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🌳☀️ A tip for preparing for emergencies

Sunday 9/20: Sponsored by ICE Box

September 20, 2026

Happy Sunday! Today we’re chatting about:

  • ☕️ Pumpkin spice has new competition

  • 📄 A tip for preparing for emergencies

  • 💭 This might be the secret to success

On This Day…

In 1969, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies hit number one on the charts. What makes it stand out is that it came from a cartoon band, made up of characters, not actual musicians, and it still became the best-selling single of the entire year.

This Couple's Dogs Stole the Wedding Spotlight

Nature and Animals

When Justin Monger left for his Cincinnati wedding in June 2025, he thought the dog sitter was just arriving to watch the pups for the day. He had no idea his bride Amy was already plotting something much better. She'd quietly coordinated to have their two dogs, 6-year-old Bernedoodle Everest and 11-year-old brindle mutt Leila, secretly brought to the ceremony to serve as their flower girls.

During their first look, after Amy shared handwritten promises with Justin, she revealed the surprise. Right on cue, Everest and Leila came running out, tails wagging, straight into both of their open arms. Justin was genuinely shocked. The whole moment was caught on video and posted to TikTok, where it spread fast. It's the kind of clip you watch and then immediately watch again.

"As a dog mom and dad, we couldn't imagine not having them a part of our day in some way," Amy told People. "They are like our children." Every guest at that wedding knew how much Leila and Everest meant to the couple, and seeing them there made the whole room feel it too. It's a detail they'll be talking about for the rest of their lives, and honestly so will we.

The Pumpkin Spice Latte Has New Competition

Food

For years, the pumpkin spice latte has been the undisputed flavor of fall. This year, matcha is stealing some of the spotlight, showing up in coffee shops and home kitchens in every fall-inspired variation imaginable.

Instead of choosing sides, plenty of people are blending the two. Pumpkin spice matcha lattes are becoming a popular hybrid, along with creative twists like apple cider matcha and banana bread matcha. Matcha's earthy flavor pairs surprisingly well with warm, cozy spices, giving it a fall makeover without losing what makes it matcha.

Part of the appeal is variety. After years of the same pumpkin spice routine, people seem eager to mix things up and put their own spin on a seasonal drink.

Want to try it yourself? Whisk matcha powder with a splash of hot water until smooth, then stir in your milk of choice and a fall flavor you love, whether that's pumpkin spice, cinnamon, or apple cider. It's an easy way to shake up your usual order without giving up your favorite seasonal flavors.

In An Emergency Do You Know Where Your Important Documents Are?

Sponsored by ICE Box

Most of us know roughly where our important documents are. The passport is in a drawer somewhere, the birth certificate might be in that closet folder, and the insurance paperwork is filed with the tax stuff. It works fine right up until it doesn't.

Wildfires, hurricanes, and floods have given a lot of households a very short window to grab what matters and go. And even without an emergency, replacing a lost birth certificate, Social Security card, or title means weeks of paperwork and fees you'd rather not deal with.

That's where ICE Box comes in. It's a lockable, fireproof, water-resistant document box that's compact and light enough to carry out the door in one hand. Not bolted down like a safe, just everything you'd need in one place, organized and ready to go.

What comes in the box:

  • Lockable, fireproof, water-resistant case built to be carried

  • Labeled folders so everything has a home

  • Protective pouch for the most sensitive items

  • USB drive for digital copies and backups

  • Key tags to keep track of what opens what

  • A guide walking you through what to include

The organizing is the part most people never get to. ICE Box turns it into a one-afternoon project instead of a someday project, and once it's done, it stays done.

For a limited time, Something Nice readers can order now and save 40%.

Sunset of the Day

Reader Spotlight

The Canopy reader Jan captured this sunset over Lake Superior, and if you look closely, there's a faint streak of green glowing near the horizon, a touch of the northern lights sneaking into frame.

Thank you to Jan for sharing your sunset with us! Want to be featured next? Send us your best sunrise or sunset photo.

A Beginner's Guide to Aromatherapy

Self-Care

Long before candles and diffusers lined store shelves, ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Chinese healers were already turning to aromatic plant oils for comfort and healing. That practice, aromatherapy, has stuck around for thousands of years, and it's easy to see why. A calming scent can genuinely shift how you feel.

Lavender is the most well-known example, often used to ease anxiety and support better sleep. Citrus oils like bergamot and orange tend to feel more uplifting, making them a nice pick-me-up during a slow afternoon. Peppermint and ginger are popular, too, especially for settling an upset stomach.

Try adding a calming scent to your evening wind-down routine this week, whether that's a few drops of lavender near your bed or a warm bath scented with your favorite blend. A little aromatherapy can turn an ordinary moment into something a lot more soothing.

“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.”

— Bill Nye

Thanks for spending a little part of your day with us!

More uplifting stories, helpful tips, and feel-good finds are on the way.