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When you meet someone new, early conversations naturally turn to past relationships. It is standard dating protocol to ask about previous partners, how long those relationships lasted and why they ultimately ended. During those early, butterfly-inducing weeks, hearing a new partner describe their exes as “crazy,” “unhinged” or “toxic” can even feel like a bonding experience. It is easy to assume they were simply unluckier than most in love and that you are the compassionate savior who finally sees their true worth.

However, mental health experts warn that when a partner routinely paints themselves as the helpless victim in every single past romantic chapter, you are not witnessing bad luck—you are witnessing a profound lack of accountability. A partner who takes zero responsibility for past breakups, framing every ex as a villain and themselves as a blameless target, exhibits what psychologists call a “victim complex.” While it may seem like harmless venting at first, this dynamic is actually one of the most toxic behavioral patterns you can encounter in dating.

The psychological underpinnings of this trait run deep. When someone consistently shifts blame outward, they signal an inability to engage in critical self-reflection or navigate constructive conflict. While it is certainly possible for someone to have had a string of difficult exes, a complete absence of personal ownership across multiple relationships is most likely a statistical anomaly and an emotional danger zone. Entangling yourself with a partner who maintains a victim complex means that eventually, when the honeymoon phase fades and inevitable relationship friction arises, you will inevitably become the next villain in their story.

Related: Avoid Using This Phrase That ‘Reinforces a Cycle of Pessimism,’ Psychologists Warn

Why a Lack of Accountability Destroys Relationship Foundations

A healthy, lasting relationship requires two people who are willing to look inward, recognize their own flaws and apologize when they cause harm. When a partner maintains a perpetual victim complex, that reciprocal foundation vanishes. According to licensed psychologist Dr. Brittany McGeehan, PhD, a partner who habitually blames all their exes is displaying an underlying pattern that usually points to an avoidance of conflict resolution and self-regulation.

“If someone has no long-standing connections or constantly paints themselves as the victim in past relationships, it usually points to a pattern of avoiding accountability or conflict resolution,” she explained. “Remember, we move toward what feels familiar—not healthy. So, if you notice this pattern with someone, be ready to inherit all that baggage and work if you get into a serious relationship with them.”

Related: Psychologists Are Begging Couples To Look Out for These 15 Signs of an Emotionally Immature Relationship

When a person convinces themselves that they bear no responsibility for past dynamic failures, they build an emotional defense mechanism designed to protect their ego at all costs. Any attempt to discuss current relationship issues with them will be met with defensiveness, deflection or gaslighting. Instead of listening to your concerns or acknowledging how their actions affect you, they will turn the tables to position themselves as the injured party once again.

How To Protect Your Emotional Well-Being and Navigate the Warning Signs

Recognizing a victim complex early in a relationship can save you from months or years of emotional exhaustion. Protecting yourself starts with listening carefully to how a partner speaks about their history—not just romantic exes, but former friends, coworkers and family members. If every story ends with someone else wronging them and no reflection on what they could have done differently, take note.

Related: 9 Things Unhealthy Couples Do During Disagreements, Therapists Warn

If you are already in a relationship with someone showing these behaviors, experts recommend stepping back to assess the dynamic objectively. Rather than absorbing their emotional distress or attempting to “fix” their past traumas, set firm boundaries around accountability:

1. Observe say-do correspondence: Pay close attention to whether their actions align with their words over time. As Dr. McGeehan noted, observing behavior over speech reveals whether a partner is genuinely open to self-growth or merely using persuasive language to avoid accountability.
2. Refuse to take the blame: When conflict arises, stick firmly to the facts of the current situation. Resist the urge to over-apologize just to keep the peace when a partner shifts focus to play the victim.
3. Encourage professional support: Overcoming deep-seated blame patterns requires deep self-reflection. Individual or couples therapy is essential if a partner genuinely wants to break their destructive cycle.

Adapted from Parade’s “The 6 Most Overlooked Red Flags in a Relationship, According to a Psychologist” by Beth Ann Mayer.

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• Dr. Brittany McGeehan, PhD, is a licensed psychologist.

Before viral marketing took over the internet, one low-budget horror movie managed to convince audiences that its terrifying story might actually be real.

The Blair Witch Project, released in 1999, followed three student filmmakers who disappeared while investigating a local legend in the woods of Maryland. Presented as footage supposedly recovered after their disappearance, the movie felt disturbingly authentic, and its marketing campaign helped make the mystery even more convincing.

More than 25 years later, fans may still be surprised by just how far the filmmakers went to sell the illusion.

Was ‘The Blair Witch Project’ Actually Real?

No, but the filmmakers made sure audiences had plenty of reasons to wonder.

Directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez built an elaborate fictional backstory around the Blair Witch legend. The film’s promotional website featured supposed investigative materials, while missing-person posters and reports about the three filmmakers helped reinforce the idea that the events had really happened.

The actors—Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams—even used their real names in the movie. Around its release, their online profiles were listed as missing or presumed dead, further blurring the line between the film and reality.

In fact, all three actors were alive, and the story was fictional. The campaign was so effective that contemporary reports documented viewers questioning whether the movie was a true account.

The Performances Were More Real Than You Might Expect

Although the story was made up, the production relied heavily on improvisation. The actors operated their own cameras and built much of their dialogue around situations devised by the filmmakers, helping their performances feel less like traditional scripted horror.

That approach, combined with shaky footage, nighttime scares and the decision to keep the titular witch largely unseen, made the movie feel unsettlingly plausible.

The result became a landmark in found-footage horror and demonstrated how the internet could turn a movie’s fictional mythology into a cultural phenomenon.

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Anyone who has planned a Disney vacation recently knows the drill: 60 days before your trip, your alarm goes off at dawn so you can scramble into the app and try to snag a coveted table at hot spots like Blue Bayou or Cinderella’s Royal Table. If you book your vacation inside that two-month window—or miss that 6:00 a.m. drop—it usually feels like you’re completely out of luck.

Emily Midgley, news editor and writer at Disney planning hub Mickey Visit, says travelers don’t actually need to panic when their dream restaurants show zero availability.

“Nine times out of ten, I am planning a Disney trip less than 60 days out, which means that spots for the most coveted dining experiences have been snatched up,” Midgley writes. “However, I’ve learned not to panic in these situations if I have my heart set on a certain restaurant. Many guests don’t realize there are reservation watching services that automatically monitor reservations for you.”

Related: Top 5 ‘Fancy’ Disney Spots That Will Make You Forget You’re at a Theme Park

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Rather than spending your days manually refreshing the My Disney Experience or Disneyland apps hoping someone cancels, Midgley points to automated notification services that do the heavy lifting for you in the background.

Her go-to platform is Mouse Watcher, a paid alert service with searches starting at $5 that sends instant text and email pings the exact second a reservation opens up.

To show how well it works, Midgley put it to the test on a recent Disneyland trip after finding zero open tables at Blue Bayou, the notoriously hard-to-book waterfront restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. She set up an alert just five days before her visit and received nearly 60 cancellation notifications before stepping into the park.

“I basically had my pick of whichever time I wanted,” Midgley shares. “At one point, I asked my partner, ‘Do you think we should change our 1:10 reservation to 1:20? We have the option.’ I would say that outcome was well worth the $5.”

Related: This Is The One Disney World Restaurant I Never Skip As An Adult Without Kids

For travelers who prefer a free alternative, Midgley recommends Mouse Dining, which lets you track up to six active restaurant searches simultaneously and sends email notifications whenever someone drops a slot. While free email alerts can sometimes get snapped up quickly by other eagle-eyed diners, it remains a solid budget-friendly backup.

The influx of last-minute openings comes down to Disney’s strict cancellation policy: guests must cancel table-service reservations at least two hours in advance to avoid a per-person penalty. As park-goers adjust their daily plans or leave early, dozens of prime slots quietly resurface right before meal times.

For Midgley, utilizing smart tools like alert monitors is part of a broader pushback against the myth that Disney requires an exhausting, military-level schedule to enjoy. On that same trip, her group skipped the crack-of-dawn rope drop rush entirely, strolling into the park at 11:30 a.m. and riding every headliner simply by continually using the Lightning Lane modification feature in the app.

With the right digital safety nets in your corner, booking late or skipping the 6:00 a.m. reservation dash doesn’t mean settling for quick-service burgers—it just means letting technology do the hunting while you pack your bags.

