• Tamela Gill Davis is married to Demario Davis, a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints.
• She has a graduate degree in education and homeschools their six kids.
• The family does dinner together about four nights a week during football season.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tamela Gill Davis. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I always felt like there were two divergent paths for me to follow. One led to New York City, where I would live my best Carrie Bradshaw life, fiercely independent. The other led to a partner I really trusted, and a large family to structure my life around.

Soon after I met my husband, Demario Davis, I realized I was moving along the second path. Demario and I met in class when I was in grad school, and he was in his senior year of college. For about six months, we were just friends, but when Demario asked me to be his girlfriend, he explained he wanted to date me with the intention of getting married. It was like a mini proposal.

The next year, 2012, we got married, and Demario was drafted to the NFL. Today, he plays for the Saints, while I homeschool our kids.

Our 6 kids have two first names each

My mom and dad had many siblings, and I loved watching the dynamics between my aunts and uncles at my grandmother's house. I wanted five kids, like the Crosbys, but Demario said we should make it an even six.

I'm not having any more. After our fifth child, I had my first miscarriage. I thought that was a sign that my body was done, but soon after, I got pregnant again. It was a difficult pregnancy, and the delivery was my first C-section. My body has had enough after being pregnant or nursing for nearly 12 years.

All our kids have double first names, like Bailey-Grace, our oldest. It appeals to the vintage southern girl in me. They call each other by the first part of their names, but I always use the full name. I teach them that they can ask people to use their full names too, and correct others if it's wrong on paperwork.

I planned to be an educator, and now I homeschool

Before I met Demario, I was planning a career in education: I would become a teacher, then a principal, then a superintendent, before moving into higher education. However, after we were married, I quit my job when he was drafted by the Jets, and we moved.

I signed our oldest up for preschool, but it never lasted long. People would ask, "What are you looking for?" and I realized I was looking for a teacher like me. Because of my background in education, I had structured our home like a schoolhouse, setting up learning corners, without even realizing it.

Homeschooling fits our schedule and lifestyle, but it's about so much more than that: it feels like an assignment from God.

Another teacher helps me out

On a typical day, I require the kids to be "on" from 7 to 7. They wear uniforms Monday through Thursday. It's a way of teaching professional development. It's very important to show up in the world in a way that reflects who you are, and presentation is a big part of that. It's almost like etiquette training.

Today, the kids are 12, 10, 9, 6, 4, and 1 years old. We have a very individualized approach to learning, so sometimes they follow the same curriculum, and sometimes they don't. Right now, I have another teacher come in to help: she'll work with the big kids while I work with the littles, then we'll switch.

We want the kids to know they're our most important team

On game days, we get up early and have doughnuts for breakfast. The kids lay out their clothes the night before and complete their checklist. We aim to get to the stadium an hour before kickoff. The kids enjoy watching Dad, and especially love running onto the field with him after the games.

Even with our schedule, family dinners are very important to me. We typically have dinner together at 6 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays during the season. If we can't do that because a child has an activity, we find time to gather together as a family before bed. We use video chat if Demario is traveling.

The kids need to know that although life is busy, they're extremely important to us and they're important to each other. We always tell them: we're the team.

• There are some UK Christmas traditions that people from the US haven't experienced before.
• Every Christmas, families gather to watch pantomimes or meet their school friends at the pub.
• They also eat Yorkshire puddings, mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Christmas cake.

If you call him "Father Christmas" instead of Santa Claus, you just might be from the United Kingdom.

Christmas in the United Kingdom differs slightly from celebrations in America and elsewhere around the world.

From what is traditionally served at a Christmas Day feast to festive activities and childhood traditions, families across the pond have their own unique and quirky ways of celebrating the holidays.

Something that's universal, though: the cost of the holidays and the anxiety it brings some families. A third of British people surveyed by YouGov in November said they were at least "fairly worried" about the cost of this Christmas and its effect on their finances.

Here are 18 British Christmas traditions that might surprise you.

Pantomimes, or "pantos," are plays performed around Christmastime in the UK.

Pantos are humorous, slapstick entertainment for the whole family, often featuring men dressed in drag. They are sometimes based on famous fairy tales or stories, such as "Cinderella," "Peter Pan," or "The Wizard of Oz." 

Pantomimes rely on specific tropes. For example, there's often a villain who will sneak up on the protagonist intermittently throughout the play. It's then the role of the audience to scream, "He's behind you!" to the main character while they struggle to figure out what's going on.

Yorkshire puddings are perfect with gravy, but people outside the UK may have never heard of them.

A traditional British roast dinner wouldn't be complete without Yorkshire puddings filled with Bisto or homemade gravy. Yorkshire puddings — not to be confused with sweet puddings — are made of eggs, flour, and milk or water.

After they're cooked in hot oil in the oven, they end up with a distinct hole in the middle. They closely resemble what Americans know as popovers.

While Yorkshire puddings are a common feature at Sunday dinners throughout the year, they're also eaten at Christmastime, although some argue they have no place on a Christmas plate.

Santa Claus is referred to as "Father Christmas."

While some in the UK refer to Old Saint Nick as Santa Claus, it is widely accepted that Father Christmas is his more traditionally British name.

"Santa Claus" is seen as an Americanism, and The Telegraph reported that even the British National Trust said that "Santa Claus should be known as 'Father Christmas' in stately homes and historic buildings because the name is more British."

British children hang Christmas stockings at the ends of their bed.

