed that the European Monsters always have silver tabs, and due to a frequent supply issue, they end up populating stores. However, those Monsters have a different flavor that many customers don’t care for. 

    Another person added, “100% silver tabs always taste different. Like others said it’s a supply issue. The production plant that made these didn’t get [the] real tabs shipped to them. [A] low quality production plant [equals] low quality ingredients, [which equals] bad taste. Monster has refunded me for an entire case of [the original] flavor just because it came with silver tabs. They agreed it was not normal. [It] doesn’t matter what random people say on the internet compared to Monster speaking with its money.” 

    Tab color alone isn’t proof that these cans are counterfeit, as the company legitimately makes silver tabs based on their European market. Regional plant differences do account for changes in flavor, however, which consumers have noticed. 

    @thriftybuzinezz

    has anyone seen these??

    ♬ original sound – thriftybuzinezz/pkamp84

    Are the silver tabbed monsters bad for you? 

    @thriftybuzinezz claimed that after drinking a silver tabbed Monster, she nearly needed to go to the hospital due to stomach pains. She also commented that the silver tabbed monsters weren’t “FDA approved.” 

    As some replies noted, there’s no such thing as an FDA-approved beverage, making that a false part of the narrative. The FDA doesn’t approve or disprove foods, drinks or sell-by dates.

    Many speculate that silver tabbed monsters are made at worse quality plants, which changes their flavor entirely. Some argue that this makes them less safe overall. But, there’s nothing that specifically concludes that a silver tabbed monster can land you in a hospital bed. They’re made by the same company with some marginal differences in flavor. Many customers can’t notice a change between the two types, despite trying both. Keen tasters may notice a change in flavor if they pay attention.

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Monster Beverage Corporation via email and @thriftybuzinezz via TikTok for comment.

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    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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  • ‘Why do they think this ok?’: Philadelphia server reaches for tip on table. Then she sees what customers left behind as a ‘gift’

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    A server has gone viral after finding something unexpected in her tip. In the clip, which has amassed 1.4 million views, TikTok user Kass (@kass.tingspells) shared footage of a table she recently served.

    The footage showed that this tip was placed inside a booklet reading ‘Meet My Friend.’

    On-screen text read: “When someone religous leaves me a tip wrapped in Biblical scripture.” She shows herself throwing the pamphlet in the trash.

    In the video description, she added, “Like I appreciate it but it always makes me feel so bad to throw them away.”

    Kass didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and Instagram direct message.

    Many commenters were unimpressed by the tipper’s actions.

    “Why do they think this is ok?” one asked. “They tryna recruit you into a cult,” another added. While a third quipped, “Shocked they actually put cash in it.”

    Echoing these sentiments, a fourth opined, “Sundays are the WORST if you’re near a church. Church people do not tip. Especially the staff, most ungrateful hypocrites.”

    @kass.tingspells Like I appreciate it but it always makes me feel so bad to throw them away ? #waitressproblems #serverlife #serverproblems #server #fyp ♬ Hi – temoc #2

    Elsewhere, commenters were defending the patron.

    “Comments are so sad and full of hate, and somehow whoever left this is weird…” a fifth wrote. “Baffling.”

    “Looks like they left a decent tip and attempted to share the word,” a sixth said. “Nothing wrong to take it or leave it. They did their part, period.”

    It’s not a new problem

    As it turns out, this tipping style is a pretty common problem. Over on the r/Christians subreddit, one Christian and server urged people to not substitute a tip with a religous book.

    “I’m a server and a Christian and one of my coworkers didn’t get a tip and got a booklet instead,” they wrote. “Don’t do that, it makes all Christian’s look bad and it doesn’t showcase any form of generosity, it just shows that you were cheap.”

    “I hate to be forceful, but I am telling us all to not do this ever. I hate getting flack at work because somebody else did something like this.”

    In respose, one commenter wrote, “The best ‘advertisement’ for Christianity is living a good life and being liked. Don’t hide that you’re a Christian but don’t be pushy about it and just live a good life and people might be like ‘Heh, X seems happy and peaceful and is a good person. Maybe there’s something to this whole Christianity thing.””

    Another added, “Getting people to associate a religion with annoyance is a way to kill said religion. If you only hear the word Jesus in the context of someone harassing you, how likely are you to start following him?”

    A third Redditor concurred and said, “Those tracts have done FAR, FAR more to lead people away from faith than to gather people to faith.”

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    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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  • ‘Kinky date’: NYC woman asks first date to meet her at Magnolia Bakery. He can’t believe what she wants him to do

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    A New York City man says a woman he met on a first date asked him to meet her at Magnolia Bakery. Then she asks him to do something bizarre with a slice of cake.

    In a video with over 1 million views, TikToker Sammy (@sammyfilming) stands in front of Magnolia Bakery, a popular baked goods chain. He says he just finished a first date with a woman named Cecelia.

    Just before they order, his date reveals that she doesn’t eat sugar.

    “What do you mean you don’t eat sugar?” he asks, questioning why she wanted to meet at the bakery with the slogan “Proudly passionate sugar people.”

    His date explains that she has a condition that makes her unable to digest sugar. Sammy asks her what she plans to do during the date if she can’t eat any of the sweets.

    Her request shocks him.

    What did she ask her date to do at Magnolia Bakery?

    “She says, ‘I really love it if I can watch other people eat the cakes and cupcakes,”” he recounts.

    Sammy enthusiastically agrees and orders a slice of cake and a cupcake.

    “We sat down, and I was just going at it,” he says. “And she was making these very loud, very vocal kind of ‘yummy’ sounds.”

    Other people in the cafe started to take notice, and a man sitting near them turned to see who was making the noise. Then, the interaction takes an even weirder turn.

    “He goes, ‘Cecelia?’” Sammy continues. “He goes, ‘My name’s Jerry, we met a couple weeks ago and ate cake here.’”

