Parade

After nearly a year of poisoning her husband, Hayley Hamilton (Marquita Goings) was finally caught on CBS daytime’s newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates. Now Goings has finally opened up about whether this is the end of the line for the schemer.

Following the broadcast of the twist, Goings was interviewed by TV Insider’s Stephanie Sloane, during which the two discussed Haley’s time in Fairmount Crest and her biggest mark yet.

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While Goings didn’t reveal anything specific about how the storyline will play out, she did tease that this isn’t the end for Haley’s story. “There are so many things that people are asking. I don’t want to give away too much, but I would hang tight. I love the twists and turns that the writers have written. There’s more to come,” she told the outlet.

Eagle-eyed fans paying attention to who has returned to the studio for production on Season 3 have noticed that Goings appears to be around still; thus, it appears that there are plenty of twists left in Haley’s storyline if she is going to get away with attempted murder.

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Hayley’s story began with the premiere of Beyond the Gates back in February of 2025, when it was revealed that Haley was marrying Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). It was quickly revealed that Hayley and Bill’s relationship stemmed from an affair while Bill was married to Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley).

As the story progressed, it was revealed that Hayley had specifically targeted Bill to obtain his fortune. She worked with her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry) to infiltrate the family by being named the sole beneficiary of a $10 million life insurance policy and obtaining a deed to a house in St. Barts.

Hayley began slowly poisoning Bill with Randy’s help, causing Bill to have continuous health problems, including passing out. While doctors were unable to explain what was going on, Bill’s ex-wife, Dani, eventually figured out something was up with Hayley and quickly started putting the pieces together. Hayley confronted Dani, but was ultimately arrested when a vial of ethylene glycol was found on her. Bill’s blood was tested, and it was found to also be in his system.

Hayley was released on bail and the week ended with her confronting Bill. What happens next? Viewers will have to stay tuned to see how it plays out.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS and streams weeknights on Paramount+. Viewers can catch up on all of the drama from the beginning on Paramount+, Tubi, or Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates FAST channel.

“Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” was a hard rock song released by Sammy Hagar in 1982. It reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US Mainstream Rock chart. “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” was Hagar’s highest-charting song as a solo artist. It was ranked as one of the biggest hits of 1983 by Billboard magazine.

When speaking about the inspiration behind the song, Hagar told Ultimate Classic Rock, “I was asked by the head of promotions at Geffen Records to write a Top 40 hit like a hit song Eddie Money had out at that time (‘Think I’m in Love’). He said if I did, he would take it Top 10. The inspiration was the Eddie Money song. It was up-tempo, very catchy pop. Also ‘Jessie’s Girl’ by Rick Springfield, which I was very aware of because of [the Hagar-written] ‘I’ve Done Everything For You’ being on that same record. The song wasn’t a hit for me, but it was a huge hit for Rick, so I thought I would take another swing at it.”

He continued, “Having a song on Top 40 radio brings a whole different kind of exposure and fan base. My whole career, starting with Montrose, was always AOR-oriented, not Top 40. I relied on touring and classic fist-in-the-air, singalong hard rock anthems that always work in concert, which was the most important thing to me at that time. But once I had a real Top 40 hit … I saw the concert attendance increase, the record sales increase, and that felt pretty damn good. But it really didn’t change my style of writing. I still write album-oriented rock songs today.”

Related: 1987 Heartbreak Song, Recorded by Tiffany When She Was Only 16, Became a No. 1 Hit

Hagar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 as a member of Van Halen. Some of his other solo songs include “I Can’t Drive 55” and “There’s Only One Way to Rock.”

In addition to singing, he has founded spirit brands, restaurants, and a private non-profit called the Hagar Family Foundation. It is focused on feeding families in need.

Nowadays, everyone seems pressed for time. There are never enough hours in the day—or the week—to squeeze in work deadlines, family plans, social obligations, cooking, errands—and the list goes on. At the same time, it’s essential to make fitness and wellness a priority. But where—and how—does exercise fit into the schedule, and the type that helps you stay in top shape?

One tool that works for some fitness enthusiasts is wearing a weighted vest while walking, climbing stairs and going about daily activities. Doing so can make the time dedicated to fitness more efficient, effective and challenging.

Wearing a weighted vest has become a popular trend—and for good reason. It’s a low-impact way to add resistance to everyday movements, helping you build strength while revving up the calorie burn.

Science backs up just how productive this training modality can be. A study published in Health Science Reports followed 34 participants. Some wore no weighted vest, some wore 10-pound vests, while others wore 20-pound vests. Seventeen of the participants took the vests home to use daily for two weeks. Of the lab group, 73% experienced better stability and posture, while 53% of the take-home participants planned to continue using their vests after the study. The research suggests that weighted vests can be a helpful addition to exercise and weight management routines.

But is a weighted vest right for you? We spoke with a cardiologist who says some people should think twice before using one.

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The Weighted Vest Trend: Why Are They So Popular?

Weighted vests have been making waves in the fitness community due to their simplicity. They increase the intensity of an exercise without walking or running faster or purchasing fancy equipment. It’s understandable why the weighted vest is a favorable workout tool.

“The primary objective of using weighted vests is to enhance calorie expenditure during exercise sessions, augment muscular endurance and leg strength, intensify the training stimulus for regular walking, improve balance and functional strength, and incorporate weight-bearing exercises for bone health,” explains Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, an Interventional Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide.

Related: ‘I Tried Walking Backwards on a Treadmill—and Was Honestly Surprised By the Results’

How Weighted Vests Impact Your Heart

If you’re wondering, “Is a weighted vest good for heart health?” Dr. Serwer breaks things down. Essentially, wearing a weighted vest revs up the external load on your body.

“When exercising with additional weight, you experience a heightened increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, cardiac workload, and consequently, elevated oxygen consumption compared to the same workout performed without the vest,” Dr. Serwer tells Parade.

Related: I Tried the Evening Walking Trend ‘Passeggiata’ That Italians Swear By

Who Should Not Wear a Weighted Vest?

While weighted vests are trending, they’re not for everyone. Keep the below information in mind before adding this fitness tool to your routine.

Individuals with balance or orthopedic impairments

Those who have balance or orthopedic impairments should exercise with caution when considering a weighted vest. This could mean you find it challenging to stay stable on your own two feet or safely tolerate added load on your joints or bones. When your balance is impaired, you may experience symptoms like dizziness or feeling a floating sensation, faintness, changes in vision, confusion or frequent falls.

Individuals with preexisting cardiovascular conditions

In addition, individuals with preexisting cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease (severe aortic stenosis), severe pulmonary hypertension or unexplained syncope should steer clear of weighted vests altogether.

“If you fall into one of these categories, it is advisable to consult with your healthcare team to determine the appropriate type of exercise for you. They can assess your individual needs and recommend the most beneficial exercise regimen that minimizes risk while maximizing benefits,” Dr. Serwer stresses.

Who Should Wear a Weighted Vest?

Those who are most suitable to wear a weighted vest during exercise should have a solid fitness foundation, good balance and no substantial orthopedic concerns. They also should not have exertional chest pain and their blood pressure should be under control, Dr. Serwer notes.

Related: I Tried the Viral ‘Dark Showering’ Trend for Two Weeks—and My Sleep Tracker Was Shocked

How to Safely Start Walking With a Weighted Vest

If you’re cleared and ready to get started, Dr. Serwer suggests taking a conservative approach, increasing the intensity gradually. 

How heavy should a weighted vest be? A common recommendation is for beginners to wear 5% of their body weight, Dr. Serwer notes. Keep in mind that the main focus should be assessing your respiratory, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal responses to training with this extra load.

“Once the individual can sustain a 30-minute exercise session, three to four times per week, the duration or weight can be incrementally increased by 2% to 5% of their body weight. This process should be repeated every two weeks, but the total bodyweight should not exceed 20%,” Dr. Serwer says.

Related: Fitness Instructors Say This Is One of the Most Overlooked Exercises for Stronger Legs

Signs You Should Take the Vest off Immediately

If you notice new or exacerbated dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, near-fainting episodes, unusual fatigue or irregular/rapid heart rates, Dr. Serwer says it’s essential to stop exercising immediately.

“It is advisable to exercise caution when wearing the weighted vest on exceptionally hot or humid days. The vest may hinder temperature regulation. Additionally, maintaining adequate hydration is crucial during exercise, irrespective of whether you are wearing a weighted vest or not,” he adds.

