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.

You don’t need a home full of antiques to get that charming vintage look. Sometimes, a few thoughtful touches — a decorative accent, a statement mirror or a pretty lamp — are all it takes to give a room a little more character. If vintage-style decor is your vibe, Walmart has a pair of rustic lamps that could be a beautiful addition to your space. 

Right now, the retailer is selling the Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set, for as low as $80, down from $134. The set comes in a set of two and features a classic drum shade and floral cutout details that give them a timeless look for bedrooms, living rooms, and guest spaces. Shoppers have fallen in love with these lamps, with one calling them “gorgeous” and saying it added an “artistic touch” to their living room.

Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set, $80 (was $134) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Each 25-inch lamp features a hollow resin base with decorative detailing that looks like it belongs in an art gallery. A linen drum shade completes the look, adding a classic farmhouse touch that works beautifully on a nightstand, side table, or bedroom console. 

The lamp set is available in charcoal black and white colors, so you can choose the finish that works best with your decor. Discounts vary by color, but all options are under $90

Each lamp has two USB-A charging ports, so you can charge your phone or other devices right from your nightstand. The ports work with the lamp on or off, making it easy to plug in your devices overnight without keeping the light on. The set also comes with four LED bulbs so you won’t have to shop for bulbs separately. 

Shoppers are impressed with the set’s retro look . One reviewer wrote, “Putting them together was simple, and they look great,” adding that they liked the lamps so much they bought a second set for their bedroom. Another shopper said they looked “beautiful” and provided the “perfect amount of light” in their room.

Shop More Deals

• Angenia 3-Piece Ruffled Queen Comforter Set, From $40 (was $70) at Walmart
• Homfa Bathroom Cabinet, $65 (was $115) at Walmart
• Hlr Small Kitchen Island Cart, From $87 (was $210) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Pretty’ Crystal Table Lamp Brings Old-School Elegance to Any Room for Under $20

At just $80 for two, the Roria Country Style Table Lamp Set is an easy way to bring a little vintage charm into your home. Add them to your Walmart cart and give your nightstand, living room, or guest room a stylish new glow. 

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.

Rainn Wilson, who played Dwight Schrute on The Office from 2005 until 2013, recently spoke about his acting career with A.J. Daulerio on “The Small Bow” podcast. In the September 30 episode, he admitted that even though he starred on a hit television series, which ran for nine seasons, he was disappointed that he never turned into a movie star.

“I did this movie called The Rocker halfway through my Office tenure,” he explained. “When it came out, no one saw it. It was a big box office bomb. It was brutal. And then there was the immediate Hollywood just kind of like, ‘All right, he’s not a movie star. And that’s just how the business works. People that star in big movies that bomb, they don’t get other chances.”

Related: Michael Douglas Reveals He Had a Secret Romance With ‘Romancing the Stone’ Costar Kathleen Turner That They Lied About for 40 Years

Looking back, Wilson believes everything worked out for the best. “But in a way, I’m grateful because what if it had been a big success?” he said. “If The Rocker had made $50 million or $100 million, and then I was a movie star at that point in time, I could not have handled that. I probably would have lost my marriage. My family would have fallen apart.”

He continued, “I’ve been able to play a lot of really cool roles, mostly independent films, but I did not become a movie star. And it was very hard on my ego, and it hurt and stung for a long time. All I wanted was Hollywood’s approval, and here I was. I was the weird guy from The Office. That’s kind of how Hollywood works.”

Related: Trina Braxton’s Husband Von Scales Has Died at 58

Wilson won two SAG Awards and three TV Guide Awards for his work on The Office. He was also nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards. Since the series ended, he has appeared in projects like Lessons in Chemistry, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and Mom. He also has a popular podcast called “Soul Boom.”

NY Times readers are making their voices heard after the newspaper released their exhaustive list of the 100 Best Shows of the 21st Century.

As with their previous lists detailing the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century or the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, The New York Times has unveiled a new readers’ poll counting down the greatest TV shows of the past two and a half decades.

“More than 100,000 people submitted their votes for the top series of the past 25-plus years,” the paper wrote. “Some shows made astounding leaps while others fell off the list altogether.”

As the paper indicated, there were a few key differences between the NYT‘s official countdown to the 100 best shots of the century and the readers’ poll tackling that same subject.

In particular, the readers’ poll featured slight differences in the ranking of the century’s top 10 shows, reading:

1. Breaking Bad
2. The Wire
3. Mad Men
4. Succession
5. Game of Thrones
6. Better Call Saul
7. The Office (U.S.)
8. Fleabag
9. Arrested Development
10. Ted Lasso

In contrast, the NY Times included the official countdown to the century’s best shows so far:

1. Breaking Bad
2. The Wire
3. Mad Men
4. Succession
5. Fleabag
6. Game of Thrones
7. Veep
8. 30 Rock
9. Curb Your Enthusiasm
10. Atlanta

The New York Times also reflected on the key changes between the two lists, pointing out that certain shows like Gilmore Girls, Ted Lasso and Community jumped ahead over 65 spots in the readers’ poll.

“The highest new entry is the beloved animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender at No. 37. Readers also gave more love to big network shows like The Big Bang Theory and buzzy shows from the past year like Widow’s Bay and Heated Rivalry.”

In 1979, The Facts of Life debuted on NBC, featuring a supersized cast of young actors that included an 11-year-old Molly Ringwald.

The sitcom about a group of girls living at Eastland, a Peekskill, New York boarding school, struggled in the ratings, but returned the following year with a total revamp that didn’t include Ringwald or co-stars Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski, and Julie Anne Haddock as series regulars.

In the book Totally Television, it was noted that for Season 2, the cast “was trimmed” to include Charlotte Rae (as housemother Edna Garrett) and just four girls: Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and newcomer Nancy McKeon as Jo Polniazek, “a streetwise kid attending Eastland on a scholarship.” The book revealed that the new character “was suggested by NBC chief Fred Silverman after he had seen the film Little Darlings.”

The Facts of Life ran for nine seasons and underwent several format changes. The addition of tough-talker Jo came just a few months after Kristy McNichol played tough girl Angel Bright in the teen comedy film Little Darlings.

NBC / Getty Images

Former NBC Network Television Programs Vice President Michael Klein wrote about the decision to revamp The Facts of Life with McKeon in a lengthy LinkedIn post.

“Facts of Life had just come off a four-episode trial as a spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes, and the ratings were tepid — tepid enough that nobody in the comedy department thought there was any real chance of a pickup,” he shared. “Then Fred, NBC’s Network President and CEO, announced the fall schedule, and there it was. Facts of Life made the cut.”

Klein recalled that Silverman asked for 12 more episodes of The Facts of Life and told the group not to come back without them.