In America, Christmas stockings are hung by the fireplace with care. However, some British children hang their stockings at the ends of their beds for Father Christmas to fill up while they're sleeping. 

Christmas Eve is a time for school friends to reunite.

The Thanksgiving weekend is viewed in the United States as an opportunity for students to reunite with friends from high school or middle school. In the UK, it's a tradition for school friends to come together on Christmas Eve, often at the local bar or pub.

Christmas pudding is a traditional British dessert popular during the holiday season.

A Christmas pudding is a dense fruit cake often made weeks or even months in advance. This process allows the dried fruit to absorb the alcohol that's regularly poured onto the cake in the weeks leading up to consumption.

On Christmas, the cake is set alight and then topped with a sauce of brandy butter or rum butter, cream, lemon cream, ice cream, custard, or sweetened béchamel. It is also sometimes sprinkled with caster or powdered sugar.

For many years, Queen Elizabeth II even gifted each member of her staff a Christmas pudding from Tesco.

Another dessert of choice is Christmas cake, a rich fruit cake covered with marzipan and icing.

While fruit cake is certainly a polarizing dessert wherever you are, Brits seem to make it a little better with thick, sweet white icing. Often, Christmas cake is also topped with festive holly decorations. 

Mince pies are pastries filled with dried fruits and spices, traditionally eaten at Christmas.

The BBC reported that the first-known mince pie recipe dates back to an 1830s English cookbook. By the mid-17th century, people reportedly began associating the small pies with the Christmas season.

At the time, they were traditionally filled with pork or other kinds of meat, sage, and other spices. Nowadays, the pies are filled with dried fruits and sugar powder.

British Christmas desserts are often enjoyed with brandy butter.

The perfect accompaniment to Christmas pudding and mince pies, brandy butter consists of butter and sugar beaten together, with brandy added last. Rum butter is an alternative.

The result is still butter-like in consistency, and it's served cold alongside desserts. Americans might know it as "hard sauce."

Brits say "Happy Christmas" instead of "Merry Christmas."

You might remember a scene from the first "Harry Potter" movie in which Ron says, "Happy Christmas, Harry!" While this may sound strange to an American, saying "Happy Christmas" is commonplace in the UK, as opposed to "Merry Christmas." 

Christmas crackers are cardboard tubes wrapped in brightly colored paper and twisted at each end, which two people pull for a fun surprise.

Christmas crackers are often pulled at the start of the meal, and the paper hats found inside are worn throughout the meal. Also inside each cracker is a "banger," which makes a loud pop when the cracker is pulled, a joke, and a small prize.

The jokes are usually cheesy and festive. For example: "Why did Santa's helper go to the doctor? Because he had low elf esteem!" 

However, be sure not to pack them if you're traveling to or from the UK on an airplane — they're not permitted to go through TSA in carry-on luggage.

"Top of the Pops" is a television special featuring performances of the year's most popular songs.

On Christmas, the BBC typically airs a holiday special of the since-retired show "Top of the Pops," featuring performances from the year's most popular musicians.

The program ran weekly from 1964 until 2006, when it was canceled. People were so upset that the BBC decided to keep the Christmas special, which airs late in the morning on December 25.

Millions of people watch the King's annual televised Christmas Day speech every year.

Every year, families gather to watch the royal Christmas address, informally known as the Queen's or King's speech.

The Telegraph reported that the first Christmas address was 251 words long, but Queen Elizabeth II later came to average 656 words in each speech. It is often one of the most-watched television programs on Christmas Day in the UK.

Christmas commercials are as talked-about as Super Bowl commercials are in the United States.

While Super Bowl commercials are highly scrutinized in the US, Brits pay just as close attention to Christmas commercials.

Not only is the John Lewis ad, or "advert," a Christmas tradition, but almost every supermarket and clothing brand tries to get in on the buzz with a talked-about Christmas commercial.

Brits also anticipate which song will become the annual "Christmas No. 1" single.

The British "Christmas No. 1" has been a tradition for over 50 years. Starting in 1952, the top song on the British singles chart has been a coveted spot every Christmas. Christmas No. 1 alums include The Beatles, Queen, Ed Sheeran, and more.

While some Christmas No. 1s have indeed been Christmas songs — "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid II in 1989, for example — they don't have to be.

School nativity plays are a popular tradition in UK primary schools.

While religious elementary schools in the United States may put on nativity plays, they are arguably much more popular and part of the culture in Britain.

In the popular British Christmas movie "Love Actually," the characters even attend a Christmas nativity play.

Brits take advantage of after-Christmas sales on Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is often referred to as the British equivalent of Black Friday, but there are notable differences between the two holidays. Boxing Day, which is a public holiday in the UK, falls on the day after Christmas and has a rich cultural history in Great Britain.

Originating in the mid-1600s, the day was traditionally a day off for servants. On this day, servants would receive a "Christmas Box," or gift, from their master. The servants would then return home on Boxing Day to give "Christmas Boxes" to their families.

In the UK, it can be bad luck to keep your decorations up for more than 12 days after Christmas.

Another difference between US and UK Christmas customs is evident after all the festivities have ended. 

In the UK, it's tradition to take down your tree and decorations 12 days after Christmas — known as Twelfth Night — to avoid bad luck in the new year.

In the Anglican tradition, Twelfth Night, or Epiphany Eve, is the day before Epiphany, which celebrates the coming of the Magi to baby Jesus and marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas. 