If you’re considering walking with a weighted vest, it’s always wise to be mindful of any risks before getting started. If it’s safe for you to do so, this tool can offer a plethora of benefits to your regular workout routine.

Up Next:

Sources:

• Paniak, I, Soni, D, Tsotsos, L, & Stoneham, S. (2025). Assessing the impact of wearing a weighted vest on balance, stability, and quality of life in older adults: A pilot study. Health Science Reports, 8(11), e71509. 
• Dr. Bradley Serwer, MD, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, June 18). Balance problems: Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic.

Sony Pictures has rounded out the cast for Tom Holland‘s long-in-the-works Fred Astaire biopic, adding Margaret Qualley and Sabrina Carpenter. Holland, who first revealed he’d play Astaire nearly five years ago, will be joined by Golden Globe nominee Qualley as Fred’s sister and original dance partner, Adele Astaire, and two-time Grammy winner Carpenter as his famed screen partner, Ginger Rogers.

Paul King directs from a script he co-wrote with Steven Levenson, based on Kathleen Riley’s book The Astaires: Fred & Adele. Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor are producing for Pascal Pictures, alongside Holland himself through his Billy17 banner. King said bringing Adele to life was a unique challenge, since no footage of her dancing survives, calling it a task he “could not imagine” without this cast. Astaire’s daughter, Ava Astaire McKenzie, is backing the project, with her son Tyler serving as a consultant and co-producer.

Qualley, a classically trained dancer, is coming off The Dog Stars and earned a Golden Globe nomination last year for The Substance; Carpenter, primarily known for her music career, recently landed her first Emmy nomination for producing and performing on The Muppet Show. Holland has his own dance background; he played the title role in Billy Elliot The Musical on London’s West End from 2008 to 2010, and has said he wants Astaire’s dance numbers filmed in single continuous takes, the way Astaire himself insisted on shooting them.

The timing lines up with a massive year for Holland, who’s currently starring in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has grossed more than $2 billion worldwide, and The Odyssey, which has topped $1.72 billion. King, fresh off directing Wonka and the first two Paddington films, which together earned nearly $500 million globally, is also writing a Wonka sequel. No release date has been set for the Astaire film, which remains untitled.

With every change of season, it’s only natural to feel inspired to do a little home refresh. Whether it’s your living room, bedroom or kitchen that needs an upgrade, or an overly cluttered closet you’ve been putting off cleaning up, there are plenty of ways to bring order to your home while welcoming in a bit of fall charm.

Fortunately, Hobby Lobby is already ahead of the curve with a wide range of affordable finds just begging to jumpstart your seasonal refresh. Our favorite pick of the week? This Black 4-Tier Metal Storage Shelf, which brings rustic charm to any space with a compact yet roomy design that makes displaying and organizing your essentials easy and aesthetically pleasing.

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Black 4-Tier Metal Storage Shelf, $24.99 at Hobby Lobby

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Backed by an average five-star rating and a sturdy, lightweight construction, Hobby Lobby’s Black 4-Tier Metal Storage Shelf takes a simple design and makes it easy to blend with a range of interior styles. Creating a modern aesthetic with a splash of practical flair, this industrial farmhouse piece is a must-have for spaces like bathrooms, craft rooms, kitchen pantries, laundry rooms and beyond. 

Made entirely of metal with a glossy black finish, each shelf features a mesh design and plenty of space for storing all kinds of essentials. Use it to display bottles of lotion, washcloths, soap, toiletries and hairstyling tools in the bathroom, or take advantage of vertical space in your pantry or kitchen and store items like spice jars, boxed mixes, snacks and canned beverages. You can even use it to transform a back patio with small potted plants or an entryway with framed photos and a catchall for your phone, keys and wallet.

Related: Dollar General’s $3 Kitchen Essential Brings Mystical Charm to Your Morning Brew

While the reviews are still pouring in, one shopper gave the rack five stars while calling it both “perfect for storage” and “just what I needed” for their small bathroom in their tiny home. 

Considering the rack stands 33 inches tall, 14.96 inches wide and 4.7 inches deep, it makes sense that shoppers would appreciate it in areas where space is limited. Its spacious design, coupled with its slim, sturdy construction, makes it a reliable choice for both practicality and style. And with a timeless industrial look, you’ll never have any problem finding the perfect space for it to live or keeping it clean.

Snatch one or two up while it’s still around, and instantly bring order and natural style to the spaces that need it most. While you’re at it, check out Hobby Lobby’s Kinkeeping White & Beige Fluted Edge Ceramic Pie Dish and Market Square Blue Floral Ceramic Plate for a couple of kitchen essentials to add to your cart.

Related: Shoppers ‘Love Love Love’ Hobby Lobby’s $13 2-Tier Organizer

Pearl Jam fans may finally have an answer to one of the band’s biggest lingering questions.

Months after longtime drummer Matt Cameron left the rock group, Pearl Jam took the stage Friday night at Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California—and there was a new face sitting behind the drum kit.

During frontman Eddie Vedder’s “Eddie Vedder and Friends” headlining set, his Pearl Jam bandmates joined him for a surprise performance with drummer Abe Laboriel Jr., best known for his decades of work with Paul McCartney.

The band kicked things off with “Corduroy,” before performing favorites including “Hail Hail,” “Scared of Fear” and “Wishlist.”

The appearance wasn’t announced ahead of time, and Pearl Jam has yet to confirm whether Laboriel has officially joined the group or was simply filling in. Still, seeing him behind the kit immediately got fans talking.

“His drumming hits hard. I’m excited to see how the band responds to his style. The toms are less gentle and ringing tone,” one Redditor wrote.

“Hell of a choice. He’s such a phenomenal drummer. Can’t wait to catch the next tour,” another said.

A third said, “The best drummer of all the rumored candidates.”

Who is Pearl Jam’s new drummer?

The question has been hanging over Pearl Jam since Cameron announced his departure in July 2025 after 27 years with the band. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” Cameron said at the time, describing his tenure as “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

As recently as April, guitarist Mike McCready said the band hadn’t settled on Cameron’s successor. “We’ve just got to find a new drummer, you know? We don’t have one,” he told American Songwriter.

READ MORE: ’90s Rock Icons Announce First Performance Since Legendary Member’s Departure

Laboriel certainly has the résumé for the job. In addition to his longtime work with McCartney, the drummer and backing vocalist has performed at major events around the world and previously worked with Vedder on his 2022 solo album, Earthling.

His appearance also comes after fans noticed Laboriel was absent from McCartney’s performance during the Saturday Night Live Season 51 finale in May, when Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith stepped in.

Pearl Jam is scheduled to headline Ohana Festival’s final night, meaning fans might get to find out if he’s here for good.

Related: Paul McCartney Wasn’t Supposed to Perform a Third Song on ‘Saturday Night Live’ — and the Internet Has Opinions

Phoebe Waller-Bridge proved that 30-minute TV episodes were more than enough to create a hit series, and it was not only tagged as one of the greatest TV series of all time, but one of the best of the 21st century.

The New York Times posted its list of the top 100 TV series of the 21st century, with Fleabag taking the No.5 spot on the list. While hits like Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Wire ranked in the top three, Fleabag is the only series in the Top 10 with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

“As both the creator and star of this two-season wonder, Phoebe Waller-Bridge helped push forward the idea of what a half-hour TV format could do, adapting her one-woman stage show into a brilliantly layered evocation of grief, romance (all hail Hot Priest!) and 30-something coming-of-age, all in less than six hours of screen time,” reported the New York Tiimes.

Fleabag was released in 2016 as a British comedy-drama on BBC Three that ran for two seasons until 2019. The series follows an unnamed woman, known as Fleabag, played by Waller-Bridge. Her character is a free-spirited but angry young woman living in London, dealing with themes of grief, guilt, sex, relationships, and complicated family dynamics.

In a total of only 12 episodes, Fleabag captured fans’ interest with its constant fourth-wall breaks and its use of very dark subject matter with crude humor, sexual comedy, and moments of genuine vulnerability.

Waller-Bridge originally developed the series as a one-woman stage show for the 2013 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Her friend challenged her to create a 10-minute piece for a storytelling night, and it later became a full-fledged show and adapted for TV.

“I think it was really inspired by the cynicism I was feeling in my twenties, and then also wanting to play a character I can really relate to, and also a touch of female rage,” she told Vogue.

Fleabag became Waller-Bridge’s breakout role, co-starring alongside Sian Clifford, Andrew Scott, and actors like Ben Aldridge, Hugh Skinner, Hugh Dennis, Bill Paterson, Olivia Colman, and Brett Gelman.

