Parade

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

Few people can make a house feel like a warm hug the way Martha Stewart can. For decades, she’s been the patron saint of the well-set table, the neatly folded linen and the kind of living room that makes you want to pull on wool socks and stay awhile. Her home goods lean into that inviting, lived-in glow, with soft textures, earthy colors and details that look collected rather than staged.

It’s no surprise that as the leaves start turning, her name is attached to one of the season’s coziest finds. An anything-but-ordinary pumpkin pillow just landed in T.J. Maxx’s new arrivals, and it’s only $19.99.

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳🍔

Martha Stewart Needlepoint Feeling Vine Pillow, $19.99 at T.J. Maxx

T.J. Maxx

Shop It!

The Needlepoint Feeling Vine Pillow comes in a rich rust shade that practically begs to sit next to a chunky knit throw. The design pairs a pumpkin pattern with a diamond motif, giving it a storybook, harvest table look. It’s the kind of fall decor that works from the first crisp morning right through Thanksgiving dinner.

Here are the details you should know before adding it to your cart. The pillow measures 14 by 14 inches, so it’s small enough to tuck into a soft corner or layer in front of larger pillows. It’s made of polyester with a polyester fiber fill and is spot clean only, so keep the pumpkin spice latte on the coffee table. Its compare-at price is $28, making it a good deal at T.J. Maxx.

Related: This $20 Marshalls Rug Proves You Don’t Need to Splurge for a High-End Look

But the real appeal is how much a single accent piece can do. Swap in one textured pillow and the room shifts from summer-lazy to autumn-ready—no full redecorating spree required. Layer it with cream cable knits, a plaid blanket or mustard and olive accents for a look that feels deliberate without trying too hard.

It’s also cheap enough to be an impulse buy and cute enough to earn a permanent spot on the couch through the holidays. For the price of a nice dinner appetizer, you get a little piece of Martha’s cozy home philosophy, right on your sofa.

As with most T.J. Maxx finds, stock can move fast and vary by location, so if the pumpkin has your name on it, it’s worth grabbing sooner rather than later.

Related: These Crystal Print Halloween Rugs From Aldi Are Spooky-Chic Perfection for Just $20

Samuel Adams is ready for fall, welcoming the season with an all-new limited-edition brew.

As sweeter pumpkin ales and spiced cocktails made with Angry Orchard hard cider and Fireball whisky (also known as “Angry Balls“) begin to replace summertime favorites, the Boston brewing giant is offering beer enthusiasts the best of both flavor profiles with its latest drop.

Following the November 2025 release of its first new winter beer in three decades, Sam Adams is introducing another major first: its inaugural limited-edition Apple Spice Ale.

Samuel Adams Introduces New Apple Spice Ale—But Only in This Fall Variety Pack

Sam Adams’ Apple Spice Ale measures in at 5.0 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), so it’s about as strong as the average brew (and a drop in the bucket compared to Sam Adams’ “extreme” Utopia Beer).

Seemingly inspired by classic autumn staples like apple pie, spiced cider and apple butter, the new brew makes its official debut this month, and, just like the season itself, it won’t be sticking around long.

Related: Samuel Adams Drops ‘Juicy’ New Ale With ‘Big Flavor’

• Samuel Adams Apple Spice Ale: A fruited ale with subtle sweetness (that the brand said is reminiscent of biting into a freshly picked apple) and a blend of seasonal spices, including cinnamon, gingersnap and marjoram.

Like the Cold Brew Coffee Stout that Sam Adams launched last year, its new Apple Spice Ale is exclusive to a seasonal variety pack.

Those interested in sampling it will have to keep an eye out for the Fall Legends Variety Pack, which also includes Samuel Adams’ Octoberfest, its returning favorite and best-selling Jack-O pumpkin beer, and its Harvest Helles.

• Samuel Adams Octoberfest (5.3% ABV): The #1 best-selling fall seasonal for 30+ years is a hearty, smooth Märzen with complex caramel and roasty malt notes, and a deep amber hue. A true fall legend worth celebrating. 
• Samuel Adams Jack-O (4.4% ABV): This refreshing ale blends real pumpkin with seasonal spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, all balanced by a subtle hint of fresh citrus.
• Harvest Helles (5.4% ABV): A crisp, easy-drinking lager, exclusive to the Fall Legends Variety Pack, that features bright notes of citrus, stone fruit and cereal with light to medium body.

Also launching for the first time this year is a non-alcoholic version of its iconic Octoberfest lager, which the brand promises has the same legendary taste, just with no alcohol (contains less than 0.5% ALC./VOL).

Samuel Adams Fall Legends variety packs and its new non-alcoholic Jack-O are expected to be available wherever you typically find your 12 and 24-packs of Sam Adams now (if not, in the coming weeks; prices may vary). To locate it at a store near you, try the brand’s official product finder.

Next: Budweiser and Dickies Brew Up a Vintage Apparel Line—and a Collector’s Item You Can’t Buy

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 have ever dreamed of living inside a perfectly organized farmhouse cottage (think baskets of linens and pretty jars on tidy shelves), Amazon has a find that can easily solve your storage woes. The Vasagle Farmhouse Floor Cabinet is about to make that dream a reality. 

For just $70, this Amazon bestseller is transforming kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms into serene, storage-savvy sanctuaries. It’s equally rustic and charming, doubling as an organizational tool and statement-making piece of farmhouse decor.

Vasagle Farmhouse Floor Cabinet, From $70 (was $80) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Available in three colors, from winter white to country blue and sage green, this cabinet is more than just a spot to hide away clutter. It invites you to slow down, organize, and enjoy the simple beauty of a well-tended home.

This cabinet is farmhouse organization at its finest. With four paneled doors and two roomy cupboards, you get plenty of space to stash everything from extra towels and cleaning supplies to your ever-growing mug collection. Adjustable shelves mean you can fit tall vases, stacks of cookbooks, or baskets of pantry snacks without a struggle. Whether you are wrangling clutter in the kitchen or giving your bathroom a spa-worthy upgrade, this cabinet adapts to whatever your space and style demands.

The piece’s timeless silhouette, classic lines, recessed panels, and calming hues bring a hint of countryside right into your home. It is the kind of furniture that feels equally at home tucked into a sunlit corner or standing proud in the heart of a busy family room. The sturdy medium-density fiberboard build offers everyday durability, and the included anti-tip kit keeps things safe, even in homes with little ones or curious pets.

Labeled parts and clear instructions make assembly straightforward, so you will not be stuck wrestling with mystery screws. Once in place, this cabinet instantly elevates your room’s vibe — think farmhouse function meets designer detail. 

Shoppers said it’s the “perfect small storage cabinet” for “adding more storage space.” “I love this little cabinet,” one shopper stated. “It was not hard to put together at all. It looks really nice.”

Shop More Deals

• Sicotas Farmhouse Sideboard Buffet Cabinet, From $104 (was $160) at Amazon
• Manhancris 3-Tier Bar Cart, $36 (was $50) at Amazon
• Safavieh Samantha Console Table, $92 (was $171) at Amazon

Related: Go Big and Bright for Halloween With a 7.5-Foot Inflatable Pumpkin Patch

For a true cottagecore moment, stack vintage cookbooks inside, drape a linen runner over the top, and add a scattering of wildflowers in a mason jar for maximum charm. Shop this Vasagle Farmhouse Floor Cabinet while it’s only $70 and bring effortless farmhouse style to any home!

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

Big Brother’s house is open once more! Every week, Parade’s Mike Bloom will be bringing you interviews with this season’s houseguests as they get evicted from the game.

As a Jumbotron operator, Barrett Pfeiffer has made a living in knowing when to work things behind the scenes in the control room, and when to make a moment worthy of the big screen. But any of the superfans’ angles he was planning out prior to the season got scattered the moment Angela Murray, Dee Valladares, and Rick Devens walked through the doors. Seeing a lot of pros to the icons, he chose to become one of their biggest sympathizers early in the game, getting brought in with the reality TV vets from the second day. The Crossovers beget the Toolshed, giving the 6’6” man surprising room to hide in the game. But, from the second week, he was already beginning to have second thoughts about who he chose to align with, a smaller domino that would lead to a much larger one toppling months later: His own game.

