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Clarks’ ‘Super Cute’ Canvas Slip-Ons Are Over 50% Off and ‘Fit Like a Glove’ Straight Out of the Box
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There’s a couple-month window every year when the weather can’t quite make up its mind. Sandals start feeling a little too summery, but it’s still too early to commit to boots, leaving a surprisingly tricky gap in the shoe department. Slip-ons are an easy answer for that stretch, with a closed-toe design that feels a little more seasonally appropriate than flip-flops without looking like you’ve jumped ahead to full-on fall footwear.
The Clarks Audreigh Cove Slip-Ons are especially well suited to that transition, and right now, they’re up to 54% off at Amazon, dropping the usual $85 price to just $39 in select styles. Their streamlined shape works with the pieces already in your closet as the seasons overlap, from shorts and linen bottoms to jeans and casual trousers. It’s a pair you can confidently keep reaching for as your outfits gradually shift from summer staples to early-fall layers.
Clarks Audreigh Cove Slip-Ons, From $39 (were $85) at Amazon Shop at AmazonThis slip-on has a rounded, closed toe and open back, set on a substantial 1.8-inch platform sole that runs almost continuously from heel to toe. The thick cream-colored sole has subtle horizontal ridges molded around the sides, which break up the height and give the shoe a sportier finish. Elastic inserts on either side of the instep add some give when slipping your foot in and help the upper move more comfortably as you walk.
The pattern is where the design gets especially interesting. Rather than a flat printed floral, the front half is covered in a raised, almost embroidered-looking geometric motif made from tiny cream dots and short dashes against the blue polyester ground. Those small marks form repeating diamonds, pointed leaves, petals, and concentric oval shapes, with dotted outlines filling the negative space between each motif. The pattern continues from the rounded toe up and over the vamp before ending in a curved, asymmetrical line along the side of the foot. Tonal zigzag stitching traces that edge, giving the transition between the patterned front and solid back a visibly textured finish.
Clarks Audreigh Cove Slip-Ons, From $39 (were $85) at Amazon Shop at AmazonClarks’ cushion soft technology conceals a high-rebound foam inlay inside the shoe, where it’s designed to absorb impact and add softness with each step. A jersey lining creates a softer surface against the foot, while the synthetic rubber outsole gives the chunky platform a more practical, durable base. Despite the height of the sole, there’s no traditional raised heel, so you get the lift of a platform without putting the foot at the same angle as a conventional heeled clog.
Shop More Deals- Clarks Breeze Emily Loafers, from $33 (were $70) at Amazon
- Clarks Cloudsteppers Audreigh Star Loafer, from $30 (were $85) at Amazon
- Clarks Breeze Roam Flats, from $40 (were $70) at Amazon
There are also three colorways to choose from: Blue, peach, and beige, each offering a different take on the same patterned slip-on silhouette. The blue has a slightly coastal feel, the warm pink looks soft and feminine, and the beige is an easy neutral that can work with tons of other colors.
Amazon shoppers said these shoes “fit like a glove” straight out of the box. They come in half-size increments from 5 through 12, though pricing varies by color and style.
Reviewers couldn’t get enough of these “super cute” and “comfortable” shoes, calling them a “lifesaver” for long days on your feet. “These are high quality and durability is good,” one shopper wrote, adding that they can “wear these comfortably all day” without rubbing or pinching.
Related: Clarks’ ‘Super Comfortable’ Sandals Are a ‘Perfect’ Pick for Walking Miles Without Blisters
From lingering summer days to the first hints of fall, the Clarks Audreigh Cove Slip-Ons can keep pace. Shop them for as little as $39 while they’re up to 54% off at Amazon!
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NYT Mini Crossword Answers, Hints for Sunday, August 23, 2026
To solve today’s NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you’ll need to know things about the South, spend time in Aspen, and enjoy going to comedy clubs.
Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!
Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.
So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Sunday, August 23, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!
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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Sunday, August 23, 2026Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Hints1 Across: ___-Dixon line — HINT: Starts with the letter “M”
6 Across: More than enough — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
7 Across: Obvious verdict in Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” — HINT: Ends with the letter “T”
8 Across: Hit the slopes — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
9 Across: Something to “keep on the prize” — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours
NYT Mini Down Hints1 Down: People or Rolling Stone, for short — HINT: Ends with the letter “G”
2 Down: Make laugh — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
3 Down: Like the skin of a durian fruit — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”
4 Down: Skate park jump — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”
5 Down: Part of a ping-pong table — HINT: Starts with the letter “N”
Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.
NYT Mini Across Answers1 Across: ___-Dixon line — MASON
6 Across: More than enough — AMPLE
7 Across: Obvious verdict in Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me” — GUILT
8 Across: Hit the slopes — SKI
9 Across: Something to “keep on the prize” — EYE
1 Down: People or Rolling Stone, for short — MAG
2 Down: Make laugh — AMUSE
3 Down: Like the skin of a durian fruit — SPIKY
4 Down: Skate park jump — OLLIE
5 Down: Part of a ping-pong table — NET
Related: I Made Dolly Parton’s Corn Pone Recipe—and Now I Finally Understand the Hype
19th-Century Nursery Rhyme, by Sarah Hale, Became Fuel for Some of Rock’s Greatest Guitar Solos
Some were raised on Mother Goose, while others grew up listening to the riffs of guitar legends like blues-rock masters Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Remarkably, those two worlds collided in a song everyone knows (but maybe hasn’t heard).
As August marks the anniversary of Vaughan’s death, the moment is ripe to revisit when a nursery rhyme became fuel for some of rock’s most masterful guitar work.
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The rhyme in question is “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
View this post on InstagramA famous poem reportedly based on an incident in the life of Mary Sawyer, of Sterling Massachusetts, which involved a pet lamb following her to school, the rhyme dates back to the 19th century and is credited to Sarah Josepha Hale, a writer and editor from New Hampshire, who published it in a children’s magazine called The Juvenile Miscellany.
Since then, the story has become embedded in American childhoods, but there’s no way Hale could have known her poem would also become the backbone of some truly great guitar shredding roughly 140 years later.
The first major blues artist to turn Hale’s nursery rhyme into a recorded blues performance was blues pioneer and electric blues-rock guitarist Buddy Guy. Adapting the verses for a song released on his 1968 album A Man and the Blues, Guy transformed it into a rock staple.
According to an interview with New York Times bestselling author Alan Paul, Guy came up with the song on the spot during a live show at the Fillmore East when a jam groove needed lyrics. The result was a bouncy yet hypnotic Chicago blues shuffle hit with expressive vocals and fiery guitar licks.
Initially received as a fun novelty track, “Mary Had a Little Lamb” gained massive secondary fame when Vaughan adopted Guy’s arrangement for Texas Flood, his 1983 debut studio album with Double Trouble.
Another quickly produced landmark feat, Texas Flood came together in days, with the record showcasing explosive, high-energy guitar riffs, as Vaughan pounds on and strums his battered “Number One” Stratocaster at blistering speed against deep traditional blues-rock sounds.
Of course, one of the moments that continues to stand out 43 years later comes at Track 7 of the 10-track album. Vaughan’s version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” stays loyal to Guy’s original, with his guitar tone, riffs, bends, solos, and intensity matching the previous effort. Still, Vaughan’s version is entirely his own.
“When I go out and play [‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’], I can hear people say, ‘Oh, that’s Stevie’s number,’ ” Guy once said, per Guitar World. “So I say, ‘OK man, that’s Stevie’s number.’ But Stevie knows whose number it was.”
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” is one of many compositions Vaughan borrowed from Guy, but, according to the outlet, which ranked “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as Vaughan’s 11th best recording, this song was the ideal canvas for the guitar hero to paint with his own skills.
The blues-rock showcase became one of Vaughan’s most celebrated guitar performances, and after his death on Aug. 27, 1990, at just 35, its legacy has only grown more visceral.
Now more than four decades after Texas Flood, the song that began as a 19th-century nursery rhyme still sits comfortably alongside Vaughan’s signature shuffles like “Pride and Joy,” slow blues masterpieces like “Texas Flood,” and soaring instrumental guitar tributes like “Little Wing.”
In a 1988 interview with Guitarist magazine, Vaughan summed up transformation and evolution best by saying, “If you stop growing, what good is it musically?”
Related: ‘1984’ Rock Hit, Revived 20-Plus Times by Its Own Band, Marked the End of an Era
1976 No. 1 Hit, Voted 'Worst Song of the '70s,' Was One of the Weirdest 'American Bandstand' Performances Ever
Some songs go to the top of the charts because they’re good. Other songs become hits because…well, nobody really knows why. “Disco Duck,” which spent a week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Oct. 1976, falls into the latter category.