• As a Connecticut local, I've got recommendations for the best places to visit here in the winter.
• Harborview Market and The Tasty Yolk are some of my favorite places to get breakfast in the state.
• Consider staying at charming spots like Delamar Southport, The Firefly Inn, and The Litchfield Inn.

As a lifelong Connecticut local, I've explored every charming corner of my little slice of New England.

Though the state can get chilly and gray during the winter, I treat myself to enchanting staycations and exciting experiences that brighten it up every December.

Fortunately, I've discovered tons of cozy local spots that feel like they're straight out of a Hallmark movie this time of year.

From enchanting bed and breakfasts to hidden-gem cafés, here are my favorite places in Connecticut to visit each winter.

Head to Kent Collection's Firefly Inn for a quaint weekend escape.

This Kent Collection boutique hotel reminds me of the Dragonfly Inn from "Gilmore Girls."

It's a great place for an overnight stay in New England — book the vintage railcar, cozy barn-style "bunk house," or more classic room in The Firefly Inn.

I love that so many of its spaces are complete with fireplaces, whimsical floral wallpaper, and other cozy details.

While in Kent, enjoy the falls and try some local bites.

A stay at The Firefly Inn is just the luxury you'll need after exploring Kent Falls — one of the tallest waterfalls in the state — and Bull's Bridge, which you can use to access the Appalachian Trail.

While in the area, grab a delightful fireside bite at Fife 'n Drum Restaurant & Inn, like its hearty house-braised corned-beef reuben or light grilled-shrimp salad.

Enjoy Litchfield's charming inn, cute cafés, and unique shops.

A stay at The Litchfield Inn is perfect for a charming New England getaway. This traditional-yet-modern-farmhouse-style boutique hotel is nestled on 10 acres in the Berkshires foothills.

While in the area, grab a peppermint latte and cinnamon roll from @ The Corner. Or, drop by Espresso 59 for a chocolate-marshmallow cookie or giant chocolate-filled cupcake.

Pop into Milton Market to peruse beautiful home-decor finds and maybe even treat yourself to a new canvas tote with a leather tag.

Delamar in Southport offers a sweet dose of coastal charm.

A weekend at the Delamar Southport is a delight — especially if you choose to indulge in a balancing stone massage.

The hotel is home to the Artisan, which I'd consider to be the best upscale restaurant in Southport. It's a great place for an intimate hangout over a fine bottle of red.

At dusk, curl up on an Adirondack chair by one of the property's outdoor fire pits for s'mores roasting.

Visiting Westport's Terrain café and home store feels like stepping into a snow globe.

Terrain has a few locations throughout the US, but I'm especially fond of the one in Westport.

The garden and homeware store is also a full-service restaurant, serving seasonally inspired brunch and dinner dishes.

I love sipping a mug of hot cocoa or a toasted-marshmallow espresso martini by the fire in Terrain's outdoor garden, surrounded by evergreen wreaths and trees (that are also available for purchase).

Over the river and through the woods is Aquila's Nest, where igloos and mulled wine await.

This darling winery is nestled in the rolling hills of Newtown.

Consider gathering a group of friends to participate in dreamy events at Aquila's Nest, such as wreath-making or pairing gourmet chocolates with wines.

For an elevated date night, book a wine tasting in one of the property's igloos or a luxury seasonal picnic.

The Mercantile at GrayBarns can help bring any Martha Stewart-inspired Pinterest board to life.

Grab an Instagram-worthy wintery coffee and a goat-cheese tartine before shopping at GrayBarns' country store along the Silvermine River.

It's regularly home to a range of seasonal pop-ups, from flower trucks to displays from high-end fashion brands.

It's not just a café-marketplace hybrid, either — the property is also a farmhouse-style inn with an upscale tavern where visitors can enjoy their meals by a rustic stone fireplace.

Harborview Market in Black Rock is a hidden gem for breakfast.

One of my go-to breakfast spots in the winter is Harborview Market.

Many locals head here for The Paisan — an omelette with prosciutto, tomato, pesto, and fresh mozzarella — and a seasonal cup of joe.

Find your own private table, or share one family-style with other diners. If the sun is shining, there's always seating on the patio.

Check out the T-shirts, sweatshirts, and coffee beans for a fun take-home gift. Personally, I never leave Harborview without buying a box of freshly baked sea-salt chocolate-chip cookies.

Stop by The Tasty Yolk for the best bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich of your life.

Every winter morning should start with a bacon, egg, and cheese — and The Tasty Yolk delivers the goods.

The local favorite breakfast spot has several locations and food trucks in the state, though I'm partial to the one by the Fairfield/Bridgeport line.

Even on cold days, I've seen long lines of people waiting outside this cute little food truck just to snag a warm, oversized breakfast sandwich.

Go shopping in downtown Greenwich to experience a quintessential New England vibe.

Grabbing food and doing some shopping in Greenwich is a perfect New England day trip.

Greenwich Avenue — known by locals as "The Ave" — is home to several high-end stores, like LoveShackFancy, and a slew of excellent cafés and restaurants.

I suggest grabbing an elevated brunch at The Cottage or coffee and freshly baked French pastries at Raphaël's.

Plan a winter hike and picnic at Sleeping Giant State Park.

Sometimes, the best plans are the simplest ones.

Bundle up and hike to Sleeping Giant — a small mountain in Hamden that's over 700 feet tall — for an incredible workout and views.