Perhaps it was these Toolshed misgivings that caused Barrett to branch out in the house. Particularly, he started growing closer to Mallory Aurichio, Drew Campbell, and Melody Morris. But regardless of all the “F.A.P.”ing he would do late at night, it seemed like the first half of the game, the Crossovers were his first priority. In Week 3, Barrett was fine to let go of Mallory if need be, knowing it’s what the icons would have wanted. But her second nomination loomed much, much larger for the 6’6” man. On Dee’s second HoH, she chose to gun for Mallory as a renom, incensing not only the Pipe Queen, but her allies in the process. Barrett had grown tired of losing his own connections in favor of the icons’. And so, he puffed his chest out, ready to make this game a lot hairier.

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

For the next two evictions, Barrett used his rat skills to spread the anti-icon plague through the house. He made a plan to flip on Drew — until his fellow middleman won the Block Buster. The next week, after Devens volunteered to take one for the team and go up as a pawn, Barrett was hungry to give the Survivor star his own blindside — until he won the Block Buster. He was eager to get the ball rolling on his big plans, and he did literally just that that night.  Finally winning HoH, Barrett declaratively took a side, and it was against the people who were working with him so tightly for months. He put all three icons on the block, withstanding a week of tears and threats. Instead, he sat back and munched cookies, hoping to get the sweet justice of an icon going. But, while Barrett had arguably made the move of the season, it was about to be undone by another. Despite the odds against her, Dee put in the work with Yash Patel and Taylor Brown, pitching herself as a weapon who could be used to take down the three musketeers of the remaining F.A.P. members. And it was an appealing enough argument to actually work. Barrett was left blindsided on his own HoH, ending his reign with two Survivors left in the game — and a new alliance of four against him.

Unfortunately for Barrett, the worst-case scenario happened in a mere matter of hours. Yash won the HoH and, due to the circumstances of the “BB Bribe” that he had accepted earlier in the season, him, Drew, and Melody were almost forced up by default. Drew was the consensus target, but his (hair)brush with eviction had given him new life. After going over 13 hours in the Pressure Cooker, Yash made a deal with him, giving him the Veto in exchange for safety. Now Barrett was in a position he had never been in the entire game, in a dire must-win Block Buster situation. Unfortunately, the competition’s final bow ended up being his own, as he quite literally dropped the ball. Melody got safety, and Barrett’s chances of winning had fallen apart with the rapidity with which he exited the house.

On his way to the jury house, Barrett talks with Parade about how he looks back on going after the icons, his frustrations working with Drew, and who he thinks is on their way to the Final Two chairs.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of Big Brother 28

Throughout the season, you worried about being on the bottom of your alliance with the icons. And, on your HoH, you chose to put them all on the block. Talk to me about how your feelings towards them built during your time in the house, and how do you look back on your HoH reign now?
I feel like early on, I was probably on the bottom of that alliance, and I don’t think my feelings were invalid that way. Me and Drew — I may have been a little bit above Drew — but I would say my feelings towards the icons throughout the season developed. I still had strong relationships with all of the icons, especially as the Toolshed developed and we were getting out Chuck, Haley, and Kamu, I knew that they valued me over pretty much everyone else in the game. Now I knew that they were not playing this game by themselves. I knew that they were still having relationships behind my back. So that always was in the back of my mind throughout the game.

So during my HoH reign, especially after Dee’s second HoH, putting out Mallory, evicting Mallory, going against the Mosh Pit after a week, learning about the deal with Yash already, that’s before I even learned that it extended to all of the icons. Once I got to my HOH, I didn’t know if I was ever going to have an HoH reign again this season. So I knew I wanted to make a move that was going to put three threats on the block. And if one of them came off, the fourth biggest threat to me, Yash, was going to go up on the block. There was no question in my mind what I wanted to do.

And I would do that again. I would do it a million times. There’s a path for me to win this game through the move that I made, and I knew that it could put me in the position where I am right now as the very next juror that went out. So I love the icons. I was loyal to the icons for the majority of this game. But do I regret putting any of them up on the block when I had a chance to? Absolutely not.

You and Drew have been working together throughout the season. But you grew frustrated with him at points, even saying in the DR, “He’s one of my best friends, but he drives me up the wall.” Talk to me about your relationship, and your take on the game he’s been playing so far.
Drew has a very unique game in Big Brother. I don’t think I can compare him to really anybody else in my mind. He’s a ball of energy, and that energy takes him up the stairs, down the stairs, in the bathroom, in every corner that you can find him. He will tell you that, “He loves that. Whatever you were doing, he’s cool with.” And from Day 1, we knew we were the biggest super fans. We knew that we would be fun to work. I mean, we’re in the Crossovers together as the two people that were not the icons. So that bond very was very strong early on.

And I think that his game is full of mess. I think if he gets those Final Two chairs that he is going to be asked a lot of questions that he’s not going to like, especially about his loyalty to the icons and loyalty to everybody and inability to streamline his game a bit from everyone. Working with him is so frustrating. He’s so lovable at the same time. It’s a very weird relationship. He’s the only person that I ever formed a Final Two with. Ad so I always knew where everyone else’s head was at with Drew, and it seemed to be at a level that was more “we’ve got to get Drew out “than I ever was, because I knew that at the end of the day I could probably get Drew to work with me to a degree. So it’s a weird relationship, though. That’s for sure. I love him, but yes, I can’t stand him at the same time.

You and Dee seemed to connect from the beginning. But, as you turned on the icons, she had an incredibly adverse reaction, telling you during the veto meeting, “You are gonna regret this decision for the rest of your life. And keep hiding with your glasses, ‘cause that’s all you know how to do.” What’s your perspective on your relationship, and what are your feelings towards her now?
I think me and Dee had very initially the best relationship in the house. I would have said Dee was my number one, even over Drew. And I can’t fully blame her reaction to being betrayed and me completely turning on the icons and turning on everything. And I believe her when she says that she would have taken me to the end; I believe all that. As for “regretting this move for the rest of my life,” no, I don’t. I don’t think that’s going to be the case one bit. But I’m glad she thinks so!

But me and Dee’s relationship, I know, will be fine outside of this house. She is someone that we’ve already talked about, if we see each other at the jury house, we are going to be best buds again. And I know that it’s all love at the end of the day. And this game gets crazy. But outside of the game, it’s not like anything is going to change between the personal relationship that we both have. And emotions love to get high in the Big Brother house. At least it was entertaining!

You got close to Mallory as the season went along. And, despite being fine with getting rid of her Week 3, you cite her nomination and eviction during Dee’s second HoH as the moment your priorities began to shift with the icons. Talk to me about your relationship with her, and why her leaving motivated you to change your game.
The Big Brother house creates insane bonds. That FAP alliance was kind of a cornerstone of my game. I spent so long in that game trying to get Mallory to be good with the icons, and the icons to be good with Mallory, because I knew that that relationship could be an easy path for me to the end of this game. So to see it finally work out with the forming of the Mosh Pit, and then completely derail a week later after trying to establish so much trust was the most heartbreaking thing in this game for me.

My relationship with Mallory was so strong that once she went out in that fashion, it was like a combination of like, “Oh my god, I need to avenge this person, and also completely go against the the icons.” My game changed from that moment, saying, “Maybe I could ride to Final Five with the icons” to now, “Oh, I would look like a fool if I rode to Final Five with the people who literally just backstabbed me and got and evicted my best friend in the game with seemingly no problem.” So yeah, that moment changed everything for me. Maybe it was an emotional move to make that switch, but it’s in the game of Big Brother. Emotional moves are what carry you forward in the game too. So I was happy to do that because who gets rid of the Pipe Queen? That’s just ridiculous!

Finally, give your rapid-fire thoughts on each of the remaining houseguests. Starting with Dee.
Runner-up.
Devens.
Showman.
Drew.
Weasel.
Melody.
Queen!
Taylor.
Sleeper.
And finally, Yash.
His to lose!

Related: ‘Big Brother 28’s Angela Murray Reacts to Barrett’s ‘$750K Mistake’: ‘I’ll See Him Next’ (Exclusive)

In 1983, one of the most recognizable bands in rock music decided it was time to show the world what had been hiding underneath all that face paint.

On Sept. 18, 1983, KISS officially appeared in public without its famous makeup for the first time since the band’s earliest days, unveiling its dramatically different look during an appearance on MTV.

The reveal coincided with the release of the band’s new album Lick It Up and marked the beginning of an entirely new era for KISS.

Circa 1983, Portrait of the Rock group KISS, left to right; Paul Stanley, Vinnie Vincent, Eric Carr and Gene Simmons.

Getty Images

For a group whose visual identity had become nearly as famous as its music, taking off the makeup was a significant gamble.