The novelty track, once voted the “Worst Song of the 1970s” by Rolling Stone readers, was written and performed by Memphis DJ Rick Dees. It’s possible that the song got super popular because listeners thought they were listening to a song about Donald Duck at the disco. After all, the lyrics are about a duck who just can’t help but disco dance, and the track features a duck voice that sounds just like the Disney character.
Actually, though, Dees was inspired to write the song when he was working out at the gym and heard a guy doing a duck voice. The DJ was so impressed, he wrote “Disco Duck” with the man in mind, then hired him to do the voice, according to Stereogum.
Dees didn’t expect “Disco Duck” to take off the way it did, nor did he expect to get fired from his DJ job as a result. According to The Billboard Book of Number One Hits, the radio station he worked for, WMPS, wouldn’t allow him to play the song on the air because management was worried about potentially violating FCC conflict-of-interest rules. Dees didn’t play “Disco Duck,” but he did mention on the air that it was about to go to #1…and that was enough to get him canned.
Luckily, Dees got hired by another radio station and was free to ride the “Disco Duck” wave, performing on shows like American Bandstand (a surreal spectacle involving a duck puppet) and The Midnight Special. Unluckily, “Disco Duck” would be the last hit for Dees. (His follow up song, “Dis-Gorilla,” was about a disco dancing gorilla.)
Alas, while many one-hit wonders have stood the test of time over the years, “Disco Duck” can’t really make that claim.
Related: 1985 No. 1 Hit, Ranked ‘Worst Song Ever,’ Is Making an Unexpected Comeback 41 Years Later
“If ‘Disco Duck’ belongs to a musical tradition, it isn’t disco,” music journalist Tom Breihan wrote.
“It’s the novelty song, the fading art form that was huge in the late ’50s and early ’60s but dying out by the mid-’70s,” Breihan continued. “It’s possible that ‘Disco Duck’ is the last true novelty to hit #1. There are plenty of later hits that you could call novelties — and many that I will almost certainly call novelties in this column — but they’re not novelties of the Ray Stevens/”Chipmunk Song” variety. They’re songs that are intended to work as pieces of music, however silly. ‘Disco Duck’ merely exists as a vehicle for that duck voice.”
As for the man behind the duck voice, Kenneth Pruitt, after going to great lengths to help promote “Disco Duck” (appearing on TV shows wearing a duck costume, etc.), he ended up suing Dees for allegedly paying him just $188.
Sometimes showbiz ain’t all it’s quacked up to be.
Related: This ‘Absolutely Terrible’ Chart-Topper Was Voted ‘Worst Song of the ’60s’
1991 Rock Song, From One of the 'Greatest' Supergroups of All Time Mr. Big, Is Still a Hit 35 Years Later
Mr. Big, an all-star band composed of acclaimed musicians from acts including The Knack and Racer X, released their 1991 song, “To Be With You,” which has remained one of the most recognizable songs even decades later.
Thirty-five years after the quartet, who were named one of the “greatest supergroups” of all time by BBC Music magazine, debuted the iconic track, it continues to resonate with listeners, further cementing its place among the memorable rock songs of the era.
On Spotify, “To Be With You” has nearly 500 million total streams, making it Mr. Big’s most-played song on the platform.
Reddit contributors shared their nostalgic moments associated with Mr. Big’s song and discussed how iconic its members were.
Mr. Big performing at a video shoot on February 27, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois.“I always find it funny that this band has both one of the best guitarists and bassists from the hair metal genre and their biggest hit is this simple acoustic song,” one wrote.
“Underrated supergroup,” a commenter said.
“Love this song. This was one of the songs that was part of the death rattle of hair metal. I was so sad to see that genre fade away and make way for grunge and alternative,” a fan remarked.
“This song was always featured in those music compilation TV commercials,” a Reddit user recalled.
Written by lead singer Eric Martin when he was in his teens, “To Be With You” tells the true story of unrequited love he experienced.
“We were really, really good friends,” Mr. Big vocalist told Songfacts. “I was totally enamored with this woman. She was beautiful. Smart. I mean, brains, beauty, break down the walls, made me crawl on my belly like a reptile! I just loved this woman, but she just wanted to be my friend. She’d have tons of boyfriends, and maybe she misconstrued promiscuity for love. But I wanted to be the knight in shining armor. That’s what I was, a knight in shining armor. But basically, I didn’t get my feet wet. I wrote it about how I would have done anything to just be more than a friend and a confidante.”
The acoustic-driven anthem was part of their sophomore album Lean Into It and appeared as the record’s 10th track.
“To Be With You” was their ticket to a breakthrough after the song secured the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s biggest commercial success.
We Asked 4 Cardiologists the Best Stress-Relief Habit for Lower Blood Pressure and They All Said the Same Thing
We often think of stress as a “mental thing.” But your physical and mental health are intertwined—the mind is a part of the body, after all. And guess what? Stress can contribute to high blood pressure. In fact, in 2021, the American Heart Association released a statement linking high stress to elevated blood pressure.
“When you are stressed, your brain immediately triggers a ‘fight-or-flight’ survival response, flooding your body with hormones like adrenaline and cortisol that spike your heart rate and blood pressure, even in those with perfectly healthy hearts,” explains Dr. Nadim Geloo, MD, a cardiologist and the senior director of medical affairs for Abbott’s Structural Heart Division.
He warns that the effects of stress are more dangerous for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, like high blood pressure.
“Because their cardiac and vascular system may already be affected, this stress-induced hormone surge causes their blood vessels to stiffen and their arteries to narrow to a critical degree, which can increase the risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular events,” Dr. Geloo explains.
To be clear, he says it’s unnecessary (and impossible) to avoid all stress. In fact, some short-term stress can help us focus when preparing for tight deadlines or work presentations. It’s the chronically high stress that worries cardiologists, especially because of its effects on your blood pressure.
“Over time, this constant state of high alert takes a heavy physical toll on your cardiovascular system by elevating your heart rate, spiking your blood pressure and triggering widespread inflammation that can slowly damage and clog your arteries,” Dr. Geloo warns.
Stress relief habits can help lower blood pressure. But if time or money is a current life stressor, you may feel at a loss. Good news: We asked four cardiologists for their pick for the best stress-relief habit to lower blood pressure, and they all said the same thing. It’s something free, and even busy types can do it. Scroll on for their choice.
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The Best Stress-Relief Habit for Lower Blood Pressure, 4 Cardiologists AgreeDoing breathing exercises at least once daily at a time most convenient for you is the best stress-relief habit for lower blood pressure, according to four cardiologists. “I’m a big proponent of breathing exercises for my patients because they are a simple yet powerful tool for managing blood pressure,” explains Dr. Craig Basman, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Hackensack University Medical Center.
Three other cardiologists echo these sentiments, noting that breathing exercises tap into the mind-body connection and benefit your heart.
“Doing breathing exercises will stimulate the vagus nerve and lower production of stress hormones like adrenaline, which will then lower blood pressure in the body,” says Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center.
For the unfamiliar, the vagus nerve is your body’s longest nerve, acting as an “information highway,” the Cleveland Clinic points out. It connects the brain to other organs, including your heart. It’s also responsible for putting your body into a “rest and digest” state. When this state is activated, Dr. Geloo says our blood vessels naturally relax and widen.
“This response can result in lowered blood pressure as it allows blood to flow through your vessels more easily, reducing some of the strain on your heart.” Dr. Geloo tells Parade.
And, not for nothing: Anyone can do daily breathing exercises.
“It’s free and can be done anywhere—no equipment is needed,” notes Dr. Nishant Kalra, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company.
Related: This Daily Habit Is Secretly Damaging Your Arteries, Cardiologists Warn
3 Great Breathing Exercises for Lowering Blood PressureCardiologists say that breathing exercises are an excellent stress-relief habit to lower blood pressure. But what’s the best breathing exercise for blood pressure? It’s personal. Cardiologists shared three breathing exercises that may help with blood pressure.
1. Box breathingDr. Basman suggests doing box breathing by:
- Inhaling through your nose for a count of four.
- Hold your breath for a count of four.
- Exhale through your mouth for a count of four.
- Hold your breath for a count of four.
- Repeat this cycle for a few minutes.
Dr. Kalra explains how to do 4-7-8 breathing:
- Inhale for 4 seconds.
- Hold for 7 seconds.
- Exhale for 8 seconds.
- Repeat 3 times for four cycles to start.
To engage in diaphrmagmatic breathing, Dr. Basman says to:
- Lie on your back with your knees bent.
- Put one hand on your upper chest.
- Put the other hand on your belly, right below your rib cage.
- Inhale slowly through your nose, allowing your belly to rise. Keep the hand as still as possible.
- Tighten your stomach muscles. Let them fall inward while you exhale through pursed lips.
Related: This Popular Salad Dressing Ingredient Could Be Damaging Your Heart, Cardiologists Warn
3 More Great Stress-Relief Habits for Blood PressureBreathing exercises can relieve stress and manage blood pressure. Other habits are also helpful. Cardiologists share three of their other favorite stress-busting, blood-pressure-lowering habits.
