Unless you're Tennessee-based photographer Shea Cravens, you've likely never strolled into your local Olive Garden and thought to yourself, "This would make for a great backdrop for an engagement photo shoot!"

We get it. You were likely far too preoccupied with thoughts of endless breadsticks and Chicken Parmigiana.

For Cravens, though, when a newly-engaged couple wanted an engagement photo shoot at a location that was a bit outside of the norm, Olive Garden quickly came to mind.

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"I asked Shea — our photographer and longtime friend — if there was anywhere she had been wanting to shoot but hadn’t yet. That’s when she mentioned Olive Garden!" said Carlsey Bibb, one-half of the engaged couple, while speaking with BuzzFeed.

Cravens told BuzzFeed that, oddly enough, the idea for a photo shoot at Olive Garden came about during lunch at the Italian-American chain.

"I looked over at the building and said to my mom, 'This would be a cool spot to take some photos'... When we started planning to do Carlsey and Caden's engagement photos, Carlsey had full trust in my idea, and I’m so grateful," Cravens said.

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In a video Cravens shared on both Instagram and TikTok, we see the exterior of Olive Garden, which is giving serious charming-town-in-Italy vibes. Cravens has received plenty of positive feedback for her Olive Garden engagement photos.

"I’ve never shot photos at any other restaurant, but I've done a photo shoot outside of Big Lots because it was a really neat area that caught my eyes to take photos at!" she said.