Since forming in New York City in 1973, KISS had built its image around the comic book-like personas adopted by its members. Paul Stanley became the Starchild, Gene Simmons was the Demon, Ace Frehley was the Spaceman and Peter Criss was the Catman.

The elaborate face paint went hand in hand with an equally theatrical stage show that included fire-breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, pyrotechnics and levitating drum kits.

By the second half of the 1970s, KISS had become one of America’s biggest rock bands and a merchandising juggernaut. The group eventually amassed 30 Gold albums, more than any other American band, and the four original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

But by the early 1980s, KISS was struggling commercially and undergoing major lineup changes.

Criss had departed and been replaced by Eric Carr, while Frehley was eventually replaced by Vinnie Vincent. Albums including Music from “The Elder” and Creatures of the Night failed to match the band’s enormous success of the previous decade.

With KISS looking for a fresh start, the band made the radical decision to abandon the makeup and costumes that had defined it for a decade.

The world finally got its first official look at the new KISS on MTV on Sept. 18, 1983, with Stanley, Simmons, Carr and Vincent appearing without their familiar face paint.

The gamble helped usher in a commercial resurgence.

Lick It Up became KISS’ first Gold album in three years, while the band’s increasingly important presence on MTV helped introduce the rockers to another generation of listeners. The following year’s Animalize continued that momentum and became the band’s bestselling American album of the decade.

And the makeup didn’t come back quickly.

KISS remained unmasked throughout the rest of the 1980s and into the 1990s, with Stanley and Simmons continuing alongside changing bandmates.

Then, in 1996, the band pulled off essentially the reverse of its 1983 transformation.

Stanley, Simmons, Frehley and Criss reunited as the original KISS lineup and returned to the makeup and elaborate stage costumes that had made them instantly recognizable two decades earlier.

The resulting reunion tour became a massive success, bringing KISS’ famous painted faces back to arenas around the world.

But for 13 years, beginning with one memorable MTV appearance 43 years ago today, the world got to see KISS without the masks.

Related: Rock Legend Says ‘Hip-Hop Does Not Belong’ in Rock Hall: ‘I Don’t Come From the Ghetto’

It’s officially au revoir for Lily Collins and Emily Cooper.

After six seasons, Collins marked her final day filming Emily in Paris with an emotional goodbye to the character she’s played since the Netflix series debuted in 2020.

My last day on set as Emily…” Collins began her Instagram post on Friday, September 18, which showed her sitting in a director’s chair with the word “Fin” on it. “I’m speechless. It’s impossible to find the words for what this journey has meant to me. For so many years, Emily has been a part of my life, and through every season, she’s continued to surprise me, inspire me, and challenge me.”

View this post on Instagram

Collins went on to thank series creator Darren Star for trusting her with the “endlessly optimistic American girl in Paris,” before recognizing the writers, directors, crew and cast who helped create Emily’s world. “You have made Emily, Emily. You made this world feel like home,” she wrote.

The actress also had a special message for the viewers who have followed her journey since Emily in Paris first arrived on Netflix in 2020. “And merci to all of you who have been supporting us over these past 7 years and 6 seasons, keeping us inspired to dream bigger along our epic adventure,” she continued.

Fans were emotional about the end of an era.

READ MORE: Beloved Disney Child Star Says Some Things ‘Did Not Come Back’ After ‘Life-Altering’ Brain Injury

“The fact that we’re actually heading into the final season feels WRONG. Like excuse me?? Emily has approximately 700 more questionable life decisions left in her. 😭💔,” one person wrote.

“This makes me more sad than it should,” said another.

A third commented, “That’s so bittersweet!! 🥹💖 I can’t wait to see the rest of Emily’s story (although selfishly, I wish it would continue forever because we need more girly comfort shows 😂).”

Collins has portrayed the fashionable marketing executive since the series’ debut in 2020, with the show taking Emily (and viewers) from Paris to destinations including Rome and Venice over the years.

“I will carry this chapter with me forever,” Collins continued. “Saying goodbye feels completely surreal and bittersweet, but mostly, I feel so incredibly proud and grateful that I got to be her. And be part of something so joyful.”

She then summed up the impact of the past seven years in just five words: “This has forever changed me.”

When you look at a bottle of supplements—or see videos of influencers raving about them on social media—you’ll notice “natural” and “natural medicine” get thrown around quite a bit. But pharmacists are begging people to think about what the term actually means.

“‘Natural medicine’ is just an umbrella term that includes herbal, plant-derived products, vitamins, minerals and non-plant products such as glucosamine from shellfish,” states Dr. Danielle Oncer, Pharm.D., the CWO of Shroombiosis.com. “The FDA describes this category as ‘dietary supplements.'”

Dr. Stephanie Redmond, Pharm.D., CDCES, BC-ADM, a pharmacist and the founder of Dr. Stephanie’s, also warns that “natural doesn’t mean safe.”

For instance, you may see mushrooms while hiking. They’re natural, sure, but mushrooms can also be toxic. Dr. Oncer warns that people taking over-the-counter or prescription medications should know that supplements can interact with them.

“Supplements such as vitamins can pose safety risks just like prescription medications,” she tells Parade. “Areas of particular concern are when supplements such as vitamins interact with prescription medications. Risks with natural products are usually dose-dependent, meaning that higher doses have higher risks. “

That said, you may think you need certain vitamins or supplements, or that you enjoy how you feel on them. You may also need to take supplements, such as iron, if you have anemia. That’s why pharmacists say it’s so important to talk with your healthcare team—including your local pharmacist—before adding any supplements to your regimen. Right now, they’re especially concerned about one common vitamin, which they say interferes with more medications than you might think. It may also skew lab work.

🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊

These 2 Vitamins Interfere With More Medications Than You’d Think

Two pharmacists warn that calcium and biotin supplements can interact with medications and lab work.

Minerals, especially calcium, physically bind to certain medications in the digestive tract, meaning less gets absorbed into the body, or it can be absorbed at a different rate. This can make a medication appear not to be working,” Dr. Redmond says.

Speaking of which, biotin can interfere with lab work, leading to ineffective and inefficient treatments. Given this news, why might people take it? For starters, Dr. Oncer notes that calcium is an essential mineral, and your body doesn’t make it on its own. It has to come from food or supplements.

“Calcium is used to maintain strong bones, for acid reflux or heartburn relief and in certain conditions such as managing high potassium, bone loss, or to treat low calcium levels,” she says.

Biotin is a vitamin also known as vitamin B7.

“Biotin…widely marketed for hair, skin, and nail health, although this evidence is actually limited and high-dose biotin can not only be a waste, but interfere with lab [tests],” Dr. Redmond says.

Related: Pharmacists Warn GLP-1 Users To Watch Their Timing With This Other Common Medication

What Medications Does Calcium Interfere With?

Dr. Oncer explains that calcium interacts with several medications. “It binds to the medication in the digestive tract—this is known as chelation—which in turn prevents your body from absorbing the medication,” she says, noting that it’s important to speak with your healthcare team, but calcium commonly interacts with:

• Thiazide diuretics/”water pills” (hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone, for high blood pressure)
• Bisphosphonates (alendronate, risedronate and ibandronate for osteoporosis and osteopenia)
• Thyroid hormone replacements (Levothyroxine and Synthroid for thyroid disorders)

Dr. Oncer advises people to speak with a doctor before taking diuretics with calcium. Unlike the other two, strategic spacing won’t eliminate the risk of dangerously high calcium levels.

But you can take calcium even if you are on a bisphosphonate or thyroid medication. You’ll need to be strategic, though. While you can take calcium supplements with thyroid medication, you’ll want to leave at least four hours between the supplement and the medication. The same rule applies to calcium-containing products, like TUMS. Bisphosphonates also require some strategy.

“Take your bisphosphonate first thing in the morning with a glass of plain water and remain sitting or standing,” Dr. Oncer advises. “Do not lie down for at least 30-60 minutes before consuming any food, beverages or calcium supplements.”

Related: Doctors Say Many People Take This Vitamin Too Close to Their Thyroid Medication

What Medications Does Biotin Interfere With?

“Biotin does not directly interact with any OTC or prescription medications, but there are medications that may interact and deplete your biotin levels or interfere with important lab results,” Dr. Oncer says.

She notes that these medications include:

• Anticonvulsants/antiseizure medication (lamotrigine, valproic acid, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital for conditions such as seizures and bipolar disorder)
• Broad-spectrum oral antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, macrolides, penicillins, cephalosporins and others)

As always, it’s important to speak with your doctor. Dr. Oncer shares that spacing isn’t needed, but you’ll want to be clear on why you’re taking biotin, whether it will be helpful and how long you should take the supplement for.

