My Recent Work

Features: Fashion/Lifestyle/Entertainment

Can we please stop talking about men all the time?

Now, perhaps this is because I just went through a breakup six months ago, and any sight of testosterone makes me want to hurl my guts out. Nevertheless, I have tried to avoid anything remotely concerning dating, relationships, and men (gag) as soon as I was on my own. Thus, I embraced the single life by spending copious amounts of time (and slurping down an ungodly amount of espresso martinis) with my friends. I also partook in all the girly activities (because feminism is the sole breakup anti...

The Rise of the Coach Brooklyn Bag

At the start of autumn, I expect my social media feeds to be filled with Gilmore Girls watch parties, someone trying the latest Starbucks drinks, and where to find the best lightweight sweaters. But I wouldn’t expect one single handbag to take over my entire TikTok For You Page.Remember in “Schitt’s Creek,” when Moira (played by Catherine O’Hara) is devastated because David stole her beloved brown crocodile bag? She is screaming in agony, not because her son took off, but because she no longer h...

Q&A: Meet Abbey Sadleir, an influencer reinventing the London's ‘It-Girl’

LONDON — Every Tuesday, with hot-pink rollers in her honey blond hair and a black “mob wife” fur coat around her shoulders, Abbey Sadleir records a few new TikTok videos about her home in central London. During the other days of the week, when she hits up restaurants and vintage stores, she gets her tally up to two dozen. Although the 28-year-old grew up in New Zealand, she has lived in the U.K. for nearly two years – where she became a 20-something’s “expert” source for where to eat, drink and

Flowers or tomatoes? Theatergoers share mixed reviews of ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ and ‘Dear Octopus’ revivals

By Medill Explores: Arts and Culture in London students

Medill Reports

Two reimagined classic shows — one on the West End and another at the Royal National Theatre — earn stars from some Medill master’s students who recently traveled to London. But even the curtain calls come with caveats.

Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” Britney Spears’ “Toxic” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” sound like they belong on a playlist for a mediocre karaoke bar — not the score for a West End show. With sequined corse

To read or not to read: British books to binge before your London holiday

By Medill Explores: Arts and Culture in London students

Medill Reports

Why not grab a cup of tea and curl up with an England- or royals-themed novel, guide or exposé? Medill master’s students turned hundreds of pages to immerse themselves in U.K. culture before heading across the pond.

“The Diana Chronicles,” British journalist Tina Brown’s 2007 biography of “the people’s princess,” thoroughly covers both famous and intimate moments from a highly scrutinized life and death. The former editor

Andersonville Typewriter Poets Take To The Street To Personalize Prose

She approached the table and discovered two poets – Edgewater resident Lisa Marie Farver, 42, and her literary partner, 33-year-old Uptown resident who goes by the single name Coelti – writing custom poems for people on the corner of Clark Street and Berwyn Avenue. The rules were simple: Smith provided a prompt and in the span of a few minutes, a poem appeared, written by Coelti, who then read it aloud.

The poem was about her and her partner, Warren, who would soon become her fiancé. It was tit

Newport Beach Teen Spreads Laughter Through Community Service Project

By Megan Forrester | Special to the NB Indy

Back in the first grade, Newport Beach resident Emma LeSieur told her very first joke. “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get more diapers,” LeSieur said.

Sure, it might not have been as sophisticated as most jokes, but to LeSieur at the time, it was pure comedy gold. She recalls even receiving a few chuckles from her parents, even though she now recounts them as pity laughs.

All these years later, now about to start her senior year at Newport

Newport Beach Elected Officials Face Off in Mac and Cheese Eating Contest to Support Make-A-Wish Foundation

By Megan Forrester | Special to the NB Indy

Growing up, one of Anaheim Hills resident Zach Mauldin’s fondest memories was riding his bike from his home to the landmark Newport Beach restaurant Cappy’s Cafe. The combination of being with friends and indulging in Cappy’s famous fluffy pancakes made the restaurant a beloved part of his childhood.

