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The average American spends over $1,000 a year on subscriptions, with at least $200 of that being on items they rarely or never use. Companies use deceptive practices to keep you locked into that monthly charge, but you can beat their game. Here’s how to get rid of unwanted fees and free up some room in your budget. 

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How Companies Are Tricking You

Compens.ai reports that the FTC conducted a study of 642 subscription websites and found 76% of them were running at least one dark pattern, with 67% running more than one, making it more difficult for you to cancel their service. 

The US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the Federal Trade Commission's "click-to-cancel" rule, according to a CNET report, which may make it even harder to cancel subscriptions. But taking the time and effort to dig through your monthly bills and get rid of the ones that drain your account can give you some extra wiggle room in your budget. 

Related: The 6 Hidden Costs of Aging in Place That Most Retirees Don't Budget For Until It's Too Late

Start With These Cash Eaters

It’s not always Netflix or Amazon that sneak up on you. This list is a starting point for common charges eating up your monthly budget. Make sure to check your bank statement, however, to see if there’s anything else you can eliminate. For now, start with these:

1.) Credit Monitoring Services - You may have been given a free year of credit monitoring as meager compensation after a data breach, but services like Experian or IdentityForce will then auto-renew and charge you to maintain them. Sign up with AnnualCreditReport.com for free weekly updates.

2.) “Ad Free” Upgrades - Weather apps, streaming platforms, cloud storage, email hosts, and many other services that used to give you a seamless experience quietly moved behind a paid tier. It’s time to reassess what is actually worth paying for the ad-free experience and what can be nixed altogether. 

3.) Cloud Storage - Did you get a free trial of Google One or test out iCloud and then never cancelled? If you can dump data from your phone, you may be able to downgrade your storage tier and pay less. 

4.) Free Trials That Silently Converted - Like the cloud storage, you may have signed up for the free trial of an app or service and not realized it converted to paid. Grocery delivery is a common example of this. Get rid of any you aren’t using, and set calendar reminders for when to cancel the next free trial.

5.) Reading or Audiobook Apps - These you may be actively using, but there are free alternatives that can save you hundreds, not just on subscription fees but entertainment fees as well. Libby and Hoopla are both free and only require a library card. You can get books, audiobooks, music, movies, TV shows, and more without needing a subscription to any of it. 

6.) Premium News or Newsletters - The “$1 for the first month” offer gets people to sign up as an easy way to read an article, but many often forget to cancel. You could be paying for a news service, like the Washington Post or New York Times, without even realizing it. If you aren’t reading these sources, it’s time to cancel their subscriptions.

7.) Food Delivery - Amazon grocery and Instacart+ charge a monthly fee to waive delivery costs, but other apps like Uber One, DoorDash, and GoPuff can also drain your account with more than just the meals they offer. If your dining habits have changed, reassess how much you pay for these services. 

8.) VPN or Antivirus - When you buy a new computer, these services usually come pre-installed with a free trial. You get so used to using them that you forget they renew at full price after the initial period. There’s plenty of reliable, free software that can protect you without a monthly charge.

9.) App Management Subscriptions - Apps like RocketMoney, Bobby, or Subby are meant to help you track down apps and subscriptions you aren’t using and cancel them, but these also come with subscription fees. If you find one helpful initially, cancel it once you've cleared out everything else.

Related: "I Should've Invested in Apple:" 5 Retirees Share What They Wish They'd Known About Money at 60

How To Find And Kill Hidden Subscriptions

Consumer Affairs recommends scanning the past 60-90 days' worth of bank and credit card statements to find anything hiding in your line items. Once you’ve identified the culprits, head to their official websites or scan your email for cancellation options.

It’s important to note that you should make sure you’re going to each subscription service’s official site to cancel. You don’t want to get hit with a double whammy of giving your info to a scammy site as well as continue to pay for an unused service. If the site asks for financial, payment, or personal data, it may be a scam, and you should leave immediately.

Cutting even a few of these could save you $30-$50 a month. It’s worth taking the time to get rid of these instead of continuing to waste it.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice.

• Compens AI — "Subscription Traps and Dark Patterns: How Companies Make It Impossible to Cancel—and How to Fight Back"
• CNET — "Struggling to Cancel Your Subscriptions? Try These 3 Workarounds"
• ConsumerAffairs — "Stop the Sneaky Subscriptions: How to Actually Cancel the Stuff You Don't Use"

In a new update in the Nancy Guthrie case, TMZ has shared some additional details about the notes the outlet received regarding the missing 84-year-old.

Over the past few months, TMZ and other media outlets have received ransom notes demanding bitcoin in exchange for Guthrie. These notes, however, did not include proof of life. As far as the public knows, the ransom money was not paid. Separately, notes were sent requesting one bitcoin in exchange for information from someone claiming to know who is responsible for Guthrie’s disappearance.

On Monday, June 22, TMZ clarified that none of the notes the outlet received confirmed that Guthrie was dead. Moreover, the outlet reported that it has been in contact with the FBI and even offered to pay the one bitcoin in hopes of getting the promised information

"We believed the person who was asking for the bitcoin in return for information was authentic," TMZ writes. The outlet says it reached out to the FBI with plans to film a documentary on the case. As part of its coverage, TMZ wanted to pay the one bitcoin in hopes of getting the promised information, but the FBI reportedly called the idea "interesting" and said it would follow up.

Related: Changes Have Been Made to Nancy Guthrie’s Personal Facebook Account

Per TMZ, that follow-up never happened. The outlet claims that despite reaching out to the FBI again, it has been "ghosted."

Guthrie has been missing since Feb. 1. Authorities believe that she was abducted from her Arizona home in the middle of the night. Over the past four months, investigators have been sifting through evidence and tips, but Nancy’s whereabouts—and what led to her disappearance—remain a mystery.

Anyone with information about Nancy is asked to call Tucson’s 88-Crime hotline at 1-520-882-7463 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

READ NEXT: Prayers Pouring in for Savannah Guthrie, Family After Her Latest Post

Flip-Flops are a summer staple. While it may be fine to walk the beaches, one Italian town is warning people to leave them at home, unless they want to pay a fine. If you’re planning on visiting the Cinque Terre National Park in Cinque Terre, a town on the Italian Riviera coastline, it’s going to cost you. Hikers in the park cannot wear flip-flops or sandals. If they do and are caught, they can be fined up to 2,500 euros, which is about $2,900, according to People.

Related: Crocs' 'Unbelievably Comfortable' $25 Flip-Flops at Walmart Feel 'Like Walking on Clouds'

Why You Can’t Wear Flip-Flops Here & Other Park Rules

The rule started in 2019, but people are now being reminded of it again. The hiking trails throughout the park can be slippery. To prevent accidents, park officials warn travelers to wear appropriate footwear. Flip-flops and other sandals don't fall into this category.

While park officials check people’s footwear, they’ll also check whether visitors are following the one-way system. This system is designed to reduce crowding. The Monterosso-Vernazza stretch of the trail is one-way only from 9 am to 2 pm on busy days in April, May, and June. The one-way system was rolled out in 2023.

There’s one other thing to remember if you’re visiting this park. Be sure you pre-purchase your Cinque Terre Trekking Card. This gives you access to certain trails and park services. Ticket prices range from 10 to 12 euros ( $12-$17) depending on the day you go.

Related: Italy's First-Ever Tiramisù Race Will Meander Through a Medieval City and Reward Runners With Dessert

Other Things That Are Illegal in Some Italian Towns

While flip-flops are a no-no at Cinque Terre National Park, there are also some other things you should refrain from doing in other Italian towns.

• Don’t wear clogs in Capri. This was enacted back in the 1960s when wooden clogs were popular. The goal of this law is to maintain Capri’s serene setting. Although the law specifically refers to clogs, it’s believed to apply to any shoes that make excessive noise on cobblestone streets. Tourists who have been caught breaking the law have been fined in the past.
• Taking sand or shells home from the beaches in Sardinia could also cost you. Put in place in 2017, the law fines people anywhere from 500 to 3,000 euros if they’re caught with sand or shells from the beach. In 2021, about 40 tourists were caught and fined for doing so.
• If you were thinking about feeding pigeons in Venice on your next trip, think again. Feeding these birds in St. Mark’s Square or anywhere else in Venice could result in a fine between 25 and 500 euros. The ban was reinforced in 2008 to rescue the pigeon population and maintain Venice's cleanliness.

