NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end. There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 1⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift's expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. “Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.” Bohne, who has earned the title among the Swiftie community as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar. Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.” “Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.” Swift herself appeared to struggle that the end was near while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour's impending end. Swift kicked off the Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona, the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada. By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Throughout the tour, Swift was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year . Apple Music named her its artist of the year and Spotify revealed she was 2023’s most streamed artist globally . She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when she began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book. And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now ” and 2014's record “1989,” as well as released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” “I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless." Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”? “I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular Swift-focused Instagram account @headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.” Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later died of heat exhaustion. In July, British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London. And in August, all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city. Tens of thousands of Swifties from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift's connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations, many fans flocked to the streets to sing Swift's songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree. Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new. “I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”
Off the couch and into the fire
Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., who has worked for five decades in Canada, says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Although she considers the $250 payments "a freaking joke" that won't help much with skyrocketing costs, she feels seniors who have worked for so many years deserve it too. "I've paid dues, taxes, whatever, since I was about 17 years old. That's a long time to pay taxes, to help out the economy in this country," Sheaves, 67, said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca on Monday. She worked administrative jobs and owned a couple small businesses with her 70-year-old husband Frank before they both retired. "We worked all our lives, and I think we're entitled to that and more." Sheaves says she and Frank have been receiving Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) payments, a small work pension and returns on their investments. While she doesn't consider herself to be in serious financial trouble, she said rent has increased by about $300 to more than $1,600 since she and her husband sold their home and began renting an apartment in Moncton. They are watching their money carefully and always look out for discounts for groceries, she added. "When we retired, we figured we had sufficient funds to put aside to help with our retirement," Sheaves said. "But of course, the world has gone crazy. Like everything, the prices have gone up." The federal government announced last week a two-month GST/HST break on certain goods, as well as plans in April to give Canadians who made $150,000 per year or less in 2023 a "Working Canadians Rebate" of $250. Both measures are expected to cost a total of $6.3 billion. While the tax break on some goods applies to anyone, Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being among the 18.7 million Canadians who are expected to qualify for the government's planned rebate. When asked why rebate cheques were not being given to seniors who are not working or those with disabilities, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said working Canadians were making their voices heard about needing financial support. In any case, Sheaves questions whether the cheques will be that helpful since many Canadians will struggle more over Christmas and won't get the rebate until spring. She especially worries for young people, the poor and homeless. "It's getting harder and harder for a person to survive," she said. "It's just not fair. I really, really feel bad for the young people. I feel bad for us too, but the young people, they have not got a chance." When asked whether the proposed measures could be focused on helping youth instead, given the high youth unemployment in the country, the government pointed to the spillover benefits of the cheques. Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien told CTV Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview that aired Sunday that entire families are saving money and benefiting from the tax break and rebate. Bill Cole of Toronto called the exclusion of retired seniors a "discriminatory insult," noting they live on fixed incomes. "Retired seniors represent a significant voting bloc and many are facing significant affordability issues as inflationary pressure eat away at our retirement income," Cole wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on Nov. 22. Anita Reilander of Calgary wonders why people who earn more, including those making up to $150,000, will get the benefit. "If those people can't make ends meet on those earnings, they need financial training, not extra money," she wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca on Nov. 22. She said the $250 would be put to good use by seniors living on pensions of around $20,000. With files from CTV News Ottawa News Bureau's Stephanie Ha and CTVNews.ca Managing Producer Kendra Mangione CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. 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Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener , which became the internet's holy grail for concealing and brightening dark circles under your eyes so fast that everyone's old concealers are doing double takes. This lightweight color-adapting formula is designed for truly ~invisible~ coverage that makes a drastic difference. The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of two shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." — Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in two shades). 2. Plus, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel , a cult-fave product for your beauty arsenal that will quickly help minimize eye puffiness and swelling thanks to its winning combo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid. It's basically an alarm clock for your eyeballs, because boy howdy are they awake now!! Good Molecules is a small business that specializes in affordable skincare products. Promising review: "I love this product and have noticed a huge difference when using it consistently. I am on the younger side and don’t have the worst under eye bags, but on those occasional mornings where my eyes are puffy with somewhat visible dark circles, this product definitely does the trick! Honestly love all the Good Molecules products." — Hayden Smith Get it from Amazon for $5.99 . 3. A pair of ~dreamlux~ leggings made with an oh-so-buttery soft material reviewers compare to Lululemon's Align ... but WAY cheaper. If you're looking for a reliably squatproof, comfy, compressive legging, look no further than these. I bought these on Prime Day, which is the only day I will buy leggings because I hate wearing leggings with a burning passion. My "I'm not like other girls" bit is that for some reason I am always comfier in jeans than leggings. BUT NOT THESE!!! They slide on. The fabric is so lightweight and breathable that it feels like a whisper. The band is so deceptively comfortable that sometimes I'm like, "Am I still wearing them??" I use them to run outdoors because that is the only circumstance I'll wear a legging, and I'm happy to report after several washes, they are durable and compressive enough to withstand workouts. They would be excellent for lounging if I weren't wired in this odd anti-legging way. I have already bought two more pairs and made my friends buy them, too. Promising review: "Super comfy. I usually don’t write reviews, I tried this first before buying Lulu, and these are the most comfortable leggings for every day and even for workouts. Highly recommended!" — Criselle Johnson Get them from Amazon for $29 (available in women's sizes XXS–XXL, two inseams, and 21 styles). 4. A set of feather-light, super durable compression packing cubes you can use to significantly decrease the bulk of your clothing to save space on trips. This particular set is a cut above the others because it comes with a mesh outside that allows you to see what's in each bag without popping them all open to find something. Pro-tip: When you use compression packing cubes, it's more effective to lay them flat than to roll them! It helps with the compression (and keeps your clothes from getting too wrinkled). Promising review : "These packing cubes helped to keep my clothing organized in my suitcase. They compressed my items and gave me a little more room in suitcase. They are mesh construction so you can see what is inside. Easy zippers. Expandable. Sturdy." — Mary Get a set of six from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors). 5. MagicMinerals AirBrush Foundation , which lives up to its name and THEN some — one quick spray of the foundation on the included brush, and it glides so smoothly and subtly over your skin texture that you'll feel like a makeup artist did it for you. Reviewers in their thirties, forties, and up especially swear by this lightweight but effective formula, and love that it's ridiculously easy to use. Jerome Alexander is a small business that specializes in airbrush cosmetic products. HELLO — I found this through a recommendation on a Reddit beauty forum for people in their thirties, and I am OBSESSED. I am not very skilled with makeup and was intimidated by the brush factor, but it's nearly foolproof . This foundation straight-up glosses over my pores and redness and makes my skin look so even-toned and natural that it doesn't look like I used much foundation at all. It's a bit price-y compared to brands I used in the past, but I'm still on my first bottle of it, and it's been three full months. I hope this never stops getting made. It is so lightweight and lovely and has made my makeup routine feel like a TREAT. Promising review : "Bought this because I saw it on TikTok, and it did not disappoint. I love the lightweight feel of it and how easy it is to build." — Smickens Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 12 shades). 