Now, years later, Mauldin has returned to Cappy’s for a different reason. Instead of a plate of pancakes, Mauldin supervised 10 servings of mac and chee

Newport Beach Resident Donates $25K in Gift Cards to Newport Beach Police Department - Newport Beach News

By Megan Forrester | Special to the NB Indy
When Newport Beach resident Dotty McDonald first started volunteering at the Newport Beach Police Department back in 2015, she realized two important things: each member of the department cares significantly for the community and every cop loves a good slice of pizza.
So, after hearing everyone at the station praise Sgt. Pepperoni’s pizza (a longtime Newport Beach favorite), and McDonald notably remembering one officer loving a ham and pineapple pie, s...

Chapman alumna designs ‘real, honest clothing’ in online storefront — The Panther Newspaper

"She would be like, 'Yes, after this we are going to Limited Too,'" Hancock O'Neill said. "We finished and she was like, 'Oh, we spent all the money, we can't go to Limited Too.' And every year I was like, 'Okay maybe next year.' I literally never got to go to Limited Too. But, I still wear a lot of the lux styles that I grew up wearing."

With her mom's sense of style as an inspiration, Hancock O'Neill strived to create clothing that any simple dresser could attain at an affordable price. Her s

Chapman's next top model balances catwalks with college life — The Panther Newspaper

"I was walking into one of my finals, and I got a call from my agent in Arizona and he was like, 'Check your email, Wilhelmina wants to sign you,'" Jaclyn Reid said. "I was like, 'What? What are you talking about?' I was so happy and I couldn't even focus on my final.”

Since becoming a part of Wilhelmina, Jaclyn Reid has been offered around 10 modeling jobs this past school year, including a Bulgari jewelry show in San Diego and an Oscar de la Renta show in Indian Wells. Recently, on April 20,

Chapman professor gains national recognition over challenge proposed to his social media marketing course — The Panther Newspaper

In order to affirm the power of social media, Prince created the TikTok challenge, which Bastardo achieved through her viral video of her and her friend sitting in Prince's classroom. The story has gathered the attention of people across the country, with Bastardo and Prince featured in The New York Times, CBS Los Angeles, KNX News Radio and more.

"The point I was trying to make through the challenge was that anyone has the potential of going viral and having influence," Prince said. "Everyone

Love, and a little Harry Styles, emphasized in Chapman student's business — The Panther Newspaper

With that, her online business Lovers in Lace skyrocketed.

"Someone wants to spend money on something that I created, that's crazy!" Leong said. "This person works $15 an hour and they're going to spend $100 on an order? The people that support Lovers in Lace are very loyal."

Lovers in Lace is an online storefront that strives to "spread love and kindness throughout the world." Leong started out with just an Etsy shop in 2018 and now the store has its own website with over 1,000 orders on an a

Chapman student wins $20,000 on 'The Price is Right' — The Panther Newspaper

McGarry said she has always been fond of games involving strategy, not any revolving around pure luck. So when Carey announced they would be playing "Time is Money," McGarry was thrilled. The game is simple: the player has 10 seconds to place five grocery items into three different price categories. With all her practice leading up to this moment, McGarry successfully matched each item, meaning she would go home with $20,000 in her pocket.

"I didn't even know how to react (when I won)," McGarry

Chapman can't help falling in love with Austin Butler — The Panther Newspaper

Along with discussing the trajectory of his career, Butler joined an audience of Chapman students on March 1 for a Master Class to disclose his dedication to the craft, his career shifts from Nickelodeon to theater and the recognition he has received from his portrayal of the music icon.

The Master Class, which was held in the Folino Theater, was moderated by Executive Editor of Awards at The Hollywood Reporter and trustee professor Scott Feinberg and was preceded by a screening of "Elvis," whi

Meet Toby: the unofficial mascot of Dodge College —

That soulfulness has been with Toby from the very beginning — with Galloway noticing that characteristic the moment he scooped him up at an animal shelter in San Fernando Valley five years ago.