The success of both seasons led her to win the British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for the first installment, and the second installment earned her Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Related: Ke Huy Quan Reveals ‘Temple of Doom’ Residual Check That Changed His Family’s Life: ‘A Quiet Gesture From Steven Spielberg and George Lucas’ 

Halloween decorating doesn’t have to mean spending a small fortune—or turning your home into a haunted house overnight. Sometimes, the cutest seasonal touches are the inexpensive little pieces you can swap in when the spooky spirit strikes. And this year, Target is bringing plenty of seriously cute Halloween finds to its shelves, from playful accents to decor that puts a fun twist on the traditional orange-and-black palette.

One particularly adorable find is the $13 Ghost ‘Boo’ Bone Parlour Reversible Halloween Scatter Floor Mat from Hyde and Eek! Boutique, and it gives shoppers two festive looks in one.

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Ghost ‘Boo’ Bone Parlour Reversible Halloween Scatter Floor Mat, $13 at Target

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The reversible mat features an irresistibly cute design on each side, making it easy to change up your Halloween look depending on your mood. One side is covered with adorable pink ghosts accessorized with tiny seasonal details, giving the mat a sweet, playful vibe that feels especially fitting for anyone who prefers their Halloween decor on the cute side.

Flip it over and you’ll find a black-and-white design featuring the word “BOO” along with playful Halloween-inspired details. The more neutral color scheme can blend easily with existing decor while still adding a little personality to your home.

And because it’s just $13, it’s an easy way to experiment with fall decorating without committing to a major purchase. Place it near an entryway, in the kitchen, by a back door or anywhere else that could use a little festive flair.

Related: Add a Pretty Pop of Cottagecore Style to Your Porch With This $15 T.J. Maxx Scalloped Doormat

Target shoppers seem to be especially charmed by the fact that both sides bring something different to the decorating table. One reviewer wrote, “This one is reversible and both sides are so festive and cute. One side is neutral and can match the room decor and the other side is so adorable with the pink ghosts.”

Another shopper was impressed by more than just the appearance, writing, “I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing quality in this rug—it actually exceeded my expectations!”

And if you’re looking for a simple way to make a room feel a little more Halloween-ready, another reviewer summed it up perfectly—“Adds some festive spirits to the room!” This reversible mat shows that you don’t need an elaborate collection of decorations to get your home ready for spooky season. Sometimes, all it takes is a few cute ghosts and a spot on the floor.

Related: Sam’s Club’s Adorable Halloween-Inspired Coir Doormat Is a Steal for Just $22

In 1982, Sylvester Stallone was in extraordinary shape for Rocky III, but more than four decades later, the actor is revealing the troubling reality behind his famous physique.

Stallone, who turned 80 in July, made the stunning confession in a candid new interview with The New York Times while discussing his relationship with his body and the physical toll his decades as an action star have taken.

The actor said his body initially became a kind of “armor” as his characters evolved from the relatively ordinary-looking Rocky Balboa into increasingly muscular action heroes.

For Rocky III, however, Stallone said that pursuit became an unhealthy obsession.

“It got to the point where I became bulimic,” Stallone revealed. “You heard it here first.”

Stallone said he got down to just 2.6 percent body fat while making the third Rocky movie and struggled to keep food down because he had become so fixated on maintaining his level of fitness.

The actor also spoke candidly about using steroids to achieve his action-star physique, telling the outlet that a body like his at the time wasn’t attainable naturally. But Stallone now acknowledges that the years he spent pushing his body to extremes came at an enormous cost.

“I’ve abused my body,” he said.

Related: Hollywood Legend Turns 80 After Hitting a Career Milestone Few Actors Ever Will

Stallone revealed that he has undergone nine back operations, two shoulder operations and three neck fusions. Although he still wants to remain in good shape at 80, he said his attitude toward fitness has changed dramatically.

“If I could do it over again,” Stallone admitted, “I would say, ‘Let someone else carry the banner and don’t do your own stunts.'”

The Rambo star connected his willingness to endure physical punishment to his difficult childhood and particularly his relationship with his father, Frank Stallone Sr. Earlier in the interview, Stallone described his father as physically abusive and recalled growing up determined to prove that he couldn’t be broken.

That attitude followed him into adulthood and ultimately into his movies.

“But you do get broken a little bit,” Stallone said, “Physically, not mentally.”

There was one role that helped change Stallone’s relationship with his body: 1997’s Cop Land. For the crime drama, Stallone deliberately gained weight to play Freddy Heflin, a physically diminished sheriff who was far removed from the sculpted heroes audiences associated with him.

Stallone said playing “the weakest guy in the room” left him feeling “somewhat liberated.”

Now, after decades spent cultivating an image of almost superhuman toughness, Stallone is looking back at what it cost him.

“It’s come at a terrible price,” he said.

Related: Sly Stallone’s Stunning Daughters Visit Dad on ‘Tulsa King’ Set in NYC

If sailing past the emerald peaks of Fiordland National Park, exploring geothermal geysers in Rotorua, or touring world-class vineyards on Waiheke Island has been on your bucket list, you might have noticed how tricky booking a cruise to New Zealand has felt recently.

Over the last few seasons, cruising across the island nation hit rough waters. Sky-high port fees, shifting environmental regulations, and aging infrastructure led major lines to slash deployments and pull back capacity, with passenger numbers dropping by roughly 40 percent. For North American travelers hoping to link Australia and New Zealand into a once-in-a-lifetime voyage, itineraries became fewer, farther between, and significantly more expensive.

Now, one of the biggest names in the region is making a bold, long-term comeback. According to reporting from Cruise Critic, Princess Cruises has officially confirmed that it will double its port calls to New Zealand for the 2028/29 season, a massive turnaround expected to inject more than NZ$100 million into the local economy and open up a wave of new cabin inventory for bucket-list seekers.

Related: Readers Voted This Iconic Fleet the No. 1 ‘World’s Best’ Cruise Line

View this post on Instagram Why the Tides Are Turning for South Pacific Cruisers

Cruise lines map out their global ship deployments roughly three years in advance, which is why decisions being finalized now will dictate where you can sail as the decade closes.

The announcement capped off the New Zealand Cruise Association’s annual conference, where executives from Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Ponant met with tourism officials to hammer out solutions to the red tape that previously drove ships away.

For travelers, the most frustrating part of the recent downturn wasn’t a lack of interest—it was that people genuinely wanted to visit, but the logistical hurdles were choking supply. As other Asia-Pacific hubs like Japan and Singapore experienced double-digit cruise booms, New Zealand realized it risked being left off global route maps entirely.

As reported by Cruise Critic, NZCA chair Tandy Tompkins noted that the industry is now being approached far more deliberately and strategically across the national tourism system, giving cruise operators the regulatory and cost certainty they need to safely commit their biggest, most modern ships to the region years ahead of time.

Related: The Grown-Woman Getaways I’m Telling Every Friend Over 40 to Book

Auckland’s $200 Million Glow-Up

The centerpiece of this comeback is a massive overhaul of Auckland, New Zealand‘s primary cruise gateway. For years, passengers boarding or disembarking in the “City of Sails” had to contend with crowded temporary setups and harbor bottlenecks, with massive cruise ships awkwardly sharing space with commuter ferries right in the Downtown Ferry Basin.

That is about to change dramatically with the opening of Te Waharoa, a brand-new NZ$200 million cruise terminal scheduled to debut in 2027. Purpose-built to process up to 1,500 passengers an hour, the facility is designed to eliminate embarkation lines and make the transition from the airport to the stateroom seamless.

At the same time, the expansion of nearby Bledisloe Wharf will allow the port to comfortably dock mega-ships stretching up to 350 meters without disrupting local harbor traffic, bringing in an estimated 100,000 additional cruise visitors every year.

Beyond the concrete and cranes, the destination is also rethinking the passenger experience on land. Auckland’s regional tourism agency has rolled out a 10-year blueprint to transform the waterfront into Oceania’s most engaging cruise hub, introducing streamlined airport-to-port connections and expanded Māori-led cultural excursions that connect visitors directly to indigenous heritage.

For anyone who has spent years dreaming of cruising through the dramatic sounds of the Southern Hemisphere, Princess’s vote of confidence means New Zealand is not only back on the map—it’s getting ready to welcome you in style.

SZA was recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Despite the honor, “The Weekend” singer said meeting actor Danny DeVito was the event’s highlight.

