Parade

Subscribe to Parade feed Parade
Your daily destination for celebrity news, videos, entertainment, food, recipes, health tips, fitness, and games from America's most popular magazine.
Updated: 4 min 39 sec ago

'The First Wives Club' Turns 30, Its First Milestone Since Diane Keaton's Death

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 7:00am

While The First Wives Club is celebrating 30 years since its release on Sunday, it’s also marking its first major milestone without Diane Keaton.

Along with the late actress, the film also starred Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler who played three friends that team up to get financial revenge on their husbands who left them for younger women.

The film was first released on Sept. 20, 1996, and went on to gross over $100 million at the U.S. box office, according to IMDb.

And while the film has celebrated milestones over the years, this one hits differently following the October 2025 death of Keaton. She was 79.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about the movie’s 30th anniversary earlier this year, Hawn got to talking about how special the movie was to make and specifically shared memories of Keaton.

“When you talk about what were the great things that happened: The girls getting together, finally getting a script that we believed in, going forward, and being funny together and laughing together,” she said. “I think about me and Diane and all the times we had together. It’s emotional for me, but we had so much fun. We used to be in the trailer together and stuff — it’s kind of hard for me to talk about, but it was great.”

Hawn also shared a heartbreaking tribute to her castmate last year upon the news of her death.

Related: Bette Midler Posts Behind-the-Scenes Photo From ‘First Wives Club’ With Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn

As for Midler, in addition to sharing her own social media tribute, she also shared a black and white photo of the three of them this year, which also included the film’s composer Marc Shaiman.

“It was the best of times,” she captioned the sweet snap.

The film, which was Oscar-nominated for its score, may be best remembered for its iconic ending where the three women in matching white ensembles sing “You Don’t Own Me,” by Lesley Gore — a scene that has been reimagined on social media and has solidified itself in pop culture history.

The movie also starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley, and Stockard Channing.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

‘Those Are Exactly the Words’: Earl Spencer Doubles Down on Bombshell Princess Diana Claim

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:56am

Earl Spencer is continuing to speak out ahead of the publication of his book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister which is published next week and is highly critical of the British royal family.

He caused quite a stir with the bombshell claim that in a phone call with King Charles III, following the death of Spencer’s sister Princess Diana, the then-Prince of Wales sounded “giddily elated” like “a lottery winner.”

Now Spencer has given an interview to the BBC in which he compared the media’s treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to what Diana went through during her time as the most famous woman in the world.

He said that the relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the press has “echoes” of the relationship that existed between Diana and the press in the years before her death at 36 years old in August 1997.

The interview will be aired on the BBC this evening in the UK.

He described the media’s coverage of Harry and Meghan as having a “cancerous

Related: Kate Middleton Stunned in Emerald Dress and $192 Chunky Chain Necklace For Prince George’s First Day at Etoninfluence.”

He said, “If you look at an article in a tabloid about Diana or the couple that you were mentioning, Harry and Meghan, you know, they can be really, really unpleasant. And I think it would be really beholden on people to learn from Diana’s example.”

Diana was brought “really low” by the critical press coverage of her, Spencer said, and he witnessed her “tears of despair.”

The interview comes days after Buckingham Palace hit back at Spencer’s claims concerning the king’s reaction to Diana’s death, which were published in an extract from his upcoming book.

Spencer wrote that Charles said “we’ll forget [Diana] soon enough” during an argument about whether 15-year-old Prince William and 11-year-old Prince Harry should walk behind their mother’s coffin in the funeral procession.

A spokesperson for the palace said, “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

Related: Prince Harry’s Sudden UK Return: Has the Real Reason Finally Been Revealed?

The response was a rare one—usually the royals religiously follow the tried-and-true public relations strategy of ‘never complain, never explain.’

But in his BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg, which took place at the Spencer family’s ancestral estate of Althorp, Spencer hit back and questioned the king’s response.

He said, “Well, is he furious? Is he furious or is he embarrassed?”

He went on, “I can tell you here and now, those are exactly the words he said.”

When Kuenssburg asked Spencer if he had any evidence to support his bombshell claims, he said that he had told several people close to him at the time about Charles’ reaction because it was “so monstrous.”

Next, 30 Years After Diana and Charles’ Divorce, This Emotional Detail About Their Final Day Still Surprises

1977 Fleetwood Mac Hit, Written by Christine McVie, Wasn’t About a Dog 

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:40am

In 1977, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album was riding high on the charts, delivering hits like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop.” But the fourth and final single, “You Make Loving Fun,” had a story of its own—and songwriter Christine McVie didn’t initially want to share that story with her then-husband.

Written solely by McVie during the Rumours sessions in 1976, “You Make Loving Fun” is an upbeat, keyboard-heavy love song about the joy of a new relationship. The song was a major hit, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1977. Decades later, the song’s backstory shows that there was a lot more going on behind the scenes than fans knew at the time.

RELATED: 1981 Rock Duet Became the Biggest Hit Ever for Both Artists

McVie wrote the song while she was at the tail end of her marriage to her husband, Fleetwood Mac bass player John McVie—but in a secret relationship with the band’s lighting director Curry Grant.

Rolling Stone described “You Make Loving Fun” as “a lovely and tender ode to their short-lived romance,” adding, “To keep the peace with her still-husband at the time, however, she told John it was about their dog.”

In the book “Making Rumours: The Inside Story Of The Classic Fleetwood Mac Album, it’s also explained that McVie told the band she wrote the song about her dog, Duster, to “avoid flare-ups” with her ex.

Band leader Mick Fleetwood once joked to Q magazine, “Knowing John, he probably thought it was about one of her dogs.”

McVie, who died in 2022, confirmed in interviews that she wrote “You Make Loving Fun” about Grant—not about Duster.

“I was seeing another chappie at that time, his name was Curry Grant,” McVie once said. “He had a great sense of humor, he was always making me laugh. I sure needed that at that time, and I recall that I wrote ‘You Make Loving Fun’ specifically about him and his wonderful sense of humor.”

In the documentary Classic Albums: Rumours, McVie revealed that her ex wasn’t  thrilled when he found out the true inspiration to “You Make Loving Fun.”

“That [song] was about my then-boyfriend, at the time,” McVie confirmed, per Us Weekly. “For obvious reasons, since he was our lighting director, he was not welcome in the studio.”

Once she officially split from her husband, McVie and Grant began living together in her house near the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

“I have no intention of getting married,” McVie told Rolling Stone in early 1977. “I don’t think I’m in love. …I don’t really know what the hell love is.”

“John can’t handle Curry too well, even though he’s much more at ease with other women around me than I am with men in front of him,” she added. “He’s making an effort.”

Because “You Make Loving Fun” became such a big hit, John McVie was forced to perform his ex-wife’s love song to another man for years onstage.

