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When 2 famous singers came out as gay — and 9 other great things that happened in 2014 country

Country music is sometimes criticized for not being very progressive. And with the rise of "bro country" in the past couple years, such criticisms are not entirely unfounded. But here's a list of some pretty awesome stuff that went down in the country music world in 2014.

1. Kacey Musgraves won two Grammys and bunch of other awards.

Background via Thinkstock. Quote from The Wall Street Journal.

Kacey Musgraves is amazing. She's a popular female country artist who — *GASP* — actually sings about things other than trucks, beer, and gettin' it on. Her 2013 album, "Same Trailer Different Park," features the song "Follow Your Arrow," which is based on not letting the haters get you down. It goes, "Make lots of noise, kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into." Besides, Musgraves has been writing hit songs for country artists for years — 'bout time she got some more recognition!

Just to tally it all up, in 2014, Musgraves won two Grammy Awards (for Best Country Song and Best Country Album), an Academy of Country Music Award (for Album of the Year), and a Country Music Association Award (for Song of the Year).

2. Maddie & Tae took the scene by storm with "Girl in a Country Song."

The teen duo consisting of Maddie Marlow and Tae Dye debuted their first hit single, "Girl in a Country Song," in mid-2014. The song is (a) VERY CATCHY, (b) so on point, and (c) really impressive for a debut single. And the video is hilarious as well, so check that out when you can.

My absolute favorite line is this: "We used to get a little respect. Now, we're lucky if we even get to climb up in your truck, keep my mouth shut, and ride along down some old dirt road we don't even want to be on, and be the girl in a country song." So good!

3. On Nov. 20, 2014, Ty Herndon came out as gay.

Ty Herndon may be best known for his 1996 hit "Living in a Moment." But he's back in the country scene making a splash with a recent announcement that he's gay — and in a happy, long-term relationship. He came out in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight.

Background via Thinkstock. Quote via Entertainment Tonight.

4. A few hours later, Billy Gilman came out as gay.

This just gets better and better! Just a few hours after the news about Ty Herndon, 26-year-old Billy Gilman (known for "One Voice," his first single at age 11, and more recently "Say You Will") posted a video to YouTube in which he let the world know he's gay.

And to make the story even BETTER, the great LeAnn Rimes took to Twitter in support of each star.

5. Brad Paisley made fun of the Westboro Baptist Church by taking a selfie with them outside of his concert.

OK, now this one is just hilarious. In June 2014, Brad Paisley spotted some angry picketers outside his concert in Kansas. Now, Paisley is famous for the 2005 song "Alcohol" and seems to post on Instagram about moonshine regularly. I can't tell you whether or not he drinks alcohol, or whether or not he's religious, but I can tell you that he took to Instagram to make fun of the picketers outside his summer concert.


Westboro Baptist Selfie!! Or west-Burro(ass) selfie. Hopefully they can hear the show out here. We'll play loud.
A photo posted by Brad Paisley (@bradpaisley) on

Did you see that witty caption? It says, "Westboro Baptist Selfie!! Or west-Burro(ass) selfie. Hopefully they can hear the show out here. We'll play loud."

6. Kira Isabella took a stand against rape culture with her song "Quarterback."

Image via Thinkstock. Lyrics from "Quarterback."

Kira Isabella is a Canadian country music artist (they exist!) who released her first single in 2011. Her most recent album, "Caffeine & Big Dreams," features the single "Quarterback." In the song, a young girl gets invited to a party by the quarterback of the football team. He gets her drunk, they have sex (her first time), and the next day she is horrified to find pictures of the incident posted all over the Internet. The lyrics leave the story intentionally unclear — What really happened that night? Who did or said what? — but when the whole town takes sides, no one takes the girl's, and no one believes that she was wronged in any way (which, let's just say it, is some serious bullsh*t 'cause that sh*t was definitely not consensual).

Image by Raymond Santos, used under a Creative Commons license. Quote from ThinkProgress.

The song "Quarterback" was written by Rivers Rutherford, Bobby Hamrick, and Marti Dodson. Fun fact: According to this article, the song was pitched to Carrie Underwood, but her team turned it down.

7. Steve Grand kept being Steve Grand.

Steve Grand is acclaimed by some as the first popular country musician to start a career already out of the closet. In March 2014, he ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund his first full-length album featuring the hit 2013 single "All-American Boy." The success of that fundraiser — as well as his 2014 singles "Back to California" and "Time" — prove that he's not leaving the country music scene any time soon.

