Latest news with #TheSecretLivesofMormonWives
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
NYC's First 'Dirty Soda' Shop, Cool Sips, Reviewed
Dirty soda is having a moment thanks to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. If you haven't heard of this viral drink phenomenon, it involves combining fountain drinks with flavored syrups and creamers. The invention of dirty soda is largely credited to Swig, a dirty soda shop started in Saint George, Utah, in 2010. Since 2010, Swig has expanded to over 100 locations across 15 states. So while dirty soda has been part of Utah/Mormon culture for a while now, most people heard about it for the first time while watching the Hulu reality series. 'Utah is like the land of the Mormon bar, which are all the soda shops that we have. There's one on every corner,' Jessi Ngatikaura explained in episode five of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives when the cast members made a trip to Swig. 'It's kind of our vice,' MomToker Demi Engemann added. Needless to say, reactions have been mixed. Since the show's second season premiered this May, dirty soda is practically all the cast has been asked about. The members of MomTok recently reshared their go-to dirty soda orders with E! News, and cast members Taylor Frankie Paul and Whitney Levitt even made dirty soda on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Since the show's premiere, many have been eager to see what dirty soda is all about, including me. Many have posted themselves trying this viral soda craze, either by DIYing their drink, taking a trip to Swig, or getting one at another chain. While we don't have Swig in New York, we do have Cool Sips, New York's only dedicated dirty soda shop. The first Cool Sips location opened by Rockefeller Center in March 2024, six months before SLOMW premiered (talk about timing). Since then, they've opened two locations: one in the Seaport and one on the Upper East Side, whicvh just opened this April. Of course, I had to check it out. So on a sunny day in New York, I sauntered over to Cool Sips' Upper East Side location. Hey, you! Want to cook thousands of recipes in step-by-step mode from the comfort of your own phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. The shop was small, but not uncomfortably so, with three tables and a subtle surfer vibe. As I headed inside, some Youths™ were just leaving, which made me think how it's probably a great place for kids to go after school, much like how boba shops in New York have been. Cool Sips can actually be seen on a TODAY Show segment where Jessi and co-star Layla Taylor make dirty sodas live. Not all the ingredients they used were available on the Cool Sips menu, so I went for one SLOMW cast order and two of the store's other most popular drinks. I placed a pickup order on the app a few minutes before I got there, and they were ready when I arrived (score!). As I made my way to a table to try my drinks, I couldn't help but wonder, 'will MomTok survive this?!' Of course, I had to try MomTok Queen Taylor Frankie Paul's favorite dirty soda, which is Dr. Pepper, coconut, lime, and vanilla cream. This is also Jen Affleck's order, and similar to Jessi's. While I know some people freak out over the idea of creamer in their soda, since I've had things like egg creams and root beer floats, it wasn't outlandish to me. Cool Sips had a similar drink, one of their most popular orders called the 'Dirty Dirty.' All I had to do was substitute the half and half for vanilla cream to get the MomTok experience. I also opted for diet soda and sugar-free syrups. My friend who tagged along for the trip made a really good point that the Dirty Dirty looked exactly like an iced coffee — considering dirty soda is a substitute for coffee of sorts, could this be intentional? I thought I knew what this flavor was going to taste like. I was wrong. While I assumed the taste would be really dynamic, in reality, all the flavors blended together. I couldn't taste the lime or vanilla at all — I just got a creamy, vague soda taste. On to other Cool Sips favorites. I tried the Dewey, made with Starry Lemon-Lime, pineapple, and coconut. Like with the Dirty Dirty, I subbed sugar-free syrups. This was my favorite of the three flavors — it tasted like Fanta Piña Colada and was super-refreshing. I could imagine the soda being really satisfying on a hot day. The last flavor I tried was the Tybee, one of their 'Stuffed Sips.' This drink featured Orange Gatorade, strawberry, vanilla cream, and strawberry jellies. I once more went for sugar-free syrup and confirmed with the store that the jellies don't contain gelatin. Gelatin is typically made from pig collagen, so it can be an issue for vegetarians/vegans or for those who avoid pork for religious reasons. Technically not a soda, my first thought about this flavor is that you really have to like orange Gatorade to like this flavor. The Gatorade-ness of it all was strong — I would have preferred the drink with orange soda for the taste and carbonation. I also couldn't taste the cream. However, I did like the combination of orange and strawberry, which together almost tasted like grapefruit. And I loved the large, chewy, strawberry jellies. So, would I go back to NYC's dirty soda shop? Next time I need a spot to go to to catch up with a friend or have a meeting at, I'm definitely going to suggest Cool Sips. After all, coffee shops can get a little boring. While the sodas aren't cheap, they're not far off from New York café prices. l'd also love to try more flavors or even make my own custom one. I feel closer to MomTok now, all without ever leaving New York. Would you try dirty soda? Let us know what you think about the trend in the comments. And for hundreds of thirst-quenching drink recipes you can make in the comfort of your own home, download the free Tasty app to access our library of 7,500+ recipes — no subscription required.