- Regular physical activity. Dr. Chen says regular physical activity, such as brisk walking, relieves stress and boosts overall heart health, explaining, “The exercise helps release endorphins, which can improve your mood.”
- Yoga. Dr. Kalra loves how yoga combines breathing, movement and meditation, helping to lower blood pressure.
- Social activities. It’s so hard to keep track of friends and family, but it does your heart good. “Human-to-human connection and communication triggers many pathways that improve stress,” Dr. Geloo says.
Up Next:
Sources:- Dr. Nadim Geloo, MD, a cardiologist and the senior director of medical affairs for Abbott’s Structural Heart Division
- Dr. Craig Basman, MD, an interventional cardiologist with Hackensack University Medical Center
- Dr. Nishant Kalra, MD, an interventional cardiologist and the regional chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company
- Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
- Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation.
- Cardiovascular Reactivity to Mental Stress and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Journal of the American Heart Association.
- Relation between resting amygdalar activity and cardiovascular events: a longitudinal and cohort study. The Lancet.
- Vagus Nerve. Cleveland Clinic.
Hoda Kotb Reveals She Reconnected With a 'Really Cute' Man From Her Flight — and It Didn't End There
Hoda Kotb‘s co-hosts practically leapt out of their chairs when she mentioned meeting a man on a recent flight. During her Aug. 21 appearance on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones lit up at the mention of the encounter, with Jones immediately floating the idea of tracking him down.
Kotb tried to curb their enthusiasm, though, telling them that “this is not a real love connection or anything.” But the details she shared told a different story.
“It was the weirdest connection in the world,” the Joy 101 founder continued. “We were both crying. It was a strange… You know when you have one of those moments that everything is firing on all cylinders? It was.”
She explained that the man kept saying, “Is this a dream? Is this real?” When they landed, they went their separate ways, but that wasn’t the last she saw of him.
Fate Strikes Again in CannesKotb later ran into him again, this time at Cannes, where she’d traveled for business. He happened to be in the audience. They exchanged a quick “hello” and once again parted.
“That’s the end of the story?” Bush Hager asked in disbelief.
The former Today host revealed there was more to it: the two have since exchanged text messages. Even as Kotb kept insisting it wasn’t a love connection, she let slip that she finds him attractive—and confirmed he’s currently single.
Kotb’s Ongoing Search for Lasting LoveThe moment adds another chapter to Kotb’s ongoing journey toward love. She was married to Burzis Kanga from 2005 to 2007, and later got engaged to Joel Schiffman, with whom she shares two adopted daughters, Haley Joy and Hope. Though her engagement to Schiffman ended in 2022, Kotb has remained open about wanting to find lasting love.
View this post on Instagram“I don’t think I’ve ever really taken a deep dive into love,” Kotb wrote in her 2025 book, Jump and Find Joy. “I’ve had loving relationships, but I don’t think I’ve ever trusted that a person 100 percent has me, and that’s on me. It’s a vulnerable place to be and comes with the risk of being hurt. But it’s a risk I want to feel comfortable enough to take one day.”
Nearly 20 Years Later, Nicolas Cage’s Hit Franchise Is Finally Getting a Third Movie
Twenty-two years after the first movie and nearly 20 years since its sequel, National Treasure is finally getting a third film.
Starring Nicolas Cage, the action-adventure franchise will soon be returning to screens. Although plot details haven’t been revealed yet, National Treasure (2004) director Jon Turteltaub announced that a third movie is in the works, and Disney has approved the script.
“I was thinking about mentioning this tonight; I’ll say it tonight,” Turteltaub said during a live recording of the National Treasure Hunt podcast. “It’s happening. You’re the first people I have said this out loud to.”
Turteltaub continued, saying that things are “Hollywood real” right now.
“Meaning things can happen,” he explained. “Nic gets hit by a bus, there’s no National Treasure. If I get hit by a bus, there’s probably a National Treasure. Welcome to Hollywood, that’s Hollywood.”
Turteltaub said that they finally have a script that he likes and that Disney believes they can make. He continued, saying that one thing he’s concerned about is meeting expectations.
“You guys are going to be the worst audience of this movie,” he joked.
Although fans reacted with cheers and applause at the announcement of National Treasure 3, fans on social media have had mixed thoughts.
“We’ve been hearing this for years though that a script is being written, so I’ll believe it when I see filming begin,” one user commented on National Treasure Hunt podcast’s Instagram post.
However, others are excited for the new film, with one user commenting, “MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME! Thank you guys!”
“This is the greatest day of my life,” another said.
Cage has been confirmed to reprise his role as Ben Gates for the third film, but it’s unclear if other fan-favorite cast members like Justin Bartha (Riley Poole) or Diane Kruger (Abigail Chase) will return. A release date also hasn’t been revealed yet.
Watch the announcement here.
View this post on InstagramI Shop at Target All the Time—These Are the 6 Produce Items I Always Buy and 5 I Skip
When I think of Target, I don’t really think about grocery shopping. Maybe that’s because I live in New York City, where the only Targets are “city Targets,” which are about half the size of suburban Targets. Womp-womp.
Because of this, the produce section isn’t usually too fruitful (sorry) at my local Target. It’s pretty small, and a lot of the items are wrapped in plastic—something that I try to avoid when grocery shopping.
That said, whenever I stroll the aisles of Target, I always wind up grabbing a few items from the produce aisle—mainly because Target’s fruit and vegetables are usually incredibly well-priced!
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If you need speciality produce like fresh turmeric or passion fruit, Target probably isn’t your best bet—but you can always rely on Target to have all your basics when it comes to fruit and veg.
As someone who frequents my local Target, I thought I’d put together a list of the produce items I always buy from Target, as well as the produce items I usually skip. Keep reading for my recommendations!
Related: 5 Best Produce Items To Buy at Trader Joe’s (and 4 To Skip)
The 6 Best Items To Buy From Target’s Produce SectionHere are six of the best items in Target’s produce section that I recommend.
1. PlumsWhen plums are in season, I can often find loose, package-free and juicy plums in Target’s produce sections. Personally, I prefer when produce is loose, as it means there’s no wasteful packaging and I can pick out exactly which plums I want.
Plus, plums have a wealth of health benefits. They’re high in antioxidants, which can help lower inflammation and reduce your risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease, according to Healthline. Moreover, as the predecessor of the prune, plums can famously help alleviate constipation.
2. Good & Gather Sliced White MushroomsMushrooms almost always come in packaging, so you may as well buy the ones that are already cut for you! Good & Gather Sliced White Mushrooms are some of the most well-priced mushrooms I’ve seen, at just $2.59 per carton.
I’m a card-carrying mushroom girlie—I could eat mushrooms every day. And doing so isn’t a bad idea, either. Per UCLA Health, research has found that mushrooms can help improve gut health, support brain health and even reduce cancer risk.
3. Little Leaf Farms Romaine LeafLittle Leaf Farms Romaine Leaf is non-GMO, free of pesticides and grown in a greenhouse in the U.S. Basically, as far as boxed lettuce goes, it’s pretty gentle on the environment. Plus, this delicate romaine comes pre-washed and is usually priced really well, making it a no-brainer for summer salads.
Related: 9 Items To Buy From Aldi’s Produce Section and 6 To Skip
4. Good & Gather Steam-in-Bag Shaved Brussels SproutsIt’s pretty rare to find Brussels sprouts that are package-free in a grocery store—so rather than buy a mesh bag of whole Brussels sprouts, I prefer to buy something like the Good & Gather Steam-in-Bag Shaved Brussels Sprouts. These sprouts are washed, trimmed and ready to eat—and you can even steam them in the bag in your microwave.
That said, if you prefer to work with whole Brussels sprouts, next to these shaved sprouts you’ll find the Good & Gather Steam-in-Bag Brussels Sprouts, which are a better option for roasting in the oven.
5. Cal-Organic Farms Organic CilantroCal-Organic Farms Organic Cilantro is certified USDA organic and priced at less than $2 a bundle. That said, even though this cilantro is in a bag, you’ll need to wash it before use.
Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs—of course, it’s great in guacamole, but I also love to use it to top off curries, tacos and lime rice. Or, if I find myself with a surplus of cilantro, I like to throw together a green chimichurri herb sauce, which is pretty easy to make in a food processor or blender.
Related: The Genius Citrus Zesting Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner
6. Red OnionsMaybe I’m a nerd for having a favorite type of onion, but red onions are my favorite type of onion. I can never use up an entire bag of onions, so I always buy them loose, which also means I can pick out which ones I want. And at Target, red onions (as well as white onions and yellow onions) cost between 99 cents and $1.29 each, which is a bargain.