Toby, who spent the first year and a half of his life in Mexico, was separated from his family due to a devastating earthquake, which led to animal nonprofits taking stray animals to Los Angeles to find a home. As far as the name Toby, that was not up to par for Galloway, who sought to connect his dog to

Sage Hill School in Newport Beach Impacts the Community One Hand at a Time

By Megan Forrester | Special to the NB Indy

Two years ago, junior high school student Serena Chao saw a young girl receive a prosthetic hand for the very first time. When she saw the little girl beaming from ear-to-ear in excitement, Chao knew she wanted to be a part of whatever was helping this child’s dreams come true.

Chao found out the prosthetics were made possible through an elective at her school, Sage Hill School in Newport Beach. The class, titled 3D Design, Modeling and Fabrication,

Singer-songwriter ella jane mixes media consumption and personal stories into heartfelt anthems —

Although it started as a high school English assignment, one of the first singles by singer Ella Jane Roth — who goes by the stage name ella jane — amassed over 26 million streams on Spotify since its release in 2020.

The song, titled "nothing else i could do,” is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and pulls one of Jay Gatsby's lines: "I wrecked my house a hundred times just to see you walk into a room." A memorable theme throughout the 1925 novel is the imagery of the green ligh

Two bi-coastal friends develop sustainable fashion brand —

Despite becoming "pandemic friends" while they were both in New York, each socially distanced outdoor dining session revealed how much common they truly have. Thus, during the height of the COVID-19 quarantine, the duo told The Panther they knew they wanted to start a project together — but the question was what kind of endeavor would they pursue?

"It was a podcast at first, then it was a magazine and then it was a blog,” Chan said, “Nothing really worked out. We've always done these very weird

Comedy Spotlight: Meet Sarah Tollemache

Comedian Sarah Tollemache suffers from stress induced by buying avocados. When she bought five on sale, she realized that there is only a quick window of time where they are ripe enough to be eaten in their perfectly green color.

“‘I’ll just call into work and be like ‘I don’t know if I’m going to make it to work today I think my avocados might be hatching at any second,” Tollemache said during her stand-up at New York Comedy Club. “Or you’re just running home to scarf three in a row over your

Unique Local Father-Son Duo Emphasizes Love and Acceptance No Matter the Curveballs

By Megan Forrester | Special to the NB Indy

Sports can have an extremely positive impact on a father-son relationship. Whether it’s learning how to ride a bike, throw a baseball or swim a lap, the practice of sports creates a bond between any two people.

For Newport Beach resident Paul Miller, he said he dreamed of teaching his son to play hockey. Since Paul grew up playing the sport in his home state of Minnesota and was even drafted for the North Stars in 1982, his passion for hockey was som

Content creator Eli Rallo empowers women to share their voice — The Panther Newspaper

Back in 2020, life for Eli Rallo was solely about the aesthetic of Chex Mix.

Even though she was a recent graduate of the University of Michigan and about to begin a master’s program in journalism at Columbia University, the peace in her life was putting together a jar of snacks with her brother during quarantine.

Despite the chaos of a worldwide pandemic, Rallo grabbed a large jar — which she would fill with a variety of gluten-free snacks to help with her celiac disease — and propped her pho

Food Stories

Alton Brown's Egg Carton Hack Makes Storing Condiments Hassle-Free - Food Republic

If you're like us, you probably have a ton of condiments in your fridge. Whether it's ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, or packets of sauce from your favorite fast food establishment, these all can take up significant real estate in your refrigerator, especially if they're nearly empty. Leave it to celebrity television personality Alton Brown to give us the secret to storing condiments and getting the most out of them: an egg carton. 
In a highly dramatized video clip on YouTube, after Brown searche...