Nearly 50 years later, “You Make Loving Fun” remains one of the most enduring tracks from the Rumours album—a catchy love song with a secret backstory that makes it even more intriguing.

Related: Stevie Nicks Recorded One of Her Most Beautiful Songs Three Times—But It Was Never Released as a Single

49 Years Ago Today, ‘Happy Days’ Jumped the Shark and Still Lasted 6 More Seasons 

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:21am

In 1977, Happy Days character Fonzie officially jumped the shark. The third part of the season 5 premiere, “Hollywood: Part 3,”  aired on Sept. 20, 1977, on ABC, spawning what would become one of the biggest tropes in TV history.

In the episode, Fonzie (Henry Winkler) is challenged by the “California Kid” (James Daughton) to jump over a tiger shark while on water skis. Previously known for clearing 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle, the Fonz accepts the challenge and succeeds.

Decades later, the scene is one of the most memorable Happy Days moments of all time.

The episode sparked the birth of the catchphrase “jump the shark.” Coined by radio personality Jon Hein, “jump the shark” signals the moment a TV show—or anything else— starts its decline.

ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images

But the thing is, Happy Days didn’t actually jump the shark. The third part of the “Hollywood” trilogy finished with a 50 percent ratings share with 30 million viewers, landing at No. 3 in the ratings that week, according to The AV Club. The ABC sitcom went on for six more seasons, with over 160 more episodes airing after Fonzie’s shark stunt, finally ending in 1984.

Winkler once told NPR’s Fresh Air he didn’t know why the episode came to signify the beginning of the end for something.

“You know what? I don’t know,” the Happy Days star said. “To them, the Fonz water skiing was just like the last straw. The only thing is it wasn’t to the audience because we were No. 1 for years after that. So it didn’t much matter to anybody.”

RELATED: ‘Happy Days’ Guest Star’s 1978 Debut Changed Everything

Winkler has also been vocal about how the episode came to be, and it turns out it wasn’t the writers coming up with a far-fetched Fonzie skill.

In a 2025 interview on CBS Mornings, Winkler confirmed that the episode was written after his father nagged him to tell producers that he knew how to waterski. Winkler filmed the ski scene without a stunt double, up until the jump.

“It was [me ] all right,” the Happy Days star said. “I did everything but the jump because I couldn’t do the stunt.”

Nearly 50 years later, “Hollywood: Part 3” is a Happy Days favorite that lives on in reruns—and with a phrase that has become a permanent part of pop culture history.

Related: The ‘Happy Days’ Moment That Made Fonzie Seem Almost Magical — Fans Still Remember It 50 Years Later

Dolly Parton Carries This Shocking Home Item ‘Non-Stop’ While Touring

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:13am

Miley Cyrus recently shared a hilarious family secret that has country music fans doing a double-take. While preparing for the launch of her brand-new album, Bass Persuades, the pop star sat down for an intimate conversation with DJ Zane Lowe at Apple Music’s Los Angeles studio. The two discussed her upcoming October shows at the iconic Hollywood Bowl, but the conversation quickly veered into a fascinating debate about ultimate on-the-road comfort.

It turns out that dedication to a great night’s sleep runs deep in the family. Cyrus revealed that her mother, Tish Cyrus, was incredibly intense about traveling logistics. Whenever Miley or her father went out on the road, Tish would have their exact home beds custom-replicated inside the tour buses. However, Miley noted that sleeping on a mattress moving at sixty-five miles per hour down a bumpy highway is never quite the same experience.

That is exactly when she brought up her legendary godmother, Dolly Parton, who took tour bus customization to a whole new level. According to Miley, Dolly famously traveled with a fully functioning bathtub installed right inside her vehicle.

Miley admitted she could never quite grasp the mechanics of her godmother’s mobile spa. She laughingly questioned when anyone would actually use it, wondering if Dolly was bathing while turning sharp corners on the freeway or while parked outside. Miley joked that if you are already stopped in a parking lot, you might as well just book a luxury room at the beautiful Four Seasons hotel instead. Lowe defended the setup, noting that a bus bath is serious business, prompting Miley to simply reply, “Splish splash.”

Ultimately, the funny exchange highlights how two distinct generations of music royalty handle the grueling demands of touring. While Miley relies on her highly specific “bed recipe” for nightly comfort, Dolly always preferred a sweet, warm, deeply relaxing soak on wheels.

1971 Linda Ronstadt Rejected Don Henley's Songs, Hired Him as a Drummer Instead, and the Rest Is Hotel California

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:00am

Don Henley moved to Los Angeles in 1970 with two things: a box of songs he’d written and a hope that Linda Ronstadt would record them. He sent them to her manager John Boylan. Ronstadt listened. “They didn’t turn out to be good songs for me at the time,” she told Billboard. So that was that. Except it wasn’t. A few days later, Ronstadt was walking through the Troubadour on Sunset when she heard someone drumming in another room. She stopped. She listened. She went to find out who it was. It was Henley. “I thought he was such a good drummer,” she said. She hired him. The songs that she’d turned down became the foundation of one of the greatest music catalogs in American music.

Here’s where Henley was coming from. He’d grown up in Linden, Texas, and spent years playing in a band called Shiloh — which was discovered by Kenny Rogers in Dallas and brought to Los Angeles to record. Shiloh went nowhere. Henley was only 23, broke, and running out of options when Boylan called. “Glenn asked if I’d like to go on the road with Linda Ronstadt’s band, and I said, ‘You bet I do,'” he told Ultimate Classic Rock. “I was broke and here was a chance for $200 a week.” He showed up for a 10-minute audition. He got the job not for his songs — for his drums.

What happened on the road was the part nobody planned or expected. Henley and Glenn Frey — who Ronstadt had also hired as her guitarist — were rooming together on tour. “They each discovered the other could sing and was a great songwriter,” Ronstadt told Billboard. Frey called Henley his “secret weapon.” By the end of the summer, they’d decided to start a band.

Ronstadt helped them. She introduced them to manager David Geffen. She helped them to recruit Randy Meisner from the Stone Canyon Band and Bernie Leadon from the Flying Burrito Brothers.

“She more than anyone else helped us put together the Eagles,” Frey said at Ronstadt’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2014. He wasn’t exaggerating. And those songs that Henley had written and Ronstadt had passed on, the ones that weren’t right for her at the time, became the new band’s early catalog.

Related: 1969 Johnny Cash and Linda Ronstadt’s Duet, Almost Canceled by June Carter Over a Wardrobe Crisis, Was Wildly Unexpected

Ronstadt didn’t forget what they’d done for her either. When the Eagles recorded “Desperado,” she covered it for her 1973 album Don’t Cry Now. Her version helped bring the song to a new audience. Henley later called her interpretation “poignant and beautiful.” Two careers feeding each other. A drummer hired because a songwriter got turned down.