5 Target Produce Items To SkipConversely, there are a few produce items I never buy at Target, including the ones below.
1. Good & Gather Organic Hass AvocadosIf there’s any produce item you want to choose individually, it’s the humble avocado. Buying a mesh bag of four avocados often results in so much waste—not only in terms of packaging, but also in terms of the avos themselves. What are the chances these won’t ripen exactly when I want them to? Pretty high.
Personally, when I’m picking up avocados (and Target’s single avocados are usually fairly priced at around $1.49 apiece!) I buy three: one that’s perfectly ripe, one that’s a day or two away from being ripe and one that’s not ripe at all.
2. Earth Fresh Yellow PotatoesPotatoes are amazing. I actually just made some for dinner. But I didn’t buy them at Target, because the only options were bags of potatoes. Some of Target’s bags of potatoes are made partly of mesh, allowing shoppers to check out most of the contents—and I’m not totally opposed to that.
However, the Earth Fresh Yellow Potatoes come in an opaque bag, where the contents are completely obscured! Do you really want to risk schlepping a 5-pound sack of potatoes home only to discover that some of them are already going rotten? No, thank you. I’ll stick to other grocery stores with individual potatoes for my spud-related needs.
3. Good & Gather Fresh AsparagusIt might be hard to tell from my photo, but this bag of Good & Gather Fresh Asparagus is, frankly, huge. I’m admittedly not a big asparagus girl, but even if I was, I’d still think that this was way too much asparagus.
I appreciate that the stalks in this bag are washed and trimmed, but unless you’re making asparagus for a small army who intends to eat leftovers the next day, you’ll probably agree with me that this is too much asparagus.
Related: Aldi’s Sprite vs. the Name Brand: Which Is Better? (The Results Surprised Me)
4. Good & Gather Baby-Cut CarrotsIf you love baby carrots, then good. I’m happy for you. And you’re welcome to buy a bag of Good & Gather Baby-Cut Carrots. I’ll admit, it is nice that they come washed and ready to eat.
But personally, I just think baby carrots are a bit silly—mainly because they don’t stay fresh for as long as regular carrots. And they often get all slimy before you can finish the entire bag. Yuck.
My local Target doesn’t have loose carrots, which is how I prefer to buy them—so if I’m shopping at Target, instead of baby carrots, I’ll go for Target’s regular bag of grown-up carrots, which you can usually find beside the babies.
5. Good & Gather Sweet CornPre-shucked corn, like Target’s Good & Gather Sweet Corn, just never stays fresh for as long as unshucked corn. In fact, the best way to keep corn fresh is by cooking it immediately after it’s picked, according to Epicurious.
But since that’s not possible for those of us without farms, you can just leave your corn in its husk in the crisper drawer of your fridge for up to six days before enjoying. As Epicurious explains, the silky husk helps keep the kernels moist, which helps them stay fresh and sweet for longer.
However, if you do buy shucked plastic-wrapped corn, Epicurious recommends eating it within one day—and personally, I don’t want to live with the pressure to cook something in the next 24 hours after going grocery shopping. For that reason, I prefer to buy fresh corn from my local farmers market, or at least from a store that has unshucked corn.
Final Takeaways:If you’re looking for fair prices and no-nonsense fruit and veg, Target’s produce section might have everything you need.
- Target uses a lot of plastic. If you’re striving for zero-waste grocery shopping, steer clear of Target.
- You won’t find specialty produce at Target. Target’s produce aisle has things like apples and bananas, not fresh ginger and mangos.
- Target’s produce is well-priced. If you’re on a budget, Target’s produce section may meet your needs.
Up Next:
Related: I’ve Been Vegan for 8 Years—These Are the 28 Best Things To Buy at Trader Joe’s
Sources:- 7 Health Benefits of Plums and Prunes. Healthline.
- 7 health benefits of mushrooms. UCLA Health
- How to Store Corn for the Freshest, Sweetest Flavor. Epicurious.
Tom Brady’s Son Jack Has Fans Seeing Double in Emotional Birthday Tribute
Tom Brady’s oldest son is looking more like his famous father with every birthday.
The former NFL quarterback celebrated Jack Moynahan turning 19 on Saturday, August 22, by sharing a series of photos of the teenager on Instagram.
Brady also marked the milestone with an emotional message reflecting on the day Jack was born. “Happy 19th birthday, Jack! 🎉 Aug 22, 2007 is a day I’ll never forget, because that’s when you showed up and stole my heart (and my sleep… and my patience… hahahaha),” he wrote.
View this post on InstagramBrady went on to praise his son’s character, calling him “kind, thoughtful, empathetic, and full of love!”
“And I’m so proud of who you have become,” he continued. “You fill my heart with so much joy and I’m blessed to be your dad. I cant wait to see what’s next”
The post included several pics of the father-son duo together, but it was their resemblance that quickly became a major talking point among fans.
“Jack looks more like Tom Brady than Tom Brady,” one joked.
“I’ve never seen two people look more like than you and Jack! Look more like twins than twins look like twins!” another noted.
A third commented, “Does tom look like jack or does jack look like tom.”
READ MORE: Tom Brady Doesn’t ‘Understand’ Former Coach Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame Snub
The birthday comes just months after Brady and Jack’s mother, actress Bridget Moynahan, came together to celebrate another major milestone—his high school graduation. In June, Brady shared photos from the occasion, including a rare shot of Jack standing between both of his parents. The proud dad called the graduation “One of the proudest days of [his] life.”
Brady and Moynahan dated from 2004 until late 2006. Moynahan learned she was pregnant following their split, welcoming Jack in August 2007. The former couple has a successful co-parenting relationship through the years and have reunited for major moments in their son’s life.
Brady later welcomed two more children with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen: son Benjamin, 16, and daughter Vivian, 13.
How a Sports Psychiatrist Helped a Soccer Player Heal the Wounds Others Couldn’t See
For many people, exercise isn’t just a way to stay healthy, it’s a key part of managing their mental health.
There are several ways exercise leads to a better mood and contributes to warding off anxiety and depression. Some forms of exercise trigger the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters (specifically endorphins, dopamine and serotonin) that lower the stress hormone cortisol. This is an example of experiencing that “runner’s high,” you may have heard about. Exercise also fosters a sense of accomplishment, which builds confidence. It can also be a way to build community.
Related: 7 Signs of Depression Most People Miss, According to Mental Health Experts
This is especially the case for athletes who are part of a team. For Sophie Abbott, 22, playing soccer was a core part of her identity. Being an athlete was how she defined herself and the majority of her friends were her teammates. But when she experienced a devastating injury when she was 16, everything changed. Parade talked to Abbott about how her sports injury impacted not only her physical health, but her mental health, and how she healed both.
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‘It Sounded Like a Gunshot’Abbott, who is from Australia, started playing soccer when she was 11 years old. “Soccer has always meant pretty much everything to me. I’ve made so many important relationships playing and it’s really made me who I am today,” she says.
When she was 16, Abbott was in the middle of a soccer game when she blew out her knee. “I went to kick the ball and there was this loud crack. It sounded like a gunshot. It was the worst pain of my life and I blacked out,” she says. Abbott was immediately taken to the hospital, where she learned that she had torn her ACL, which is located in the center of the knee. “They told me I wouldn’t be able to play soccer for about 10 months,” Abbott says.
It was devastating news. While Abbott didn’t have to have surgery, she ended up going through almost a year of physical therapy, a long, frustrating process of not being able to do actions that were simple to her before. At first, even walking was painful.
The whole ordeal sent Abbott into a spiraling depression. “I felt like I had no purpose,” she says. Sixteen months after the injury, Abbott finally felt healed enough to return to soccer and she moved to Iowa on a sports scholarship. But her first game back, her worst imaginable fear happened: She blew out her knee again. Similar to the first time, Abbott had to undergo months of physical therapy. “It was five months until I could play again,” she says.
Abbott was recruited to play at Cleveland State University, so she moved to Ohio and started playing with a new team. But she felt herself holding back on the field. “I had PTSD and kept imagining injuring my knee again,” she says. That’s when her coach suggested she see a sports psychiatrist.
Related: 7 Signs of High-Functioning Depression, According to a Columbia-Trained Psychiatrist
Meeting a Doctor Who Actually Gets ItAbbott started seeing Dr. Lindsay Honaker, DO, a sports psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic. What Abbott didn’t know at the time was that Dr. Honaker knew firsthand what it was like to experience a devastating injury. Dr. Honaker, who is a bodybuilder, was in the final year of her residency when she fractured both heels while warming up for a competitive bodybuilding event.
“I couldn’t walk and was bedbound for months, living with my parents. I couldn’t even take care of myself, let alone work out. I was very sad and very anxious,” Dr. Honaker says. Her entire future was a question mark. She didn’t even know if she would be able to continue her residency. “I felt isolated and alone,” she says.