“We hadn’t even made it downstairs when [writer] Stuart Sheslow mentioned he’d seen a movie the night before — Little Darlings — and said what Facts of Life was missing was a bad seed,” he recalled. “We’d just seen a young actress named Nancy McKeon in another pilot that season, one that never made it to air. Somebody said her name next to ‘bad seed,’ and that was it. The room caught fire. Ten minutes later we had twenty stories, easily. Twice what he’d asked for.”

“Back upstairs, we opened with the core idea — bad seed, Nancy McKeon plays her — and Fred stood straight up out of his chair, took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, sat back down, and started pitching stories right alongside us. By the time we moved to the next show on the schedule, we had thirty,” Klein shared.

Silverman had been impressed with McKeon from the jump. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he revealed that the Jo character was brought in because the cast “needed some contrast.”

“I had seen Nancy McKeon—I don’t remember for sure where—but I was very impressed with her,” Silverman recalled. “She’s a very, very good actress. So I said, ‘You know, we ought to put her in there. She’d provide enormous contrast to the other girls in attitude.’ We had ethnic differences, but I didn’t think that was enough. I thought we needed more attitudinal conflict. So we brought her in, and it made an enormous difference. It added new life to the series.”

The addition of McKeon was bad news for Ringwald,  who was cast as the short-lived Molly Parker for the first season of The Facts of Life and had been told that her character would be one of the four set to return for Season 2.

NBC / Getty Images

“[They]changed their minds and then fired me, which was kind of hard as a 12-year-old girl,” Ringwald told People TV’s Couch Surfing in 2019. “What they said is, they wanted something closer to Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair, they wanted something closer to her age, and I was too young at the time. I was a little bit of a different generation.”

While Ringwald was offered the option to make occasional appearances on the second season of The Facts of Life, she chose to leave the show for good.

“Once you’ve been a regular and then you’re booted to be a semi-regular, it was really hard and humiliating,” the Sixteen Candles actress shared. “My mom said, ‘Do you really want to do this?’ and I said, ‘No,’ and that was it. I wasn’t on the show anymore.”

Related: 1976 ABC Series, With 4 Emmy Awards, Featured an 11-Year-Old Who Later Walked Away From Hollywood

When it comes to lowering disease risk, most daily discussions revolve around loading up on fiber, eating leafy greens or adding antioxidant-rich berries to morning smoothies. While those colorful plate staples are vital for long-term health, they’re not the whole picture.

Understanding how everyday choices influence our body’s internal environment can often feel overwhelming. Many people spend hours scanning nutrition labels, tracking daily fiber counts and investing in specialized supplements to support their immune function and lower inflammation. While nutrition plays an indispensable role in cellular repair, hormone balance and natural detoxification mechanisms, missing out on basic, essential daily requirements can leave our biological defenses compromised.

Related: These Are the 7 Most Common Symptoms of the COVID-19 SW.2 Variant Doctors Are Seeing Right Now

When aiming to build a lifestyle focused on long-term disease risk reduction, experts stress that ignoring the fundamental foundation can undercut even the most disciplined dietary habits. What we consume every single day directly shapes our cellular health, our immune response and our body’s ability to resist harmful mutations over time.

Below, an oncology dietitian has highlighted one essential element that serves as a core protector of cellular integrity. While it isn’t a trendy superfood or a rare ingredient, prioritizing it daily makes a profound difference in protecting DNA and helping the body eliminate potential carcinogens efficiently.

🩺SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self💊

The Essential Daily Element That Protects Your Cells

When building a comprehensive routine for cancer risk reduction, the foundational nutrient experts emphasize isn’t a solid food or complex supplement at all—it’s water. Proper hydration is a critical pillar of human biology, yet it remains one of the most frequently neglected components of standard preventative nutrition discussions.

Jeanna Rich, RDN, an oncology registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare, previously told Parade that water is a vital safeguard for overall health.

Related: ‘I’m a Registered Dietitian—These Are the 5 Trader Joe’s Groceries I’d Stock up on if I Was on a GLP-1′

“Often called the forgotten nutrient, hydration plays an extremely relevant role in cancer prevention,” Rich explained.

When a person experiences chronic or even mild dehydration, it significantly raises the risk for oxidative stress, a biological state where damaged cells accumulate and contribute to chronic disease development over time. Consistent hydration directly supports fundamental physiological processes, including cell health, DNA integrity, efficient nutrient transport across cell membranes and systemic waste removal.

Furthermore, maintaining optimal fluid levels provides a targeted defense for internal organs. Rich noted that “good hydration dilutes the concentration of potential carcinogens in urine and moves waste along,” making adequate fluid intake one of the simplest yet most effective daily habits for long-term health protection.

How Hydration and Plant-Based Nutrition Work Together

While prioritizing hydration throughout the day is essential, oncology dietitians emphasize that fluid balance works hand in hand with a nutrient-dense, plant-predominant diet. Supporting your immune system and keeping systemic inflammation low requires a multi-layered lifestyle approach that pairs adequate water intake with protective foods.

“What we eat influences inflammation, hormone regulation, immune function and even how our genes are expressed,” Alison Tierney, RD, CD, an oncology dietitian, cancer thriver and founder of Wholesome LLC, told Parade in the same article.

Related: A Cardiologist Says Eating This Lunch Once in a While Is ‘Not the End of the World’—but He’d Never Order It

When daily fluid and nutrient intake fall short of optimal requirements, overall cellular efficiency drops, compromising the body’s natural ability to flush out toxic waste and repair damaged structures. Tierney explained that plant-based diets—rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds—provide protective compounds that “work together to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can contribute to cancer development.”

Rich agreed, noting that shifting toward plant-based eating doesn’t require going strictly vegan or vegetarian. Instead, it simply means making plants the central focus of your meals. “Allow yourself larger portions of plants and less meat or animal products,” Rich suggested.

Incorporating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, which Rich noted can “enhance DNA repair mechanisms, inhibiting carcinogen activation,” alongside fiber-rich beans, berries and soy products creates a powerful internal defense system when combined with proper daily hydration. By keeping your body well-hydrated and nourished with colorful whole foods, you give your cells the precise tools necessary to function optimally and support lifelong health.

Adapted from Parade’s “‘I’m an Oncology Dietitian—Here Are the 5 Foods I Always Have in My Kitchen’“ by Erica Sweeney.

Up Next:

Sources

• Jeanna Rich, RDN, an oncology registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare
• Alison Tierney, RD, CD, an oncology dietitian, “cancer thriver,” and founder of Wholesome LLC

Come on, Barbie, let’s go play at Mattel’s first-ever indoor waterpark!

Months after news broke that the iconic toy brand was gearing up to open its first-ever immersive destination across five cities, we finally have a peek inside.

And it looks like every Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Fisher-Price fan’s childhood dream come to life.

The first look reveals what to expect from the indoor water park that will be designed as a “year-round” and “multi-brand” designation, boasting 100,000 square feet of pure fun.