Here's a clip from the video for "All-American Boy," which was super popular on the Internet when it came out in 2013.

I can't imagine why. It's not like he's adorable or anything. JEEZE.

8. Glen Campbell "sung out" about his battle with Alzheimer's.

In 2011, Glen Campbell (of "Rhinestone Cowboy" — you'd know it if you heard it) announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative disease for which there is no cure. In October 2014, Campbell released one final song to make us all cry (and so everyone would remember the music he's all about).

Image by Arnielee, used under a Creative Commons license. Lyrics from "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."

Be sure to catch the whole music video for "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."

9. Sheryl Crow sent out this plea on Twitter (and then defended it).

After listening to the radio for over an hour without hearing a single female voice, Sheryl Crow took to Twitter with a plea:

Later, in a radio interview, Crow stood by her initial tweet.

Original image via Thinkstock. Quote from interview with KNCI 105.1.

10. Kenny Chesney called out the genre for objectification of women.

In a recent interview with Billboard magazine, Kenny Chesney spoke out against the "bro country" we've all been hearing so much of.

Image by LawrenceFung, used under a Creative Commons license. Quote from Billboard.

He gets props for that, for sure, but let's not be too quick to fawn over him as The Savior of Objectified Damsels in Distress. In another interview he explains, "I am learning that when you write songs about women, the perfect place to start is their spirit." I don't really want Kenny Chesney writing anything about my spirit, so the whole thing feels a little "eyeroll-y" still, but we'll let him stick around on our list all the same.

11. Garth Brooks cancelled his appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show" after Darren Wilson was not indicted.

Image via Thinkstock


Post by Garth Brooks.

On Nov. 25, 2014, (the day after the announcement that Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Michael Brown, would not be indicted — a day of massive civil unrest in our country), Garth Brooks announced via his Facebook page that he had cancelled his Thanksgiving appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show." He said, "To spend the day promoting our stuff like nothing was wrong seemed distasteful to me." While that's really the only hint we've got as to what his reasoning was, I think it's safe to say this was a pretty bold and respectful move on his part.

So what do ya say? Is it finally time to admit to the world that country music has stolen your heart (and radio)? I'd say so.

And finally, there's no way I covered every awesome thing about the 2014 country music scene. Know of any big progressive moments that I missed? Get at me! I'd love to hear about 'em on Twitter, @meganhazel.


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5 ways people are going "all in" this week

From the silly to the sentimental, here are five ways people on the internet have been giving it their all.

5 ways people are going "all in" this week
5 ways people are going "all in" this week
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Going “all in” is its own kind of magic. Whether it’s a wildly energetic karaoke performance, a full-blown birthday bash for an elderly Chihuahua, or an over-the-top homecoming proposal (more on that in a moment), there’s something undeniably joyful about witnessing pure, unfiltered enthusiasm. Seeing that kind of passion and creativity, you can’t help but smile.

To celebrate that all-or-nothing spirit, we’ve rounded up some of the internet’s finest examples (at least for this week) of people fully committing to the bit. Prepare to be impressed, amazed, and maybe even a little inspired to go “all in” yourself.

1. This high school biology project

@jimcheo jordin sparks said it best #funny #funnyvideos ♬ No Air (feat. Chris Brown) - Jordin Sparks

Oh, to be in high school again. The days where you could be as silly as you wanted and still somehow get an A (for effort). This student-made video—a project for biology class, explaining the respiratory system—is the perfect example of a high school assignment, as well as a great example of someone truly going “all in.” Does this explain the respiratory system? Kind of! But is it full of creativity, passion, and genuine hilarity? Absolutely. The dedication it took to make this video alone—and the enthusiasm of the kids that made it—certainly deserves an A.

2. The Grandma Stand

One thing that’s great to go “all in” on is spreading cheer and joy—and that’s what our friends are doing this week with The Grandma Stand.

The premise is simple: You’ve got a grandma at a booth who gets people talking about the good stuff in their lives. Today’s question? What’s one small thing that brings you joy? The answers are sweet and thoughtful, and the result is a whole lot of goodwill (and hugs!) between total strangers. That’s always lovely to see.

Another thing we like to go “all in” on? Saving money. And right now our friends at All In are giving us a fantastic deal on some seriously tasty snacks. To get a free (!!!) box of their organic snack bars, sign up with your phone number on Aisle, grab two boxes of All In bars at Sprouts, snap a pic of your receipt, and text it through Aisle. They’ll Venmo or PayPal you back for the cost of one box, and then all you have left to do is enjoy your new favorite treat. Easy peasy.