Like Abbott, Dr. Honaker’s recovery involved months of physical therapy. Slowly, she started reconnecting with other people and leaving the house in a wheelchair, such as meeting a friend for coffee. She eventually finished her residency and now works at Cleveland Clinic as a sports psychiatrist helping people mentally heal from devastating injuries, just like she did.
Abbott says that it was helpful for her to hear about Dr. Honaker’s experience firsthand; she truly understood what she was going through. With Dr. Honaker’s help, Abbott explored who she was outside of soccer.
“The whole experience also taught me to enjoy every second of playing soccer because you never know when it’s going to be taken away from you,” Abbott says.
Related: 7 Science-Backed Ways To Deal With Depression
How To Care for Your Mental Health After an InjuryEven if you aren’t an athlete like Abbott, experiencing an injury can lead to anxiety or depression. Not being able to exercise or move around the way you used to can be challenging to accept.
If you can relate, Dr. Honaker says to first know that what you are feeling is completely normal and understandable. “Experiencing a drastic change can be very upsetting and it’s okay to feel sad or even angry,” she says. While it’s important to allow yourself to mourn, Dr. Honaker warns against isolating yourself. “It’s still important to reach out to friends and family, even if it’s over text or the phone and not in person,” she says.
Dr. Honaker says it’s also important to take care of your physical health in ways other than working out. “Some people think, ‘well, if I can’t work out, then I’m just going to sit here and eat whatever I want because it doesn’t matter anyway,’” Dr. Honaker says, saying that she warns against this type of catastrophic thinking. Instead, focus on feeding yourself nourishing foods, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep—all of which support mental health.
If you’re really struggling with depression or anxiety, Dr. Honaker recommends reaching out to a psychiatrist or therapist, just like Abbott did. Therapy provides a safe place to explore how your injury is impacting your mental health and learn tools for how to cope.
Experiencing an injury impacts both physical health and mental health. The path to recovery should involve looking after both. That way, you can come back stronger than ever—both inside and out.
Up Next:
Related: Doctors Say This Is the Only Type of Magnesium Worth Taking for Anxiety
Sources- Hossain, N., Lee, J., Choi, H., et al. (2024). The impact of exercise on depression: how moving makes your brain and body feel better. Physical Activity and Nutrition. 28(2):43-51.
- Sophie Abbott, soccer player at Cleveland State University.
- Dr. Lindsay Honaker, DO, sports psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic.
1965 Rock Song, With Singer Nicknamed 'British Bob Dylan,' Became a Major Hit
In the spring of 1965, a young Scottish singer-songwriter arrived on the British music scene sounding enough like Bob Dylan to earn an almost immediate comparison.
Donovan scored his first major hit with “Catch the Wind,” a gentle acoustic ballad released when he was still a teenager. With his guitar, harmonica and folk-influenced songwriting, Donovan was quickly dubbed the “British Bob Dylan,” a nickname that followed him even as his music evolved far beyond those early comparisons.
“Catch the Wind” provided an easy explanation for the connection.
Built around acoustic guitar and harmonica, the song captured Donovan at his most intimate, with lyrics expressing an elusive longing for love.
“As a first song, and it was my first single, it is very well-crafted,” Donovan later reflected. “It is about a relationship that one can’t have. Lost love, love unrequited. and actually is about Linda [Lawrence, who became his wife], although I didn’’t meet her until a year later. So once again it was prophetic. and even though, if I say so myself, as a first song it is quite amazing. It is not naive in any way; it is very knowing.”
It arrived as the folk revival was flourishing on both sides of the Atlantic, and Donovan’s appearance and musical style inevitably drew parallels to Dylan, who was already transforming popular songwriting.
Donovan, however, never saw himself as simply Britain’s answer to an American star.
“In 1965, Bob and I were linked so tightly that they were calling me ‘the British Bob Dylan,’ but in actual fact it was Woody Guthrie who used to sling harmonicas around his neck and Guthrie was a big influence on both Bob and me in those early days,” Donovan told the Express decadse later. “That comparison with Bob Dylan was so wrong. It was Woody Guthrie I was emulating and it was Woody Guthrie that Bob was also emulating with the cap and the harmonica harness.”
“Catch the Wind” quickly proved Donovan could connect with audiences on his own terms.
Released as his debut single in 1965, the song climbed to No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It also found an audience in the United States, where it reached the Billboard Hot 100 and helped introduce Donovan to American listeners.
The breakthrough was only the beginning.
As the decade progressed, Donovan moved increasingly toward psychedelia, jazz and pop, producing a remarkably varied run of songs including “Sunshine Superman,” “Mellow Yellow,” “Hurdy Gurdy Man” and “Season of the Witch.” That experimentation ultimately made the early Dylan comparisons seem increasingly inadequate.
“‘Catch The Wind’ probably meant something to hundreds of people in the audience at one time in their lives and it’s interesting to see what it means now,” Donovan told Melody Maker in 1976. “Every year I seem to find the audiences getting younger, so it’s not the same people who always come to my shows year after year. My face looks young but my sound is ageless. I don’t know of any artists over the years who sing and play from the same position as myself.”
More than 60 years later, “Catch the Wind” remains a striking snapshot of Donovan at the very beginning of his career. The “British Bob Dylan” nickname may have helped introduce him, but the 1965 hit opened the door for a body of work that soon made Donovan unmistakably himself.
Related: 1978 Pop Song, Written by Barry Gibb, Became a Career-Defining No. 1 Hit
Motown Songwriter Janie Bradford Has Died at 87
Janie Bradford Hobbs, the songwriter behind Motown‘s first hit, “Money (That’s What I Want),” has died at 87 following an extended illness at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital, her family announced Saturday, Aug. 22, according to Rolling Stone. Born in Charleston, Missouri, before later moving to Detroit, Bradford’s path to music history began almost by chance, when neighbor and singer Jackie Wilson introduced her to a young Berry Gordy in the late 1950s.
What started as a receptionist job at Motown quickly became something much bigger. “She became Motown’s first receptionist, but her talents quickly took her far beyond that desk,” Gordy said in a statement. “Janie was smart, clever, witty, and fun. She was also talented and determined.”
That talent showed in 1959, when Bradford joined Gordy at the piano and added the now-iconic line, “Your love gives me such a thrill, but your love don’t pay my bills. Gimme some money baby!” The result, “Money (That’s What I Want),” became Motown’s first hit single and was later covered by both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, cementing its place as one of the most influential songs of the era. (*Later covers by both John Belushi and The Flying Lizards would give their own spin on the hit.)
Bradford’s songwriting reach extended well beyond that hit. Over her quarter-century at Motown, she co-wrote “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” for Marvin Gaye, “Your Old Standby” for Mary Wells, and songs for the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and the Temptations, helping shape the sound that defined a generation.
“Janie was one of a special group I have always thought of as the Original Motown Family – the unsung heroes who believed in the dream before anyone knew what Motown would become,” Gordy said, according to Billboard.
Bradford later led Writer Relations for Motown’s publishing company and founded the Heroes and Legends Awards, honoring music icons and funding scholarships for nearly 30 years. She was recently inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame and is survived by her husband, Wardean Hobbs, daughter Nicole Hobbs, son Lance Finney, and two grandsons.
Before there was a “sound of young America,” there was Janie Bradford – one of the unsung architects who helped write it.
Martin Scorsese Hid a Clever Nod to a Classic Gangster Movie in 'The Departed'
When Martin Scorsese made The Departed in 2006, he hid a visual clue throughout the movie that many viewers probably didn’t notice the first time.
The letter X repeatedly appears in the film’s architecture, lighting and production design, often just before a character is killed. There are X-shaped beams at Logan Airport, an illuminated X on a wall, taped windows forming Xs, an X behind Billy Costigan’s head in the elevator and an X pattern in the hallway before Colin Sullivan’s final confrontation.
The filmmakers weren’t simply decorating the movie with random Xs. Scorsese specifically asked production designer Kristi Zea to incorporate them throughout the film. Zea recalled that Scorsese wanted Xs used “wherever we could,” including on windows, walls and floors.
The idea was simple but effective: when you see the X, something bad is coming.
The motif works almost subliminally. Even if viewers don’t consciously register every X, the repeated visual language creates a feeling of danger and impending doom.
Scorsese Was Paying Tribute to ScarfaceThe most fascinating part is that Scorsese didn’t invent the idea.
The X was a deliberate homage to Howard Hawks’ 1932 gangster classic Scarface. In Hawks’ film, Xs similarly appear as visual markers associated with death. The motif could appear in the architecture, shadows or objects within the frame, turning an otherwise ordinary shape into a warning for the audience.
Scorsese was famously steeped in film history, so The Departed became an opportunity to quietly communicate with an earlier generation of filmmakers.
