Loyal Costco fans are lauding their favorite big-box store for a long-awaited change to its custom cake ordering system. In a company memo, Costco announced that it will be launching an app for customers to order customized cakes at the touch of their fingers without having to enter a Costco store. “We’ve got ordering cakes and deli trays online coming,” said Costco CEO Ron Vachris. “Many of the things that we’ve heard from our members that could be a little bit clunky are now moving to a digital state, and we’re seeing great adoption right out of the chute.” It’s a massive change from the previous custom cake process. Costco lovers have long complained about the old-school ordering system that required customers to physically go to the store’s bakery, where they would fill out a slip of paper with their order requests and simply drop it in the order box. Costco’s “1800s” custom cake ordering @eatsbyrachel Anyone else feel like the @Costco Wholesale custom cake ordering system is a bit antiquated? Regardless, their analog process somehow always works #costco #costcobakery #cake #customcake #costcodoesitagain #costcocake #costcofinds #costcodeals #costcofind #costcofinds #eatsbyrachel ♬ Poke Mart (From “Pokemon Diamond and Pearl”) – Jazz Version – Chippy Bits Back in 2023, writer Lucy Huber humorously poked fun at Costco’s seemingly outdated custom cake ordering system that resonated with fellow Costco shoppers. And her words went viral: “Ordered a cake from Costco and their system is from the 1800s, you write what you want on a piece of paper & put it in a box then nobody follows up and you just show up and hope they made it? I tried to call to confirm & they were like ‘if you put it in the box, it will be there’,” she wrote. It was a system that also caused Costco members on Reddit a lot of anxiety. “We did our wedding cakes from Costco, talk about a nerve-racking experience hoping everything worked out,” one wrote. Another shared, “Drop a paper in a hole and cross your fingers .” A few years ago I reposted a funny tweet about Costco’s archaic cake ordering system being from the 1800s on the subreddit, now I just read an article that Costco is finally updating it and that we’ll be able to order bakery cakes and deli trays digitally online with email confirmation soon! byu/breathfromanother inCostco Costco customers have mixed feelings Many Costco customers and Redditors expressed their positive reactions to the updated ordering system news: “As someone who lives 1.5 hours away from three different Costcos I LOVE this. I’m rarely in the market for a custom cake, but when I am I’m not driving an hour and a half to fill out the request form in store.” “This is GREAT! But will I also be able to order chocolate cake with white icing and vice-versa? Because currently I can’t do that at my Costco.” “While the box system worked, it was archaic. With anything, the new system will take time to implement.” “Jumping from the 19th century to the 21st century. Bravo Costco!” Others weren’t as happy: “Kind of sad in a way. There are not too many interactions like this in the digital age.” “But the Paper & Pencil worked.” “I have ordered many cakes with this low tech. Never an issue.” Costco bakery workers react Workers in Costco bakeries also chimed in, many with negative opinions: “As someone who works in the bakery this is going to be a disaster. Half the people don’t even know the name on the order or what the cake says when they come to pick up. Like 2 times a week we get someone trying to pick up at the wrong Costco.” “As a bakery employee, this is going to be a nightmare. The whole point of keeping the order form in warehouse only was to not overwhelm our staff AND (this one being the real reason I was given), is it makes people come in and ‘grab a few items while their there, and then again when they come pick up the cake.’ I am not looking forward to this. People are going to order at the wrong Costco, not do it right and then get mad at us. I’m terrified of this change .” “As someone who has worked in the bakery at Costco, the prevailing thought has been ‘the system we have works fairly well, so they’re probably not gonna change it.’ It’s the same reason that the major sales department still uses paper slips for computers. Well, except for the apple tables. Those have a little iPad kiosk that will print out your slip for you, but literally none of the members ever use it and instead ask us to do it for them.” The box system had a good run At the end of the day, there’s something a little poetic about a mysterious cardboard box being replaced by an app, especially one that inspired genuine anxiety, wedding day nerves, and a viral tweet millions of people related to. Change is hard, even when it’s an upgrade nobody was really asking for by name. But if Costco’s history proves anything, it’s that shoppers will adapt fast, as long as the cake still shows up exactly when it’s supposed to. This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated. The post Costco customers are overjoyed by news that the store’s ‘archaic’ cake ordering system is finally modernizing appeared first on Upworthy.