3. This extremely specific HOCO proposal 

@dawson002256 best hoco proposal ever #fyp #hoco #viral #proposal ♬ original sound - .

Speaking of high school: Gone are the days where you can simply walk up to someone in the hallway and ask them to be your date to homecoming or prom. Kids these days are starting their own tradition—elaborate staged “proposals” in order to officially pop the question: Will you go to the dance with me?

Homecoming proposals are a perfect example of going “all in,” just by themselves—but this particular one is truly special. The creator shares that she loves sharks and is afraid of butterflies, so for a truly unique and heartfelt “proposal,” her potential date actually dresses up like a shark and stages a massive fight with his friends—all dressed in butterfly costumes—on her front lawn. The commitment, the creativity—it’s all here, on full display. (And she said yes, by the way!)

4. The Anthropologie rock prank 

@phoebeadams112

His full on crash out at the end HAHA

♬ original sound - Phoebe Adams

The internet has been obsessed with this viral prank, and it’s not hard to see why: Not only is it hilarious, the women who are doing the pranking are truly committing to the bit.

The prank started with one content creator, Phoebe Adams, who posted a TikTok of her unboxing a package in front of her boyfriend, Dan. Adams, bursting with excitement, pries open the box to reveal…a rock. But this isn’t any ordinary rock, she explains, gushing over how “perfect” it is. This particular rock is one-of-a-kind, from the bougie retail chain Anthropologie—and it only cost $150. It was on sale!

Dan, rightfully, is horrified and confused. But Adams keeps on torturing him: “This isn’t a regular rock! It’s a one-of-a-kind rock they found on the ground.” (“That’s where rocks COME FROM!” --Dan)

The best part is that this prank quickly went viral, and other creators are following in Adams’ footsteps. Husbands and dads everywhere are confused. It's mayhem. And probably the funniest thing that's happened on the internet this year.

(Even Anthropologie (the brand) has gotten in on the fun. That’s true commitment.)

5. The most elaborate (and fun) wedding entrance we've ever seen 

@benaholtzman Nothing says ‘forever’ like forcing your friends to learn the dance from Miss Congeniality 💍✨ #oneinamillion #weddingtok #weddingentrance #misscongeniality ♬ original sound - Ben Holtzman

We’ve all seen the movie Miss Congeniality, right? For those of you who weren’t teenage girls growing up in the early aughts, allow us to break it down: Sandra Bullock plays Grace Hart, a frazzled special agent working for the FBI. After an extensive makeover (because every movie from the late nineties and early aughts loved a good makeover montage), Gracie enters the Miss America Pageant undercover as Gracie Lou Freebush to prevent an act of terrorism that’s been threatened to go down during the competition. Long story short, it’s a feel-good classic with some of the most memorable movie lines in cinema. (“What is your idea of a perfect date?” “I’d have to say April 25th, because it’s not too hot, not too cold—all you need is a light jacket!”)

In the movie, the contestants all enter the stage to introduce themselves to the audience in a choreographed number to the song “One in a Million”—and so that’s exactly what these two grooms (presumably huge fans of the movie) have done for their wedding entrance. The choreographed sequence involves the grooms and their wedding party (and maybe even some of the guests), and they all truly give an unforgettable performance. Whether you’re a fan of this movie or you’ve never seen it, this wedding entrance really is one in a million.

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Ask kids this basic question to instantly make them more cooperative — the answer doesn't matter

Just by asking and listening, you've already won.

via Hunter Johnson/Unsplash

This trick can fix any attitude.

Raising kids can be a frustrating experience, no matter how rewarding you also find it. Sometimes, it can feel like half of parenting is repeating yourself over and over again, asking your child to brush their teeth or take a dish from the living room to the sink. It’s exhausting and makes you feel like a nag. Don't you wish there was a simple way to make your kids listen the first time?

Dr. Rebecca Kennedy, aka “Dr. Becky,” is a clinical psychologist and founder and CEO of Good Inside who says she has a quick way to make your kids more cooperative and less rude. Talk about killing two soul-crushing birds with one parenting stone. Dr. Becky got into psychology after struggling with anorexia as a teenager.