    In that moment, Sammy realizes that he isn’t on a casual first date. Instead, Cecelia has roped him into engaging in her cake “kink.” While there are no solid stats on the number of people who have a similar food fetish, the Sexual Health Alliance suggests it may be relatively common.

    How did viewers react to his bizarre date?

    In the comments, viewers defend Cecelia’s method of scouting men to eat cake in front of her.

    “God forbid a girl has a hobby,” one writes.

    “At least she was honest! ‘I like watching other people eat it’ That was your first clue,” another says.

    Others suggest how Cecelia can find more people to participate.

    “Cecilia. You gotta take them to different bakeries Hun. This is how I got caught getting 3 different people to buy me Maggie Moos on a weekend,” a commenter suggests.

    “Cecilia should start her own bakery so she can watch people eat her cake every day,” another jokes.

    “She should have had both you at the same table eating cake so she could watch y’all at the same time,” a third writes.

    @sammyfilming But man was that cake good❤️ @Magnolia Bakery ❤️ #storytime #story #storytelling #love #foodlover ♬ original sound – sammyfilming

    The Mary Sue reached out to Sammy via TikTok direct message and to Magnolia Bakery via email.

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    Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding is a reporter and content strategist based in Philadelphia. You can contact her at rebekahjonesharding.com.

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    Rebekah Harding

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  • ‘Ur mom making it worse is SENDING ME’: Man flies from Miami to New Jersey. Then he survives the ‘flight from hell’

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    A New Jersey man recounts his scary turbulence experience when he had to fly from Miami during a storm. Viewers react to how he coped with the hellish flight and other anxious passengers.

    In a video with around 10,000 views, TikToker Mike Panettiere (@mikepanettiere) sits in his car as he recounts the “flight from hell” from Miami to New Jersey. He says he originally planned to fly out a day later but was hoping to catch an earlier flight to miss a storm in New Jersey.

    “I get a text that the flight was delayed an hour and a half,” he says. “No big deal.”

    He heads to the airport in an Uber and decides to “garden,” TikTok slang for using marijuana, to ease his nerves before the flight.

    Panettiere gets a text while going through security that his flight is delayed even longer. In that moment, he realizes his edible will “hit” before he boards the flight.

    When he gets to the gate, an agent announces over the loudspeaker that the flight may be canceled. He calls his mom, who was going to pick him up in New Jersey, to let her know the flight may not go out.

    “[She says], ‘What? What do you mean? What are we gonna do? You’re gonna have to stay till Tuesday,”” he recounts dramatically. “Now my stress and cortisol levels are through the roof.”

    Luckily, a short time later, the agent announces that the flight will leave at 7:30 p.m.

    Panettiere continues that other passengers began freaking out as they boarded the plane. One couple begs the flight attendant to let them sit together, as the wife has severe flight anxiety. He watches the couple switch seats with other passengers to sit next to each other.

    Then, the pilot makes an announcement that they expect severe turbulence about one hour into the flight.

    Is it safe to fly in a storm?

    He says the first hour of the flight was smooth, but the turbulence intensified in the second hour of the flight.

    “I kid you not, the plan was going like this,” he says, making wave motions with his arm. “And I am bugging out.”

    While turbulence can be disturbing for passengers, it’s generally fine to fly during a storm, according to the BBC. In fact, pilots are trained to perform special maneuvers that make flying with turbulence safe. Should a severe storm impact flying conditions, the flight may be canceled.

    Panettiere says his heart rate was so fast during the turbulence, getting a reading of 170 beats per minute on his watch.

    He says the woman with anxiety starts screaming as the turbulence worsens, leading other passengers to begin freaking out, too.

    “So now I’m hearing this and I’m bugging out,” he says. “She’s stressing me out to the max.”

    He says the turbulence only lasted 10 to 15 minutes, but it felt like “two and a half to three hours.”

    “I’ve never been on a plane where the turbulence is that bad,” he remarks at the end of the clip. “I recommend not gardening before a flight.”

    How did viewers react to his flight story?

    In the comments, viewers joke about his chaotic flight saga.

    “I’m sorry but as a flight attendant myself…I am crying laughing at this story,” one says.

    “I’m laughing so hard i work over nites shifts this made my nite lol sorry though this happen to u,” another comments.

    Others share their own scary turbulence experiences.

    “Miami to jersey is a different flight. I was sick MULTIPLE TIMES BACK BC OF TURBULENCE,” a commenter writes.

    “My brother, sisinlaw & niece were on a plane from Cincinnati to RI. Turbulence inbound to RI in pitch black. Lightning, thunder, up and down. My niece? 2 rows back screaming: Get me off this plane!!” another shares.

    “My scariest flight was alsoooo Miami to nj,” a third adds.

    @mikepanettiere Buckle up… because I just survived the FLIGHT FROM HELL ?? I swear I’m not exaggerating — this was straight out of a movie ?✈️ #flightfromhell #storytime #traveling #fyp #turbelence ♬ original sound – Mike Panettiere

    The Mary Sue reached out to Panettiere via Instagram direct message.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding is a reporter and content strategist based in Philadelphia. You can contact her at rebekahjonesharding.com.

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    Rebekah Harding

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  • ‘I would have freaked’: Orlando man accidentally returns fiancée’s real engagement ring to Amazon instead of her fake one. Then they reach out to Amazon

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    A couple accidentally returned a real wedding ring instead of a cheaper “fake” one to Amazon, leading to a rabbit hole of calls with the company to get their ring back. In a video with over 188,000 views, Hannah (@hannahhuffer7), and Orlando lifestyle content creator set to get married this year, explained how she accidentally returned the wrong item to Amazon. 

    In her video, she described how she wears a fake engagement ring to work, bringing her actual engagement ring to other events like her Bible studies. When she went to put on her ring before a study one day, she noticed that her actual, incredibly expensive ring wasn’t there. Her fiancé had accidentally returned her real ring to Amazon instead of the fake one that she’d been using for work. 

