Megan Tobias adored her mother, Sandy, an environmental scientist who loved to travel. In her later years, Sandy worked as a home health aid, all while battling lung cancer herself. Toward the end of her life, Sandy bought a bright new car in a stunning shade of blue. Her children also had a pair of Nike Air Max 97 sneakers made for her as a Mother’s Day gift to match her beloved car. As Sandy’s cancer progressed, those shoes served as her comfort. She wore them everywhere and even requested that her body be cremated wearing the shoes.  Megan, her father, and brothers honored that request, but have always felt melancholy about losing that memory of their mom. As a family, they plan to travel to Alaska, one of Sandy’s wish list trips, to spread her ashes. Megan wanted them all to wear the same Nike sneakers that Sandy adored. When she went to the website to design them, the options were no longer there. So Megan went to TikTok and shared her story. Little did she know how quickly she’d go viral. @megantobiass I don’t usually make these kinds of videos but please if you could tag @Nike and help me make my mom’s custom sneaker so my family can wear them on our trip to spread her ashes I would be forever grateful ♬ I Thought I Saw Your Face Today – She & Him Nike Commented on Megan’s Post with an Incredible News About the Sneakers Megan’s tearful video reached millions, including Nike. They commented from their official TikTok with an amazing message. “We’re so sorry for your loss, Megan. Your mom had exceptional taste. We’re working on something special for you and your family. Please check your DMs,” the comment reads. In a follow-up video, Megan shared that Nike offered to create custom Air Max 97 sneakers just like her mom’s for the whole family. Followers, fans, and now friends shared their excitement for Megan. “Home health workers are amazing!!! So glad that @Nike is remaking them they’re not just making shoes. They’re fulfilling a memory,” someone wrote. “We’re all family now. Can’t wait to see Alaska,” another person shared. “So glad that Nike came through for your family. It would be amazing to see a pic of your whole family in front of her car in the matching shoes,” a comment suggested. Megan assured followers she’ll share a photo of the whole family in their Nike sneakers to honor Sandy. This story’s featured image can be found here.

When we’re already running late, the last thing we want to see is the red and blue flashing bulbs on top of a police car. Getting pulled over is never fun, but it’s even worse when it adds more time to our journey. Even though we sometimes feel like the police are just sitting there, waiting to bust someone, they’re really looking out for the community’s safety. When deputies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office pulled a man over for speeding, he thought he’d get a ticket. Instead, the deputy helped him on his way. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Noticed the Man Speeding According to a Facebook post, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy pulled the man over for speeding, but quickly learned his story. “Deputy Dustin Byers with the 4th District recently stopped a driver for speeding on Highway 21. The man explained he was on his way to a funeral and was having a tough day. To top it off, he couldn’t get his tie right. Without hesitation, Deputy Byers helped him out…not just with the knot, but with a moment of kindness he won’t forget,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “????????: compassion still exists, even on the side of the road.” The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy’s act of kindness not only touched the man on the way to the funeral, but thousands of others in the comment section. “Life is too short to always suspect and always see the negative in everything,” someone wrote. “Thank you Lord for this moment God continue to allow that deputy to show compassion on his community no matter what the case may be and please Lord protect him,” another person shared. Just seeing good news made people smile. “I wish we could have more of these kinds of interactions. Humanity and compassion goes a long way. I pray for the bereaved gentleman and the helpful officer. May God bless them both,” a follower wrote. This story’s featured image can be found here.