“Okay, no matter how old your kid is, you can use this 15-second tip to decrease rudeness and increase cooperation,” she says in a TikTok video with over 32,000 views. “Find your child today and ask them this question. 'Hey, I was just wondering, what could I do better as your parent?'”

parents, children, child, parenting, trick, communication A mom and son talk on the couch.Canva Photos

The psychologist says that even if the child has a random or impractical answer such as “Let me stay up ‘til midnight” or “I’d like to eat macaroni and cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” just to listen. Simply by listening, you can change your child’s behavior.

She says we should also ask more questions to further the conversation: “Tell me more. What would that be like?”

@drbeckyatgoodinside

Want to improve your relationship with your kid in less than 15 seconds? Watch this reel for a quick-win strategy. The best part: When we use strategies like this in calm moments, we reduce the frequency of difficult moments with our kids. Of course, I’m a realist… I know you need in-the-moment strategies too! Cue: My Conquering Problem Behaviors Workshop. You’ll get an entire toolbox of in-the-moment and outside-the-moment strategies for reducing outbursts and strengthening your bond with your kid. Learn more in the link in bio!

“I mean, imagine your boss coming to you randomly and asking how they could be a better manager to you. Just by asking the question and listening,” she continued. Dr. Becky says that asking our kids how we’re doing as parents communicates three essential ideas: “I care about you. I respect you. I'm invested in this relationship.”

This type of questioning builds a connection with a child that can spill over into other behaviors. “You're building connection. And with more connection always comes more cooperation,” she ends the video.

The big takeaway from the video is that when we enhance our connection with our kids, they will be less likely to disobey or be rude because they feel heard and respected, so there’s no need to act out. They will also return that respect by listening to you when you have a request, such as taking out the trash or putting down their phone and coming to dinner.

Some people in the comments got funny responses when they asked their kids what they could improve. “I asked my 5yr old. I got a mildly scathing look and she said ‘erm, maybe try and burn dinner less next time?’” one parent wrote. “My 5 yo told me to look better and get a haircut,” another added.

Dr. Becky’s quick question is a great way for parents to strengthen their relationships when things are going well instead of trying to forge connections during conflict. It’s a great reminder that even when parenting, an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.

family, parents, kids, parenting, bonding A happy family.Canva Photos

Dr. Becky sums up the importance of prevention in her TikTok caption: “When we use strategies like this in calm moments, we reduce the frequency of difficult moments with our kids,” she wrote.

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

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Brilliant 'vertical farm' can grow up to 4 million pounds of strawberries on a single acre

This incredible method uses no soil and hardly any water.

Photo credit: Canva

A new way to grow strawberries with less land, less water, and more berries.

Let's talk fruit: Strawberry farm harvests aren't something most of us calculate on a regular basis (or ever at all), but the numbers from a strawberry farm in Richmond, Virginia are staggering enough to make it worth an old-school word problem. If the average American eats 8 pounds of strawberries a year, and an average strawberry farm yields approximately 20,000 pounds of berries per acre, how many people could a 200-acre strawberry field feed?

I won't make you do the math. The answer is 500,000 people. But what if a crop that size, providing enough strawberries for half a million people, could be grown on just one acre instead of 200? It's possible. You just have to go—or rather grow—up, up, up.

Indoor vertical farm company Plenty Unlimited knows a lot about growing up. In fact, it's their entire business model. Instead of the sprawling fields that traditional farming methods require, vertical farms have a much smaller land footprint, utilizing proprietary towers for growing. Plenty has used vertical farming methods to grow greens such as lettuce, kale, spinach, and more for years, but now it boasts a vertical berry farm that can yield a whopping four million pounds of strawberries on a little less than an acre.

Growing indoors means not being at the mercy of weather or climate unpredictability (barring a storm taking out your building), which is wise in the era of climate change. Unlike a traditional greenhouse which still uses the sun for light, Plenty's indoor vertical farms make use of the latest technology and research on light, pinpointing the wavelengths plants need from the sun to thrive and recreating them with LED lights. Plenty farms also don't use soil, as what plants really need is water and nutrients, which can be provided without soil (and with a lot less water than soil requires). Being able to carefully control water and nutrients means you can more easily control the size, taste and uniformity of the berries you’re growing.

If that sounds like a lot of control, it is—and that idea might freak people out. But when a highly controlled environment means not having to use pesticides and using up to 90% less water than traditional farming, it starts to sound like a solid, sustainable farming innovation.

Plenty even uses AI in its strawberry farm, according to its website:

“Every element of the Plenty Richmond Farm–including temperature, light and humidity–is precisely controlled through proprietary software to create the perfect environment for the strawberry plants to thrive. The farm uses AI to analyze more than 10 million data points each day across its 12 grow rooms, adapting each grow room’s environment to the evolving needs of the plants – creating the perfect environment for Driscoll’s proprietary plants to thrive and optimizing the strawberries’ flavor, texture and size.”