Buzz Feed
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Stars Joke About Being On Dancing With The Stars
Earlier this month on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 reunion, it was announced that Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt will be joining the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars. Jen and Whitney are taking their #MomTok moves to the DWTS dance floor! Before you get your garments in a twist, don't fret, it's all in good fun: The good-natured joke was further confirmed in the comments: My fave part of the video is Conner — Whitney's husband — who just looks happy to be there: Jen and Whitney are joined by influencer Alix Earle and wildlife conservationist Robin Irwin on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars. The rest of the new season's cast has yet to be announced. Stream The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on Hulu.
Metro
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Sensational' sci-fi thriller now free to stream for the first time on ITVX
A selection of hit Disney Plus shows are now available for ITVX viewers to stream at no extra cost. In a 'first-of-its-kind' deal, the two streaming services are joining forces to share a curated and regularly refreshed selection of hit shows and movies across both platforms. This means that ITVX viewers will be introduced to a 'rotating rail' of Disney Plus content, titled 'Taste of Disney+', starting today, July 16. The selection over the coming months includes critically acclaimed and award-winning titles such as The Bear, Andor and Only Murders in the Building, as well as reality hits such as The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and The Kardashians. The Disney Plus titles available to stream will be regularly updated, but from today the following 12 titles will appear on ITVX under the title 'Taste of Disney+': Pam & Tommy The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Season 1) Guardians of the Galaxy Tracker (Season 1) Star Wars: Andor (Season 1) Death and Other Details The Ashley Madison Affair Futurama (Season 11) Desperate Housewives (Season 1) National Treasure: Edge of History Atlanta (Season 1) Phineas and Ferb (Season 1) Andor returned to Disney Plus for a second season earlier this year, earning an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score and hailed as the 'best TV series of 2025' by critics. The first season is now available to stream on ITVX for a limited time, and Metro's TV editor Sabrina Barr previously gave it five stars. 'For the past 12 episodes, Andor has gone above and beyond every single expectation, delivering not only one of the best productions in the franchise – filled with tension, clever calculation, political intrigue, fascinating subtext and sob-worthy moments – but also one of the best TV series of the year. Hands down. 'The season finale delivered a fitting end for what's been a truly sensational journey, one that will stay with us for a very long time.' Read Sabrina's full review of Andor Season 1. At the same time, Disney Plus customers in the UK will be able to stream some ITV content on the platform, under the banner 'Taste of ITVX', at no extra cost. This includes multi-award-winning drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, espionage thriller A Spy Among Friends, reality hit Love Island and popular crime dramas like Endeavour, Vera and Karen Pirie. The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two platforms, with ITV already the free-to-air home of Disney Plus' Renegade Nell and the producer of hit show Rivals. Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment at ITV said: 'For us, this deal means even more great content for viewers on ITVX, and even more opportunity for viewers to find and enjoy our distinctive titles and services.' The move is part of a wider trend of collaboration between streamers and international broadcasters, in what has become a crowded field with the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and the BBC's iPlayer to name a few. Just last month, Netflix announced an agreement that gives subscribers in France direct access to TF1 channels via the streamer. Speaking to Broadcast, Disney Plus EMEA general manager Karl Holmes explained the mutual benefits of the content swap with ITV. More Trending He said: 'ITVX skews relatively old, and our heartland is under-55s. One of the challenges we have is that our brands are strong, but if you're older you think that Disney's about family and kids. 'At the same time, we get some of the UK's biggest shows to put in front of our audiences – which are less exposed to traditional free-to-air content. That's great for engagement.' Homes added: 'We would expect Disney+ to grow and have more subscribers as a consequence. We would also expect ITVX to be more successful.' View More » ITVX is free to watch in the UK, while ITVX Premium is available for viewers to watch ad-free for £5.99 per month. Disney Plus subscriptions start at £4.99 per month with ads. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I'm a TV critic – I was so wrong about Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters MORE: ITV's new series where celebrities dive with sharks leaves viewers 'questioning their sanity' MORE: What is Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters? All you need to know about ITV's death-defying show
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What is 'soft swapping' and how is it different for LGBTQ+ couples? Sex experts explain