You can even have a cozy picnic in the state park; just be sure to pack a thermos of hot chocolate and pick up sandwiches from Meat & Co. nearby in New Haven before heading out.

• I've been divorced and sharing custody for five years, but my youngest just started college.
• Becoming an empty nester prompted me to reevaluate my living situation, and I decided to downsize.
• I had a few dealbreakers when choosing my new apartment.

When I got amicably divorced five years ago, I moved to a three-bedroom apartment across the street from my old neighborhood to make the 50/50 custody arrangement easier on our two school-aged kids. I loved mostly everything about my new abode, from the layout to the location.

However, as time passed, I noticed a few downsides, including thin walls, noisy upstairs neighbors, and rent that incrementally increased by a staggering $1,000 over the five years I lived there. This year, with my 21-year-old living with their dad and considering a move of their own, and my 18-year-old starting college three and a half hours away, I decided it was a good time to downsize.

I had a few dealbreakers when choosing a new apartment

I considered moving to a smaller apartment in my same complex, which would have made things easy. But I felt I needed a more symbolic break from my old neighborhood and my old life, especially now that physical proximity to my kids is no longer as much of a consideration as they forge their own lives.

I briefly thought about buying a condo or townhouse, but it's a very expensive metro area and current rates aren't great; moreover, I'm thinking of relocating to Europe in a few years to live with my long-distance boyfriend, so the timing just didn't make sense.

My search for a new apartment included a few deal-breakers: it had to be on the top floor to eliminate the chance of heavy footsteps or loud children above me, with a spare bedroom for visits from my kids and to double as a home office, and a balcony for some outdoor space. And it had to get decent reviews from current and former residents. In anticipation of a move, I followed the Marie Kondo method to purge belongings I had brought over from my former house and accumulated since, discarding or donating more than 25 trash bags.

I ended up moving to a top-floor apartment in a garden-style complex. It's a walk-up, so I need to climb three flights of stairs every time, but I figure it's good exercise, especially since I work remotely. And since I also travel and the kids no longer live with me, I'm not buying as many groceries as I used to, so there's less for me to haul up and down on a regular basis.

I now save around $1,100 each month, but made a few compromises to do so

My goal was to save $1,000 a month; to achieve that and secure the coveted top-floor location, I opted for one of their non-renovated apartments, which actually saves me around $1,100 a month in rent. It's admittedly a bit dated, with (albeit new) wall-to-wall carpeting throughout, aside from the vinyl plank floors in the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as yellowish oak cabinets and black countertops. I prefer to avoid the harsh overhead lighting in favor of softer lamps.

The biggest drawback is the kitchen, which has way less storage space and older appliances than the flashy stainless steel ones I had in my old apartment. I bought and assembled a baker's rack next to the fridge to store my cookware and Le Creuset, as I love to cook, and I definitely underestimated the importance of a state-of-the-art kitchen.

But there are upsides. My new apartment is definitely quieter, with no loud footsteps or audible music from inconsiderate neighbors. The living room features cathedral ceilings and a gas fireplace, and instead of a busy road, my balcony overlooks trees and a serene water feature (it's a retention pond, but still). I unpacked everything in three days and decorated soon after, to make it feel like "home" as quickly as possible.

The biggest adjustment is the location. Though it's 20 minutes away in an area I'm familiar with, it might as well be an hour. After spending a quarter of a century in basically one area, I'm feeling a bit like a new transplant. There's still a pho restaurant nearby (one of my favorite foods), but it doesn't hit the same as the beloved one in my old 'hood. But I do love having a Trader Joe's right down the street.

The move has been a wake-up call that I still have too much stuff, so I'll be purging even more, including mostly everything in the spare bedroom closet. I'm looking forward to spring when I can hang out on my balcony and walk to the buzzy lifestyle center nearby. I keep reminding myself that this adjustment is inconsequential compared to how unfamiliar and foreign a move to Europe will feel, and that this is not my forever home. But it is home — at least for now.

• The US airlift fleet has a readiness problem for a modern war, an airpower expert argues in a new paper.
• The size, age, and lack of variety in aircraft could hinder the Air Force's plan to operate in a war with China.
• The Agile Combat Employment strategy would have aircraft operate across austere Indo-Pacific locations.

The US airlift fleet for moving troops, weapons, and critical supplies around the world is shrinking and growing older — a dangerous trend that could leave the military in a tight spot if war were to erupt with a major power, a new analysis warns.

In particular, the challenges facing the US Air Force's airlift force could undercut its plan for keeping units dispersed and survivable in a fight with China.

In a new Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies paper, retired Air Force Col. Robert Owen, who flew C-130 transport aircraft during his 28-year career and also served in a leadership role at Air Mobility Command, argues the current size and state of the airlift fleet may not meet potential wartime demand.

"In a peer conflict," he warns, "the airlift fleet may not be sufficient to meet the movement, supply, and other logistical demands of the services."

"The US Air Force, in particular, may not have enough airlift to support its ACE concept," Owen says, referring to the service's Agile Combat Employment strategy aimed at disaggregating assets to make it harder for an adversary to cripple US airpower in a single overwhelming strike.

There are fewer aircraft available for carrying personnel and equipment into the fight, and the ones the US does have aren't the right, varied mix for a high-end war.

The US military relies heavily on a mix of C-17s, converted airliners, and helicopters to haul cargo, refuel aircraft, and move people between theaters. But many of these airframes are now decades old and sliding toward obsolescence, Owen writes. At the end of the Cold War, the mobility fleet was significantly younger, and the Pentagon had clear plans to replace it.