Plenty even has its own patent-pending method of pollinating the strawberry flowers that doesn’t require bees. Even just the fact that this enormous crop of strawberries will be coming from Virginia is notable, since the vast majority of strawberries in the U.S. are grown in California.

strawberries, strawberry fields, fields, farming, traditional Traditional strawberry farming takes up a lot of land. Photo credit: Canva

Plenty's Richmond farm is currently growing strawberries exclusively for Driscoll’s.

“Partnering with Plenty for the launch of the Richmond Farm allows us to bring our premium strawberries closer to consumers in the Northeast, the largest berry consumption region in the U.S.,” Driscoll’s CEO Soren Bjorn said in a press release. “By combining our 100 years of farming expertise and proprietary varieties along with Plenty’s cutting-edge technology, we can deliver the same consistent flavor and quality our customers love—now grown locally. This new innovative farm is a powerful step forward in continuing to drive category growth in new ways for our customers and consumers.”

Is Plenty’s model the farm of the future? Perhaps it’s one option, at least — though there are major questions about if the vertical farming method is truly economically sustainable in the long run. The more we grapple with the impact of climate change and outdated, unsustainable farming practices, the more innovative ideas we’ll need to feed the masses. If they can get four million pounds of strawberries out of an acre of land, what else is possible?

This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated.

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These 4 words can keep a conversation flowing forever no matter how bad you are at small talk

There's literally no way to screw this up.

Credit: Canva

A couple talking over coffee.

Many people find making small talk to be an excruciating experience. They think it’s boring to talk with a stranger about the weather, sports, or weekend plans. They may also feel like they don’t have anything to contribute to the conversation, or they don’t understand the point of having one in the first place.

However, those who excel at making small talk have a tremendous advantage in their professional and romantic relationships, as well as forming new friendships. Most importantly, small talk is a window to transition into medium talk or, eventually, deep, meaningful conversations. The problem is that many people get stuck in small talk, and things stall before progressing to something beneficial.

conversation, friends, small talk, chatting Two women chatting in front of a fire. Credit: Atlantic Ambience/Pexels

How to get better at small talk

The great thing is that, like anything, making small talk is a skill that we can all improve by learning some simple conversation techniques. One technique that is great for keeping a conversation going, like hitting a ball back and forth past a net in tennis, is a simple statement:

"It reminds me of…”

A Redditor recently shared some great examples of how the phrase can be used to turn a mundane topic, such as the weather, into something much more fun:

Them: "It's been really rainy, huh?"

You:

Option 1 (Personal Story): "Yeah, it reminds me of a time I went on a run in the rain and nearly got hit by a car."

Option 2 (Music / Pop Culture): "It reminds me of every Adele song. When I'm driving, I feel like I'm in a music video."

Option 3 (Family): "It reminds me of my dad, he used to love playing with us in the rain as kids."

Option 4 (Thing you watched / World News): "It reminds me of this documentary I saw where they're trying to make it rain in the Sahara Desert.”

Option 5 (Place you lived): “It reminds me of when I lived in Australia, it barely ever rained there. I actually love this weather.”


- YouTube www.youtube.com

You see in this example that using “It reminds me of…” opened up the conversation to five potential new and more exciting topics. The “You” in the story could have responded with, “Yeah, it sure is rainy,” and the conversation would have ended right there. But instead, branching off the topic of rain into something a bit deeper took the conversation to the next level. You get extra points if you can take the “reminds me of” into a topic that you assume the other person will be interested in.

What’s a polite way to change the topic in a conversation?

Using “this reminds me of…” is also a polite way to move the topics in another direction, especially when it's a topic that you don’t want to discuss or one that makes you feel a bit uncomfortable. Or, if it’s a situation where the other person is monologuing on one topic for a very long time, this makes it easy to transition away from their diatribe.

conversation, small talk, chatting, cafe Two guys chat at a cafe. Credit: Helena Lopes/Pexels

Ultimately, the phrase is an excellent way for you to save the person you’re talking to from being stuck in the small talk rut as well. It shows you understand that when someone brings up the weather, they are merely getting things started with something both of you have in common. They probably don’t want to talk about the weather for 30 minutes, unless they are a meteorologist. “It reminds me of…” is an invitation to go a bit deeper and shows the other person that you’d like to learn more about them.