Ice Cubes Are All You Need For Creamier Homemade Dips - Food Republic

In the hit television series, "Only Murders in the Building," Oliver Putnam (played by Martin Short) has an obsession with dips. He admits in an episode, "This is all I eat" (per MovieWeb). If you can relate to Oliver and are a fellow dip enthusiast, you are probably always on the hunt for the perfect recipe. Here's one big tip: For the creamiest dip you have ever tasted, add some ice cubes.
When you are just about finished combining your dip ingredients, toss in a couple of ice cubes, and blend...

Never Break One Utensil Rule When Dining At A Restaurant - Food Republic

Some of the most important dining etiquette tips include starting with the smallest fork or utensil and working your way inward toward your plate, not placing your elbows on the table, and chewing with your mouth closed. You should also put your phone away at the dinner table, keep your napkin on your lap during the meal (and only use it for light dabbing on your face), and always keep the salt and pepper shakers together. However, there are some other, slightly more obscure rules you should als...

The Right Way To Break Graham Crackers For An Even Split Every Time - Food Republic

Picture this: You just opened a fresh sleeve of graham crackers and are ready to whip up the gooiest s'more your taste buds have ever experienced. But, when you attempt to break the cracker in half, it splits in an uneven matter or separates into a million little crumbly pieces. Why even have designated lines on the snack when they don't even help? Well, we have actually been doing it wrong the whole time. 
Instead of looking at the front of the cracker (with the holes and two perpendicular line...

The Best Shortcut For Tasty Soups Is Already Sitting In Your Fridge - Food Republic

When the temperatures start to drop and you break out your favorite turtleneck sweater, it's the perfect time to whip up your favorite comforting soup recipe. Whether it's split pea or classic chicken noodle, adding pickle brine to your broth is the secret to creating the most delectable soup you've ever tasted.
You might be thinking, "Pickle juice? With soup? What?" But surprisingly, just a small splash of this brine will liven up the dish, bringing to life a saltier, tangier flavor profile. Th...

The Fascinating Story Of How Taco Bell Flopped In Mexico - Food Republic

Tacos, quesadillas, nachos — all of these dishes bring to mind Mexican cuisine. So, one might assume a dining establishment that offers these items, like Taco Bell, would thrive in Mexico. Yet, even though the chain has tried two times, ultimately it failed at becoming a staple in the country. 
Taco Bell began its efforts in 1992, when it introduced a food cart in Mexico City where customers could purchase soft-shell tacos, burritos, and Pepsi. The chain opened several other locations in Mexico,...

With One Extra Step, You Can Make Slicing Pizza A Breeze - Food Republic

Picture this: You just pulled a piping hot pepperoni or margherita pizza out of the oven and are drooling as you prepare to cut the perfect slice for dinner. But as soon as your pizza cutter graces the pie, the ingredients slide all over the place — utterly ruining your culinary masterpiece. But luckily, there is a hack to preventing pizza mayhem. The solution? Rearrange your toppings before cooking to ensure each slice looks as delectable as it tastes. 
Before you pop a frozen pizza into the ov...

The Appliance That Transforms Canned Biscuits Into A Crispy Treat - Food Republic

When you return home from a long day at the office, there is nothing more satisfying than the "pop" sound that comes from opening a can of biscuits. That simple noise means you are minutes away from a delectable carb, the perfect accompaniment to any meal. But, instead of baking them in the oven, have you ever thought about cooking them in the air fryer?
Rather than waiting for the oven to pre-heat, line your air fryer with parchment paper (eliminating any clean-up time) and place your favorite...

How Often Do You Need To Replace Sheet Pans? - Food Republic

Think about everything you put your sheet pans through: roasting vegetables, baking chocolate chip cookies, broiling meat (the list goes on). They are an integral tool for daily cooking. But did you ever think about how long you can put these pans through the wringer before they need to be replaced? 
Well, it depends on how often you use them. If you're someone that lives in the kitchen and cooks with the pans more than three times a week, you are looking at a life expectancy of four to five yea...