Where It Ended Up

The Eagles sold over 200 million records. Hotel California alone sold more than 32 million copies. They won six Grammys and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Don Henley turned 79 this year. In February 2026, he said the Eagles’ current run of shows would “probably” be their last. “I think this year will probably be it,” he said. “And I’ve said things like that before, but I feel like we’re getting toward the end.”

Fifty-five years after Linda Ronstadt heard him playing drums at the Troubadour and thought, “What a good drummer,” the band that started out as her touring band — and that she introduced to David Geffen — is taking its final bow. She didn’t want his songs. She wanted his drums. In the end, he got to give her both.

🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬

This 82-Year-Old Manhattan Restaurant Was Walter Cronkite's Escape From the News—and You Can Still Eat There Today

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 6:00am

Time and AI may determine if old-school journalism is dead, but one thing is indisputable: longtime CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite was dubbed the “most trusted man in America.”

Does his moniker translate to his food choices?

Apparently so, as a storied New York City restaurant is still going strong with rave reviews pouring in 82 years after its grand opening.

A fixture in America’s living rooms for nearly two decades, Cronkite reported on huge events such as the assassination of JFK, the Apollo moon landing, and deep dives into the Vietnam War—protests and all.

Related: Al Capone’s Favorite Meal Is Still Served Nearly 100 Years Later at ‘Miami Beach’s Oldest Restaurant’

But where did the man behind the desk go to indulge in his favorite meal once the cameras stopped rolling?

That answer is reportedly Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, where he once enjoyed a leisurely lunch with fellow journalist Nick Clooney, father of acclaimed actor George Clooney.

Patsy’s is a staple for locals and tourists alike craving a heavy dose of Italian fare—fried mozzarella, rigatoni, ravioli, wine, and of course, saving room for the “dessert of the day.”

Cronkite surely delighted himself with a taste of various apps and entrees during his multiple visits to Patsy’s, but his go-to was ensuring his meal was accompanied by Maker’s Mark bourbon after a long shift that required him to deliver news that wasn’t always positive.

Related: Elvis Presley’s Favorite Meal Is Still Served at This Southern Drive-In Nearly 70 Years Later 

While the menu has certainly changed since 1944, Patsy’s remains a Manhattan destination for anyone looking to get a taste of old New York, sitting less than a block from Carnegie Hall and three blocks from Central Park.

Patsy’s has hundreds of 5-star Google reviews. One recent patron claimed, “If you want to experience Italian-American comfort food at its finest, Patsy’s Italian Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan is an absolute must.”

Another diner said, “I come here every time I visit” and made sure he “popped into the upstairs to see where Frank Sinatra liked to sit” as Ol’ Blue Eyes himself was another famous regular here.

Walter Cronkite passed away in 2009 after an illustrious career in journalism.

If You Grew Up in the ’80s, These 10 Home Decor Trends Will Take You Right Back—and Designers Say Some Are Making a Comeback

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:44am

If you lived through the 1980s, there’s a good chance you have strong opinions on the quirky home decor trends of the time period.

Defined by maximalism, vibrant colors and quirky patterns, 1980s interior design was truly singular. A lot of the over-the-top home trends of the ’80s were left squarely in that decade, but there are a few that are becoming trendy again today—though in more muted variations, for the most part.

🪏🪴SIGN UP for the Dengarden / Parade Home & Garden newsletter for a weekly dose of our favorite house hacks, decor trends and shopping deals🪏🪴

To walk down ’80s memory lane, Parade spoke with two interior designers: Shelly Yoder, Project Designer at California-based remodeling firm Next Stage Design; and Julia Ginzburg, Owner and Creative Director of Philadelphia-based design firm JG Interior Design.

Below, Yoder and Ginzburg share 10 home decorating trends from the 1980s, along with their thoughts on whether we should leave them in the past or learn how to style them today. Keep reading for their insights!

Related: Interior Designers Rank the Best and Worst ’90s Decor Trends—and They Have Some Hot Takes

’80s Home Decor Was All About Maximalism and Intensity

“The biggest thing about ‘80s decor was the ‘more is more’ mentality,” says Yoder. She notes that after the boon of midcentury modern interior design, which tapered off in the 1970s, the people of the 1980s “turned it around completely and leaned heavily into an abundance of high contrast colors and patterns.”

“They would often pair colors that are considered to be an intense combination, such as mauve, hunter green, teal and peach all together on wallpaper or in furniture,” explains Yoder. “Besides the colors, the pattern combinations and geometry also came back in lots of different ways such as in wallpaper, tiles and upholstery. The overall result was maximalism, but without the structured thoughtfulness we see these days. It seemed to be more about filling the space with all the colors, patterns and textures than about curation. A beautiful, chaotic mix with character.”

Related: The One Paint Finish Designers Say Most Homeowners Should Never Apply Themselves

“’80s design was called postmodernism,” adds Ginzburg. Postmodern interior design was defined by funky shapes, whimsical furniture and lively colors and patterns, according to home furnishings manufacturer Robern.

“When I think of ’80s, the first image that comes to my mind is the décor from The Golden Girls,” she adds.

These 10 Decorating Trends Were in Almost Every Home in the 1980s

Which of these 1980s home decor trends do you remember?

1. Geometric furniture

Bravo / Getty Images

In the 1980s, furniture designers often incorporated geometric shapes into furnishings, ranging from high-back curvy chairs to round sofa chairs, says Ginzburg.

How to style this ’80s trend today

Ginzburg has noticed people embracing curvy geometric furniture into homes as of late, but a bit differently than in the ’80s.

“Shapes, including curves, are back!” the designer adds. “But now, with clean lines, airy flow and sophisticated, sculptured and ergonomic forms.”

2. Brass fixtures and hardware

Sergey Semenov / Getty Images

According to Yoder, in the 1980s, polished brass fixtures and hardware “were literally everywhere.” This includes faucets, cabinet pulls, light fixtures, towel bars and more.

“It was the finish most people gravitated towards for nearly a decade,” she says.

How to style this ’80s trend today

“High-polished brass is considered dated today, but the unlacquered or brushed version has made a genuine comeback,” says Yoder. “I am starting to see these pop up more and more. When implementing this nowadays, the sheen level is where you can make it modern.”

Related: 9 Back-to-School Organization Tips Professional Organizers Swear By

3. Mauve and dusty rose bathrooms

timnewman / Getty Images

In the 1980s, bathrooms decorated with mauve and dusty rose palettes were “hard to escape,” per Yoder.

“Almost everyone knows of at least one house that someone bought with still a dusty rose bathroom in it that was in need of a redesign,” she says. “This was often also paired with grey and teal tones, making it extra colorful.”