This article originally appeared in April. It has been updated.


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A 3-word method can help you make relaxed small talk that doesn't feel like an interview

Injecting some personality can make things a lot more fun.

via Canva/Photos

A man and woman chatting over some wine.

A lot of people are uncomfortable making small talk, but it’s an essential skill that can make or break your love life, career, and social experiences. Many people believe that being good at chatting with others is something innate, but those who excel at it work at their craft and pick up small tips along the way to become better communicators.

One of the tricks that all great communicators know is that you will be more likable when you're more interested than interesting. Study after study shows that people love talking about themselves, and if you ask people more questions, they will like you a lot more than if you did all the talking. So, how do we do this without creating a one-sided conversation where your conversation partner learns nothing about you? The folks at the Science of People have shared the statement-plus question technique.

The statement-plus technique

“One of the smoothest ways to keep conversation flowing is to share a brief personal statement followed by a question,” the Science of People writes. “This technique accomplishes two things: it gives the other person information about you (making you seem more approachable and interesting) while also redirecting focus to them.”

small talk, conversation, office party, people talking, wine Coworkers having a nice conversation.via Canva/Photos

Here are some examples:

Instead of asking “What do you do for work?” say:

“I’m a writer for Upworthy, and I enjoy seeing my work read by millions of people. What excites you about your job?”

Instead of asking, “Where do you live?” try:

“I live in Long Beach, California, and it’s really nice living by the ocean. What do you love the most about where you live?”

Instead of asking, “How do you know the person who threw the party?” say:

“I met Sarah at a church meeting seven years ago. Do you remember the first time you met her?”

These questions enable you to discuss yourself while maintaining the focus on the other person. They are also open-ended, so you don’t just get a one-word answer. You learn their job and what excites them about it. You know where they live, and they get to brag about what they like about the city. The technique also broadens the conversation because, according to the psychological phenomenon known as reciprocal self-disclosure, people are more likely to disclose things about themselves after you share something about yourself.

- YouTube youtu.be

What is reciprocal self-disclosure?

“The most likely result of your self-disclosure is that other people will do the same. In the field of communication, we refer to this as 'reciprocity.' When you share information about yourself, the most likely result is that people will start to disclose a similar type of information from their own lives," communication coach Alexander Lyon says. "In our presentations, we talk about this as a magic wand. Disclosure is the closest thing we have to a magic wand in terms of a concept in communication. When you disclose, other people almost automatically reciprocate."

Ultimately, people love to talk about themselves, and if you give them the opportunity, they will like you more for it. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t reveal some aspects of yourself at the same time while keeping the focus on them. The statement-plus question technique allows you to reveal some things about yourself while making the other person feel seen and comfortable telling you more about themselves. It’s sure to elevate your small talk to something more substantial in a relaxed way that doesn’t feel like an interview.

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20 meals under $10 that can feed your family on a budget

Quick, easy, and cheap.

Images via Reddit/Delicious_Walrus_698

Quick and easy meals that are $10 and under.

Feeding your family keeps getting more and more expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, a family of four in America spends between $996-1,603.a month on groceries.

To keep food costs low, many families are finding frugal ways to cut down on food costs and save on groceries. And keeping a budget can help.

Spending $10 or less per meal can be a challenge, but plenty of budget food shoppers and frugal food makers shared their go-to's on Reddit. These are 20 meals under $10 that will feed your family.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Creamy Veggie Pasta

"Bought some half price veggies at my store which were: bag of peppers, $2.50; Container of tiny tomatoes, 2.50; Block of cream cheese, 2.00 And a box of pasta, 2.50. Already on hand was fresh garlic and spices (chipotle spice, dried parsley, salt &pepper, optional red chili flakes) and whole garlic in with the tomatoes to roast and oil. Chopped my veggies up seasoned my veggies and cream cheese with spices and oil and baked at 350 for about an hour till everything was soft . Boiled pasta mashed the tomatoes and cream cheese and mixed in the pasta add pasta water to thin out the." - Delicious_Walrus_698

Red Beans & Rice

"Red beans and rice. If you have the spices, I make this often. It also leaves a lot of leftovers. Sometimes I'll add extra beans and increase the water and bullion. It's delicious and cheap and filling. Add a cheap box of .69 Jiffy corn bread and it's great. This website is great overall. She breaks each each meal down by cost." - unconfusedsub

15-Bean Soup

"I bought a 15-bean soup mix with cajun spices ($3) and a kielbasa ($3). Spooned it over white rice and it was so delicious." - belleandbent

