18 Winter Baby Names For Boys & Girls That Mean Snow, Strength, & More

— Borisenkov Andrei/E+/Getty Images

While the thought of hosting a winter birthday party in a few years may make you want to scream, there is something so special about a winter baby. Whether your baby’s born in early December (when it’s not quite winter), or closing in on March, these winter baby names can help you celebrate the coziness and the absolute hardiness of a tiny winter babe.

Honestly, even if your baby isn’t born in the winter, this list of winter baby names is great for anybody who loves snow, nature, or just wants to evoke the spirit of winter. Winter used to be a much harder time for people with the physical demands of finding food, staying warm, and taking care of a family, but now it’s harder in different ways. Losing sunlight, staying indoors more, and feeling a little cabin fever can make it tough to appreciate winter. But when your lungs fill with that cold air and you get to see just how much sky there is beyond the leaves of your favorite trees, it’s hard not to fall in love. These winter baby names have some subtle connections to the frosty season, as well as some more obvious choices, but they all help bring that winter magic straight to your baby’s moniker.

Holly

Holly may make you think of Christmas, but this name is symbolic of the winter months in general, too. It’s a cold-hardy plant that survives well in the winter, and is used in many winter and holiday festivals. Holly is such a sweet name for a little winter baby girl, and it gives some fun glamour vibes thanks to Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

January

Even if your baby isn’t born in January, the month makes a great name — just ask January Jones. The name January comes from the Roman god Janus, who stood for beginnings and transitions. What feels like more of a beginning and a transition than a brand new baby?

Iris

— ArtMarie/E+/Getty Images

Iris is one of February’s birth month flowers, and is such a darling, vintage baby girl name. Iris is sweet and short, and I love how unique it still feels even though so many vintage names are making a comeback.

Jack

As in Jack Frost? Oh yes, we’re going there. Jack is a great winter name, and is just a solid, classic baby boy name in general. The name Jack also means “God is gracious,” which feels just lovely for a little one.

Elsa

Does anyone represent winter more than Queen Elsa of Arendelle? The baby name Elsa has gained some popularity over the years, but it’s such a great choice for your winter babe, and you can use Ella or El as a nickname.

Audrey

Audrey is a lovely, classic name for your girl, and its meaning of nobility and strength makes it a fun choice for a winter baby name. It represents perseverance and resilience, which is absolutely necessary for surviving winter.

Lumi

— d3sign/Moment/Getty Images

Lumi is a Norse name that means “light-bringer” and “snow,” and it just doesn’t get much more wintery than that. It’s unique and sweet, and gender-neutral, too.

Peter

If Peter gives you winter vibes because you’re thinking of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, then you’re right there with me. Peter Pevensie kills the White Witch’s Wolf Captain and helps his siblings to save Narnia. He’s a great literary character to name your baby boy after, and has some excellent winter connections.

Bridget

An Irish classic, the baby name Bridget means “strength” or “vigor, virtue” and if those aren’t traits you need for the winter, I don’t know which ones are. It’s a timeless name with a playful feel, and I think Bridget is perfect for your winter babe.

Finch

Bird names have become a bit of a trend recently, and Finch is one to add to your collection. You can spot finches in the winter as they are happy little birds in the cold, so naming your winter baby after this hardy, sweet little being is a great choice.

Afton

Afton is such a lovely, gender-neutral name. It has Scottish and Swedish origins with a nice nature connection, but I love that the name literally means “afternoon” or “evening.” There is something about the watery sunlight of a winter afternoon, and Afton is a baby name that pays the sweetest homage to that.

Blair

Blair hasn’t been super popular in recent years, but I love the name for a winter baby as Blair means “plain, field” or “battlefield.” Winter can be a tough time, so the battle aspect is a nice touch, but with everything bare and kind of gray, the name Blair meaning “plain” is a great winter name choice.

Piren

Piren is a gorgeous name from the Mapuche, a group of native indigenous people in South America, and it means “to snow.”

Lucy

Lucy is a nickname for Lucille, but if you don’t like the formal option, don’t feel obligated. The name Lucy means “light” and if there’s one thing we’re all looking for in the winter, it’s a bit of brightness. Your little Lucy will be a dollop of sunshine during the winter months.

Violet

February has another birth month flower: Violet. Consider this one for your little winter gal, especially since it has sweet nicknames like Vi and Lettie.

Nicki

Feels a little retro, but Nicki (often a nickname for Nicholas or Nicole) is a fun choice for a winter name as its meaning — “victory of the people” — gives off a bit of a determination and resilient spirit. Both are definitely needed in the long months of winter.

Poppy

Poppy is just the sweetest name, and it pays homage to the incredible hardiness of this adorable little flower in the cold months.

Phoenix

Phoenix isn’t just a place name — you can choose this baby name as a tribute to the mythological phoenix creature that rises from the ashes (and survives just about anything) better than ever, or you can pick it for the meaning “crimson.” Every winter day deserves a little beacon of red hope for warmth and light to come, and your Phoenix babe can be just that.

Whether you want a subtle winter baby name like Peter or something more obvious like January, these winter baby names are great inspiration.

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13 Last-Minute New Year's Eve Recipes, From Appetizers To Desserts

— mihailomilovanovic/E+/Getty Images

It’s New Year’s Eve and you... forgot all about it. Or you just decided to throw a New Year’s Eve party this morning or your kids have asked to do a special little New Year’s Eve celebration — no matter what the situation is, you need some last-minute New Year’s Eve recipes. From quick appetizers to super easy one-pot dishes, this list of New Year’s Eve snacks and treats are perfect for parties and meals you weren’t really planning on hosting.