The Grammy-winning singer was inducted as part of the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class in the Performing Arts & Entertainment category this week. DeVito, a 2010 inductee, hosted the ceremony. It marked the 18th annual induction ceremony. 

SZA celebrated the achievement with a photo dump to social media showing off her medal, with one photo posing alongside the Matilda actor. She captioned the post, “Got inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame MORE IMPORTANTLY I MET DANNY DEVITO .”

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SZA was born St. Louis, MO but spent her formative years in Maplewood, New Jersey. Ahead of her receiving the honor, the New Jersey Hall of Fame noted her seven Grammy wins, more than 70 billion career streams and the record-breaking success of albums Ctrl and SOS, along with her recent foray into acting with One of Them Days.

“This is probably one of the biggest honors I’ve ever had,” she said during her acceptance speech, as reported by Billboard, recalling working local jobs at a pizza parlor and a shoe store. “I come from a small town where everybody knows each other’s first and last name… I just love community, and I promise to take that energy of community around the world wherever I go.”

SZA also thanked her fellow Columbia High School alum Lauryn Hill, who has not yet been inducted. She also says oftentimes, New Jersey is underrated in terms of its talent, saying, “Sometimes people [skip] over Jersey and go straight to New York. But they’re missing the meat. They’re missing the heartbeat of the tri-state.”

SZA’s inductee class includes former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor, and members of The Rascals. 

If sipping an Aperol spritz beside a canal, cruising around in a gondola and getting delightfully lost among centuries-old streets sounds like your idea of a perfect Italian vacation, Delta has some very good news.

The airline just announced a brand-new nonstop flight between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), making it easier for New England travelers to get to one of Italy’s most romantic destinations without a connection.

The new seasonal route launches May 7, 2027, and will operate four times a week through October 29, 2027, giving travelers plenty of opportunities to plan everything from a spring getaway to a late-summer Italian escape.

And yes, there’s enough time to start dreaming about pasta now.

Related: Delta Just Announced Its Biggest-Ever LAX Schedule

Delta’s New Boston-to-Venice Flight

Delta will operate the new Boston-Venice route aboard a widebody Airbus A330-300, with four cabin options: Delta One, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort and Delta Main.

The new flight will make Boston Delta’s third U.S. gateway to Venice, and Venice will become the airline’s 13th unique long-haul destination from Boston during the peak summer season.

“Italy continues to be an incredibly popular destination for New England travelers, and we are excited to add Venice to our growing list of international destinations,” Sharon Williams, Massport’s Executive Director of Aviation, said in a statement announcing the new route.

For travelers, the timing is particularly appealing. Service runs straight through the heart of summer and into late October, making the flight an option for anyone who would rather experience Venice during the fall shoulder season than peak July and August.

Tickets for the new route are scheduled to go on sale September 27.

Related: Delta Just Dropped a Major 72-Hour Double-Miles Promo

Delta Is Betting Big on Italy

Venice isn’t Delta’s only Italian focus for 2027.

The airline says it will offer up to 17 peak-day departures from the United States to Italy, amounting to more than 30,000 nonstop seats each week. Delta is also increasing its Boston-Milan service to daily flights in 2027.

The Venice announcement is part of an even larger expansion across Europe. Delta simultaneously announced a new seasonal nonstop between Detroit and Athens, launching June 8, 2027, and operating three times a week through October 28.

Those flights join Delta’s previously announced daily nonstop between Austin and Paris, which begins March 27, 2027.

The airline is also stretching the traditional European travel season by bringing back several seasonal routes earlier or keeping them around longer. Flights from New York-JFK to destinations including Catania, Porto, Prague and Copenhagen are among those returning earlier, while other routes are getting increased or extended service.

“Customers continue to seek more flexibility, convenience and choice when traveling to Europe, whether they are planning a spring escape, a summer vacation or a fall getaway,” Jeff Arinder, Delta’s Vice President of International Network Planning, said in the announcement.

For Boston travelers, though, we’d argue the biggest news is pretty simple: Come next May, you can board a plane at Logan and get off in Venice.

No connecting flight required. Gondola not included.

Up next:

Related: You Can Now ‘Double-Dip’ on Delta Flights and Hyatt Stays

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As temperatures begin to dip and the leaves start to turn, it’s officially time to embrace fall layering. From cozy sweaters to lightweight jackets, having a few versatile pieces on hand makes it easy to stay comfortable as the weather cools down. One especially easy layer to add to your autumn wardrobe is the Trendy Queen Lightweight Knit Cardigan, and it’s currently on sale for nearly 60% off at Amazon. 

Originally $37, the stylish button-down cardigan is marked down to just $15 in both the gray and black styles. It also comes in over 20 other colors, including a mix of classic neutrals, bright hues, and pretty prints, ranging from $20 to $33. Sizes range from extra small to 2XL, with discounts varying by size and color.   

Trendy Queen Lightweight Knit Cardigan, From $15 (was $37) at Amazon

Courtesy of Amazon

Shop at Amazon

With a cozy and lightweight feel, this cute cardigan is the kind of fall staple you’ll reach for again and again. Its knit fabric is warm enough to take the chill off on crisp mornings, while still feeling breathable and lightweight enough for layering. The versatile design works just as well for everyday errands as it does for the office, making it an easy addition to your seasonal wardrobe.

Made of an ultra-soft knit fabric, the sweater has a gentle, skin-friendly feel and a polished texture that gives it a more elevated look. The classic, slightly relaxed fit is flattering for any occasion. Wear it over a dress with ankle boots for an effortlessly polished fall outfit, or pair it with jeans and sneakers for a casual weekend outing. You can also layer it over a blouse with trousers for a business-casual look

One thing to note is that proper care is key to maintaining the cardigan’s plush feel. The brand recommends hand washing it in cold water and laying it flat to dry. With the right maintenance, the knit fabric will stay soft and fresh wear after wear.

The cardigan has earned over 1,000 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers. One reviewer said it’s “super comfortable,” “soft,” and a “great quality and weight,” while another called it “warm enough to take the chill off yet still lightweight and breathable.” A third buyer described it as “versatile, comfortable, and easy to style,” adding it’s “the perfect extra layer to elevate a simple outfit.”

Shop More Deals

• Wiholl Crewneck Tunic Sweater, From $13 (was $24) at Amazon
• Prettygarden Fuzzy V-Neck Cardigan, $30 (was $33) at Amazon 
• Wiholl V-Neck Sweatshirt, From $18 (was $33) at Amazon

Related: Walmart’s ‘Soft’ and ‘Stretchy’ $10 Ribbed Long-Sleeve Shirt Is Perfect for Breezy Fall Days

The versatile style and lightweight feel make this cute cardigan an ideal option for fall’s unpredictable temperatures. And at just $15, it’s an affordable way to refresh your autumn wardrobe. Snag it while it’s still on sale for nearly 60% off at Amazon. 

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.

Many of us have had the experience of talking to someone about our job, family or what’s new with us in general, and suddenly the thought hits: “I sound so negative right now.” Maybe you’ve had more responsibilities added to your plate recently, maybe you grew up with negative parents and their voices have become your inner-monologue, maybe you’ve been feeling especially lonely—there are a number of reasons you could be gravitating toward pessimistic thinking.

The good news is you don’t have to stay in a cynical or defeatist mindset (even if what you’re going through is legitimately hard). And you don’t need to “fake happiness” in order to become more optimistic either. Curious about where to begin?

Michelle Gielan, positive psychology researcher and author of Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times (just released on Sept. 22), tells Parade why it’s important to interrupt negative thinking and what to say to yourself instead. Plus, the former CBS anchor shares the tactic she calls a “Power Lead” as an actionable way to become more positive in your day-to-day life (it’s an easier strategy than you might think!).

Keep reading to learn more about Gielan’s game-changing research and insights.

Related: Psychologist Says the 1 Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down a Condescending Person Isn’t What You Might Think

Justin Paget/Getty Images

The Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down Negative Thinking Isn’t What You Might Think: ‘Yes, and…’

OK, first, we need to acknowledge something important.

“I’m not sure I want people to shut negative thinking down instantly,” Gielan begins telling Parade. “If we keep stuffing down our emotions, eventually we may find ourselves in the kitchen at 3 a.m. stuffing cupcakes into our mouths to cope. Sometimes the negative thought is pointing to a problem we really do need to address, so I want to listen to the information before I decide what to do with it.”

But that doesn’t mean we should ruminate in the negative.