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Bertie Higgins’ “Key Largo” is getting another moment in the spotlight, more than four decades after it became his signature hit.

The romantic soft-rock song was recently featured in Grunge’s list of the five best soft-rock one-hit wonders, published Oct. 20. Inspired by the 1948 Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall movie of the same name, “Key Largo” turned Higgins into an unlikely chart success in 1982 and drew from a love story of his own.

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But while the song remains his most famous recording, Higgins has found a new reason to celebrate: At 81, the singer-songwriter returned to the Billboard charts this year.

‘Key Largo’ Became an Unexpected Hit

Higgins released “Key Largo” in 1981, blending a breezy, tropical sound with lyrics about lost love and the desire to recapture a romance. The song reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, spent 17 weeks in the Top 40, and topped Billboard‘s Adult Contemporary chart.

Grunge’s recent ranking praised the track’s nostalgic references to Hollywood’s golden age, along with Higgins’ gravelly vocals and melancholy piano.

The song’s inspiration came from Higgins’ relationship with Beverly Seaberg, whom he later married. The couple had spent weekends watching old movies, and Higgins was particularly captivated by Bogart and Bacall’s real-life romance.

When the pair split temporarily, he turned to songwriting to express his heartbreak.

“This song was inspired by the true love of my life, Beverly,” Higgins told The Huffington Post in 2017. “We spend a great deal of time in the Florida Keys swimming in the turquoise water in the day time and watching old black and white movies at night. Bogart was our favorite.”

The song helped bring them back together.

“We split up and the pain that I went through inspired the song,” Higgins recalled. “We got back together with the success of ‘Key Largo,’ married and had two wonderful boys.”

‘Key Largo’ Knocked Kenny Rogers From No. 1

“Key Largo” did more than become Higgins’ signature hit.

In March 1982, it reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, ending the run of Kenny Rogers’ “Through the Years” at the top.

Higgins’ romantic ballad held the position for two weeks before Vangelis’ “Chariots of Fire” took over. Mentioned above, the song also climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing its place among the defining soft-rock hits of the early 1980s.

Bertie Higgins Returns to the Charts

Although Higgins continued making music after “Key Largo,” he never returned to the U.S. Top 40. Until this year.

In 2026, his song “A River,” inspired by a line from the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia, debuted at No. 29 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart in August.

“I’m hoping that it’s just the beginning,” Higgins told Spectrum News in October, discussing his return to the charts and his plans to keep writing music.

For a singer whose best-known hit transformed a real-life breakup into a cinematic romance, the renewed attention offers a fitting reminder: Sometimes a song can find its audience again, even after 44 years.

Related: 2009 Indie-Rock Hit, Inspired by Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, Turned a Movie Star Into a Rock Star

Bethenny Frankel isn’t letting Andy Cohen‘s latest comment slide, but her fiery response to the Real Housewives executive has sparked a debate among fans about who really owes their success to whom.

The Real Housewives of New York City OG took to Instagram on October 25 after Cohen seemingly brushed off bringing her back to the franchise during Bravo Fan Fest. Frankel claimed the longtime Bravo personality took a swipe at her, and she wasn’t about to let it go unanswered.

“Well, Andy Cohen took a swipe at me on a panel, so let’s take the bait,” Frankel said in a video shared on Instagram.

According to Frankel, Cohen was asked whether he would ever bring her back to RHONY. She claimed he responded, “I’m not really that active on TikTok.”

In an X video shared by Taste of Reality, a fan asked a panel whether Frankel would return to the Big Apple series. Carole Radziwill, who was also on the panel and had a hot-and-cold friendship with Frankel on the show, said she didn’t know if Frankel could return and hadn’t spoken to her in “many, many years.” Radziwill then turned the question over to Cohen, who made the TikTok comment that prompted Frankel’s response.

Frankel wasn’t impressed with the remark, suggesting Cohen’s career hasn’t evolved much since her departure from the franchise.

“He’s still sitting in the same place I left him,” she said. “The only thing that has changed are the ratings.”

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Frankel also took a swipe at Cohen’s relationship with Bravo, contrasting his career with the former Housewives who now star in E!’s The Golden Life.

“He’s living the stainless steel life over on Bravo,” she said, adding that she and her fellow former Housewives are making money on their own terms.

Frankel posted along with the video: “Minding my own business and I get sucker punched… if you’re gonna take a shot at this B…”

But Instagram commenters weren’t unanimously cheering her on.

One commenter questioned whether Cohen’s TikTok remark was even intended as an insult, writing, “Maybe it’s just really late and my adderall has wellllll worn off, but was him saying the thing about TikTok suppose to be an insult? Truly – need to know.”

Another fan took issue with Frankel’s criticism of the man who helped launch her reality TV career. “If it wasn’t for u being on bravo nobody would know who u are,” the commenter argued, earning hundreds of likes.

Others agreed, with one writing, “He gave you everything.”

Another urged Frankel to take the high road, arguing that Bravo and Cohen played a significant role in her success.

Still, Frankel had plenty of supporters. One commenter praised her independence, writing, “The ultimate flex isn’t being invited back to the table — it’s realizing you no longer need a seat.”

That remark received more than 900 likes, while another fan enthusiastically backed Frankel, declaring, “Where did Bethenny lie?!”

Others came for Cohen, with one commenter claiming he had “lost his mojo.”

Marion Ross is celebrating her 98th birthday today, more than four decades after she became one of TV’s favorite moms.

The Happy Days star was born October 25, 1928, and she has been enjoying a quieter life away from Hollywood in recent years. Her son, actor Jim Meskimen, gave fans a sweet glimpse of her ahead of the big day, posting a throwback video of the two of them working on a voice audition together, in which she tries to say “Poughkeepsie.”

He also shared an update during an October 17 appearance on Popp Talk, saying his mom is doing well at home and still enjoying life.

That fits the attitude Ross has shared about growing older. “I just do whatever I want to do, and I’m free,” she said in a video Meskimen posted several years ago.

Ross was born Marian Ellen Ross in Watertown, Minnesota. At 13, she changed the spelling of her first name to “Marion” because she thought it looked better and would read nicely on a theater marquee.

She made her film debut in 1953’s Forever Female, and her TV career started the same year, with a role as an Irish maid.

Her big break came in 1974, when she was cast as Marion Cunningham, the warm and steady mom to Richie and Joanie on Happy Days. She appeared in all but two episodes of the series’ 10-season run, which ended in 1984. She later played Mrs. C again on the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi and in a voice role on Family Guy.

Younger fans may also know her as Drew’s mother on The Drew Carey Show and as grandma Bernice Forman on That ’70s Show.

Off-screen, Ross is a proud mother of two. She shared many years with her late partner, actor Paul Michael.

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” arrived in 1991 and changed the course of rock music. Because of its distorted guitars, its intense chorus and Kurt Cobain’s highly recognizable voice, it expressed a sensation which many young listeners had difficulty putting into words.

More than three decades on, it is still among the most influential rock songs ever recorded, even though Cobain later became uncomfortable with the attention the song brought him.

The track was released as a single on September 10, 1991, and became the breakthrough hit from Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind. The group, consisting of bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl, had already gained a following within the alternative music scene, but it was the song that brought their sound to a far wider audience.

Apart from being a hit, the song helped propel the group into the mainstream.

The song’s attractiveness stemmed in part from the contrast it presented; the verses are relatively subdued while the chorus features heavy guitar riffs and strong drumming. It was famously difficult to pin down Cobain’s lyrics, and this ambiguity contributed to the song’s appeal to listeners. Instead of giving a direct account of teenage life, he conveyed the confusion and contradictions involved in growing up, showing sarcasm, anger and a sense of detachment, yet the music was powerful enough to turn those emotions into a shared experience.

Which is why “Smells Like Teen Spirit” came to be known as an anthem for apathetic youngsters.

However, Cobain had rather complex feelings regarding the song’s success. While speaking to Rolling Stone in 1994, the vocalist said that the song’s popularity had meant that other Nirvana tracks which in his opinion were just as good, such as “Drain You”, were overlooked. Moreover, he noted that he could “barely get through” playing the song live.

“I literally want to throw my guitar down and walk away. I can’t pretend to have a good time playing it,” Cobain said before stating that he was “tired of being embarrassed by it.”