It's always a good idea to brush up on local laws so you don't find yourself in a legal pickle when traveling to a new destination.

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Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos may host Live with Kelly and Mark together every morning, but their approach to household clutter is not exactly the same.

On the Monday, June 22 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the married co-hosts talked about America's growing use of self-storage units and quickly realized they fall on very different sides of the issue.

Ripa made it clear that she has a hard time letting go of sentimental items, while Consuelos had a much simpler solution.

Kelly Ripa Said She Saves Sentimental Items

The conversation started when Ripa brought up a report about the rise in self-storage use across the country.

Consuelos suggested people could solve part of the problem by saving less.

"Save less stuff," he said. "Give it away."

Ripa immediately pushed back.

"No, I can't get rid of the turkey handprints," she said. "I'm not gonna do it."

Consuelos joked that some people spend more money renting storage space than the items inside are actually worth.

Ripa understood the point, but said that does not mean the items are worthless to the person keeping them.

"Some of it is priceless, even though it's crap," she said.

Mark Consuelos Has No Problem Letting Things Go Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Ripa then pointed out that Consuelos does not attach the same meaning to objects.

"You don't personalize things," she told him. "You have no problem throwing things away. You love it."

Consuelos agreed with giving things away or throwing them out, but Ripa said some items are too personal to be reduced to clutter.

She gave one example from her own collection.

"I have every thank-you note everybody here has ever sent me," she said.

Consuelos suggested she should have them digitized, but Ripa was not sold.

"Digitized?" she asked. "Not personal that way."

Ripa Said the Habit Comes in Handy

Ripa joked that keeping old notes can actually be useful.

She said she has them "neatly organized" and knows where everything is.

That way, if someone ever claims she has never done anything for them, she can pull out proof.

"I can go, 'Oh, yeah? Read these thank you notes,'" Ripa joked.

Still, she said the real reason she keeps things is much simpler.

"It's nice to have, like, to look back on things," she said.

Related: Kelly Ripa Says It May Be Time To ‘Get off the Air’ for a Relatable Reason

The Couple Said They Balance Each Other Out

Consuelos did not seem bothered by Ripa's habit.

In fact, the couple agreed that their opposite approaches work for them.

"We balance each other out," Consuelos said.

"We do," Ripa replied. "I'm a hoarder, and you are not."

For anyone who has ever lived with someone who saves everything or someone who throws everything away, the exchange probably sounded familiar.

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If your main fitness goal is to strengthen your core, boost flexibility, improve posture and feel more energized, Pilates is an extraordinary training modality to consider. This form of "moving meditation” focuses on mindful breathing and total-body tension relief. Plus, it’s easy on the joints, making it an excellent workout for older adults.

You may be surprised to learn that Pilates is also effective for building strong, sculpted abs. You read that right—you don’t have to hit the gym and perform countless crunches or turn to ab machines. Pilates fires up your transverse abdominis and naturally draws your midsection inward. By practicing Pilates regularly, you will flatten your midsection and build a firmer, more toned six-pack.

The good news is you can do these movements in the comfort of your own home without equipment.

“Pilates mat work is built around the transverse abdominis as the foundation. Every exercise asks you to find a deep connection before you move, not as an afterthought. It's not just ‘crunch harder,’ it’s ‘stabilize first, then move with control,’” explains Lily Colins-Sak, certified Pilates instructor and owner of The Daily Pilates. “That’s where two of the core Pilates principles really come into play: precision and control. Rather than moving through reps quickly or relying on momentum, Pilates asks you to slow down and actually feel which part of the core is doing the work in each moment: Is it the deep stabilizers holding you steady, the obliques controlling rotation or the rectus abdominis driving the movement itself?”

That precision is exactly what makes Pilates stand out against classic crunches. You’re not just performing the exercise—you’re learning how to recruit and direct every part of your core with intention.

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Which Core Muscles Are Most Engaged During Pilates Mat Work?

According to Portia Page, certified Pilates instructor, Pilates fires up the entire core, including the internal and external obliques, pelvic floor, diaphragm, multifidus and rotators and transverse abdominis—not just the superficial muscles.

That’s why Pilates core training typically translates so well to how your body performs daily tasks like lifting, carrying and twisting.

“You’ve trained your core to respond with the same precision and control in real life that you practiced on the mat,” Colins-Sak points out.

Related: Exactly How Often You Need To Do Pilates To Reduce Belly Fat, According to Instructors

Signs You’re Effectively Engaging Your Core During Pilates Mat Work

One of the most common misconceptions about Pilates core engagement is that it involves holding your breath or sucking in your tummy. To the contrary, activating your core should feel controlled, supportive and strong as you continue to breathe normally, says Lyndsey Meade, founder of BODY Hot Pilates and certified Pilates instructor.

Below, Meade shares some telltale signs you’re properly engaging your core:

• Your rib cage remains connected instead of flared open.
• Your pelvis stays stable throughout each exercise.
• Your shoulders and neck remain relaxed instead of taking over the movement.
• Your lower back is not over-arched or pressing aggressively into the mat.
• Your breath is controlled and steady.
• Your abs wrap inward and upward around the waist.

“I often tell clients to imagine pulling their hip bones slightly toward each other while continuing to breathe. When the deep core is engaged properly, the movement feels controlled and effortless rather than strained,” Meade explains. “If your neck is doing more work than your abs, or you're holding your breath to get through the exercise, you're likely compensating instead of truly engaging your core.”

Related: The Equipment-Free Move a Pilates Instructor Is Begging Every Woman Over 50 To Do in the Morning

5 Best Pilates Mat Exercises for Sculpted Abs, According to Instructors1. The Hundred

According to Page, the hundred builds endurance in the deep intrinsic muscles.

“[This exercise also] teaches proper abdominal engagement and endurance and uses the breath and arm pattern to help warm up the body and prepare for what’s next,” Page adds.

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs extended and arms by your sides.
2. Lift your head, neck and shoulders off the mat, setting your gaze toward your hips.
3. Start to pump your arms rhythmically up and down to match your breathing.
4. If comfortable, lift your legs one at a time, eventually extending them to a 45-degree angle.
5. Perform 100 counts or breath, or 10 cycles of 5-count inhales and 5-count exhales. As you inhale, expand your rib cage; as you exhale, gently draw your abs in toward the center of your body.

2. Double-Leg Stretch

“When extending both the arms and legs away from the center of the body, it creates a long lever challenge that requires significant abdominal strength and lumbo-pelvic control,” Page notes.

1. Lie flat on your back on the mat and hug your knees toward your chest.
2. Lift your head, neck and shoulders off the floor.
3. Place your hands on your shins to begin.
4. Take a deep breath in as you reach your arms overhead and extend both legs out to a 45-degree angle.
5. Make sure your core remains engaged and your lower back stays pressed into the mat.
6. Breathe out as you reverse the motion, bringing your knees back to your chest and your hands to your shins.
7. Perform 4 to 6 reps, breathing in as your arms and legs reach out, and breathing out as they come back in.

Related: ‘I’m a Pilates Instructor—These Are the 5 Moves I Give Every Client Who Wants To Lose Weight After 50′

3. Side Plank Hip Dips

The side plank hip dip is one of Colins-Sak’s go-tos for teaching lateral core control. The obliques and transverse abdominis have to work together to drop and lift the hip with control instead of letting gravity do the work.

1. Begin by lying on your side, propping yourself up with your forearm.
2. Extend both legs, stacking your top foot on top of the bottom foot.
3. Brace your core and lift your hips, forming a straight line from your head to your feet.
4. Use control as you slowly dip your hips toward the mat.
5. Then, drive your hips back up to the top of the side plank.
6. Perform 8 to 10 reps on each side.

Related: This Is the Safest Way To Start Pilates After 60, According to Instructors

4. Criss-Cross

“This is where we deepen true oblique work for a sculpted, defined look, while still requiring the TVA to stay engaged to protect the low back during rotation,” Colins-Sak explains.

1. Lie flat on your back with your knees lifted in a tabletop position.
2. Place your hands behind your head, elbows out wide.
3. Curl your shoulders, neck and head off the mat.
4. Extend one leg straight out to a 45-degree angle.
5. At the same time, rotate your torso and bring the opposite elbow toward your bent knee.
6. Perform 8 to 10 reps on each side.

Related: The #1 Pilates Workout Sequence That Builds Strength Beyond the Mat

5. Teaser

The teaser is a signature Pilates move and one of the best tests of core strength, Meade tells us.