One big concern with biotin is that it can affect lab results. It can indirectly lead you to receive treatment that doesn’t meet your needs. Dr. Oncer says tests affected by biotin include:

• Thyroid panels
• Hormone levels
• Cardiac markers, such as troponin, help detect heart attacks. 

She recommends stopping biotin supplements 3 days before bloodwork and always telling the tech and your care team about all medications and supplements you’re taking.

Up Next:

Related: Pharmacists Are Begging People To Stop Mixing These 2 Common Over-The-Counter Medications

Sources:

• Dr. Danielle Oncer, Pharm.D., the CWO of Shroombiosis.com
• Dr. Stephanie Redmond, Pharm.D., CDCES, BC-ADM, a pharmacist and the founder of Dr. Stephanie’s
• Questions and Answers on Dietary Supplements. FDA.
• Calcium. Office of Dietary Supplements.
• Biotin. Office of Dietary Supplements.

Craig Conover, Southern Charm’s lawyer-storyteller, was plucked straight from the Lowcountry and sent to Alan Cumming’s The Traitors castle for scheming, debauchery, and possibly a wee bit of lying.

After an especially rough season on Southern Charm, Conover may have found something closer to nirvana on a series that rewards backstabbing and murder — well, fake murder. Joined by a slew of celebrities and reality stars with cunning to match his own, Conover is certainly in it to win it, and fans are already prognosticating his fate.

Fans wasted little time trying to figure out exactly how Conover will fare when he enters the castle. And some are already predicting that the pillow king could become one of the most unhinged Faithfuls the show has ever seen.

In a Reddit thread titled “Most unhinged faithful of all time incoming,” one fan predicted Conover will be “so sure he’s right every week about who the traitors are.” Another riffed on his introduction as a “lawyer and storyteller,” joking: “Who? The liar lawyer and storyteller?” The thread quickly turned into a referendum on just how much chaos Conover could bring to the game.

View this post on Instagram

One fan took the joke even further, comparing Conover to Vanderpump Rules villain Tom Sandoval, writing that he could be “Tom Sandoval without the singing but with more lying and ‘storytelling.’” Another commenter simply predicted Conover would be “unhinged af,” while others were already imagining him confidently accusing the wrong people week after week.

Of course, not everyone thinks Conover will be a Faithful. In the same Traitors Reddit discussion, fans floated the possibility that his charm and ability to spin a story could make him a natural Traitor. One fan summed up the theory bluntly: “If he’s talking, he’s lying so he might actually be good at Traitors.”

And some viewers are already convinced Conover is going all the way. On Instagram, one fan declared there was “absolutely no doubt” that Conover would make it to the final two, while another called him “1000% a traitor.” Others praised the casting, with one fan writing that Conover’s combination of being a lawyer and storyteller would make him “PERFECT” for The Traitors.

So before Conover has even stepped into the castle, fans have already mapped out several possible futures for him: mastermind Traitor, wildly misguided Faithful, early casualty — or one of the final two.

In other words, the Craig-spiracy theories have already begun.

Kenny Chesney is breaking away from a major country music industry formula for his upcoming album, Silver Sands Marina, scheduled to drop on September 25. In mainstream country music, the standard commercial strategy is to put a prominent close-up photograph of the artist directly on the front cover to catch eyes on store shelves and streaming platforms. Country music aside, most artists prefer cover art made of their own images. For this project, however, Chesney explicitly refused to follow that rule.

“It’s not my face saying ‘Come buy me,’ you know? Which I’ve done, which a lot of people do,” Chesney revealed in an interview with Cody Alan on SiriusXM’s The Highway. Instead of a studio portrait, the album cover is a simple photograph he personally took of the actual New Hampshire marina’s sign. Chesney explained that he wanted the image to leave a sense of mystery, making people wonder exactly what was behind that sign rather than focusing on him.

This visual shift directly ties into the deeper message behind the music. Chesney explained that his decision to keep his face off the cover was inspired by the themes of the album’s title track, which serves as a direct critique of modern social media. Specifically, Chesney warned that platforms today have built a culture of “fake intimacy” where people trade genuine human connection for online validation.

According to Chesney, the song “Silver Sands Marina” is about two people sharing a raw, real-life moment in a real place, an experience that doesn’t need to be documented every second or shared for likes and comments. By stepping away from both the standard selfie-style album cover and the pressures of digital culture, the Country Music Hall of Fame member is pushing his audience to focus entirely on the substance behind the music and the real connections that matter most.

I Dream of Jeannie still holds as one of the best sitcoms to ever be aired on TV, and marks over six decades since the premiere of its first episode on Sept. 18, 1965.

In the mid ’50s, Barbara Eden was making her way in her career as a singer and actor, appearing on The Johnny Carson Show and other series. She soon became a bigger star thanks to How to Marry a Millionaire and A Private’s Affair. By 1965, she was selected by Sidney Sheldon to star in the fantasy sitcom I Dream of Jeannie in the title role, a role that would make her a household name on TV.

I Dream of Jeannie starred Eden as Jeannie, a 2,000-year-old genie who meets Captain/Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson, played by Larry Hagman. The sitcom follows their story: Jeannie begins to fall in love and eventually marries him.

Sheldon was already a well-known writer and producer when he was approached by Screen Gems to create a new series. At the time, he was working on The Patty Duke Show and simultaneously worked on both shows at the same time. According to the Television Academy, the sitcom was influenced by the 1964 movie The Brass Bottle. It just so happened that Eden also starred in the film alongside Tony Randall and Burl Ives. The storyline also involved and eberyday man stumbling upon a genie in a bottle.

It was also reported that I Dream of Jeannie was created to become a rival sitcom to ABC’s Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery. At the time, it was the second most-watched series on TV and ran for eight seasons. Both sitcoms were Screen Gems productions that featured a supernatural female character living in the modern world.

Believe it or not, Sheldon originally didn’t want to cast Eden in the role of Jeannie. It was largely due to him not wanting a blonde actor similar to Montgomery in Bewitched. After many auditions, Sheldon couldn’t find an actor who fit the role he created, and instead called Eden’s agent to offer her the role.

Due to both I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched having been major hits, many speculated there was tension between Eden and Montgomery.

Eden revealed decades later that it was far from the truth and told Fox News Digital that “If there was any perceived rivalry, it was the producers’ invention.” She also stated that Montgomery was always “pleasant,” but didn’t have the time to really become friends.

I Dream of Jeannie aired 139 episodes over its five-season run on NBC. It became one of the biggest pop culture staples, with the iconic genie bottle, its theme song, and overall costuming. Eden reprised her role years later for two made-for-television reunion films.

Related: 1971 Country Rock Ballad, Covered by Linda Ronstadt, Is Still One of the Best Trucker Hits 55 Years Later

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

The Pioneer Woman just dropped new living room furnishings at Walmart, and we are absolutely obsessed with the curated collection boasting the fall season’s trendiest home decor motifs and silhouettes. From faux cowhide furniture to chinoiserie accent pieces and all things floral and embroidered, there’s no shortage of new pieces that’ll add style and country charm to your home. 

One item currently on our radar is The Pioneer Woman Matelasse Floral Crochet Ruffle Throw Pillow. It immediately stands out as one of the easiest ways to give any space an elegant fall refresh, especially at such an affordable price. Retailing for just $20 each and available in cream, sage green, and light pink hues, these pillows would be a fantastic addition to a living room, guest room, or even your office.

The Pioneer Woman Matelasse Floral Crochet Ruffle Throw Pillow, $20 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

When I first saw this new throw pillow, I was immediately transported to my grandma’s living room circa 1992, where all things mauve and teal, embroidered and ruffled ruled the roost. While the color palette here is much softer, the matelassé fabric and crochet ruffle edges give these pillows tons of nostalgic appeal.

Measuring 20 inches by 20 inches, each pillow is perfectly sized to use as an accent in a lounge chair, on a couch, or on the bed. Wherever you place one, it’s sure to add vintage-inspired appeal to the room.

The Pioneer Woman Matelasse Floral Crochet Ruffle Throw Pillow, $20 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Not only does this pillow have a gorgeous design, but Walmart shoppers also said it felt “fluffy and soft” to snuggle up with. “It’s so classy and looks slightly vintage, but cozy,” a reviewer raved. Another customer shared that “it’s perfect for decoration, but also very comfortable to use when you’re taking an afternoon nap on the couch!”