This summer, the United States will officially turn 250 years old. The White House has a countdown on its official website that updates us every second as we get closer to America’s birthday.   “On July 4, 2026, America will celebrate the most important milestone in our country’s history—250 years of American Independence. “With a single sheet of parchment and 56 signatures, America began the greatest political journey in human history,” President Donald Trump said of the anniversary. Steak ‘n Shake is just as excited as President Trump and has launched a special milkshake for the month of January. Steak ‘n Shake Has a Patriotic Milkshake for a Steal The fast-food chain shared an image of the milkshake on social media, along with details about the January promotion. “Steak n Shake is getting a head start on America’s 250th anniversary of its founding,” the post reads. “All January, our Patriot Milkshake will be priced at only $2.50.” “Wow, I love seeing a company that supports and appreciates our country! I will definitely be coming in for one of these,” someone wrote. “I’ll take 1776, to go, please,” another person shared. Lots of Steak ‘n Shake fans look forward to trying the Patriotic milkshake. “Still a favorite ~ At least once a week. It’s my grandson and I’s regular dine in stop. Good friendly service , good food and the shakes are at the table as soon as we sit down. Definitely trying the Patriot Shake,” someone wrote. “I love the fries and the burgers. And quite honestly the prices are way cheaper than McDonald’s or Wendy’s,”another person agreed. This person misses the old Steak ‘n Shake. “I wish Steak ‘n Shake would go back to the old model with servers and breakfast! They had the best breakfast tacos! I was a server in college. Still love the food, just miss the old way,” they commented. This story’s featured image is by IM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images.

Keeping a clean house is not easy. Approximately 21% of Americans report that they find cleaning tasks overwhelming according to a survey from the American Cleaning Institute, and approximately 10% of Americans enlist extra help to keep their homes spotless from housekeepers, notes the Home Cleaning Centers of America.In an online discussion about cleaning tips on Reddit, people shared the most impactful housekeeping advice they've gleaned from housekeepers that have helped them keep their homes not just clean, but free from clutter."When I think of a clean home, it’s not just a wiped down surface; it’s tidy, organized, decluttered and presentable," one person wrote. "These tips contribute to the feel of a tidy, intentional and presentable home." - YouTube www.youtube.com These are 18 helpful housekeeping tips that will help you keep your home orderly and sparkling clean."I wrap my phone charger through my bed frame so it’s always easy to grab. It used to just hang on the ground. It was life changing when I first got into bed and saw my housekeeper did this for me." - Bubbly_Picture_9876"I open ALL blinds and curtains. I used to clean but keep it pretty dim, but opening ALL blinds makes a huge difference! Feels so much cleaner immediately." - Bubbly_Picture_9876"[Having a handheld vacuum]. LIFE CHANGING!!! Taking out the vacuum was a pain so I did it when crumbs would accumulate. Having a small one in the kitchen drawer makes it so easy, so I don’t mind quickly vacuuming crumbs and dirt whenever I see them." - Bubbly_Picture_9876"Wipe down the bathroom surfaces with toilet paper before cleaning to get the dust up. Then clean. So much quicker. Even better - cut a small piece of a disposable duster off and use it to dust the toilet first. It works SO well and gets in the weird nooks and crannies of the exterior toilet where dust and whatnot accumulates." - Advanced-Public4935, dodie437"I worked as a housekeeper for a while and picked up the habit of vacuuming the bathroom before cleaning anything. It picks up dust, hair, and any other miscellaneous things you might not want to grab with bare hands." - iufgv"Baseboards wiped with a dryer sheet ??." - dphiloo - YouTube www.youtube.com "LIGHT SWITCHES! It’s the first thing I notice in homes and I would say in general one of the big 'blind spots' for people. And refrigerator and oven handles, wipe daily with a damp micro fiber and you’ll notice such a nicer feeling grabbing them." - ccoopp10"Scrub the door that goes from the house to garage. It is usually filthy, and we rarely think of it cuz guests don’t usually use it." - ExpressionKey2820"I have a step to climb to get into my bed. My ladies put my slippers there. It made me feel cared for, like when I was a child." - Lily_V_"I clean off the counters / wipe them down, then sweep, BEFORE doing the dishes. I always get water on the floor while doing dishes and then either mess up my broom / sweeping bc it’s wet or have to get on my hands and knees to clean up the water and waste paper towels or a dirty up a towel. So my order goes: counters, sweep, dishes, mop." - Sanch0panza"Dishwashing soap to clean my glass shower stall." - wildblueberry9"Dusting & disinfecting the underside of the toilet. So between the seat and the floor. So many people miss this area and it's like night and day. Most don't notice dust there because you'd have to get up close to see it, or deliberately look at the underside of the toilet, but once it is dusted you can tell right away from a distance. The whole bathroom feels so clean." - DaisyFart"Invest in a steam cleaner. It cleans everything." - iNerdRage Woman uses a steam cleaner on a rug.Photo credit: Canva"I found some cable clips that I love for my cell phone, iPad, and watch charging cables. They’re attached to the side of my nightstand. Go to Amazon and search for 'cable clips.' Then I can find the charging cable I need within reach." - blueSnowfkake"When my fridge starts running low on food and I’m purging I do a quick inside wipe down / sink wash of a couple of fridge shelves and also wipe down the inside and around the fridge." - No-Rush8716"I also got some rubber gap covers that cover the slit in between the stove and counter. It’s been a game changer because it keeps that spot clear. It use to drive me crazy to clean and stuff would stuck in there all the time." - No-Rush8716"My last cleaning crew used a mop that had clips. They could attach microfiber or other cloths to use depending. I couldn't find exactly the model they used but found one on Amazon called Mr. Siga. I buy 50 packs of terry shop cloths at Costco and similar packs of microfiber cloths. They all fit on the head of this mop. For me, these are so much better than Swiffers. I use a spray bottle with all purpose cleaner dilution when I'm doing the floors. It also works much better than a broom when dry." - gripping_intrigue"I keep a dish scrubber brush in the shower, and in the soap reservoir of it I use 1/2 cleaning vinegar and 2/3 dish soap. Once a week while I'm in the shower I can scrub the shower down while I'm in it and it makes it so much easier. Got it from a housekeeper on Tiktok." - tatertots8sunburns

Ever been told that you mumble? Or that your way of speaking is quiet or lacking confidence? It could be affecting you in a range of situations, from asking someone out to giving a presentation at work or interviewing for a job. Well, a behavior researcher has a solution for you: put a pen in your mouth.Behavior expert and speaker Dr. Shadé Zahrai shared a technique in a social media video that could help people who mumble, rush through speeches, or generally struggle to enunciate when speaking aloud. She recommends taking a clean pen and placing it horizontally in your mouth, like a horse biting a bridle. Then take out a book and read it aloud to yourself for one minute, even overpronouncing some words if you need to. After a minute has passed, take the pen out of your mouth and continue reading the rest of the page. Doing this "Pen Drill" once a day should help you speak more clearly and effectively overall. @shadezahrai I promise you - so this for 60 seconds and you’ll enunciate better. This may sound silly, but there's solid reasoning behind it. Because you're trying to hear yourself clearly while speaking with a pen in your mouth, you naturally slow down as your mouth opens wider than usual. This makes your speech and enunciation clearer by forcing you to slow down and articulate each word. A side benefit is that speaking slowly and enunciating clearly makes you appear more calm, confident, and authoritative. @joseczuniga Try this pen trick to enunciate better and get a deeper more confident voice #josezuniga There are additional benefits beyond clearer speech. Content creator Jose Zuniga claims the technique can help men deepen their voices. Zuniga says that when men speak from their chest rather than their throat during the "Pen Drill," the wider mouth opening allows them to speak at a lower pitch than usual. Singers and vocal coaches also recommend putting a pen in your mouth in order to reduce vocal strain. @sophiesaidcoaching A tip guarenteed to help with vocal strain!! Just grab a pen or a chopstick #vocalcoach #singing #singer Speaking clearly is incredibly beneficial, not only because it helps you be understood and get what you want, but also because it makes you appear more eloquent and intelligent. Speaking in a clear, calm way makes you sound confident, which helps people believe your words and arguments more than if they were delivered meekly, filled with "ums" and "uhs." Combined with strong body language, it can mean the difference between being believable and being believed."Clear speech signals calm authority, and calm authority is magnetic," explains Zahrai in her video. "You don't sound rushed, you don't sound unsure, you sound like someone who expects to be listened to." @gentlemens_collective To be become a better speaker FAST… slow down. If you want to improve your speech, whether to reduce mumbling, slow a rushed, worried pace, or sound more confident, put a pen in your mouth and swallow your pride (but not the pen!). With time and practice, it could change your speech patterns into ones people clearly understand and feel compelled to listen to.