+
Sign up for
The Upworthiest
Our top stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox.
upworthy
Pop Culture

Woman throws her own Costco-themed birthday party and it's a Costco fan's dream

"Ain't no party like a wholesale party."

costco, costco deal, costco cake
@jasminebellepak/TikTok

The hottest party trend, all at an incredible discount

Many would easily forgo a trip to Disneyland in favor of a day at the magical, budget-friendly world of Costco.

There’s a distinct type of thrill at being able to bulk buy anything the heart desires—clothing, foods both general and niche, electronics, a tub of Nutella you could literally bathe in—all while being offered delicious samples. It’s as though you’ve entered the marketplace of a foreign land, and everyone knows you’re royalty.

And considering that birthday parties are often a time for people to treat themselves like kings and queens, is it really any wonder that someone decided to create their very own Costco-themed soirée?

Maybe not, but seeing how it comes together is still pretty spectacular.

Jasmine Pak decided to merge the celebration of her 28th go around the sun with her love of the discount retailer, featuring so much more than its well-known food items—though there was a lot of that.

First up, the culinary star of the show—a birthday cake, the stuff of Costco legend (with an equally legendary ordering process). Followed by “food court icons” like pizza, cookies, hot dogs, rotisserie chicken…each labeled with their Costco price in the exact same font you’d find at the store.

Even her birthday sign donned that signature Kirkland logo font.

Over at the pool, guests could relax with hotdog and pizza-shaped pool floats. Cause why not?

@jasminebellepak Aint no party like a wholesale party 😫💦 @Costco Wholesale i love u #costcotheme #costcoparty ♬ Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift

As for outfits—Pak and her friends also stayed in theme. And gloriously so.

While Pak sported a t-shirt featuring Costco’s classic hotdog and drink combo meal, her friends each took on a familiar Costco character. You know, the red-vested regional managers, the dude in a security vest asking if you need boxes, the hot dog cook and even the Sunday Costco mom.

And yes, they did have a samples lady. Can’t have a Costco-themed party without a samples lady.

@jasminebellepak All the fits from my @Costco Wholesale themed birthday party 😂 Motion to bring the combo pizza back please 😫 #costcotheme #costcoparty ♬ original sound - Jasmine Pak

Pak captioned her epic video with “Ain’t no party like a wholesale party,” even tagging Costco’s TikTok account and writing, “I love u.”

This party wasn’t just a hit for the party-goers. The clip quickly went viral on TikTok, with people gushing over how brilliant the concept and execution was.

“This is iconic,” one person commented.

“I am SO OBSESSED with this!! I hope ya’ll had the most amazing time,” wrote another.

Honestly, to say the party brought out the most hardcore Costco fans would be an understatement.

One even commented, “I would marry Costco if I could.” Next up: Costco-themed wedding, anyone?

Others were inspired to brainstorm their own store-themed party ideas.

“I need to do this, and a Trader Joe’s party” one person commented.

Between this genius party idea and an Ikea-themed kid’s party that went viral back in June of this year, it seems that beloved grocery markets have become the hot new celebration trend.

And truthfully, what a cool concept. So much of the party planning is baked right in, from food ideas to outfits to decor. Plus, there’s something about that special kid joy found in a grocery store that perfectly encapsulates the adult experience. Even as we grow older and life becomes a little more mundane, we’re still just kids at heart.

joy
Joy

Unlikely couple falls in love after man rents woman’s spare room as an Airbnb

The funny thing about love is that the person we fall in love with, more often than not, we run into by accident. Another strange twist is that the love of our life is likely to show up when we least expect it.

The following story, which feels like the promise of a hit rom-com, comes courtesy of a twist of fate created by the World Cup and an Airbnb.

In 2013, after six years of battling an illness, Ana was living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Having been financially drained by years of being sick, she invested the last of her money to buy two bunk beds and convert one of her bedrooms into an Airbnb for small groups of friends.

The Airbnb was a last-ditch effort to pay her rent and medical bills. A year later, the modest investment grew into a success, Ana’s health began to return, and the World Cup, one of the largest sporting events in the world, was coming to Rio.

To take advantage of the soccer fanatics flocking to the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City), Ana and her roommate, Fabio, turned a half room in their apartment into an Airbnb rental to give tired soccer fans a place to sleep.

“Though it was a small (pantry!) room, we added a bunk bed and listed two beds on Airbnb. One day after the listing went live, we had tons of requests for ‘Fabio’s Pantry,’” she shared. “It was fully booked for the entire World Cup period except for one week in July.”