Shop More Deals

• The Pioneer Woman Blue Daisy Boucle Lumbar, $20 at Walmart
• The Pioneer Woman Cream Matelasse Floral Crochet Trim Bolster Pillow, $20 at Walmart
• The Pioneer Woman Eloise Floral Velvet Pillow Shams 2-Pack, $22 at Walmart

Related: The Pioneer Woman’s ‘Absolutely Gorgeous’ $15 Floral Tray Brims With Chinoiserie Elegance

At just $20, you won’t want to miss the chance to snag The Pioneer Woman Matelassé Floral Crochet Ruffle Throw Pillow to give your space an elegant fall makeover in a snap. Add one (or a few!) to your Walmart cart now before this stylish accent sells out! 

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.

Dancing with the Stars premiered its 35th season this week co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough with judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. The 16 new celebrities and their professional partners danced to a No. 1 song from the year they were born. Today, Andy Richter, who competed in Season 34, announced on the official DWTS podcast the themes for the upcoming season.

During the premiere night eliminations – men on Monday night and women on Tuesday – Conner Leavitt and Sarah Jane Nader were sent home with the combined lowest scores from the judges and America’s vote.

When the 14 remaining contestants return on Tuesday night for their second dance, the theme will be Viral Hits.

💃🏻💃🏻SIGN UP for our Dancing with the Stars newsletter to get access to exclusive news, interviews, songs, recaps and more🕺🏼🕺🏼

Then the breakdown is as follows:

Week 3:
Yacht Rock Night

Week 4:
Mariah Carey Niight

Week 5:
Not Yet Revealed

Week 6:
Dedication Night

Week 7:
Horror Movie Night

Related: Who Went Home on Dancing With the Stars Last Night? Season 35 Premiere Results and Eliminations (Spoilers)

Week 8:
Disney Night

Week 9:
Grammy Night

Week 10:
Semi-Finals

Week 11:
Finale

Dancing with the Stars is simulcast on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Streams the next day on Hulu.

Next, Who Went Home on Dancing with the Stars Last Night? Season 35 Premiere Night 2 Results and Eliminations (Spoilers)

Costco teased the return of a mystery food court item this week and when the big reveal turned out to be the Twisted Churro, the internet had feelings. A lot of them.

The beloved warehouse retailer announced that the Twisted Churro, which was quietly removed from the food court in early 2024, is making its comeback. For a certain subset of Costco devotees, this is genuinely exciting news. But for a very vocal majority? The response was less “finally!” and more “that’s it?”

The comments on Instagram told the whole story. “I SAID COMBO PIZZA TF” wrote one commenter, in what may be the most succinct summary of the internet’s mood. The Combo Pizza contingent showed up in force; one pro-pizza comment racked up over 300 likes, while Reddit threads filled with dozens of supporters demanding its return.

 The Polish Dog faction was equally passionate. “Not being able to get a Polish dog makes me a little sad every time I go to Costco,” lamented one Redditor, a sentiment that resonated with many.

View this post on Instagram

Even among churro fans, the reception was complicated. Many shoppers who remember the straight churros Costco sold before COVID are unconvinced the Twisted version is an upgrade. “We want the NON-TWISTED ONE,” pleaded one commenter. “They changed the churro and then took it off the menu because they weren’t hitting anymore,” noted another. One user put it diplomatically: “Calories saved, lol. I’m still living in the 90s.”

To be fair, not everyone was disappointed. Some shoppers were genuinely thrilled. “Omg omg omg!!” and the churros have already reportedly started appearing at select locations.

But perhaps the real lesson here is that when you tease a mystery return and give the internet time to speculate, you’d better be ready for the combo pizza people. They are loud, they are passionate, and they are not going anywhere.

Amazon’s massive Prime settlement with the Federal Trade Commission just got a major update, and it means more people are getting money, and more of it. The FTC announced this week that a federal court approved a revised order raising the maximum refund from $51 to $200 per eligible consumer, while also opening eligibility to a whole new group of Prime customers.

The case dates back to a 2023 FTC complaint accusing Amazon of enrolling millions of customers into Prime without clear consent and then making it deliberately difficult to cancel. Amazon settled in September 2025 for a total of $2.5 billion, split between a $1 billion civil penalty paid to the government and a $1.5 billion fund set aside for consumer refunds. As of this month, Amazon has already issued more than $845 million of that fund to eligible customers.

The original order only covered consumers who used fewer than 10 Prime benefits during a one-year period, with refunds capped at $51. The new order expands that pool: consumers who used between 11 and 20 Prime benefits in a one-year period are now eligible too, and they’ll get automatic payments starting Oct. 1, 2026, no claim forms, no paperwork, nothing to submit. Payments arrive by Venmo, PayPal or mailed check.

There’s also a path to more money for people who already got paid. If total payments made under the settlement don’t hit a required threshold by February 2027, Amazon will automatically send an additional $149 to everyone who previously received a refund, bringing their total up to the full $200. That last round of payments, if triggered, would start by April 2027.

According to Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, the goal of the revised order is to make sure “more consumers who were harmed by Amazon’s deceptive enrollment and cancellation practices benefit” from the settlement.

If you’re looking for a good thriller to read, there’s no doubt that you have a handful of authors you will always turn to. Goodreads users have spoken, and there is one in particular who stands out the most: The Queen of Psychological Suspense, Freida McFadden.

McFadden, also known as the Queen of Twists, takes up five of the 12 spots on the list of “most read mysteries and thrillers” of 2026. Her latest novel, The Divorce, isn’t on the list despite being one of the most popular books of the year, as this list is focused on reading challenges in June 2026.

In the top spot is Dear Debbie, which follows a woman who starts to act on her thoughts of revenge when her life starts spiraling out of control. What happens when an advice columnist starts to dish out unhinged advice?

Then, in spots three, four, and five are The Housemaid books. The first of the books is in third place, which isn’t surprising with the 2025 Sydney Sweeney movie popular on streaming platforms. The Housemaid’s Secret is the second people are reading, with that book being adapted into a movie and slated for theatrical release on Dec. 17, 2027. The Housemaid Is Watching completes the trilogy, and it’s not surprising to see it just behind the other two books.

Amazon

Then, at No. 6, is The Intruder, the 2025 release that follows Casey, a woman who lives in the wilderness in a cabin not built for a hurricane. When she sees a young girl outside covered in blood, mysteries develop, and Casey realizes that she may not live to see the morning. Just how far are people willing to go to protect themselves?

McFadden, who recently revealed her real name, has another novel coming out in 2026. The Witch is slated for publication on Oct. 6, 2026.

As of right now, she has seven books optioned and in various stages of development. As The Housemaid’s Secret is getting closer to release, her novels Dear Debbie and The Divorce were optioned before they were even released. The Tenant, The Surrogate Mother, The Teacher, and Never Lie have also been picked up. This doesn’t mean they will all end up being developed, as some were optioned a few years ago with no movement on them just yet.

When talking about her success with The Gloss, McFadden noted, “It’s still shocking to me. I genuinely started doing this for fun. I didn’t expect it to go anywhere and then it became a fun challenge – let me see if I can get more readers – and then it just exploded. I can’t talk about my success without acknowledging that part of it is luck, everything falling into place at the right time.”

It has been a week for the ages for fans of The Traitors! The American version of the hottest new reality show took home plenty of Emmy gold, setting a historic record for a single season of reality TV. Then the series dipped its toes into the loch of all-new players with the recently premiered New Blood. But all eyes seem to already be on 2027, as on Sept. 18, Peacock announced the newest celebrity cast for Season 5. And this year’s crop of Traitors and Faithfuls packs an absolute wallop, from reality TV icons to a gold-medal Olympian to a Tony Award winner.

Here are the 23 celebrities who make up the cast of The Traitors Season 5.

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

The Traitors Season 6 Cast Bianca Del Rio (RuPaul’s Drag Race) Bianca Del Rio

Courtesy of Peacock

Bianca Del Rio won the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2014. Since then, she has starred in a number of movies, including the Hurricane Bianca film series, as well as a variety of TV shows and web series. Bianca has also made many return appearances to Drag Race since her win, including being a host for several seasons of the Pit Stop aftershow.

Boman Martinez-Reid (Content Creator) Boman Martinez-Reid

Courtesy of Peacock

Boman Martinez–Reid, known for his handle “Bomanizer,” is a well-known TikTok creator. His videos parody reality TV, featuring his own family and friends getting into overly dramatized fights and feuds about trivial matters.