Oil Vs Butter: What's The Best Choice For Making French Toast? - Food Republic

Back during the days of the Roman Empire, there was a recipe circling around called "pan dulcis." This is believed to be the earliest version of one of our favorite breakfast dishes, and many are often surprised by these unexpectedly ancient origins of French toast. Back in the fourth century, Romans gathered bread, drenched it in a milk and egg mixture, and fried it in oil or butter. Ever since, there has been a debate as to whether to cook your French toast in oil or butter — but why not both?...

The Intense Coffee Drink Ina Garten Calls Rocket Fuel — in A Good Way - Food Republic

In season one, episode two of the hit television series "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai Gilmore (played by Lauren Graham) rushes into her favorite diner and exclaims, "This is a coffee morning. This is a jumbo coffee morning, I need coffee in an IV." For those days when you feel the same — not only needing coffee, but something with enough caffeine to make you feel like the Energizer Bunny — you need to try the drink that's Ina Garten's go-to: a vanilla coffee shakerato. 
This cuppa joe, which Garten r...

Whatever Happened To Ben & Jerry's Fossil Fuel Ice Cream? - Food Republic

It can be heartbreaking when something you've grown fond of is removed from your life forever. For many, those pangs of sadness were felt in 2016 when Ben & Jerry's announced it would be discontinuing its beloved Fossil Fuel flavor. Sweet ice cream swirled with pieces of chocolate cookies, fudge dinosaurs, and even more moist fudge throughout — gone forever. But have you ever wondered why?
While the name referenced the prehistoric era of raptors and T-Rexes, the company feared it might suggest i...

Your Homemade Iced Coffee Is Yearning For A Fresh Strawberry Twist - Food Republic

In the modern age, java fans can choose from all kinds of creative embellishments for iced coffee, whether it be sweet cream cold foam, pumpkin spice, or sprinkles. But day after day, if your drink starts with just espresso or cold brew (and maybe a hint of milk or creamers), you can easily get bored by this beverage. To avoid repetitiveness, switch up the base of your drink and add strawberries to your next cup of joe. 
A strawberry latte is a fruity, juicy, sweet spin on this beloved refreshme...

Swap Out Salad Croutons With A Crunchy Snack Already In Your Pantry - Food Republic

The crunch and flavor of croutons can perk up any bag of lettuce and dressing, whether store-bought or homemade (and we have the secret to making the best croutons out there). But if you want to stray away from salad norms while still achieving the crispiness that croutons offer, try adding potato chips.
It might sound unconventional — a snack you can buy at a gas station mingling with fresh vegetables — but it's actually the perfect way to get the crunch you've been craving in your bowl. Simply...

Seriously, Try Adding Some Vanilla To Your Mashed Potatoes - Food Republic

Mashed potatoes: a reliable food that's always there for you when you need it. Just had your wisdom teeth removed and can only eat soft foods? Mashed potatoes. Looking for the perfect side dish for your steak dinner or holiday gathering? Mashed potatoes. The smooth texture and creamy flavor bring comfort to any meal, but there's an ingredient that can make your mashed potatoes even better: vanilla.
Everything you already love about mashed potatoes — the cottony softness, the buttery taste — is h...

How To Play Japan's Famous Ping Pong Pang Drinking Game - Food Republic

At a party, there is almost always someone who exclaims, "Anyone up for a drinking game?" People throw out their suggestions: Beer Pong, "Never Have I Ever," Truth or Drink. But most would rather casually sip their hard seltzers than play the same tired games they learned in college. So, if you've already played the trending drinking game in Korea, APT., and are looking for yet another form of entertainment that is less complicated than "True American" from the television series "New Girl," you...