Some airlift aircraft, like the C-17, are already flying beyond their originally planned service lives. The Air Force's 52 C-5M Super Galaxies — its largest airlifters — now average 37 years old and suffer from low mission-capable rates, Owen notes. And these planes are not alone. Much of the mobility fleet is aging fast alongside other assets on which the Air Force depends.

Gen. David Allvin, then the Air Force chief of staff, said in March that average aircraft age across the force had jumped from 17 in 1994 to 32 in 2024 as aircraft availability dropped substantially.

Other military leaders have raised concerns about airlift capacity, recognizing significant drops from Desert Storm in the 1990s to now.

"All of these aircraft have been worked hard across three decades of non-stop combat operations around the globe," Owen said specifically of the airlift fleet. That presents challenges as the US focuses its attention more on higher-end threats like Russia or China.

The ACE strategy, Owens writes, envisions "fighter units and support echelons rotating frequently and unpredictably among networks of" permanent bases, semi-permanent installations, and forward arming and refueling points (FARPs).

While the first two basing options can be supported by prepositioned stocks and host-nation support, small fighter teams at dispersed FARPs could be dependent almost entirely on C-17s and other theater mobility aircraft to bring in the fuel, weapons, and people.

The Air Force has been training on its ACE concept for years, having airmen maintain, fly out of, and land across atypical locations like a simple airfield or even a stretch of highway.

The concept is that while many air bases are in range and easily targeted, China would be unable to devastate American airpower if it were dispersed across the Indo-Pacific at a mix of traditional and makeshift airfields.

But, Owen writes, the Air Force "has not acquired significant numbers of aircraft capable of operating at the lower end of this requirement — delivering combat equipment and supplies into short and weakly surfaced forward airfields — and has no publicly released plans to do so. The budgets are not sized for this mission growth."

Thus, efforts to expand and sustain the airlift fleet should be a priority for the Department of Defense, he says.

These issues are just some facing the Air Force, which has shrunk and aged in the decades since the end of the Cold War while also being stressed by counterterrorism and counterinsurgency conflicts.

Senior military leaders, former Air Force personnel, and airpower experts warn that even as the US grapples with shrinking fleets and declining readiness, China's air force is expanding and rapidly modernizing.

The US still retains significant advantages in stealth aircraft, global logistics, combat experience, and allied support, they note, but China's sustained investment in capability is narrowing the gap and changing the balance of risk.

• Travis Kelce's gameday outfits have gotten as much attention as his athletic performances this year.
• His best looks were bold in color and perfectly tailored.
• The football player's worst outfits, however, included shorts and a tracksuit.

Travis Kelce doesn't just stand out on the field.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end also makes a statement with his unique fashion each time he enters a stadium.

Throughout the 2025 football season, the 36-year-old athlete has worn a mix of standout suits, eye-catching hats, sharp jackets, and cool shades before games.

Some created memorable outfits, while others missed the mark entirely. Here are his best and worst gameday looks of the year.

Travis Kelce chose a questionable outfit near the start of the 2025 NFL season.

The top half of Kelce's suit looked great. He wore a blue Thom Browne jacket that was tailored perfectly, a matching tie, and a white undershirt.

Unfortunately, he styled the jacket with tight-fitting shorts that reached his thighs. The bottoms were too casual and didn't match his dark dress shoes.

Kelce, who played against the Philadelphia Eagles that day, completed the look with a $1,035 pair of Dita sunglasses.

He wore one of his best looks of the season the following week.

He arrived for a game against the New York Giants while wearing a blazer, vest, and trousers all in the same burgundy shade.

He also wore black dress boots, a white undershirt, and a matching pocket square. His square sunglasses, which retail for $725, were designed by Tom Ford.

The outfit was sharp, simple, and highlighted his Louis Vuitton luggage.

He opted for a suede set in October, but unfortunately missed the mark.

Ahead of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kelce donned khaki pants, a $2,650 Alfre button-up top from J. Logan Home, a brown suede jacket, and tan boots made from the same soft material.

Most of the outfit worked as a transitional set for fall, especially when paired with his suede duffel bag.

However, the suede newsboy cap Kelce wore dated the look. His overall outfit ended up resembling a costume more than a fashion statement.

Kelce kept things simple for a home game that month, and it worked for him.

He wore a $1,690 flannel top from Louis Vuitton, khaki pants, white sneakers, and Saint Laurent sunglasses before his game against the Detroit Lions.

It might not have been the most eye-catching outfit he wore this season, but it was contemporary and the epitome of quiet luxury.

A few tweaks could have improved the dark ensemble he chose for his next game.

When the Chiefs played the Las Vegas Raiders in October, Kelce entered Arrowhead Stadium wearing skinny black trousers, a striped collared shirt, and a cropped leather jacket.

The top half of his outfit looked good, especially with the help of his square sunglasses.

However, his choice of pants wasn't right. A baggier style would have made the difference, and some shining, silver jewelry could have elevated the overall look.

He made a statement in orange at the end of October.

Kelce wore Fendi for a game against the Washington Commanders.

His three-piece outfit included orange jeans with frayed hems, a classic white T-shirt, and a denim jacket painted in shades of white and orange.

The outfit was bold and complemented by his tangerine-colored shades. He also wore statement gold necklaces with diamond charms.