Bronwyn Newport (The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City) Bronwyn Newport

Courtesy of Peacock

Bronwyn Newport joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City in Season 5 in 2024, becoming one to watch almost instantly. She also has worked significantly as an investor on Broadway, co-producing the revival of Cabaret and the musical The Queen of Versailles.

Casey Wilson (Actress) Casey Wilson

Courtesy of Peacock

Casey Wilson first appeared on our screens as a featured player on Saturday Night Live from 2008 to 2009. Her breakout role, however, came in the sitcom Happy Endings, with her performance serving as a standout among the ensemble cast. In addition to acting, she currently co-hosts the podcast Bitch Sesh, which talks predominantly about the Real Housewives franchise.

Chloe Kim (Olympic Snowboarder) Courtesy of Peacock

Courtesy of Peacock

In 2018, Chloe Kim made Winter Olympics history as the youngest woman to win a snowboarding medal, taking home gold at only 17 years old. At the 2022 games in Beijing, she became the first woman to get two golds in the halfpipe event. She is a World, Olympic, Youth Olympic, and X Games champion in the halfpipe and the first snowboarder to win the title at all four major events.

Cody Simpson (Singer) Cody Simpson

Courtesy of Peacock

Cody Simpson is a singer who has put out four albums since first hitting the music scene in in the early 2010s. His biggest hit songs include “La Da Dee,” “Pretty Brown Eyes” and “iYiYi,” his debut single featuring Flo Rida. Cody has no only performed on both screen and stage, he also at one time was a competitive swimmer, taking home a gold medal in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Craig Conover (Southern Charm) Craig Conover

Courtesy of Peacock

Craig Conover is one of only two cast members who has been on all eleven seasons of Bravo’s Southern Charm. An entrepreneur and restauranteur, he has also made several guest appearances on Summer House, and was a main cast member in the spinoff series Winter House.

Cynthia Bailey (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) Cynthia Bailey

Courtesy of Peacock

Cynthia Bailey spent the majority of her young career modeling in New York City, before moving to Georgia and joining the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She starred on the hit Bravo series from 2010 to 2021, ultimately choosing to leave the show to focus on acting. She has since returned as a recurring cast member (or “friend”), and was a cast member in the first season of The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

Dominic Monaghan (Actor) Dominic Monaghan

Courtesy of Peacock

While he had been acting since 1994, Dominic Monaghan was thrust into the spotlight in the early 2000s, playing Hobbit Merry Brandybuck in the blockbuster Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. He then followed that up by starring the hit ABC drama Lost, starring as former rock star and recovering drug addict Charlie Pace. Monaghan’s other major credits include X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and his own nature show Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan.

Emira D’Spain (Next Gen NYC) Emira D’Spain

Courtesy of Peacock

Emira D’Spain is a beauty influencer and model, sporting over one million followers on TikTok. She made history in 2022 as the first Black transgender woman to model for Victoria’s Secret. Emira also is part of the cast of Next Gen NYC, Bravo’s newest hit series featuring a number of up-and-coming New York talent.

Gizelle Bryant (The Real Housewives of Potomac) Gizelle Bryant

Courtesy of Peacock

Gizelle Bryant started her reality TV career as one of the six original cast members on The Real Housewives of Potomac. Having been a part of every season of the show, she’s also extended her appearances to several Housewives spinoffs, including two seasons of Ultimate Girls Trip and the first season of Love Hotel.

Iain Stirling (Comedian / Love Island Narrator) Iain Stirling

Courtesy of Peacock

Comedian Iain Stirling has been the voice of Love Island UK ever since the hit reality series touched down in 2015. Beginning in 2022, he also does the narration for the American version of Love Island, making his one-liners and puns transcontinental. Iain has also earned a BAFTA nomination for his work hosting a wide variety of other British shows.

Jag Bains (Big Brother / Amazing Race) Jag Bains

Courtesy of Peacock

Jag Bains played a whopping 100 days in the Big Brother house during Season 25 before walking out victorious, $750,000 richer (interestingly, defeating Traitors Season 1 winner Cirie Fields in the process). Along the way, Jag made history in several regards, setting a competition record for most wins in a season, becoming the first player to get evicted and go on to win the game, and being the first Sikh houseguest to ever play. He continued his win streak on the 38th season of The Amazing Race alongside his brother Jas Bains, becoming the first-ever person to win both iconic reality shows.

JaNa Craig (Love Island USA) JaNa Craig

Courtesy of Peacock

JaNa Craig was one of the biggest fan-favorites of Love Island USA‘s sixth season in 2024. Part of the “Powerpuff Girls” clique with Leah Kateb and Serena Page, she coupled up nearly halfway through the season with Kenny Rodriguez. The two would go on to finish in third place on the season, and stayed together until 2025, when the two broke up dramatically. JaNa has also appeared on Love Island: Beyond the Villa and the first season of Destination X.

Joey Graziadei (The Bachelor) Joey Graziadei

Courtesy of Peacock

Joey Graziadei was one of 25 guys vying for the heart of Charity Lawson during Season 20 of The Bachelorette. The tennis pro made it all the way to the finale, where he finished runner-up to Dotun Olubeko. He was given a second chance at love, however, when he was made the lead of The Bachelor‘s 28th season. After an incredibly dramatic season, he proposed to Kelsey Anderson, to whom he is still engaged today. Joey participated in Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, taking home the Mirror Ball trophy alongside pro Jenna Johnson.

Johnny Sibilly (Actor) Johnny Sibilly

Courtesy of Peacock

Johnny Sibilly‘s biggest claim to fame is as one of the main cast members in Peacock’s reboot of Queer as Folk. He has also appeared in eleven episodes of Hacks as Wilson, as well as recurring roles in Pose and Station 19.

Kristin Chenoweth (Actress / Singer) Kristin Chenoweth

Courtesy of Peacock

Kristin Chenoweth has played a variety of iconic roles across decades on Broadway. She picked up a Tony Award win for her work in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, but is most well-known for originating the role of Glinda in the blockbuster musical Wicked. Off-stage, Kristin has appeared in a wide variety of TV roles over the years, including Annabeth Schott in The West Wing and Olive Snook in Pushing Daisies, the latter of which won her an Emmy Award in 2009.

Michele Fitzgerald (Survivor / The Challenge) Michele Fitzgerald

Courtesy of Peacock

Michele Fitzgerald was a contestant on Season 32 of Survivor, where she put together an impressive underdog run to get all the way to Day 39. She was crowned the winner by the jury, in one of the most controversial outcomes in the show’s history. Four years later, she went back to the beach for the epic Winners at War anniversary season, making yet another impressive run against the best of the best. She once again made it to the Final Three, coming up short this time with a third-place finish. Shortly after, she made her debut on The Challenge, quickly becoming a mainstay of the series. To date, she’s appeared in six seasons of the series, including the currently-airing Cutthroat.

Q Burdette (Survivor) Q Burdette

Courtesy of Peacock

Seen as one of the most chaotic Survivor players in recent memory, Quintavius “Q” Burdette was one of the standout characters of the wildly unpredictable Season 46. The wildcard castaway is known for his self-fashioned “Q Skirt,” his many catchphrases, and his propensity to blow up the spot of both his closest allies and himself. After a memorable finish in sixth place, Q returned for the recently-aired Survivor 50, where he was voted out right after the tribe swap in Episode 3.

Rachel Robinson (The Challenge) Rachel Robinson

Courtesy of Peacock

Rachel Robinson made her reality TV debut in Road Rules: Campus Crawl all the way back in 2002. Shortly thereafter, she joined the cast of The Challenge‘s sixth season, immediately showcasing herself as a competitive force. Across nine seasons of the show, she’s taken home three wins, most-recently beating out the aforementioned Michele to take home a victory in Season 40. She currently holds the record for the most-ever wins for a woman in Challenge history.

Rashad Jennings (NFL Star) Rashad Jennings

Courtesy of Peacock

Rashad Jennings spent seven seasons in the NFL as a runningback. He’s most well-known for his tenure with the New York Giants, where he started the full 2015 season and set career records in nearly every metric. Months before retiring from the NFL, he was a part of Season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, where he took home the win with partner Emma Slater.