The frustration therefore contributes an additional dimension to the song’s legacy. Cobain didn’t need “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to be a perfect expression of his artistic aspirations in order for it to strike a chord with millions of people; it was actually the song’s imperfections, contradictions and raw energy that made it such a sensation.

The band provided a generation with a song that mirrored their attitude rather than attempting to justify it. That’s why the success of the song played a key role in introducing grunge to a wide audience and resulted in Nevermind becoming a landmark album.

Its reputation has also been maintained by critics, with NME naming “Smells Like Teen Spirit” the best song of all time in 2014 and Rolling Stone ranking it at No. 5 on its 2021 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. These rankings are just a glimpse of the song’s permanent position in rock history.

However, one of the primary reasons why the song became such a huge hit is because of the effect it has on people; the opening guitar riff is still immediately identifiable, the chorus still encourages a loud group singalong, and its depiction of youthful dissatisfaction keeps resonating with audiences across generations.

Although “Smells Like Teen Spirit” began life as a rebellious alternative-rock song, it has since become something far more significant: a reminder that even apathy is capable of bringing people together and even though Cobain felt embarrassed by it, the track remains one of the glowing examples of Nirvana’s genius.

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There is something about a vintage recipe that immediately makes me want to try it, especially when it involves a punch bowl, a few unexpected ingredients and a whole lot of nostalgia. I’ve been having so much fun revisiting recipes from decades past, and with Halloween right around the corner, I knew I wanted to find something festive that felt like it came straight out of a 1970s Halloween party. Enter Witches’ Brew Punch.

I kept seeing this old-school Witches’ Brew Halloween Punch recipe popping up all over the internet, and I had to know if it was actually as good as people remembered. The recipe, shared by Leigh Anne Wilkes of Your Homebased Mom, dates back to the ’70s or ’80s and is about as nostalgic as it gets. But does a decades-old party punch still hold up today? I decided to make it myself and find out.

The ingredient list is wonderfully old-school: sherbet, pineapple juice, lime juice and ginger ale or lemon-lime soda. That’s it! No complicated prep, no fancy bartending equipment and absolutely no need to spend an afternoon in the kitchen.

What really caught my attention was the promise of that bright and bubbly concoction. As the sherbet melts into the soda, the whole thing transforms into a frothy, fizzy beverage that looks like something a witch might actually be brewing in her cauldron.

And the best part? This non-alcoholic Halloween drink is something both kids and grown-ups can enjoy, making it a fun addition to just about any spooky gathering.

Related: A Professional Chef Says These 3 ‘Old-Fashioned’ Desserts From the 1940s Are the Definition of Nostalgia

Why This ’70s Witches’ Brew Is Still the Ultimate Halloween Drink

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

There is a reason sherbet punch has been a party staple for generations. It’s affordable, feeds a crowd and requires almost no actual cooking. It’s the type of recipe that feels instantly familiar, even if you haven’t had it in years.

This particular Witches’ Brew Punch takes that classic vintage sherbet punch formula and gives it a Halloween makeover, as the carbonation produces a foamy topping that looks like it’s bubbling right out of a witch’s cauldron.

Unlike elaborate Halloween cocktails that require specialty syrups or multiple garnishes, this recipe uses four easy-to-find ingredients. You can assemble it in about five minutes, which is exactly what I want when I’m already juggling party food, decorations and everything else that goes into hosting.

And because the base recipe is alcohol-free, it’s a great option for family Halloween parties, classroom celebrations or neighborhood gatherings.

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The 4 Core Ingredients for the Perfect Halloween Punch

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

The beauty of this witches brew punch recipe is how little you need to create something that looks so dramatic.

Based on Leigh Anne Wilkes’ vintage inspired recipe, you’ll need:

• 46 ounces pineapple juice, chilled: This provides the fruity, tropical base and a little acidity to balance the sweetness.
• 1 quart lime or rainbow sherbet: The star ingredient that gives the punch its signature creamy, frothy finish.
• 2 liters ginger ale or lemon-lime soda: The carbonation creates that bubbling effect while adding sweetness.
• 1/4 cup lime juice: A little extra tartness to brighten the entire punch.

You’ll also want a large punch bowl, preferably something that is festive…bonus points if it looks like a cauldron.

The original recipe makes approximately eight servings, depending on how generously you fill the glasses.

Related: I Tried 8 Popular Sprite Flavors and the Winner Won by a Landslide

The Best Sherbet To Use (Lime vs. Rainbow)

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

If you’re going for the classic green Halloween punch appearance, lime sherbet is absolutely the way to go.

Not only does it give the drink its bright green color, but it also adds a sweet-tart citrus flavor that works beautifully with the pineapple juice and soda.

Rainbow sherbet is a fun alternative if that’s what you can find at the grocery store (which is what I did!), but keep in mind that it gives it more of a unicorn/rainbow vibe than sludge.

Related: How to Make Sprite Taste 10x Better

Choosing Your Fizz (Ginger Ale vs. Lemon-Lime Soda)

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

One of the easiest ways to customize this vintage Halloween punch is by switching up the soda.

Ginger ale gives the drink a slightly more complex flavor, thanks to its gentle ginger notes. It’s a nice choice if you want something that doesn’t taste quite as candy-sweet.

Lemon-lime soda, like Sprite or 7UP, gives the punch a sweeter, brighter citrus flavor. It’s also a great option for a kid-friendly Halloween party.

Either way, make sure your soda is nice and cold before adding it to the punch bowl. You’ll get the best bubbles when you pour it in just before serving.

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How To Make Witches’ Brew Punch (Step-by-Step)

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

This is easily one of the simplest Halloween party drinks you can make, and the whole process takes about five minutes.

Step 1: Chill your ingredients. Make sure the pineapple juice, lime juice and soda are well chilled before starting. This helps keep the punch cold without needing to add a bunch of ice that could dilute the flavor.

Step 2: Combine the juices. Pour 46 ounces of chilled pineapple juice and 1/4 cup lime juice into a large punch bowl or food-safe cauldron.

Step 3: Add the sherbet. Scoop one quart of lime sherbet directly into the punch. You can add it in large scoops or smaller portions spread across the top.

Step 4: Pour in the fizz. Slowly pour two liters of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda over the sherbet. This is where the magic happens! As the soda hits the sherbet, the punch starts to bubble and foam.

Step 5: Serve immediately. Give everything a gentle stir if needed, then ladle the frothy punch into glasses.

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

One important tip: Wait until right before serving to add the sherbet and soda. If you make the whole thing too far ahead, you’ll lose some of that dramatic bubbling effect.

You can, however, mix the juices ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until party time.

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Spooky Upgrades: Dry Ice, Cauldrons and Gummy Worms

This punch is already pretty festive on its own, but there are plenty of ways to make it even more Halloween-ready.

Serve it in a cauldron. Swap your everyday punch bowl for a food-safe black cauldron or place a clean serving bowl inside a decorative cauldron. It’s such an easy way to turn the punch into a centerpiece.

Add gummy worms. Drape gummy worms over the rims of the serving glasses for a creepy-crawly garnish. You can also place them on skewers or picks for guests to add to their own drinks.

Create a dry ice effect. For that spooky, foggy cauldron look, dry ice can be used in a separate, isolated compartment beneath or around the punch bowl. Never place loose dry ice directly into drinks that guests can serve themselves. Dry ice can cause serious injuries if touched or swallowed, so it needs to stay completely separated from the beverage.

Even without the special effects, the combination of melting lime sherbet and fizzy soda creates plenty of that signature bubbling, frothy punch appearance.

Related: I Tried Apple Cider Donut French Toast, and It Might Be the Best Fall Breakfast I’ve Ever Made

How To Spike It for an Adult Halloween Party

Courtesy Jeanette Donnarumma

One of the things I love about this recipe is that it’s already a perfect non-alcoholic Halloween drink, so everyone can enjoy it.

But if you’re hosting an adults-only Halloween party, it’s also easy to turn this into a cocktail.

Vodka is probably the simplest addition because its relatively neutral flavor won’t compete too much with the pineapple and lime.

White rum is another great option, especially if you want to lean into the tropical flavors of the pineapple juice.

For a more citrus-forward variation, you could use a lemon or lime-flavored vodka.

Whether you’re making it for kids, adults or a combination of both, this old-school Witches’ Brew Punch is proof that sometimes the simplest vintage recipes really do deserve a comeback.