6. A "holy grail" Coop Home Goods pillow designed for side, back, *and* stomach sleepers to get the best shut-eye of their lives. This medium-firm pillow has an entirely adjustable memory foam fill so you can mold it to the exact firmness, size, and shape you need. In other words: this is the One Pillow that will serve you well for a long, long time. Promising review: "I hardly ever write reviews, but I have to for this. I saw this pillow on TikTok, and it got me curious, so I immediately came to Amazon. OMG, it’s such a game-changer. I’m a side sleeper, and this pillow is heaven . It’s some of the most comfortable sleep I have had in ages. I love it so much that I bought a second one and have my eye on the body pillow. Obsessed! You need this in your bedroom." — MT Get it from Amazon for $75+ (available in two sizes and three shapes). 7. A bottle of sulfate-free biotin shampoo that thousands of reviewers swear by for helping restore their hair and promote healthy hair growth over time. It also includes nourishing ingredients like rosemary oil, zinc, and coconut oil to help moisturize locks and give them a fuller, more volumized look. Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic . Maple Holistics is a small business that specializes in beauty products with all-natural ingredients. Check out a TikTok of the biotin shampoo in action. Promising review: "I love this shampoo! I had gastric sleeve surgery, and my hair was very, very thin. I started taking biotin and switched to biotin shampoo, as recommended by my doctor. It doesn’t make your hair grow by washing it, but it makes your hair and roots stronger. And it worked. After using the whole bottle, my hair was stronger. I had a lot of new growth that was sticking around (the previous new growth fell out early on), and my hair was getting thicker. Eight months later, my hair is back to normal. It's longer and thicker than ever." — Diane J. Huff Get it from Amazon for $12.95 . Psst — reviewers mention this is most effective when paired with a scalp massager to work it into their roots! 8. Neutrogena's brand new Collagen Bank Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 30 , which is so good at its job that it is doing double duty as skin protection *and* skincare in one bottle. In other words, you can slather it on in the morning as a one-step reliable beauty routine and know that you're keeping your skin safe from day to day and helping brighten your complexion in the longterm. Bonus: This is so lightweight that it functions as a perfect base primer for makeup! Check out a TikTok of the Collagen Bank SPF Moisturizer in action. Promising review: "I’ve been using this for a few weeks now, and I’m thrilled with the results! This moisturizer is a gamechanger in my skincare routine. The formula is lightweight and absorbs quickly, leaving my skin feeling hydrated without any greasy residue . What I love most is how it enhances my skin’s natural glow and softness. The collagen boost helps firm and plump my skin, making it look and feel more youthful. It ’s a fantastic base for makeup and keeps my skin looking fresh all day." — Gizem Atkan Get it from Amazon for $21.99 . 9. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes. Promising review : "Love these . These are soft and very comfortable, and they seriously black out every bit of ligh t. I love them. I would highly recommend. I’ll probably never sleep without them again." — AJ Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in seven sets). 10. A no-scrub weekly shower cleaner you can quite literally "set and forget" to maintain its cleanliness over time — once you apply it after a shower, you just have to wait eight to 12 hours and it'll quietly tackle the soap scum, grime, oils, mold, and mildew stains without any elbow grease from you. Promising review: "I saw this product on TikTok and decided to try it out for myself. The name doesn’t lie — spray it on, shut the bathroom door, and in a few hours, the shower is 100 times cleaner. Usually I’ll let it sit overnight, and by morning, the visible grime on the shower is gone, include soap scum. I’ll usually let the shower water rinse the residue out, and then will take a bucket just to get everything off the shower walls. It is a bit slick if you try to get in the shower without rinsing the residue, but otherwise it’s a worthy cleaning staple in my house." — Tara D. Get it from Amazon for $19.19+ (available in two scents and two sizes). 11. Puppington's 3-in-1 Crossbody Bag that's the hot ticket item for dog owners — this chic bag functions as a purse, a treat dispenser, AND a poop bag dispenser, which will make you the most fashionable, functional pet owner on the block. This was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop ! Puppington is a small business that specializes in pet accessories. Promising review: "We are training our puppy, and I needed a fanny pack with a sizable and easy-to-clean treat pouch. It matches her collar that we have too. I can easily fit my phone (iPhone 14 pro), house keys, lip balm, hand sanitizer, and anything else I need to grab. The separate pocket for treats has a great, easily wipeable liner and fits DAYS worth of training treats. The dog poop bag holder is the best addition! High quality that doesn’t feel like it’s going to just fall apart ." — Mallory Get it from Amazon for $39.19 (available in six colors). 