Taylor Hale (Big Brother / Amazing Race) Taylor Hale

Courtesy of Peacock

Taylor Hale has one of the greatest winner stories in Big Brother history, going from a house pariah served up to be the first boot to the last one standing. Her legendary run in the house made her the first Black woman to win the civilian version of the series, as well as the first-ever houseguest to win both the game and the “America’s Favorite Houseguest” fan-favorite prize. Taylor then competed on Season 38 of The Amazing Race, partnered with then-boyfriend (and fellow Big Brother alum Kyland Young). The two would go on to finish in second place. Taylor also serves as a co-host of the companion series Big Brother: Unlocked alongside winner (and Traitors Season 3 cast member) Derrick Levasseur and actor Jerry O’Connell.

Whitney Leavitt (The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives) Whitney Leavitt

Courtesy of Peacock

Whitney Leavitt was one of the most talked-about cast members of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives when the hit Hulu series debuted in 2024. Seen as the villain of the series, she appeared in the first five seasons, choosing to leave for other performing prospects. Those prospects came as a result of her star turn on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, where she and Mark Ballas (who also participated in Traitors Season 4) were shockingly eliminated before the finale. Whitney has gone on to star as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway, breaking box office records, and will star as Sandra Dee in Just in Time for a six-week run following her time in Scotland in December.

Related: Meet ‘The Traitors: New Blood’ Cast—Including a Former MLB Player

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

As we get older, it’s natural for our skin to change—and that means the products we use on our skin may need to change, too.

But even if you’ve figured out the perfect skincare and beauty routine, there’s a certain occasion that tends to throw a wrench into things: traveling. Vacations are often when our skincare routine falls apart—especially if you aren’t checking a bag on your flight, since that means you can’t bring your full-sized products.

Personally, I always try to condense my skincare and makeup routine when I travel by packing multitasking products. Not only does this take up less space and weight in my suitcase, but it also reduces the chance of TSA flagging my bag.

That being said, what sorts of multitasking products are best for mature skin? To find out, we spoke with two beauty experts: Shirley Pinkson Mañas, co-founder of Well People and Head of Education for e.l.f. Beauty, and Aisha Massac, licensed esthetician, makeup artist and owner of Iman’s Custom Faces.

Below, Pinkson Mañas and Massac share the one multitasking product that women over 50 should always take on vacation, along with specific product recommendations and a few makeup tips for mature skin. Keep reading for their insights!

Related: ‘Better Than Ever’ Beauty Awards: The 65 Best Products for Women 50+ in 2026

Getty

The Multitasking Beauty Product That Women 50+ Should Bring on Vacation

Pinkson Mañas and Massac agree that the one product people over 50 should take on vacation is a multitasking SPF serum.

“A multitasking SPF serum earns its spot on your packing list because it collapses three steps: protection, hydration and it can deliver a gorgeous glow from within,” Pinkson Mañas tells Parade. “Because a multitasking SPF wears well alone or under makeup, one product can now replace three in your carry on.”

Massac adds that a multitasking SPF serum “is clutch for vacation because it saves you so much room in your toiletries bag.”

Related: 11 Best Skin-Tightening Moisturizers, According to Celebrity Derms

The Hero Product: Why Experts Swear by the Multitasking SPF Serum

“Skin over 50 tends to lose moisture faster,” explains Pinkson Mañas. “The additional hydration not only keeps skin feeling and looking replenished, the added protection helps minimize the damage caused by sun exposure.”

Massac agrees, noting that “one of the most important things for skin over 50 (outside of sun protection), especially on vacation,” is hydration.

Related: Travel Bloggers Reveal the Ultimate List of the 45 Best Travel-Sized Beauty Products

“If you can find an SPF that offers protection, hydration and tinting, that’s a multitasking winner,” she continues. “SPF will obviously protect from UVB (burning rays) or the rays that can worsen dark spots, but also UVA or the rays that cause aging and collagen breakdown.”

Plus, a multitasking SPF serum also functions as a great base layer for makeup, according to Massac. “If you choose to wear makeup, most multitasking SPF products can be layered and you can still apply your makeup on top,” she says.

Related: I Tried All of Jones Road Beauty’s Bestsellers for 30 Days—Here Are the 6 That I Can’t Live Without

Beauty Experts Recommend 3 Multitasking SPF Products for Women Over 50

These are some of Pinkson Mañas and Massac’s favorite multitasking SPF products for mature skin.

1. Well People Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen Serum SPF 34, $26

Target

Shop It at Target

Pinkson Mañas, who co-founded Well People, recommends the clean beauty company’s mineral sunscreen, which is an Environmental Working Group Verified, vegan and cruelty-free mineral sunscreen serum.

“The weightless, super blendable formula keeps skin radiant with an antioxidant oil blend, protects with non micronized zinc oxide, and is great for sensitive skin!” she says. “What I love almost as much as the protection it offers, is the healthy glow it gives my skin on its own, or under makeup.”

It comes in a 1.7 fluid ounce bottle, making it TSA-approved.

Related: 7 Best Travel Beauty Sets, According to Celebrity Makeup Artists

2. TiZO Tinted Moisturizing Serum, $45

Target

Shop It at Target

One of Massac’s favorite multitasking SPF serums is the Tinted Moisturizing Serum by TiZO, a cruelty-free company specializing in mineral sunscreen and skincare.

“This takes the place of your SPF and your foundation while hydrating and nourishing and protecting your skin with vitamins C and E,” she explains, adding that the product is “perfect for a vacation where you may not want to wear lots of makeup.” Plus, it comes in five tints for varying skin tones.

“While I love this product overall, it’s especially exciting for women over 50,” says Massac. As we age into our fifties, skin becomes “drier (and more delicate), so the hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic paired with glycerin and ceramides pack a powerful punch for moisture and protecting the skin barrier,” she explains.

The TiZO Tinted Moisturizing Serum is sold in a 1.75 fluid ounce bottle, so it’s A-OK to pack in your carry-on.

Related: 11 Best Barrier Repair Creams To Calm Stressed-Out Skin, Tested by Dermatologists

3. Lira Clinical SPF Solar Shield 30, $59

Amazon

Shop It on Amazon

Massac also recommends the cruelty-free clinical skincare company Lira Clinical‘s SPF Solar Shield 30, which comes in two varieties. The hydrating version is a colorless daily moisturizer, while the classic tint version offers subtle coverage.

This product “has nourishing antioxidants like niacinamide and vitamin C, but also includes a hydrating peptide which helps plump, volumize and detoxify the skin,” she explains. “I absolutely LOVE this option for someone well over 50 because of the plumping and volumizing appearance,” which comes from the unique ingredient Sepilift peptide, which can also “give a blurring effect on fine lines and wrinkles.”

The Lira Clinical SPF Solar Shield 30 is packaged in a TSA-approved 2-ounce bottle.

Related: 7 TSA-Approved Beauty Items Come With Me on Every Trip  

3 Makeup Tips for Mature Skin

Here are a few of Pinkson Mañas and Massac’s most brilliant makeup tips for women over 50.

1. Prep with moisturizer

According to Pinkson Mañas, “makeup is 50% skin,” and “before applying any make up, applying a great moisturizer and sun protection is imperative.”

“I have seen where makeup application can go wrong for mature skin and that usually starts (or doesn’t start) with skin prep,” adds Massac.

“All skin should be prepped prior to makeup, however it’s even more important in mature skin to ensure the skin is well-hydrated,” she continues. “You should make sure all of the prep products are absorbed fully before moving on to makeup application. Hydrated skin will help plump the skin more and lessens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

2. Use cream formulas instead of powders

“Cream-based makeup softens the look of dry, dehydrated skin,” explains Pinkson Mañas. “Choose formulations that have skin-loving benefits that leave skin looking and feeling hydrated.”

“For coverage, use creams or similar textures over powders or sticks and use sparingly and only where needed,” adds Massac, who notes that cream-based blush, bronzer and eyeshadows “blend more naturally into the skin” than powdered versions.

“If you powder the whole face or more than select areas, you will highlight the fine lines and wrinkles and potentially look older,” she says, noting that it’s best to only use powder “sparingly in areas that crease or become shiny.”

Related: 9 Best Cream Blushes, Tested by Celebrity Makeup Artists 

3. Less is more

“A mature face more than likely does not need a full layer over the face added with concealer and powder,” says Massac. “Most mature skin only needs selective covering of redness or ‘age spots’ or discoloration around the eyes. Again, too much especially trying to cover these things will bring more attention to the fine lines and wrinkles.”

“We tend to overdo our coverage, and as we age, less is definitely more,” adds Pinkson Mañas. In fact, when it comes to coverage for mature skin, she says you should “start with half the amount of product than you would normally use.”