“It requires the deep abdominals, obliques, hip stabilizers and postural muscles to work together simultaneously, building both strength and control,” she adds.

1. Begin by lying flat on your back with your legs extended and arms reaching overhead.
2. Press your lower back into the mat and engage your core.
3. Lift your legs to 45 degrees, or to a tabletop position, to modify.
4. Reach your arms forward as you gradually roll your spine off the floor.
5. At the top, balance in the “V” position with your hands reaching toward your legs. Keep your chest tall.
6. Roll back down to the start position with control.
7. Perform 8 to 10 reps.

Find a space in your home or backyard, roll out your mat and get started on these Pilates mat moves instructors swear by. You’ll achieve strong, sculpted abdominal muscles before you know it!

Up Next:

Sources:

• Lily Colins-Sak, certified Pilates instructor and owner of The Daily Pilates
• Portia Page, certified Pilates instructor
• Lyndsey Meade, founder of BODY Hot Pilates and certified Pilates instructor

56 years ago today, Led Zeppelin was in Reykjavik, Iceland, on a massive worldwide tour. It was in this city that the group’s lead singer, Robert Plant, got inspired to write their hit “Immigrant Song.”

Singing about a “land of ice and snow” and “the midnight sun where the hot springs flow,” the song went on to appear in movies like the Jack Black-led comedy film School of Rock and Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. From the song’s iconic guitar riffs to its aggressive drum fills, “Immigrant Song” remains a fan-favorite to this day.

“We weren’t being pompous,” Plant said about the song in his 1994 book Led Zeppelin. “We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled.”

However, after learning that a university had prepared a concert hall for them, the show still went on.

“The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time,” Plant said. “‘Immigrant Song’ was about that trip and it was the opening track on [Led Zeppelin III] that was intended to be incredibly different.”

“Immigrant Song” was performed live for the first time at the Bath Festival in Somerset, England, on June 28, only six days after their show in Iceland. It was released on the record Led Zeppelin III by Atlantic Records on October 5, 1970, four months after the shows.

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked “Immigrant Song” as one of the top 100 Greatest Metal Songs of All Time. Lester Bangs, a music critic for Rolling Stone, said when the song came out that it “comes closest to being a pulp classic.”

“With its bulldozer rhythms and Bobby Plant’s double-tracked wordless vocal croonings echoing behind the main vocal like some cannibal chorus wailing in the infernal light of a savage fertility rite,” Bangs wrote.

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There's a special kind of betrayal that happens when you do your makeup beautifully, leave the house feeling good and then catch your reflection three hours later to discover two dark smudges under your eyes that weren't there before. "J'accuse!" you might say to the mascara that did you dirty in your time of need.

You're not supposed to have to think about it, and yet it's often the first thing to fail. Heat, humidity, tears, oily lids, a workout you didn't plan for... All of it can turn a clean cat-eye into something that looks like you've been crying in a parking lot.

Waterproof mascara exists specifically to solve this problem, but not all waterproof formulas are created equal, and the category itself has evolved in ways most people haven't caught up on.

There's also a whole separate world of tubing mascaras that some makeup artists now consider superior for certain situations, even though they're not technically marketed as "waterproof."

Figuring out which formula actually fits your lash type, your lifestyle and your specific failure points (oily lids, sensitive eyes, straight lashes that won't hold a curl) makes the difference between mascara that performs and mascara you have to manage all day.

To sort through it all, we talked to two makeup artists who deal with long-wear mascara constantly. Lauren D’Amelio Ventre, celebrity makeup artist who has worked on everyone from Miss America contestants to the cast of Jersey Shore, who specializes in glam that has to survive emotional, humid, sweat-inducing wedding days from start to finish. Manuela Noreña is a makeup artist who works across extreme climates and long events when staying power isn't optional.

Together they break down how waterproof mascara actually works, when tubing formulas are the better choice and which 12 mascaras they'd trust for a day that absolutely cannot go wrong.

Related: 11 Best Mascaras for Older Women To Lengthen Thinning, Aging Lashes, Tested by Makeup Artists

Top Waterproof Mascaras

• Best Waterproof Mascara Overall:Lancôme Lash Idôle Flutter Extension Waterproof Mascara
• Best for Length:Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara
• Best for Volume:Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara
• Best for Short Lashes:Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Waterproof Mascara
• Best for Straight Lashes:Heroine Make Long and Curl Super Waterproof Mascara
• Best for Sensitive Eyes:Blinc Original Tubing Mascara
• Best Drugstore:L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
• Best Luxury:Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Waterproof Mascara
• Best Clump-Free:Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara
• Best Tubing Mascara:Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
• Best Long-Lasting:Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
• Best Natural-Looking:Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Mascara

Do Waterproof Mascaras Actually Last Longer?

In most cases, yes. Noreña explains that waterproof formulas contain ingredients designed specifically to repel water, which gives them better durability in humidity, tears and long days where makeup needs to hold.

"These types of formulas also adhere very well to the lashes and resist friction, helping prevent the well-known 'raccoon eyes' effect," she tells Parade.

D'Amelio Ventre agrees and adds that not every waterproof formula is built the same. Some prioritize curl-holding and length, others focus on volume or smudge resistance, and the best ones manage to do all of this while still feeling flexible on the lashes rather than dry or flaky.

Related:13 Best False Eyelashes for 2026, Tested by Celebrity Makeup Artists

What's the Difference Between Waterproof Mascara and Tubing Mascara?

This is where things get interesting, and where D'Amelio Ventre has a take that might surprise people. Traditional waterproof mascaras use waxes and water-resistant ingredients to hold up against moisture, and they're often excellent for dramatic volume and holding curl, especially for long events.

Tubing mascaras work completely differently. Instead of coating the lashes with pigment, they form tiny tube-like polymers around each individual lash. Rather than smudging or flaking off throughout the day, those tubes stay intact until you remove them with warm water.

"I honestly think tubing mascaras are one of the biggest game changers in modern mascara formulas," D'Amelio Ventre says, and uses them on destination brides or weddings in hot, humid climates because they resist transfer underneath the eyes far better than traditional waterproof formulas.

Although tubing mascaras can be water-resistant, for maximum longevity, extreme resistance or a strong curl hold, traditional waterproof formulas still tend to win out, Noreña says. Tubing mascaras, in her experience, lean toward a more natural-looking finish rather than dramatic hold.

As always, the "best" formula depends entirely on what's actually causing your mascara to fail in the first place.

Related: The Best Makeup Trick for Hooded Eyelids, According to Celebrity Makeup Artist Mally Roncal

Is Waterproof Mascara Bad for Your Lashes?

Not inherently, according to both experts. "That is a common misconception," Noreña explains. The real damage comes from how people remove it, not the mascara itself. When the wrong remover is used, people end up rubbing the eye area excessively to get the formula off, and repeating that day after day can cause lashes to fall out over time.

Related: 50 Best Products for Women 50+, According to Parade Editors & Experts

How Do You Remove Waterproof Mascara Without Damaging Your Lashes?

The answer from both experts is essentially the same, and it comes down to one ingredient category: oil.

D'Amelio Ventre recommends saturating a cotton pad with an oil-based eye makeup remover or cleansing balm and pressing it onto the lashes for 20 to 30 seconds before wiping anything away. "Patience is key," she says. Once the formula has had time to break down, gently wipe downward without pulling. For anything stubborn, a clean spoolie with remover can work through the rest without tugging.

Noreña adds that cooking oils and other edible oils should never go near the eye area, since they can be highly occlusive. In other words, save the olive oil for your pasta dishes!

Related: 5 Habits of French Women Over 50 Who Look Ageless

12 Best Waterproof Mascaras, Tested by Makeup Artists

Here's what the experts recommend.

Best Waterproof Mascara Overall: Lancôme Lash Idôle Flutter Extension Waterproof Mascara, $30

Amazon

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D'Amelio Ventre's top pick, and the appeal is in the balance. It gives separation, lift and length without ever feeling stiff or overdone.

"It performs beautifully for bridal makeup because it holds up through humidity and tears while still looking elegant and soft," she says. For a formula that has to look polished in photos and survive an emotional day at the same time, this hits both marks.

Best for Length: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Waterproof Mascara, $13

Amazon

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D'Amelio Ventre specifically recommends this for clients with shorter lashes. It creates dramatic length while staying lightweight, giving an elongated effect that doesn't feel heavy by the end of the day. The original (non-waterproof) version went viral for good reason, and the waterproof variant brings the same lengthening power with the staying power to match.