12. A pack of dual-sided SneakErasers designed so that one side of them cleans scuffs, dirt stains, and grimes, and the other side whitens them, restoring your sneakers and their soles to their former glory. Take THAT, passage of time. Sneakerasers is a small business that specializes in shoe care products. Check out a TikTok of the SneakErasers in action. Promising review : "I have a couple of pairs of sneakers I stopped wearing because they started looking a bit grungy. Just couldn't justify throwing them away though, because they were still in great shape and not very old. I came across these sponges and took a chance. They work like a charm. I cleaned two pairs of shoes and could not believe the results! Awesome." — Spencer Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $11.98 . 13. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose recent step count is "too many." Nothing like a lil' self-care on those aching feet to get into relaxation mode before bed! Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. I'm a long-ish distance runner, and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! Promising review: "These masks soften my feet right away after only one us e. I recommend using them before bed but do not discard them yet . You can use the same pair again the next morning as some products remain in the masks." — Guy Kositrana Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97 . 14. And a decadent heated foot massager to take you to another spiritual PLANE when you're relaxing at the end of a long day. This deep kneading shiatsu foot massager comes with three kneading styles and three intensity levels to revive those tired puppies you call feet, and help spread that calm to your whole body. Promising review: "Love it!! What a great massager. I use it every day!!! It feels so good while using it and even afterwards. My feet continue to feel the effects. Totally recommend this." — Irene B. Get it from Amazon for $99.98 (clip the $40 off coupon on the product page for this price). 15. A miniature arcade Atari so you can spend your day off in a time machine to the '80s — this itty bitty console is loaded up with ten playable retro-style games, including Pac-Man, Breakout, Asteroids, and more. Reviewers also mention how much they love giving them as gifts! Promising review: "I've put probably 10 hours in playing with this little system . It's an excellent little Atari clone, the screen is crystal clear, the games play exactly as expected , the sound is great the controller is a joy. This is an absolute must for anyone that loves retro games." — Doug Welyczko Get it from Amazon for $27.10 . 16. An "Everyday Mindfulness"-themed word search book full of unique, relaxing puzzles designed to keep you engaged without stressing you out. Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for! It lays flat to easily complete the word search and not have to fight with the book. There are different types of puzzles and some have extra secret searches! It’s great for the slow days at work!! I will definitely be buying more of these word searches!" — Roy Y Hahn Get it from Amazon for $8 . 17. A gaming/reading/laptop pillow to prop your hands up while you're playing video games, typing, or reading on your Kindle or iPad from bed. This supports your arms for a more ~ergonomically-friendly~ experience, and even features a lil' side pocket for things like remote controls, glasses, and — of course — emergency snacky snacks. Promising review: "I work from home a few days a week, and every once in a while, my work extends into the evening hours. I have a home office, but sitting at my desk all day is sometimes very tiring. I purchased this big memory foam desk pillow so that I can relax on my couch and still put my laptop up and have a comfortable working area. This pillow is big but very comfortable. It has armrests that wrap around your sides, and they also have little pockets for random things like your cell phone or the remote. It’s so nice to just lean back into my comfortable couch and have this big soft desk in front of me." — Jenn Butterfield Get it from Amazon for $53.99 (clip the 10% off coupon on the product page for this price; available in three styles). 18. And a stable, fully adjustable tablet floor stand reviewers LOVE for holding Kindles, iPads, and even phones upright, making it super easy to read, stream content, or even FaceTime with friends and family hands-free. This little gizmo is about to become your Emotional Support Reading Buddy. Promising review : "It works great! It is worth a lot more to me than I paid. It leans forward in many ways and you can turn your device to the direction you are sitting. It has a small footprint next to my chair and next to my couch. I read my Kindle Scribe, use my IPad Pro, and occasionally I will put my phone in it . It is just right and the build is solid. I thought it would be lighter and easy to tip over, but the base keeps it standing up wherever I want to use it. Excellent job!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in two styles). 19. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in Black Honey you're definitely going to want to stock up on *now*, before TikTokers go feral again (guilty as charged). This cult-classic, lightweight, slightly glossy shade is beyond "holy grail" status — it matches skin tones so beautifully that I'm personally starting to suspect witchcraft, after seeing so many TikToks of it subtly transforming entire beauty looks with just a few swipes. I was very adamant about not buying this for the longest time because I am stubborn about "expensive" beauty products, but this is worth every penny and then some . It's so lightweight and layerable, it's foolproof to apply, and I have yet to wear a single outfit it doesn't complement??? I love watching it instantly elevate a casual look or add simple elegance to dressy ones. I wear it every day now, and after weeks of use, I've barely made a dent . Also, and maybe this is just me, but I tend to get pigment on my teeth with a lot of lip products, and I've simply never had an issue with this magic stick. Anyway, watch this TikTok of someone using it on their lips AND cheeks , because I did and oops, this lipstick FELL into my cart. Get it from Amazon for $25 (also available in pink honey !). 20. A revolving spice rack complete with 20 matching jars already labeled and filled with spices — truly an item so functional that you'd bring a small tear to Ina Garten's eye. Extreme bonus: this product comes with a code to get free refills on the spices for FIVE CALENDAR YEARS. This includes whole allspice, mustard seed, marjoram, black pepper, basil, garlic salt, coriander, caraway seed, dill weed, Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, thyme, rosemary, savory, oregano, parsley, bay leaves, crushed mint, celery salt, and pizza seasonings. That's a whole lot of spiced deliciousness for one price. Promising review: "Do I feel like a chef!?! I have never owned a spice rack before. I totally forgot that this one came with the spices included, as well as, a code for refills (you just pay shipping). I love this sleek chrome design. It looks great on my counter." — Heather Get it from Wayfair for $40.38 (originally $60). 21. A Baccarat Rouge 540-inspired moisturizing body wash infused with white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers swear by for a cheap alternative to keep that delectably luxe scent on them all day long. Nothing wrong with smelling a lil' ~~expensive~~! I bought this after being peer-pressured by all the lovely reviews and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype. The scent is lovely — it has depth with a hint of floral, but it's light and not at all overpowering . My favorite thing about it is how easily it pairs other scents, because I am a body mist gremlin who swaps out her scents every day. The lather is also deeply satisfying and I feel quite refreshed and squeaky clean without ever feeling dry. Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day , ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." — Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 22. A pair of fleece-lined joggers that will feel like slipping on clouds that happen to be customized to your human form. Promising review : "These pants are warm and comfortable. I have been wearing these for over a year now and they are wonderful. They wash and dry well, and I have experienced no pills or shrinkage. They also have a functional back pocket as well as side pockets. I have these in three colors and I will purchase again. " — Spotted Mermaid Get it from Amazon $31.97+ (clip the 18% off coupon on the product page to get this price; available in women's sizes XS–XXL and in 10 colors). 23. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer , an oil-free moisturizer formulated with ceramide and niacinamide, so it might actually replace more than one step in your skincare. This lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer is formulated to strengthen the skin barrier to lock in hydration not just after you put it on, but in the longterm, too. Reviewers are especially obsessed with how well it works as a makeup primer! I have had on and off dry patches on my face for *checks watch* my whole life, which I just accepted as a consequence of being a human in their thirties who spends a lot of time outdoors in cold weather. It took like two seconds for my (SPECTACULAR) dermatologist to assess the situation and recommend this. The dry patches around my mouth and eyes were gone within two days of using this. It absorbs so quickly into the skin that I was almost scared it wasn't doing anything, but the long-term results are undeniable. My skin is softer, and I was able to cut out the expensive niacinamide and exfoliant I was using, making this one of the most cost-effective skincare moves of my life. I am so grateful my dermatologist recommended this to me, and I only wish I'd gone to see her about it much sooner! Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available with SPF and in multiple sizes). 24. A 52-week tear-off meal planning pad with space to plan all your meals in advance, plus a weekly shopping list you can grab and take to the store with you. Check out a TikTok of the weekly meal planning pad in action. Sweetzer and Orange is a small business specializing in planners, stationery, and educational products. Promising review: "The magnet is great, sticks to fridge very well, does not slide or move. Perfect for planning meals and adding needed grocery items to the right side. Then you just tear off the right side and head to the store. This has made our family meal planning so much easier!" — SandyBeach Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two styles). 