And truly, nothing is worse than running out to the grocery store on a holiday. So this list of last-minute New Year’s Eve recipes is perfect for those who don’t want to venture out. Lots of pantry staples and easy ingredients are here, as well as some recipes that can be good adaptations from heavier, more time-consuming recipes you were maybe thinking about doing. Like if you have all the fixings for fried ravioli and dips, but zero time, consider the ravioli recipe here that tosses it all into a casserole in about half the time and mess.

No matter what, New Year’s Eve is all about celebrating. So whether it’s a last-minute get-together with friends or you just haven’t had time to grab anything at the store to make for the big night, this list has you covered with plenty of quick New Year’s Eve snacks and treats.

One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta

— Damn Delicious/Yummly

New Year’s Eve celebrations don’t often call for a big meal, but if you want something nice and heavy to keep everyone satiated until the ball drops, try this recipe for one-pot garlic parmesan pasta. It could not be easier to make, and you can customize it with shrimp, chicken, meatballs, or veggies if you want. It’s a great choice for a crowd, and if you really want to snack the rest of the night, a bowl of this to begin with is always top notch.

Bacon Ranch Pinwheel Appetizers

— Lady Behind The Curtain/Yummly

With only six ingredients, this recipe for bacon ranch pinwheels is so easy to pull off. A sheet of puff pastry is your base, and you just layer in all the other ingredients, including cheese and bacon, for a savory snack that will keep you full until midnight.

5-Minute Million Dollar Dip

— The Recipe Critic/Yummly

Five ingredients and five minutes for a recipe everyone will be begging you for? Sign me up. This million dollar dip recipe could not be simpler, and it’s so good. Creamy, salty, crunchy, and goes with so many dippers, from your standard chips and crackers to even nuggets or fries. It’s just delicious.

Black-Eyed Pea Salsa

— Happy Go Lucky/Yummly

Black-eyed peas are a New Year’s Eve/Day tradition (they’re said to bring good luck), so why not harness some of that energy with this black-eyed pea salsa recipe featured on Yummly. It’s quick and cheap, and you can serve it with crackers, chips, or veggies.

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

— Pinch of Yum

Don’t get intimidated by this one. This broccoli-cheese soup from Pinch of Yum is still ridiculously easy, and you can have a huge pot of it on the table in just a few minutes. Ask someone to bring a loaf of crusty bread and you have a great last-minute New Year’s Eve snack.

New Year’s Eve Oreo Balls

— The First Year Blog/Yummly

If you haven’t made Oreo truffles or balls before, consider your mind blown: they truly are as easy as they sound. And this recipe for a New Year’s Eve version of Oreo balls just requires some sparkle to make them special. If edible gold leaf isn’t a pantry staple for you (you really need to get more glam in your life), your favorite sprinkles will work great to turn this super easy and quick dessert into something flashy and fun for the holiday.

Italian Sausage Pasta

— All Our Way/Yummly

Got a crowd to feed? Try whipping up this incredibly quick and delicious one-pot Italian sausage pasta recipe. There are only eight ingredients, and it can be ready to go in just about 30 minutes, so it’s great if you have a last-minute New Year’s Eve party or are just stressing over what to feed everyone.

Ham & Cheese Sliders

— Averie Cooks

I mean, just look at those bad boys. These ham and cheese sliders from Averie Cooks have probably been on your party table before, but if they haven’t, consider this your sign. They’re so easy, so good, and they reheat beautifully, so it’s the perfect last-minute New Year’s Eve snack to throw together to last everyone well past Ryan Seacrest’s sign-off.

Last-Minute Ravioli Casserole

— The Kitchn/Yummly

Maybe you were going to make a fun ravioli appetizer, but ran out of time. Have no fear — make this last-minute ravioli casserole for your New Year’s Eve celebration instead. With plenty of garlic, seasonings, and peas, you can elevate that bag of frozen ravioli into something really delicious and quick.

Mini Cheesecakes

— Blissfully Domestic/Yummly

One of the best parts of New Year’s Eve appetizers and treats is that they’re bite-sized, and that’s exactly why these mini cheesecakes are so perfect. You can customize these to your favorite flavors, but the standard recipe only takes 25 minutes and they look so impressive when they’re finished.

Bite-Sized Caprese

— Our Best Bites/Yummly

Does it get any easier than these bite-sized caprese appetizers? All your favorite flavors on a toothpick is a major win, and it takes just minutes to pull it all together. And then you look like a domestic genius.

Creamy Sausage Cheese Dip

— A Spicy Perspective

You only need seven ingredients and about 20 minutes to make this zesty, creamy, cheesy sausage dip from A Spicy Perspective. It looks so pretty in the bread bowl, but if all you have is a regular bowl, just go for it. It’s last-minute, but it doesn’t skimp on an ounce of flavor.

Pomegranate Champagne Mule

— Half-Baked Harvest

There are few things better than a “last-minute” glass of champagne, but if you really want to wow your guests (and yourself), consider throwing together this pomegranate champagne mule punch from Half-Baked Harvest. With just a couple of ingredients and 10 minutes, you can have an incredible bubbly, tangy cocktail ready to go when the clock strikes midnight.

Whether you want a table full of appetizers or something quick and easy for a small New Year’s Eve celebration with your kids, this is a great list of fast snacks and treats.

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Taylor Swift’s Brother Austin Got Travis Kelce A Gift Every '90s Kid Would Love

— Jamie Squire/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Just picture it. It’s 1994, you’re watching Rick Moranis and Ed O’Neill coach rival pee-wee football teams in small town Ohio. There’s Becky “Icebox” O’Shea, Coach Danny’s tomboy daughter/cheerleader-turned-linebacker who was loved by every ‘90s girl. Devon Sawa as quarterback Junior Floyd. And, of course, Rashid “Hot Hands” Hanon who glues his hands to his chest during the big game. If any of this rings a bell to you, you’d be thrilled to get the Christmas gift Taylor Swift’s brother Austin gave her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

During Dec. 29’s episode of Kelce’s podcast New Heights, which he hosts with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end revealed that Swift’s 31-year-old brother Austin made him “feel like a child” with the Christmas gift he got him this year. Along with their parents, Austin joined his sister to watch the Chiefs play against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 25 and was dressed up in a full Santa suit at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, complete with a sack for gifts.