How to style this ’80s trend today

“These days, the full-on dusty rose bathrooms are hard to pull off,” says Yoder. “But dusty rose and mauve as a color used on its own actually works well in contemporary designs. It’s the all-over monochromatic bathrooms that are left behind in the ’80s.”

4. Rainbow colors

Fernando Bengoechea / Getty Images

The kaleidoscope of colors used in many 1980s homes “might make your head spin,” says Ginzburg. “Bright, contrasted colors reflected moods. Area rugs, wall-to-wall carpets, bathroom tiles and fixtures—everything was color.”

How to style this ’80s trend today

Nowadays, Ginzburg says, more and more designers realize the importance of the colors you choose when decorating a home.

“Colors are used to reflect the owner’s taste with warm tones and neutrals to promote calm, and one (or two) sophisticated, thoughtful accent color that stands out,” she says.

Related: If You Spot Henredon at Goodwill, Designers Say to Grab It Immediately—Here Are 9 More Vintage Brands Worth Looking for

5. Geometric-patterned upholstery

Maria Casinos / Getty Images

In the 1980s, “all kinds of furniture and spaces were covered in large-scale geometric patterns in high-contrast colors,” says Yoder.

How to style this ’80s trend today

“Geometric style has definitely made a comeback, but in a dialed back way,” Yoder explains. “You now often find a neutral room with a fun colored geometric tile or patterned pillows as a detail, instead of going all-in on the pattern. If you were to make your entire room geometric now, it’d very quickly look retro.”

6. Funky-patterned wallpaper

Maxiphoto / Getty Images

“Patterned wallpaper was used in living and dining rooms, and even in the kitchens,” says Ginzburg. “Each bedroom had its own themed border accent wallpaper, matched to wall color, flower heart-shaped patterns for master bedroom, animal prints for kids’ bedrooms.”

How to style this ’80s trend today

Ginzburg doesn’t think the whimsical wallpaper trend has made a full comeback yet.

“We are yet to see if it truly comes back. Not yet at this point,” she says. “I would welcome some neutral colored, clean patterned wallpaper in dining room. Certainly, not in the kitchen.”

Related: Black Kitchens Are Coming for White Kitchens—Designers Explain Why Everyone’s Making the Switch

7. Wallpaper borders

Vostok / Getty Images

“Another one that you’d see everywhere, but that does not work well anymore these days, is the strip of decorative wallpaper that would run along the top of the wall, just below the ceiling,” says Yoder. “This was almost universal in bedrooms and kitchens in the ’80s.”

How to style this ’80s trend today

According to Ginzburg, this trend is best left in the past.

“This is not something you see anymore today,” Ginzburg says of wallpaper borders. “These days people tend to stick to painted walls or full-wall wallpaper.”

8. Sunken living rooms

BongkarnThanyakij / Getty Images

“One thing we used to see a lot, but don’t anymore, is sunken living rooms,” says Yoder.

“The amazing (often carpeted) conversation pit that is just a few steps down from the main floor level is something we saw a lot.”

How to style this ’80s trend today

Yoder says the sunken living room trend is best “left behind in the ’80s.”

“As much as this is a cozy feature to have, it doesn’t work well for accessibility, reselling and it also makes furniture configurations very difficult,” she explains. “It is not something we see people actually building into their living room anymore.”

Related: 35 Things in Your House Right Now That Could Be Worth Money, According to Certified Appraisers

9. Wooden panels

Juan Maria Coy Vergara / Getty Images

Ini the ’80s, “dark or light wood panels were used instead of painted drywalls, ceiling and niches,” explains Ginzburg. This is a true mark of the 1980s—in fact, the walls of my childhood home’s third floor were entirely covered in wood panels and niches.

How to style this ’80s trend today

Ginzburg says she hopes “that dark wooden wall panels do not return,” adding that she was “so happy to get rid of them in [the] family room a couple of years ago.”

10. Decorative pillows for days

wakila / Getty Images

In the 1980s, it was common to see throw pillows in “overwhelming quantities, in all rooms, on all beds, on each chair,” according to Ginzburg. The biggest offender? Leopard printed decorative pillows.

How to style this ’80s trend today

According to Ginzburg, decorative pillows “are certainly used now”—just not to the degree they were in the ’80s. She says that the best way to decorate with throw pillows is to keep your collection “limited, thoughtful and accents [that] match to the overall color scheme.”

Up Next:

Related: Your Rug May Be Making Your Small Living Room Look Smaller—Designers Explain Why

Sources:

Martha Stewart’s Reversible Rose Garden-Inspired Bedding Adds a Fresh, Elegant Feel to Spaces

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:30am

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Breathing new life into your home doesn’t require a complete bedroom makeover. One of the easiest ways to refresh your space is by switching out your duvet cover, giving you the chance to experiment with new patterns and colors without committing to a whole new bedding setup. It’s a simple swap that can instantly make your room feel cozier and more inviting.

If your bedding could use a stylish upgrade, the Martha Stewart Tea Rose Reversible Cotton Duvet Cover Set is a beautiful option to consider. Martha Stewart’s home line is known for timeless designs, thoughtful details, and quality craftsmanship, and this set delivers that same elevated feel. Right now, it’s on sale for 62% off at Wayfair, bringing the price down from $150 to just $57.

Martha Stewart Tea Rose Reversible Cotton Duvet Cover Set, From $57 (was $150) at Wayfair 

Courtesy of Wayfair

Shop at Wayfair

Made from 100% cotton, this rose garden-inspired duvet cover offers a soft, breathable feel that works year-round. The front features a smooth sateen weave with a subtle sheen, while the reverse uses a lightweight percale weave for a cooler, crisp feel. The set comes in three sizes: twin, queen, and king. The twin includes one duvet cover and one standard sham, while the queen and king sizes come with two shams. The twin size set measures 68 inches wide and 86 inches long, with a product weight of 2.7 pounds.

The design also includes thoughtful details that make it feel more luxurious. The duvet features a tailored knife-edge finish, an oversized button closure, and corner ties to help keep your insert securely in place. The matching shams are fully reversible with a scalloped edge eurocap closure for an extra decorative touch.

It’s also easy to care for, since the set is machine washable and can be tumble dried on low. Plus, it’s Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, meaning the materials have been tested to ensure they’re free from harmful chemicals.

The tea rose pattern is what truly makes this duvet cover stand out. One side features romantic rose florals in soft blush and pink tones against a classic white background, creating a calm and elegant bedroom feel. The reverse side offers a delicate sage green botanical stripe pattern, giving you two distinctly different looks depending on your mood or decorating style.

With its vintage-inspired floral design, this duvet cover fits beautifully into a variety of aesthetics. It works especially well with French countryside, cottagecore, shabby chic, grandmillennial, and eclectic or boho-chic spaces. Pair it with natural wood furniture, woven textures, antique-inspired accents, or soft neutral tones to complete the cozy European-inspired look.