This upcoming winter season, the stage is set for seasonal sickness and COVID-19 infection rates to surge aggressively in what's being called a "tripledemic" — and health care experts are urging Americans once again to consider wearing face masks while in public.The latest call for masks doesn't concern COVID-19 alone, in spite of national infection rates noticeably spiking over the holiday season, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures. Health care providers are also concerned about a higher level of influenza transmission as well as respiratory syncytial virus, referred to as RSV in recent national media coverage concerning its rapid spread last fall. Health care data did reflect a dip in the total case count of both flu and RSV cases in late December — but experts are concerned that a strong early season debut of these respiratory illnesses may signal a particularly viral cold season this winter. The threat has prompted officials in New York City as well as Los Angeles County to urge residents to wear a mask in public spaces, particularly indoors. Why is there a public call for masking if infection rates are on a slow decline currently, and much lower than in years past, you might ask? Greg Schrank, M.D., MPH, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at the UM School of Medicine, says that federal officials aren't getting as comprehensive COVID-19 testing data from Americans as they did in years past."We observed, however, that surveillance of virus measured in wastewater from locations across the country were increasing during December — as were the number of recorded positive tests and associated hospitalizations," he tells Good Housekeeping. "Current CDC estimates suggest almost 50% of counties are experiencing an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations." And just as they did earlier this year, new omicron subvariants are expected to rise, proving especially impactful for those who have not been recently infected by SARS-CoV-2 or have not received a bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine. Wearing a well-made respirator or face mask in public settings, particularly crowded interior spaces, can work to offset the risk that new subvariants will inevitably bring to Americans this winter.Can't see the masks? Click here to view them"A well-made and well-fitting mask can both protect the person wearing it and protect others, helping to stop transmission," Schrank said. "That same principle holds true for these other viruses — the mask does not care which virus someone is infected with, as it works in the same way to prevent transmission of all respiratory viruses."Can face masks prevent flu and RSV transmission, too?The simplest answer is possibly. A mask could bolster your defenses against getting sick with the flu or developing RSV at some point this winter — but health care officials note that masks are more effective at stemming COVID-19 spread directly. This is because there hasn't been established research into how influenza spread, specifically, may be curbed by widespread face mask usage. This is why masks weren't recommended by federal health care officials in years prior to the global pandemic when it comes to flu season safety. But both the flu and RSV spread in a similar way that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that drives COVID-19, infects individuals — via droplets of infectious respiratory secretions, explains Charles Bailey, M.D., the medical director of infection prevention at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County. "Masks can provide some degree of protection against illnesses such as flu-- by providing a physical barrier to limit the quantity of infectious particles and the distance they might travel to potentially infect others."Respiratory illnesses can easily spread between people through shared airspace, especially during the winter, as colder, dry air enables an easier spread of infectious airborne particles. And because many people are inside during the winter, a mask may be one of the few factors that you can individually control; it can work to combat any poorly ventilated air, especially in crowded spaces."Well-fitting, multi-layered masks work to protect the wearer by filtering out the small particles containing the viruses; whereas if someone is sick, the masks work by containing these particles and preventing them from spreading out into the surrounding environment," Schrank said.Which masks provide the best protection against the tripledemic? The best protection against crowded, poorly ventilated public spaces is provided by N95 respirators, namely those that meet manufacturing guidelines for efficacy set by industry regulators — and those officially regulated by the CDC's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).These respirators provide a protective edge over other kinds of face masks because they filter out 95% of large and small airborne particles around you. Many health care experts recommend that Americans seek out N95s before considering KN95 respirators (or the similar KF94 manufactured in South Korea) because they're actually regulated by a U.S.-based health care body and are approved for domestic medical settings specifically.For a multitude of reasons — including price points and overall comfort for extended periods of time — some individuals opt for a disposable medical-grade face mask. But disposable face masks aren't all made equal, as they're not regulated as N95 respirators are, explains Lexie Sachs, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab.The most protective disposable face masks are made with multiple layers of non-woven textiles that fit snugly on your face. Sachs says that industry organization ASTM International has instituted standards for manufacturers to follow in the production of disposable face masks — leading to language that indicates if a mask "Meets ASTM F2100" directly on its packaging or marketing materials. Shoppers should also note which level of certification the face mask has, with Level 3 being the most protective (and the best option to buy currently).While the ASTM standard isn't required for a disposable medical-grade face mask to be sold, checking if a manufacturer adhered to their recommendations is an easy way for shoppers to see which masks are made well.If you're holding on to any cloth masks or DIY options from earlier in the pandemic, now would be the time to replace them with a respirator or a medical-grade disposable mask. "Cloth masks were an attempt to make the most of the resources available at the time," Shira Doron, M.D., an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, said. "With medical grade masks now available, and the very low effectiveness of cloth masks, I would not recommend anyone wear one."How to choose the most protective face masks this winter:Regardless of where you choose to shop for a mask, keep these tips in mind for finding the most protective option:For respirators, verify that your chosen N95 is NIOSH-approved by verifying it on the CDC's registry. A real N95 will bear specific markings on its packaging, including NIOSH-approval and TC-approval numbers, as well as model numbers that are unique to the brand.For disposable masks, search for products that are made to satisfy industry standards set forth by ASTM International — namely, medical-grade face masks that "meets ASTM F2100" level guidelines. These standards ensure disposable masks are made with the most protective materials and are designed to fit snugly across your face. Those designated as Level 3 are the most protective and are readily available online currently. If costs are prohibiting you from purchasing new respirators, consider turning to the interactive CDC database that shows Americans where they can locate free masks at nearby pharmacies and health agencies. Federal officials have released N95s made by 3M and Honeywell, among other manufacturers, from the federal stockpile for your use.Consult the CDC's interactive community risk map to determine your risk threshold in public spaces for COVID-19 spread. A medium-level designation (or those areas shaded in yellow) should prompt you to wear a mask, especially if you are considered at high-risk for complications stemming from COVID-19.Masks aren't the only line of defense against these particular tripledemic respiratory illnesses. It's never too late to get up to date on your vaccinations against COVID-19 and influenza, as both are available free of charge in many locations. "People should consider wearing a mask in public if they are high risk or live with someone who is," Doron said. "It's still important to be vaccinated and boosted, test for even mild symptoms, and have a plan to obtain treatment if positive."

