Adalie Phillips is just a first grader, but she's already living out a rom-com plotline that’s captivated TikTok. In a now-viral video, her mom, Allie Phillips (aka @.allie.phillips), shares the fun and slightly shocking story of how her daughter broke up with her elementary school boyfriend after receiving a diamond ring, yes, a real one, from another suitor on the playground.
It all started when Adalie came home and gave her mom a very serious warning.
“One day she came home and said, ‘I need to tell you something. Mom, you need to sit down,’” Phillips shared in the video, barely able to contain her laughter.
Apparently, Adalie had been “in love” with a classmate named Brandon. The two had even talked about getting married one day. That is, until Trevor showed up.
"He rolled up with a ring."
— @.allie.phillips
Playground drama and an unexpected proposal
Trevor’s approach was nothing short of bold. During recess, he walked up to Adalie and handed her a diamond ring. Taken aback and clearly impressed, Adalie made a swift decision. She broke up with Brandon on the spot.
“Trevor told her he ‘buys it all the time.’” Phillips recalled.
Representative Image: It's not common for a first-grader to have their love life on lock.Canva
Of course, it didn’t take long for Phillips to realize the ring probably wasn’t a toy. The sparkling surprise looked suspiciously real. That’s when the mom instinct kicked in, and she posted a photo of the ring to her daughter’s school Facebook group, asking if anyone knew a boy named Trevor.
The mystery of the missing diamond
Soon enough, Trevor’s mom chimed in with the truth. The ring didn’t come from a toy store or a costume jewelry bin. It belonged to Trevor’s great-grandmother, who lives in Alabama. Apparently, Trevor had pocketed the heirloom during a recent family visit—clearly with grand romantic intentions.
Phillips, understandably stunned, made arrangements to return the ring right away. She confirmed in a follow-up TikTok that the jewelry was safely on its way back to Alabama, and everyone had a good laugh about the whole situation.
"Update! Great Gram leaves the ring to Trevor and 20 years from now he gives it to her again! …For keeps this time."
— @tracynbt
TikTok can’t get enough
The video struck a chord with parents, romantics, and anyone who’s ever been through a love triangle—real or imagined. Comments flooded in with people sharing their own adorable or ridiculous tales of childhood romance.
"Your daughter out here with a more active dating life than I’ve had in the past decade."
— @same0823
Another user, @lisaprice82, added a heartwarming twist: “One of my friend's little boyfriend gave her a plastic ring from a gumball machine. They got married 23 years later.”
"They got married 23 years later."
— @lisaprice82
From viral moment to local headlines
Adalie’s tale didn’t just take TikTok by storm—it made it all the way to the local news. Phillips said reporters reached out to share the story of the diamond ring that caused a grade-school breakup. And through it all, she’s maintained a sense of humor and perspective.
It’s a reminder that kids may be small, but their emotions—and their gestures—can be grand. Sometimes all it takes to turn a schoolyard crush into internet gold is a little bling and a whole lot of imagination.
And if this is how first grade is going, Trevor and Adalie's high school prom is going to be legendary.
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Female shopper looking for help
21 products that are gaslighting us into thinking they’re essential when they’re not
Some things in life are actually necessary—clean water, decent healthcare, basic human decency. But then there are the things that feel like they’re gaslighting us. The things we’re told we can’t live without, even though we survived just fine before they existed. Things like "smart" fridges, lawn fertilizer services, and yes—whole body deodorant.
Recently, our sister-site Upworthy asked their Facebook audience the question: What's a product or service that feels like it's gaslighting all of us into thinking it's necessary? More than 8,000 responses poured in. The answers were passionate, funny, and surprisingly unified.
Here are 21 products, services, and systems people called out for pretending to be essential—when they might actually be optional, overpriced, or flat-out invented.
1. Whole body deodorant
"Take a shower," said Shannon H.
“How did we ever manage all those years without it!! 😂😵💫” added Karen R.
Others noted it may help people with medical conditions—but for the average person, it's definitely a marketing creation.
2. Health insurance
It topped the list. Erica L. explained: “My doctor prescribes, the pharmacist issues meds, nurses care for people, surgeons do surgery—Health Insurance stands between health care and patients and says no, exclusively on whether they think it’s financially effective to treat you.”