Related: Martha Stewart’s Crisp 100% Cotton Percale Sheets Deliver the ‘Cooling Comfort’ Hot Sleepers Need

While there aren’t any current reviews for this product at Wayfair, over at Amazon, shoppers confirm the duvet is “so beautiful,” “super soft,” and “ridiculously comfy.”

For a playful duvet cover that combines breathable comfort with a charming, romantic design, the Martha Stewart Tea Rose Reversible Cotton Duvet Cover Set is a great pick. And with Wayfair’s current 62% discount, you can save nearly $100 on this stylish bedding upgrade right now.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

1969 Led Zeppelin Song, Never Played Live, Was One of Jimmy Page's Least Favorite Tracks  

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:24am

In 1969, Led Zeppelin’s second album featured plenty of rock radio-ready tracks, but one song never made it past the DJs—because Jimmy Page reportedly refused to play it live.

The song was  “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman),” and while it received frequent radio airplay as part of a segue from the song “Heartbreaker,” the legendary rock band never played it at their shows.

Written by Page and Robert Plant, “Living Loving Maid” featured lyrics about a woman “with a purple umbrella and a fifty-cent hat.” Page’s guitar riff was described by Goldmine magazine as “tonally fresh” and “the most modern-sounding riff on 1969’s Led Zeppelin II, a sort of smarter version of ‘Communication Breakdown’ from earlier in the year.”

“I used a Vox 12-string,” Page confirmed to Guitar Player in 1993. “You can hear the Vox on things like ‘Thank You’ and ‘Living Loving Maid’ on the second album.”

Despite the positive feedback on his guitar work, Page said he and his Led Zeppelin bandmates never really liked “Living Loving Maid,” according to Guitar Player.

Guitarist Robbie Gage, who once jammed with Page in 1991, claimed to Ultimate Classic Rock that Page told him he’d play “anything but ‘Stairway to Heaven’ or ‘Living Loving Maid’ — he hated that song.”

Plant apparently also took issue with the track, once telling True Metal that “’Living Loving Maid’ is probably the first one” on his list of songs he wished he hadn’t written. “It’s terrible, the lyrics are awful,” the singer admitted.

RELATED: 1971 Led Zeppelin Classic Ranked ‘Best Drum Intro of All Time’

Still, Plant teased “Living Loving Maid” a few times on stage, singing the first line of the song during “Heartbreaker” at a couple of shows in the 1970s, but going no further. He later performed the song as an encore during his Manic Nirvana solo tour in 1990, but never with Zeppelin.

Plant has gone on record as saying  that “Living Loving Maid” is an important part of Led Zeppelin’s “tapestry of music.”

“We didn’t actually develop a style and stick to it, we were moving all over the place,” he told The Arts Desk of the band’s early years.

“People remember that, from those days, and people now who find us, those I’ve met, can’t believe that you can actually cover such a broad volume of alternative areas in one four-piece band,” he said. “That was the great thing about it. The difference between “Living Loving Maid” [and “In the Light” [from Physical Graffiti], you know, ‘Four Sticks’ [from Led Zeppelin IV] … it’s entertainment, and we purposely set out to please ourselves, and kept changing around.”

Nearly 60 years after its release, “Living Loving Maid” isn’t one of Led Zeppelin’s biggest hits, but it remains a rock radio staple, still played back-to-back with “Heartbreaker” as a classic rock double shot.

Related: 1976 Led Zeppelin Track, Ranked Among the ‘Top Songs’ of the Year, Left Mick Jagger Stunned When He First Heard It

1973 Tennis Match Drew 90 Million Viewers Worldwide; 29-Year-Old Billie Jean King Made History 53 Years Ago Today

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:19am

In 1973, an estimated 90 million people around the world tuned in to watch a tennis match that Billie Jean King believed she simply could not afford to lose.

King was 29 when she faced 55-year-old former tennis champion Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes” at the Houston Astrodome on Sept. 20, 1973, 53 years ago today. An estimated 50 million people watched in the United States alone, with the global audience reaching an estimated 90 million.

The spectacle had been building for months. Riggs, who had been one of the world’s top players in the 1940s and won six major titles during his career, claimed that women’s tennis was inferior and that even at 55 he could beat its best players.

He appeared to prove his point in May 1973, when he defeated Margaret Court, then one of the world’s leading female players, 6-2, 6-1. The lopsided Mother’s Day match put Riggs on the covers of Sports Illustrated and TIME and gave him an even bigger platform from which to taunt female tennis players.

King accepted his challenge.

The resulting prime-time ABC event came with a winner-take-all $100,000 prize and entrances befitting a heavyweight fight crossed with a Vegas show. King entered the Astrodome on a feather-covered litter carried by four men, while Riggs arrived in a rickshaw pulled by models. He presented King with an enormous Sugar Daddy lollipop; she countered by giving him a piglet, a jab at male chauvinism.

Once the tennis started, however, King was all business.

After falling behind 3-2 in the opening set, she broke back and went on to beat Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Rather than relying on her usual aggressive style, King had prepared specifically for Riggs’ game, initially staying near the baseline and making him move from side to side.

More than 30,000 people watched from inside the Astrodome, while tens of millions more saw King win on television.

For King, the stakes extended far beyond the $100,000 prize.

“I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match,” she later said, explaining that she feared a loss would hurt the women’s tennis tour as well as women’s self-esteem.

King was already helping reshape her sport. She was one of the Original 9 players who established the Virginia Slims Series amid a fight over unequal prize money, an effort that ultimately helped lead to the creation of the Women’s Tennis Association.

Fifty-three years after 90 million viewers watched her step onto the court, King’s straight-sets victory remains one of the defining moments of her career and a landmark in the history of women’s tennis.

If You See This on September 20, Take This Spiritual Quote With You

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:14am

If you feel like you should be further along by now, September 20, 2026 brings a gentler spiritual message for you. According to astrologers, today’s Virgo season transit can bring our attention to everything that needs fixing, improving, organizing, or getting back on track, while the wise Moon in Capricorn adds another layer of responsibility and ambition. But what if you don’t need to push yourself harder?

<strong>Have patience with all things, but, first of all with yourself.”</strong>

You Don’t Have to Fix Everything at Once

We’re reaching the end of disciplined Virgo season. This is the part of the astrological year that can make you notice the details you’ve been overlooking and create urgency to be productive towards your practical goals. Maybe there’s a habit you want to change, a purpose you’ve been putting off, or an area of your life that doesn’t feel quite as organized as you’d like. That awareness can be useful, but without compassion, it can also turn into intense self-criticism.

The Moon in Capricorn can crank up the pressure, only further heightening your attention on responsibility, achievement, and the future. You may be thinking about what you should have accomplished by now or wondering whether you’re doing enough. The astrological quote selected for September 16 offers another perspective: progress still counts when it’s slower than you anticipated.

