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Pop Culture

Woman shares 'genius' hack of hiding shelves behind framed pictures and people are loving it

A work of art and cleverly hidden storage—all for $30.

diy home decor, diy storage shelves
@hauz.and.co/ TikTok

Dual purpose AND thrifty? What's not to like?

Sure, TikTok might be known best for its viral dances, but the platform displays all kinds of quirky, unique creativity. In the mood for stunning fashion finds ? Animal mash-up drawings ? Music featuring weird cat sounds ? TikTok has it—and more.

That goes for inexpensive DIY home projects as well. TikTok has endless numbers of people sharing clever hacks for sprucing up a place using very little money, making the seriously fun hobby all the more accessible.

Back in August of 2022, digital creator and home decor enthusiast Sarahli Wilcox shared what TikTok users hailed as a “genius” storage hack —building small shelves and hiding them behind mounted art frames.

The process is fairly simple. As explained in an interview with Insider , Wilcox uses frames that are either upcycled from around her house or found at Goodwill. She’ll then remove any paint or varnish, fill any holes and then restain it (though she does say that repainting is an easier option). Next, Wilcox creates the backless cabinet and shelves using a brad nailer and some wood glue. The cabinet and frame are then put together with small hinges.

This video below also breaks it all down:

@hauz.and.co DIY Picture Frame Cabinets | who doesn't love dual purpose decor/furniture pieces?I'm obsessed with secret compartments & these are no exception, they're perfect to create a hallway gallery wall and store your knick knacks. What would you use the storage for?#se cretcompartment #d i yprojects #h o mediy #h o medecorideas #h o mediyprojects #t h riftflip #t h riftmakeover #p i ctureframes #w a llartdecor #h o medecor ♬ Little Things - Adrian Berenguer

Bada bing, bada boom: dual-purpose storage cabinets that are literally a work of art. And all for around $30, Wilcox told Insider.

In a follow-up video posted in January 2023, Wilcox shared that she mainly used her cabinets to store medicine, essential oils and hide her doorbell box.

@hauz.and.co This DIY Art frame hidden storage cabinet is truly the best storage/saving hack I've added to our home. After months of trying to find a 4th frame to complete the gallery wall, it's finally finished! Not sure if it feels like too much, but we're just going to go with it 🤗 The real question is what would you use the storage for? Give me more ideas 💡 #secretcompartment #diyprojects #wallart #pictureframe #thriftflip #thriftmakeover #storagehacks #homedecorideas #homedecor #homediy ♬ Hideaway - Dunham Froebel

However, her creation has inspired several other lovely ideas for uses.

“SECRET SPICE CABINET,” someone wrote in all caps.

Another added, “This would be an amazing memorial idea. You could keep mementos behind a picture of the one you love.”

“This would make an amazing secret altar for witches in the broom closet,” commented another.

One parent wrote, “This is SUCH a great idea. I’m going to build these and put my kids’ art supplies inside."

Another person even posted a video on their own whimsical take on the idea, making it into what they called a “little fairy door.”

@happyenchantedhome I like to imagine a little fairy lives behind them 🥹🧚‍♂️ IC @Sarahli | hauz.and.co #pictureframecabinets #fairydoors #fairytok #faetok #whimsicaldecor ♬ Idea 10 - Gibran Alcocer

This is TikTok at its best—a weird and wonderful pocket of the internet where creativity begets more creativity.

As you can probably expect, Wilcox has even more amazing hacks, which you can find by giving her a follow here.

Gen Z is navigating a career landscape unlike any other.

True

Every adult generation has its version of a “kids these days” lament, labeling the up-and-coming generation as less resilient or hardworking compared to their own youth. But Gen Z—currently middle school age through young adulthood—is challenging that notion with their career readiness.

Take Abigail Sanders, an 18-year-old college graduate. Thanks to a dual enrollment program with her online school, she actually earned her bachelor’s degree before her high school diploma. Now she’s in medical school at Bastyr University in Washington state, on track to become a doctor by age 22.

a family of 6 at a graduation with two graduates All four of the Sanders kids have utilized Connections Academy to prepare for their futures.

Abigail’s twin sister, Chloe, also did dual enrollment in high school to earn her associate’s in business and is on an early college graduation path to become a vet tech.

Maeson Frymire dreams of becoming a paramedic. He got his EMT certification in high school and fought fires in New Mexico after graduation. Now he’s working towards becoming an advanced certified EMT and has carved his career path towards flight paramedicine.

Sidny Szybnski spends her summers helping run her family’s log cabin resort on Priest Lake in Idaho. She's taken business and finance courses in high school and hopes to be the third generation to run the resort after attending college.

log cabin resort on edge of forest After college, Sidny Szybnski hopes to run her family's resort in Priest Lake, Idaho.

Each of these learners has attended Connections Academy , tuition-free online public schools available in 29 states across the U.S., to not only get ready for college but to dive straight into college coursework and get a head start on career training as well. These students are prime examples of how Gen Zers are navigating the career prep landscape, finding their passions, figuring out their paths and making sure they’re prepared for an ever-changing job market.

Lorna Bryant, the Head of Career Education for Connections Academy’s online school program, says that Gen Z has access to a vast array of career-prep tools that previous generations didn’t have, largely thanks to the internet.