“It was a full commit. He killed it,” Kelce said on the podcast. “He actually made me feel like a child because his gift to me was straight out of the bag.”

“[He] handed me a VHS of my favorite football movie of all time … Little Giants,” the NFL star revealed.

Kelce, 34, was born on Oct. 5, 1989, so it absolutely checks out that Little Giants is one his favorites. Little Giants premiered in 1994 and is not available to stream on any of the major platforms right now, so we’d have to agree with Kelce’s brother Jason that the retro gift was pretty “dope.”

Swift’s whole family has been taking time to get to know Kelce since the two started dating earlier this year. In November, Swift’s dad and Kelce sang and danced to the pop star’s songs all night long during one of her concerts in Argentina. And Swift has hung out with Kelce’s mom Donna at several of his games. Page Six also reports that their families spent Christmas together at Kelce’s home in Kansas City, Missouri.

Hopefully they were able to dust off an old VHS player and watch Little Giants the way the ‘90s intended.

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Who Is Ruby Franke? The Parenting Vlogger Was Arrested On Child Abuse Charges

— ABC 7 Chicago/ YouTube

On Dec. 27, 2023, Jodi Hildebrandt, one-time business partner of parenting vlogger Ruby Franke who rose to prominence for her controversial parenting content, pled guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. Both women were both charged with six counts of felony child abuse in August of 2023 amid a harrowing story of alleged neglect and abuse of Franke’s children. For years, social media users were wary of the YouTuber’s strict parenting style, and it seems they had reason to be concerned. Here’s what you need to know.

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of child abuse.

Who is Ruby Franke?

Ruby Franke is a parenting influencer whose YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, posted new content up to six times a week between 2015 and 2022. At its zenith, the channel, which centered around day-to-day family life and Frankes, especially Ruby’s extremely strict parenting choices, would post up to six times a week for 2.3 million subscribers. Over time, however, followers and posts dwindled and the channel petered out in 2022. It has since been deleted.

After the decline of 8 Passengers, Franke joined ConneXions Classroom, a self-improvement and “mental fitness” program that purports to promote healing and personal growth “through impeccable honesty, rigorous personal responsibility and vulnerable humility.” Franke joined as a “certified mental fitness trainer” (which is not a recognized accreditation for mental health workers) to provide content on ConneXions’ social media platforms and podcasts with a focus on parents and children.

On the organization’s Instagram account, Franke would regularly appear alongside ConneXions’ founder Jodi Hildebrandt. Both individually and together, the two would discuss topics ranging from “What does it mean to worship my child?” to “wokeness.”

Many expressed concern over Franke’s treatment of her children over the years.

Franke’s six children — Chad, Shari, Abby, Julie, Russell, and Eve — whom she shares with husband Kevin Franke, would frequently appear in content posted to 8 Passengers, even in cases when they asked not to be filmed or to take a discussion off-camera. Franke routinely disciplined, or recounted instances of discipline, on camera. The extreme nature of her parenting style shocked many and included (but is not limited to)...

- Denying her children food (“the privilege to eat dinner”) as punishment.

- Refusing to bring her then-kindergarten aged daughter Eve the lunchbox she’d forgotten at home with the intention of teaching her a lesson through hunger.

- Threatening to decapitate her small daughter’s stuffed animal.

- Denying one daughter time at preschool because the toddler didn’t know it was time to wake up.

- Taking away “room privileges” and making Chad sleep on the living room floor for seven months because he’d pranked his younger brother.

— SWOOP | YouTube

Her teenage son was also, for reasons the family did not disclose, sent to Anasazi Foundation Wilderness Therapy, a controversial religious “outdoor behavioral healthcare program” that purports to help adolescents address a range of behavioral and mental health issues from depression to “entitlement issues.”

As time went on, the family’s questionable discipline methods and potentially abusive behavior became more and more conspicuous. In May of 2020, a Change.org petition which garnered almost 18,000 signatures, urged child protective services to investigate the family. Franke lost droves of followers and, likely as a result, posted less and less content until the channel became effectively dormant.

Jodi Hildebrandt had also been embroiled in controversy prior to these most recent charges.

Hildebrandt is a professional counselor, but had previously been on probation after revealing confidential details of a patient to Bringham Young University and the Church of the Latter Day Saints, resulting in the patient’s expulsion from the school and a loss of privileges within his church community. The unnamed man claims that Hildebrandt’s accusations of pornography addiction were fabricated. “She would only threaten me that if I didn't take more sessions and have my wife take more sessions, the alleged addiction would destroy my life,” he told The Salt Lake Tribune in 2012. “She just lied wherever she went to [further] an agenda to destroy my life.”

Franke’s lawyers lay a great deal of blame for the abuse that occurred in Hildebrandt’s home, including abuse perpetuated by Franke, at the feet of Hildebrandt noting in a statement...

Ms. Franke believed that Jodi Hildebrant had the insight to offer a path to continual improvement. Ms. Hildebrant took advantage of this quest and twisted it into something heinous. Over an extended period, Ms. Hildebrant systematically isolated Ruby Franke from her extended family, older children, and her husband, Kevin Franke. This prolonged isolation resulted in Ms. Franke being subjected to a distorted sense of morality, shaped by Ms. Hildebrandt’s influence ... it is [Winward Law’s] firm belief that Ms. Franke ... unfortunately was led astray.

In August, Franke and Hildebrandt were charged with six counts of felony child abuse.