READ: If Your Birth Date Were an Autumn Cocktail, This Would Be It

Your Timeline Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

Virgo energy wants to improve things. Capricorn energy wants to build something lasting. Neither is inherently about giving up. However, with so much strategic Earth energy in the cosmic air, both transits together can become exhausting if you start treating every mistake as evidence that you’re falling behind.

You can be ambitious without being cruel to yourself. You can want more for your life without deciding that where you are right now isn’t good enough. Sometimes patience is not passive at all. It’s what allows you to keep going.

If you’re seeing this on September 20, maybe the message isn’t that you need to work harder. Maybe it’s that you need to give yourself credit for how much you’re already doing. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you move forward. You don’t have to become a completely different person overnight. Give yourself the same patience you’d give someone you love. Then keep going, letting divine timing play its course.

UP NEXT:

If You See This on September 20, Take This Spiritual Quote With You

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 5:14am

If you feel like you should be further along by now, September 20, 2026 brings a gentler spiritual message for you. According to astrologers, today’s Virgo season transit can bring our attention to everything that needs fixing, improving, organizing, or getting back on track, while the wise Moon in Capricorn adds another layer of responsibility and ambition. But what if you don’t need to push yourself harder?

<strong>Have patience with all things, but, first of all with yourself.”</strong>

You Don’t Have to Fix Everything at Once

We’re reaching the end of disciplined Virgo season. This is the part of the astrological year that can make you notice the details you’ve been overlooking and create urgency to be productive towards your practical goals. Maybe there’s a habit you want to change, a purpose you’ve been putting off, or an area of your life that doesn’t feel quite as organized as you’d like. That awareness can be useful, but without compassion, it can also turn into intense self-criticism.

The Moon in Capricorn can crank up the pressure, only further heightening your attention on responsibility, achievement, and the future. You may be thinking about what you should have accomplished by now or wondering whether you’re doing enough. The astrological quote selected for September 16 offers another perspective: progress still counts when it’s slower than you anticipated.

READ: If Your Birth Date Were an Autumn Cocktail, This Would Be It

Your Timeline Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

Virgo energy wants to improve things. Capricorn energy wants to build something lasting. Neither is inherently about giving up. However, with so much strategic Earth energy in the cosmic air, both transits together can become exhausting if you start treating every mistake as evidence that you’re falling behind.

You can be ambitious without being cruel to yourself. You can want more for your life without deciding that where you are right now isn’t good enough. Sometimes patience is not passive at all. It’s what allows you to keep going.

If you’re seeing this on September 20, maybe the message isn’t that you need to work harder. Maybe it’s that you need to give yourself credit for how much you’re already doing. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you move forward. You don’t have to become a completely different person overnight. Give yourself the same patience you’d give someone you love. Then keep going, letting divine timing play its course.

UP NEXT:

1969 Elvis Presley Gem Was the Flip Side of a No. 3 Billboard Smash

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 4:50am

Early 1969 marked a seismic shift for Elvis Presley.

Fresh off his legendary ’68 Comeback Special, the King of Rock and Roll walked into Memphis’ American Sound Studio determined to reclaim his place at the top of the charts. While the session produced the monumental No. 3 Billboard hit “In the Ghetto,” the single’s flip side quietly carried a soulful masterpiece of its own: a deeply emotional rendition of Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard’s “Any Day Now.”

The song served as a crucial bridge between Elvis’s explosive studio comeback and his triumphant return to the live stage in Las Vegas later that summer. With “Any Day Now,” Presley delivered a performance dripping with genuine emotion and soul.

While Mac Davis’s poignant narrative of poverty and tragedy made “In the Ghetto” an undeniable cultural watershed, “Any Day Now” offered a starkly different emotional pulse on the reverse side. Moving from the sobering narrative of social struggle to the deeply personal ache of lost love, Presley proved he could anchor both sides of one single.

Parade Daily&#x1F3AC; SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox &#x1F3AC;

“In the Ghetto” was a vast departure from Presley’s earlier works, marking his transition into gritty, adult storytelling. That willingness to take creative risks extended directly to the flip side, where his version of “Any Day Now” proved that he was no longer playing it safe.

The tune, originally performed by Chuck Jackson, was released in 1962. His version peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, according to the website Chimes of Freedom.

The website describes the song as “unique” in that it is “not directly a love song and not about a breakup. Instead, it is about an in-between time, where the singer laments that his lover will soon leave him ‘any day now.’”

Originally penned by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962, the soul classic found new life when Elvis laid down his own track in Memphis. Released on his acclaimed tenth studio album, From Elvis in Memphis, on June 2, 1969, “Any Day Now” quickly stood out as one of the record’s finest vocal showcases.

Additionally, the classic song became a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1982 for Ronnie Milsap. According to Country Universe, Milsap’s “phrasing is flawless, bringing complex nuances of the lyric to the surface.”

Decades later, “Any Day Now” stands as proof of just how inspired Elvis was in 1969. While “In the Ghetto” grabbed the big headlines, the flip side captured a singer at the absolute top of his game. It remains one of the purest, most soulful recordings of his entire career.

Related: Elvis Presley Turned a 1970 James Taylor ‘Joke’ Song Into a Massive Top 20 Hit

Mariska Hargitay Walked Onto a Set 27 Years Ago and Never Left It; No Actor in American Primetime Drama Has Ever Played One Character Longer Than That

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 4:02am

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit premiered on NBC on September 20, 1999, a spin-off of a crime drama that had debuted nine years earlier. Dick Wolf created it. Mariska Hargitay took the part of Olivia Benson in the pilot and has never handed it to anyone else.

The Record She Set by Staying Put

Opening its 21st season in September 2019, SVU passed the 20-season mark shared by Gunsmoke and the original Law & Order and became the longest-running scripted live-action series in American television history. Hargitay cleared a record of her own along the way, overtaking James Arness and Milburn Stone for the most consecutive seasons playing one character in scripted American prime-time drama. NBC also calls her the longest-running woman to lead a prime-time live-action series.

The Film She Directed About Her Mother

She won her first Emmy in 2006, for playing Benson. Twenty years on she collected two more, at the Creative Arts ceremony on September 5, and neither was for the role. Both were for My Mom Jayne, the documentary she directed about her mother, Jayne Mansfield. She won for directing and for outstanding documentary, then returned nine days later, on September 14, to host the Emmys for the first time, arriving with her daughter in matching red.

Related: TV Icon Mariska Hargitay Chops Off Her Hair for the Shortest Look in Over a Decade Ahead of Broadway Debut

Episode 600 Is Coming

Season 28 premieres October 8 on NBC, airing Thursdays with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock. Showrunner Michele Fazekas has said it will carry the show’s 600th episode. She has called it “potentially, the last centennial episode of this whole show,” and said the milestone is already planned out.