The result is a cinematic inside joke that works on two levels. Someone watching The Departed without knowing the reference can simply experience the growing sense of danger. A viewer who knows Scarface can recognize what Scorsese is doing: He’s borrowing a visual language from one gangster movie and bringing it into another.
That makes the X more than an Easter egg. It’s a piece of film history being passed from one director to another.
The X Makes The Departed Fun to Rewatch @brock.swinsonIn The Departed, Martin Scorsese places physical “X” marks before characters die as visual foreshadowing. Inspired by the 1932 gangster classic Scarface, which used Xs to mark violent moments, Scorsese instructed his production designer to include “a lot of Xs” throughout set design. The marks appear subtly in backgrounds, windows, walls, and lighting right before major deaths. Once noticed, this small detail becomes impossible to unsee throughout the film.
♬ original sound – Brock SwinsonThis is perhaps the best part of the trick.
Once you know about the X, The Departed becomes a different movie on a second viewing. Suddenly, the background matters.
The X doesn’t necessarily give away every death in a way that makes the plot predictable, but it creates an ominous visual countdown. The audience can start looking for the shapes and asking a very simple question:
Who’s marked for death?
The cinematography team worked surprisingly hard to make the motif appear naturally. Xs were created through architecture, set design and lighting, including shadows deliberately shaped into Xs.
That’s why the device has endured as one of the movie’s most discussed visual details. It rewards viewers who go back looking for something they missed the first time.
Related: 1956 Western Epic, With One of Cinema’s Greatest Final Shots, Ranked John Wayne’s Best Film
Scorsese Has Always Loved Movie HistoryThe X is also very representative of Scorsese’s filmmaking.
He has spent much of his career openly communicating with the movies that influenced him. Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, The Aviator and The Irishman are filled with visual, musical and thematic references to earlier cinema.
In The Departed, the Scarface tribute is particularly appropriate because the movie itself is a gangster story. But Scorsese has also borrowed from filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock, John Ford and Jean-Luc Godard. One documented example is Taxi Driver, which contains visual and thematic echoes of Ford’s The Searchers.
So the X isn’t an isolated gimmick. It’s part of a larger Scorsese habit: He makes movies while carrying decades of movies with him.
Other Directors Have Their Own Visual MotifsScorsese is hardly alone in using recurring visual ideas.
Alfred HitchcockHitchcock may be the ultimate example. Film scholars have identified numerous recurring motifs across Hitchcock’s films, including staircases, keys, handbags, art, guilt and confession. The motifs weren’t simply Easter eggs; they became part of the visual vocabulary Hitchcock used to explore recurring themes.
Stanley KubrickKubrick repeatedly used visual symmetry, geometric compositions, corridors and mirrors to create an unsettling sense of control and psychological disorientation. His films often feel as though the sets themselves are telling part of the story.
Wes AndersonAnderson’s visual motifs are considerably more obvious and playful. Symmetry, centered compositions, recurring colors, carefully arranged objects and distinctive costumes have become part of his instantly recognizable visual language.
Steven SpielbergSpielberg has also developed recurring visual ideas, particularly the use of silhouettes, light and framing to emphasize wonder, fear or isolation. His famous “Spielberg face”—a character looking upward in awe or terror—is almost a visual signature.
Christopher NolanNolan frequently returns to motifs involving clocks, circular structures, mirrors, doubles and distorted perceptions of time. In his films, the repeated imagery often reinforces the larger puzzle the audience is trying to solve.
That’s what makes motifs so much fun for movie audiences: Once you learn a director’s visual language, you start seeing movies differently.
The Lasting Legacy of Scorsese’s XNearly two decades after The Departed was released, the X remains one of those movie details that makes fans want to go back and watch again.
It connects a 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller to a 1932 gangster classic. It demonstrates how filmmakers can communicate with one another across generations. And it turns something as ordinary as a window frame, beam or shadow into a warning.
Most importantly, it gives The Departed an additional layer that doesn’t require dialogue to explain.
Scorsese didn’t need a character to announce that death was coming.
He just put an X in the frame.
Related: 1968 Western With an 11-Minute Intro Was Just Named the Greatest Movie Opening of All Time
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This Troubled Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Became 'Drinking Buddies' With a Beloved 'Little House on the Prairie' Star Before His Untimely Death at 27
Back in the day, before Charlotte Stewart ever became a household name with her breakout role on Little House on the Prairie, the ’70s sweetheart ran a little boutique in Los Angeles, Calif., smack dab in the middle of a budding rock n’ roll scene.
Her shop, called Liquid Butterfly, was across the way from Elektra Records, and one day, the lead singer of The Doors, Jim Morrison, took refuge within, sparking an unexpected acquaintanceship between the troubled rocker and the soon-to-be beloved actress.
One morning, Stewart arrived to work to find the “Riders on the Storm” singer gazing out of her window, looking out at the record label, she recently told her former costar, Patrick Labyorteaux, on an episode of his podcast The Patrick LabyorSheaux. “Do you mind if I’m here?” Morrison asked her, kicking off a whirlwind friendship that Labyorteaux describes “very close and fun.”
She and Morrison began going out with a handful of other unnamed folks, “walk[ing] down the street on La Cienega Blvd. [to] go out to lunch, have some drinks.” Then, it morphed into Morrison “basically [becoming her] drinking buddy, because he didn’t want to drink alone.”
“He would come into the store at five, six o’clock and say, ‘You want to go?’” she continued.
“And I said, ‘Okay.’ So we would go. Then he would get so drunk that I would have to drive him home,” Stewart recalled. “I didn’t want anything from him; he was my drinking buddy,” she emphasized. “So I took care of him.”
Morrison reportedly struggled with drug use, and had several run-ins with the law throughout his short career, becoming the first rocker to be arrested mid-performance, and racking up charges for lewd behavior, indecent exposure, profanity and drunkenness throughout his career, with Stewart helping him evade police once upon a time.
In a similar vein, The Doors were even banned from perfoming on one live TV show in 1967.
Eventually, two years before his death, the unlikely friends hit the road together for a “spicy adventure,” which is further detailed in her 2016 memoir memoir, Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl’s Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary X, and Me.
Morrison asked Stewart to get out of town with him when he needed a break, and they drove up the California coast together for four days, where he flew under the radar and enjoyed a little anonymity and peace before dropping her safely off at the store. It was the last time she saw him before he sadly died under uncertain circumstances at the age of 27.
Three years after his death, she went on to play the kindhearted schoolteacher, Eva Beadle-Simms, on the hit TV series Little House on the Prairie.
Hayden Panettiere's Estranged Mom Reveals Real Reason She Put Late Daughter in Show Business
Hayden Panettiere was just 8 months old when her mom, Lesley Vogel, decided to kick start her career in show business.
While their relationship struggled in later years, ultimately resulting in their estrangement, Vogel claims she never anticipated her daughter would make it a lifelong career.
“She started with Wilhelmina at eight months old because she’s a beautiful baby. I mean, really beautiful baby,” Vogel told Daily Mail on Saturday, August 22, nearly one week after her daughter’s death. “My thought then was, let her do some stuff, we’ll put it in her college fund, and she’ll go to college and she’ll have this. I never expected her to be a professional actor, never.”
Despite their troubled relationship, Vogel maintains that she was not an abusive parent.
“I was strong, definitely, but I was not abusive by any stretch of the imagination,” she continued. “I think that Hayden put a pressure on herself. I know that she has mentioned, you know, always had to please Mom, or make sure it was, you know, I succeeded or whatever. I didn’t put that on her. I think she put that on herself.”
As Parade previously reported, the Ice Princess actress was found unresponsive inside a Greenville, South Carolina, apartment on Sunday, August 16. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene.
After an initial autopsy did not find signs of foul play, an investigation into her death commenced.
The Remember the Titans actress opened up about her estrangement in her May 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, and later on an episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast.
“Whether or not my mom approved of my performance made or broke it,” she wrote. “I either got love and pride, or I got shame.”
At 19, after nearly two decades of being managed by her mother, Panettiere recalled telling Vogel, “I don’t want us to work together anymore. I just want you to be my mom.”
“I remember being hopeful,” she told Shetty. “But I also wasn’t expecting the reaction that I got, which was, ‘You owe me.’ And that’s all she said. And she walked out.”
1977 Hit, Written by David Bowie, Gets Named 'the Best Song of the 1970s'
Throughout the 1970s, music enthusiasts were treated to countless song releases that are now considered the classics. Because many view the ’70s as a decade when quite a few popular musical artists put out their most notable works, it’s difficult to narrow down the era’s very best. However, the publication Collider did just that and released a ranking of the “10 best songs of the 1970s.”
The list, released in July 2026, included ’70s hits like “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin from 1971, Fleetwood Mac‘s 1977 tune “Dreams,” 1975’s “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen, and Derek and the Dominos‘ “Layla” from 1970. According to the publication, “the best song of the 1970s” is David Bowie‘s 1977 hit, “Heroes,” co-written by Brian Eno.