    A desperate bid to get the ring back

    The couple immediately jumped into action. They called Amazon, but their return service was of little help to them. Amazon’s return line allegedly told the couple that they couldn’t look through any of the boxes given to them, as they’re sealed. The company “didn’t care one bit” about their predicament, ultimately leading them to a Whole Foods parking lot to try and reach out directly. 

    In Hannah’s video, you can hear her fiancé trying to get the ring back. He says that he returned the ring on that very same day in a relatively calm demeanor. 

    Commenters offer suggestions 

    Commenters had a few suggestions on things to do to try and get the engagement ring back. For one, many said that calling Amazon’s return service repeatedly works better than calling once. 

    “One time I accidentally returned a $3,000 camera lens to Amazon instead of a $10 scale. I called and cried like [five] times. [Two] weeks later it miraculously showed back up at my doorstep. KEEP CALLING,” said one commenter. 

    “Okay…So I accidentally returned an antique plate to amazon. i called them a few times until I got to someone who would help me. They told me they would return it. It took almost two months, but I did end up getting it back,” added another viewer. 

    Others suggested that they invest in ring insurance. Hannah clarified that they did have insurance for the ring, but it was sentimental for the couple. 

    @hannahhuffer7 I have no words #amazon #engaged #fiance #amazonmusicproudheroes ♬ original sound – Hannah | Orlando lifestyle ?

    Getting the ring back

    According to a comment that Hannah left on her first video, a Whole Foods manager was able to find and return the ring to them. 

    She later clarified in a video update how everything transpired. Her fiancé was making 25 Amazon returns, as she had a large Amazon list for her bachelorette party. They weren’t necessarily planning on returning the “fake” engagement ring at that time, but it ended up in their return pile anyway. 

    Her fiancé thought that she had put her real ring on for work that day, leaving the fake one out. He put it back in its box, leading to it ending up in his car on the way to return. 

    Many commenters wondered how he wasn’t able to tell the difference between her fake ring and her real ring. Hannah clarified that her future husband’s life “flashed before his eyes” because of the mistake. 

    When they got to Whole Foods, they didn’t end up making any progress at first. That’s when Liz, the Whole Foods manager, came in. She ended up finding the ring for them and saving the day. She went through 20 boxes worth of goods to find and return the ring. 

    Viewers mentioned the fact that Hannah and her partner should get Liz a gift card. Hannah agreed. 

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Hannah. We’ve also reached out to Amazon’s press email for comment. 

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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  • Tiny, Scarce, and Wildly Popular: How Trader Joe’s Mini Totes Became the New Labubus

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    On Wednesday, October 8, a fashion drop drew Black Friday–size crowds outside storefronts nationwide. Shoppers waited patiently—some caught in the rain, some arriving hours before stores opened to be one of the first people to buy. But they weren’t seeking a limited-edition Glossier sweatshirt or a Kylie Jenner lip kit. They were at Trader Joe’s.

    By Thursday, October 9, some locations had sold out of the Halloween mini tote bags, available in black, orange, purple, and a multicolored option. In Manhattan, the Chelsea Trader Joe’s—situated on the cusp of a trendy residential neighborhood and the city’s fashion district—displayed ads for the totes near empty cardboard bins that had once held the loot. A tiny tote had been shoved behind dog treats in one aisle; after I put it in my cart, another shopper offered to pay me $20 to give them the $2.99 bag.

    Trader Joe’s launched reusable canvas shopping bags in 1977, but it wasn’t until much more recently that they became a status item. The store started selling the mini version in February 2024, and a spring-themed series in pastels released this past April reportedly sold out within hours. The petite bags have been deemed collector’s items and resold on eBay for more than $100. On TikTok, Lucy Kigathi documented her own “insane” journey at a Trader Joe’s in Katy, TX, when the pastel totes dropped in April. “If you got one, you almost got a part of social media history that you’ll live to show and tell one day. It’s a documented feeling, a trend that you just had to be there to experience,” Kigathi says in an email. “You throw away any logic of why there’s a line for mini totes and you just want to be in the trend, whatever it may be.”

    These tiny totes are almost akin to a Birkin, at least in terms of return on investment. It’s no wonder that certain Trader Joe’s locations have instated limits on how many bags customers can buy.

    Why are they such a big deal? Maybe because they’re teeny—so little it’s difficult to actually, you know, put many groceries in them. “When it comes to our reusable bags, our customers have made themselves abundantly clear: The smaller the tote, the bigger the sensation!” the official Trader Joe’s website says in a listing for the Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes. (Shoppers can’t actually buy the 13-by-11-by-6-inch vessels there; they can only add them to a wishlist.) Or maybe it’s that they manage to hit a certain capitalist sweet spot. “The Trader Joe’s mini tote bag is really a perfect storm of internet culture meets everyday consumerism,” Social Currency podcast host Sammi Tannor Cohen tells Vanity Fair. “It taps into the psychology of scarcity—something familiar suddenly feels exclusive. When you pair that with the Trader Joe’s brand, which has this cult-like accessibility and nostalgic Americana aesthetic, it becomes irresistible online.”

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    Samantha Bergeson

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  • Anna Przy Makes Falling Apart Funny – Houston Press

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    Watching an Anna Przy video is like watching the world’s most optimistic mental breakdown in action. Typically, she runs around her backyard in Michigan screaming about how scary the world is in a high-pitched voice that sounds like it’s on the verge of cracking. Sometimes she waves BBQ tongs at the camera while imploring the audience to “keep it up, cutie.” Other times, she obsessively vacuums the soil (she says because it’s dirty outside). Her advice is genuinely uplifting (“all of this is made up, and you can make up better stuff for yourself!”) but delivered as if she is hanging onto sanity by her fingernails.

    It’s a weird way to do comedy, but it has built up a rabid following of over a million people across TikTok and Instagram. Now, she’s on her first national tour, the Big Dumb Crybaby Tour, bringing her unique mix of trauma dumping and jokes to Houston.