On Aug. 30, a Santa Clara-Ivins Public Safety Department release explains, a juvenile “emaciated and malnourished with open wounds and duct tape around the extremities” was reported to the department by a neighbor. The child had approached them asking for food and water. It was later revealed that this child was Franke’s 12-year-old son, who had climbed out a window to seek help. The “deep lacerations” were a result of having been tied up with rope.

— ABC 7 Chicago/ YouTube

The boy was taken a local hospital for treatment and talked to investigators, alleging that in addition to being denied food and bound, Hildebrandt would treat wounds resulting from abuse with “honey and cayenne pepper.” A search by the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) found the boy’s 10-year-old sister “in similar physical condition” in the home of Franke’s business partner Jodi Hildebrandt, from which the boy had escaped. All told, the four children still living with Franke were taken into the care of DCFS and both Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested in connection with the findings. The two are being held without bail by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and have been formally charged with six counts of felony child abuse, three charges for each child.

Randy Kester, a lawyer for Kevin Franke — who appeared in a number of his wife’s social media posts and videos — told ABC News that his client and Ruby Franke had been living separately for the past 13 months and that he is “distraught” by these allegations.

Horrifying details of Franke & Hildebrandt’s abuse were made public in their plea deals.

As part of both plea bargains, two counts (Counts 2 and 4) were dropped by the prosecution. Each count to which she has pled guilty carry a one to 15 year sentence, to be served consecutively. On December 18, Franke appeared briefly before Judge John Jay Walton alongside her counsel, LaMar Winward of Winward Law, voicing a guilty plea to Counts 1, 3, and 5. When Walton asked Franke how she pled to the last count (Count 6), Franke replied, “With my deepest regret and sorrow for my family and my children: guilty.” As part of her plea, Franke will testify against Hildebrandt.

Hildebrandt made her plea before Judge Walton on December 27 with her lawyer, Douglas Terry, who said his client pleaded guilty because she did not want Franke’s children to have to testify. Both women will be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2024.

— KUTV

— Law & Order Television

Court documents detail chilling abuse that occurred over the course of months. One child, referred to as “RF,” in Franke’s plea deal, was subjected to depravation of food and water (“RF” was punished when he was found drinking water); intense physical labor, including outdoor work in extreme heat that resulted in “repeated and serious sunburn with blistered and sloughing skin”; social isolation; binding of hands and feet with ropes and handcuffs resulting in injury to skin and muscle; kicking the child while wearing boots; submerging their head under water; and depriving him of oxygen via periods of smothering. A second child, noted as “EF,” was subjected to the same general treatment as her brother, and was also made to run on dirt roads barefoot in the summer, resulting in injury. Both children were told the abuses were “acts of love,” undertaken because they were “evil” and “possessed.” For her part, “EF” believed these claims, and felt she needed to go through the abuse “in order to repent.”

In addition to corroborating claims made in Franke’s plea, Hildebrandt detailed further abuses; including forcing Franke’s youngest daughter (“EF”) to jump into a cactus multiple times and forced isolation from others.

Ruby Franke’s sisters and daughter have spoken out against her.

Franke’s sisters, Ellie Mecham and Julie Deru, who are themselves parenting influencers, have taken to Instagram to express their relief over this turn of events in a joint post.

View on Instagram

“For the last 3 years we have kept quiet on the subject of our sister Ruby Franke for the sake for her children. Behind the public scene we have done everything we could to try and make sure the kids were safe,” they begin before concluding, “Ruby was arrested which needed to happen. Jodi was arrested which needed to happen. The kids are now safe, which is the number one priority.”

NBC News reports that Shari, the Frankes’ oldest (and estranged) daughter, posted a (now vanished) Instagram Story of her childhood home along with the word “Finally.” In a later Story, she wrote, “Me and my family are so glad justice is being served. We’ve been trying to tell the police and CPS for years about this, and so glad they finally decided to step up. Kids are safe, but there's a long road ahead. Please keep them in your prayers and also respect their privacy.”

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Gypsy Rose Blanchard Says She Wants To Have Kids After Prison Release

— Lifetime

After serving eight years for her role in the 2015 murder of her abusive mother, Gypsy Rose Blanchard is out of prison. Now 32 and married, Blanchard is ready for this new chapter in her life, which she hopes includes building a family of her own with her new husband.

“We’re in love,” Blanchard told People in an interview after her prison release on Dec. 28, 2023. In July 2022, Blanchard married Louisiana teacher Ryan Scott Anderson in a prison ceremony. The two met after Anderson started writing letters to Blanchard while she was incarcerated and he was there to greet his wife on Thursday when she was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri.

Blanchard told People she’s looking forward to having kids with Anderson, but know she’ll have to have “a really hard conversation” with her own children about the killing of her mother, Dee Dee.

“It’s hard because I’m going into a new life and I’m newly married, and I’m going to have kids one day, and I’m going to have to explain to my kids why their grandmother on mommy’s side isn’t around,” she told the magazine. “And that’s going to be a really hard conversation.”

— Lifetime

— Lifetime

Blanchard’s mom Dee Dee is believed to have a suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental illness in which a person, mostly commonly a mother, makes up fake medical symptoms or causes an illness in their child for sympathy or attention. The National Library of Medicine describes it as a form of child abuse.

For years, Blanchard’s mother forced her to believe that she was suffering from serious illnesses as a child, including leukemia, muscular dystrophy, and would say her daughter had the “mental capacity of a 7-year-old due to brain damage.” Blanchard, whose story has been told in the documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest and Hulu’s 2019 mini series The Act, was also told she couldn’t walk. Her mother made her use an oxygen tank and forced her to use a feeding tube, none of which were ever necessary. Dee Dee would also shave her daughter’s head.

As Blanchard got older, the abuse continued and, in 2015, she conspired a plan with her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, to kill Dee Dee. In June 2015, Godejohn went to their Missouri home and stabbed Dee Dee 17 times in her bed while Blanchard hid in the bathroom. Godejohn and Blanchard fled the scene and Dee Dee’s body was discovered by authorities several days later.