The initial glimpse at renderings from the Bellevue, Nebraska location show the transformation into a colorful world that features themed-elements, including a Barbie pink area activity pool and FlowRider® surf simulator, a Hot Wheels “Challenged Accepted” multi-slide tower that will have you racing to the finish line, a lazy river inspired by some of Mattel’s fan-favorite games like UNO, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots and Magic 8 Ball.

Mattel Indoor Water Park Press Kit

For the littles, there’s even a Fisher-Price water play structure, topped with the Giant Rock-a-Stack that every tot will surely recognize.

“Featuring a signature retractable roof, the climate-controlled venue will offer year-round operation while bringing natural light and fresh air,” the press release revealed.

Mattel Indoor Water Park Press Kit

Natalia Premovic, Chief Consumer Products and Experiences Officer at Mattel, said in a statement: “Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks are about bringing great experiences to where our fans actually live. We see a real opportunity to take the kind of immersive entertainment traditionally concentrated in major markets and bring it to more communities in a scalable, year-round format. Bellevue becoming our first Waterpark to open is an important step in that strategy and a significant chance to show what happens when you bring so many of our brands together in one place.”

Mattel Indoor Water Park Press Kit

In addition to Bellevue, there are five planned locations coming across North America, including Orlando, Florida (about 10 minutes from Disney), Bradley, Illinois, and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina.

Bellavue will be the first confirmed Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark to open at the end of 2027.

Nell Burton, the beautiful teenage daughter of Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter, is the perfect fusion of her famous parents.

Tim, 68, is the legendary director known for films like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Bonham Carter, 60, is best known for diverse roles ranging from Fight Club to the Harry Potter franchise, in which she played Bellatrix Lestrange. But it’s Nell, their raven-haired daughter, who caught our eye alongside her father at the Loewe fashion show as part of Paris Fashion Week held at Esplanade Saint Louis, Château Vincennes, in Paris, France. Sitting next to her dad, the duo sported black clothing (what else would you expect from the Burton family?) and gazed at the cameras. With the same nose and mouth as her father, Nell boasts the beauty of her mother, too.

Swan Gallet / Getty Images

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

When Did Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter Split?

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Burton and Bonham Carter were together from 2001 to 2014. They also share a son, Billy. While they were never officially married, Bonham Carter has referred to the split as a “divorce.”

“I went through a very painful divorce,” she said, PEOPLE reported. “It was a long-lasting thing. That’s the other thing, it’s not that finite. It never ends. Even if you divorce somebody, it’s a kind of marriage if you have children with them. The relationship has to change. It’s a very complicated thing how to share the children.”

She went on to say that in the initial stages of the split, there were a lot of tough moments.

“I remember doing the school gate, and feeling I was so vulnerable,” Bonham Carter continued. “Meeting friends was fine, but not people I don’t really know. It was like I had no skin. People don’t necessarily know how to treat you.”

Tim Burton Went On to Date Monica Bellucci

Ivan Romano / Getty Images

Burton went on to date Italian beauty Monica Bellucci from 2022 to 2025, PEOPLE noted. However, the couple eventually decided to split. Despite the end of their relationship, Bellucci has made it clear in the press that their relationship ended amicably.

“There are roads that, at a certain point, cross for a path that continues forever…Tim’s road and mine met to make a path together and then split again,” Bellucci told Vogue Italia. “As long as I live, however, Tim will always have a unique place in my heart.”

Related: Curvy Queen Monica Bellucci Looks Better Than Ever at 61 on the Red Carpet After Split From Tim Burton

Dame Deborah James always said she wanted life to be a party, and on what would have been her 45th birthday, Prince William helped make sure her celebration continued.

The Prince of Wales surprised guests at the first-ever Rebel Ball in London on Thursday, Oct. 1, appearing in a video message to celebrate the woman widely known as “Bowelbabe.” The gala benefited the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, the cause James dedicated her final months to before she died in 2022.

“Tonight would have been Deborah’s 45th birthday and I know she would have wanted everyone dancing, celebrating and making memories,” William told the room, calling her “incomparable.”

James brought honesty and humor to the hardest parts of her cancer journey. On her podcast, You, Me and the Big C, she spoke openly about treatment, often in sequins and always with a laugh. She called her outlook “rebellious hope,” a phrase William returned to as he remembered her.

View this post on Instagram

When James entered hospice care at home, she launched the Bowelbabe Fund with a goal of raising £250,000 for cancer research and awareness. The campaign ultimately raised millions. That same spring, William visited James at home to present her with her damehood in person, sharing tea and champagne with her family.

William’s tribute also comes after a deeply personal period for his own family. His father, King Charles III, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, both publicly announced cancer diagnoses in 2024. Catherine later announced that she was in remission in January 2025.

Simon Way

True to James’ spirit, the night was filled with music and celebration. Sophie Ellis-Bextor and the West End cast of Disco Inferno performed for guests, while James’ children, Hugo and Eloise, spoke about what “rebellious hope” means to them now.

Her husband, Sebastien Bowen, said the evening captured James’ energy, courage and gift for bringing people together, according to HELLO!. The event also raised approximately $420,000 (£316,000) for Cancer Research UK and the Bowelbabe Fund, continuing the work James began before her death.

Michael Douglas wrote a memoir, One Helluva Ride, which is coming out on October 6. In it, he admitted that he had a secret romance with Kathleen Turner, who was his costar in the 1984 action-comedy Romancing the Stone.

According to PEOPLE, Douglas wrote, “Kathleen was smart, funny, and sexy with a deep, sultry voice that became her signature. I instantly liked her, and we were immediately attracted to each other. Things at home were in a bad place. Diandra and I were both having extramarital affairs, including my recent romance with Diane Thomas [Romancing the Stone’s screenwriter].”

Douglas was married to Diandra Luker from 1977 until 2000. They share one son.  

Related: Wynonna Judd, 62, Fell in Love With Her Husband All Over Again While Making Their New Album

In the memoir, Douglas admitted to lying about the status of their relationship for decades. “The chemistry I had with Kathleen Turner was so strong, audiences have been certain for years that we were in a relationship together while making the film,” he said. “We both denied it through Romancing The Stone, Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses, and even while doing press a few years ago for The Kominsky Method. The official story went as follows: Yes, we confessed, we had amazing chemistry. Yes, we were both, as Kathleen said, ‘terrible flirts,’ and yes, we were both tempted, but nothing ever happened between us. That was a lie.”