    After being an event planner in Michigan for 13 years, Przy, found herself utterly adrift during COVID with no events to plan and slowly going crazy from isolation and anxiety. In 2020, she released the first of her manic affirmation videos to almost immediate acclaim. The rest of the world was falling apart, too, and she at least put a happy face on the madness.

    “The pandemic hit, and I was pretty catatonic, actually,” she said in a phone interview as she drove to her gig in Baton Rouge. “But it was kind of the mental health crisis I needed to break me out of that mode. I was talking to myself while I was shouting about it outside.”

    Przy’s style evolved over the next five years as audiences grew to understand her particular approach to comedy. It’s the sort of act that is hard to explain but instantly recognizable as funny when you see it in action. Przy’s absurdist physical comedy provides the laughs, from rolling down hills as she speaks to twirling brooms like a baton. Like a walking embodiment of chaotic good, her capering lightens the mood as she acknowledges modern woes like burnout, negative self-talk, and fear of the future.

    It’s oddly motivational, like a clown who is also a therapist. Once Przy built her following online, people encouraged her to adapt her act to the stage in 2023. It’s been a surprisingly seamless transition that allowed her quit her job to pursue comedy full-time.

    “People don’t end up on a stage unless they have a traumatic backstory,” she said. “The first show? I did not intend for it to be funny, but these moments hit really hard to where even I was giggling. Laughing is what makes you feel more normal about these big, scary pieces of your life. I can go up there and tell the world’s most traumatic story and get people to laugh and at the same time, making you feel less alone.”

    That realness wrapped in silliness has made Przy one of the great parasocial figures on the internet. All along her 16-city tour, fans come up to her with hugs and tears because her act reached them beyond just making them laugh.

    Part of it is that Przy’s act grew out of a collectively traumatic time for everyone. COVID cost millions of people their lives and tens of millions of people their sense of safety and security. Between conspiracy theories and financial struggles, many of us felt like screaming. So Przy screamed, and it was like a homeopathic catharsis. It might not be a good sign for the world that her act just keeps getting more popular, but it’s definitely still having an impact.

    “I find that no matter what I say, somebody’s going to say they relate to that so hard,” she said.

    Anna Przy performs Sunday, October 19 at 3:30 p.m. at Punch Line Houston, 1204 Caroline. $32 – $45. For more information, visit PunchlineHTX.com.

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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    Jef Rouner

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  • ‘We just can’t send anything to the United States’: American in France tries to mail letters to the U.S. Then a worker tells her it’s impossible

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    A woman living in France says she tried to mail a few cards to the U.S. and was met with a confusing surprise: postal workers told her they couldn’t do it.

    The TikToker, who goes by @movedtoeurope, posted a video about her experience that now has over 2.2 million views.

    Did France Block Her Letters to the U.S.?

    “So, fun fact,” she says at the top of the video, “we can’t mail letters to the United States anymore.”

    She explains that she’d gone to the post office to send a Halloween card to her parents, a condolences card to a friend, and a few other letters.

    After standing in line, she speaks to a postal worker. “She’s like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know why, but we just can’t send anything to the United States,’” the TikToker recalls. Confused, she tries to clarify what that means.

    She Googles the issue and sees a notice saying packages to the U.S. might be impacted due to new tariffs. “And I’m like, interesting,” she says.

    Still unsure, she visits a second post office with her husband in case she misunderstood because of the language barrier. “Maybe it was a translation error. Maybe my French just, like, misunderstood,” she says. But no—again, she’s told they can’t send mail to the U.S.

    “We can’t even send mail to the United States anymore in France,” she repeats. “Which is very concerning in terms of what the f is going on with the United States right now.”

    What’s Actually Going on With International Mail to the U.S.?

    While the situation sounds bizarre, there’s a reason behind it—though it might not make the whole thing less frustrating.

    As reported by The Guardian, several European countries temporarily suspended U.S.-bound postal services in late August 2025. That’s when the U.S. ended its so-called “de minimis” exemption, which previously allowed packages worth under $800 to enter duty-free.

    Now, every parcel is subject to import tariffs, regardless of value, which makes it significantly more expensive to send packages and more complicated for international carriers. Postal services must collect and transmit new customs data and may be liable for tariffs if they don’t.

    Because of the sudden policy shift, some national carriers—like France’s La Poste—temporarily stopped shipping anything to the U.S., even letters, while they restructured their systems.

    Although the changes officially applied to packages, not letters, some locations halted all outgoing U.S. mail to avoid mistakes.

    In a follow-up video, the TikToker says she eventually managed to send her letters by waiting in line at a third post office and speaking to someone directly, rather than using a self-service kiosk.

    Her comments section quickly filled with U.S. viewers just as confused as she was.

    “Texas here,” one wrote. “WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE EFF IS GOING ON EITHER!! We did not sign up for this. We did not vote for this.”

    Another person added, “ISOLATING IS PART OF ABUSIVE CONTROL.”

    One commenter pointed out a larger concern: “Is this going to impact mail-in voting from citizens abroad?” The creator responded, “OMG I just gasped. Didn’t even think of that. Here I am concerned about Halloween cards lol when HELLO we need to vote!”

    @movedtoeurope I guess they’ll get my Halloween cards next year #fyp #americanabroad #france #politics ♬ original sound – Moved to Europe

    Others noted they’ve seen similar delays. “None of us in the United States are aware of things like this. Everything is being censored,” one wrote. “Please keep sharing things like this.”

    Another added, “Okay this is strange because my husband sent post cards to family and friends from Vietnam and NO ONE got them. NO ONE.”

    The Mary Sue has reached out to @movedtoeurope for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

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  • ‘I know that I have an impactful voice’: Viral TikTok video leads to Black journalist getting fired

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    The power of social media, and in particular TikTok, has brought many people notoriety and infamy, depending on the video’s subject. For former Tri-State Defender reporter Dalisia Ballinger, a viral TikTok video in which she explained how comfortable she has become in her Memphis neighborhood ever since the United States National Guard set up shop in town last week.