I went into this thinking it would be one of those vintage recipes that’s more fun to look at than actually drink, but I was pleasantly surprised! I really liked it. The sherbet gave it a creamy, citrusy flavor, while the pineapple juice added just enough tartness to balance out the sweetness. And the frothy, bubbly topping made it feel extra festive without any additional effort.

It’s definitely sweet, but in that nostalgic, old-school party punch kind of way. I also love that you can make a big batch in minutes with just four ingredients. This is one vintage recipe I can absolutely see making again, especially for a kids’ Halloween party. Sometimes the classics really do hold up!

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Sweet potatoes come in several colors, flavors and textures, from the familiar orange-fleshed kind that turns soft and creamy when baked to purple-skinned varieties with a dense, chestnut-like interior. Some are especially good for mashing, while others hold their shape better when roasted or cut into fries.

The differences often come down to the variety’s flesh color, moisture content and starchiness. The USDA Agricultural Research Service notes that sweet potatoes with different flesh colors can offer distinct textures, aromas and sweetness levels. Here are seven types of sweet potatoes to look for and how to use them.

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Types of Sweet Potatoes and How To Use Them

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1. Beauregard Sweet Potatoes

Beauregard is a widely grown variety with reddish-purple skin and deep orange flesh. Developed by Louisiana State University researchers, it became popular because of its adaptability and reliable yields. The flesh is moist, sweet and sometimes slightly stringy, making it a familiar choice for everyday sweet potato recipes.

According to Serious Eats’ guide to sweet potato varieties, Beauregard’s juicy texture makes it well-suited to mashing and desserts. Its orange color also comes from beta-carotene, a pigment that the USDA identifies as abundant in orange-fleshed varieties.

Best Ways To Use Beauregard Sweet Potatoes

Beauregard is a good all-purpose option for baked sweet potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes and casseroles. Its moisture helps produce a smooth mash, while its natural sweetness works well in pies, muffins and quick breads. For a savory side, roast cubed Beauregard sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt and spices until browned.

Related: 8 Incredible Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes—And How They Stack Up Against White Potatoes

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2. Jewel Sweet Potatoes

Jewel sweet potatoes have orange skin and orange flesh, although the skin can appear copper-colored depending on the particular strain. They’re moist and sweet but are often described as somewhat less sweet than Beauregard. Their soft texture after cooking makes them a useful choice for recipes that call for tender flesh.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s produce guide identifies Jewel as a variety used for baking, boiling and casseroles. Like other orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, it develops a tender interior when cooked thoroughly.

Best Ways To Use Jewel Sweet Potatoes

Use Jewel sweet potatoes for casseroles, baked sweet potatoes and mashed sides. They’re also a good choice for soups, where their soft flesh blends easily into a smooth base. For a savory preparation, try roasting them with garlic and herbs, or use them in a sweet potato casserole topped with pecans.

HausOnThePrairie/Canva

3. Garnet Sweet Potatoes

Garnet sweet potatoes are recognizable by their dark reddish-purple skin and vivid orange flesh. They’re often sold under the name “red yams” in American grocery stores, but they’re sweet potatoes rather than true yams. Their flesh is especially moist and sweet, giving them a softer texture than starchier varieties.

As Serious Eats explains, Garnet is one of the common supermarket types, with a moist interior that works well in baked and mashed dishes. The name can refer to a market type rather than a single standardized cultivar, so appearance and texture can vary somewhat between stores.

Best Ways To Use Garnet Sweet Potatoes

Garnet sweet potatoes are particularly good for baking and mashing. Their moist flesh works well in sweet potato pie, purees and soups. You can also roast them in halves or thick wedges, adding savory ingredients such as smoked paprika, cumin or chili powder to balance their sweetness.

Related: The Easy Way To Make Sweet Potatoes 10x Better

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4. Hannah Sweet Potatoes

Hannah sweet potatoes have light tan skin and pale cream-colored flesh. Unlike the moist orange varieties, they’re dense, relatively dry and mildly sweet, with a texture that can resemble a regular baking potato. Their flesh tends to hold its shape better, making them useful when you want defined pieces rather than a soft mash.

Serious Eats‘ sweet potato field guide describes Hannah as a denser, cream-colored variety suited to roasting and mashing. The name is commonly used in produce markets, although the exact cultivar may vary.

Best Ways To Use Hannah Sweet Potatoes

Roast Hannah sweet potatoes in cubes or wedges to bring out their mild sweetness and create browned edges. Their firmer texture also makes them a good choice for home fries, savory hash and grain bowls. You can mash them, too, but expect a thicker, less moist result than you would get with Beauregard or Garnet.

Related: How To Make Perfect, Smooth Mashed Sweet Potatoes in 20 Minutes

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5. Japanese Sweet Potatoes

Japanese sweet potatoes, known in Japan as satsuma-imo and sometimes sold in the United States as Murasaki, typically have purple or reddish-purple skin and pale flesh. Other Japanese cultivars vary in skin and flesh color. They’re starchier and drier than common orange-fleshed types, with a sweet, nutty flavor that becomes more pronounced when roasted.

The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission describes Murasaki sweet potatoes as having dry, white flesh and recommends roasting them with other root vegetables. The broader Japanese sweet potato category includes varieties with somewhat different skin and flesh colors, so labels and appearance can vary.

Best Ways To Use Japanese Sweet Potatoes

Baking or roasting Japanese sweet potatoes brings out their nutty sweetness while preserving their dense texture. Serve them whole with butter and salt, cut them into wedges or add roasted pieces to a vegetable bowl. They also work well in Japanese-inspired dishes with miso, sesame, soy sauce or ginger.

Related: Why Japanese Sweet Potatoes Deserve a Spot on Your Fall Table

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6. Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

Okinawan sweet potatoes are known for their vivid purple flesh, which can range from lavender to a deep violet. Their skin is usually pale brown or tan, sometimes with a slight purple tint. The flesh is dense and starchy, with a mild sweetness and a flavor often compared to chestnuts.

The purple color comes from anthocyanins, pigments found in many purple fruits and vegetables. The USDA notes purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are rich in these compounds. Okinawan sweet potatoes are also different from ube, the purple yam commonly used in Filipino desserts.

Best Ways To Use Okinawan Sweet Potatoes

Boil or steam Okinawan sweet potatoes until tender, then mash them or serve them as a simple side dish. Their striking color also makes them a good choice for purple sweet potato soup, cakes and other desserts. For a savory option, roast them and pair them with ginger, garlic or a tangy sauce.

Related: The Clever Sweet Potato Trick We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

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7. White Wweet Potatoes

White sweet potatoes have pale cream-colored flesh and skin that can range from tan to pale copper. They’re generally milder and less sugary-tasting than orange varieties, with a firmer, starchier texture. The category includes multiple varieties, so sweetness and moisture can vary.

The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission’s guide describes white sweet potatoes as sweet and creamy, with uses in soups and stews. Despite their pale flesh, they’re still sweet potatoes—not regular white potatoes or true yams.

Best Ways To Use White Sweet Potatoes

White sweet potatoes work well in soups, stews and roasted vegetable dishes, where their milder flavor complements other ingredients. You can also bake them whole, cut them into fries or mash them with butter and herbs. For a sweeter preparation, try Epicurious’ white sweet potatoes with mirin and honey, which pairs their flavor with a caramelized glaze.

Is there a difference between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes?

Yes. Despite their similar names, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes belong to different plant families. Sweet potatoes are storage roots related to morning glories, while regular potatoes are tubers in the nightshade family, according to the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

They also differ in flavor, texture and nutritional content. According to the Cleveland Clinic, sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, while regular potatoes provide more potassium. Both offer nutritional benefits, and neither is inherently healthier than the other.

In the kitchen, regular potatoes are often preferred for fluffy mashed potatoes and crisp fries, while sweet potatoes work well in sweet and savory dishes, from casseroles to roasted wedges. However, both can be baked, roasted, mashed or fried, so you can often substitute one for the other if you’re comfortable with a change in flavor and texture.

Related: Patti LaBelle's Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes Capture the Essence of Soul Food

This article was drafted with the assistance of AI and thoroughly reviewed, edited and fact-checked by Parade editors. See our complete AI Policy.

In 1964, the Rolling Stones were one of the most popular rock bands in the world, ready to take America by storm. One of their most high-profile moves came in the fall of that year when the British rock group made their historic debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.