25. A set of assorted week-long K-beauty sheet masks to help you unwind at the end of a long day *and* help you reset your skin with a seven-day hydration regimen — each pack is a cycle of collagen, milk, honey, aqua, aloe, pearl, and charcoal masks to help strategically brighten, clarify, and strengthen your skin barrier in a week. Promising review: "Best luxurious face masks. Need a facial without paying the facial price? Buy these. You may need to still some normal skincare routine, but these do not miss! I have purchased over and over again!" — AmazonQueen23 Get a pack of eight (it comes with a bonus mask!) from Amazon for $25.99 (available in 14 other sets). 26. A deep exfoliating shower back scrubber so soothing and effective that it won't be long before all your friends are like, "Wow, remember when they talked about something other than how squeaky clean their back feels?" A lot of reviewers with dry skin and keratosis pilaris swear by this for relief! Dermasuri is a small business that specializes in skincare and personal care products. Check out a TikTok of the back scrubber in action. Promising review: "I used this back scrubber the day after it arrived, and I love it. Finally, I have an easy-to-use and more effective way to scrub my back. I saw the dead skin fall to the shower floor. Wow! And it easily rinsed cleaned, too." — Naomi M. Get it from Amazon for $18.79 . 27. A Larq , a self-cleaning water bottle designed with UV-C LED tech that not only purifies water in 60 seconds, but cleans the inner surfaces of the bottle — which it can do up to a full month on a single charge. Reviewers swear by this for making their water taste better, and for keeping water icy cold for hours! Larq is a small business that specializes in water purification products. Promising review: "We fill large bottles up every day and keep them cold in the fridge. The quality is outstanding. We love them. We had very bad tasting water and this made it taste great. It doesn't smell and it is easy to hold. The smaller one is good for travel. These also saved a lot of money because we didn't have to buy bottled water." — Mary Ann Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in six colors and two sizes). 28. The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook , which is basically a life hack for taking the most delicious food on earth and making it even better? Good luck trying to stay humble with that kind of culinary power in your hands. Check out a TikTok of the Trader Joe's cookbook in action. Promising review : "For Trader Joe's lovers everywhere, this is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with hints and tips, shopping guidelines, nicely organized recipe categories, and beautiful mouthwatering pictures. I love how the recipes note if they are gluten-free or vegetarian, etc. I ❤ Trader Joe's and I ❤ this cookbook!" — Love My Bookish Life Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 29. A memory foam cushion designed to relieve pressure on your back, butt, and tailbone so you don't have to suffer through long work days and commutes. Now you'll just have to convince yourself to actually get *off* of this cushion to get on with your day. Comfilife is a small business that specializes in comfort-based personal care products. Promising review: "Life-changing on a long trip! My partner wanted us to drive from Colorado to California. I wanted to fly because I had a fall, and half of my body was in pain. He talked me into it, so I purchased this pillow for the car ride. What a game-changer! It helped so much with the pain, and I would recommend it for anyone in the car !" — Nadia Get it from Amazon for $37.45+ (available in three colors). 30. A sleek one-button electric wine bottle opener because TBH, nobody has time to lament a cork getting stuck in their bottle and google a bunch of hacks to fix it anymore. This rechargeable beauty will safely pop it open without any of the hassle. Promising review: "I have had this wine bottle opener for over two years and I'm so happy with this purchase. I love the aesthetic and that I can leave on the counter. When you receive the product, you just have to plug it in to charge and then it’s ready to use. It’s convenient to have the foil cutter. It’s also still sharp after two years. In just a few seconds the bottle is opened and I’m ready to enjoy a glass of wine!" — Rebecca Anne Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in six styles). 31. A jewelry-cleaning stick with cleansing solution on a brush designed specifically to get in the nooks and crannies of your jewelry, so you can dig out all the grime that's accumulated over the years on the cheap instead of taking it to the jeweler. Promising review: "I absolutely love this product. I saw it on TikTok and figured I would give it a try. My grandmother passed away almost eight years ago, and she left me her first engagement ring in her will. I have tried so many jewelry cleaners, toothpaste and toothbrush, you name it, tried everything except for sending it away to get cleaned. I ordered the Diamond Dazzle Stik on Thursday and it arrived the following Saturday, fast shipping! Today is Sunday and I cleaned my ring with the Diamond Dazzle Stik. My ring is just as shiny as it was when my grandfather bought it for my grandmother many many years ago . I will definitely use this Diamond Dazzle Stik on all my jewelry. Highly recommended!" — Heather Get it from Amazon for $9.48 . 