    A screenshot of the viral TikTok post that started it all. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    During the video, which is titled, “I feel safe…thank you Trump”, Ballinger, whose TikTok account is under Deedee Manning, said, “Some of ya’ll might get mad at me, and at this point, I don’t give a damn. I will say thank you to Trump for bringing these National Guards and doing what they are doing in Memphis.”

    During an interview on Wednesday afternoon, Ballinger, 38, told The Atlanta Voice that her life changed five days ago when that video hit social media. Earlier this week, she was fired from her job, which she began as a freelancer and later as a full-time reporter for the 74-year-old Black newspaper in 2017.

    Ballinger was invited to go on Fox News to discuss her TikTok video. That invite, mixed with the viral video, just made things worse.

    “I spoke with my editor, because of course, she found out about the video, and she gave me her opinion on why she didn’t feel that I should do any interviews, and if I do any interviews, I could no longer work for the Tri-State Defender,” Ballinger said.

    That editor, Stephanie R. Jones, notified Ballinger the day after another TikTok post about the negative comments she had been receiving, that she no longer had to report to the assignments she had planned for this week. She was fired effective immediately.

    To put the amount of reaction Ballinger’s original “thank you, Trump” video has received, numbers must be used. Nearly 80,000 likes, 5,500 comments, and more than 5,500 people saved the video.

    Ballinger has been through rough times before, including being homeless, but the past 72 hours have been something she never imagined, Ballinger said.

    “I’ve been for the people. I lived in these communities and I served these communities,” she said. “I have always been 100% for the people, and I know that I have an impactful voice.”

    A mother of two, Ballinger continues to say the streets of Memphis are safer since the National Guard arrived, and she’s not backing down.

    “I still feel good about it,” she said. “I’m able to hear the birds chirp.”

    An education reporter, along with other beats, Ballinger found peace in the Black newspaper in town. She said she was proud to tell stories about her neighbors and friends.

    “That beat means so much to me,” said Ballinger of her work within the city’s school system. “Just being with the kids, and being in the community.”

    Living in the community she covered, Ballinger had a unique perspective as a homeowner, parent, and journalist. Now, she doesn’t have a job.

    “My point of view is different, because I live in the community. It’s not a joke. In the community that I live in, every day there were gunshots,” Ballinger explained. It became normal for me.”

    Weeks after late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had his career put on hold for speaking his mind, Ballinger, on a much less popular but equally important scale, is going through a similar hardship.

    “I believe what the problem was that I said, ‘Thanks Trump’,” she said. “I think people’s hate for Trump overshadowed the message.”

    Ballinger said she is ready to get back to work, telling stories about her fellow Memphians for her fellow Memphians.

    “This was off-duty, the Tri-State Defender wasn’t involved, but my eyes are open. I’m dropping more content , it’s taking off and people are hearing what I’m saying. I’m not a Republican or a democrat. I’m not a rightie or a leftie. I’m an American citizen and I see things for what they are.”

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey – Simply Scratch

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    This Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey is packed with protein and is a nutrient dense meal that will keep you full and satisfied. Roasted sweet potatoes, seasoned cooked ground beef is served with cottage cheese, black beans and avocado. Before serving a drizzle of hot honey adds spicy sweetness that adds so much delicious flavor! Great for a healthy meal or for meal prep! Yields 4 servings.

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    Love to meal prep? Add this sweet potato beef bowl to your repertoire!

    As much as I wish I could claim this creation, I actually got the inspiration from a viral recipe on TikTok. However, it’s just too good not to share!  In my version, I roast seasoned red sweet potatoes in the oven while browning ground beef. Note: I like to use Force of Nature’s ancestral beef blend, however you can use any type of ground beef you prefer! Then I divvy both up among containers or bowls, topping the beef with shredded sharp cheddar and adding in cottage cheese and black beans (my high fiber twist on this recipe). Before serving I add in a little avocado and drizzle with a little hot honey.

    Although adding hot honey sounds a bit crazy, it’s actually quite delicious and adds subtle sweetness and spice!

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot HoneySweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    SO easy, plus it’s high in fiber and protein too!

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    To Make These Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowls You Will Need:

    • sweet potatoes– I like to use red sweet potatoes.
    • avocado oil – Or extra light olive oil.
    • kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in this dish and helps soften when roasting.
    • cumin (ground) – Adds earthiness and warmth, with an edge of citrus.
    • garlic powder – Adds flavor that’s sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
    • onion powder – Lends bold oniony flavor.
    • paprika – Lends color and subtle flavor.
    • ground beef – Use any type of ground beef you prefer – nutritional information may change.
    • all-purpose season salt – Use homemade or store-bought (I.e. Lawry’s).
    • cottage cheese – I use 2% low-fat but use what you like – nutritional information may change.
    • black beans – Use canned black beans, rinsed and drained.
    • avocado – Lends richness and creaminess.
    • sharp cheddar cheese – Or a cheese of your choice.
    • hot honey – Or regular honey works just as good without the heat.
    • freshly ground black pepper – This adds distinct bite and flavor.

    diced sweet potatoes, oil and spicesdiced sweet potatoes, oil and spices

    Roast The Sweet Potatoes:

    Preheat your oven to 375°F ( or 190°C).

    Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment. Add 1 pound of (scrubbed clean and patted dry) diced sweet potatoes, 1 tablespoon avocado oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon each cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika.

    toss to coat and roasttoss to coat and roast

    Toss well to coat and roast 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, rotating the pan halfway to ensure even cooking and browning.

    roasted sweet potatoesroasted sweet potatoes

    Remove and set off to the side.

    ground beef in skilletground beef in skillet

    Make the Ground Beef Mixture:

    While, the sweet potatoes are in the oven, in a 10-inch skillet, add 1 pound of ground beef. Using a spatula to break up the beef into crumbles.

    cooked ground beef and seasoningcooked ground beef and seasoning

    Cook until no longer pink before draining and discarding the fat from the pan. Then season with 1-1/2 teaspoons of all-purpose season salt.

    seasoned ground beef mixtureseasoned ground beef mixture

    Toss to combine.