On Oct. 25, 1964, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts took the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, where their performances of the songs “Around and Around” and “Time Is On My Side” were practically drowned out by their screaming fans.

Footage from the performance  shows Sullivan trying to silence the chaotic crowd, at one point saying to the  hysterical teen girls, “You promised, my little chickadees.”

According to a post on the official Ed Sullivan Show website, Sullivan was unable to calm the crowd down even after instructing them to be “quiet” multiple times. The “riotous” behavior, coupled with the fact that the Stones weren’t as clean-cut as fan favorites The Beatles, prompted Sullivan to threaten never to have the Rolling Stones back on his show again.

“I promise you they’ll never be back on our show. It took me 17 years to build this show, and I’m not going to have it destroyed in a matter of weeks,” Sullivan reportedly said.

Sullivan also reportedly told The Rolling Stones’ management that he was “deluged with mail protesting the untidy appearance—clothes and hair of your Rolling Stones.” He wanted no part of the unkempt band on his stage.

Of course, Sullivan’s threat to ban the Stones was an idle one. CBS liked the ratings boost from the British rockers, so The Rolling Stones were invited back to Sullivan’s show—a total of five more times between 1965 and 1969. The young rockers cleaned up their look to perform classics such as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Honky Tonk Women,” and “Let’s Spend the Night Together.”

For the latter song, Sullivan told the band they had to change their “suggestive” lyric to “let’s spend some time together.” Jagger was annoyed by the censorship request but complied.

RELATED: 1966 No. 1 Hit Became a Rock ‘n’ Roll Party Anthem

Years later, the Rolling Stones frontman told Rolling Stone magazine he never actually replaced the questionable word.

“I never said ‘time,’” Jagger shared. “I really didn’t. I said mumble. ‘Let’s spend some mmmmm together, let’s spend some mmmmm together.’ They would have cut it off if I had said ‘night.’”

Jagger also admitted that when the Rolling Stones first came to the States, America wasn’t ready for them. He noted that a lot of TV hosts made jokes about the long-haired “freaks” coming in from England, not realizing that rock ‘n’ roll was there to stay.

“It was easy for them to be patronizing and to make a joke of it because it’s an easy cheap gag, you know,” Jagger said in an interview with Conan O’Brien. “I mean Dean Martin did it, you know. … Ed Sullivan, we went on a lot. He didn’t do it. But Ed Sullivan didn’t do anything really. He just, you know, he was that was a different kind of person, but I think Ed Sullivan knew that he got good ratings…so he knew there’s no point in me making fun of them because who knows what’s going to happen.”

Sixty-two years later, the Rolling Stones’ Ed Sullivan Show debut remains one of the most important moments in their history, an introduction to their U.S. fans that is still remembered decades after it first aired on CBS.

Related: 1978 Rolling Stones Classic, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Keith Richards Songs,’ Was Recorded in 5 Days With No Sleep

I’ve always dreamed of visiting all 64 of America’s national parks. There’s something about standing at the edge of a canyon, looking out over millions of years of history, that truly changes the way you see this country. I’ve been fortunate enough to explore some extraordinary places, but the more I travel, the more I wonder about the ones I’ve overlooked—the parks that don’t appear on every bucket list, where you can still find yourself alone on a trail or watching the sun disappear behind mountains without another person in sight.

For Brad Ryan, author of Grandma Joy and Me: A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time, that curiosity turned into a seven-and-a-half-year adventure. Alongside his grandmother, Grandma Joy, Ryan visited every U.S. national park, completing their journey in American Samoa in 2023, when she was 93 years old. Along the way, they discovered that some of the country’s most memorable landscapes weren’t necessarily the ones everyone was talking about.

“Visiting every park taught us to look for the unique magic in each one. There may be plant or animal species that are endemic—found there and nowhere else on Earth. Maybe there are geologic features with color combinations you’ve never seen before. Every park has a story,” he says. “Some of those stories are recorded in geologic strata, fossils trapped in cliff walls, or petroglyphs etched in stone. It’s important to look beyond the present. When we appreciate what’s unique about a park, we widen our lens and develop a greater understanding of our complicated American story.”

We asked Ryan and other experienced national park travelers to share the places they believe deserve more recognition. From a remote Texas desert to islands just off the California coast, these are five national parks worth planning an entire trip around.

Related: 15 Stunning National Parks to Cross Off Your Travel Bucket List

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Hidden in the far western reaches of Texas, where the Rio Grande River winds along the Mexican border, Big Bend National Park spans more than 800,000 acres of desert wilderness. The Chisos Mountains rise unexpectedly from the desert floor, and the landscape stretches toward the horizon in every direction.

Ryan believes Big Bend deserves a place alongside America’s most iconic parks, especially for travelers hoping to escape the crowds. “Big Bend does solitude better than really anywhere else. You get the Chihuahuan Desert, the Chisos Mountains, the Rio Grande, glorious sunsets, and astonishing scale without the crowds that can overwhelm some of our marquee parks. It gives you panoramic grandeur and quietude without the stampede of tourists,” he says.

For your first visit, take Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive toward Santa Elena Canyon, where a 1.7-mile round-trip trail follows the Rio Grande between breathtaking sheer limestone cliffs. Few experiences make you appreciate the enormity of this landscape quite like standing at the river’s edge, looking up at canyon walls that rise more than 1,000 feet above you.

It’s not simple reaching Big Bend, which is part of the adventure in my opinion. Midland International Air & Space Port is one of the closest commercial airports, but is still roughly four hours from the park’s northern entrance by car. The former mining town of Terlingua, just outside the park, is a great place to base yourself, with desert casitas and the historic Starlight Theatre, where you can settle in for dinner after a long day exploring. If you’d rather spend the night beneath Big Bend’s famously dark skies, Rio Grande Village and Cottonwood offer developed camping, with sites starting around $16 per night. Just don’t arrive expecting restaurants and gas stations, because here, services are as limited as the the distances are enormous. Additionally, the Chisos Basin area is undergoing major construction closures beginning in 2026 so plan your route before leaving Terlingua.

Related: Travel Experts Say These Are the 7 Best Fall Destinations for Travelers Over 60

Channel Islands National Park, California

Just off the coast of Southern California, the chain of islands that makes up Channel Islands National Park feels entirely removed from the busy beaches and highways of the mainland. There are no sprawling resorts, no beachfront restaurants, and, in many places, no cell service. Instead, this park offers vast windswept cliffs and waters where dolphins and sea lions alike race alongside passing boats.

What makes this collection of islands so special is the fact they’re home to an incredible collection of species found nowhere else on Earth, including the island fox, which has evolved in isolation over thousands of years. For Ryan, the appeal is equal parts wildlife and landscape. “The Channel Islands are rife with endemic species and surrounded by an abundance of marine mammals and seabirds. It’s called “America’s Galápagos” for a reason,” he says. “And the view from Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island toward Santa Cruz Island is one of the most epic views in the entire U.S. National Park system.”

To experience it yourself, take an Island Packers ferry to Anacapa Island, where a climb up 157 stairs from the landing brings you to the island’s trails. From there, a 1.5-mile loop leads to Inspiration Point, with sweeping views of the Pacific and neighboring islands. Visiting takes a little more planning than an ordinary beach vacation, as most travelers choose to depart from Ventura Harbor aboard an Island Packers boat, with the crossing to Anacapa taking approximately an hour. Ferries need to be reserved in advance, and visitors landing on East Anacapa must climb a ladder and 157 stairs to reach the island’s plateau.

There are no restaurants, hotels, or stores on the islands, and Anacapa has no drinking water, so pack lunch, ample filled water bottles, and everything you’ll need for the day. For an overnight adventure, primitive campsites on Anacapa cost $15 per night, although you’ll need to bring your own camping equipment and arrange boat transportation separately. Otherwise, stay in Ventura, where the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach offers oceanfront accommodations, and grab dinner at Lure Fish House for mouthwatering fresh seafood after returning to the mainland.

Related: Love Fall but Hate Crowds? Travel Experts Recommend These 6 Fall Weekend Getaways

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Somewhere along Nevada’s famously lonely Highway 50, the desert begins to look entirely different than you might expect, with staggering mountains appearing along the horizon. The sagebrush gives way to pine forests as the road climbs toward Great Basin National Park, where snow can linger on the slopes of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak long after the surrounding desert has warmed. There are alpine lakes here and limestone caves hidden beneath the mountains, but the park’s most extraordinary residents are its ancient bristlecone pines. Their twisted trunks look almost sculpted, and some have survived for thousands of years in conditions that would kill most other trees.