Best for Volume: Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara, $29

Amazon

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For anyone chasing bold, dramatic, full lashes, D'Amelio Ventre points to this one. It delivers the glamorous lash look that many brides and clients specifically request for photos and events. If your goal is maximum impact rather than subtlety, this is the formula built for it.

Best for Short Lashes: Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Waterproof Mascara, $27

Amazon

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The brush is the star here. D'Amelio Ventre loves that it can grab even the tiniest lashes at the root, building definition and lift that shorter lashes often struggle to achieve. For anyone whose lashes are sparse at the inner corners, a brush that can actually reach them makes a real difference.

Best for Straight Lashes: Heroine Make Long and Curl Super Waterproof Mascara, $18

Amazon

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Straight lashes that refuse to hold a curl are one of the more frustrating mascara problems, and D'Amelio Ventre calls this one of the best formulas she's found for it. It locks lashes into place all day, even in humidity, which is exactly the combination that usually defeats curl-holding formulas.

Best for Sensitive Eyes: Blinc Original Tubing Mascara, $26

Amazon

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D'Amelio Ventre's pick for sensitive eyes leans into the tubing technology that makes removal so much gentler. She says this is truly the best waterproof choice for sensitive eyes as it minimizes smudging throughout the day and comes off easily with warm water and gentle cleanser, no rubbing required. For eyes that react to traditional formulas or removal processes, this sidesteps the problem entirely.

Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara, $14

Amazon

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This is a longtime favorite for a reason. D'Amelio Ventre notes it delivers strong volume and softness at an accessible price point, proving that drugstore waterproof formulas don't have to compromise on either performance or feel.

Related: 10 Best Drugstore Mascaras for Thinning Lashes, According to Makeup Artists

Best Luxury: Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Waterproof Mascara, $40

Ulta

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D'Amelio Ventre describes this as a beautifully luxurious formula with rich pigment, excellent volume and impressive wear time. For anyone who wants the full experience, from application to all-day performance, this is the splurge that delivers on every front.

Best Clump-Free: Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara, $24

Amazon

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Clumping is one of the most common waterproof mascara complaints, and D'Amelio Ventre points to this one for genuinely clean, separated lashes. It stays defined and polished without becoming heavy or overly layered, even with multiple coats.

Related: 11 Best Natural, Clean Mascaras, Tested by Professional Makeup Artists

Best Tubing Mascara: Tarte Tartelette Lengthening & Tubing Mascara, $28

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D'Amelio Ventre loves Tarte's tartelette lengthening & tubing mascara saying it gives beautiful separation and impressive smudge resistance with soft, fluttery lashes.

She also likes Thrive Causemetics liquid lash extensions tubing mascara, Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara and adds that Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula is an underrated favorite, especially for mature clients or sensitive eyes, since it wears without flaking or irritation.

Best Long-Lasting: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara, $35

Sephora

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For long events, photography, heat and extended wear, D'Amelio Ventre calls out this formula's staying power specifically. When the day is going to be long and the stakes for how your makeup holds up are high, this is the one she trusts.

Best Natural-Looking: Tower 28 Beauty MakeWaves Mascara, $20

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For anyone who wants definition and lift without looking like they're wearing a dramatic lash, D'Amelio Ventre highlights this formula's ability to stay soft and effortless. "It's especially beautiful for natural glam makeup looks," she says, making it the pick for days when subtle is the goal.

One more tip from D'Amelio Ventre worth keeping in mind regardless of which formula you choose. Curl your lashes before applying mascara. Even the best formulas perform better when lashes are lifted and separated first, and skipping this step is one of the most common reasons mascara underdelivers no matter how good it is.

Up Next:

Related: 13 Best Eyelash Curlers, Tested by Celebrity Makeup Artists

Sources:

• Lauren D'Amelio Ventre, bridal and celebrity makeup artist
• Manuela Noreña, makeup artist

Dropkick Murphys are having one of those weeks where everything seems to hit at once.

The Boston punk band just released their version of "The Body of an American," a track featured on the upcoming tribute album 20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan, honoring the late Pogues frontman.

The cover leans into the band’s signature mix of grit and Celtic storytelling, paying homage to one of the artists who helped shape their own sound.

For Dropkick Murphys, the song isn’t just another recording. Frontman Ken Casey has long credited MacGowan as a major influence, and the band has been performing the song live for years. Now, it officially joins a tribute project that also includes contributions from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits and Hozier, underscoring MacGowan’s wide-reaching impact across genres.

That sense of crossover hasn’t stopped there.

The band also has new music heading to shelves this week in a different form: a split vinyl release with Haywire titled New England Forever, arriving in stores June 26.

The project finds both bands covering each other’s songs while contributing originals, creating a back-and-forth tribute to their shared regional roots and working-class punk identity.

Beyond the studio, Dropkick Murphys are also seeing their music move into television. Their track "Dropped On My Head," originally a bonus cut from For The People, has been chosen as the theme for the upcoming crime drama The Westies, a series centered on New York’s infamous Irish-American gang scene.

Meanwhile, the band’s live momentum continues to build.

Earlier this month, Dropkick Murphys joined Springsteen,76, and a lineup of major artists for Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us, a special event celebrating American music history.

Their set included an acoustic version of "The Fields of Athenry," a collaboration with Springsteen on “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” and a group performance of "American Land."

And they’re not slowing down. The band returns to touring in the UK, Ireland, and Europe starting June 25, followed by festival appearances across North America, including Rocklahoma and Vans Warped Tour dates in Mexico and Florida.

Later this year, they’ll join the Power To The People Festival in Maryland alongside Foo Fighters, Tom Morello, Joan Baez and others, before heading to Australia and New Zealand with Rise Against.

Related: Warren G, Nelly, Buckcherry and More Join Throwback Music Event

Everyone remembers their first concert, and for actress and singerRita Wilson, it was a huge one.

In a throwback Instagram post published on June 21, the Sleepless in Seattle star revealed the first show that she ever attended was none other than a Led Zeppelin performance, which took place at the famed Kia Forum, also known as the Los Angeles Forum.

"My first concert was Led Zeppelin at the Los Angeles Forum. I went with two of my girlfriends who happened to be identical twins with gorgeous red hair," the Jingle All the Way actress wrote in the caption. "I still remember exactly what I wore."

The photo carousel included throwback shots of Wilson in her younger years, including her iconic bikini photoshoot snap, along with posters from the concert in question. Led Zeppelin played at the Forum on June 3, 1973, and the set included a selection of the British rock band's best hits. According toSetlist.FM, they opened the show with 1971's "Rock and Roll" and closed with 1969's "Thank You."

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As seen in the third slide, tickets for the 1973 concert cost between $4 and $7, and fans were shocked by surprisingly low price, calling the 1970s "the good old days." One commenter said that the cheapest concert tickets they had seen were priced "around 17 dollars in the late '70s."

This week, Wilson is wrapping up her own tour, which saw the "Til You're Home" singer play seven dates across the United States as part of her "The Sound of a Woman tour." The tour kicked off in Boston on June 11 and concludes on June 23 in St. Louis.

"Being out on The Sound of a Woman tour keeps bringing that night back," her Instagram post continued. "So fun to relive core memories."

On May 1, 2026, Wilson released her sixth studio album, Sound of a Woman. Her first album, AM/FM, debuted on May 8, 2012, and the cover record saw success on the charts, landing at No. 62 on the Billboard 200.

Related: 1980 Rock Hit, Named One of the 'Greatest Songs of All Time,' Was Written in 10 Minutes

Jill Smokler, the New York Times bestselling author and founder of Scary Mommy, died today, June 22, 2026, at her home in Baltimore. She was 48. The cause was glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer she had been fighting for more than two years. She is survived by her three children, Lily, Ben and Evan.

Her family announced her death in a statement shared by Scary Mommy, the community she built from scratch and that has outlasted almost everything else she could have predicted when she started it.

"Jill spent her life telling the truth about motherhood," her family wrote, "that it could be wonderful and impossible in the very same breath, and in doing so, she gave millions of women permission to stop pretending and feel a little less alone. She was funny, fearless, generous, and entirely herself. More than anything she built, Jill was proudest of her three children.

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Jill gave millions of mothers around the world permission to tell their truth.