Related: ‘Verity’ Star Revealed Intimacy Coordination Played a ‘Big Part’ in Colleen Hoover Film Adaptation of Her Bestselling 2018 Book

He continued, “It was a lie meant to protect my wife and son, a lie we told the world for 40 years. In fact, during a People magazine interview only a few years ago Kathleen held to it, saying, ‘Oh I was yearning, babe, but he was still married… It was that wonderful sexual tension, you know? When you really, really know you want somebody — and I’m saying it went both ways — and you can’t have them…’ The truth is that during the production of Romancing the Stone, Kathleen and I fell hard for each other and began a relationship. It wasn’t a fly-by night affair; it grew naturally from how closely we were working together, how much pressure we were under, how much we respected and cared for one another, and how attracted we were to each other. Like every other guy in the world at the time, I was knocked sideways by Kathleen.”

You can read more about their relationship, as well as his struggles with drugs and alcohol, in One Helluva Ride, which is available for preorder now.

Paul McCartney is singing Céline Dion’s praises.

The Beatles legend shared an emotional message about Dion on social media, celebrating the response to her recent comeback in Paris and revealing that he’s been listening to her work for their upcoming animated film, High in the Clouds.

“It’s been so great to see the amazing reaction to Céline’s comeback in Paris,” McCartney wrote. “There’s so much love out there for her.”

The rock legend was referring to Dion’s recent surprise performance at Paris Fashion Week where she closed out the L’Oreal Paris runway show at the iconic Paris landmark the Eiffel Tower.

But the 84-year-old musician had even more praise for Dion, 58, after hearing her contributions to their upcoming project.

“I’m so excited that she’s part of our High In The Clouds film,” he continued. “I’ve just been listening to some of her parts and I’m blown away by it. Wow what a talent.”

“We are very lucky to have her as part of the team,” McCartney added. “Can’t wait to share it with the world.”

Dion voices Sugartail in High in the Clouds, an upcoming animated adventure based on the 2005 children’s book of the same name by McCartney, Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh.

The story follows Wirral, a teenage squirrel who becomes caught up in a rebellion against Gretsch, a tyrannical owl who has banned music. Himesh Patel voices Wirral, while Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham plays Gretsch.

Dion and McCartney are hardly the only music legends lending their voices to the project.

McCartney voices a character named McKenzie, while his former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr plays Roy and Lionel Richie voices Gladstone. Idris Elba, Jimmy Fallon, Pom Klementieff, Clémence Poésy and Alain Chabat are also among the star-studded cast.

McCartney is also one of the film’s producers and wrote original songs for the movie, while Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino is handling the score.

The animated project has been a long time coming. McCartney originally published “High in the Clouds” more than two decades ago, and plans to bring the story to the big screen have been in development for years.

Gaumont announced the current voice cast in May 2025, revealing Dion’s involvement alongside McCartney, Starr, Richie and the rest of the ensemble.

For McCartney, however, his latest message made it clear that Dion’s performance is something special.

“What a talent,” he wrote.

High in the Clouds is expected to be released in 2027.

Related: Paul McCartney’s No. 1 Duet Partner Swooped In to Outbid Him For The Beatles’ Catalog For $47.5 Million 41 Years Ago Today

The first days of October mark the official start of the Halloween season, and Netflix has started streaming some must-watch horror classics, like the infamous slasher film Friday the 13th.

Netflix Tudum released its official list of films that are new to the streaming platform or making their grand return just in time for spooky season. Their list reveals multiple new movies releasing almost every day of the month, up until the day prior to Halloween.

While the streaming platform is bringing back an array of genres, horror fans will be excited to know that some cult classics will grace their home screens. One of them is the original 1980 Friday the 13th that sparked a mass horror media franchise. The slasher film directed by Sean S. Cunningham and written by Victor Miller will be on everyone’s watch list.

The film starred Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, Harry Crosby, Laurie Bartram, Mark Nelson, Jeannine Taylor, Robbi Morgan, and Kevin Bacon. Bacon once commented that his character is one of the most signed photographs from fans, and “was partly where I got my start.”

It focuses on a group of teens trying to reopen Camp Crystal Lake 20 years after a shocking tragedy closed it down. Hoping to reopen it as its new counselors, they bring the attention of a killer who hunts them down one by one.

Friday the 13th was a box office success that made $59.8 million against its $650,000 budget and became the fifteenth highest-grossing film of the year. Cunningham developed the slasher as a response to the grand success of John Carpenter‘s Halloween that premiered in 1978. While writing the script, he put out an ad in Variety to sell the film and have it bought by Paramount.

“The title came first. I was trying to finish a kids’ movie and wasn’t getting the response I’d hoped for. We thought it might be because of the title so started free-associating. I came up with Friday the 13th,” said Cunningham, according to Inkl. “Then I thought: ‘If I had a movie called Friday the 13th, I’d know how to sell that.’ Six months later, when we were figuring out a film to do next, I said: ‘Let’s try Friday the 13th.’”

Despite critical response agaisnt it graphic violence, Friday the 13th was praised for its cinematography and cemented itself as a horror cult classic. It led to a well-known media franchise and 11 new installments since the original.

The horror franchise even led to a 1987 TV series, with Cunningham having developed a prequel series based on Jason Voorhees’s mother and past in the 2026 series Crystal Lake.

Related: 1998 Tom Hanks Movie, With a 94% Rotten Tomatoes Score, Ranked as One of the Best Movies of All Time

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

Running shoes and supportive sandals are great, but the most comfortable shoes you can have in your collection are house slippers. However, they’re not always suitable for outdoor wear, as they can look too casual and don’t offer enough traction. Luckily, these Family Fairy Fleece-Lined Slipper Boots are an exception. They’re cute enough to wear out, and the soles have fantastic grip, ready to handle wherever the day takes you. And now that fall is officially here, there’s no better time than right now to add them to your cold-weather shoe collection. 

Right now, you can score these slipper boots on sale for a limited time ahead of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, which runs Oct. 6 and 7. Normally retailing for $33, they’re now marked down to either $25 or $26. These slipper boots are available in five styles, including a leopard print faux-fur version and four cable-knit versions in black, camel, gray, and purple hues. They come in four sizes: 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, and 11/12. Shoppers noted they fit true to size. 

Family Fairy Fleece-Lined Slipper Boots, From $25 (were $33) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Made for both indoor and outdoor wear, these boots feature a treaded rubber outsole. They have a non-slip grip, providing traction on all kinds of surfaces to ensure stability. These boots boast a small platform, giving you a slight lift without sacrificing comfort. 

Crafted with a high-density memory foam insole, these boots will deliver all-day comfort whether you’re lounging around at home, running errands, or strolling in the park. The insoles cushion and cradle your feet with every step, making you feel like you’re walking on a plush cloud. They’ll absorb impact, reducing pressure on your feet and joints. 

The insoles were designed to mold to the shape of your feet, supporting your heels and arches. Attesting to their support, shoppers with plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and high arches all noted that they were able to wear these slippers without any pain.

It’s important to keep your feet toasty if you want to warm up the rest of your body, and these boots do the trick. Lined with fleece, the interior is plush and soft to the touch, shielding your feet and ankles from the cold air and keeping them snug and warm. These boots feel comfy on your feet whether you wear them with or without socks. 