For many parents of a certain age, showing their children Home Alone is a crucial moment of family bonding. That even applies to Macaulay Culkin, who stars in the 1990 blockbuster as Kevin McCallister. In a recent interview with the YouTube channel Mythical Kitchen, the actor said it’s been a beautiful experience reliving the movie through his kids’ eyes, but for the time being, he’s resisting the impulse to tell them who played Kevin. “My kids don’t understand yet,” he said, noting how they do recognize his wife, Brenda Song, in episodes of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s mama.’ So they get that. But when they see Kevin, they always call him ‘Kevin’ because the illusion is still there. Just two nights ago, my son was asking questions. He wanted to see a family photo of, like, all my siblings. So I ran downstairs [and] got it, and immediately his eyes darted to me, and he goes, ‘Hey, that kid looks like Kevin.’ And I go, ‘He sure does, doesn’t he?'” View this post on Instagram Keeping the illusion alive, for now While Culkin’s son is “starting” to put the pieces together, they still have a little time to live in this sweet in-between zone. “I’m trying to keep up the illusion as long as possible, like Santa Claus, that kind of thing,” the actor said. “But I know some kid at recess is going to ruin it [Laughs].” Reliving the film through his children has “changed the game” for Culkin, who sees the “joy” it brings them. “Before, it was a gig,” he admitted. “Now it’s something I can sit next to and be proud of and show my kids. I don’t run from it. I don’t hide from it. If anything, I embrace it.” That philosophy prompted Culkin to host a recent 35th-anniversary tour behind Home Alone, screening the film in theaters and staging a “fireside chat” Q&A afterward. “I pull kids up there and ask them absurd trivia questions about the movie they just saw,” he said. “It’s really fun to kind of get it on the road, get it on its legs, and just seeing how it’s still alive. Those people are parents too, and they’re bringing their kids to it, and they’re appreciating it in a way that it’s supposed to be appreciated.” Fans couldn’t get enough of this story In the interview’s Instagram comments, fans weighed in with some beautiful words. “When a legend can finally accept the title, it’s a really cool thing to watch what an icon” “He should be proud too, elite child acting. Iconic timeless movies. Awesome having him in the public space more last few years. What a legend.” “Home Alone will never die. Greatest Christmas movie ever!” “Man drop another home alone movie “ “Hearing him talk like this brings me so much joy” “Damn, going from gig to a mantle of pride. I’ve never thought about it that way before.” One element of Home Alone nostalgia is more painful than sweet: A YouTuber named “Mistress Melt” recently conducted an experiment to replicate Kevin’s $20 grocery haul from the film, calculating how much those items would cost in 2025 dollars. As you might expect, the total has gone up, but the discrepancy is still pretty wild. Some magic is worth protecting At the end of the day, there’s something genuinely touching about a dad choosing to guard a little bit of childhood wonder, even when it’s his own face on the screen. Every kid eventually finds out Santa isn’t real, and someday Culkin’s sons will connect the dots on Kevin too. But for now, he gets to watch his own kids fall in love with Home Alone the same uncomplicated way millions of other families have for 35 years, without the weight of knowing dad was the one running from burglars. That’s a gift most actors never get to give their kids, and Culkin seems to know exactly how lucky that makes him. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post Macaulay Culkin says his kids have seen ‘Home Alone’ but he hasn’t told them Kevin is their dad appeared first on Upworthy.