Pulled Pork Shoulder

"Pulled pork is fantastic when you can get a whole shoulder on sale. I'm in a HCOL city right now and even here I see it sometimes for $2 a pound. You can season it neutrally and keep frozen (cooked) family sized packs of it in the freezer to use for many different meal." - KetoLurkerHereAgain

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

"Initial outlay will be more like $20 but you’ll get several meals out of it. Buy a whole chicken, a bag of potatoes, a bag of carrots, a bunch of celery and an onion, 1 tomato, and 1 bag of egg noodles. You get roasted chicken and vegetables with some of your potatoes and carrots. Pick most of the meat off and save any leftovers. Make stock with the carcass, celery, onion, and tomato. Make chicken noodle soup with your broth, leftover chicken and egg noodles. Leftover roasted veggies make a great hash too. Couple of solid meals for the family." - mstrong73

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Chili

"Big pot of chili can be a meal one day, then served on baked potatoes another day, then chili dogs for a third meal (if you have leftovers). Growing up, we had a lot of ham and bean soup with cornbread when things got tight financially." - Ill-Description8517

Biscuits & Gravy

"Ground breakfast sausage, milk, packet of country gravy and one can of biscuits." - Prestigious_Fall_441

Chickpea Curry

"Chickpea curry, I just use Golden Curry, a can of chickpeas, and a can of coconut milk. I usually have rice and a salad with it. Lentil bowls are also good and lentils are really cheap and of course beans, I will have this with rice." - lenorefosterwallace

Chicken Thighs and Veggies

"Chicken thighs (bone in, skin on) and a veggie side (your preference, mine is green beans cooked with diced onion/bacon bits/broth or bouillion). I really recommend shaking chicken thighs up with your preferred spices and some baking powder and baking on a baking rack so they come out crispy outside and moist inside. This is a sub $10 meal that feeds 3-4 as I can usually can get 5~ chicken thighs for $4-$5~,a can of green beans and an onion, bacon optional to cut cost or include if you have bacon all the time anyways like I do. I also highly recommend marinating chick breast for at least 30 minutes (recommend asian style flavor, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper and some vinegar, corn starch to thicken) cut it into bites and then pan searing it in some oil, taking it out, then throwing in green cabbage with a bit of butter and garlic powder mixed around (and the remnants of what cooked off the chicken marinade) , then throw the chicken back in when the cabbage is done and before you started the chicken start some white rice in a rice cooker. It's basically a $10 meal for 4 ppl , about $5 of chicken breast and your price of cabbage and the portion of white rice. This one makes a shit ton of food you could literally meal prep 4-5 meals for 1 person with this. If you like cabbage I really recommend youtubing some cabbage based stir fry recipes because one head of cabbage just explodes into a gigantic amount of food." - RuckFeddit70

@clintonsvatos

Dinner for less than $10 for 6 people. #poormanscomfortfood #budgetmeals #cheapdinner #familydinner #easymeals #cheapmeals

Potato and Chorizo Burrito

"Potatoes and chorizo! Just dice up some potatoes, fry them in a pan with some oil and the chorizo until it’s all nice and crispy! We’ll put them in tortillas to make a burrito out of it." - TripleGoddess93

Turkey

"If you have the money to lay out, big chain grocery stores have turkeys for under a dollar per pound. A 14 lb turkey could feed a family for a week easily. $14/7 days/4 people is 50 cents per person per dinner." - snoopmt1

Pork Butt with Onions, Jalapeños and Pineapple

"Today, I have a pork butt in the crockpot with onions, jalapeños and a can of pineapple chunks. After an all day cook, I shred then ladle on rice. If I want fancy, I stir a can of coconut milk in the rice while cooking. The pork butt was 99 cents a pound this week at Hannaford. I paid $3.19 for it! Winner, winner because I can get 2 meals out of it! Spread leftover in taco shell topped with a simple slaw. Yummy for the tummy, both meals." - Vtfla

Salsa Chicken

"Salsa chicken is a good value meal. 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken. Can be breasts or thighs and frozen chicken is a great option as it is cheaper. If using frozen chicken, make sure you thaw it first before placing in crockpot. 1 cup corn 1 cup beans - black, red or pinto 1 small jar of salsa or Rotel tomatoes- I usually use Rotel and then add some salsa 1 packet taco seasoning. Place thawed chicken in crockpot and sprinkle with taco sealing. Add salsa, corn and beans on cook on low until chick men is tender. Remove chicken and shred and then return back to crock and mix. If the mixture is too watery you can add a little rice and it will thicken as the rice cooks. You can make nachos, tacos or burrito bowls out of the mixture and is many servings." - FurryFreeloader