The Instant Addition You Need For Extra Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies - Food Republic

Nothing is more disappointing than when you grab a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie, expecting it to have the fluffiest texture, but then it feels like a brick in your mouth. It's a cookie, not a potato chip! So, how can you achieve an impeccably chewy chocolate chip cookie? Well, the secret is vanilla pudding mix.
The next time you are preparing your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, simply pour in a box of vanilla pudding mix with your eggs, butter, and sugars, then continue with the r...

Organize Kitchen Drawers Like A Pro With An Easy Parchment Paper Trick - Food Republic

We all know this feeling: You are about to whip up a new recipe you have been dying to try, but you can't for the life of you find where you last saw the measuring cups. Without proper organization, your kitchen drawers might look like a tornado blew through them, with everything from spoons to mixing bowls out of place. Want to know the trick to create organized kitchen drawers in a flash? The answer offered in a video by Instagram user Payton Leihgeber (@paytonleihgeber) is parchment paper. 
W...

How Did French Silk Pie Become An American Staple? - Food Republic

In the United States, we can thank France for many culinary treasures — french fries, beef bourguignon, ratatouille, and crepes. But, on the flip side, the French silk pie is 100% an all-American creation. 
The pie was concocted back in 1951, when a woman from Kensington, Maryland named Betty Cooper participated in a Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. She decided to submit her French Silk Chocolate Pie, and won the competition. So, what was so unique about her treat? Well, instead of a pudding filling,...

Why McDonald's Ice Cream Machine Is Always Down - Food Republic

Swirls of vanilla decadence atop a crisp waffle cone makes McDonald's soft serve ice cream an enduring treat. The simple yet comforting flavors — and the convenience of purchasing this sweet treat in the drive-thru — makes it appear too good to be true. Unfortunately, that is often the case in a literal sense, since it can be near-impossible to order ice cream at your local McDonald's. Employees might claim almost every time that the ice cream machine is broken, which makes you wonder why this i...

Instead Of Plane Food, Here's What Giada De Laurentiis Gets At Starbucks Before A Flight - Food Republic

We all know this feeling: Racing through the airport, frantically trying to find your gate, when all of a sudden, you realize you forgot to eat something before you left your house. While the dining options at an airport are slim pickings, it can be tempting to grab a six-count of chicken nuggets from McDonald's or a bag of potato chips at a kiosk (or worse — rolling the dice to see what type of food will be served on the plane). Chef Giada De Laurentiis has another idea: Get oatmeal from Starbu...

Your Sweet Tea Is Good, But Vanilla Makes It Better - Food Republic

Taylor Swift may sing in her song "seven," "Sweet tea in the summer, cross your heart, won't tell no other," but whether it's a crisp summer day or a freezing winter evening, there's still always a time for a glass of ice-cold, sweet tea. Sweet tea originated in Summerville, South Carolina, and a big part of its beauty is that it's so foolproof — anyone from an advanced chef to a middle schooler could whip it up — it's just iced tea and sugar! But one secret ingredient will make your sweet tea e...

The History Of The Sandwich Goes All The Way Back To The 18th Century - Food Republic

Think about it: the sandwich has always been there for you when you need it. Whether it was a classic PB&J when you were a toddler or a sweet and savory Monte Cristo now, the possibilities are endless between two slices of bread. But, ever wonder the history of the sandwich?
As the story goes, the sandwich was created by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of — you guessed it — Sandwich, a small town in Kent, England. One day back in 1762, Montagu was in the midst of a card game, and — in order to not im...

The Subtle Difference Between Spaghetti And Spaghettini - Food Republic

In the song "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off," Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sing, "You like potato and I like potahto. You like tomato and I like tomahto. Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto, let's call the whole thing off." Spaghetti and spaghettini seem like they also belong in the song, because, well, they sound synonymous, and upon first glance, they appear to be twins.  
As it turns out, they are related but not identical — with a subtle difference between the two. The thickness of these...
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