Family Fairy Fleece-Lined Slipper Boots, From $25 (were $33) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

Cozy and elegant, the exterior of these boots is lined with faux micro suede, giving them a velvety texture. They have a retro-inspired design featuring a foldover cuff accented with a decorative snap button. 

These boots are undoubtedly great for movie nights, chores, and lounging, but they’re also chic enough to be worn out, capturing the essence of stylish comfort. Styled with any outfit, these boots will add a cozy aesthetic to your look and make a statement. You can wear them with leggings, sweatpants, or skinny jeans tucked into the cuff, and with flared yoga pants or bootcut jeans over the boots. 

These slipper boots have unsurprisingly racked up over 2,700 five-star ratings at Amazon. Shoppers loved them because they “replicate outdoor boots, but have the comfort of a slipper.” One reviewer said that they’re “the perfect blend of comfort and style, making them a must-have for anyone who loves cozy footwear.” A second customer raved that “they’re like walking on pillows with arch support” and said that “they help with plantar fasciitis.”

Shop More Slippers 

• Litfun Faux-Fur Lined Suede Slippers, From $40 (were $62) at Amazon
• Rockdove Faux-Fur Lined Microsuede Moccasin, $25 (was $29) at Amazon
• Home Top Fleece-Lined Loafer Slippers, From $10 (was $22) at Amazon

Related: Clarks’ $32 Suede Slippers Have the Fluffiest Faux-Fur Trim for Keeping Your Feet Toasty This Fall

If you crave the comfort of your house slippers whenever you’re out and about, don’t hesitate to snag the Family Fairy Fleece-Lined Slipper Boots at Amazon while they’re on sale for as low as $25. Be sure to hurry because this deal will only be available for a limited time! 

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.

We all know that good communication is key to a long-lasting, healthy relationship—that’s why relationship check-in questions are encouraged and communication red flags exist. But did you know that certain phrases could make or break a relationship?

“Speech is essential to a relationship because your partner can’t understand your inner world unless you communicate it, and you can’t understand theirs unless you remain curious about it,” Dr. Yasmine Saad, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in NYC, tells Parade. That said, she adds, “The quality of the speech is what matters most.”

And quality of speech becomes particularly important as you age, especially as relationships begin to shift over 50—and it’s not just because of a person’s age. If you’re in a long-term relationship, for example, Dr. Saad warns, “Familiarity can create the illusion that you already know everything about your partner.”

Moreover, people over 50 often experience shifts in priorities, including what they want from their partners.

“Who you are changes, and so can what you need from the person beside you,” she explains. “At 35, you may have needed a partner to help you build a family, establish a home or manage an incredibly demanding life. At 55, you may be looking for more connection, intimacy, enjoyment, freedom, shared experiences or growth.”

To ensure that you and your partner stay on the same page, try using these seven phrases to build intimacy in relationships after 50.

Related: We Asked 3 Psychologists What Couples Over 50 Fight About Most—It Wasn’t Money

The #1 Phrase That Keeps Relationships Strong After 50

It’s tough to reduce a healthy relationship to one statement, but Dr. Saad says that the number one phrase that keeps relationships strong after 50 is the question, “What is important to you now?”

“Research on perceived partner responsiveness consistently finds that feeling that your partner understands, cares for and appreciates you is associated with intimacy and relationship satisfaction,” Dr. Saad explains. “This means that continuing to know the person you’re with is key.”

For couples over 50, assuming they’ve been together for a long time, it’s even more important to check in with your partner.

“After decades together, one of the greatest risks is believing that because you know your partner well, you already know what matters to them,” the psychologist warns. “Long-term intimacy isn’t about knowing everything about your partner. It’s about continuing to discover them.”

6 More Essential Phrases Couples Over 50 Use To Build Intimacy

“Speech builds intimacy when the conversation goes beyond exchanging information and gives you access to each other’s inner world,” Dr. Saad tells Parade.

So, to capitalize on that, here are essential phrases couples over 50 should use to build intimacy.

1. “How are you feeling about this?”

“Research on intimacy has found that emotional self-disclosure is particularly important in creating closeness,” Dr. Saad explains. “This question goes beyond ‘What happened?’ or ‘What do you think?’ and invites your partner to share their emotional experience with you.”

An open-ended question like this invites intimacy with your partner because “you gain access to a part of their inner world that you can’t see from the outside.”

2. “Am I understanding this correctly?”

“Intimacy isn’t only about expressing yourself,” says Dr. Saad. “It’s also about experiencing that the person you love truly understands you.”

And you can’t understand your partner without checking in with them. Furthermore, this question shows active listening skills—not only are you listening to your partner, but you also want to digest it and potentially ask follow-ups.

3. “That’s amazing; tell me more”

For this comment, Dr. Saad points to “active-constructive responding,” aka reacting constructively to positive news.

“Showing genuine enthusiasm and inviting them to tell you more allows you to participate in their excitement rather than simply acknowledging it,” she explains.

This, in turn, can help transform good news for your partner into good news for both of you.

“When something wonderful happens to the person you love, their joy can become a moment of connection between you,” she adds.

Related: We Asked 3 Psychologists What Happy Couples Over 50 Do Right—They All Said the Same Thing

4. “I really appreciate that you…” or “Do you know what I appreciate about you?”

“Research on gratitude in couples has linked expressing appreciation with greater connection and relationship satisfaction,” says Dr. Saad.

She adds that it’s important to be specific when showing gratitude, thanking your partner for a specific act.

5. “What would you love for us to experience together?”

This is an especially useful phrase for couples who have been together for a long time and have lost the habit of trying new things together.

“After decades together, intimacy isn’t only created by everything you’ve already shared,” Dr. Saad advises. “It can also grow through what you are still excited to experience together.”

6. “Do you know what made me happy today?”

“Research on sharing positive experiences suggests that bringing your partner into the positive things happening in your life can contribute to relationship well-being and closeness,” Dr. Saad explains. “Intimacy isn’t built only through sharing our struggles. We become closer by sharing our joy too.”

Why Relationship Dynamics Change After 50

Even the happiest couples will likely experience a change in their relationship dynamic after 50, and, according to Dr. Saad, there are a few reasons why.

Retirement

“Retirement can completely change the rhythm of a relationship,” Dr. Saad explains.

There are many reasons a couple might fight in retirement, but for couples transitioning out of full-time jobs, it can be an especially difficult time.

“Going from spending much of the day apart to potentially spending most of it together can change everything from independence to household roles,” she explains, adding, “Couples have to figure out what life together looks like when work is no longer organizing their days.”

An empty nest

Dealing with an empty nest—when children leave the family home—can also put stress on a relationship.