You've likely heard of polyamory, swinging, and ethical non-monogamy, but what about the term 'soft swapping'? The practice has been around for a long time within the swinging community, but it gained popularity when it was featured on the reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which showed Taylor Frankie Paul's TikTok video where she talked about her and her friends being into 'soft swinging,' also known as soft swapping. Paul's marriage eventually ended in divorce, but she managed to popularize the term, which she said in a TikTok live referred to swapping partners where 'you just hook up but you don't go all the way.' Soft swapping can either be a relationship model or a way to dip your toe into ethical non-monogamy on your way to swinging or polyamory. The 'soft' in soft swapping means that penetrative sex is off the table. But what does that mean for the queer community, where penetrative sex doesn't look the same as it does for straight couples? We talked to experts to break down what soft swapping is, whether or not it's common for LGBTQ+ couples, which sexual activities are on the table, and what the downside is. JLco Julia Amaral/Shutterstock In an open relationship, both partners are able to date and have sex with people outside of the committed relationship, but with soft swapping, partners become intimate with people within a friend group or swinging community, and sexual contact is limited. This is different from 'hard swapping' or 'full swapping' which refers to swinging where penetrative sexual activity is allowed. 'Soft swapping is a form of consensual or ethical non-monogamy (ENM) where a couple explores sexual play with other couples, or within a community of other couples. It's a lot like swinging but tends to have more boundaries set out about what is allowed and often will restrict partners from having penetrative sex outside the relationship,' Emma Hewitt, a certified sex educator with Adulttoymegastore and the host of the podcast the Electric Rodeo, tells PRIDE. 'Historically, swinging in general has been considered a very hetero activity. You know the stereotype. The husband puts his key in a bowl at the party and whichever wife pulls his keys is who goes off with him for a good time,' Hewitt explains. 'Whether this party practice was ever actually popular or just a good trope for a comedy sitcom is up in the air, but what we do know is that how society learnt about swinging was definitely through a heterosexual lens.' But statistics show that the LGBTQ+ community is more likely to participate in non-monogamous relationship models than their straight counterparts. According to a 2018 study on open relationships, 32% of gay participants, 5% of lesbian participants, and 22% of bisexual participants report being in open relationships, while only 2% of heterosexual participants say the same. 'LGBTQIA+ folks likely are as into soft swinging as straight folks, if not more, but we just haven't heard as much about it. How queer people define sex tends to be different to how straight people do. While sex is often defined as penetrative sex by straight people, the definition is much more diverse for queer folks so how they define swinging or soft swinging is likely different too,' Hewitt says. Mincemeat/Shutterstock The parameters are fairly clearly defined for straight folks looking to spice up their sex life with soft swapping: just stay away from PIV sex. But what activities aren't allowed when you're dating in Queerland? 'In straight swinging circles, a soft swap usually refers to any non-penetrative sexual play,' she explains. "So, it might involve kissing, touching and oral sex. But in queer circles, these boundaries may look different depending on what the swinging partners determine to be sex.' Sex and relationship therapist Aimee Evnin-Bingham advises discussing your desires for soft swapping openly with your partner and then deciding together what sexual boundaries you're both comfortable with. 'Couples should decide on what they feel comfortable when opening up their relationship. It may differ on what is 'allowed' depending on the relationship boundaries,' she says. This means deciding together how you define sex and what sex acts are permitted within the agreement you have with your partner, and which ones are not. This also may be a good time to discuss how you both define cheating so that you know how to stay within the bounds of your commitment to each other. Soft swapping can feel like a safe way to explore open relationships and have sexual experiences with new people without committing to swinging, polyamory, or other forms of ethical non-monogamy. According to Evnin-Bingham, since soft swapping is often done when both partners are in the same room, it can give someone feeling insecure a sense of control because they know what their partner is up to, while for others, it can spice up the bedroom. 'It may be exciting to see their partners soft swinging with other people. It can broaden your desire and you can learn more about what you like and what you don't like,' she reveals. Hewitt agrees and says that soft swapping can also be a way to explore kinks, fetishes, and fantasies 'that their partner may not be interested in' without completely opening up your relationship. Srdjan Randjelovic/Shutterstock Even if you are in a stable relationship, jealousy can rear its ugly head and spell the end of your relationship. And if you end up falling for someone you're soft swapping with, you put your whole relationship at risk. This is exactly what happened to Paul when she developed feelings for someone outside of her marriage who she was soft swapping with. 'Soft swinging shouldn't be considered a band-aid for a relationship that is already in trouble. If you have trust issues with one another, it's likely to put more strain and pressure on an already struggling relationship and can be a contributing factor to relationship dissolution,' Hewitt says. If you're the one interested in trying soft swapping, have a conversation with your partner and be open about why you want to open your relationship in this way and how you think the experience will benefit you both. It can also help your partner feel less insecure if you remind them that you want to explore this with them, and not just as a way to skirt around monogamy. Then, give them the time and space to consider your request and be ready to accept it if they won't want to give it a try. 