During a 1977 interview, Bowie gave some insight into the song. Bowie noted that the 1977 Heroes album was produced in West Berlin, 12 years before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He said he had been “watching the Wall every day about 12 o’clock midday to about 1 o’clock” and noticed that “a boy and a girl would meet under the Wall, under the guard, under the gun, on a park bench.” Bowie surmised that the pair, whom he said would “kiss and cuddle,” “were carrying on some kind of affair,” which they possibly felt was “an act of heroism” due to their meeting location.
However, Louder reported that in a 2015 interview with Classic Rock, Bowie admitted he’d been inspired to pen the hit after becoming aware of his then-married producer Tony Visconti‘s affair with his German girlfriend Antonia Maass, “that he’d met while [they] were in Berlin.”
According to Louder, Bowie, who died in 2016 when he was 69, suggested that recording in West Berlin impacted his songwriting for his Heroes album during an interview.
“I find that I have to put myself in those situations to produce any reasonably good writing. I’ve still got that same thing about when I get to a country… I have to put myself on a dangerous level, whether emotionally or mentally or physically, and it resolves in things like that: living in Berlin, leading what is quite a spartan life for a person of my means, and in forcing myself to live according to the restrictions of that city,” said Bowie.
In addition, during the 1977 interview, Bowie said that recording in West Berlin, “about 30 or 40 meters away from the Wall,” gave him a “kind of friction that [he] need[ed].”
Trader Joe's Limited-Time $4 Breakfast Staple Is a Must-Try Addition to Your End of Summer Grocery List
With summer coming to a close, things can start feeling a little bittersweet. On the one hand, the change of season brings sweater weather, Halloween and beautiful autumnal colors, while on the other, our favorite summer flavors begin to take a back seat to cozy fall recipes.
While I for one would never turn down any of my favorite fall bites, it’s seasonal finds like Trader Joe’s Lemon Ricotta Pancake Mix that instantly have me wishing I could stretch summer out just a little bit longer.
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Lemon Ricotta Pancake Mix, $3.99 at Trader Joe’sCourtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller
Here till the end of September, this rich and creamy $4 mix brings together a satisfying combination of flavor and texture, pairing the mild, subtly sweet nature of ricotta cheese with the timeless appeal of a fluffy stack of pancakes. And after seeing it pop up enough times on my Explore page, I had no choice but to take advantage of its final month on shelves and see exactly what I’d been missing out on all summer long.
What I wasn’t expecting, however, was the moist and tender mouthfeel the simple addition of ricotta cheese would add to pancakes. And with a touch of lemon flavor mixed in, the mix delivers bright, citrusy notes in each bite, needing only milk, eggs and oil to bring it to life.
How to Make Trader Joe’s Lemon Ricotta PancakesCourtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller
Start by heating a skillet or griddle over medium-low heat and gathering a whisk, mixing bowl and measuring cups. Whisk one egg until well blended, then slowly whisk in half a cup of milk and two tablespoons of oil. When ready, fold in one cup of Lemon Ricotta Pancake Mix until just combined. The batter should be thick and lumpy.
Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller
Now for the fun part. Pour roughly a quarter cup of batter per pancake onto the hot pan and cook until the sides are just set and bubbles on top start to pop. Gently use a spatula to flip the pancake and cook the second side until golden brown. Between each pancake, start a stack on a serving plate, then add your preferred toppings once your stack is as tall as you want it to be. Serve warm and enjoy.
Related: I Made the Retro School Cafeteria Pizza We All Remember—Here’s Why It Still Holds Up
Is This One Worth Stocking Up On?Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller
Coming from someone who could probably devour pancakes on a daily basis for the rest of time, I feel a little biased in saying this mix absolutely blew my socks off. But I’d be lying if I told you anything otherwise. For starters, the batter comes together in a flash, needing just a couple of minutes of your time before you’re pouring it onto the hot skillet.
Secondly, these pancakes are seriously delicious enough to eat on their own. While butter, maple syrup, blueberries and some whipped cream are certainly excellent ways to elevate their taste, these soft and fluffy flapjacks are packed with a world of summer-adjacent flavors that really deserve to be enjoyed year-round.
Courtesy Nathan Hutsenpiller
So, if you’re asking me if you should pick up a box yourself, my answer is an unequivocal yes. In fact, I have half a mind to go and stock up on more boxes to help get me through the rest of the year.
Don’t waste any time sniffing out a box upon your next Trader Joe’s visit and give yourself one last decadent taste of summer before we head full speed into pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider and all things fall. While you’re there, also look out for Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mango & Passion Fruit Creme Thin Cups and Mandu Korean Kimchi Potstickers for more tasty bite ideas.
Related: Trader Joe’s New $3 Deli Chips Are a Dangerously Zesty Summer Sandwich Upgrade
Hairstylists Say This In-Shower Step Helps With Shedding and Scalp Issues While Encouraging Stronger, Longer Hair
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There’s no denying the conversation around hair loss has gotten louder. Scroll through social media or stroll down the beauty aisle and you’ll find an ever-growing lineup of supplements, serums, scalp treatments and high-tech gadgets promising to tackle thinning and shedding. And the interest isn’t just anecdotal: A Google Trends analysis found worldwide search interest for “hair loss treatment” rose roughly 204% between 2018 and 2023.
Whether the culprit is stress, genetics, a condition such as alopecia or even shedding associated with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the common denominator is the same: Hair loss can be incredibly frustrating.
When you’re constantly spotting more strands in the shower drain, your hairbrush or on your pillowcase, finding a solution can quickly become all-consuming, which is why we turned to experts in the hair space for answers.
“Scalp health is having its moment because we’re finally catching up to what dermatologists have known for years: your scalp IS skin, and it deserves the same level of care we give our faces,” Utah-based celebrity hairstylist and Laced Hair founder Lacy Gadegaard West, tells Parade. “You wouldn’t expect a garden to thrive in dry, neglected soil. Your scalp is the soil. If it’s clogged, inflamed or dehydrated, your hair simply cannot grow to its full potential.”
New York City-based celebrity hairstylist Jerome Lordet agrees.
“People are becoming more aware that healthy hair starts at the scalp,” he says, noting that clients are now “much more focused on long-term hair health rather than just styling.”
And while the right scalp products can help, he stresses that healthy hair isn’t solely an outside job: “It’s also important to remember that a balanced diet and hydration also play a big part in scalp health and overall hair strength.”
Related: This Simple Nightly Scalp Trick May Boost Hair Growth After 50
What In-Shower Step Can Help With Shedding and Scalp Issues?“One of the most important in-shower steps for reducing shedding and supporting stronger hair is properly cleansing the scalp to remove buildup, excess oil and dead skin that can disrupt hair health over time.” Lordet tells Parade.
The secret? Adding a little exfoliation to your wash-day routine.
Lauren Paglionico, master colorist and founder of LRN Beauty, swears by RŌZ Detox Clarifying Shampoo & Salt Scalp Scrub for gently clearing away buildup without overdoing it.
“It removes buildup in a gentle way without stripping your scalp of its natural protective oils,” she says. Even better, she notes that “it works on all hair types, textures and is safe for color-treated hair.”
For flakes, itchiness or more stubborn buildup, Paglionico suggests pairing it with RŌZ Willow Glen Pre-Wash Treatment Oil. “The oil helps break down buildup and works especially well for those who have flakes or itchiness,” she says.
Her advice: Use the oil once a week before going in with the scrub.
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Signs That You May Want To Include a Scalp Scrub in Your Hair RoutineNot sure if a scrub belongs in your routine? Your scalp may already be telling you. Beauty expert and Keranique Brand Ambassador Melissa Peverini says common signs include “a tight, sensitive scalp” or shedding that feels excessive.
Celebrity stylist (to stars like Emma Watson and Toni Collette) and owner of Cutler Salons Rodney Cutler concurs, pointing to dry, dull hair, an increase in split ends and flaking or buildup at the scalp as other telltale signs. His only caveat? Don’t overdo it.
“You don’t want to overuse these products,” he says, recommending a hair mask, scalp scrub or serum “once a week.”
Related: 11 Best Hair-Growth Serums for Thicker, Healthier Locks, Tested by Trichologists
How Long Before You Start Seeing Results?While scalp care isn’t exactly an overnight fix, you may see improvements sooner than you think once you make a buildup-busting exfoliator part of your shower rotation.
“Most of my clients notice a difference in how their scalp feels within the first week,” says West. “The itching stops, the flaking calms down and their scalp feels lighter and healthier.”
But before you slack off on your new desloughing program, remember that consistency is key. “For visible changes in shedding reduction and new growth, I tell clients to give it 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use,” she adds.
“Hair grows in cycles, so the products need time to influence the growth phase. Supplements and vitamins in particular need a full 90-day window to show their full impact,” West says. “Think of it like starting a workout routine: you feel better immediately, but the visible results take a few months.”