Godejohn was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the killing and was sentenced to 10 years in prison as part of a plea deal; she was granted parole in September and was released years earlier than anticipated this week.

On Dec. 29, a day after her release, Blanchard posted her “first selfie of freedom” on Instagram.

View on Instagram

Before her release, Blanchard told People that she regrets what happened to her mother. “Nobody will ever hear me say I’m glad she’s dead or I’m proud of what I did. I regret it every single day,” she said. “She didn’t deserve that. She was a sick woman and unfortunately I wasn’t educated enough to see that. She deserved to be where I am, sitting in prison doing time for criminal behavior.”

Blanchard is set to share more about the abuse she suffered and her experience in prison in a new six-hour special on Lifetime. The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard premieres on Fri.day, Jan. 5 at 8 p.m. ET.

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'Virgin River' Season 6: Everything We Know So Far

— Netflix

Virgin River, based on Robyn Carr’s romance novels, took Netflix by storm when it first premiered in 2019. Nurse practitioner Mel Monroe escapes the big city for small town life in idyllic northern California. There, she meets hunky, complicated bar owner and former U.S. Marine, Jack Sheridan. Loads of romance and dramatic storylines follow throughout the first five seasons of the series. Really, it’s no surprise that fans already want more, even with those two extra holiday episodes. So will there be a sixth season of Virgin River? Here’s everything we know so far.

Will Virgin River return for Season 6?

Yes! Netflix announced that Virgin River has officially been renewed for Season 6. While new episodes are indeed coming, Virgin River showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Deadline that we shouldn’t expect an extra long season like we got with Season 4 and 5, which both had 12 episodes. “I think we’re probably looking at a 10-episode season moving forward,” Smith told the outlet.

Smith also told Deadline in November that there will be a “time jump” in Season 6. “We do intend to do another time jump from the holidays to when Season 6 starts so we can anticipate a bit of a time jump,” he said. “I don’t know exactly how many months but it won’t be a direct pickup from the holidays.”

When will Virgin River Season 6 premiere?

Season 6’s release date is still TBD. But the writers and cast are officially back at work after the Hollywood strikes ended earlier this year. The Virgin River writing team revealed on Instagram in October that they currently working on Season 6. “Thrilled to have our writing team back in action, diving into Season 6!” the series shared.

Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays Mel on Virgin River, told Deadline that they haven’t started filming Season 6 yet. “We’re going to start as soon as the Vancouver weather allows. So hopefully in the spring is what I’ve been hearing,” the actress shared.

View on Instagram

So we might be waiting a little while for Season 6 to premiere. What’s on Netflix reported that Virgin River executive producer Rich Keith said that Season 6 may not premiere until 2025. “All I want for Christmas is my two… [unions] to get a fair deal from the AMPTP. If they don’t hurry up there won’t be any #VirginRiver on @Netflix until 2025…,” he wrote in a September Instagram post.

Will Netflix renew Virgin River for more seasons?

If fans keep watching, it sounds like Netflix is ready to deliver. Jinny Howe, head of drama series development and content acquisition at Netflix, told Deadline in August 2022 that she sees “more longevity and growth” with Virgin River.

“I think we definitely see more longevity and growth with the show,” Howe told Deadline. “As long as the audience asks for it and shows up.” Howe also told Deadline that Netflix execs are “paying very close attention” to what Virgin River fans want from the series. “It will be exciting to see which characters continue to break out and audiences crave more of; we’re paying very close attention, understanding that this is a really rich universe of characters and that people can’t seem to get enough, myself included,” Howe said. “So I think as long as that continues to be the case — which we’re very hopeful for — you can rest assured that there will be more Virgin River.”

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Nick Cannon Got A Christmas Gift Featuring All 12 Of His Kids

— Jason Mendez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Nick Cannon got one heck of a personalized gift for Christmas this year. Bre Tiesi, who shares a 17-month-old son named Legendary Love with the Wild N' Out host, put together a Monopoly-themed board game called “Cannonopoly” and it features all 12 of his children on the box.

Tiesi, who stars on the Netflix real estate reality series Selling Sunset (though it’s still TBD if she’s returning for Season 8), shared a photo on her Instagram Story of the gift she gave Cannon for Christmas this year.

“And my favorite gift I’ve given,” Tiesi wrote over the photo that featured illustrations of Cannon and his 12 children. On the front of the box, there’s Cannon surrounded by 1-year-old Legendary Love who he shares with Tiesi; 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe who she shares with ex-wife Mariah Carey; 6-year-old son Golden Sagon, 3-year-old daughter Powerful Queen, and 15-month-old son Rise Messiah who he welcomed with Brittany Bell; 2½-year-old twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and 1-year-old daughter Beautiful Zeppelin who he shares Abby De La Rosa; 1-year-old daughter Onyx Ice Cole who he welcomed with LaNisha Cole; and 1-year-old daughter Halo Marie and son Zen, who passed away at 5 months old from brain cancer, with Alyssa Scott.

— Bre Tiesi/ Instagram

In another Instagram post, Tiesi posted a collection of photos of her, Cannon, and their son dressed up in matching red plaid Christmas pajamas. “Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with love,” she captioned the photos, which were taken in front of a Christmas tree. “May this season bring you happiness and beautiful memories. Enjoy and cherish every moment! It all goes by too fast! 🥹🎄✨.”

Tiesi’s relationship with Cannon was discussed at length on recent seasons of Selling Sunset after one of her co-stars, Chelsea Lazkani, said she found it “rather off-putting” and, in typical reality TV fashion, side convos spiraled. On the show, Tiesi has always defended their unique arrangement and Cannon as a father. “I love Nick. I’m happy with my relationship, however that is,” she said in an episode of Season 7. When it comes to dating other people, she said on the show, “I mean, I do what I want to do, but I still would never disrespect Nick. I just wouldn’t. And even his situations and stuff, I’ve always been nothing but respectful of that. I know people don’t get it, and I don’t care that people don’t get it.”