Digital fatigue is brutal. It robs us of our focus, productivity, and most importantly, our joy. Thankfully, there is a way to escape the never-ending flurry of notifications, emails, and pings and reclaim our inner peace in a way that’s not only effective but fun as well. Cue: analog hobbies. The health benefits of analog hobbies are well-documented. Whether they be artistic pursuits like painting or drawing, which help ease racing thoughts and anxiety, or physical activities like gardening or dancing, which get us more active, or some combination of both, like cooking or woodworking, which enlists both the practical and creative sides of our brains. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us found out firsthand just how soothing tech-free hobbies could be. According to one survey, nearly two-thirds of Americans picked up a new hobby during this time. And even though we are more or less back to the regular hustle and bustle of pre-COVID times, the need to unplug is just as important now as ever. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next low-to-no tech hobby, keep reading. One Redditor’s search for simplicity Recently, a Reddit user shared that they had been “craving a bit of simplicity and a break from screens,” and in the process rediscovered former analog passions like sketching and playing vinyl records. Rediscovering the joy of analog hobbies in a digital world. What’s your favorite non-tech hobby? byu/ArraFerro inHobbies “Personally, I’ve found that stepping away from tech even for just an hour or two really helps with mental clarity and stress relief,” they wrote. “Also, there’s something so satisfying about making something with your hands, right?” “It made me wonder: what non-tech hobbies have you all picked up or returned to recently?” they added. “Whether it’s knitting, gardening, brewing your own coffee, or something else that doesn’t require a charger or Wifi.” Boy, did people respond in kind. Be it with classics like cross-stitching, or some out-of-the-box ideas like sending postcards to German princes (more on that later). Many even shared samples of their WIPS (works in progress), which was doubly inspiring. The hobbies people can’t stop recommending Take a look at some of our favorites: “Fused glass is my current hobby. I just enjoy doing it and don’t look at my phone for hours when I’m cutting glass. Unfortunately, I do have a lot of cuts on my hands.” A fused glass bowl. Photo credit: Reddit “Solo board games. There are tons of different mechanics, difficulties and themes…My favorites are Tiny Epic Dungeons, Nemo’s War, Zombicide Black Plague, Threetale, Grove, Valor and Villainy, Ludwig’s Labyrinth.” “Aquascaping is such a good break from tech. I have all the time I spend fiddling with rocks and plants, and once that’s done and I stock the tank with fish and shrimp and whatever else, I have a living piece of art that is 100% custom and always changing.” An example of aquascaping. Photo credit: Reddit “Volunteering at the animal shelter.” “Journaling! My thoughts feel so much clearer after writing everything down. :-)” “I’ve fallen in love with whittling.” Whittled Halloween figures. Photo credit: Reddit “Gardening has probably become the one that’s changed my life the most, it gets me more active, I spend and enjoy hours outside now. It’s taken a big bite out of my grocery bill, it also forces me to cook more. I extend the season by growing cool season crops, keeping a small hydro grow indoors and starting seeds in March. I also vermicompost indoors which is oddly fun and comforting — digging in dirt in the middle of winter and anticipating spring. I find having year round gardening activities helps with SAD and it’s done a ton for my overall mental health and sense of wellbeing.” “Water coloring bookmarks.” A water color painted bookmark. Photo credit: Reddit Even more analog hobbies worth trying “I’ve been doing film photography since 1973 and am still at it in my home darkroom.” “Repairing old electric toy trains. I find myself looking forward to unplugging and taking these things apart to fix or replace a part or two and bring them back to life. The smell of oil, soldering a wire or two, working through a fairly simple mechanical problem – these are the only things keeping me sane these days!” “Counted cross-stitch work in progress” A cross-stitched pattern of a goddess-like woman. Photo credit: Reddit “I have gotten back into writing letters to pen pals but most of them are what I call fictional pen pals. That’s where I create a character and that character writes a pen pal letter to another created character. It’s a lot of fun and makes me slow down to actually write a letter and I can live a more exciting life through my character.” “Latte-art for me :)” Latte art. Photo credit: Reddit “I write letters to royals and nobles world wide and collect their responses. It makes going to the mailbox a lot of fun! I always send birthday, anniversary, and coronation day greetings. Other times it might be commenting on an event they attended or appearance they made. Other times letters of condolence if they’ve experienced a recent death of a loved one. You’d be surprised how many respond personally, particularly minor royals or nobles (the German princes have been particularly gracious with their time to write back).” “Been a woodworker since I was a wee lad. It’s just super relaxing and mentally rewarding to dive into a project… Here’s one of my latest…Most of the work was done with muscle powered hand tools…” A handmade wood cabinet. Photo credit: Reddit “Making collages from old magazines. It’s somewhat mindless and cheap to get started. People give away free old magazines on Facebook marketplace or you can buy cheap ones on eBay.” “Making my own stencils from cardboard and using them on my gelli plate. I’m into surface design at the moment.” “Watercolor painting” A watercolor butterfly. Photo credit: Reddit “I’m getting