From today’s show, According to a market research company called Circana, adults buying for themselves made up 20 percent of plush toy sales in 2024, with companies and brands like Build-a-Bear, Jellycat, and Squishmallows cashing in on the grown-ups. I shared that a week or so ago, a friend of mine said I needed an emotional support animal. Since I am not responsible enough to care for a living creature, she decided on the next best thing. So the next time you stop by the Edwards Estate, you will have to share the couch with my new companion, Chester.
THE ONE THING MOST LIKELY TO DERAIL YOUR DIET _ If you’re trying to lose weight, the one thing that is most likely to derail your best diet plan is… your family and close friends. Don’t believe it? Test it. Go on a diet. Lose a few pounds. Brag a little. And then see what happens. Chances are, you’ll find you’re the recipient of fattening food gifts. Your spouse may buy you a candy bar at the movies or your co-worker will offer you cookies when the afternoon munchies hit. They aren’t doing this to be mean or vindictive. They probably aren’t even conscious of it. But what they are doing is sabotaging your weight loss success. A researcher at Johns Hopkins University said that the problem can be defined in one word: change. A diet creates big changes in anyone’s life. These are changes welcomed by the dieter, but friends and family aren’t in the same mode of change. Be aware that diet sabotage is not done purposefully and maliciously. It’s unconscious.
IT’S WORLD GRITS FESTIVAL TIME _ The 2025 World Grits Festival is coming this weekend (April 11, 12, 13) in St. George, South Carolina. This year marks the festival’s 40th anniversary and features a variety of activities celebrating grits. Rollin’ in the Grits is back for 2025. A large kiddie pool is filled with cooked grits, typically around 550 pounds of dry grits mixed with over 300 gallons of water. Contestants dive into the pool and have 10 seconds to coat themselves with as much grits as possible. They often wear big hats and loose pants with many pockets to maximize grits collection. The person who collects the most grits on their body wins. This is determined by weighing contestants before and after they roll in the grits. • WEBSITE