“For decades, children may have provided shared purpose, routines and constant conversation,” explains Dr. Saad. “When they leave, couples can find themselves asking: ‘Without parenting occupying so much of our relationship, what connects us to each other now?’”

Finances

Planning your life over 50 comes with a lot of economic considerations, and it’s not always easy to see eye-to-eye.

“Two people may have the same vision for their next chapter, but very different ideas about what they can afford or what financial security means,” says Dr. Saad.

Caring for aging parents

Caring for an elderly parent or family member can be extremely draining—economically, physically and emotionally.

“That can affect time, energy, finances and emotional availability within the couple,” notes Dr. Saad.

Health issues

“Illness, chronic conditions or changes in physical ability can alter independence, sexuality and the balance of caregiving within a relationship,” Dr. Saad states.

This can mean that one partner must transition into more of a caretaking role, which can put added stress or pressure on a relationship.

Menopause

Menopause and hormone changes can drastically change one’s desire or ability to have a sexual relationship.

“When your body changes, intimacy may need to change too,” says Dr. Saad, adding, “Different doesn’t have to mean diminished.”

Independence

“How much of a life each person has outside the relationship matters,” Dr. Saad shares. “As work and parenting occupy less space, differences in friendships, interests, social lives and independence can become more visible.”

Related: We Asked 3 Psychologists What Usually Causes Divorce Over 50—They All Said the Same Thing

How To Re-learn Your Partner’s Love Language in Midlife and Beyond

Understanding your partner’s love language is critical at any point in a relationship, but it’s not enough. It’s also important to remember that your partner might have a different love language than you.

“The way you naturally express love may not be the way your partner most readily experiences love,” Dr. Saad warns. “Taking the extra step of communicating love in your partner’s love language is key because it shows a real desire to help the other person actually experience the love you feel for them.”

To that end, she advises partners, “Remaining curious about your partner and cultivating a continuous desire to create an intimate, loving relationship is key.” She continues, “This way, the relationship doesn’t remain fixed while the two people in it continue to change. The relationship can grow and evolve as the ways you each experience love grow and evolve too.”

That said, Dr. Saad adds that relearning your partner’s love language might not be enough to keep a relationship healthy over time.

“I would go beyond relearning your partner’s love language and relearn your partner,” she states.

Pay attention to your partner and check in; ask what makes them feel loved.

“After decades together, one of the most loving things you can do is continue asking, observing and discovering,” she adds. “You don’t relearn your partner once. You keep learning them as they evolve.”

Up Next:

Related: Psychiatrist Says People Over 50 Have 1 Social Advantage Younger Adults Often Don’t

Sources:

• Dr. Yasmine Saad, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, Editor’s Pick TEDx speaker and creator of the Inner Message Approach. Known as “The Wise Psychologist,” she is also the founder and CEO of Madison Park Psychological Services and a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree, providing psychotherapy and psychological services.
• “Intimacy as an Interpersonal Process: The Importance of Self-Disclosure, Partner Disclosure, and Perceived Partner Responsiveness in Interpersonal Exchanges.” (1998) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
• “The social functions of the emotion of gratitude via expression.” (2013) Emotion.
• “What Do You Do When Things Go Right? The Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Benefits of Sharing Positive Events.” (2004) Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Jonathan Bailey is no stranger to making fans swoon, but his latest role comes with an unofficial public warning.

The Bridgerton star has officially lent his velvety voice to Bram Stoker’s Gothic classic Dracula, delivering a narration so intensely sultry that listeners are warning each other to keep their volume down in public. For anyone planning to stream the audiobook on a crowded morning commute, consider yourself warned: this isn’t your average bedtime story.

Audible, which highlighted the title as one of its classic releases, set the internet ablaze after sharing a steamy clip of the narration on Instagram. The sultry preview immediately sent the comment section into overdrive, with swooning fans warning each other to keep their headphones firmly plugged in.

The video’s caption read, “Dracula’ is here. It came like the night. Creeping, waiting, and suddenly, consuming. The new Audible adaptation of ‘Dracula’ is hungry for prey — that would be you.”

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

View this post on Instagram

It continued, “This retelling is indisputably sensual, deathly disturbing, and absolutely inescapable. Listen at your own risk. Available now, only on Audible. Starring Jonathan Bailey, Ella Purnell, Aimee Lou Wood, Louis Partridge, David Jonsson, Johnny Flynn, Lesley Manville, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.”

Bailey said in the steamy clip, “He is a monster of seduction and he’s preying on her. Dracula exists to seduce all of us. He is someone we would all want to succumb to.”

Fans were quick to populate the post’s comment page with candid tales of listening to the sultry preview in public settings. The consensus was overwhelmingly clear: streaming Bailey’s steamy performance without headphones is a recipe for instant regret.

“Hearing Johnathan Bailey say ‘monster of seduction who’s preying on her’ is enough to get people pregnant,” declared one fan after listening to Bailey’s seductive narration.

A second listener penned, “You know what, take me Dracula I’m yours!”

“I should have know better than to play this unmuted,” wrote a third Instagram user.

Bailey shared his feelings about portraying the titular character with Bustle.

“To be in people’s ears and hopefully terrify, seduce, but also transport them into a world where they can get lost in it — in the way that all the other incredible performers do — is thrilling. Dracula is many things, and one of them is this ominous manifestation of our cultural shame,” Bailey stated.

The actor concluded, “We are innately curious beings, and the curiosity — if straitjacketed and harnessed — has to go somewhere. Fear and horror are just as potent as euphoria and joy — and of course, identity and sexuality and sex and everything that we feel in extremes can exist between the two. So it’s an opportunity to experience that and celebrate it. No matter where you are in the world and whatever your life experience is, there’s always something we’re craving that we can’t have.”

Related: Pop Star’s ‘Wicked’ Audition Didn’t Go as Expected: ‘A Strange One’

There’s arguably no minor travel bummer quite like booking a flight a little too late and finding out the only remaining spots are sandwiched squarely in the dreaded middle seat. For most travelers, that usually kicks off a tedious pre-flight routine: opening the airline app every few hours, compulsively refreshing the seat map, and hoping another passenger cancels or bumps up to first class.

American Airlines is officially stepping in to do that tedious legwork for you.

The carrier has rolled out a new automated seat-monitoring feature in the American app designed to eliminate the endless refreshing and help travelers land their ideal spot in the cabin without the stress. Eligible AAdvantage members can now choose their preferred seating characteristics—such as a window, an aisle, or even a preferred middle—right after completing their booking. From there, the app works behind the scenes to track real-time seat movements. If a matching seat opens up, the system automatically updates the reservation and alerts the traveler.

Related: Big Changes Are Coming to American Airlines Complimentary Upgrades

American Airlines App (0:15)

“At American, we’re always looking for ways to make travel easier and more personalized for our customers,” said American’s Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden. “This latest innovation proactively addresses customer preference. It is a simple experience that gives customers more control while asking them to do less.”