Video above: Further COVID-19 Booster Protection to Be Available to 65 and Older, and Vulnerable Americans

• A new COVID-19 subvariant, known as XBB.1.16 but often called "Arcturus," has progressively become more viral here in the United States, accounting for 10% of infections through late April.
• Healthcare professionals have indicated that itchy conjunctivitis may be associated with this particular subvariant, though COVID-19 has previously been linked to eye infections.
• Doctors are independently reporting a rise in red, itchy eyes in children affected by XBB.1.16, a trait that has not been associated with previous Omicron subvariants.
• Federal health agents have not confirmed eye infections as a common COVID-19 symptom.

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Just as federal health regulators have released additional booster vaccines to at-risk Americans, doctors across the globe are raising concerns about a new SARS-CoV-2 variant that has the potential to trigger elevated COVID-19 spread this spring. Known officially as subvariant XBB.1.16 — but quickly picking up a moniker of "Arcturus" among media and healthcare professionals alike — this Omicron subvariant is increasingly being traced back to new COVID-19 cases here in the United States, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

First detected back in January, this subvariant has generated headlines in India, where it has triggered a majority of new COVID-19 cases (including potent breakthrough illnesses) and has particularly impacted the nation's youth.

The World Health Organization designated XBB.1.16 as a "variant under monitoring" in late March, indicating Arcturus may demonstrate a "growth advantage relative to other circulating variants." Since then, the variant has been uncovered in more than 30 nations across the world — with CDC agents including it in its variant tracking in mid-April, illustrating that Arcturus is responsible for nearly 10% of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S. That number is likely underreported, as a majority of COVID-19 patients don't ever find out which SARS strain they've been infected with.

Many U.S. hospitals were able to avoid a catastrophic surge in COVID-19 cases this winter thanks to updated bivalent vaccines, and as of late April, there isn't concern about a rise in COVID-19 infection rates anytime soon. But healthcare authorities are still worried about XBB.1.16 for a few reasons — including a potential new symptom that is a major departure from the upper respiratory symptoms that recent strains have presented.

What to know about the "Arcturus" COVID-19 variant

Previous sub-variants linked to Omicron have been noted to be viral and severe, but XBB.1.16 cases thus far haven't caused healthcare providers to be concerned about an uptick in severe illnesses, hospitalizations or deaths in the weeks to come. And unlike earlier variants, most healthcare agencies are projecting that Arcturus isn't expected to spark a major uptick in new cases. In fact, most of the characteristics of this variant are similar to XBB.1.5, which is still responsible for the bulk of the current cases here in the U.S.

"COVID cases are declining nationwide, with 98% of counties now listed in the Low Community Level [of risk] as of last week," explains Charles C.J. Bailey, M.D., the medical director for infection prevention at Providence St. Joseph Hospital and Providence Mission Hospital in Southern California. "Although XBB sub-variants are currently predominant, they represent the largest slice of a markedly smaller pie, compared to earlier periods of the pandemic… The risk of getting COVID of any type is currently low."

Rather, evidence of the spread of the Arcturus variant (particularly overseas in India, where WHO officials say it's the prominent strain) indicates that this particular subvariant may spread more easily compared to its predecessors — which has some experts concerned about the potential for an increase in U.S. spread later this spring and summer, even if overall infection rates are down.

What's most concerning about Arcturus is largely the discussion around a noticeable trend being documented in India surrounding a potential new eye health symptom that some attribute to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Many reports highlight insight shared by a local pediatrician and WHO interest group member that suggests "itchy conjunctivitis" or pink eye could correspond to the subvariant, especially in children.

Eye-related symptoms, including itchiness, discharge or pink eye have yet to be directly associated with COVID-19 spread thus far — and healthcare professionals including Shira Doron, M.D., epidemiologist and chief infection control officer for Tufts Medicine health system, say this potential XBB.1.16 symptom hasn't been confirmed with peer-reviewed research or by any federal health group.

"It is unlikely that this is true," Doron told Good Housekeeping.

But the possibility isn't entirely out of the question, adds Dr. Bailey: "[A change in symptoms] would not be unusual and has been seen already with COVID, as later variants seem less likely to be associated with loss of taste and smell than initial COVID cases — and the overall severity of Omicron sub-variants is noticeably less than with the Delta variant."