That the truth was sometimes funny, sometimes painful, sometimes both at once, and always real, that was exactly the point. In 2008, there was almost nowhere a mother could admit that motherhood was hard without someone judging her for it. So Jill made the place for all of us.

She named it Scary Mommy, after her son Ben, who while watching a children's movie declared everything in sight "scary," his mother included. Her first post went up on March 21, 2008. The title turned out to say everything we needed to know: "Here goes. Day One."

What started out as one woman writing in her pajamas with three kids under four turned into something nobody ever saw coming. Millions of moms found their way to Scary Mommy because it told the truth, funny, raw, sharp and always real, at a time when the rest of the internet was full of people pretending motherhood looked like a magazine cover. She wrote about the mess, the noise, the boredom, the guilt, the moments of rage, and the love so big it somehow made all of it worth it.

Scary Mommy wasn't just a blog. It was permission: to laugh, to admit it was hard as hell, to tell the truth, and to be a great mother without pretending to enjoy every single second of it. In doing that, she also changed the way mothers talked about their lives in ways that are still being felt today.

That became the foundation of something much larger. Smokler wrote two New York Times bestselling books, starting with Confessions of a Scary Mommy in 2012 and Motherhood Comes Naturally (and Other Vicious Lies) in 2013. Scary Mommy won multiple Webby Awards. 

In 2013 she started Scary Mommy Nation, a nonprofit that paid for Thanksgiving dinners for families who couldn't afford them, eventually helping feed tens of thousands of families across the country, because a community built on honesty, she believed, should take care of its own.

She sold Scary Mommy in 2015, when around 10 million people were reading it every month, and stepped away from the site in 2018. She later started She's Got Issues because, she said, she found herself in the same spot she had been in when she started Scary Mommy: looking for somewhere honest to talk about the next chapter of life and coming up empty. Same instinct. New chapter.

She Gave Millions of Moms Permission to Tell the Truth

Unfortunately, in April 2024, Smokler was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor with no cure, at age 46. She handled it the only way she knew how with honesty, courage and humor.

"Glioblastoma was not on my 2024 bingo card, alas here we are," she posted on Threads on May 3, 2024. "Life changes fast, friends."

She had three surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. She flew to Germany to take part in an experimental mRNA vaccine trial. She did all of it publicly, on her own terms, the same way she had done everything else. That’s just the kind of woman she was. Brave. The whole time she kept posting, kept writing, kept showing up for the same community she had been honest with since 2008, who were now walking this road right alongside her.

Those who knew Jill, myself included, say she was one of those people who was exactly the same in real life as she appeared to be: funny, restless, brilliant, generous and completely unable to pretend. She was real in the best possible way.

"She taught me that being authentic mattered more than being right," said her brother, Matt Epstein.

Asked once what she would change about herself, Jill said: "The inability to just be content. I wish I had the ability to take a deep breath and enjoy the ride, or even enjoy the quiet, instead of always waiting for the next stage."

I hope her family finds some comfort in believing she can finally take that breath now, and let herself feel proud of all that she built in this life.

Jill Smokler died on June 22, 2026, at her home in Baltimore. She was 48. She is survived by her children Lily, a recent graduate of Boston University; Ben, a student at the University of Pittsburgh; and Evan, who begins at Wesleyan University this fall. She is also survived by her mother, Kathy Epstein; her father, Drew Epstein, and his longtime partner, Sandy Jacobs; her brother, Matt Epstein, his wife Bari, and their children Maxwell and Gabriel; and her best friend, Julie Bender of Olney, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jill's memory to The Brain Tumor Network at braintumornetwork.org.

The community she built is still here. That was always the point. And we will never forget Jill.

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The Summer Solstice, on June 21, 2026, marked the beginning of summer, ushering in months filled with sunshine and positivity. As the new season begins, Jupiter enters Leo, and Mercury retrogrades in Cancer. This combination heightens emotions, sparks drama, and intensifies passions. We can no longer ignore our innermost desires, as the truth comes to the surface despite our best efforts to maintain a facade or hold back our words.

If you're interested in which star signs will be the luckiest, keep reading to discover the summer 2026 horoscope predictions for the two zodiac signs attracting the most positive energy this season.

Which Zodiac Signs Have a Lucky Summer 2026?

Check for your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs.

FUN: Your Classic Summer Movie, Based on Your Birth Month

Leo

The luckiest star sign in the summer of 2026 is Leo. Their passion will be ignited as the planet of expansion, Jupiter, enters their sign. This cosmic influence embodies boldness, heightened ego, and unapologetic self-expression, which means you'll likely experience a surge of confidence. Opportunities will come your way, and people will be drawn to your magnetic energy. Most importantly, you'll feel ready to take proactive steps to align with your deepest values, beliefs, and faith. Unexpected miracles can surprisingly transform your life and awaken your potential.

However, you’ll want to be mindful of walking the fine line between excitement and impulsivity. While your newfound clarity should be nurtured, it’s essential not to take rash actions out of hurt pride. Allow your instincts to sharpen, one step at a time. Throughout the summer, this theatrical star sign can expect to awaken their desires, pursue greatness, and, most importantly, take initiative to align with the highest version of themselves. Your path opens with potential, so have the discernment to filter out what is and isn’t worth your time. All in all, a mindset of abundance will multiply the good things in your life.

CUTE: If You Were Born in One of These 4 Months, You May Be the Family's Favorite Aunt

Cancer

As their birthday season begins, Cancer feels inspired to embrace new beginnings and explore new paths. However, with Mercury retrograde approaching and moving through their sign, they first need to address any unfinished business. Mercury, the planet of communication, clarity, and learning, encourages them to engage in difficult conversations, reflect on their experiences, and consider where they have an opportunity to correct past mistakes. From June 29 to July 23, they'll kick off the summer with this Cancer Mercury retrograde approach: careful and mindful.

However, once Mercury retrograde ends, the rest of their sunny season feels much more ambitious, exciting, and determined. On June 30, Jupiter, the planet of luck, enters their financial sector. After the distractions of retrograde madness fade, they will have a more focused mindset about what they value, where to invest, and how to cut unnecessary expenses. It's time to elevate their career, explore new business ventures, and receive compensation for what truly fulfills their desire to expand.

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Bailey Zimmerman has found himself in some legal trouble.

According to TMZ, the country star is facing felony and misdemeanor criminal charges in New Mexico after allegedly wrecking his hotel room and causing more than $16k in damage.

Per legal documents obtained by the outlet, prosecutors in Bernalillo County, New Mexico filed criminal papers to obtain an arrest warrant against Zimmerman on Thursday, June 18.

Prosecutors are seeking a felony charge for criminal damage to property and a misdemeanor charge of falsely obtaining services stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred on May 27, 2026.

According to the documents, law enforcement claims that the singer trashed his hotel room before canceling his concert in Albuquerque that night and was later kicked out of the resort he was staying in.

The affidavit states Zimmerman was scheduled to perform at the amphitheater at Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque, however, authorities report hotel security said he appeared to be drunk throughout the evening.

Furthermore, police say he was stumbling, falling, and acting belligerently onstage for sound check. Zimmerman is also reported to have been throwing microphones on the ground, tossing cymbals, and knocking part of the drum kit over.

He also reportedly stormed off the stage multiple times before leaving sound check to go back to the hotel.

The documents claim Zimmerman was stumbling so badly, that when he got back to the resort, his shoe came off, his knee was bloody, and he had to lean on another person as he walked down the hallway.

After Zimmerman canceled his show that night and he was kicked out of the resort, he allegedly refused to leave in a bus the resort provided, leading the hotel to call police.

Authorities then say the singer started cooperating, got on the bus, and was escorted off the property. Housekeeping staff reportedly found Zimmerman's room destroyed the next day.

The damage allegedly affected the TV, phone, coffee table, and 2 chairs. Staff also reported a hole in one wall, damage to other walls, stains on the carpet, and 2 missing chairs.

The hotel also claims Zimmerman charged over $400 worth of alcohol to the room without settling his tab. The documents allege that both hotel staff and police tried to contact the singer and his team, but no one responded—leading to an arrest warrant being issued.

At the time of the show's cancellation, Zimmerman said it was due to an undisclosed illness.

“Y’all know there’s nothing I love more than getting out on the road and playing these shows for you, so it’s so hard for me to have to say this, but I have to reschedule tonight’s (5/27) and Saturday’s (5/30) shows,” Zimmerman wrote on Instagram at the time, letting fans know that his concerts in Albuquerque and Rohnert Park, California, were going to be rescheduled.