Twenty-seven years in, the series is still booking guest stars from outside television and still building toward round numbers most shows never approach. Hargitay has said she has no plans to leave.

Next: The 26 Best ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Guest Stars—From Robin Williams to Snoop

Walmart's $31 Lighted 8-Tier Tree Bookcase 'Fits Perfectly in a Bedroom Corner'

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 4:00am

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

If you’re an avid reader, you know the joy that an organized, aesthetically pleasing bookshelf can bring to your space. If you want to refresh your environment and elegantly declutter your books, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a high-quality storage solution. 

Available in three chic colors, the “sturdy”Casacomoda 8-Tier Lighted Tree Bookcase is a steal at Walmart right now. The vintage brown version and black versions are both reduced to $31, but you can also shop a white option for $42.

Casacomoda 8-Tier Vintage Style Bookcase, From $31 (was $54) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walm

Shop at Walmart

This bookcase is not just a practical storage solution. I’s designed to bring personality and flair to any room. Its unique tree shape adds a touch of whimsy, while its compact footprint of only 0.8 square feet makes it ideal for those tight corners that often go unused. One reviewer noted that it “fits perfectly in a bedroom corner.” Whether you want to display your favorite novels, collectibles, or decorative accents, this bookshelf can make a charming addition to your living space.

“It’s a space-saver,” one reviewer wrote. “It’s sturdy and my kids loved the lights. It’s great for any room.”

This bookcase has a built-in smart LED light strip. With over 6,000 color options, you can customize your room’s ambiance to match your mood or occasion. The LED lights can be controlled via an app or remote, and they also include sound sync modes. This means you can transform your reading nook into a cozy retreat or set the vibe for a lively gathering with just a few taps on your phone.

Crafted with a sturdy metal frame and durable medium-density fiberboard, this bookcase not only looks great, but is built to last. Each shelf can hold 5 to 10 books, making it perfect for avid readers or collectors of manga and games. Plus, the additional rectangular bottom shelf is ideal for storing bins or other decorative items.

Its modern design and practicality make it suitable for users of all ages — teens and adults alike will appreciate both its aesthetic and utility. Whether you’re moving a student into a dorm or simply looking to add style to your home office, this multi-purpose bookshelf is the perfect fit.

Related: Walmart’s Collapsible Storage Bins Are a ‘Clean, Modern’ Way to Store Clothes and Toys 

Walmart’s $31 vintage-style 8-tier bookcase isn’t just a storage solution. It’s a charming, versatile piece that enhances your home while making organization a breeze. With its fantastic sale price, it’s an offer you won’t want to miss. 

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales twice a week.

Woody Harrelson and His Wife Look So in Love on the Red Carpet

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 4:00am

Woody Harrelson and his wife Laura Louie look so in love on the red carpet.

Harrelson, 65, skyrocketed to fame as Woody the bartender on Cheers alongside Ted Danson. He later earned critical acclaim for his roles in Natural Born Killers and The People vs. Larry Flynt. Now, the star is back on TV in Apple TV’s Brothers alongside his best bud and former costar Matthew McConaughey. But it was the rare appearance of his wife, who typically stays out of the spotlight, that made us smile at the Brothers premiere at the Hammer Museum. With their arms around each other, Harrelson and Louie looked so in love.

River Callaway / Getty Images

&#x1F3AC; SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox &#x1F3AC; 

What is Brothers About?

The Apple TV comedy starring Harrelson and McConaughey features the close friends playing fictionalized versions of themselves as they learn they might be brothers, according to Deadline.

Check out the official trailer for Brothers below. The series hits Apple TV on September 23.

What Do Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey Say About Their Friendship?

Good friends since the late ’90s when they played brothers in EdTV, Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey are thrilled to be back on screen together. In a new New York Times interview with the legendary columnist Maureen Dowd, the dynamic duo, who rocked the world in HBO’s True Detective, opened up about their deep friendship.

“Eighty percent of our conversations are about how to be better men, how to be better husbands, how to be better fathers, how to be better citizens, how to be better friends, what’s bugging us, where we failed,” McConaughey said.

What’s Next for Woody Harrelson?

Earlier this week, Deadline reported that Harrelson is set to lead Summer of Roses, a new suspense drama from Rick Alverson. Harrelson will play Thomas, a wealthy American expatriate in an intoxicated free-fall, the piece notes. It will also star Martin McDonagh, with whom Harrelson appeared in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, as well as Hannah Gross and Kaya Wilkins.

Related: Sarah Paulson, 51, and Holland Taylor, 83, Look So in Love in Rare Red Carpet Appearance Together

1968 Monkees B-Side, Written by Mike Nesmith, Found New Life on a Hit 2020s Series

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 3:11am

In 1968, The Monkees buried an introspective Mike Nesmith track on the back of one of their biggest singles. More than fifty years later, that forgotten recording ended up powering one of the most tragic, talk-about montages in modern television history and introduced a whole new generation to Nesmith’s songwriting.

“Tapioca Tundra” was featured in the final season of the hit AMC series Better Call Saul. Nesmith’s acoustic demo played during a key sequence in Season 6, Episode 11, titled “Breaking Bad.”

As Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk, disguised as Cinnabon manager Gene Takavic) targeted unsuspecting victims, Nesmith’s “Tapioca Tundra” was heard in the background. The track created an eerie contrast against the on-camera scene.

Shortly after the episode aired in August 2022, Indie Wire spoke to the series’ music supervisor Thomas Golubi&#x107;, who explained how Nesmith’s song was chosen for the series.

Parade Daily&#x1F3AC; SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox &#x1F3AC;

“That’s very much a Tom Schnauz (Better Call Saul‘s EP, writer and director) bit of genius, which we’re always happy to follow when those moments happen with him. Tom really loved the idea of using that song. He’d heard it when Mike Nesmith had played that song live.”

Golubi&#x107; continued, “We ended up finding [that version] on a box set of a retrospective release. It was a pretty obscure find and surprisingly tricky to clear. Nobody had it in their records. Nobody knew where it was.”

Bob Odenkirk of ‘Better Call Saul’/AMC Networks

“Tapioca Tundra” was on the B-side of The Monkees’ pop hit, “Valleri.” Released in 1968, the song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

B-sides were a golden opportunity for songwriters. Because publishing royalties paid the same rates regardless of which side got radio play, placing one of his original compositions on the flip side of a million-selling single guaranteed a lucrative payout, according to Steve Hoffman Music Forum.

While money was likely a huge motivator, placing “Tapioca Tundra” on the back of the “Valleri” single was far more than just a smart business move. By 1968, Nesmith was growing increasingly vocal about pushing The Monkees forward as a band, and landing his own non-pop-style song on a multi-million-selling release was a creative victory. “Tapioca Tundra” hailed from the group’s fifth LP The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees.