back into art welding. Last week, I found myself in a flow state and forgot to eat. I’m also stunned at how encouraging different old dudes have been to me at supply shops. It was not like that 13 years ago when I learned.” “Knitting socks.” “Dollhouse miniature modeling.” View this post on Instagram “Getting back into pottery. I get into my zen zone when my hands get dirty.” “After dabbling before, I’m now taking up bookbinding! Despite the latest trend in doing up fancy versions of paperbacks, you can actually start with stuff you have at home and would otherwise throw away. The first book we’re making in my coptic class uses cardboard packaging and regular printer paper.” “Camping and backpacking are the most fulfilling for me. I enjoy hiking, birding, tying knots, chilling in a hammock, reading, and photography. I get to do all those things in one hobby.” “Mandolin and tenor guitar.” “I paint portraits in oils – mostly of family, or pets. Here is my latest piece. It’s a very rewarding hobby and I’ve met some amazing people along the way.” An oil portrait of a baby. Reddit “My all-time favourite analog hobbies are dirt biking, snowmobiling, skiing at 2-3 years old, and they certainly do not need WiFi. Why are they such a great escape from the digital world? Cause you literally leave your home, go where theres no cell service, and you only focus on the machine/skis and never the phone while doing them. Perfect, best escape from the digital world.” “I go on walks looking for 4 leaf clovers and lay them out in a photo album and think of it kind of like art meets meditation meets scavenger hunting.” Pressed four leaf clovers. Photo credit: Reddit “Penmanship. Specifically: writing cursive with a fountain pen. I’ve started collecting some pens, improved my handwriting, started journaling a little, and even ground some of my own nibs.” “Public lectures, author meet-and-greets, book clubs, meetups in general- local colleges often have special interest groups open to the public, public libraries usually have some event going on, farmer’s markets and local festivals frequently have interesting people who love to talk about what they do.” “I love air dry clay, particularly the brand Das.” A clay pumpkin. Photo credit: Reddit “Rockhounding, because it literally gets me out of the house and going places.” For those wondering, rockhounding is searching for and collecting rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, etc. Some folks get specific on what types of colors or shapes they aim to find. And while rockhounding itself involves no tech, you might need to hop online to make sure you’re allowed to take items from the spot you’re in. “I love fishing! It’s so peaceful!” “I danced as a kid and recently got back into it through a dance fitness class. Now I’m choreographing my own dances. It’s fun, active, and creative.” Let this be your sign to carve out some time for joy today, in whatever way feels best. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you for it. This article originally appeared in February. It has been updated. The post People share their favorite ‘non-tech’ hobbies that keep them sane in a digital world appeared first on Upworthy.

Ahhh, siblings. Sometimes they’re your best friends and other times your living room turns into an MMA octagon over the remote control. If you grew up with brothers and sisters, it’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be an only child. (That’s not to say you didn’t dream about it when your sister stole your favorite shirt for the 30th time.) If you didn’t grow up with siblings, however, it can feel pretty impossible to imagine what life is like with them. While those of us with siblings sometimes daydreamed about being an only, only children likely also had moments where they dreamt of having a brother or sister, not realizing the literal torment siblings can inflict on each other. One video, one instant education TikTok creator Lonnie IIV recently posted a video of himself with two other friends seemingly out to lunch. One of the friends asks what it was like to grow up with siblings and in less than a minute, she realized she lucked out being an only child because her two guy friends gave her a crash course in sibling behavior. In the clip, Lonnie asked if she wanted her drink but then promptly told her she didn’t want it before swirling his fingers around in her cup. This prompted the other friend to throw his balled-up straw paper at her before repeatedly dipping chopsticks into her soup. The woman just laughed and looked seemingly confused at the nonsense her guy friends were displaying. Of course, no sibling experience would be complete without the classic “stop touching me” added for a little pizzazz. @lonnieiiv Don’t ask, just bring it ♬ original sound – Lonnie The internet related hard “She got an entire childhood in less than a minute,” one user wrote. A different user said, “This is so accurate.” Other commenters started sharing the things they did to their siblings or vice versa. The comment thread was full of sibling…nostalgia? Seems weird to look back on those memories with fondness, yet here we are. Honestly, my brother used to ask if he could have a bite of my food, and when I said no, he would just lick it before asking again. In turn, when my brothers wouldn’t let me play video games with them, I would pinch my arm until it turned red and run out of the room crying to tell my mom they hit me. Kids are weird, but thankfully there are usually doses of love in between the madness. If you grew up with siblings, you’ll likely appreciate the video below. Or it’ll give you flashbacks. It’s a toss-up. If you don’t have siblings, you may feel the need to have us evaluated. We turned out alright…mostly. This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated. The post Only child asks friends what it’s like growing up with siblings. They showed her instead. appeared first on Upworthy.