“What I do want to interrupt is the point when one thought begins taking over the entire story,” she explains. “That is why I like ‘Yes, and…'”

According to Gielan, “’Yes’ is surprisingly important because it keeps us honest. Yes, I’m scared. Yes, this is going badly. Yes, I am disappointed. You don’t have to argue yourself out of any of that. Then you add the ‘and.’ What else is true here? What part of this can I influence, or who could help me see something I’m missing?”

With this phrasing, you’re not trying to sweep your negative feelings under a rug and pretend they don’t exist—you’re acknowledging your emotions and being intentional about looking at a broader view of the situation.

Related: 9 Signs Someone Is a Negative Influence on You, Psychologists Warn

Gielan also uses a practice from her previous book Broadcasting Happiness: fact-checking the story your brain is telling you.

“As you can probably tell, this comes from my days in journalism,” she says. “If the thought is ‘Everything is falling apart,’ I want to know whether ‘everything’ could actually survive a fact-check. What exactly is going wrong? What is not going wrong? What resources are available? Have I dealt with anything like this before? Sometimes there is one fact we have left out that changes what we believe is possible. I call those ‘fueling facts.’ They are simply true parts of reality that help the brain see a larger picture.”

Related: Psychologist Says the 1 Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down a Passive-Aggressive Person Isn’t What You Might Think

What a Positive Psychology Researcher Thinks About Phrases Like ‘Just Stay Positive’

While “toxic positivity” phrases can be more harmful than helpful, Gielan has empathy for the people who use them simply because they don’t know of any alternatives.

“Most of us were never taught what to say when someone we love is hurting,” she explains. “When people say something like, ‘Everything is going to be OK,’ it’s sometimes because we don’t know what to say to someone we love in pain. It is so natural to feel helpless standing beside them and reach for words that we hope will make things better.”

The unfortunate reality is that “brightsiding” words and phrases like that can make things worse instead.

“I went through a period of depression in my mid-twenties when I was living in London,” Gielan tells Parade. “From the outside, my life looked pretty good. I had a good job, a nice boyfriend and I was finally living abroad, which had been my dream. But I was working from home, far away from my closest friends, increasingly isolated and very unsure of where my career was headed. I remember sitting on the windowsill of my apartment looking outside feeling so lost. Someone telling me to look on the bright side was not what I needed at that point.”

That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can say or do to help, however.

“If someone I love is going through something hard now, I would rather start with, ‘I’m really sorry. I’m here.’ If it feels appropriate, I might ask, ‘What would be helpful?’” she explains. “Sometimes being willing to sit with another person in a difficult moment is far more loving than trying to hurry them out of it.”

Related: ‘I’m a Positive Psychology Researcher—This Is the 1 Thing I’m Begging People To Stop Doing During Hard Times’

How To Become More Positive (When You Don’t Know Where To Start)

Maybe you’re sick of feeling so negative and you want to be more positive…but you have no idea where to start. You’re not alone. Fortunately, Gielan has some tips.

“One of the easiest places to experiment is with the first few words you say to other people,” she tells Parade. “I learned this while working overnight at CBS. It was my dream job and, quite frankly, a horrible schedule. I was exhausted constantly. People at work would see me and very kindly ask, ‘How are you doing?’ and my answer was almost always some variation of ‘I’m tired,’ ‘I’m exhausted,’ or ‘I feel terrible.'”

“After a while, I got sick of listening to myself,” she continues. “So I decided to run a little experiment. The next time somebody asked how I was doing, I would begin with something positive—even if the best thing I could come up with was my coffee. And one night, that really was the best thing I had: ‘I’m good. I am loving this coffee.’”

Related: 16 Common Phrases Unhappy People Often Use Without Realizing It, Psychologists Say

That flipped the switch.

“It sounds ridiculous, but the conversation went somewhere different,” she explains. “My colleague started telling me about a house he and his wife were trying to buy. Another night I discovered that an editor I worked with had an engineering background, just like I did. And then a colleague told me she had been waiting to share some good news with me: she was pregnant. Nothing about my schedule had changed. I was still tired. But I began noticing how much the beginning of a conversation shaped what happened next.”

That takeaway led to a strategy Gielan began referring to as a “Power Lead.”

“You do not have to pretend everything is fantastic,” she says. “You might say, ‘I’m tired, but my daughter said the funniest thing this morning,’ or, ‘It’s been a rough week, but something really good happened with my team yesterday.’”

Then, see how that Power Lead begins to change the interactions around you.

“That is where I would start: change how you begin one conversation a day to share something positive and meaningful,” Gielan tells Parade. “Treat it like an experiment. You may notice that a conversation goes differently, or that you start paying attention to things you had been overlooking. My favorite part about this practice is that it involves spreading optimism to other people. Optimism is something we can practice, and involving others multiplies the positive effects.”

Up Next:

Related: Psychiatrist Says the 1 Phrase That Instantly Shuts Down a Dismissive Person Isn’t What You Might Think

Source:

• Michelle Gielan, positive psychology researcher and author of Resilient Optimism: The Science of Sustaining a Positive Mindset in Tough Times

The measure of a true friend is someone who helps you in times of crisis. Reba McEntire may be left wondering what Dolly Parton was calling about, but she can know without a doubt that Dolly cared about her.

That was especially true after tragedy struck McEntire in 1991, when eight members of her band were killed in a plane crash following a concert in San Diego.  The loss was devastating and left McEntire struggling to find a way back to the stage. It was Parton who stepped forward with an extraordinary act of generosity. “Dolly Parton said, ‘Here, take my band,'” McEntire recalled.

For McEntire, the gesture was about much more than having musicians to perform alongside. “It was such a gift to see how many people stepped forward to help, and to reassure, because so many of us had hearts that were broken,” she said.

Parton’s generosity became one of the many ways McEntire was able to move forward after losing her bandmates. She later channeled her grief into her 1991 album For My Broken Heart, which was dedicated to those she lost.

The two country music legends continued to collaborate over the years. Parton guest-starred on McEntire’s sitcom Reba in 2005, and the pair recorded “Does He Love You” together for McEntire’s 2021 album Revived Remixed Revisited.

But McEntire’s recent revelation about Parton has given their decades-long friendship an especially poignant final chapter.

Parton called McEntire toward the end of July, but McEntire was in a meeting and missed the call. She tried to get back in touch, but the two never connected again before Parton’s death at age 80 on Aug. 25.

“And then when my buddy called me and said, ‘Dolly’s gone,’ I thought, ‘I’ll never know why she called me,'” McEntire told Entertainment Tonight. With a somber smile, she added, “I’ll find out one day.”

McEntire had already shared an emotional tribute to Parton following her death, thanking her for “all the wonderful things you did for us here on earth” and saying she would “always love” her.

While McEntire may never know what prompted that final phone call, she doesn’t have to wonder whether Dolly Parton cared about her. Parton showed her that decades earlier, when her friend needed her most.

Thriller is the best-selling album ever made.

Seven of its singles went top 10. It won eight Grammys, including Album of the Year. Two of them reached No. 1. Bad got five.

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It Entered the Chart on Top

Thirty-nine years ago today, on Sept. 26, 1987, Michael Jackson’s Bad debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It stayed there six weeks.

Thriller had landed in 1982. Following it was the least enviable job in music, and he didn’t put out Bad until 1987. The record had been in stores since Aug. 31. By the time the chart caught up, nothing else in the country was close.

Its lead single had gotten there first. “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” his duet with Siedah Garrett, topped the Hot 100 earlier the same month.

Five No. 1 Singles, and Nobody Had Done That Before

“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” went first. Then “Bad.” Then “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Then “Man in the Mirror.” Then “Dirty Diana,” which reached the top on July 2, 1988, nine months after the album had. That’s five No. 1s off one record. By Billboard’s count, no album had managed it since the Hot 100 started in 1958.

Seven singles came off Thriller and all seven reached the top 10. Five of them stopped short of No. 1. “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” are the two that got there.

Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream has been the only record to match it since, pulling five in 2011.

Jones Made Three of Them and Then Stopped

Quincy Jones produced “Rock With You” and the rest of Off the Wall in 1979, Thriller in 1982 and Bad in 1987.

Jackson didn’t slow down. By 1990 he had his own arcade cabinet.

As of late, more and more homeowners have been rejecting overly polished kitchens, instead turning to worn-in antique furniture that can make a kitchen feel warm, cozy, and lived-in. Namely, families are embracing vintage furniture pieces that can function well in the kitchen.

That being said, is it possible to replace a traditional kitchen island with something vintage? And which vintage furniture pieces work best as kitchen islands?