Kelce chose a '90s-inspired look at the end of November, but it was forgettable.

He entered Arrowhead Stadium for a game against the Indianapolis Colts wearing a Nike windbreaker, matching pants, and Air Jordan sneakers.

His accessories — a hat, sunglasses, and watch — stood out and added a stylish element to the look.

Still, the dark color and minimal design of his outfit made it forgettable.

• My son's school practically expects all kids to have a cellphone.
• But I don't want my 11-year-old son to have one — even though I'm addicted to mine.
• I feel pressure all around to get him a phone, but I want him to enjoy his childhood.

Recently, my son's middle school offered a reward for perfect attendance: a bus trip to Los Angeles for a Clippers game, leaving immediately after school. I wanted to send him a little money for dinner. But because the arena is cashless, the school advised parents to load money on the students' smartphones instead.

It's just one example of something that happens constantly now. After-school plans live in group texts. Coaches send pickup details through apps. Teachers rely on messaging platforms as the primary mode of communication. The assumption is that a phone is not simply a convenience for kids; it's a requirement.

I don't want my 11-year-old son to have a cellphone. I want him to enjoy his childhood. The problem is: It's becoming harder to keep phones from him, especially since I'm addicted to mine.

I'm a phone addict, and I'm trying to change that

Over the summer, I convinced my family to backpack the Lost Coast, California's longest stretch of undeveloped coastline. Most importantly, it offered something I desperately needed: four days without cell service.

I'm addicted to my phone — and not like a character on "The Diplomat," where the fate of the free world depends on my next text. I'm just your garden-variety doomscroller. I'm the kind of person who opens Instagram intending to check one thing, then emerges an hour later after watching a stranger redecorate a bathroom. The phone is like cigarettes for my eyes, and I can't stop lighting up.

The Lost Coast delivered what I'd hoped. My hands finally stopped twitching for a device that wasn't there.

When we reached the parking lot at the end of the trail, the first bars of service appeared on my screen, and without hesitation, I dove straight back in. Notifications pinged. I answered all of them. While I caught up on days of messages, my 11-year-old son looked out the window at the peaceful coastline fading behind us, as if he were holding on to something I'd already let go.

There's mounting pressure to get my son a phone, too

My son is one of the last holdouts in his grade, and I've been standing firm despite mounting pressure from friends, other parents, and even his teachers.

I believe being unplugged is essential to childhood. I want my son to know what it's like to be disconnected — to experience boredom, to solve problems on his own, to be unreachable in a noisy world that demands constant attention.

I want him to cultivate skills without the assistance of a glowing rectangle. I want him to notice things about where we live: the subtle tracks left by lizards crossing sun-baked dirt, the scent of creosote after rain, the shadow of a hawk circling overhead.

But increasingly, it feels like the world is forcing my hand.

To be clear, I'm not anti-tech. My kid has a Nintendo Switch. He devours books on a Kindle. His homework lives on a Chromebook. I'm not trying to raise a pioneer child. I just want to preserve this all-too-brief, analog intermission before the algorithm finds him.

I'm still nostalgic for a time before phones

The uncomfortable truth I had to face at the Lost Coast is that I'm not modeling the behavior I expect from my son. I preach presence while practicing distraction. I'm holding back the digital tide from my child while letting it sweep me away.

Maybe that's the real reason I'm resisting — not because I've figured out a superior system, but because I haven't.

He'll soon be old enough for a phone. Until then, I'm buying time, just not a data plan.

• My mom's death sent me into a pattern of overcommitting at work just so I could hide from the grief.
• Five years later, my father's death made my whole work life fall apart; I took a leave of absence.
• Throughout the journey, I discovered a new way to balance my work and life.

My life was immeasurably changed in December of 2018 when my mom died from a fast-moving cancer. It was the week of Christmas, so I recall the feeling of guilt that I had when I sent an email to my team letting them know that I would be out for a little while. I didn't want to burden their holiday season with my sad news.

A few weeks later, my return to work was a two-day trip to Chicago to represent my department in some sales meetings. My boss and I had decided it would be an easy re-entry because there was relatively little output that was required on my part.

After the day of meetings, dinner, socializing, and after-dinner drinks, I found myself in the hotel room. On the surface, the day had been a nice departure from the stress of the prior weeks. But it was quiet, I was alone, exhausted, and felt numb. I stepped into the shower and, without warning, the floodgates of emotion burst forth, and I cried harder than I had cried in the weeks and months prior.

I realized that the change of scenery had allowed me to feel all the things I'd been holding on to for the months leading up to and after my mother's death.

From there, I buried myself in work to hide from the avalanche of emotions.

I distracted myself with work

In the weeks that followed, it didn't take me long to realize that my perspective on work had changed entirely. It started as apathy. I wanted to care about the things I was doing, but I didn't have anything in the emotional tank left to give.

But at the same time, I overcommitted to projects and travel assignments. I took on anything that would distract me from the hurt I was feeling deep inside. In 2019, I spent around 150 nights in hotel rooms and took over 100 flights. I was happy on the surface, but beneath the layers, the grief still simmered.

I thought if I just kept my head down at work, then I wouldn't find myself crying in the shower anymore.

Everything crumbled when my father died

After a couple of years, things finally started to feel good again. Then, in 2023, the first domino fell, and again changed the trajectory of my life. I received a phone call that my mother's older brother had died. I still remember the feeling in my gut as the flicker of all the emotions I'd put there started to roar back to life.