The English language is hard to master, even for native speakers. With over an estimated one million words in the language, not only are English words hard to memorize, they can be hard to properly pronounce and enunciate. Getting tripped up with pronunciation can make your communication unclear, or worse, make you sound uneducated. As American English teacher Vanessa explains, many mispronounced words are common and used in daily conversation due to tricky consonants and vowels in English words. But by knowing the proper pronunciation, it can help you become a more confident speaker, which is why she shared 33 words that are hard for English language learners to pronounce, such as “probably,” “drawer,” and “sixth.” On the subreddit r/words, a person posed the question: “What’s a word you’ve noticed many native English speakers have difficulty enunciating even though the word is used fairly often?” Turns out, there are a menagerie of words people notoriously stumble over. These are 27 English words that people say are the hardest to enunciate. Tricky ‘R’ words “The word I notice people struggle with is ‘vulnerable’. Something about that N following an L is tricky.” – common_grounder “Rural.” – Silent-Database5613 “’Nucular’ for nuclear.” – throwawayinthe818 “Remuneration v renumeration (first one is correct).” – RonanH69 “February. It sounds like you’re pronouncing it like it’s spelled Febuary. But it’s spelled February.” – SDF5-0, ShadedSpaces “Mirror. Some people pronounce it ‘meer’.” – weinthenolababy, diversalarums “Anthropomorphize is a word I have to use semi-frequently with limited success each attempt.” – ohn_the_quain “I can’t say the phrase ‘rear wheel’ without considerable effort.” – ohn_the_quain “Eraser (erasure, but they’re talking about the pink rubber thing).” – evlmgs Multiple syllables “Exacerbated vs exasperated.” – SNAFU-lophagus “‘Asterisk’. A lot of people wind up inadvertently name-checking Asterix. I think it’s best for those who struggle to use the alternative name for that punctuation mark, the ‘Nathan Hale’, after the American patriot who famously declared, ‘I can only regret that I have but one asterisk for my country!'” – John_EightThirtyTwo “I realized recently I have always mispronounced mischievous. It’s mis-chiv-us, not mis-chee-vee-us. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone pronounce that correctly.” – callmebigley ‘Supposebly’ [supposedly]. Drives me up the wall.” – BlushBrat “Library. My coworker knows I hate it, so he’ll say Liberry every time.” – Jillypenny “ET cetera, not ‘ect’ cetera. I think people are used to seeing the abbreviation etc and since there is no diphthong tc in English their mind bends it into ect.” – AdFrequent4623 “The amount of people who say Pacific when they’re trying to stay specific is pretty alarming. I’m not even sure if they know it’s a different word sometimes.” – Global-Discussion-41 “Then there was my old boss who would confidently and consistently use the word tenant when he meant tenet.” – jaelith “Probably.” – Rachel_Silver “Contemplate. It’s one of those word I hear people stumble over more than anything, often it comes out as Comtemplate, Contempate or a combination of both.” – megthebat49 Foods “Turmeric. People drop the first R. It drives me nuts!” – Jillypenny “Oh, and it’s espresso, no X [ex-presso].” – Jillypenny “Also cardamom with an N.” – nemmalur “Pumpkin (punkin).” – evlmgs Awkward vowels “Crayon . My ex pronounced it ‘cran’. Drove me up a wall.” – rickulele, premeditatedlasagna ‘Mute’ for moot. A good friend of mine, who’s extremely intelligent and articulate otherwise, says that. Unfortunately, it’s a word she likes to use. I haven’t had the heart to tell her she’s pronouncing it incorrectly, and it’s been three decades.” NewsSad5006, common_grounder “Jewelry.” – weinthenolababy “I hear grown adults calling wolves woofs and they’re not doing it to be funny.” – asexualrhino The words we’ll probably keep getting wrong At the end of the day, mispronouncing a word isn’t a sign of ignorance, it’s just proof that English is a genuinely chaotic language built from centuries of borrowed rules that were never meant to work together. Even the most well-read, articulate people have a word or two they’ve been saying wrong their whole lives, often without anyone ever gently correcting them. So the next time someone stumbles over “anemone” or says “expresso” instead of “espresso,” maybe skip the correction and just relate. Chances are, you’ve got your own word that’s been quietly betraying you for years too. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post 27 English words people have a hard time enunciating properly, even native speakers appeared first on Upworthy.