32. A mini weighted blanket perfect for people who want a quick dose of calm and relaxation, but don't want to overheat or commit to the whole heavy shebang of a full-size weighted blanket. This one's the perfect size to easily drape over yourself on the couch. Read more about how to choose a weight and what these blankets help with and how from Cleveland Clinic . Promising review: "I love weighted blankets, but I always get way too hot with them. This is perfect because I can cover up the half of my body that I want the weighted feeling on while the rest do my body gets to stay cool. It is perfect for me." — Patricia Newt Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three weights and five colors). 33. A copy of Burn After Writing , a guided journal tens of thousands of reviewers swear by — through a series of questions and thought experiments, it encourages people to take time away from their screens to explore their feelings, both new and old, so they can embrace meaningful ones and try to let others go. Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable for different things in your life. I love what it stands for, and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self-love, self-care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow are always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things differently. " — Brent Helm Get it from Amazon for $7.70 . 34. And a " Grievance Journal ," or rather a "burn book for the discerning misanthrope" — a darkly funny, satisfying, and cathartic journal with 52 prompts so you can purge yourself of the ~~darkness~~ of your daily irritations and inconveniences without alarming all your friends and neighbors. (Well, any more than you already do 😈.) Promising review : "Bought this intending to gift it to a friend but ended up getting really into the prompts and decided to keep it for myself. WOW, what an awesome way to vent and articulate the negativity you're feeling by actually forcing yourself to form coherent thoughts around your emotions. Cheaper and more effective than therapy, buying several more for friends and fam. " — Alex Get it from Amazon for $27.99 . 35. An oversize, lightweight knit button-up cardigan with a vibe reviewers compare to the beloved Jenni Kayne "Cocoon" cardigan. This is just *begging* to be layered with all your coziest looks, and it this price point, it might be an investment to grab a few colors to have on hand 👀 . Promising review: "The sweater is extremely comfortable and high quality, and the color selections were awesome. I chose the cognac color which is kind of a taupe-ish brownish color. Bought it to match some khaki boots, and the match was terrific. The pockets are nice. The sweater is roomy. The sleeves are a good length. The thickness is perfect for warmth without being overly bulky. I really like this sweater and will order more colors." — Alana Mohacsi Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in women's sizes XS–XL and 30 styles). 36. A bar soap bag , which is the ultimate hack not just to exfoliate your skin with your favorite bar soaps, but to *really* get your money's worth out of them — these produce much richer lather so a little goes a loooong way, and you won't have to replace your bars as often. Promising review: "I've only been using these for four days but my skin is smoother! I like that I'm not using plastic bottles for my body soap. I am using the least exfoliating one for now. But once I'm totally used to it, I will move up to the other one. So far, I'm impressed. Lots of lather and my soap doesn't slip out of my hands anymore! " — Doris M. Get a set of two from Amazon for $11.99 ( NOTE : these are available in deep exfoliating, gentle exfoliating, and a pack of both!). 37. A set of quick-drying Swedish reusable dish towels that save the environment *and* a whole lot of your time and money. Each of these lil' bubs is durable enough to replace 15 paper towel rolls, and the ultra-absorbent cellulose makes it so much easier to scrub up grime. Eparé is a small business that specializes in kitchen and cleaning products for home use. Promising review : "Have been using these for a year now and absolutely pleased with replacing these for using paper towels. They are absorbent and easy to clean with dish soap and water, then hung to dry. I throw ones that have had several uses into the dishwasher at the end of the week. They hold their shape and absorbency, and while a duller pattern, does well for a couple of months each." — Ben McDonald Get a set of four from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four styles and in eight-packs). 38. A leaf-shaped herb and kale stripper you can use for easy meal prepping when "all things delicious and green" are on the menu. It even features a curved edge for easy herb chopping. Promising review: "This is one of those random kitchen gadgets that you would never even think about existing, but it's brilliant! We grew kale in our garden, and I was spending way too much time cutting the leaves off the stems, then I stumbled across this tool being suggested on a blog. I immediately ordered one and was very impressed! It saves me so much time stripping those leaves. I also use it for rosemary, oregano, and other herbs ." — Elaine S. Get it from Amazon for $8.45 . 39. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book , which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review : "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through ." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29 . (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 40. A cleverly designed 3-in-1 gap cleaning brush that anyone with an emotional support water bottle (or 10) needs immediately. This gets all the trapped gunk in your water bottle's lid and other crevices out super fast and effectively, so you can sip your bevvies without a side of "ick." Promising review : "I have a number of Yeti and other lidded mugs, cups, and glasses I use at the office and clean out in the communal break room sink . I could see a buildup that I just couldn’t get to in the lids, and it was grossing me out! This little tool does the trick! It gets in between the rubber ridges in the rings, all around the lip of the cups and lids, and cleans everything from milk residue to lipstick smudges. I have been using it five days a week for several weeks now, and no signs of wear on the tool. Cleans up great, dries well, does the job." — Alfie Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in six colors and multipacks). 41. A Mason jar-inspired cold brew coffee maker to save you (*crunches numbers*) one bajillion dollars at coffee shops, and a whole lot of time to boot. All you have to do is put your favorite coffee grounds in this pitcher and let them steep overnight. Be the cool, aloof barista with amazing cold brew on tap you want to see in the world! Promising review : "Smooth coffee. This is the best way to have coffee without the acid and still have the caffeine. Easy to use and so much cheaper than buying cold brew coffee. I have bought several over the years for friends. I’ve owned mine now for four years and still love it." — Terry Get it from Amazon for $19.49+ (available in 16 colors, two sizes, and three styles). 42. A wineglass-washing dishwasher attachment that keeps your glassware nice and secure so you can continue to have your "pretending I'm Olivia Pope while holding a glass of wine and yelling at the president" Friday nights with your favorite glasses safe and squeaky clean. Wine Wash Co. is a woman-owned small business that specializes in dishwasher attachments. Promising review: "I had a hard time finding wineglass holders for my dishwasher . My previous dishwasher had built-in holders, but my current dishwasher does not . I got tired of having wineglasses break during dishwashing cycles. These holders are sturdy and fit the bill for standard glasses. They can fold up when not in use. I would not use them for expensive Waterford crystal wineglasses, but they are perfect for everyday glasses. A must-have for wine drinkers! " — Alicia Get a set of four from Amazon for $15 . 43. A compressible memory foam pillow so you can feel like you're sleeping on a cloud in a 5-star resort even when you've booked a motel with a "pillow" that's older than you are. This even comes in a small camping version to keep the wilderness cozy! Suck it, cold hard ground. Promising review : "I bought this pillow for a very long airplane ride and wound up using it during the entire three-week trip. Seriously, it goes in and out of the little cover easily, and it made a real difference in my ability to rest on the trip. My husband is getting one now for our next trip. Get it! You won’t be disappointed." — Hattybrd Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in a camping size as well as Standard, Queen, and King sizes). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
How tech used by WWI flying aces inspired new cellular behavior discovery
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end. There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 1⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift's expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. “Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.” Bohne, who has earned the title among the Swiftie community as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar. Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.” “Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.” Swift herself appeared to struggle that the end was near while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour's impending end. Swift kicked off the Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona, the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada. By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Throughout the tour, Swift was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year . Apple Music named her its artist of the year and Spotify revealed she was 2023’s most streamed artist globally . She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when she began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book. And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now ” and 2014's record “1989,” as well as released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” “I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless." Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”? “I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular Swift-focused Instagram account @headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.” Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later died of heat exhaustion. In July, British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London. And in August, all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city. Tens of thousands of Swifties from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift's connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations, many fans flocked to the streets to sing Swift's songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree. Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new. “I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”Gophers QB Max Brosmer commits to play in bowl game