But it didn't stop there. Between February and December 2023, I would end up losing five family members, one of whom was my dad.

Any semblance of normalcy, work-life balance, or coping with deep emotions was totally broken by the end of the year.

I tried to bury myself in work again, but I couldn't get rid of the weight of the anxiety, depression, and grief that was making every day an emotional gauntlet.

By early 2024, I realized that it was no longer sustainable, and I knew I needed to step away from work and give myself space to heal.

The journey forward with a new perspective

I took a 10-week leave of absence, during which I wasn't filling my days with work or distractions to avoid the pain I was feeling. I was able to focus on family estate matters, spend time outside, and allow myself to ride the roller coaster of emotions as they bubbled up.

I ventured back into work this time knowing that if I wanted to be successful, I needed to take a more sustainable approach. Ironically, my return to work this time also came with a travel assignment. This time around, however, I knew that I'd need to be more intentional with my time and my commitments, and leave space for myself to recharge.

And it worked. I enjoyed the trip, and also enjoyed the downtime we got to share as a team. I was more present with myself and with them.

I'm now trying to face my emotions instead of drowning in work

The following years have brought on their own set of challenges. But now I knew that balancing work and life doesn't mean using work as an escape from life. It also means setting realistic goals and boundaries for my work commitments.

Sometimes I succeeded, and other times I didn't, but healing isn't linear, as they say.

Now, occasionally, I'll have days when those raw feelings resurface, but I'm grateful that I'm not spending my time at work to avoid them. On this journey, that's about as close to balanced as you get.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. There are many ways to acknowledge your company's standout workers, but what about giving them a Porsche? How about an all-expenses paid trip? Check out how this company rewards its top employees every year.

On the agenda today:

• BI's Zak Jason watched longevity influencer Bryan Johnson trip on mushrooms for five hours.
• Millennials have a favorite storage unit: Mom and Dad's house.
• Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is mulling a new name for his company.
• The Netflix-Warner Bros. deal has a long way to go before it's approved.

But first: What it's like to work over 80.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

The older Americans still in the workforce

I'm fascinated by Americans over 80 who are still working — either because they want to, have to, or both.

Older workers long past retirement age are the fastest-growing sector of the US labor market. They're twice as likely to be in the workforce now as they were in the early 1990s.

For the past year, Business Insider has explored why this cohort is growing. What's driving it? And what are the repercussions?

My colleague Noah Sheidlower traveled to nine states and spoke to nearly 200 people over 80 years old for this project. He interviewed a range of folks: bookkeepers and lawyers, forklift drivers and Home Depot employees, Uber drivers and substitute teachers, among many others.

Some pieces are heartbreaking: "I'm worried every night when I go to bed that what I have isn't going to last until I die," Patricia Willson, a 93-year-old job seeker with a fractured back, told Noah. "For God's sake, I should have saved every penny I could save."

Others are inspiring: "As long as I'm physically able to get up, get dressed, and go to work, I'm going to continue that," says Bill Miller, 82, who works as a real-estate broker and part-time as a forklift driver in North Carolina.

The commonality in all of them is the thought, care, and attention to detail that Noah brings to the subject. "As a 24-year-old journalist wanting to cover these older workers, I heard, 'You won't understand' or 'You're too young,'" Noah writes. "The more I wrote, the more people I found who would speak candidly — because someone was finally listening."

We've published more than 20 stories and a documentary on what it really means to keep working past 80 in this economy.

Drop me an email and let me know what you think of the coverage at srussolillo@businessinsider.com.

Bryan Johnson's long, strange mushroom trip

Thousands of people across X, YouTube, and Instagram spent last Sunday watching the longevity influencer and centimillionaire take magic mushrooms on a livestream "for science." BI's Zak Jason tuned in to the five-and-a-half-hour production "for journalism."

Zak watched as Johnson shared how he felt like a newborn baby while peeing, extolled the virtues of longevity science, and was joined by his father, his son, Grimes, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and other business leaders, all while fearing his grip on reality may now be lost.

"We like you even more on shrooms."

Millennials have a serious stuff problem

Yes, there is the baby boomer stuff avalanche, but they're not the only generation accumulating useless items they can't get rid of. Gen X, millennials, and Gen Zers are leaving their parents drowning in yearbooks, prom dresses, and Little League trophies.

Many of these storage freeloaders have their own lives and don't have the time or energy to whittle down their items. Plus, when something lives at your dad's house, it's easy to pretend it's not your problem — even though it very much is.

It's not just boomers.

Also read:

• Inside the tax that incentivizes boomers to die in their homes, rather than selling — because it's better for their kids

Salesforce Agentforce

How committed is Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to AI? He might change his company's entire name to acknowledge the focus on tech.

The tech giant has rebranded several of its products under the Agentforce name, a nod to its huge bet on AI agents. When BI's Ashley Stewart asked Benioff if he'd consider changing the entire company's name, he didn't shy away from the idea.

"That would not shock me," Benioff told Ashley.

New name for a new game.

Also read:

• Marc Benioff is writing Salesforce's annual strategy document. He shared the key details early with Business Insider.

Netflix's not-so-sure thing

Netflix rocked the entertainment world when it emerged as the winner in the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. The $72 billion offer would give the king of streaming control of HBO and the iconic Warner Bros. movie and TV studio.

Or will it?