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot HoneySweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    Build The Bowl:

    In a shallow bowls divide the sweet potatoes, ground beef and black beans. Add 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1/4 avocado, and 1/2 ounce of sharp cheddar cheese to each bowl. Drizzle with hot honey and season with freshly ground black pepper. I also sprinkle a little kosher salt over the avocado, cottage cheese and black beans.

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot HoneySweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    You could also add sliced green onions or cilantro here if you wish.

    Click Here For More High Protein Recipes!

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot HoneySweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    Enjoy! And if you give this recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot HoneySweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    Yield: 4 servings

    Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey

    This Sweet Potato Beef Bowl with Hot Honey is packed with protein and nutrient dense meal that will keep you full and satisfied. Roasted sweet potatoes, seasoned cooked ground beef is served with cottage cheese, black beans and avocado. Before serving a drizzle of hot honey adds spicy sweetness that adds so much delicious flavor! Great for a healthy meal or for meal prep!

    Prep Time: 10 minutes

    Cook Time: 30 minutes

    Total Time: 40 minutes

    • 1¼ pounds sweet potatoes
    • 1 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 pound lean ground beef, or ground beef of your choice
    • 1½ teaspoons all-purpose season salt
    • 16 ounces cottage cheese, I use 2% or low-fat
    • 6 ounces cooked black beans, i.e canned
    • 1 small ripe avocados, sliced or diced
    • 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
    • hot honey, just a drizzle
    • freshly ground black pepper
    • Preheat your oven to 375°F ( or 190°C).Line a large rimmed baking pan with parchment.

    • To the pan, add diced sweet potatoes, avocado oil, kosher salt, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika. Toss well to coat and roast 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, rotating the pan halfway to ensure even cooking and browning.

    • While, the sweet potatoes are in the oven, in a 10-inch skillet, add the ground beef. Using a spatula to break up the beef into crumbles. Cook until no longer pink before draining and discarding the fat from the pan. Then season with all-purpose season salt and toss to combine.

    • In a shallow bowls divide the sweet potatoes, ground beef and black beans. Add 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, 1/4 avocado, and 1/2 ounce of sharp cheddar cheese to each bowl. Drizzle with hot honey and season with freshly ground black pepper. I also sprinkle a little kosher salt over the avocado, cottage cheese and black beans.

    Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on SimplyScratch.com should only be used as a general guideline.

    Serving: 1serving, Calories: 574kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 47g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 92mg, Sodium: 1408mg, Potassium: 1183mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 20344IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 243mg, Iron: 5mg

    Author: Laurie McNamara

    Course: Mains & Entrees

    Cuisine: American

    This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Laurie McNamara

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  • ‘Need an update on if it’s real!!’: Philadelphia woman goes thrifting in the Goodwill bins. Then she spots something shiny in a boot

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    A Philadelphia woman goes to Goodwill in New Jersey and picks up a pair of boots. When she leaves the store, she realizes she scored big after finding a Rolex at the bottom of one of the shoes.

    In a video with over 454,000 views, TikToker and thrifting influencer Sabrina (@sabrinasecondhand) sits in the car holding up a small gold and silver watch. The face of the watch shows the Rolex logo.

    On-screen text reads, “Just found a Rolex inside a pair of boots at the bins. Today’s a good day.”

    Goodwill Bins contain a variety of products that many shoppers dig through to find rare clothing items donated to the thrift store.

    Did she find an authentic Rolex at Goodwill?

    In the comments, viewers urge her to get the watch authenticated. Some warn against going to a Rolex store, as they may try to find the original owner.

    “Congratulations – looks legitimate and from the late 90s / early 00s! Don’t need to worry about stolen serial unless you take your piece to a Rolex Service Center (RSC). If you service your watch at your local mom and pop jeweler you’ll be fine,” one says.

    “Girl go get it authenticated and don’t tell them where it’s from,” another suggests.

    In a follow-up video, Sabrina takes the watch to a jewelry repair store for authentication. A worker looks at the watch closely.

    On-screen text reveals that the watch is an authentic Rolex. In the comments, she says the Jewelry store worker appraised the watch for around $3,000, as it requires some cleaning and repairs.

    Many Rolex watches sell for upwards of $10,000, according to Watch Charts. However, some models are valued close to $500,000.

    In an Instagram direct message to The Mary Sue, Sabrina says she hopes her video will encourage others to try thrifting.

    “You never know what you’ll find! Everyone should be shopping secondhand and sustainable instead of contributing to clothing pollution,” she writes. “Some people think thrifting is only for the less fortunate, but my TikTok shows that you can find amazing and high-quality things if you have the patience to look.”

    Have other thrifters found luxury items?

    In the comments, other thrift store shoppers share their best finds from Goodwill’s bins.

    “I found a Chanel bag at the bins, I think people assumed it was fake because it looked like what was leather peeling off, but really it was just dirt needed to be cleaned up and it definitely was real!!! had it repaired and everything. It’s my prized possession!!!” one says.

    “I once found a gucci suitcase from the 70s for 25€, i was so happy ran home and there was a lv weekend bag in it,” another writes.

    However, others say they’ve lost designer items while donating to thrift stores.

    “Accidentally donated my ‘strictly designer’ label bag when moving. They were unloading my trunk. I swear they did it on purpose,” a commenter shares.

    @sabrinassecondhand update: it’s real mfs ?????#thrift #y2k #goodwillbins #vintage ♬ som original – WE SUPPORT BEY

    The Mary Sue reached out to Goodwill and Rolex via email for further comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Rebekah Harding

    Rebekah Harding is a reporter and content strategist based in Philadelphia. You can contact her at rebekahjonesharding.com.

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  • What You Need to Know About ‘6-7,’ the Latest TikTok Brain Rot Craze

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    The teaching profession requires a certain degree of patience. Particularly when students discover a new trend to latch onto and repeat at every given opportunity. The latest so-called “brain rot” phrase to flood the classroom: “6-7.”