Drumsticks

"If you are near a Walmart, you might be able to find a 5 pound bag of drumsticks for about $6. I put the whole bag in half a pot of water, let it simmer for about 3 hours. Then I took out the chicken, let it cool fir a few minutes and took off all the chicken. Put the chicken back into the broth, added 6 large carrots that were chopped and a container of chicken broth and let it simmer for an hour or so until the carrots are cooked. You could do something similar and add other veg, rice or noodles? What I made is about $8.50." - Maidenonwarpath


@thedudenetwork

Another meal for my family, another meal under ten dollars!! This was a really good haul, cant beleieve we got two packs of chicken for $5!! Next video posted will be the recipe!! #thedudenetwork #cheapeats #cheapmeals #budgetmeals #familydinner #moneysaver #smartshopper

Beef and Noodle Soup

"My favorite easy cheap meal is a hearty soup that is so satisfying. You brown a lb of ground beef, boil some macaroni noodles, drain most of the fat from your beef, but not all of it. Saute an onion in the remaining fat in your pan, then once the onion is cooked you pour in a can of diced tomatoes (I like fire roasted, but any canned tomatoes will work) and a bag of mixed veggies (I also toss in any veggie leftovers I have in the fridge) add about 2 cups of water a beef bouillon cube and 2 tablespoons of garlic powder, a teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika and bring that to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes and then add the macaroni back in and salt & pepper to taste. It is a comfort food at my house. You can use any ground meat, any shape pasta, and any other veggies you want. I also make garlic bread or cheese toast out of whatever leftover bread that I happen to have. It is great with Italian sausage too. It is so easy and good." - RapscallionMonkee

Thai Curry

"If your family likes spice, Thai curry. $1 can of coconut milk, 1-2 lbs of chicken (get on sale can get for around $3-$4 a lb). Throw some potatoes and carrots in there for filler $1-2 worth. Mae Ploy or Arroy-D curry paste $5 but has enough to make about 10-15 servings worth (more if you don’t like it spicy) and premade paste lasts about 2 years. Fish sauce is a good one that runs an initial $10 investment but will last like 100 meals worth for many different recipes (it does smell bad while cooking but tastes great). Sugar (I just use brown sugar cause it’s cheap and easy). Just serve over rice." - hauttdawg13

Pasta a la Norma

"Pasta a la Norma (eggplant pasta). 2 eggplants Box of rigatoni or ziti 28oz crushed tomatoes Parmesan Garlic Oregano Fresh basil optional Red pepper flakes. Cut eggplant into 1in pieces and roast in oven with olive oil salt and pepper. Sauté garlic lightly in olive oil, add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes. Toss cooked pasta with sauce and roasted eggplant. Top with parmesan." - Remarkable-Ice-2951

Breakfast Tacos

"Egg/cheese/potato Breakfast tacos! you need a package of 10 flour tortillas $1.50, a dozen eggs $3.50, 6 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese $3, and three medium or two large potatoes $2. Scrub and microwave the potatoes, probably 11 minutes? No need to peel. While that’s cooking, warm and slightly toast each tortilla by lighting the burner flame under it for about 10 seconds, turn off the burner, flip it over and do the other side. Repeat with each tortilla. Put the tortillas between folds of a folded dish cloth to keep them warm. Mix maybe eight eggs in a bowl with a little bit of water and salt. Not much salt, the cheese will supply salt too. add other seasonings as desired. Heat your large skillet medium high, add a little butter or spray of oil to the bottom of that pan. Pour in the eggs, turn down the heat to low. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the eggs as they cook. Take the potatoes out of the microwave and carefully so as not to burn your hands, roughly chop them. Add the chopped-up potatoes to your skillet. When the eggs are mostly set but still a little bit wet, turn off the heat. Then flipped them over one more time. Add a scoop of eggs/potato/cheese to each tortilla and fold/roll them up." - annalitchka53

Dirty Rice

"Dirty Rice. Ground beef browned with chopped onions, bell pepper, celery. Seasoned with creole/cajun seasoning and garlic powder. Drain. Add frozen peas and carrots, uncooked rice. Enough water to cook the rice, chicken bouillon to taste. Simmer until rice is cooked and fluffy." - WoodwifeGreen

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