“I have not been feeling well and have tried to power through, but I’m not able to give you all the show you deserve,” he added. “I hate letting y’all down and was really looking forward to these shows, but I gotta take care of myself so I can get back out there stronger.”

A representative for Zimmerman did not immediately respond to Parade's request for comment.

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Some songs from the '80s truly embody the don't you forget about me mantra. They may not be top of mind anymore, but somehow you still remember every lyric—even if you have no idea why.

From bands like Go West and Dead or Alive, if you lived through the '80s, chances are you were singing along to many of these hits when they first dominated the airwaves. Over time, though, they drifted into nostalgia-fueled obscurity, waiting for the perfect throwback playlist to bring them back.

So grab your black-and-white checkered Vans, throw on a neon T-shirt with the loudest graphic you can find, and stack on a dozen black rubber bracelets as we revisit 10 forgotten '80s songs that were actually massive hits.

• “The Warrior” — Scandal (1984): "The Warrior" was one of 1984's biggest hits, climbing to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming an MTV staple thanks to Patty Smyth's powerhouse vocals. Co-written by Holly Knight and Nick Gilder, the song was originally intended for Gilder before producers realized it was a perfect fit for Smyth.
  
  Despite the song's success, Smyth later admitted she hated its post-apocalyptic music video, comparing it to an "off-Broadway production of Cats." The track has enjoyed a long afterlife as the theme song for Netflix's GLOW, in video games, and at sporting events. Fun fact: before becoming a rock superstar, Jon Bon Jovibriefly played rhythm guitar for Scandal, though he wasn't part of the lineup that recorded the hit.

• “Obsession” — Animotion (1985): Animotion's "Obsession" became one of the defining synth-pop hits of 1985, but the song wasn't originally written for the band. Songwriters Holly Knight and Michael Des Barres first recorded it as a duet in 1983 for the film A Night in Heaven.
  
  Knight created the song's instantly recognizable bass riff, while Des Barres penned lyrics inspired by his recovery from heroin addiction, a time when the concept of obsession was frequently discussed in support groups. Producer John Ryan was so confident in the track's potential that he reportedly spent nearly half of Animotion's debut album budget recording it.
  
  The gamble paid off, turning "Obsession" into a major hit that has endured through television appearances, in sports entertainment, and in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, helping introduce the song to new generations of fans.

• “Sunglasses at Night” — Corey Hart (1984): "Sunglasses at Night" became one of the decade's most recognizable synth-pop hits, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's signature hook was inspired by recording studio workers who wore sunglasses to shield their eyes from cold air blasting through overhead vents. Hart reportedly developed the idea while working on an earlier demo and later refined it after buying a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in London.
  
  Fueled by heavy MTV rotation, the song helped launch Hart to international stardom and has remained a pop-culture staple through appearances in projects like Stranger Things and Nope.

• “Mickey” — Toni Basil (1981): Toni Basil's "Mickey" became one of the biggest hits of 1982, but it started life as a completely different song called "Kitty," recorded by the British band Racey. Basil changed the lyrics to focus on a male love interest and added the now-iconic cheerleader chant that helped make the track unforgettable.
  
  She also produced, directed, and choreographed the music video herself, using her actual high school cheerleading uniform and members of a real championship cheer squad. The low-budget clip became an MTV sensation and helped propel "Mickey" to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when Basil was 38 years old.

• “I Melt With You” — Modern English (1982): Modern English's "I Melt With You" sounds like a dreamy love song, but its lyrics were actually inspired by a couple embracing as a nuclear bomb falls around them.
  
  Frontman Robbie Grey reportedly wrote the words in a matter of minutes, while producer Hugh Jones helped shape the song's distinctive sound by encouraging Grey to speak rather than sing parts of the vocals and adding the now-famous humming section. Though the song was only a modest chart hit upon release, its appearance in the 1983 film Valley Girlhelped turn it into an enduring '80s classic that remains a staple of movies, commercials, and nostalgia playlists.

• “The Promise” — When in Rome (1988): When in Rome's "The Promise" began in the most humble of settings: a cramped garden shed in England where bandmates Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann literally mounted keyboards to the walls to save space. Inspired in part by Farrington's recent heartbreak, the pair reportedly finished writing the song in less than 20 minutes.
  
  Though it became the band's only major hit, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song found a second life after its memorable appearance in Napoleon Dynamite and, most recently, in the 2024 horror/comedy Lisa Frankenstein. Its enduring popularity later sparked disputes over ownership and led to multiple versions of the band touring under similar names.

• “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” — Dead or Alive (1985): Dead or Alive's "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" became one of the defining songs of the 1980s, but it nearly never happened. Frontman Pete Burns reportedly had to take out a personal loan after the band's label refused to finance the song, convinced it wouldn't be a hit.
  
  The gamble paid off: the track became the first UK No. 1 for the legendary production team Stock Aitken Waterman and eventually turned into a global synth-pop anthem. Its influence has endured for decades, inspiring covers, parodies, and even Flo Rida and Kesha's 2009 smash hit "Right Round."

• “Send Me an Angel” — Real Life (1983): Real Life's "Send Me an Angel" became one of the most recognizable synth-pop songs of the 1980s, but it was created surprisingly quickly. Frontman David Sterry reportedly wrote much of the song while listening to a demo on his Walkman in the back of a car, while the track's signature handclaps were added on the fly during recording.
  
  The song became an international hit and achieved the rare feat of charting twice on the Billboard Hot 100 during the same decade—first in 1984 and again with a remixed version in 1989. Its enduring popularity was further cemented through appearances in films like Rad and The Wizard.

• "We Close Our Eyes" — Go West (1985): "We Close Our Eyes" was a polished pop hit that helped define the decade's sound. Before finding success, the duo of Peter Cox and Richard Drummie faced multiple label rejections and recorded the song to help secure a deal with Chrysalis Records.
  
  Producer Arif Mardin dubbed their style "Modern Motown," while Queen frontman Freddie Mercury reportedly predicted the pair would become "very, very big" after seeing the song's video. Fueled by heavy MTV exposure, the track became an international hit and helped Go West win the Brit Award for Best British Newcomer in 1986.

• “Toy Soldiers” — Martika (1989): Martika's 1989 hit "Toy Soldiers" may sound like an uplifting pop anthem, but a friend's battle with drug addiction was the actual song inspiration.
  
  Co-written with producer Michael Jay, Martika used the image of toy soldiers to represent people being controlled by forces beyond their power. The emotional track became her only U.S. No. 1 single and featured a young Stacy Ferguson — later known as Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas — singing in the children's choir. Decades later, the song gained another life when Eminem famously sampled its chorus for his 2004 hit "Like Toy Soldiers."
  

A few months ago, Lindsey Vonn was fighting to save her leg. Now, she's soaking up the sun in Saint-Tropez.

The Olympic skiing legend was spotted enjoying time aboard a yacht in Saint-Tropez, France, soaking up the sun after one of the toughest years in her career. 

In photos obtained by TMZ on Monday, June 22, Vonn wore a white bikini and looked confident as she dove off the boat into the turquoise waters. One photo shows a large scar on her left leg, which starts at her knee and goes down her shin.

The outing comes just four months after the 41-year-old suffered devastating injuries during the 2026 Winter Olympics. Vonn's Olympic comeback was cut short in February after a horrific crash during the women's downhill event. The accident left her with a shattered tibia and a fractured fibular head, injuries that required extensive medical treatment and multiple surgeries.

While the physical recovery has been challenging, Vonn has been honest about another hurdle she didn't expect—learning to accept the scars left behind.

READ MORE: Lindsey Vonn Has Major Surgery to ‘Stabilize’ Athlete After Terrifying Olympic Crash

And earlier this month, the gold medalist marked a significant milestone when she wore a short dress in public for the first time since the accident. "First time I wore a dress in public since my injury!!!" she wrote on Instagram. "When I tried on the dress I was really self conscious and wasn’t sure if I was ready to be in public showing my scars… but I’m happy I did it."

She went on to reveal that embracing her new appearance has been one of the most difficult aspects of her recovery. "Accepting my new scars has been one of the hardest parts of this injury mentally and it’s still a work in progress but I’ll get there."

A month before that, the athlete stunned at the Met Gala in a white mermaid silhouette dress which covered her scars. She appeared without crutches, marking the first major public event since her accident.

Following the crash, Vonn underwent eight surgeries, later explaining that the procedures were necessary to save her leg.