We would, however, like to see a copy of the Cannonopoly rulebook.

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Paris Hilton's Baby Girl London Does Tummy Time In Cute New Video On TikTok

— Marc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images

Paris Hilton’s “little bunny” is on the move — almost. One month after announcing the arrival of her second child, daughter London Marilyn Hilton Reum with husband Carter Reum, Hilton posted a video on her TikTok of her baby girl getting in some tummy time, wearing the most adorable pink outfit. Would you expect anything else?

In the TikTok video, London, dressed in a tiny pink sweat suit with a cute bunny face stitched on the bum, is laying on her tummy and lifting her head up as she lets out some adorable baby grunts. “Tummy time,” the Paris In Love star says from behind the camera. The mom of two, who welcomed son Phoenix via surrogate last January, called her daughter “my little bunny” in the caption and said she’s “so in love with my baby girl London.”

Hilton’s followers on TikTok quickly took to the comment section of the video to gush over little London. “Awe she’s gonna be strong chasing after big brother. So sweet,” one commented, while another added, “BABY SQUEAKS!! She is a tummy time champ!” Another follower said, “Oh the tummy time struggle squeaks. She’s working so hard to be strong like her mommy.” And one more wrote, “Her whittle noises. I love her.”

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Between London’s tummy time, her son Phoenix’s first trip to Disneyland, and getting the whole family dressed up in matching Christmas pajamas, Hilton is very much in her “Mom Era,” as she told Romper earlier this month. “I’m in my Mom Era,” Hilton said in a December interview. “This is my best era yet.”

Hilton also told Romper that she “always imagined” she’d have a daughter. “I always imagined my mini-me, putting her in little dresses and all the mommy-and-me things we could do together,” she said. “Just having my little best friend.” She added that she believes Phoenix is “going to be the protective big brother” over little London.

Indeed, back in November, Hilton told People that she feels “complete” as a mom of two. “My life just feels so complete, having my little baby boy and now my little girl,” she told the magazine.

“Sliving” surely has a new and deeper meaning for Hilton these days. She’s fully in her “Mom Era” and little bunny bestie will be crawling and chasing after her big brother before we know it.

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Mom Is Devastated After Husband Opened Christmas Gifts With Son Without Her

— Arman Zhenikeyev/Corbis/Getty Images

There are only so many magical years a parent gets when their kids still believe in Santa Claus, and perhaps one of the most special is that first year. So you can understand why this mom fully believes her husband “ruined” her Christmas by getting up early with their son to open gifts without her. It was a special moment that was taken from her, and she took to Reddit for some moral support that her husband wasn’t willing to offer.

The mom in question, who has a 2-year-old and a 3-month-old baby, took to the “TrueOffMyChest” sub-Reddit forum on Christmas Day to share how she felt her morning had been ruined by her husband. “This is the first Christmas where my toddler understands a lot more about what’s going on and we’ve been talking about Santa, decorating the tree, wrapping family gifts together etc. My husband has been talking a lot about building family traditions for the kids, which I thought was lovely,” she wrote in her viral Reddit post.

On Christmas Eve, they stuck with her own German tradition of opening gifts from the family that night and left gifts from Santa Claus under the tree. “I had a rough night with the baby, so slept a little longer than usual this morning (Christmas morning), but not unreasonable I thought — I woke at 7:45. The toddler had woken at 6am and my husband had gotten up to him. I got up to discover that my husband had opened up the presents from Santa with my toddler already, which has left me devastated,” she wrote.

After missing her son’s first Christmas morning of opening presents, the heartbroken mom wrote that she “felt so excluded and robbed of seeing the joy on my child’s face opening up the gifts I had picked out for him.”

“He didn’t wait until I woke up, or wake me up if the toddler couldn’t wait,” she continued. “My husband commented that it was a lovely father son moment, which drove the knife in further — clearly I’m an afterthought when he thinks of family. I’ve been holding back tears all day for the sake of the toddler.”

Social media users rallied to tell this mom that she was absolutely in the right for being upset, without question. “Dude created a ‘father son moment’ upon the ashes of the ‘family bonding moment.’ What a nitwit,” wrote one person. “Not an overreaction at all. Tell him how you feel about what he did and talk this out with him. He is not the only parents of those kids and it should have been a moment for you all to share not just him,” wrote another, while this person added, “Oh wow. He like did the main event without you. I’m a month postpartum and definitely would not have been okay with that. Emotional & exhausted or not, not cool man, not cool.”

A few people on X, formerly Twitter, said that they wouldn’t be able to look at their partner the same way if they were in the same position.

The good news for this mom is that her toddler will have other Christmas mornings, and he will barely remember this year. He will hopefully have more years of opening his Santa gifts with his mom, years of magic and fun and joy over the holidays. The bad news is, she won’t forget this year. And that is just a really bitter pill to swallow.

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Kourtney Kardashian's Breastfeeding Fashion Hack Is Simple & Chic

— NBC/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Every year, the Kardashians throw an epic, swanky Christmas party. And every year, the entire family gets in full glam to ring in the holidays. In sequined dresses and heels, the whole nine yards. This year was no different, not even for Kourtney Kardashian. Sure, the mom of four only recently gave birth to her baby boy Rocky Thirteen with husband Travis Barker. But she pulled together an incredibly breastfeeding-friendly fashion hack that honestly would work for anyone.

On Tuesday, the Poosh mogul took to Instagram to share her Christmas party look, mere weeks after she gave birth to Rocky. Kourtney, who is also mom to 13-year-old son Mason, 11-year-old daughter Penelope, and 8-year-old son Reign with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, wore a luxurious, floor length coat that looked to be faux fur or shearling, tied at the waist over a bodysuit with her hair pulled back into a long ponytail.