    If you don’t have any Gen Alphas in your life and have no idea what I’m talking about, count yourself lucky. Some teachers have taken to social media to share their exasperation with the trend that has recently overrun classrooms, with schools outright banning it in some instances.

    “Say ‘6-7’ one more time,” one teacher posted on TikTok, pretending to address a student in her class. “We’re gonna call your mom in about 6-7 minutes, let her know how you interrupt my class 6-7 times a day, and then maybe she’ll take your phone away for 6-7 days.” 

    Teachers are going to extreme lengths to avoid saying the numbers—on the pages of textbooks or in answers to math equations—for fear of triggering a commotion in the classroom. Meanwhile, some have adopted an “if you can’t beat ’em, join em” approach, turning the trend into a classroom management strategy or a learning tool. 

    Others have taken a simpler line of attack. “I choose 6 and 7 and 67 every time I need random numbers right now, which also seems to be killing the joke for the kids—but I think it’s very funny,” one teacher responded to a Reddit thread on r/Teachers. “I did it with a class earlier this week, and they didn’t do it again,” another one suggested. “Nothing like a teacher doing a trend to make something uncool.”

    Like much of Generation Alpha slang, the “6-7” trend originated on TikTok, spawning over a million related videos, before making its way into schools, basketball courts, and sports interviews. 

    So what does “6-7” actually mean? To many parents, confusion. 

    The numbers can be traced back to a song called “Doot Doot,” released by hip-hop artist Skrilla in late 2024, in which he raps: “6-7, I just bipped right on the highway (bip, bip).” From there, a video of a boy yelling “6-7” into the camera at a basketball game went viral; thus was born a new meme. 

    It’s important to note that the “6-7” meme is pronounced “six, seven”—not “sixty-seven” or “six to seven,” as some may assume, having only seen it in writing. It’s often accompanied by the hand gesture you would use to tell someone that you’re weighing two options (both palms facing up, hands moving slightly up and down).

    Searches for “Gen Alpha translator” have surged 790% in the past year, making it the fastest-growing “translator” query, Jenny Lee, lead data analyst at Google Trends, told Axios. Meanwhile, “6-7” has emerged as the most popular search for both “how to use [slang]” and “why do middle schools say” in 2025.

    By Eve Upton-Clark

    This article originally appeared in Inc.’s sister publication, Fast Company.

    Fast Company is the world’s leading business media brand, with an editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, world changing ideas, creativity, and design. Written for and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company inspires readers to think expansively, lead with purpose, embrace change, and shape the future of business.

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  • ‘This is a first’: D.C. woman goes to a bar. Then a man sends her a ‘sip’ of his drink

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    A woman has gone viral on TikTok after sharing how a man sent her a drink at the bar. But this wasn’t any ordinary drink: it was a “sip” of another patron’s order.

    The TikTok, which has amassed 547,300 views, consists of a photo of a reddish liquid in a shot glass with on-screen text reading: “This is a first: a man had the bartender send me a sip of his drink instead of buying me one.”

    TikToker Ansa Edim (@ansa_____) then added in the description: “Times are tough. It made me low key smile/chuckle though so good for him I guess?”

    In the comments, viewers couldn’t get over the bartender actually agreeing to do this. “And the bartender did it?!” one asked. “As a bartender that is WILD,” another added. While a third wrote, “What in the food safety violation was the bartender thinking?”

    On a more general note, commenters couldn’t get over the audacity. “How does this idea even come to someone’s head?” a fourth commenter queried.

    “This man will definitely be asking you what you bring to the table,” a fifth noted. Elsewhere, a sixth admitted, “With Covid, the flu, etc going on. I would of cursed the man and the bartender out politely.”

    However, there was one comment that was so egregious, it caused Edim to make a follow-up video. The comment read: “I swear y’all never happy. Y’all ladies stay in our plates and drink. By giving you a sip of his drink he just told you that he sees a future with you, he’s caring, and he’s willing to share. Y’all just ungrateful.”

    In response to this, Edim provided a more detailed account of what happened, noting that her main issue with this gesture is that he never asked her before doing it and didn’t take her preferences into account.

    “This is the problem with men who think this way,” she told the commenter. “You gave me a sip of your drink and im supposed to be like ‘Omg thank you’.” Edim didn’t immediately respond to The Mary Sue’s request for comment via TikTok comment and contact form.

    Should you share a drink with strangers?

    In an article for Huffpost, Mayo Clinic pathologist and clinical microbiologist Dr Bobbi Pritt explained that sharing your drink with someone, even a “sip,” can be bad for you.

    “There’s a whole bunch of different types of microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Some of them can survive in saliva,” she explained.

    Some of these microbes, she said, could also be found on the surface of the cup or on a straw.

    Based on her account, it seems like her drink wasn’t touched before the TikToker got her “sip,” but even so, it’s a health and safety risk that could’ve been avoided.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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  • ‘Molten hot metal exploded on me’: Georgia woman tries to make eggs. Then her stainless steel Cuisinart pan explodes

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    When a Georgia woman started her day by trying to make eggs before her midterm, she didn’t expect to end up in the emergency room. But she says that’s exactly what happened when her Cuisinart stainless steel pan suddenly exploded.

    In a recent TikTok video that’s been viewed over 78,500 times, Annie (@anniesright) describes how it all happened.

    “This morning I woke up and I was like, ‘I’m gonna get a jump start on some last-minute studying,’” she says. “I went to make myself an egg breakfast, eggs being brain food.”

    She explains that she used her Cuisinart “stainless steel name-brand wedding gift pan” and heated it on an electric stove using the water-droplet test to check when it was hot enough. But the moment she tilted the pan, everything went wrong.

    “I turn it to maybe like a 30 or 45-degree angle, and molten hot metal exploded on me,” she recalls. “It exploded out of my pan, all over my stove and all over the floor.”

    Annie shows the aftermath in her video: metal chunks fused to her stovetop and splattered across her floor. “Got back from urgent care because molten metal dried on my finger and I had to pull it off,” she says. “Just so lucky that it didn’t get in my face or eyes.”