Karen Rogers, founder of RV lifestyle brand Swervia, has visited 48 national parks with her husband and children, and considers Great Basin one of the country’s most overlooked treasures. “It has the oldest living things on earth,” she exclaimed. “It has one of the most gorgeous hikes and is doable with kids. You get to experience various terrain, incredible views, and Bristlecone Pine trees, the oldest trees found on earth,” she says.

The three-mile Bristlecone Pine Trail is one of the best ways to appreciate these ancient trees, while a guided tour of Lehman Caves reveals intricate limestone formations beneath the mountain. “These trees are cool that they look fake, with twisted trunks straight out of a fiction novel. It’s a must-see for every American who seeks a little adventure and lot of payoff,” Rogers says. She also offers a pro tip to stay in the town of Ely if you want civilization, and be sure to gas up before you hit the road, as services are limited. “Everything except cell service is missing,” she says. “It is plentiful along US-50 which is very pleasant surprise if you want lots of photos, since it is a long stretch of nothingness.”

Getting here requires a rental car, with Salt Lake City approximately 234 miles away and Las Vegas about 286 miles away. Baker, just outside the park, has a handful of accommodations, including the Stargazer Inn, while Ely, roughly an hour away, has more options for lodging and meals. Try the Jailhouse Steakhouse in Ely for a hearty dinner, or pack a picnic to enjoy beneath the mountains and fascinating trees. Developed campsites cost $20 per night, while far more primitive camping along the Snake Creek is free. Great Basin also has no entrance fee, making it surprisingly affordable for such a remote destination. If you can, stay after dark as the park’s exceptional night skies offer views of the Milky Way that are increasingly difficult to find elsewhere.

Related: We Asked Park Rangers the Best National Park to Visit in October—One Kept Coming Up

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia

There’s more to West Virginia than winding mountain roads and small Appalachian towns, and New River Gorge might be one of the best places to discover just how beautiful this part of the country can be. The New River cuts through a deep, forested gorge, with sandstone cliffs jutting above the water and a massive steel bridge stretching across the valley. In autumn, the surrounding hills turn fiery shades of orange and red, making the overlooks particularly spectacular and so vastly underrated.

Designated a national park in 2020, New River Gorge is still relatively new to many travelers, although outdoor enthusiasts have been coming here for decades. Rogers, who is one of those visitors, explains why. “This is one of America’s newest national parks, so new that many people have never heard of it. The visitation is increasing so the word is getting out especially in the circles that pertain to national park enthusiasts, but for the lay person it isn’t as recognizable as Yellowstone” or Yosemite,” she says.

As this this park is spread out with several entrances at opposite ends of several highways, it’s not a park you can do in just a few days. According to Rogers, you may need to choose one area to focus on so you don’t spend the majority of your time going from one entrance to the other. But whichever entrance you pick, there is plenty to keep you engaged. However, if you only have a weekend, she recommends the main entrance in the Canyon Rim section to hit the famous bridge. From there, she says to drive Fayette Station Road, hike Long Point Trail or Endless Wall trail, and finish the day with an amazing meal in downtown Fayetteville.

On your second day, start with the free 11 a.m. ranger-led walk through the Thurmond Historic District to learn about the town’s fascinating railroad history and its role in West Virginia’s coal boom. The walk is offered daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with weekend tours continuing into late October, so check the schedule before visiting. Then head to the Grandview section for a few hikes, including the Castle Rock Trail, which passes towering sandstone walls and exposed coal seams. If you’re craving more adventure, there are also opportunities for rock climbing and whitewater rafting. For a post-hike stop, consider Arrowhead Bike Farm in Fayetteville, which has a restaurant and craft-beer taproom rather than an on-site brewery. “And you can end the day at a local brewery like Arrowhead Bike Farm,” Rogers says. “This is where our kids love to pet the resident goats while my husband and I enjoy a well-earned IPA.”

Fayetteville is a great place to stay, as it’s about an hour’s drive from West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston. It’s a small mountain town, but you’ll be surprised by its food scene, including Pies & Pints for inventive pizzas and craft beer. Stay in a secluded cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat, just seven minutes from downtown, with private hot tubs and fireplaces. Then hike the 2.4-mile Long Point Trail for spectacular views of the New River Gorge Bridge, or drive winding Fayette Station Road beneath the bridge toward the river. Camping is another option, with eight free, primitive camping areas available on a first-come, first-served basis, although there’s no electricity or drinking water. Park admission is free, too, leaving more money for rafting or another night in the mountains.

Related: Not Into Leaf-Peeping? Travel Experts Recommend These 5 Fall Trips That Have Nothing to Do With Foliage

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Driving through Arizona’s Painted Desert feels like you’re an extra on the movie Martian. The hills are streaked with soft lavender and rusty reds, with stretches of seemingly empty desert extending toward the horizon and soft, rounded hills flanking the sand. Beyond the spatial landscapes, there’s something even more extraordinary—a smattering of ancient trees that have slowly turned to stone. At Petrified Forest National Park, some of these fossilized logs date back more than 200 million years, with their interiors transformed into brilliant patterns of quartz and other minerals. It’s a landscape that feels almost prehistoric, yet it’s surprisingly easy to explore, especially for travelers with pets.

Rogers says that’s one of the reasons it deserves more attention. “Petrified is one of the few national parks where you can bring your dog on any paved trail,” she says. “And the paved trails tend to be where all the action is anyway, so you won’t miss much if you have Fido along on a leash. Just be mindful of the hot pavement depending on what time of year you visit.” Another thing that many people don’t realize is the fact it’s the only National Park System containing a section of Historic Route 66. “This is a focal point for anyone hoping to experience a little nostalgia along with your geological history,” she says.

Located along Interstate 40 near Holbrook, Petrified Forest is an easy addition to a northern Arizona road trip, about 110 miles from Flagstaff and 200 miles from Albuquerque. The park’s 28-mile scenic drive leads to Blue Mesa, where a short trail winds through very colorful badlands, and Crystal Forest, where enormous petrified logs line the path. Spend the night at Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel, a Route 66 landmark with concrete teepee-shaped rooms, and stop at Joe & Aggie’s Café for enchiladas or other Mexican-American favorites. There are no developed campgrounds, but backcountry camping is allowed with a free wilderness permit. Otherwise, you can explore the park in a day before continuing toward Flagstaff or another Route 66 stop. It’s also important to note that a seven-day vehicle entrance pass costs $25.

Related: Dolly’s Smokies: A Guide to the Country Icon’s Hometown Roots

Why These Overlooked National Parks Deserve More Attention

I don’t think I’ll ever lose the desire to stand beneath Yosemite’s enormous granite walls. But there’s something appealing about the possibility of discovering a national park I know almost nothing about and having it become one of my favorites.

And as more travelers venture into these lesser-known landscapes, taking care of them becomes even more important. Kate Pitts, a professional hiking and backpacking guide with Wildland Trekking by Intrepid Travel and former National Park Service ranger with 12 years of experience, offers this advice: “Be flexible. Check the weather, trail conditions, closures and permit requirements before you arrive, and have a backup plan. Give wildlife plenty of space, stay on established trails, pack out what you bring in and don’t take shortcuts just because a trail looks busy. Those things sound simple, but when millions of people are visiting these places, they really do add up.”

With so many extraordinary places still waiting to be explored, I have a feeling my national park bucket list is only going to get longer.

Related: The Best 36-Hour Vacation Hacks Travel Pros Taught Me When You’re Out of PTO

Prince William has finally revealed what really happened behind one of the most famous celebrity selfies of 2024. And it turns out he nearly prevented Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce from making their relationship Instagram official.

During a surprise appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, October 23, the Prince of Wales recalled meeting Swift and Kelce backstage at London’s Wembley Stadium during the singer’s Eras Tour in June 2024.

William had brought his two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to celebrate his 42nd birthday at the concert. The family posed for a photograph with Swift, but there was one unexpected complication: Kelce kept finding his way into the picture.

As William explained during the interview, he had been trying to get a family photograph with the pop superstar, not realizing the NFL player had a particularly good reason to be there. “I was trying to move him out of the photo!” William admitted, according to People.