'Give them time to process and do some research about soft swinging if they aren't sure what it means and don't hurry them into answering then and there. This isn't something that people should dive into on a whim,' Hewitt explains. 'If they aren't interested, respect that. It's ok to ask if it's a conversation you can return to in the future but don't nag or pressure them if it's something they don't want to do.' And if your partner is the one who brings soft swapping up to you, try to keep an open mind and allow yourself to really think about it before you give an answer. 'Remember that it needs to work for everyone involved. If you are doing it because your partner wants to, but you don't, or vice versa, you are likely setting yourself up to fail as resentment inevitably kicks in,' she says. If you're going to start soft swapping, it's important to make sure you are taking care of both your emotional and physical health. Like with most things in life, and sex, communication is key. Consider setting up regular check-ins to make sure you are both still happy, and be prepared to be open about how you're really feeling. Set up clear boundaries. Hewitt warns that setting up 'blanket rules' for soft swapping won't be enough, instead you and your partner need to be specific about which sex acts are allowed with other partners and which are off the table since the way you each define 'sex' and 'cheating' may be different. Then, be clear about your boundaries with potential soft swapping partners. Talk about the future. After play sessions, you and your partner should talk openly about whether your needs are being met or your boundaries are being pushed so that you can decide together if you want to continue soft swapping. Safe sex is paramount. You are your partner need to be on the same page about your comfort level around fluid bonding, contraceptive use, and STI risks before you start soft swapping. Get tested regularly, consider going on PrEP, and talk openly about these things with anyone you and your partner may swap with. Emma Hewitt, a certified sex educator with Adulttoymegastore and the host of the podcast the Electric Rodeo. Aimee Evnin-Bingham, a sex and relationship therapist. This article originally appeared on Pride: What is 'soft swapping' and how is it different for LGBTQ+ couples? Sex experts explain If your girlfriend wants an open relationship but you don't here's what to do, say experts 10 tips for a better long-distance relationship 15 clear signs it's time for your relationship to be over
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
The modern lives of wives
The choices facing married women in 2025 don't change the contradiction at the heart of a marriage, writes Eva Wiseman. What is the state of the wife? Not the state of your wife, necessarily, but of wifedom itself, the whole Harpic-scented project. We are living through a golden age of wife content. Of trad wives, of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. A Reddit thread for followers of Laura Doyle's The Surrendered Wife and the "empowered wife" coaching programme (short version: wives, relinquish control) sees women in turmoil. One user, announcing that she is leaving the community, encourages her fellow wives to combine Doyle's lessons with "some more modern twists like [TikTok-fuelled dating trend] black cat theory or ["feminine energy" YouTuber] Margarita Nazarenko". Wives are being pulled apart and put back together, in sometimes Picasso-like forms. It's a contradiction we see daily with our trad-wife influencers, who perform fertility and homemaking and submission for millions of followers, many of whom read it as provocation, thus increasing clicks and shovelling cash and power back into the trad wife's apron. Both trad wives' content and the critical content they inspire in feminist commenters drives tensions, particularly between women who work and wives who stay at home, ignoring the facts that the content creation the online trad wives do is a legitimate business, and that, rather than being two distinct sets of women, these are people whose lives frequently overlap and merge. The second season of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has been a ratings hit. A twist came when one wife went live to tell viewers that she and other wives had been "soft swinging" (swinging, allegedly, without sex), a confession that upset their particular balance of devout Mormonism and hot-wife content, but deliciously. Again, a wife here must be two things at once. She's both a committed wife and hot TikTok girlie, she's a business bitch and the world's best mum, she's devoted to God and devoted to clicks, a pile of contradictions stacked precariously on top of each other in the shape of a woman. A generation earlier, women fought successfully to be allowed to work, but the next round of that fight — for mothers to work, too — remains, if not quite unexamined then still, I'd argue, unwon. Of UK women in employment, 36% work part-time, compared with 14% of men, largely due to caregiving responsibilities at home. In this light, performative wifeliness looks like an escape hatch. Sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom told the magazine Mother Jones: "Women only get to be full citizens if they have control over when and how they have babies. When that changes, your citizenship becomes vulnerable, so you attach yourself to a citizen: men." The cultural obsession with the trad wife and its satellite archetypes will remain, she believes, "so long as there's a threat". Tighten your wedding rings girls, we're in for a ride. — The Observer