    Annie tagged the official TikTok account for Cuisinart in the comments.

    How Could This Have Happened?

    After the video spread, another TikTok creator, professional welder Anne (@highergroundwelding), shared a detailed explanation of what might’ve happened.

    She said it was likely not stainless steel that melted, but the aluminum layer inside the pan. “That’s aluminum,” Anne explained. “It’s not stainless steel because when stainless steel reaches temperatures that are hot enough to melt it, it turns black and crystalline.”

    Many stainless steel pans, Anne explained, have an aluminum core between two stainless layers for more even heating. Cuisinart’s stainless steel pans also have this layer of aluminum, according to their Amazon listing.

    “Aluminum makes it lighter and heats more evenly—but it also melts much faster,” the welder explains.

    She guessed that Annie’s stove overheated the pan past its limit. “Your pan glowed red, that’s a great way to destroy your cookware,” she said. Tipping it at an angle likely concentrated heat on a single point, which caused the aluminum to liquefy and burst through the outer layer.

    “Basically, the inside of your pan became popcorn,” she said. “Pressure built up until it burst. Throw the pan away and don’t do that again, especially not with high heat.”

    Other experts also advise against leaving stainless steel cookware unattended or overheating it, especially on high-powered burners. Once the aluminum inside gets too hot, it can become unstable.

    And just like Anne pointed out, the bright red glow in Annie’s video was a dead giveaway that the pan had been pushed far beyond safe cooking temperatures.

    People in the comments also debated the cause. Some echoed Anne’s theory, while others pointed fingers at the stove, or the brand.

    “I’d bet that’s a clad pan with an aluminum core,” one user wrote. “You melted the aluminum core. The instructions probably say not to heat it that high.”

    Another added, “You heated it until it was glowing. Like, glowing red. I’ve never seen that in my life.”

    Others suspected a hardware failure: “Your stove coil is damaged. Your pan made a short circuit in the coil and you basically made a welder. No normal stove can melt metal like that.”

    @anniesright @Cuisinart ♬ original sound – annie

    And some thought Annie should consider legal action. “Truly does feel like lawsuit material,” one viewer said.

    Another added, “Send it for independent testing and see what metal it actually is. Also, sue them.”

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Cuisinart via email and Annie via Instagram messages for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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  • What’s Trending On TikTok This Week: Taylor Swift, Charli xcx, Kid Cudi, And More

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    It’s October 10, 2025, and this week on TikTok, trending audios are being led by Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, with some familiar favorites following closely behind. We’ve been scrolling all week, watching edits of our faves, and of course, learning a new viral dance or two.

    Here are the viral trending audios on TikTok that we’ve been loving lately.

    ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’ By Taylor Swift

    Keeping it “100 on the land, the sea, and the sky!” When Taylor Swift dropped The Life Of A Showgirl last week, we knew at least one or two songs would start trending on TikTok. The internet has decided to adopt ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ as their weekly audio, and we’re not complaining! There’s also a dance, inspired by the music video, to go with it, so make sure you’re also participating in this fun trend. We want to see our honeybees on our FYP!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    ‘Everything Is Romantic’ By Charli xcx

    We’re hearing “fall in love again and again” every other scroll this week. Brat is still on a constant replay in our hive, and ‘Everything Is Romantic’ brings all those fall sad girl vibes we need this season. This trend reminds us to be grateful for the little things in life that make us fall in love – dinner dates with the girls, concerts with our online friends, reading romance novels, and life’s little everyday celebrations. What makes your life romantic?

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARLI XCX:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    ‘Maui Wowie’ By Kid Cudi

    An unlikely song that has suddenly popped up on our FYP is Kid Cudi’s ‘Maui Wowie.’ The trend? Run to New York City and hang from a stoplight or other city pole. Even though this song came out in 2008, it’s made its way back around the internet. This is why we love TikTok audios! We’re reminded of all the 2000s classics that we haven’t heard in years. Should we take a hive field trip to NYC to participate in this trend?

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KID CUDI:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    ‘Everywhere’ By Fleetwood Mac

    Speaking of classics, ‘Everywhere’ by Fleetwood Mac is now back on our feed! This song seems to always make its rounds at least a few times a year, especially in the autumn season. You’ll hear ‘Everywhere’ on your feed with compilation videos of all things girly and wholesome. Add some simple text to the screen and hit upload – it’s an instant viral hit.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVIE NICKS:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE

    ‘We Fell In Love In October’ By Girl In Red

    Every fall season, this audio makes its rounds on TikTok, and we’re sure you’ve probably heard it a handful of times by now. Picture this: warm coffees, cozy Uggs, and pumpkin carving with your bestie. Girl In Red knows how to make all the fall vibes immaculate, and ‘We Fell In Love In October’ is an essential add to any fall playlist or TikTok video.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GIRL IN RED:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’ By RAYE

    RAYE is taking 2025 and TikTok by storm with her latest release, ‘WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!’ We’re so glad RAYE is finally getting her flowers – it’s about time! You may also know RAYE from some of her other viral TikTok hits, like ‘Escapism’ a few years ago. Use her new song, though, on your next video and make sure you tag RAYE herself so she can see it! Tell her The Honey POP! sent you!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RAYE:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

    ‘TIT FOR TAT’ By Tate McRae

    When is a Tate McRae song not trending? Tate knows how to make a viral hit, teasing it before it’s even launched. However, ‘TIT FOR TAT’ was dropped by surprise by the singer, and now it’s all over our for you pages. It’s the ultimate revenge track – we’re cheering Tate on from our phone screens! Use this song over a GRWM or storytime. Better yet, show off your Miss Possessive Tour looks and tag Tate.

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TATE MCRAE:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

    Which of these songs have you heard the most on TikTok this week? What are your predictions for next week’s trending songs? Let us know down in the comments or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

    Looking for more trending music news? See what we’ve got, honeybee!

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