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“Travis kept coming back in, and I couldn’t work out why he kept coming back in,” the prince continued. “I was trying to move him out so it was just me and Taylor and the children!”

What William didn’t know was that the photograph would become a milestone in Swift and Kelce’s relationship. When Swift shared the selfie on Instagram on June 22, 2024, it marked the first time she had posted a photograph of herself with Kelce on her account.

The image showed the couple smiling alongside William, George and Charlotte. Swift captioned it, “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start,” a birthday message to the future king.

Asked by Norton whether he understood the significance of the photograph at the time, William admitted he had only learned about it recently. “I hadn’t appreciated the significance,” he said, according to Harper’s Bazaar. “This is when they went photo official,” Norton explained.

“Apparently,” William replied. Fortunately, Kelce remained in the picture, giving Swifties a memorable moment in the couple’s romance.

Kelce has also spoken warmly about meeting the royal family. During a June 2024 episode of his New Heights podcast, he praised William and his children, although he admitted he wasn’t entirely sure about the proper etiquette for greeting a future king.

More than two years later, the backstage selfie has taken on even greater significance. Swift and Kelce married on July 3, 2026, at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, making the photograph an early public milestone in a relationship that eventually led to marriage.

And thanks to William’s latest revelation, fans now know that one of the couple’s most recognizable photographs almost looked very different.

Steve Madden’s billion-dollar shoe business began with a $1,100 investment.

In 1990, the now-famous shoe maker launched his namesake company with just a little over a thousand dollars. Now more than three decades later, chances are you’ve seen his bold designs in malls or have a pair or two in your closet.

Madden started in Queens, New York, and initially sold shoes from his car trunk to local stores. His chunky platform styles stood out in the ’90s, helping the business find its footing (literally) with shoppers looking for footwear with a little attitude. The company opened its first store in New York’s SoHo neighborhood and went public on Nasdaq in 1993.

“There’s this one shoe from the ’90s that everybody talks about, an elastic shoe, and then we made all these big-bottom shoes, and now I’m making all these great sneakers,” Madden told Teen Vogue in 2019. “But there was a moment when every kid had to have Steve Maddens”

The business continued to expand beyond shoes into handbags, accessories, and apparel. By 2020, its 30th year, Steven Madden Ltd. reported nearly $1.19 billion in net sales, according to its SEC filing. That came during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the company said contributed to a 32.8% drop in total revenue from 2019.

But all the success brought some serious legal trouble. In 2001, Madden pleaded guilty to federal securities fraud and money laundering charges connected to stock manipulation. He was sentenced the following year to 41 months in prison and had to step down as CEO. Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission said he agreed to pay more than $7.8 million and accept a seven-year ban from serving as an officer or director of a public company.

Madden returned to the company after serving time, working as its creative and design chief. Edward R. Rosenfeld serves as chairman and CEO—a role he has held since 2008.

Lucy Hale and Ian Harding are giving Pretty Little Liars fans a major reason to revisit their favorite TV couple, and the internet is having a meltdown over their latest reunion.

The actors, who played Aria Montgomery and Ezra Fitz on the hit Freeform teen drama, recreated a familiar pose in a new Instagram post before sharing a throwback to their time on the show. The nostalgic side-by-side sent fans straight into the comments, where many couldn’t contain their excitement about the duo working together again.

“A little older and wiser but the same two idiots!” Hale captioned the post, teasing their upcoming Christmas movie, 12 Dates of Christmas. “Like really sooon. Info sooon ❤️”

Fans wasted no time celebrating the reunion, with one commenter declaring, “Can I just say ICONIC and you 2 are ICONS. I need ezria to come back this is exactly what I need.”

Another fan summed up the nostalgia, writing, “Iconic then and even more so iconic now!!! And the fact you’re working together again makes my pll heart very happy🥹❤️”

Others were practically counting down the days until their new project arrives.

“Christmas movie??? With you??? I can’t wait!!!!” one fan exclaimed, while another wrote, “This is everything to me.”

The reunion also inspired some fans to reminisce about Aria and Ezra’s complicated romance. “I think you 2 really should get married 🫶🏻,” one commenter suggested, while another enthusiastically declared, “LUCIAN IS SO BACKKKKK.”

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Hale and Harding’s characters were at the center of one of Pretty Little Liars’ most talked-about relationships. Aria first met Ezra at a bar after returning to Rosewood, only to discover the following morning that the man she’d connected with was her new high school English teacher, Mr. Fitz.

Their relationship became a major storyline throughout the series, which ran for seven seasons from 2010 to 2017.

Although the Instagram reunion doesn’t mean Aria and Ezra are returning to Rosewood, fans clearly aren’t ready to let the beloved pairing go.

With Hale and Harding teaming up for a Christmas movie, viewers have another reason to celebrate their on-screen chemistry. And judging by the reaction to their throwback, fans are already ready for the holiday magic to begin.

Country star Mark Chesnutt is remembering an old friend and fellow singer with a story that perfectly captures one of the things that made him unforgettable.

John Anderson, the Country Music Hall of Famer known for hits including “Swingin’,” “Straight Tequila Night” and “Seminole Wind,” died peacefully in his sleep at his Tennessee home on Oct. 21. He was 71.

In a heartfelt Facebook tribute following Anderson’s death, Chesnutt revealed that the two country singers bonded over something they loved doing away from the stage: hunting.

“I got to spend time with John Anderson doing things that he and I both loved. Hunting, of course!” Chesnutt wrote.

Apparently, Anderson wasn’t difficult to find when they were out together.

“I could hear him coming a mile away with his big burly voice,” Chesnutt continued. “He was in a league of his own. Please keep his family in your prayers. I will miss you, big John!”

Anderson’s unmistakable voice was one of the defining features of a career that stretched across nearly five decades.

Born in Florida in 1954, Anderson moved to Nashville as a teenager and broke through as a recording artist in the late 1970s. His run of country hits included “Wild and Blue,” “Black Sheep” and “Swingin’,” which earned him the CMA Award for Single of the Year in 1983.

Anderson experienced another major career surge in the early 1990s with songs including “Straight Tequila Night,” “Seminole Wind” and “Money in the Bank.” He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024.

Chesnutt, meanwhile, became one of the defining traditional country voices of the 1990s, scoring hits including “Too Cold at Home,” “Brother Jukebox,” “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” “I’ll Think of Something” and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Fans responding to Chesnutt’s tribute immediately understood what he meant about Anderson being “in a league of his own.”

“Never was anyone like John and there never will be,” one fan wrote, adding that Anderson’s “unique voice can never be matched.”

For others, the news brought back memories of discovering Anderson’s music as children.

“I was a kid playing ‘Chicken Truck’ on my dad’s stereo,” one person recalled. “He left us a catalog of great songs for us to carry on.”

Another fan said hearing Anderson’s name immediately brought “Swingin’” to mind, along with memories of growing up on a dirt road in Texas while their parents played records in the living room.

“We lost another one of our old radio heros,” the fan wrote. “Not many are left.”

That sense of losing another irreplaceable voice appeared repeatedly among the responses.

“It still stings knowing he just passed,” another person wrote. “All the great ones are leaving us! Another pair of shoes that nobody can fill.”

But as another fan pointed out, Anderson left behind something that will last much longer than any radio era.

“We’ll all miss John Anderson but his music and legacy will live on,” the fan wrote. “He gave us a gift of timeless country music through his songwriting and unique voice.”

Related: 1983 No. 1 Hit, Named One of the ‘Greatest Country Songs of All Time,’ Reimagined 43 Years Later by ‘La Voz’ Alum

Val Chmerkovskiy is back in the Dancing With the Stars ballroom, and fans have plenty to say about it. Following a one-week suspension from the ABC celebrity dancing competition, the pro dancer has reunited with Jenna Dewan for the show’s spooky Horror Night, sparking big reactions from fans.

Chmerkovskiy and Dewan will perform an Argentine tango to the Damned Anthem & Kendra Dantes song “Uninvited” for the horror film theme night on Oct. 27. A promo photo posted on the official Dancing with the Stars Instagram page showed Dewan dressed in a cape and screaming in horror as Chmerkovskiy hovered over her.

“The apocalypse is here,” the caption teased. “Jenna and Val are prepping an Argentine Tango inspired by ‘28 Days Later’ for #HorrorMovieNight.”