Is there a link between COVID-19 and pink eye?

Federal health officials at the CDC have not yet formally linked pink eye or any eye-related health condition to COVID-19 in listing it as an official symptom. But more doctors are acknowledging the prevalence of pink eye and eye-related discharge, itch in the form of anecdotal evidence, including testimony from Matthew Binnicker, M.D., the director of the Mayo Clinic's Clinical Virology Laboratory; Dr. Binnicker shared this week that care providers are seeing a rise in red, itchy eyes in children affected by SARS infections.

The idea that COVID-19 can trigger an eye infection, namely conjunctivitis, isn't entirely new — there has been published research that indicates that the development of COVID-19 may trigger pink eye in some individuals. A 2021 case presentation published in the Qatar Medical Journal indicated that in extremely rare cases, pink eye may be the "only sign and symptom of COVID-19" for otherwise sick individuals.

Furthermore, diagnosis materials published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for its professionals indicate that pink eye may manifest in patients after an initial SARS infection.

But red, itchy eyes are common this time of year due to seasonal allergies, making it crucial to be able to spot early signs of pink eye — and monitor yourself for other well-documented COVID-19 symptoms to better determine if you're really sick.

"Setting aside the possibility that COVID is a common cause of conjunctivitis, an infected eye can be hard to distinguish from an allergic one," Dr. Doron adds, with one distinction. "Crusty and goopy eyes are usually more likely to be infected, and very itchy ones are usually allergy-related."

It's highly unlikely that pink eye will be an issue for a majority of those who are unlucky enough to develop a breakthrough COVID-19 infection this spring. If anything, monitoring eye health may be more important for children and other youth and their parents, based on the bulk of case data generated overseas.

"Exposed adults may or may not manifest this symptom in the end, just as the same common cold virus moving through a family may have different symptoms in each member of the household," Dr. Bailey said.

While most can't say with certainty whether or not Arcturus leads to pink eye directly just yet, Dr. Doron clarifies that many respiratory viruses can trigger eye issues during infection; according to materials published by Johns Hopkins Medicine, a majority of conjunctivitis cases are actually caused by adenovirus, as well as more common viruses like herpes simplex.

"There are a lot of viruses going around, some with a tendency to cause pink eye/conjunctivitis, so it’s quite possible that’s what is causing the uptick of pink eye that pediatricians are reporting."

Potential XBB.1.16 symptoms

Experiencing pink eye as the only symptom associated with a COVID-19 infection, including one prompted by Arcturus, would be very rare — you are more likely to experience any of the other well-documented signs of illness that are associated with COVID.

Because it has yet to become the predominant strain here in the U.S., CDC officials have yet to name any particular subset of symptoms as directly correlated with the XBB.1.16 variant. Just like its predecessor, XBB.1.5, any combination or severity of commonly reported COVID symptoms are possible in the early days of an illness.

According to CDC officials, these are potential symptoms to monitor if you believe you are sick:

• Fever
• Body chills
• Chronic cough
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
• New loss of taste or smell

Most of these symptoms may be mistaken for seasonal illness or the flu — but the quickest way to determine whether or not you have been impacted is to seek out a rapid COVID-19 test.

The bottom line

It's unclear if pink eye or itchy conjunctivitis is truly more commonly associated with infections caused by the XBB.1.16 variant — though itchy, infected eyes can indeed be triggered by COVID-19.

"We can't use anecdotes to determine whether there is, in fact, a predilection for certain variants to cause certain symptoms," Dr. Doron explains. "In general, that is not the case, except that Omicron — and all subvariants — is less likely than previous mutations to be associated with lung involvement, and thus is less severe."

Experiencing one, two or a combination of any of the well-documented respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19 should prompt you to seek out a rapid antigen test. If itchy, irritated eyes are your only symptom, you may be experiencing seasonal allergies — discharge of any kind may indicate that it may be an eye infection instead, which should prompt you to seek medical attention immediately (even if you aren't experiencing other COVID-19 symptoms).