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To find out, we spoke with two interior designers: Juliana Mackin, Founder and Lead Designer at Hemenway House Interiors, a Massachusetts-based interior design studio; and Pamela O’Brien, Founder and Principal Designer of Pamela Hope Designs, a Texas-based design firm.

“Whether you plan to redo your entire kitchen or just want a refresh, a kitchen island is great opportunity for embracing vintage trends,” O’Brien tells Parade. She is a big fan of finding vintage furniture pieces to use for kitchen islands, as “this definitely gives you that bespoke, furniture feeling and you can top it with any countertop that you like.”

Keep reading for insights from both designers and to learn which vintage furniture piece is the perfect alternative to modern kitchen islands.

Related: Designers Are Tired of Seeing White in Kids’ Bedrooms—They Say This Calming, Gender-Neutral Paint Color Is a Much Better Choice

Are Traditional Kitchen Islands Out of Style?

Tony Anderson / Getty Images

According to Mackin, traditional kitchen islands aren’t going anywhere—but the type of kitchen island that’s in style is changing.

“I don’t think traditional islands are falling out of fashion, but I do think they are evolving to have more personality and character to reflect the homeowner and their style,” Mackin explains. “They are still loved for a space to gather, prep food, entertain, do homework, play games and more, and really serve as an anchor for the kitchen.”

O’Brien agrees, adding that homeowners are really into antique furniture in the kitchen right now.

“With antiques and vintage design gaining interest again in the interior design marketplace, there are unique opportunities to add interest and a sense of history to any home,” she says. “The kitchen is an ideal place to add elements of traditional design.”

Related: 5 Paint Colors Interior Designers Say They’d Never Use in a Dark Room

Interestingly, Mackin recently installed an 11-foot-long kitchen island in a family’s home, so the “family could use one end as their everyday eating area instead of a table.”

If you’re also looking for something very specific and large, purchasing something new or even custom-made might be your best bet. In fact, O’Brien says that clients “often” commission her firm to design new islands “to look like antique furniture even when they are newly built.”

However, if you’re open to something with a little more character, there’s something else you might consider…

Designers Say This Vintage Piece Is a Great Alternative to a Modern Kitchen Island

With homeowner taste shifting from overly polished kitchens to warm and homey gathering spaces, more and more people are choosing vintage furniture pieces that can also function as kitchen islands.

Specifically, homeowners are embracing vintage freestanding worktables as kitchen islands.

“A worktable is an excellent option for a freestanding island,” O’Brien says.

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

Why Vintage Freestanding Worktables Make Great Kitchen Islands

Chairish

Here are five reasons why freestanding worktables make great kitchen islands, according to Mackin and O’Brien.

1. Warmth

Using a vintage piece as your kitchen island, such as a freestanding worktable, “adds a different element of warmth, character and uniqueness to the space that you don’t often get with a traditional island,” says Mackin. “It’s also a way to break up the color and material scheme in the room and bring in some warmer tones.”

2. Personality and uniqueness

“Using vintage and antique pieces to create an island gives instant provenance to your kitchen and creates a unique piece for your home,” O’Brien explains. “Islands are extremely popular in kitchen design so it’s worth making them special,” and an freestanding worktable is a great way to achieve that.

“Kitchens are such a personal space for people,” says Mackin. “They are entertaining, cooking meals—often while kids do homework or play, using it as their work from home desk, and more, and they want it to feel like them and reflect their personality. For some homeowners, that’s incorporating more vintage pieces in unique ways other than standard pieces of furniture.”

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

1stDibs

3. Function and versatility

According to Mackin, “if you want to have seating at the island,” you can add an overhanging counter on one side of the worktable, as this would make seating more comfortable.

For smaller kitchens, a worktable might be too large and overwhelming for your space. In this case, Mackin suggests using “the base of a vintage cart if you want it to be open on all sides” like a worktable. Just make sure the height is around 34 inches tall, she says.

And according to O’Brien, a worktable can “double as a proper dining table, and in between meals can be used for crafts, baking, homework and casual visits.”

She’s also seen worktables “dragged out for a picnic under a tree and moved to another corner of the kitchen to act as a server or to accommodate more guests.” She adds that “few furniture pieces offer this much versatility.”

4. Affordability

If you’re shopping for an antique worktable, you’ll probably be able to find something quite large and durable at a decent price point. Plus, when buying vintage, “you don’t have construction costs which can add up for a custom island,” says O’Brien.

5. Eco-friendliness

According to Mackin, for some homeowners, buying a vintage piece for your kitchen, such as a freestanding worktable, is “a way to be more eco-friendly.”

Shopping secondhand instead of buying new is can majorly reduce the environmental impact of your purchases. When you buy new, you’re contributing to the demand for more lumber and other building materials; but when you buy an antique, you’re diverting an already-existing item from the waste stream. Plus, vintage furniture is often more well-made and durable than the cheaper options on the market today.

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

The Bases of Other Vintage Furniture Pieces Can Also Make Great Kitchen Islands

Crystal Bolin Photography / Getty Images

If, for your kitchen island, you prefer vintage pieces with more storage/a closed look at the bottom (as opposed to the openness of freestanding worktables), you might consider using the base of a vintage furniture piece as your kitchen island. For example, you can detach the base of a hutch, breakfront cabinet or china cabinet, and then outfit it with a countertop.

“Most of these pieces are composed of a base and an upper hutch portion which sits on top,” explains O’Brien. “They are usually easily separated and come apart for moving.”

Once you find a base that’s the right height, you can then have a counter installed on the top, turning the piece into a truly one-of-a-kind kitchen island.

Up Next:

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

Sources:

• Juliana Mackin is the Founder and Lead Designer at Hemenway House Interiors.
• Pamela O’Brien is the Founder and Principal Designer of Pamela Hope Designs.

Stepping out of the salon with a fresh haircut can really make you feel like a million bucks. After all, there’s something about a new hairstyle that leaves you feeling ready to take on the world.

The best hairstylists know how to frame your face so that your favorite features pop, and as you mature, the right haircut can help boost your confidence. That’s why we asked a celebrity hairstylist to share seven youthful hairstyles for women over 70.

We spoke with Donna Bella ambassador Clayton Hawkins, who has worked with Olivia Rodrigo, Kylie Jenner and many more celebrities, and asked him to weigh in on some of the best cuts for older women.

Below, Hawkins shares a mix of youthful bobs for mature women, pixie cuts that add instant lift and mid-length styles for anyone who isn’t ready to say goodbye to longer locks.

Low maintenance hairstyles for seniors make life a bit easier, but it’s always best to have a few styling tricks up your sleeves. With that in mind, Hawkins reveals three of his top rules for styling mature hair so your new haircut looks equally as fabulous at home as it does fresh out of the salon.

Related: 6 Best Youthful Hairstyles Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists

What Makes a Hairstyle ‘Youthful’ After 70?

Age is nothing but a number, and you can still look and feel your best in your seventies.

According to Hawkins, the key to youthful hairstyles after 70 is a combination of “movement, softness and shape.”

“Hair that feels too stiff or overly ‘done’ can age you way faster than the actual cut,” he tells Parade.

In other words, let your hair’s natural beauty shine through and go easy on the hair products.

Related: 7 Best ‘Wash and Wear’ Haircuts for Women Over 60, According to a Professional Stylist

Short and Pixie Cuts That Add Instant Lift 1. Soft pixie

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Dame Judi Dench’s soft pixie is the perfect example of a simple yet sophisticated haircut that flatters women over 70.

“A little texture and height on top instantly lifts the face. It’s chic without trying too hard,” Hawkins says.

• Best For: Fine to medium hair / Oval and round faces
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: Use a tiny bit of texture paste through the ends.

2. Textured pixie

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Glenn Close’s textured pixie may be short, but Hawkins says it “still feels soft and modern.”

“The piecey texture and little bit of height on top give the whole face lift without looking overly styled,” he says.

• Best For: Fine to medium hair / Oval and square faces
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: Use a sea salt spray for added texture.

Modern Bobs and Lobs for Volume and Movement 3. Soft A line bob

Neil Mockford/Getty Images

When it comes to flattering short haircuts over 70, Dame Helen Mirren’s A line bob is the crème de la crème.

“A bob with a little layering feels polished but still moves. The key is not making it too round or too perfect,” Hawkins says.

• Best For: Fine to medium hair / Most face shapes
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: Bend the ends with a round brush instead of curling them under.

4. Blunt bob

Etienne LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images

After 70, you can often encounter loss of volume. That’s where this hairstyle comes in handy.