Around this time, Ana was feeling well enough to go on her first vacation in years and took a quick trip to Uruguay. Just before she left, Ana received a reservation from a man named "Darko B." for the only unbooked days in July.

“I have always been a big fan of the movie ‘Donnie Darko’ and thought it was a strange coincidence, but didn't think anything of it,” Ana wrote. “I accepted the request, let him know I would not be there for check-in and Fabio would care for him until I was back the following week.”

Keep ReadingShow less
travel
Health

Men try to read the most disturbing comments women get online back to them.

If you wouldn't say it to their faces, don't type it.

Image from https://www.youtube.com/...

This isn’t comfortable to talk about.


Trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault and violence.


A recent video by Just Not Sports took two prominent female sportswriters and had regular guys* read the awful abuse they receive online aloud.

Sportswriters Sarah Spain and Julie DiCaro sat by as men read some of the most vile tweets they receive on a daily basis. See how long you can last watching it.

Keep ReadingShow less
Family

Did this woman drop the greatest breastfeeding response of all time?

Another woman was attempting to publicly shame her.

Photo cropped from Facebook page.

Everyone eats sexualized or not.

When it comes to breasts, Americans really have it twisted. We've sexualized them to such a point we no longer see them for their main purpose: feeding babies.

This disconnect is so extreme that when women breastfeed their children in public they are often met with scorn or shame.

Keep ReadingShow less
breastfeeding
Science

Levi's CEO settles the debate on just how often you should wash your jeans

There are a lot of diverse opinions on the topic.

via Levi Strauss and Ricardo Gomez Angel/Unsplash

How often should you wash your jeans?

Social media has become a fertile breeding ground for conversations about hygiene. Whether it’s celebrities bragging about how little their family bathes or battles over how often people should wash their sheets or bras.

One of the debates that gets the most diverse responses is how often people wash their denim jeans.

Denim atelier Benjamin Talley Smith tells Today that jeans should be washed "as little as possible, if at all.” Laundry expert Patric Richardson adds they should be cleaned “after nine or 10 wearings, like to me, that is the ideal." At that point, they probably have stains and are "a little sweaty by that point, so you need to wash 'em," Richardson says.

Still, some people wash and dry them after every wear while others will hand wash and never hang dry. With all these significant differences of opinion, there must be a correct answer somewhere, right?

Keep ReadingShow less
clothing
Education

Have you ever heard of the Ludlow Massacre? You might be shocked when you see what happened.

It's important to know your history.

via Colorado Coal Field War Project/University of Denver Library.

Strikers, Ludlow Tent Colony, 1914.

The early 1900s were a time of great social upheaval in our country. During the years leading up to the Ludlow Massacre, miners all around the country looking to make a better life for themselves and their families set up picket lines, organized massive parades and rallies, and even took up arms. Some died.

It's always worth considering why history like this was never taught in school before. Could it be that the powers that be would rather keep this kind of thing under wraps?

Keep ReadingShow less
Family

This is the best mother-daughter chat about the tampon aisle ever. Period.

A hilarious conversation about "the vagina zone" turned into an important message about patriarchy from mother to daughter.

via Belinda Hankins Facebook

A mother and daughter discuss period products.


Belinda Hankins and her 13-year-old daughter, Bella, seem to have a great relationship, one that is often played out over text message.

Sure they play around like most teens and parents do, but in between the joking and stealing of desserts, they're incredibly open and honest with each other. This is key, especially since Melinda is a single parent and thus is the designated teacher of "the ways of the world."

But, wow, she is a champ at doing just that in the chillest way possible. Of course, it helps having an incredibly self-aware daughter who has grown up knowing she can be super real with her mom.

Case in point, this truly epic text exchange took place over the weekend while Bella was hunting for tampons at the store.

Keep ReadingShow less
parents
Science

A study found 4 different categories of couples. Where do you belong?

What if I told you someone did find a way to "categorize" your love style but with actual real science?

Image from Insomnia Cured Here/Flickr.

This movie couple definitely could have used some healthy therapy.

Ever fallen into one of those Internet dating quizzes? You know, the ones that promise to categorize you? Like "what your astrological sign says about your relationship style."

They can be fun, but we all know they're mostly fluff.

What if I told you someone did find a way to "categorize" your love style but with actual real science?

Keep ReadingShow less
Trending Stories