The handy monitoring tool is available up to 24 hours before departure for AAdvantage members traveling on single-passenger reservations who already have an assigned seat. Travelers can opt in directly within their trip details in the app immediately after ticketing. Best of all, passengers won’t be surprised with accidental fees: seat swaps remain strictly within your ticketed cabin and will never trigger extra charges. The airline specifically noted that it will not automatically slide you into a higher-priced paid seat, even if one aligns with your criteria, keeping the entire upgrade process seamless and cost-free.

Related: 7 Things American Airlines Is Changing That Passengers Will Notice

The digital upgrade was born out of American’s ADEPT program, an internal two-year initiative created to mentor early-career tech talent by solving tangible consumer friction points. Rather than developing flashy tech for technology’s sake, the team set out to resolve one of the most relatable customer headaches in aviation.

“This latest technology launch shows what can happen when we give talented technologists a meaningful customer problem and the space to solve it,” said American’s Chief Digital and Information Officer Ganesh Jayaram. “The ADEPT team paired fresh thinking with the scale and experience of teams across American to build something practical: technology that removes work from the customer and makes the travel experience feel more seamless. The project also reflects how we’re using AI to help our teams work smarter, accelerating development and allowing technologists to spend more time focused on innovation and delivering value for customers.”

As travelers gear up for busy getaway seasons, it’s a welcome relief to let smart technology handle the seat shuffle—leaving you with one less travel detail to manage before packing your carry-on.

Related: American Airlines and Hyatt Are Breaking Up—Here’s What It Means for Your Points and Perks

Police are investigating the death of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s ex-fiancé Ken Urker, with TMZ reporting that foul play has not yet been ruled out.

Captain Brennan Matherne of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office told the outlet that “as of right now, detectives have not found any evidence of foul play, but they’re still investigating and have not ruled out anything yet.”

Urker died on Thursday Oct. 1, which was also his birthday, being found unresponsive in Louisiana. Blanchard had texted Urker, “Happy Birthday,” but did not receive a response. He was found by Gypsy’s brother, Dylan, at the home.

Following the news, Blanchard spoke out, releasing a statement to TMZ in which she said she believes he died of an overdose because an unidentified substance was discovered where he died. She said he did not have a drug problem. When speaking with PEOPLE, she further explained that she doesn’t “know if it was intentional or not,” adding that “he was not in a good state of mind lately.”

Blanchard also paid tribute to Urker, calling him an “an amazing father and a man who was deeply loved.” The two share a daughter, Aurora, who was born in December 2024, and she made a point to say she “will make sure she grows up knowing how deeply her father loved her and who he was beyond what strangers on the internet chose to say about him.” As for their connection, Blanchard said he “will forever be my soulmate and my red string, a connection that time, distance, and even death can never erase.”

Se also went on to explain that Urker had been the victim of “relentless cyberbullying” before his death, dealing with an “unimaginable level of public scrutiny.” Blanchard said the “cruelty directed toward him was something no human being should have to endure,” adding that it had a “profound impact” on Urker.

If your favorite part of Thanksgiving is the stuffing, Costco is stocking a find that brings those classic flavors and comfort a little earlier in the season.

The Kooshy Classic Sourdough Stuffing Mix combines sourdough bread with onion, celery, garlic, and herbs, and you can make it on the stove in about five minutes or bake it in the oven. The three 14-ounce bags (item number 2059417) are selling for $9.99, or about $3.33 per bag.

You can check out the new find, shared by Nadia Christensen @costcoshares in an Oct. 1 Instagram post:

View this post on Instagram Costco’s Kooshy Sourdough Stuffing Makes an Easy Weeknight Side

The Kooshy stuffing is vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified, and made without seed oils or artificial flavors, dyes, or preservatives. The box lists about 42 servings, which works out to roughly 24 cents each at $9.99.

The stovetop version calls for water or broth and butter. To keep it vegan, the box suggests using vegan butter and water or vegetable broth. The package also includes oven directions for anyone who prefers those crispier, golden edges, along with a tip to stir in cooked sausage or mushrooms and fresh thyme or sage before baking.

Related: Costco’s New Deli Find Makes an Easy Dinner Feel Fancy

And there are plenty of ways to turn a $3.33 bag into a full meal. Kooshy even lists rotisserie chicken as a pairing on the back of the box, so serve it with Costco’s famous $4.99 rotisserie chicken, a bagged salad, and a little cranberry sauce for a simple weeknight dinner with all those cozy holiday flavors.

If you’re a fan of the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich, there’s another option. Layer some rotisserie chicken with prepared stuffing and cranberry sauce on good bread for an easy take on the holiday favorite without roasting a turkey first.

bhofack2 / Getty Images

Costco Has More Easy Fall Meal Finds

The stuffing wasn’t the only seasonal comfort food in the post. Rana Organic Butternut Squash & Caramelized Onions Ravioli (item number 1189988) was spotted for $11.99. The package includes two 16-ounce packs, making it another convenient option for fall dinners. Add brown butter, sage, and Parmesan, as @costcoshares suggests, and dinner needs little else.

For soup season, the post also showed Blount Clam Shack New England Clam Chowder (item number 1687484) for $13.69. The heat-and-serve pack includes two 24-ounce containers, and you can refrigerate or freeze the gluten-free chowder for later. Serve it with crusty bread, and dinner is handled.

And for something sweet afterward, Costco also has Edward Marc Dark Chocolate Strawberry Coconut Bites (item number 2038418) on sale for $9.99, down from $14.99 with a $5 manufacturer’s instant rebate while it lasts. The 18-ounce bag combines strawberry and coconut centers with dark chocolate.

Between the stuffing, ravioli, chowder, and chocolate bites, Costco has plenty of shortcuts for putting a cozy fall meal on the table this week.

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

Finding a suitable sofa can be surprisingly difficult. Many options are oversized, and can dominate the entire living room or make the space feel cramped. Others go to the opposite extreme, offering seating so firm that relaxing becomes uncomfortable. The process often involves weighing the need for comfort against the realities of available space, with few choices striking the right balance.

Enter the Aiho 2-Seater Cloud Loveseat, which is soft, supportive, and sized for where you need it. Shoppers say, “it felt as though I was seated on a massive cloud,” so shopping it while it’s 52% off is even more comfortable. 

Aiho 2-Seater Cloud Loveseat, From $146 (was $300) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

This loveseat’s 105-degree angle provides real lumbar support and will keep you comfortable after hours of sitting around watching TV. It is just under 75 inches long, so you’ll get two seats without giving up your entire living space. If you need other variations, one-seater and three-seater options are available in certain colors. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Soft’ $23 Lounge Set Includes 3 Mix-and-Match Pieces for Crisp Fall Days

The corduroy fabric does not immediately show stains or pet hair. If you spill coffee or have pets, the removable covers mean you have a real chance of keeping it clean. Just zip off and toss in the wash.