“When not much in the closet fits yet and the boobs are filled with milk, throw on a cozy coat,” she wrote in the caption. If she needs to breastfeed, wearing a coat like that is going to make things very accessible and yet also fashionable. Voila.

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We weren’t the only ones who thought The Kardashians star, who is also stepmom to Barker’s 20-year-old son Landon and 17-year-old daughter Alabama, effortlessly pulled off a great style option for breastfeeding moms. “No, cause this is a look! You look gorgeous mama,” wrote one of her Instagram followers, while her sister Khloé Kardashian commented, “When you’re a baddie no matter what.” One person simply wrote, “Thriving,” which does feel like the perfect word to describe Kourtney Kardashian these days.

After going through fertility struggles and a high risk pregnancy to welcome her baby boy, Kourtney does appear to be thriving in the weeks since Rocky’s birth. She got right back into the holiday season, going full on with her Elf on the Shelf to keep the magic alive for her whole family, and just generally appearing to be really living her best life with her husband and children. So really, it’s no wonder she made the simple look of wearing a lux coat to a party look so effortless and stunning. It’s just her vibe these days.

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20 Easy Mocktails For Kids: Simple Recipes For Colorful Drinks

— skynesher/E+/Getty Images

For a lot of kids, one of the best things about big gatherings and special occasions is getting to have a juice box or sparkling apple cider to sip as a special treat. And those festive fizzies are great for when you need something quick, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, consider mixing up one or two of these super easy mocktails for kids at your next event. A fancy cup, a colorful paper straw, and some fruit garnishes can make all the difference.

At some point this past spring, I noticed we had some lemons in the house and I decided to pour my daughter a glass of lemonade with cut-up strawberries, a lemon slice attached to the rim, and a pink and white paper straw. Sure, preparing it took a little longer than it would have if I had just poured some lemonade into her usual cup, but the look on her face when I presented her with this drink was totally priceless. In fact, she loved it so much that I ended up buying her some plastic stemless wine glasses for whenever we have the time (and ingredients) to make her something a little extra special. Suffice to say, I have seen firsthand how much joy mocktails for kids can bring.

When you’re thinking up mocktail recipes, remember that kids tend to like basic flavors, so while a virgin mojito may be a great beverage for an expecting mom, little ones may not like the flavor quite as much. Thankfully, there are plenty of mocktail recipes for kids to choose from. And, if all else fails, you can never go wrong with some lemonade and sliced strawberries in a fancy cup.

Shirley Temple

— Damn Delicious

Do you remember ordering “kiddie cocktails” when you were younger? Chances are high that you were given a Shirley Temple — with extra cherries, please! They taste delicious, look pretty, and are simple to make, if you follow directions from Damn Delicious. Simply mix together some lemon-lime soda and the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries, pour the drink over ice, and top it off with an orange slice and a cherry.

Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail

— Westend61, Getty Images

If you’re on the hunt for a kids' mocktail recipe for the holiday season, check out this Sparkling Ginger Cranberry Mocktail from The Speckled Palate. Sure, you can serve it any time of the year, but the flavors are especially great for the winter holidays. To make the orange sugar for the rims of the glasses, just mix up some granulated sugar and orange peel zest. For the mocktail, you’ll need unsweetened cranberry juice, ginger beer (despite its name, it’s non-alcoholic), and some fresh cranberries for a garnish. So easy, and so delicious.

Cherry Almond Sparkler

— A Classic Twist

Not only does this drink from A Classic Twist look really pretty, but it’s also incredibly easy to make. You’ll need some fresh cherries, sugar, lime juice, almond extract, ice, and 7UP Cherry (or 7UP regular if you want to go lighter on the cherry). It all mixes together beautifully to create a refreshing mocktail for kids that works no matter what time of year.

Gummy Bear Cocktail

— Christina Børding, Getty Images

Instead of creating a complex mocktail recipe, Rachel from Simple Seasonal simply dressed up some sparkling cider to create a Gummy Bear Mocktail. First, she stacked eight gummy bears on a pointed swizzle stick to use for a garnish, then she coated the rims of stemless champagne flutes with granulated sugar, then she filled the glass up with sparkling cider, finally, she added in the gummy bear stick and a fun straw to create a super easy mocktail for kids.

Sunrise Mocktail

— Brian Macdonald, Getty Images

Here’s another example of how simply putting a couple of ingredients into a pretty glass makes a drink exponentially more fun. To make Mindful Mocktail’s recipe for Sunrise Mocktails, grab a tall glass (or champagne flute) and fill it about three-quarters of the way full with equal parts orange juice and sparkling water, then add in a little bit of grenadine to create the sunrise effect, and garnish the drink with an orange slice and cherry. Quick, easy, and delicious.

Mermaid Water

— Jordan Lye, Getty Images

If your kids aren’t fans of oranges and cherries, then they may like some Mermaid Water. The recipe for this easy mocktail for kids comes from the blog Hawaii Travel With Kids and calls for some pineapple juice, blue Gatorade, and berry-flavored Gatorade. That’s it. The key for this drink is pouring each juice just right so that it creates a colorful stack look. There’s no garnish necessary for this beverage, but it will look best served in a clear cup.

Blueberry Lemonade

— A Cookie Named Desire

Lemonade is my go-to for an easy mocktail base, then I usually just toss in some berries to add color. However, if you want to take it further you can try this recipe for blueberry lemonade from A Cookie Named Desire that will have you making your own homemade lemonade and blueberry syrup using totally fresh ingredients. Even if you’re making this as a mocktail for the kids, you’ll probably end up pouring yourself a cup, too.