Up Next:

Related: A Dermatologist Is Begging People To Stop Making This Common Skincare Mistake in the Winter

Sources:

• Shirley Pinkson Mañas, co-founder of Well People and Head of Education for e.l.f. Beauty
• Aisha Massac, licensed esthetician, makeup artist, and owner of Iman’s Custom Faces

Heading to Europe this fall? There’s a new travel advisory update you’ll want to know about before packing your bags.

On Sept. 10, the U.S. Department of State updated its travel guidance for Italy, one of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations. The country remains at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to the risk of terrorism.

That doesn’t mean Americans are being told to cancel their Roman holiday, Tuscan wine tasting or Amalfi Coast getaway. In fact, this isn’t a newly elevated warning at all. Italy was already at Level 2, and the State Department notes that the latest update did not change either the advisory level or its terrorism risk indicator. Instead, officials updated the advisory summary and safety information for travelers.

Still, with plenty of travelers squeezing in late-summer and fall trips to Italy, it’s worth knowing exactly what the advisory says before you go.

Related: How I Pack for a 7-Day Italy Trip With a Single Carry-On

Why Is Italy Under a Level 2 Travel Advisory?

The State Department currently advises Americans to exercise increased caution in Italy because of terrorism, citing a risk of terrorist violence and other terrorist activity in the country.

Officials warn that potential targets can include places travelers routinely encounter on vacation, such as hotels, restaurants, markets, airports, public transportation, places of worship and major public events. The department’s broader terrorism guidance also recommends staying alert in tourist attractions and other venues that attract crowds.

The advisory also calls attention to a far more common concern for tourists: petty crime.

“Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations and on public transportation, including trains,” the State Department says, advising visitors to stay aware of their surroundings.

In other words, keeping tabs on your surroundings matters whether you’re standing in a packed piazza, boarding a train or admiring the Trevi Fountain.

Related: The Best Places to Travel in Italy

What Does a Level 2 Travel Advisory Mean?

A Level 2 advisory does not mean “do not travel.” The State Department uses a four-tier system, with Level 1 advising travelers to exercise normal precautions, Level 2 to exercise increased caution, Level 3 to reconsider travel and Level 4 to not travel.

Italy isn’t alone at Level 2, either. Other popular destinations currently carrying Level 2 advisories include Spain and the United Kingdom, although the reasons and specific guidance vary by country.

What Should Americans Traveling to Italy Do?

For travelers with an Italian vacation already on the calendar, the guidance is more about being prepared than changing your plans.

The State Department recommends staying alert in public places, reviewing the latest destination-specific guidance before traveling and enrolling in the free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, better known as STEP. The program allows U.S. travelers to receive updates and security alerts from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and can make it easier for officials to contact them during an emergency.

Check the latest U.S. State Department travel advisory for Italy

Travelers should also pay close attention to their belongings in crowded tourist areas and on trains and other public transportation. For emergencies within Italy, the nationwide emergency number is 112.

So, no, you don’t necessarily need to unpack the suitcase or cancel those dinner reservations. But if Italy is on your itinerary, consider the updated advisory one more thing to check before saying ciao to the U.S. and heading across the pond.

Up next:

Related: We Asked 3 Travel Experts for Europe’s Most Scenic Fall Train Trip—They All Said the Same Thing

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released a 1970 song written by Graham Nash that became a hit for their group, and its inspiration was sparked by Joni Mitchell.

“Our House” is tagged as a soft rock and folk rock song that did moderately well on the charts, landing at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 20 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It was released on their album Déjà Vu.

The track came about from what Nash once called an “ordinary moment” between him and Mitchell. According to Performing Songwriter, Nash moved to America in 1969 and first lived with David Crosby. His bandmate threw him a party and invited Mitchell, whom Nash hadn’t seen since playing with the Hollies.

One thing led to another, and Nash soon moved in with Mitchell at her home in Laurel Canyon. Their relationship was one of the many famous ones among artists that occurred in the late ’60s and ’70s, and it was a moment of domestic bliss that led to “Our House.”

Nash recalls one day when he and Mitchell woke up and went to get breakfast at a delicatessen on Ventura Boulevard. Down the road was an antique store, and Mitchell had seen a vase that she had fallen in love with through the window. The vase was relatively cheap, so Mitchell bought it and brought it home.

“It was a kind of a cold gray morning as it sometimes can be in Los Angeles, and I said, ‘Why don’t I light the fire and you put some flowers in the vase that you just bought.’ So she’s cutting stems and leaves and arranging flowers in this vase, and I’d lit the fire. Now, my and Joan’s life at the time were far from ordinary … and I thought, ‘What an ordinary moment.’ Here I am lighting the fire for my old lady and she’s putting flowers in this vase that she just bought. And I sat down at Joan’s piano and an hour later, ‘Our House’ was written,” explained Nash.

Nash wrote “Our House” in roughly an hour and got a few good takes from the get-go in a studio in Los Angeles. Crosby and Stephen Stills later heard the song and “loved it and sang on it.”

Sadly, Mitchell and Nash’s relationship was short-lived. It was explained as being “bad timing,” with Mitchell having been married once before. The idea of settling down rattled the singer, and she once told Rolling Stone she “was being isolated, starting to feel like a bird in a gilded cage.” Mitchell ended up backpacking through Europe and sending a telegram to Nash that they were over.

Nash admitted he grew tired of the song 24 hours after writing it, but doesn’t deny, “It’s about a beautiful moment between a man and a woman. It’s about peace. Even though the times were turbulent, particularly with the Vietnam War, and Civil Rights, two and a half minutes of peace was what we all needed.”

Related: 1971 Country Rock Ballad, Covered by Linda Ronstadt, Is Still One of the Best Trucker Hits 55 Years Later

In the 1980s, Tom Cruise became a major movie star in films such as Top Gun, Rain Man, and Cocktail. But his breakout leading role was in 1983’s Risky Business, a film that fans still love more than 40 years later.

Starring Cruise as high school entrepreneur Joel Goodson, the film follows the high-achieving Chicago teenager and Future Enterpriser as he turns his parents’ upscale suburban home into a makeshift brothel after befriending a pretty prostitute (Rebecca De Mornay). Joel even squeezes in an interview with a Princeton recruiter during his one night as a pimp.

Entertainment Weekly ranked Risky Business among the “Best High School Movies of All Time” on a list that includes fellow ‘80s coming-of-age comedy-dramas Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Breakfast Club. The outlet described the film as a “sharp satire of privileged suburban teens” that wasn’t “just another teensploitation flick.”

Directed by Paul Brickman, Risky Business also has a 93 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

 Brickman once explained what inspired him to write the screenplay for Risky Business.

“I wanted to do a film for young people that was very stylized in a way that I hadn’t seen before,” he told Salon in an interview. “I wanted to make the film that if I were in high school I would’ve wanted to see. I was writing it in the time just after Reagan had taken office and everyone wanted to be a little capitalist, get their M.B.A.s and wear power suspenders. I thought, That’s all dandy, but life is more complex and darker than that. It’s tough out there. Capitalism takes its toll on a lot of people.”

“The working title was ‘White Boys Off the Lake.’ I think the studio rejected that because it sounded like an off-Broadway play,” he added.

RELATED: 1976 Top 10 Hit Song Led to Career-Defining Movie Role

One of the most iconic scenes in Risky Business featured Cruise dancing to a Bob Seger song in the empty Goodson house in his underwear.

Cruise once told Interview magazine that ad-libbing the dancing scene was Brickman’s idea.

“We had talked earlier, and he said, ‘Look, I want Bob Seger’s ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’ or maybe some Elvis, but if you can come up with something else, great,’” Cruise recalled. “I went through tape after tape. In the end, nothing beat Bob Seger. So I took the candlestick, and I said, ‘How about making this the audience?’ And then I just started ad-libbing, using it as a guitar, jumping on the table. I waxed half the floor and kept the other half dirty, so I could slide in on my socks. As we went along, I threw more stuff in. Like the thing with the collar up, jumping on the bed. Originally, it was only one line in the script: ‘Joel dances in underwear through the house.’ We shot it in half a day.”

Forty-three years after its release, Risky Business remains one of the most iconic coming-of-age comedies of the 1980s, a film that traded typical themes of high school romance for an exploration of suburban rebellion.

Related: 1989 John Cusack Film, With 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, Ranked Among the ‘Best Movies of the 1980s’