“Twenty to 30 years ago, young people largely relied on what adults told them about careers and how to get there,” Bryant tells Upworthy. “Today, teens have a lot more agency. With technology and social media, they have access to so much information about jobs, employers and training. With a tap on their phones, they can hear directly from people who are in the jobs they may be interested in. Corporate websites and social media accounts outline an organization’s mission, vision and values—which are especially important for Gen Z.”

Research shows over 75% of high schoolers want to focus on skills that will prepare them for in-demand jobs. However, not all teens know what the options are or where to find them. Having your future wide open can be overwhelming, and young people might be afraid of making a wrong choice that will impact their whole lives.

Bryant emphasizes that optimism and enthusiasm from parents can help a lot, in addition to communicating that nothing's carved in stone—kids can change paths if they find themselves on one that isn’t a good fit.

Dr. Bryant and student video meeting Dr. Bryant meeting with a student

“I think the most important thing to communicate to teens is that they have more options than ever to pursue a career,” she says. “A two- or four-year college continues to be an incredibly valuable and popular route, but the pathways to a rewarding career have changed so much in the past decade. Today, career planning conversations include options like taking college credit while still in high school or earning a career credential or certificate before high school graduation. There are other options like the ‘ships’—internships, mentorships, apprenticeships—that can connect teens to college, careers, and employers who may offer on-the-job training or even pay for employees to go to college.”

Parents can also help kids develop “durable skills”—sometimes called “soft” or “human” skills—such as communication, leadership, collaboration, empathy and grit. Bryant says durable skills are incredibly valuable because they are attractive to employers and colleges and transfer across industries and jobs. A worldwide Pearson survey found that those skills are some of the most sought after by employers.

“The good news is that teens are likely to be already developing these skills,” says Bryant. Volunteering, having a part-time job, joining or captaining a team sport can build durable skills in a way that can also be highlighted on college and job applications.

Young people are navigating a fast-changing world, and the qualities, skills and tools they need to succeed may not always be familiar to their parents and grandparents. But Gen Z is showing that when they have a good grasp of the options and opportunities, they’re ready to embark on their career paths, wherever they may lead.

Learn more about Connections Academy here and Connections’ new college and career prep initiative here .

Joy

Sorry, Labradors. After 31 years, America has a new favorite dog.

The American Kennel Club has crowned a new favorite.

A sad-looking Labrador Retriever

The sweet-faced, loveable Labrador Retriever is no longer America’s favorite dog breed. The breed best known for having a heart of gold has been replaced by the smaller, more urban-friendly French Bulldog.

According to the American Kennel Club , for the past 31 years, the Labrador Retriever was America’s favorite dog, but it was eclipsed in 2022 by the Frenchie. The rankings are based on nearly 716,500 dogs newly registered in 2022, of which about 1 in 7 were Frenchies. Around 108,000 French Bulldogs were recorded in the U.S. in 2022, surpassing Labrador Retrievers by over 21,000.

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This story first appeared on the author's Medium and is reprinted here with permission.

Because you're a girl.

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But it wasn't long until a note came in saying, “Everyone knows you got the position because you're a girl." In spite of having a great week at a great company with great people whom I love, that still stung, because it's not the first time I've heard it.

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Dad and tween daughter show how their family 'co-sleeps' together

Their viral video has people debating when co-sleeping should end.

@deal_family/ TikTok

Co-sleeping asa family might not be mainstream anymore, but it was once totally the norm.

Like virtually any aspect of parenting, co- sleeping , aka bed sharing, can be a bit of a controversial topic.

Sleeping together as a singular family unit is a much older practice , dating as far back as the Medieval Era —when sleeping separately was both unsafe and unattainable for most.

Today, it is generally recommended to have children sleeping on their own by the age of five , although plenty of parents will still share a bed with their 12 to 13-year-olds from time to time. In other words, there are no hard and fast rules—though many have strong opinions.

And while it certainly isn’t mainstream anymore, some families opt for the more classic sleeping approach.

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Single mom perfectly explains to Congress why the U.S. poverty line needs a total rehaul

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If you're not up on the current numbers, the federal poverty line is $12,760 for an individuals and $26,200 for a family of four. If those annual incomes sound abysmally low, it's because they are. And incredibly, the Trump administration has proposed lowering the poverty line further, which would make more poor Americans ineligible for needed assistance.

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Pig keeps sneaking away to eat pumpkins in the neighborhood

Pigs can make some interesting pets. While most people aren't walking around with one of those giant 600 pound pigs in their house, the much smaller versions can be found hanging out in suburban backyards or sleeping in a dog bed inside. But no matter how domesticated a pig is, they're still pigs and pigs get into things, especially when there's food involved.

One woman's pig decided to show his escape skills when the neighbor's decided to set pumpkins out on their front porch. Carlton quickly became known as a pumpkin thief around the neighborhood because he didn't stop at one neighbor. Oh no, it was spooky season, pumpkins were everywhere and by pumpkins we're talking cute carved jack-o-lanterns.

Carlton did not care about the craftsmanship of these pumpkins or how long it took the family to carve them. All the pig knew was that he wanted them in his belly at all costs.

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