“If your hair is fine, a blunt bob can create more weight and instantly make your hair look fuller. Plus, a blunt bob always looks chic,” Hawkins says. 

• Best For: Fine hair / Oval, round and square faces
• Maintenance: Low to medium
• Stylist Tip: Add a few soft bends through the mid-lengths to change it up.

5. Soft layered bob

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Jane Fonda sets the bar high with this short, wavy hairstyle.

“This bob works because it has movement and softness instead of sitting like one solid shape. The face-framing layers give it lift, and the tousled finish keeps it feeling modern,” Hawkins says.

• Best For: Fine to medium hair / Oval, square or longer face shapes
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: Blow dry with a round brush for lift, then break it up with your fingers so it doesn’t look too “done.”

Related: Why Your Gray Hair Is Suddenly Frizzy (And a Free Fix From a Celebrity Stylist)

Mid-Length Styles That Work After 70 6. Full polished lob

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

If your hair needs a bit more density, this lob (long bob) can make your locks appear “really full and luxurious without getting heavy,” according to Hawkins.

“The shape has body through the sides and ends, which makes the whole thing feel polished and expensive,” he says.

• Best For: Fine to medium hair / Oval, round or heart-shaped faces
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: If the ends feel sparse, place a few extensions to fill out the perimeter of the bob without adding obvious length.

7. Long face-framing layers

Getty

Goldie Hawn always looks effortlessly elegant. The star has maintained a youthful glow thanks, in part, to her stunning haircut.

“It works because the length still has tons of movement. The shorter pieces around the face keep it lifted and soft instead of letting long hair drag everything down,” Hawkins says.

• Best For: Medium to thick hair / Oval, heart or longer face shapes
• Maintenance: Medium
• Stylist Tip: Add a soft bend through the mid-lengths and keep the ends airy.

3 Celebrity Stylist Rules for Styling Mature Hair

Knowledge is power, and understanding the specific needs mature hair has can give you a leg up while styling your new haircut. Here are a few of Hawkins’ top tips.

1. Don’t over-style it

When you’re styling mature hair, less is definitely more.

“Too much hairspray, teasing or round-brushing can make hair look dated really fast,” Hawkins says.

2. Prioritize shine and softness

“Mature hair can get drier, so healthy-looking texture is more important than perfection,” Hawkins tells Parade.

Aim to moisturize locks regularly with a conditioner to ensure softness and encourage shine.

3. Don’t be afraid of adding hair

Think extensions are solely for celebrities on the red carpet? Think again.

“If density has changed, extensions aren’t just for length. I use Donna Bella all the time to add subtle fullness exactly where the hair needs it,” Hawkins says.

Up Next:

Related: 7 Best Hairstyles for Thin Hair Over 60, According to Top Stylists

Source:

• Clayton Hawkins, Donna Bella ambassador and celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Olivia Rodrigo, Kylie Jenner and more celebrities

Walking into Whole Foods in search of Italian groceries can feel a little like wandering into a delicious maze. There are endless shelves of olive oils, vinegars, pasta, tomato sauces, cheeses, cured meats and products with Italian-sounding names. But a pretty label or the word “Italian” on the front doesn’t automatically make something an authentic Italian staple. You’ll want to look for a few simple clues: where the food was produced, whether a protected designation such as DOP or IGP applies, how the ingredient is traditionally used, and whether the product brings enough flavor to justify its place in the pantry.

That’s particularly important when shopping for the best Italian groceries at Whole Foods. Some products are genuinely imported from Italy and deliver the regional character you want; others are convenient American interpretations of Italian-style foods. Neither is inherently bad, they simply serve different purposes.

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So, on my latest Whole Foods Italian food haul, I approached the shelves with one goal— find the products that actually earn their spot in an Italian-inspired kitchen. I wanted pantry staples that could transform simple meals, cheeses and cured meats worth spending a little more on, and smart shortcuts for nights when cooking from scratch simply isn’t happening.

Here are the nine authentic Italian foods at Whole Foods I would happily put in my cart—plus three “Italian” products I would leave behind.

Authentic Italian Pantry Staples You Must Buy

A good Italian pantry isn’t about having dozens of specialty products. It’s about having a handful of exceptionally useful ingredients that can make humble food taste remarkable. These are the bottles, jars and packages I reach for when I want maximum flavor without making dinner complicated.

Paesanol Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Unfiltered Paesano Organic Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $40.49, 33.8 fluid ounces
• Certification: IOC Certified
• Why It Wins: Sicilian provenance, distinctive flavor, early-harvest character and strong competition award history

This is the bottle I want sitting beside my stove and on my dining table. The Paesanol EVOO is made with Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla and Cerasuola olives from Sicily’s Trapani province, and Whole Foods describes it as unfiltered, cold-pressed and early-harvested. The result is an oil with grassy, herbaceous and buttery notes, plus hints of artichoke and almond and a gentle peppery finish.

I love an olive oil that tastes like an ingredient rather than just cooking fat, and this one has enough personality to finish beans, grilled vegetables, bruschetta or a bowl of pasta. From a dietitian’s perspective, extra-virgin olive oil is also a flavorful source of unsaturated fat and rich antioxidants, making it an easy way to build satisfying meals around vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

365 by Whole Foods Market, Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 365 by Whole Foods Market, Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $5.99, 8.5 fluid ounces
• Certification: Balsamic Vinegar of Modena IGP category; 365/Whole Foods Market brand
• Why It Wins: Affordable Italian pantry staple, versatile sweet-tart flavor and strong shopper-review history

A good balsamic should bring acidity, sweetness and depth. This Whole Foods Market aged balsamic is an Italian-made product, and the product listing identifies it as an aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena IGP has specific production requirements and can be aged for progressively longer periods, with aged and reserve classifications reflecting additional maturation.

I love this for the sheer amount of culinary mileage you get from a small bottle. Drizzle it over strawberries, Parmigiano Reggiano, roasted vegetables or a salad, or whisk it into a quick vinaigrette. It’s the kind of pantry ingredient that makes a five-minute meal taste as though you put a lot of effort into it.

Rummo Rigatoni Mezzi Rummo Mezzi Rigatoni

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $3.99, 16 ounces
• Certification: Product of Italy/Made in Italy
• Why It Wins: Authentic Italian production, excellent texture, broad shape selection and dependable value

There is a reason Italian cooks can make an excellent dinner from pasta, tomatoes, olive oil and cheese—the pasta itself matters. Whole Foods carries a broad selection of Italian pasta, including options made in Italy such as Rummo, De Cecco and Partanna, alongside its 365-brand pastas.

For my cart, I want an imported Italian pasta with a shape suited to the sauce: ridges and curves catch chunky sauces, while long strands work beautifully with glossy oil- or cheese-based preparations. I love it because a quality dried pasta can turn a pantry dinner into something genuinely satisfying without requiring a complicated recipe.

Strianese San Marzano Tomatoes Strianese San Marzano Tomatoes

Whole Foods Market

• Price: Not listed
• Certification: DOP
• Why It Wins: Protected Italian provenance, straightforward ingredient, rich tomato flavor and excellent sauce potential

When tomato sauce is on the menu, I want tomatoes with a clear pedigree. Whole Foods lists Strianese San Marzano Tomatoes as DOP-certified Italian plum tomatoes and a product of Italy.

These are one of my favorite pantry cheats because you can crush them by hand, add garlic and olive oil, simmer briefly and have the backbone of a terrific sauce. The DOP designation is particularly useful here because it distinguishes a protected product from cans that simply use “San Marzano” as a style or marketing reference. I love them for their simplicity: good tomatoes don’t need much help.

Partanna Sicilian Lemon Pitted Olives Partanna Sicilian Lemon Castelvetrano Green Olives

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $9.59, 6.35 ounces
• Certification: Product of Italy
• Why It Wins: Sicilian character, bright citrus flavor, versatile antipasto ingredient and worthy of a special occasion

This is the jar I would buy when I want an instant antipasto platter. Whole Foods describes Partanna’s Sicilian lemon pitted olives as Castelvetrano olives preserved with Trapani sea salt and Sicilian citrus, with a sweet-savory profile and bright lemon notes.

I love them because they’re more interesting than ordinary table olives but still incredibly easy to use. Put them beside cheese and prosciutto, toss them into a grain bowl, chop them into a salad or eat a few straight from the jar when you’re standing at the refrigerator deciding what dinner is going to be.