Related: 14 Best Scalp Serums for 2026, According to a Dermatologist
8 More Scalp Products That Reduce Shedding While Encouraging Growth, According to Hair ExpertsReady to take your healthy hair journey a step further? These are the scalp-supporting products our experts swear by.
1. Keranique Regrowth System, $49Amazon
Shop It on AmazonFor Peverini, tackling shedding starts with a clean, healthy scalp—and a routine that works together from wash day onward.
She calls the Keranique shampoo a “multi-task cleanser” that “strengthens the follicle” while gently removing buildup from styling products and minerals in water. Follow with the Follicle Strengthening Conditioner, which she loves for its peppermint sensation that “stimulates the scalp” while delivering “amazing scalp-friendly volume.”
Her preferred order? Start with Keranique Radiant Repair Oil as a pre-wash scalp treatment, then shampoo, exfoliate with the Keranique Scalp Therapy Manual Massager and finish with conditioner. Peverini recommends shampooing and conditioning at least three times a week, while the oil can be used as a weekly pre-shampoo treatment.
2. Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Minute Liquid Mask, $44Redken
Shop It on AmazonDry, stressed or breakage-prone strands need a little more TLC, and Cutler recommends swapping your standard conditioner for a moisturizing mask once a week. His pick is the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Minute Liquid Mask, which he says “does a great job to combat dry hair” and can be applied “from roots to ends or from midlength to ends” before rinsing.
3. Davines Naturaltech Energizing Seasonal Superactive, $62Davines
Shop It on AmazonWhen seasonal shedding hits, Lordet recommends reaching for Davines Naturaltech Energizing Seasonal Superactive and, most importantly, sticking with it. He says the targeted treatment is “best used consistently during periods of shedding” to give the scalp extra support when hair needs it most.
For Lordet, it all comes back to his signature wash-and-wear philosophy: keeping the scalp “clean and balanced” while preserving the hair’s natural texture and movement.
4. Davines Naturaltech Calming Superactive, $47Amazon
Shop It on AmazonIf your scalp is sending out an SOS, Lordet suggests Davines Naturaltech Calming Superactive, which he says can be used as needed whenever the scalp feels irritated or unbalanced.
Rather than overcomplicating your routine, Lordet’s approach is to restore balance while letting your natural hair do its thing. The goal, he adds, is hair that looks “effortless, healthy and easy to style every day.”
5. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density, $24Amazon
Shop It on AmazonYour skincare routine doesn’t have to end at your hairline. West loves applying this peptide-packed serum right out of the shower while her scalp is still slightly damp. Its lightweight blend of peptides, caffeine and biotinoyl tripeptide-1 supports the appearance of thicker, fuller hair without weighing down your roots.
“Think of it as your moisturizer step, but for your scalp,” she says. If thinning or excessive shedding is your main concern, West recommends making it a consistent part of your post-shower routine.
6. Drybar Detox Reset Revive & Restore Scalp & Hair Treatment, $33Amazon
Shop It on AmazonConsider this a reset button for oily, buildup-prone scalps. “One of my favorite in-shower products right now is the Drybar Detox Reset Revive & Restore Pre-Shampoo Cleanser because healthy hair really does start with a healthy scalp,” says Parker Carr, Drybar training and education specialist. “As someone who sheds constantly and has an oily scalp, this is the first place I start for a refresh.”
Carr especially loves this scalp treatment (that doubles as a hydrating mask) for creating the best foundation for a lasting blowout. The built-in nozzle makes it easy to apply directly to the scalp and massage in before raking the formula through your lengths and letting it sit for one to three minutes.
“When your scalp is balanced and clean, the style just holds better,” she says. Reach for it between salon appointments when your scalp needs some extra love—or your blowout could use more staying power.
7. Viviscal Women’s Hair Growth Supplements, $40Amazon
Shop It on AmazonWhile not technically an in-shower product, West pairs these scalp-supportive supplements with her shower routine because hair health is an inside-out game.
“Viviscal is one of the most clinically studied hair growth supplements out there, formulated with their proprietary AminoMar marine complex plus biotin, zinc and vitamin C,” she says. “They target the biological factors behind thinning and shedding at the follicle level, and after taking two tablets daily, most clients start noticing a difference within three to six months.”
8. Advanced Trichology HairStem Laser Cap, $895Advanced Trichology
Prefer a more hands-free approach to your healthy hair journey? Laser caps are one of the latest high-tech tools designed to encourage growth and help keep shedding at bay. “Equipped with state-of-the-art Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), this medical-grade device helps revive dormant hair follicles and stimulate new growth—right from the comfort of your home,” says William Gaunitz, FWTS, the certified trichologist who created the HairStem Laser Cap.
According to Gaunitz, the laser light helps stimulate circulation and cell turnover while decreasing inflammation, which can “directly improve the volume of hair being produced from the hair follicle” and help reduce shedding. He adds that improved microcirculation can also lead to a healthier, more balanced scalp microbiome.
And using it is just as effortless: Charge the cap, position it on your scalp, press a button and let it do its thing. Gaunitz recommends two 10- to 15-minute sessions per week for the first 90 days, leaving two to three days between treatments. After 90 days, bump sessions up to 15 to 20 minutes while sticking to the twice-weekly schedule.
Up Next:
Related: 11 Best Hair-Growth Serums for Thicker, Healthier Locks, Tested by Trichologists Themselves
Sources:- “Hair Loss Treatments: A Google Trends Analysis Worldwide of the Past 5 Years (2018–2023)”, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
- Lacy Gadegaard West, Utah-based celebrity hairstylist and founder of Laced Hair, one of the original luxury hair extension brands, whose work has been seen on Sabrina Carpenter, Alix Earle and Gwen Stefani.
- Jerome Lordet, NYC-based celebrity hairstylist and owner of Jerome Lordet Salon and founder of Love Is in the Hair, with a celebrity clientele that has included Sandra Bullock, Bianca Jagger and Jessica Simpson.
- Lauren Paglionico, NYC-based master colorist and founder of LRN Beauty, known for her expertise in balayage, blondes and maintaining healthy, natural-looking color.
- Melissa Peverini, celebrity hair designer and beauty expert located in Palm Beach, Florida, with more than 25 years of experience spanning editorial, red carpet, film and television.
- Rodney Cutler, celebrity hairstylist, Redken Brand Ambassador and founder of Cutler Salons.
- Parker Carr, Drybar training and education specialist.
- William Gaunitz, FWTS, certified trichologist, hair-loss expert and founder of Advanced Trichology.
'90s Seattle Rock Legend Would Have Been 59
Happy heavenly birthday to Layne Staley of Alice in Chains.
The Seattle rock legend would have been 59 today (Aug. 22), had he not died from a drug overdose in 2002.
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Layne Staley was born on Aug. 22, 1967, and went on to fame fronting the Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains but along with success came a drug habit that ultimately cost him his life. He was found dead from a mixture of heroin and cocaine at his home on April 5, 2002.
In an eerie coincidence, Staley’s body was found eight years to the day after Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain died from a self-inflicted gunshot on April 5, 1994, after he too battled drug addiction and struggled to come to terms with his newfound fame. Cobain’s body was found at his Seattle home three days later.
Singer Staley, guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Starr, and drummer Sean Kinney, formed Alice in Chains in early 1987. Two years later, the band was signed to Columbia Records.
Alice in Chains gained notice with the release of two EPs and their debut album, Facelift, in the early ‘90s, but the band really began to take off after a few of their songs were included in films. The track “Would?” turned up in Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles, which chronicled the love lives of a group of twentysomethings using the Seattle music scene as a backdrop. AIC also had two songs featured on the soundtrack to The Last Action Hero in 1993.
That set the stage for Jar of Flies, which became the first EP to top The Billboard 200 when it debuted at No. 1 the week of Feb. 12, 1994, knocking Mariah Carey’s Music Box from the top spot.
Alice in Chains hit the top spot again a year later with their self-titled album. Before he recorded that album with his main band, Staley experimented with the side project Mad Season, featuring Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, the Screaming Trees’ Barrett Martin and John Baker Saunders.
“Layne had pretty much creatively cleared himself with Mad Season, but that was ultimately good for this record,” Cantrell said in an interview for The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. “When you put yourself in the situation where you don’t know what the f–k you are going to do, you come up with some of your best work off the top of your head and off the cuff. Other than ‘Grind’ and ‘Over Now,’ the rest of the stuff was all just music and riffs that we pieced together in the studio.”
The strategy worked, giving Alice in Chains their second title to enter at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 the week of Nov. 25, 1995.
Sadly, the band could not continue that success, and Staley eventually succumbed to his drug addiction. However, Alice in Chains regrouped in 2006 with new frontman William Duvall and remains active to this day.