BI's Peter Kafka unpacks how the deal needs regulatory approval, which is no guarantee. And it's especially more complicated considering the people behind one of the competing bids, Larry and David Ellison, have close ties to President Donald Trump.

Netflix and chill (until you get regulatory approval).

Also read:

• Read the memo Warner Bros. Discovery sent employees after Netflix won the bidding war for its key assets
• Exclusive: Here's what Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said about the Netflix deal at a company town hall

This week's quote:

"I used to be naive and filled with excitement to work for a tech company, but since the layoff, I just see it as a resource to fund my life."

— Brittney Ball, a 36-year-old who is struggling to find work after getting laid off from Meta as a "low-performer."

The Americans over 80 still working to pay the bills

Four older Americans share why they're still working. Their stories reveal what it really means to keep going past 80 in an economy with little safety net.

More of this week's top reads:

• Citi dropped its 2025 managing director class — we have the full list of 276 new MDs.
• Harvey's $8 billion question: How much money does it actually save lawyers?
• Exclusive: Millennium suffered big losses in one of the $81 billion hedge fund's favorite strategies last month.
• Economists run a secret prediction game each year. When ChatGPT took part, here's what happened.
• The wannabe real estate moguls going bust.
• A Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-CEO explains why he interviews everyone he works with — and the red flag he looks for.
• A Ferrari and over 480 takeout orders: FBI details spending spree of Netflix director in $11 million fraud case.
• The number of billionaires is on the rise — and they are richer than ever thanks to AI.

• A 30-year-old lawyer quit Big Law. Days later, she had a term sheet to raise $2.5 million for an AI law firm.

  ---

  The BI Today team: Steve Russolillo, chief news editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.

• Pickle-flavored foods, from potato chips to martinis, have been on the rise in recent years.
• The trend may have hit its apex with McDonald's Grinch meal, with new dill-flavored fry seasoning.
• Pickles are now featured on more than 30% of restaurant menus, and sales are booming in grocery.

Restaurants are literally in a pickle.

An influx of pickle-flavored foods, from potato chips to beef jerky to pickle juice slushies, has reached a new peak with the launch of McDonald's new seasonal Grinch meal, which features a packet of neon-green "Merry Pickle" dill-flavored seasoning meant to be shaken over the brand's iconic fries.

And it's only the latest clue that the country is in its pickle era.

McDonald's has experimented with do-it-yourself fry seasoning before — the Grinch meal was first introduced in Canada in 2024, where the company says it sold out. In 2014, the golden-arched giant tested garlic Parmesan, zesty ranch, and spicy Buffalo seasoning packets at restaurants in Northern California and St. Louis. It also sold a similar product, called "Shake Shake Fries," in Asian markets, India, and Australia, featuring masala and seaweed flavors.

However, McDonald's Grinch meal's nationwide rollout, albeit a limited-time offer, is significant, as it demonstrates how deeply the pickle craze has seeped into American food culture: no longer a tangy sandwich topping, but a mass-market flavor big enough for McDonald's to bet on a national campaign.

"The pickle era just continues to grow across all different types of products, and we're seeing more and more innovation," Michael Della Penna, the chief strategy officer at the digital advertising research firm InMarket, told Business Insider.

Pickle consumption is on the rise around the country. Virtue Market Research estimates the North American pickle market was valued at $12.42 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach $15.27 billion by the end of 2030.

Consumer trends tracked by Yelp have found that searches for "pickle store" have increased by more than 7,500% over the past five years — and by over 55% since July 2024. Searches are also up for more niche items, like "pickle martinis," which have increased by 633% over the last five years, and "pickle restaurant" — up 32% in the last year.

More than a third of US restaurants now offer dishes with pickles on their menus, Tastewise, a consumer data platform for the food and beverage industry, reports, and social media conversations about pickles — like those touting the flavor combination of Twix with pickles — have increased by 11.49% year-over-year, suggesting continued interest in the sour and salty snacks.

It's not just burger joints capitalizing on the trend. Popeyes this year launched an entire pickle-themed menu, complete with a new chicken sandwich, wings, fried pickles, and a pickle-flavored lemonade. KFC also made fried pickles a prominent part of its Kentucky Fried Comeback campaign in an effort to reverse slumping sales.

And the craze extends far beyond restaurants: grocery aisles are packed with pickle-flavored popcorn, pretzels, hummus, seltzers, and even Van Leeuwen's dill pickle ice cream, while pickle festivals across the country have seen record attendance.

"The pickle flavor profile is going to continue to grow, because it has so many unique combinations: from sour to salty and spicy, which allows a very wide spectrum of not only product adaptations, but flavor profiles within those products by mixing those elements in different ways," Della Penna said, adding that the pickle boom is being driven largely by Gen Z, who gravitate toward strong, sour flavors and foods that lend themselves to viral moments.

"Gen Z's obsession for bold, quirky flavors and viral experiences is playing right into this opportunity for McDonald's," Della Penna said. "With the flavor profile and the opportunity to tie it into Grinch and the holidays, it really opens up an opportunity for social sharing and for the product to take off on TikTok, which has seen its share of viral pickle episodes in the past."

Pickles, Della Penna said, also benefit from the wellness halo surrounding fermented foods, making them both fun and functional in consumers' minds.

Dietitian Sophie Medlin previously told Business Insider that pickled vegetables are rich in probiotics and promote good gut health, which can help people experience less bloating, have fewer gas issues, and enjoy better mental health — so it's no wonder diners keep coming back for more brine.