Premium Italian Cheeses & Cured Meats Worth Every Penny

This is where authenticity can make an especially noticeable difference. Italian cheeses and cured meats aren’t merely toppings—they are concentrated flavor ingredients, so choosing the genuine regional product can mean you need less of it to make a dish satisfying.

Mitica 24 Month Aged Parmigiano Reggiano Mitica 24 Month Aged Parmigiano Reggiano

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $24.99 per pound
• Certification: DOP/PDO
• Why It Wins: Genuine regional cheese, 24-month aging, intense umami flavor and Whole Foods’ hand-selected wheels

If there is one cheese I never regret buying, it’s genuine Parmigiano Reggiano. Whole Foods says its wheels are hand-selected in Italy and hand-cracked in stores, with the cheese aged for at least 24 months. Parmigiano Reggiano is a PDO product that can only be made in its defined production area in northern Italy.

I love it because it does so much work for such a small amount. Its salty, nutty, savory flavor can finish pasta, risotto, roasted vegetables, salads and soups, while the rind can be simmered in soups and broths. From a nutrition standpoint, it’s also a useful example of why intensely flavored foods can have a place in a balanced diet: you don’t need a mountain of cheese when the cheese itself brings so much flavor.

Principe Sliced Prosciutto di Parma Principe Prosciutto di Parma

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $9.49, 3 ounces
• Certification: DOP/PDO
• Why It Wins: Protected regional identity, authentic Italian production and delicate salty flavor

Prosciutto di Parma is another ingredient where the protected name matters. Whole Foods lists the Principe version as a product of Italy, while the Parma Ham Consortium identifies Prosciutto di Parma as a protected designation with production tied to the Parma region. Whole Foods also points shoppers toward the distinctive Parma crown on packaging.

I love the paper-thin slices because they don’t need cooking to be impressive. Fold them around melon, drape them over pizza after it comes out of the oven, serve them with Parmigiano Reggiano or tuck them into a sandwich. The key is restraint—because prosciutto is salty and rich, a little can provide a lot of flavor.

Related: Everyone Is Excited About These 23 Sam’s Club Finds for September

Gourmet Sauces, Condiments and Meal Shortcuts

Not every great Italian meal requires an afternoon of cooking. The smartest shortcuts are the ones that preserve the flavors you actually want while eliminating repetitive prep. These two products are especially useful for busy weeknights.

365 by Whole Foods Market Basil Pesto Whole Foods Basil Pesto

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $4.49, 6.5 ounces
• Certification: Imported from Italy, 365 Brand
• Why It Wins: Imported from Italy, nutritious, simple ingredients, convenient, affordable, versatile and packed with herby flavor

Pesto is one of my favorite “open the jar and dinner is basically done” ingredients. The 365 basil pesto listing includes basil, Romano cheese, extra-virgin olive oil and garlic, making it an easy shortcut for pasta, sandwiches, vegetables and grain bowls.

I love pesto most when I use it as a flavor concentrate rather than a heavy sauce. Toss a spoonful with hot pasta and a splash of pasta water, swirl it into white beans, spread it on toast or spoon it over roasted vegetables. For a dietitian-minded meal, pair it with vegetables and a lean protein source.

Bertagni Pasta Stuffed Tortellini Italian Four Cheese Bertagni Pasta Stuffed Tortellini Italian Four Cheese

Whole Foods Market

• Price: $7.99, 8.8 ounces
• Certification: Made in Italy; filling includes PDO cheeses
• Why It Wins: Genuine Italian pasta, fast cooking time, flavorful cheese filling and weeknight convenience

This is my emergency dinner hero. Whole Foods lists Bertagni’s four cheese tortellini in its pasta section, and the product is an Italian filled pasta; its filling includes cheeses such as Grana Padano PDO and Parmigiano Reggiano PDO.

I love refrigerated tortellini because it gives you the experience of a composed Italian meal in minutes. Boil it, toss it with pesto or good olive oil, add vegetables and finish with Parmigiano Reggiano. It’s also an excellent base for soup—proof that a convenience food can still become part of a balanced, vegetable-forward dinner.

The 3 ‘Italian’ Items at Whole Foods You Should Skip

“Skip” doesn’t mean these foods are bad. It means they don’t make my cut when the mission is finding authentic Italian foods at Whole Foods. If convenience or nostalgia is what you’re after, they can still have a place—but there are more useful choices for an Italian-focused cart.

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Italian Dressing Whole Foods Organic Italian Dressing

Whole Foods Market

Italian dressing is an American pantry classic, but it isn’t the same thing as a traditional Italian condiment. When I’m shopping specifically for Italian ingredients, I’d rather buy extra-virgin olive oil and authentic balsamic vinegar and make a quick vinaigrette myself.

That gives me control over the salt, acidity and oil while producing a dressing that tastes fresh. In other words, this isn’t an indictment of the bottle; it’s simply one of my Italian foods to skip at Whole Foods when authenticity is the goal.

365 by Whole Foods Market Vanilla Pizzelle Waffle Cookies Whole Foods Pizzelle Classic Waffle Cookies

Whole Foods Market

Pizzelle cookies absolutely have Italian roots, but these cookies don’t give me the same value as the savory ingredients in this haul. They’re a sweet treat rather than a foundational Italian grocery, and the “Italian” association alone isn’t enough to make something essential to my cart. Additionally, these are not made in Italy.

I would happily eat one with coffee, but if I have limited grocery money and I’m building an Italian pantry, I’d put that money toward Parmigiano Reggiano, olive oil, tomatoes or pasta first.

365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Rustic White Pizza Crusts 365 by Whole Foods Organic Rustic White Pizza Crusts

Whole Foods Market

Pre-made pizza crusts can be wonderfully convenient, but these are another example of an Italian-inspired shortcut rather than a must-buy authentic Italian ingredient. When I want a quick pizza night, I’d rather start with a simple dough when time allows—or use one of the excellent Italian ingredients already in my cart to make something else.

Final Thoughts

The bigger lesson is that “Italian” doesn’t have to appear on the label for a product to belong in an Italian kitchen. Sometimes a few genuinely Italian ingredients do more for a meal than a product specifically marketed as Italian.

The final Whole Foods Italian food haul is therefore surprisingly simple. With these nine ingredients, you can build everything from a quick pasta dinner and antipasto board to soup, salad, bruschetta and weeknight pizza.

That’s the secret I keep coming back to—authentic Italian cooking isn’t about buying everything with an Italian flag on the package. It’s about buying a few excellent ingredients, using them thoughtfully, and letting vegetables, grains, legumes, cheese, olive oil and other whole foods do most of the heavy lifting.

Related: The 11 Best Greek Groceries To Buy at Costco (And 3 To Skip)

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Bryan Ferry, the legendary frontman of the English rock band Roxy Music, is celebrating his birthday. He turns 81.

Born in 1945, Ferry initially explored a career in fine art before he started forming a band that would become Roxy Music at the start of the 1970s. He became the lead vocalist and main songwriter for the band, and the group quickly got started working on material.

Roxy Music released its self-titled debut album in 1972. Ferry wrote all of the songs, including the main single, “Virginia Plain,” which wasn’t released on original pressings of the album. Instead, it came out a few months later.

The album was a hit and well-received by critics, reaching the Top 10 on the U.K. albums chart. The lead single also did well, peaking at No. 4 in the U.K.

This kickstarted Roxy Music’s successful career, and they’ve released eight studio albums so far. Throughout the band’s popularity, Ferry earned the nickname “The King of Cool” for his stage presence and natural aura.

What is arguably their biggest hit is the 1975 song “Love Is the Drug.” It was released on their fifth album, Siren. The track peaked at No. 2 in the U.K., and it was their highest-charting song in the U.S., reaching No. 30.

Other hit songs from Roxy Music that were penned by Ferry include “Dance Away” and “More Than This,” among others. The band released its last studio album, Avalon, in 1982, and after finishing up a tour to promote the album, the band went on a hiatus.

Related: 1968 No. 1 Hit Song, Performed by Otis Redding, Among Top Songs of the 20th Century

Ferry pursued a solo career while he was in Roxy Music, releasing his first album called These Foolish Things in 1973. He released four other solo albums before the band took a hiatus, and after that, he completely focused on his personal music.

Throughout his career, Ferry has released 17 solo albums so far. His latest was 2025’s Loose Talk, in collaboration with writer and artist Amelia Barratt.

Luckily for fans of Roxy Music, the band has also reunited a few times over the years. The most recent reunion was in 2022 with a tour to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

Related: 1964 Rock Hit, Performed by The Kinks, Among ‘Greatest Songs of the 1960s’