Important note: Health insurance can provide life-saving access for many—but what people are frustrated by here is the profit-first system, not care itself.
3. The wedding industry
Multiple people slammed the high cost of modern weddings.
JoElla B. put it plainly: “We spend too much time and money planning one day, and not enough thought on how to blend two lives in a mutually beneficial one.”
Others called out expensive dresses, venues, and pressure to perform for social media.
4. Bottled water
Carole D. said: “Water in plastic bottles! Get a cup!”
While bottled water has value in emergencies, it’s often just filtered tap water—sold for profit in plastic.
5. Baby product overload
“Most baby products,” wrote Kelli O. “They really aren’t as needy and complicated as companies want us to think.”
6. Fabric softener
“It’s bad for clothes, bad for the Earth, bad for the wallet, and totally unnecessary,” said Gail H.
Some experts agree—many softeners contain chemicals that can reduce fabric lifespan and irritate skin.
7. Smart appliances
“Adding ‘phone controls’ to every appliance instead of making them last as long as they used to,” wrote Sherry S.
When your fridge needs a software update, something’s gone off the rails.
8. Makeup and anti-aging products
“Anything anti-aging,” said Melissa T., “Please just let me age into the gargoyle I was meant to become.”
Others questioned products designed to “fix” eyelashes, eyebrows, pores, and graying hair.
April S. added, “Products that women are convinced they MUST have in order to be ‘beautiful’ and therefore ‘loved.’”
9. Cosmetic surgery
Ron P. called out the industry as a whole. And while body autonomy matters, many commenters questioned whether insecurities are being commodified and sold back to us.
10. Ticketmaster and “convenience fees”
“Let’s go back to waiting in line at a record store,” wrote Nicole C.
Zaida B. added: “Convenience fee for online purchases—then charging $10 more at the actual event.”
11. Engagement rings
James P. didn’t mince words: “Engagement rings.”
The diamond industry has long been criticized for manufactured scarcity and marketing-fueled necessity.
12. Lawn chemicals and services
“Plant native grasses and you don’t have the pests or need for constant watering,” wrote Jamie B.
Environmental groups have raised similar concerns over runoff and unnecessary pesticide use.
13. AI and generative tech
“This stuff squeezes the lifeblood and individuality out of the human experience,” said Teresa L.
Saskia D. and others echoed skepticism about its necessity, even as many of us are being pushed to use it.
14. Funeral services
Amy W. shared: “My parents both have already paid to have themselves cremated and are very adamant that they do not want anything big done for them. In their words, ‘I won’t care, I’m dead.’”
Of course, some families find comfort in tradition—but the cost and pressure can feel overwhelming and predatory.
15. Rinse and repeat
Amy D. nailed it: “It’s just to sell more. Not even sure you need it at all.”
16. Credit Card Surcharges
Shawn S. took aim at the extra fees popping up at checkout: “That is the cost of doing business and shouldn’t be the burden of the purchaser.”
Many questioned why customers are increasingly being asked to pay extra simply for the convenience of using a card.
17. Constant phone upgrades
“Apple are notorious for releasing the same shit every year,” said Steph S.
Diana H. added, “Needing to upgrade our phones so frequently.”
Built-in obsolescence and marketing cycles drive most of the demand.
18. Vitamins and supplements
“If I took every supplement they say I NEED I wouldn’t need food. Nor could I afford it,” said Tausha L.
19. Fake pockets on women’s pants
Jessica W. said, “I have to buy men’s pants for work because women’s pants would just get torn up too fast!”
Form over function, and then they charge more for it.
20. Disposable everything
“The ‘convenience’ of disposable everything,” said Rick R.
It’s killing the planet—and draining wallets.
21. Tipping
“I’m sick of supplementing for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage,” wrote Susan V.
Tipping culture has evolved into something far removed from its original intent, and for many, it now feels like a burden shifted onto the customer.
The bigger picture
People aren’t saying all these things should vanish tomorrow. But when we start seeing convenience sold as necessity, and insecurity turned into billion-dollar markets, it's worth asking: who benefits from all of this?
And more importantly—who pays?
This article originally appeared earlier this year.