Decades after he quietly fought for artistic identity, Mike Nesmith got the last laugh. “Tapioca Tundra” may have started as an obscure flip side, but its second life on modern TV proved just how timeless his writing really was.

Quote of the Day: Epicurus Lived on Bread and Water While Writing About Pleasure—and Discovered a Hidden Key to Happiness

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 2:45am

How often do we convince ourselves that happiness is just one purchase, one promotion, or one life milestone away? It is a deeply human tendency to look toward the horizon, assuming that the next accomplishment will finally bring lasting peace. Yet, once we arrive, our goals often shift. They leave us right back where we started. We want more.

Centuries ago, an ancient Greek philosopher, who lived from 341 to 270 B.C., recognized this endless loop and took a radical step to break free from it.

Around 306 BCE, Epicurus purchased a property with a walled garden just outside the gates of Athens. While rival schools gathered in noisy public spaces to debate power and status, Epicurus invited men, women, and enslaved individuals to step away from public ambitions. Everyone was welcome. They built a self-sufficient community simply known as “The Garden”. This space was a radical respite from madness of the city.

Despite later rumors accusing him of hosting extravagant banquets, historical records show that Epicurus lived on bread, water, and occasional pieces of cheese. He was not interested in sensory overload. He wanted to test a specific idea: that true pleasure is simply the absence of physical pain and mental anxiety. By removing artificial desires for luxury, status, and wealth, Epicurus proved that contentment requires remarkably little.

Now as the season is shifting into fall and we’re in back-to-school mode, it’s nice to think about Epicurus. It’s a grounding reminder to pause, re-evaluate our definitions of success, and think about gratitude before the fast pace of autumn takes over. Epicurus and his teaching of quiet living offers a timeless reminder about the nature of human desire.

Related: Quote of the Day: Confucius Spent Years Failing To Convince Political Leaders To Listen to Him—Before Realizing His True Work Was Something Completely Different

Quote of the Day by Epicurus


“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

This quote appears as Vatican Saying 35, one of 81 short maxims that preserve the teachings of Epicurus, whose ideas about happiness, desire and living a peaceful life remain influential more than 2,000 years later. The collection is known as the Vatican Sayings because a manuscript containing the sayings was preserved in the Vatican Library.

This passage, preserved through his foundational maxims, cuts directly to the heart of how we evaluate our lives. Epicurus recognized that human frustration doesn’t usually come from a lack of necessities. Instead, it stems from our habit of overlooking our current blessings while fixating on unfulfilled wishes.

Related: Quote of the Day: François de La Rochefoucauld Endured Prison, Exile and a Devastating Battle Wound—Then Wrote a Brutally Honest Truth About Giving Advice

The Deeper Meaning of  Epicurus’s Quote

Epicurus isn’t telling us to stop having goals or wanting things. But he is asking us to notice when our desire for what comes next causes us to undervalue what is already here. The job we once hoped to land, the friendship we longed for, the home we dreamed of or the simple pleasures we once wished were part of our lives can become so familiar. We stop seeing them as things we once considered precious. His reminder is simple. Before rushing toward the next thing you want, take a moment to remember that some of what you have today was once something you could only hope for.

Epicurus’s insight offers a practical counterweight to modern dissatisfaction. The quote asks us to look at our present life through the eyes of our past self.  Think back to a job you desperately wanted, a relationship you hoped to build, or a level of independence you once dreamed of achieving. Epicurus reminds us that much of what we take for granted right now was once the subject of intense longing.  Practicing this mindset does not mean abandoning personal growth or settling for unsafe conditions. But it means refusing to let future ambitions rob us of current appreciation. When we stop treating the present as merely a stepping stone to something better, we unlock the quiet contentment that Epicurus cultivated in his Athenian garden.  

More Quotes From Epicurus

“He who is not satisfied with a little is satisfied with nothing.”

“Of all the means which wisdom acquires to ensure happiness throughout the whole of life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.”

“It is not so much our friends’ help that helps us, as the confidence of their help.”

“Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.”

Next: Quote of the Day: More Than 2,300 Years Ago, Aristotle Connected Overcoming Fear With Being ‘Truly Free’—And We’re Still Wrestling With the Same Problem Today

Amazon's $15 Sunflower Lamp Adds a 'Ray of Sunshine' to Any Table

Sun, 09/20/2026 - 2:30am

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

It’s almost impossible to feel grumpy when there are sunflowers in the room. Whether as the focal point or a subtle accent, they have a way of capturing attention with their radiant hue. Of course, bringing fresh sunflowers in daily can be a challenge unless you grow them in your yard. If you’re looking for an effortless way to invite that same warm, uplifting energy to a room without committing to a gardening routine, the answer could be botanical decor.

Taking some inspiration from different trendy aesthetics, the Amwgimi Sunflower Touch Table Lamp emits a lovely glow while adding a touch of sunny brilliance to your space. It has a storybook-inspired feeling about it, almost like it was lifted straight from the pages of your favorite fairytale. It’s also a great value right now at just a little over $15 at Amazon. That’s its lowest price in 90 days! The brand also sells rose and tulip versions of the lamp starting at $13.

Amwgimi Sunflower Touch Table Lamp, $15 at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

The lamp brings a hint of sun-drenched warmth to any room, adding some whimsy to anything from a bedroom to a kitchen island. It draws on influences from both farmhouse and cottagecore aesthetics, bringing a touch of modernity to the mix with its decorative base and vibrant illumination.

The intricate starburst pattern on the metal planter pot is especially striking, providing a nice contrast to the bold yellow blooms above. Combining silk flowers with LED lighting, the flowers exude a realistic appearance that brings a cheerful ambiance to any space in the home. The combination of luminous sunflowers coupled with the cleanly designed base is cheerful and stylish.

It’s convenient to use, too. The device has a built-in rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to worry about finding a nearby outlet. It can go anywhere! With a practical USB charging port, it’s easy to power up using anything from your laptop to a power bank. Touch controls make it easy to switch between three color modes, including white, natural, and warm. 

“Beautiful,” one reviewer wrote. “A ray of sunshine and sunflowers!” Another person added that it’s “cute and cheerful,” noting that it emits a “nice soft glow.”

Related: Amazon’s $13 Tulip Table Lamp Adds a Dose of Sunshine to Your Space All Year Long

You couldn’t ask for an easier way to brighten up your living space.. Pick up the Amwgimi Sunflower Touch Table Lamp while it’s still in stock and breathe new life into any room!

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Pages

New Haven Independent News

405 Charles Cook Plaza

New Haven, MO 63068

(573) 237-5600

nhnews2017@gmail.com