Trends associated with XBB.1.16 are a good reminder to monitor your child's health closely as the summer season approaches, given that doctors have shared that Arcturus may impact children more significantly than adults. In any case, the best way to avoid a COVID-19 breakthrough infection or reinfection is to stay up to date on your vaccinations. Receiving a bivalent booster vaccine is crucial to protect yourself from severe COVID-19 symptoms and complications, including any likelihood of future infection caused by XBB.1.16.

When it comes to products that are currently blowing up in the beauty industry, it’s safe to say that anti-aging skincare is at the top of the list. From the best eye creams for wrinkles to top-selling retinol serums, there’s no shortage of beauty picks that promise to prevent wrinkles and reduce the appearance of fine lines and age spots.

Related video above: Three things you can do to stop blue light aging your skin

Now, there’s an innovative product that’s taking the Internet by storm: anti-wrinkle straws.

That’s right, there are straws designed to prevent wrinkles from forming around your mouth as you sip beverages, and thousands of TikTok users swear by them. In fact, the hashtag for “anti-wrinkle straw” currently has over 350 million views and counting — and one viral TikTok user even claims that it “might be the best invention for anti-aging ever.” But do anti-wrinkle straws actually work?

To find out if this innovative new product truly prevents wrinkles, we tapped dermatologists to weigh in on the anti-aging claims—and whether they’re worth buying.

Can using straws cause wrinkles around your mouth?

Experts say that it indeed can. “Repeatedly pursing the lips, as is the case when drinking from a straw, may contribute to wrinkles,” said Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York.

More specifically, the repetitive movement of your mouth muscles flexing in the same spot can lead to creasing in your skin. It’s similar to how expression lines in your face develop. “Every time you purse your lips to grab the straw, the muscles around your mouth are flexing and creating lines,” Dr. Peterson Pierre, a board-certified dermatologist at the Pierre Skin Care Institute, said.

The specific mouth muscle you’re engaging when sipping a straw is called the orbicularis oris, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy Rose.

It’s the same muscle that “allows us to purse the lips to whistle, to blow a kiss, etc.,” she said. “Use of this muscle folds the skin which, over time, often begins to leave wrinkles in the skin.”

In fact, the same lip-puckering motion is what leads smokers to develop what’s commonly known as smoker’s lines around their mouth, Garshick noted.

Once lines set in, they like to stay.

“The more you [pucker your lips], the stronger the muscles get and the deeper the lines,” Pierre said. “If done consistently over a long period of time, the lines become etched into the skin, and they can be very challenging to treat.”

How do anti-wrinkle straws work?

Anti-wrinkle straws allegedly work by “preventing the folding of the skin that occurs when using a regular straw,” Murphy said.

In contrast to traditional straws, which have a vertical opening at the top for you to wrap your lips around, these unique straws have a shape that curves horizontally at the top. They have an opening where you can place your mouth to sip without pursing your lips (similar to how you might play a flute). This design supposedly reduces the lip-puckering motion that’s required to sip through a regular straw, thereby helping to prevent wrinkles from forming.

So, can anti-wrinkle straws actually help prevent wrinkles?

The short answer is: Maybe.

“In theory, they should work because you are no longer pursing your lips to hold onto the straw,” Pierre said. “However, these straws won’t do anything to affect genetic and age-related changes.”

It’s also important to note that there currently isn’t any scientifically-backed research that proves anti-wrinkle straws truly make a difference — or even that using straws is a leading cause of wrinkles in the first place.

“While straws may contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, we don’t know the full extent of how straw usage leads to lines in terms of how often you need to drink out of a straw in order for it to pose a problem,” Garshick said. “So, swapping out straws may not be entirely necessarily, especially for someone who rarely drinks from a straw.”

That being said, anti-wrinkle straws are not particularly harmful, so there shouldn’t be any issue with using them, according to Garshick. In fact, Pierre says they might be “worth trying,” especially if you frequently use straws.