The four color choices allow you to match your current decor, whether that’s  blue, black, dark grey, green, beige, or orange. Shoppers say the “cloud-like” couch is “extremely simple” to set up. It can be done alone, though it’s quicker with help, and some note that you should let the cushions sit for a day or two to expand after setup fully.

“Exceptionally soft fabric!” one shopper wrote. “It felt as though I was seated on a massive cloud. The color complemented my living room flawlessly, and the support provided while sitting is excellent. I will certainly read a book while relaxing in this.”

Shop More Deals

• Asofer 3-Piece Patio Chairs with Cushions Set, From $57 (was $106) at Walmart
• UVN 2-Piece Button-Down Lounge Set, $23 (was $45) at Walmart
• Yalamila 3-Piece Quilted Queen Comforter Set, From $25 (was $50) at Walmart

This $146 cloud loveseat from Walmart is a comfortable option that is also realistic for real people with real messes. Grab one in your favorite color while it’s on sale!

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.

For anyone who loves the idea of a quick maritime escape, there has long been an unspoken rule in the cruise industry: if you want a short, three-to-five-day long weekend getaway, you usually have to compromise on the ship.

Cruise lines almost always lock their biggest, shiniest, most amenity-packed mega-ships into strict week-long itineraries to maximize revenue, while relegating short getaways to older, legacy vessels. If you wanted the roller coasters, the sprawling multi-deck entertainment zones, and the splashy celebrity-chef restaurants, you typically had to burn an entire week of precious PTO to get it.

Carnival Cruise Line is officially rewriting that playbook.

The brand has opened up its 2028–2029 deployment, and tucked inside is a genuine game-changer: for the first time ever, an Excel-class flagship—the massive, 183,000-ton Carnival Jubilee—is being placed on regular four- and five-day itineraries sailing out of Galveston, Texas.

Related: Carnival’s Next Ship Blends Vintage Hollywood Glam with High-Seas Thrills—Here’s Your First Look

View this post on Instagram

It’s a strategic nod to two of the biggest trends reshaping how we travel right now: the explosion of “micro-vacations” and the surging popularity of Galveston as a premier drive-to port.

More and more vacationers are swapping exhausting week-long trips for high-impact long weekends that don’t drain vacation balances or demand packing a mountain of luggage. At the same time, Galveston has evolved from a quiet regional alternative into one of the country’s hottest cruise gateways, letting millions of travelers bypass stressful flights to Florida and simply drive right up to the gangway.

Putting an Excel-class powerhouse on short getaways brings the ultimate mega-ship perks to the casual snowbird or weekend tripper. Aboard Jubilee, guests get access to the BOLT open-air ocean roller coaster, six themed zones, and dining hotspots like Emeril’s Bistro 717, Guy’s Pig & Anchor, and Bonsai Teppanyaki—elevated experiences you virtually never find on a quick four-night hop.

Related: Carnival’s New Private Island Just Became the First ‘Sensory Inclusive’ Cruise Destination

Starting in late April 2028 and running through April 2029, Carnival Jubilee will roll out four-day Western Caribbean sailings departing on select Thursdays, calling on Cozumel, Mexico before returning in time for the work week. The new five-day voyages depart on select Saturdays and Mondays, adding stops in both Cozumel and Progreso on the Yucatán Peninsula. For those who still want a more leisurely voyage, the ship will also sprinkle in select six- and eight-day sailings that hit spots like Roatán, Montego Bay, and Carnival’s new Bahamian destinations, including Celebration Key.

While 2028 might feel far out on the horizon, opening these bookings so early signals just how fiercely cruise lines are competing for the short-getaway market. If your ideal vacation is hopping aboard a state-of-the-art floating resort on a Thursday afternoon and waking up to sea breezes with zero PTO guilt, your long weekend just got a major promotion.

Related: Carnival Brings Back Iconic ‘Destiny’ Name for New 8,000-Passenger ‘Jumbo’ Mega-Ship

You know Liz Lawson for her YA murder mysteries. She made her debut in the adult fiction world in 2026 with It Happened One Murder, and now it’s time for her second adult release. One Wedding and a Murder is Lawson’s sophomore adult release coming in 2027.

It’s perfect for fans of Jessie Q. Sutanto and Catherine Mack. Described as Knives Out meets Under the Tuscan Sun, One Wedding and a Murder brings the humor, the romance, and the cozy mystery, releasing on May 25, 2027.

This time, we’re heading to Tuscany for a lavish wedding. It was meant to be the ultimate escape for Mindy Washington, who was going to spend a week with red wine and her draft of “One Wedding and a Murder.” Yes, in this case, the name of the book is the name of the fake novel in the story. It even has the beautiful Italian backdrop for a fun murder mystery.

The plot twist? Well, that comes in Lawson’s book and not Mindy’s. There are a few too many plot twists in this wedding, starting with a wedding guest dropping dead.

Of course, Mindy becomes a suspect. The death happens in an eerily similar way to a character in her own unpublished book, and the police do not think it’s a coincidence. Once the Italian police have you in their sights for murder, you better find proof that it’s not you.

Wait, isn’t there romance in this cozy mystery? Oh yes, and this is another plot twist. Adam Kozel is a brooding detective with a mysterious past, and Mindy should stay away from him. So, why does she keep turning to him for help? Why does she think that he will help her find the real killer, rather than use everything she knows to turn it all on her?

Soon, fact and fiction start to blur together. Proving your innocence is one thing, but Mindy also needs to stop herself from falling in love. That was not something this writer expected!

Courtesy of Sourcebooks

Take a look at the cover of One Wedding and a Murder. It’s sure to throw you into all the romantic murder mystery feels with the wine bottle tipped over and pouring out like blood, and the beautiful Tuscan hills in the backdrop. It’s reminiscent of the cover for It Happened One Murder, keeping everything scaled down, but the novel itself will be out of this world!

You can’t help but wonder what’s going on in the mind of the two characters on the cover. There’s a look of deceit and passion in their eyes, as they get ready to turn over every single clue they find.

When speaking about seeing the cover for the first time, Lawson shared, “When my editor sent me the cover for One Wedding and a Murder, designed by Sarah Horgan, I was blown away. It perfectly alludes to the Tuscan setting (those rolling hills!), the murder-y plot (that vaguely sinister spilled bottle of red wine!), and the will-they-won’t-they romance of the central characters (those adorable expressions!). They even managed to fit in Mindy’s unpublished novel… the same novel she fears might be coming true when a guest drops dead in an eerily similar way to a character in her story. I’m so excited to share Mindy and Adam’s story with readers, and I hope they’ll fall just as hard for them as I did!”

One Wedding and a Murder will be released on May 25, 2027.