Between legs of the Fleetwood Mac Tour and on the heels of his breakup with front-woman, Stevie Nicks, guitarist and producer Lindsey Buckingham wrote "Go Your Own Way" between 1975 and 1976. Buckingham described the writing process as a "stream of consciousness" fueled by his raw emotions from his painful split with Nicks.

The song ended up being the second track the group recorded for their album, Rumours, much of which ended up focusing on the interpersonal struggles happening within the band. Nick was famously not happy with many of the lyrics in "Go Your Own Way," particularly the line: "packing up, shacking up is all you wanna do." She demanded that Buckingham remove or change the lyrics, but he ultimately refused.

Buckingham later confessed that he really struggled with maintaining a semblance of professionalism with Nick after their romantic relationship ended.

"Go Your Own Way" was released as a single in December of 1976, after accumulating more than 800,000 preorders, a record for Warner Brother at the time. The track entered the Billboard Hot 100 in January of 1977, before making it to the top 10 in March of that same year where it would stay for two weeks. This marked the first time Fleetwood Mac had a top 10 single on the charts in the U.S.

"Go Your Own Way" has been played on every tour of the band's since the Fleetwood Mac Tour. Even after Buckingham famously left the band in 1987, they continued to play the track at live performances. Buckingham even went on the play the song on his own solo tours, starting in 1995.

When Rolling Stone compiled their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," they ranked "Go Your Own Way" at No. 120. The magazine also listed the song in the No. 2 spot on its list of "Fleetwood Mac's 50 Greatest Songs," just behind "Dreams." The song has received critical acclaim over the years, with critics noting how it has continued to resonate with younger generations, as well as those who were around when it originally was released.

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Related: 1975 Classic Just Named the Greatest Breakup Album of All Time

The generational dream of selling the family home and retiring to a cozy place on the beach is being decimated as empty nesters realize it’s no longer a smart financial move. Instead of selling their large home and cashing in on the equity, many retirees are going bigger for reasons that are all too familiar to many American families. 

Related: The Real Cost of Downsizing in Retirement (It's Not What You Think)

The Upsizing Trend Is Real

Modest starter homes are pushing $1 million across more than half the country. Even with the equity from owning a property for a long time, downsizing may not actually be a good idea. A combination of increasingly high prices, the capital gains ceilings not being reassessed since 1997, and mortgage rates averaging above 6% retirees aren’t getting the cash out they were promised. Retirees may owe taxes on home profits above $250,000, a threshold that hasn't budged in nearly 30 years despite home values tripling.

In addition, a Realtor.com survey found that the average cost of a move, after everything is set up in the new place, is around $17,000. With all of these factors combined, there isn’t enough equity left from the sale of the home to benefit anyone. 

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The Generational Factor

According to Realtor.com, there’s a growing number of retirees who are selling their homes to upsize and create a family compound. This isn’t a long-held family dream, but rather a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The current state of the economy makes homeownership much more difficult for younger generations. The average age of a home buyer when many retirees entered the real estate market was about 29; now it’s over 40. 

Years of paying high rent, stagnant wages, student debt, and out-of-reach home prices have left around 1.8 million Gen Z and Millennial homes out of the market in 2025 alone. Instead of waiting to leave a home or equity to their children, retirees are investing in a family property now to preserve the generational wealth of homeownership.

There are benefits on either side. Retirees hold more wealth, while adult children bring in a steady income. Even with the increased costs that come with a larger home, higher property taxes, larger repair bills, etc, splitting the bills seems to be more financially viable. 

Kenna Real Estate, a Colorado real estate company, notes that combining households can push inheritance ahead 20 years. It also helps people manage costs better and keeps families close. 

Related: Dave Ramsey Wants Tennessee Couple to Sell Their Newly Built $660k Dream Multigenerational Home

The Risk Factors

Owning a multigenerational property sounds like having a large family gathering every night, but there can be some unaccounted-for risk. 

As noted by Fiffik Law Group’s website, the Pennsylvania law group warns that sharing a deed leaves you open to some legal issues. First, anyone named on the deed has equal right of ownership. It’s important to consider what happens if someone dies, wants to move, gets divorced, etc. 

It also exposes you to creditors from all parties involved. If one party has massive debt or a legal lien on their property, that debt or lien would transfer to the home. Sharing a deed can also disqualify retirees from Medicaid coverage for skilled nursing. While that may not be an issue at the start, as retirees age they may need more care than the family can provide. 

On the emotional side, living together as adults can create tension. People used to their own space may suddenly find others’ habits intrusive or exhausting.

Before signing up for an upsizing arrangement, families should have legal paperwork drawn. Clear heirs should be named, and plans for splitting expenses should be included. 

The Way Forward

Combining households can be mutually beneficial, but expectations and obligations need to be clearly outlined before entering into any type of agreement. For many retirees, this isn’t the retirement they dreamed of, but rather one born out of necessity to help uplift children in an unfair and unstable economy. 

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice.

SOURCES

• Realtor.com — "Why Retirees Are Buying Bigger Homes Instead of Downsizing"
• Realtor.com — "How Much Does It Cost to Move?"
• Kenna Real Estate — "Colorado Retirees Buying Bigger Homes: The Multigenerational Trend"
• Fiffik Law Group — "Everything You Need to Know About the Risks of Adding Another Person to Your Deed"

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Whether you're riding to get in extra exercise or to get where you're going without spending money on gas, an e-bike is a convenient way to zip around town. However, the initial investment can be expensive. If you've been considering one, but haven't taken the plunge yet, Walmart's Summer Deals event is the perfect opportunity to snag a fantastic e-bike for under $700. 

Normally $1,499, the Gopowerbike Go Plus Folding Electric Bike is now on sale for $679. It arrives fully assembled, which makes it an excellent entry-level e-bike for first-time riders. This 55%-off deal is moving quickly, with two colors already sold out. It's currently available in blue or sand, but if you want to catch this deal, you'll need to act fast!

Gopowerbike Go Plus Folding Electric Bike, $679 (was $1,499) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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With pedal assistance that makes hills, longer commutes, and everyday rides feel easier than they would on a traditional bicycle, an e-bike's motor gives you an extra boost so you can travel farther with less effort. Good for first-time riders as well as experienced bikers, this model can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. It can run approximately 45 miles on a single charge and has an LED screen that shows exactly how much juice you have left. The lightweight, folding aluminum frame also makes it easier to store than many standard bikes, which is a major advantage if you're short on space.

Shoppers called this e-bike "easy to control," and said the "fast-charging battery works well." It's "perfect for quick trips" to work or school, running errands, or getting in some exercise. One reviewer raved that it's a "fun little bike for cruising the neighborhood." 

Because of its "compact" size, riders mentioned that they can "park it anywhere." A customer shared that it "folds in seconds and fits in small spaces," which makes it "easy to store" in a closet, under a desk, or in the trunk of a car when not in use. 

Shop More Deals

• Znh Low Step Commuter Electric Bike, $411 (was $800) at Walmart
• Ddc Sport Cruiser Electric Bike, $540 (was $999) at Walmart
• Bopzin Electric Bike, $589 (was $1,699) at Walmart

Related: Walmart’s ‘Super Fast’ E-Bike Is Now Nearly 50% Off, and It’s an 'Amazing' Way to Stay Active

If you've been curious about trying an e-bike, check out the Gopowerbike Go Plus Folding Electric Bike while it's on sale for over $820 off. Walmart's Summer Deals event runs through June 28, so be sure to hurry if you want to snag this e-bike deal!

Since the release of their first album, 1964's Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., the beloved folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, better known as Simon & Garfunkel, took the '60s by storm. Despite disbanding in 1970, Simon & Garfunkel are still being recognized for their impact as musicians and within pop culture.

For instance, the publication Far Out magazine recently named Simon & Garfunkel's beloved tune "Mrs. Robinson" the "best song of the summer from the 1960s." Other '60s songs featured in the publication's June 2026 ranking included Lesley Gore's "It’s My Party" from 1963, 1964's "‘I Get Around" by The Beach Boys, and "I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by The Four Tops, released in 1965.

According to Far Out magazine, "Mrs. Robinson" reached the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 spot in June of 1968 after it appeared in the 1967 movie, The Graduate, starring Anne Bancroft, who played Mrs. Robinson, andDustin Hoffman, who played Benjamin Braddock.