Where to buy anti-wrinkle straws:

As with any product that claims anti-aging benefits, you shouldn’t expect anti-wrinkle straws to magically prevent or reduce your wrinkles overnight. But if you want to try them out for yourself, there are plenty of options available to buy online, including the popular Lipzi Original Glass Drinking Straw. The top-rated pick currently has over a hundred five-star ratings from Amazon reviewers, who note that it’s both comfortable to use and easy to clean.

“I thought that it would be a silly gimmick, and I actually felt stupid for purchasing this but it really does work. You do still purse your lips a little to use this straw but so much less than with a regular straw,” one shopper wrote. “It also feels a lot more effortless to use this straw style,” they continue, adding that less suction force is needed. “As an added bonus, it’s also fun to use and makes me want to drink more water!”

Even beyond the popular pick from Lipzi, there are other affordable anti-wrinkle straws available to buy on Amazon (including one with a different design).

Since the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles has been open and honest about her journey with mental health and anxiety. And she's continuing to share what she's learned along the way. The Olympic gold medalist recently revealed that with the support of her therapist she’s found tools that help her manage anxiety, while still acknowledging her emotions.

The superstar athlete humbly accepted the Child Mind Institute’s Inaugural Trailblazer Award at the annual Child Advocacy Awards. During the event, Biles spoke to Harold S. Kopleqicz, M.D., the president, medical director, and co-founder of the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on helping families and children struggling with mental health and learning disorders, about her experience at the Tokyo Olympics and the tools she now uses to cope with anxiety.

“I have pretty bad anxiety sometimes," Biles said. She shared that her therapist suggested she write in a “worry journal,” to allow her to keep her anxiety in check daily.

She explained the method behind the worry journal: Write her worries down in the journal and then assign a time in the day to address those worries—for Biles it's between 12 to 1 p.m. “Anything I've written down in my worry journal, I use that hour to worry about the things then,” Biles shared. “And usually by the time 12 or 1 [p.m.] comes, I've already forgotten about all my worries so that kind of is a tool that helps me.”

Biles said she hopes to be a “voice for the voiceless” and to be a catalyst to open up the conversation around mental health. “I hope that I’ve allowed them to use their voices and be powerful with it because I know my career has been very successful, but I’ve also had my ups and downs,” she said. “I hope people see that and can relate to that being in their everyday life. Just to not give up and to move forward and keep pushing.”

The Child Mind Institute shared a video of Biles accepting the award to their Instagram account with the caption, “By being brave and protecting her mental health Simone Biles inspired others to do the same.”

During the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Biles decided to pull out of the individual all-around competition due to the terrifying “twisties” that causes her to get lost in the air. The decision to put her own mental health and safety first was a scary choice for the athlete that ultimately led her on a path of mental health activism.

“I was feeling very overwhelmed because there was a lot and I think there was a lot of pressure outside the sport that was placed on me to compete at that Olympics,” she explained of the incident. “And we hadn’t had that kind of entertainment in a really long time due to COVID. I think it was really hard because everyone was counting on me to supply that entertainment, that happiness, that joy.”

The Olympic gold-medalist revealed that her therapist has been a major player in managing her anxiety, and she encourages others to seek the help that they need.

“I do keep close contact with my therapist–I love that. And it’s super exciting, so hopefully, more people are open to going to therapy and just knowing that they’re there for you and not to harm you,” she said.

Biles was initially resistant to therapy, but now credits therapy with helping her process her emotions and find herself. “One of the very first sessions, I didn’t talk at all,” she recently told Glamour. “I just wouldn’t say anything. I was like, ‘I’m not crazy. I don’t need to be here.’”

But over time the Olympic gymnast found comfort in her therapist and was able to see that anyone can benefit from seeking mental health support.

At the end of the day, Biles shared that she was surprised by the outpouring of love and support from others to take care of herself first. She added that she now focuses on everyday happiness which is “just waking up and having a positive outlook on life in general and to know that you’re blessed with another day.”