Orange Juice Mocktail

— jonathansloane, Getty Images

Lauren from The Schmidty Wife turned her kids’ regular orange juice into a superfood mocktail by adding a scoop of a tangerine-flavored omega supplement. She then took the mixture and poured it into a fun glass, added some fresh fruit as garnishes and a straw, and called it a day. Honestly, it doesn’t get much easier than this.

Ruby Red Grapefruit Punch

— A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

Instead of making individual mocktails for kids, consider making a big batch of a specialty punch and setting up a mocktail buffet. Put out some stemless wine glasses or champagne flutes as well as options for different garnishes (and maybe some sugar or sprinkles for the rims of the glasses). Honestly, any punch recipe will work with this idea, but if you’re looking for one to try, this recipe for Ruby Red Grapefruit Punch from A Pretty Life looks absolutely delightful.

Non-Alcoholic Sangria

— Brown Sugar Mama

To kids, a glass of sangria looks like a glass of juice that’s full of fruit — which obviously sounds delightful. So, to let kids in on the action, Nicole from Brown Sugar Mama came up with a non-alcoholic sangria recipe. You’ll add in the usual fruit ingredients like orange and lemon juice and slices of oranges, grapes, and apples, but instead of wine, you’ll use a mixture of cranberry juice, sparkling grapefruit juice, and a flavored tea (just make sure whatever you choose is caffeine-free).

Vanilla Plum Shrub

— The Modern Proper

This mocktail for kids isn’t the easiest, but it is probably the most grown-up friendly. You might know of shrubs — they’re also called ‘drinking vinegar’ — but if you’re not familiar with them, they’re tart and fruity, and make for a lovely cocktail or mocktail base. Once you make The Modern Proper’s vanilla-plum shrub, simply mix it with seltzer and you’ve got a mocktail even the grown ups will love.

Blue Lagoon Mocktail

— Ajith Ajay / EyeEm, Getty Images

There’s just something a little extra fun about a blue mocktail (or cocktail), isn’t there? This recipe for a Blue Lagoon Mocktail from Savor the Flavor has a step-by-step guide for creating a delightful mocktail for kids using blue Curaçao-flavored simple syrup, lemon juice, and lemon-lime soda. Just top the drink off with a lemon garnish and a fun straw and enjoy watching your kid’s eyes get wide with excitement as you hand it to them.

Valentine Mocktail

— laurenepbath, Getty Images

Adults know that the more sugar in their cocktail, the worse their hangover is going to be the next day, but when it comes to mocktails for kids, the more sugar there is, the better. There’s definitely no shortage of sugar in this recipe for Valentine Mocktails from Everyday Savvy. Between candy sprinkles on the rim of the glass, mixed berry juice, Sprite, grenadine, and simple syrup, this mocktail will make for a good dessert drink for the kids (just prepare yourself for the sugar crash later).

Cotton Candy Mocktail

— Princess Pinky Girl

Another kids' mocktail recipe that’s delightfully full of sugar is this Cotton Candy Mocktail from Princess Pinky Girl. Not only is it so sweet it’ll make your teeth hurt, but it will also entertain the heck out of the kids. First, coat the rims of champagne flutes with pink sugar (the kind you find in the baking aisle), then fill the glass up with cotton candy and set it in front of your kid. For presentation, pour some strawberry soda over the cotton candy and watch as it melts and mixes in with the soda before topping it off with a cherry or strawberry garnish.

Sparkling Peach Lemonade

— All The Healthy Things

While this Sparkling Peach Lemonade from All Things Healthy wasn’t created to be a mocktail, if we’ve learned anything by now it’s that any drink can be a mocktail with the right cup and extra garnishes added to it. This drink is made entirely from scratch, so it will taste extra fresh (and delicious). You’ll need fresh or frozen peaches, honey, water, lemon juice, sparkling water, fresh mint, and some patience to make this drink, but if your kid loves peaches, then it’ll be worth the work.

Cinderella Mocktail

— wulingyun, Getty Images

This Cinderella Mocktail recipe from Savor the Flavor yields a very pretty drink, but since it calls for Angostura bitters, it won’t be a hit with every kid. However, if your kid likes to try new things, then this is definitely a mocktail to make. In addition to the bitters, the drink is made with unsweetened pineapple juice, orange juice, lemon juice, grenadine, and sparkling water. It’s basically a tropical paradise in a glass.

Agua Fresca

— Gimme Some Oven

Naturally sweetened with agave syrup, this agua fresca mocktail recipe from Gimme Some Oven can be made with whatever fruit you (or your kids) love, so it’s super adaptable to all seasons and all preferences.

Lavender Tea Lemonade

— a pretty life in the suburbs

For more sophisticated palates — we’re thinking this one is more for the tweens than the preschool crowd — try this floral Lavender Tea Lemonade recipe from A Pretty Life In The Suburbs.

Citrus Water Punch

— Mel's Kitchen Cafe

For the kid who loves tart or sour flavors, this citrus water punch from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is bound to be a hit. It’s basically like making a lemonade, just with a little extra pizazz thanks to the lime juice, lemon extract, and citric acid. Pucker up!

Whoville Christmas Punch

— Half-Baked Harvest

While this holiday cocktail has alcohol in it, Half-Baked Harvest has an adaptation to make her Whoville Christmas Punch into a great festive mocktail for kids. With pomegranate juice, orange juice, ginger beer (remember, that’s non-alcoholic despite the name), vanilla extract, and rosemary, it has all the festive flavors of the season, but still a pretty safe bet for kiddos. Just replace the bourbon and Campari with apple cider and more OJ. The best part is you can make a big batch of this.

It doesn’t take much to create a special, easy mocktail for kids, especially since they’re usually more interested in what the drink looks like than what it tastes like. So, pick up some fun paper straws, slice up some fruit, and mix up a delicious drink for the kids to enjoy at your next gathering.

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