Paul Simon Shared Information About Writing 'Mrs. Robinson' During a 1970 Interview

In a 1970 interview on The Dick Cavett Show, Simon shared how he and Garfunkel ended up recording "Mrs. Robinson" for The Graduate. He explained that late director Mike Nichols approached him and Garfunkel during the production of the film and sent them Charles Webb's 1963 novella, which the movie is based on. Simon said that Nichols initially wanted the duo to make "mostly original music" for the film. However, The Graduate's score eventually was comprised of Simon & Garfunkel's hits from their past albums, like 1966's "Scarborough Fair / Canticle" and 1964's "The Sound of Silence."

Simon clarified that "'Mrs. Robinson' was made up on the spot" while working on the film's score. He explained that he "had been fooling around with a song" that included the famous lyrics "and here's to you, Mrs. Robinson." He also originally had a line about Mrs. Roosevelt, in reference to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, which was cut.

During the Dick Cavett Show interview, Simon also shared that director Mel Brooks, who was married to Bancroft for over 40 years until her 2005 death, jokingly told him he took issue with the song. According to Simon, Brooks told him that fans of The Graduate would often sing "Mrs. Robinson" to Bancroft while the couple was out in public.

"I ran into Mel Brooks the other day. I had no idea how miserable that song had made his life," quipped the musician, now 84.

Country superstar Ella Langley made an exciting tour announcement.

On June 22, Langley revealed that she's adding a second leg to her first-ever headlining arena tour promoting her 2026 album, Dandelion.

"So excited to announce the second leg of The Dandelion Tour… 🌼♥️" she wrote on Instagram.

While fans can sign up for early access at ellalangleycom, the official pre-sale will kick off on Thursday, June 25.

The general on sale will take place on June 26 at 10 AM local time.

Langley will kick off the tour in August. 20 in Green Bay, WI, before wrapping it up on Halloween, Oct. 31, in Saint Paul, MN, with 19 stops in between across the U.S.

Special guests for the shows will rotate between Ernest, Kameron Merlowe, Laci Kaye Booth and Gabriella Rose.

Despite adding a handful more shows to the tour, there's plenty of demand outside of America, as fans poured into the comments to request European tour dates.

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It’s been an incredible year for the rising star-turned-chart-topping country artist, who is currently wrapping up the first leg of her highly successful tour, which spans 16 sold-out arena dates from May through mid-August 2026.

Earlier this month, the 27-year-old officially scored her fifth career No. 1 song on country radio for her hit, “Be Her,” which served as the second single from the successful studio album.

“Choosin’ Texas,” the lead single from Dandelion, became a global hit and earned her first Billboard Hot 100 entry, spending over 28 weeks on the chart.

She also hit a streaming milestone on Spotify, surpassing 30 million monthly listeners, taking the title of the second-most-streamed country singer on the platform behind Morgan Wallen.

Dandelion was released in April 2026 and was immediately a hit with fans and critics alike, as The New York Times noted it "feels like one artist's emotional prequel, leaving us wishing for even more."

As Parade reported, upon its release, nine tracks from the album reached the top 50 on Billboard’s Hot Country charts. As of June 20, “Choosin’ Texas” sits at No. 2, followed by “Be Her” at No. 3, and “I Can’t Love You Anymore” (featuring Morgan Wallen) at No. 4. “Loving Life Again” holds No. 10, “Dandelion” is at No. 13, and “Bottom of Your Boots” ranks at No. 16. The collaboration with Miranda Lambert, “Butterfly Season,” comes in at No. 41, while “Broken” rounds out the list at No. 44.

Everyone has been buzzing about Prime Video's recent original series Off Campus. With the beloved cast of characters making their impact across the nation, we couldn't help but imagine what their lives would look like beyond the confines of a Briar University semester when they don't have to attend classes.

Here are the vacation destinations we think Hannah, Garrett and friends would choose when booking their next getaway.

Hannah Wells - The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant A bird's-eye view of the Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant in Belize.

The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant

Being the dedicated, go-get-em girl she is, Hannah would likely pick a place where the early bird gets the worm. At the Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant, she could enjoy her morning coffee from the veranda of her room. The property's stunning sunrise views and cooler, temperate morning weather make it the perfect place to take advantage of the location's many activities. Whether hiking the Maya Mountains or journeying to the stunning Mayan Ceremonial Cave, which features an array of fascinating geological finds for guests of The Belize Collection, Hannah would surely dabble in some adventure.

Knowing Hannah, she would probably want to find some time in her day to journal or draft song lyrics. During the quieter moments of her trip, the site's private Jungle Cottages offer the ideal scenic views and atmospheric background sounds of the surrounding dense canopy to stimulate her musical inspiration.

To wrap up an exciting day of exploration, the musician could enjoy a relaxing evening at the Grove House, indulging in the restaurant's local dishes while watching the sunset fade over the mountains. 

Garrett Graham - The Palmer House Inn View of The Palmer House Inn in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

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Garrett is one of the most thoughtful guys in the series, so he would most likely plan his trip around Hannah. The beautiful Palmer House Inn in Falmouth, Massachusetts would make for the perfect surprise vacation for the newly bloomed couple. The site offers the ideal balance of romantic intimacy and spontaneous adventure—a harmonious blend for their unique relationship dynamic.

While the hockey player would pretend the vacation was completely spontaneous, he would secretly map out every specific detail, taking all of Hannah's interests into account. After a long semester, the pair would want a thoroughly relaxing trip. Their thoughtful itinerary would include enjoying the slow adventure of biking Cape Cod's quaint coastal towns using the local bikeway located only two blocks from the hotel. The 10.7-mile ride features some of Cape Cod's best detours, with countless local cafes and bookstores lining the stretch for a perfect day of exploring.

Dean Di Laurentis -Kadún Hotel Boutique Poolside view of the Kadún Hotel Boutique in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Kadun Hotel

There is simply no better vacation spot for the ultimate party king Dean Di Laurentis than Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This stunning property would be the perfect way to offer Dean some much-needed relaxation in between his nightly outings and day-drinking sessions.

After a morning of hitting the snooze button, Dean could enjoy coffee and breakfast at the hotel's on-site cafe, Lola Mia—a cozy hub to finish recharging before an afternoon of fun. Next, he would likely hit the hotel pool, where he could appreciate the bird's-eye view of Cabo's stunning shores while sipping a drink at the rooftop dining space, Umbral.

Throughout the later parts of the afternoon, Dean would likely round up a group to join him for a game of football on the nearby El Médano Beach. The waterfront area would offer him the opportunity to engage in water activities organized by Kadún, including paddleboarding or kayaking.

Kadún's proximity to the local nightlife is what really makes the location worthwhile to Dean. Located just a short distance from the resort along the marina is Cabo's Golden Zone—the absolute place to be for a night out. There, he could grab a bite to eat and some drinks with new friends before turning in for the night.

John Tucker & Sabrina - Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana All Inclusive Resort
Poolside view of the Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana All Inclusive Resort in the Dominican Republic.

Wyndham Alltra Punta Cana All Inclusive Resort

Tucker and Sabrina would likely vacation together during their semester off from classes. The pair could enjoy a peaceful tropical vacation in the gorgeous Caribbean beach town of Punta Cana—the perfect location for some poolside lounging and chill beach activities.

Knowing Tucker, he would probably hit the gym first thing in the morning at the resort's fitness center before heading over to the all-inclusive buffet, Ventanas, with Sabrina. After parting ways for the afternoon, he would seek out the most exciting beach activities, joining a group of other vacationers for a few rounds of beach volleyball or any other water sport being played in his line of sight. In the evenings, he would meet back up with Sabrina for some one-on-one quality time, enjoying the resort's many options for live entertainment, music and nightlife.

Unlike Tucker, Sabrina would be drawn to the more relaxing aspects of the getaway. After joining Tucker for breakfast, she would branch off on her own for a peaceful stroll along the beautiful shores of Punta Cana, taking in the atmosphere of soothing lapping waves and cool, salty air. After retiring back to the resort, she would enjoy a refreshing spa treatment at Aura Spa before laying by the sprawling on-site pool with a good book. In the evenings, she would look forward to her time with Tucker, indulging in the delicious food and terrace views of the resort's restaurant, Costa Azul, before turning in early for the night.

Related: Who's Dating Who? The Real-Life Relationship Statuses of the 'Off Campus' Cast

Related: Prime Video Quietly Renewed ‘Off Campus’ Before Season 1 Even Premiered