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Fans had a lot to say in the comments section, with some questioning Chmerkovskiy’s return to the show after Dewan was paired with Alan Bersten during his absence, receiving her first “10” of the season.

“Alan and Jenna should have been paired for the remainder of the show,” one commenter wrote on Instagram.

“Kind of confused as to why he was just gone one week?” another wrote of Chmerkovskiy. “Like what was the point of that? Like what did he spend the week doing? … a week off during a week with NO elimination just seems like a vacation rather than consequences.”

“His comments/actions have now affected scoring for his wife’s team and his own team. Both from the audience and from the judges. He’s spoiled the competition,” another wrote. “Alan stepping in clearly had no negative impact on Jenna’s performance, so I can’t see a reason not to keep Alan on.”

Others defended Chmerkovskiy over the slip-up that caused the suspension.

“Anyone who says Val shouldn’t be there…. Have you ever made an error at your place of work and would prefer to have clarity over the matter before being let go? Like come on….. he apologized and clarified. move on. and Alan did a stellar job filling in!” one fan wrote.

“Wait what are these comments everyone was mad he was suspended now y’all hate him??” another wanted to know.

“Y’all are so dramatic in these comments. Happy he’s back and crushes this week with Jenna,” another fan added in support of the veteran pro dancer.

RELATED: Brandon Armstrong Says Ciara Miller’s DWTS Dedication Night Dance Would Have Been ‘Unbelievable’

Last week, Chmerkovskiy was suspended from the Dancing with the Stars ballroom for posting a threatening TikTok comment aimed at judge Carrie Ann Inaba after she critiqued his wife Jenna Johnson’s choreography on Super Bowl Night.

“You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night,” Chmerkovskiy wrote, referencing actor Will Smith’s famous onstage altercation with comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

Chmerkovskiy promptly deleted the post and publicly apologized to Inaba.

“In a moment where my instinct was to defend my wife, I made a poor decision to reference a meme to ‘keep my wife’s name’ out of the conversation, without stopping to think through what else that reference could imply, which was genuinely never my intention,” he wrote on his Instagram story, per Entertainment Weekly. “Carrie Ann certainly didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of my bad judgment, and I hate that she was. The last thing I want is to become a distraction from an important week or from the incredible work my dance partner Jenna Dewan is putting in,” he added.

While some fans think Chmerkovskiy’s return to the Dancing With the Stars ballroom will be “awkward,” his brother Maksim Chmerkovskiy thinks it’s time for everyone to move on.

“I love him, and he’s my brother, and he’s been on the other side of my antics, I guess, in the past, and I think we’re gonna keep it moving,” Maks told E! News on Oct. 22. “He’s gonna handle it.”

Related: DWTS’ Gleb Savchenko Defends His Comments About Alan Bersten: ‘I Didn’t Attack Him’

Fans are applauding Emily Osment for speaking up about an uncomfortable situation on the set of Young Sheldon, with viewers calling her decision to request an intimacy coordinator an example of Hollywood professionalism.

Osment, who played Mandy McAllister on the CBS sitcom, recently revealed that she requested an intimacy coordinator because of her concerns about filming kissing scenes with co-star Montana Jordan. At the time, Jordan, who played George Cooper, was 18, while Osment was 30.

The actress opened up about the experience in Jessica Radloff’s new book, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, explaining why she felt the additional support was important.

And on Threads, fans largely agreed with her decision.

“This is what a responsible actor and adult looks like in Hollywood,” one commenter wrote, while another declared, “100% correct to speak up.”

Others echoed that sentiment, with one person summing up the situation in two words: “Called professionalism.”

“Seems like a logical request,” another commenter added, while others offered their own straightforward endorsements. “Good for her,” one person wrote, and another insisted, “Always speak up.”

Not everyone agreed with the criticism surrounding the situation. One commenter pushed back against the suggestion that Jordan’s age alone made the request necessary, writing, “Nah he was an adult.”

Still, the prevailing sentiment in the discussion was supportive of Osment’s decision to make both actors more comfortable while filming intimate scenes.

In Radloff’s book, Osment explained that she felt uncomfortable because Jordan was so young. “That made me uncomfortable. He was a baby! A baby with a mullet,” she recalled.

Osment said an intimacy coordinator was not available that day, but one was brought in for subsequent episodes as the characters’ relationship developed.

Director Alex Reid also admitted the production had “totally dropped the ball” by not having an intimacy coordinator for the kissing scenes. Co-creator Steve Molaro agreed that Osment had “every right to ask” for one.

Now, with George and Mandy starring in their own spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Osment’s comments have reignited conversation about boundaries and professionalism on set.

Hetty Green, an American businesswoman and financier, fascinated the public with her bizarre yet intriguing image, earning her the moniker “Witch of Wall Street.”

Despite her austere appearance, the Massachusetts native built a formidable reputation in high finance and was later recognized as one of the wealthiest women in America.

Born into a wealthy family whose fortune came from whaling and shipping interests, Green had early exposure to the business world. Thanks to this, she was able to learn the ins and outs of finance, further honing her financial skills. Moreover, her grandfather, Gideon Howland, introduced the young Hetty to financial matters, even encouraging her to read business and economic publications.

In her twenties, she wasn’t just well-versed in the financial world but was also wise with her money. She sold all her new “wardrobe full of the finest dresses of the season… in order to attract a wealthy suitor,” as mentioned by Amanda Leek for The Telegraph via Smithsonian Magazine, but instead used the proceeds to buy government bonds.

American Hetty Green, the world’s richest woman.

PA Images via Getty Images

In her thirties, she married Edward Henry Green, a wealthy Vermont international trader, in 1867. He had made his own millions in the East Asian silk trade.

Despite both of them coming from wealthy backgrounds, she wanted to protect her fortune and ensure that her assets remained hers, rather than becoming her husband’s property or falling under his control. To achieve this, they signed a prenuptial agreement. One of her priorities was ensuring that her wealth remained “free from the debts, control, or interference of any husband.”

As their family grew to four, the couple experienced clashes over their contrasting lifestyles. Edward enjoyed lavish activities, from fine dining and high-society clubs to premium tailoring. As for Hetty, a mother of two, she maintained her frugal lifestyle and viewed personal expenses as a form of wealth destruction.

In the mid-1880s, Edward experienced serious financial difficulties after he lost $2 million in the stock market, according to New York Social Diary.

However, it was Hetty’s involvement with her husband’s financial troubles that reportedly prompted her to leave him.

Per Business Insider, a bank reportedly used her funds to cover the financial losses that Edward had incurred. She then moved to New York with their two children and lived separately from Edward.

More than a decade after their separation, Edward passed away in 1902. To mourn her late husband, she wore traditional black mourning clothes, including “a heavy swathing of black veil,” which became her signature. However, her austere clothing led the media to label her the “Witch of Wall Street,” an image reinforced by the fallout from a controversial inheritance dispute over her aunt Sylvia Howland’s will. Green ultimately lost the legal battle over her aunt’s estate.

When Hetty died in 1916, her estate was reportedly worth around $200 million, equivalent to approximately $5 billion today, per Ripley’s.

Her extraordinary fortune and unconventional life made her story one of the most remarkable in Wall Street history.

Related: In 1916, Nathan Handwerker opened Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand on Coney Island with $300; the company has just sold for $450 million

Ella Langley just picked up another No. 1, and this one puts Dandelion in very exclusive company.

“Loving Life Again” rose one spot to the top of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, drawing 32.4 million audience impressions. It’s her sixth No. 1 on the chart and the fourth from Dandelion, joining “Choosin’ Texas,” “Be Her” and her Morgan Wallen duet, “I Can’t Love You Anymore.”

That makes Dandelion just the third album by a woman, or an act with a woman vocalist, to send four songs to the top. The other two belong to Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. Twain did it first with The Woman in Me in 1995–96. Underwood matched her with Carnival Ride, whose first four singles all reached No. 1.

Langley now sits ahead of a long list of albums that stopped at three. That list includes Underwood’s Some Hearts and Play On, Twain’s Come On Over, and records by Lady A, Sugarland, The Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Deana Carter, Kelsea Ballerini and Wynonna.

She’s moving at record speed, too. Langley reached six No. 1s in 99 weeks, faster than any woman or woman-fronted act in the chart’s 36-year history. Among all acts, only Jelly Roll (96 weeks) and Alan Jackson (94) got there faster.

Dandelion has also spent 21 weeks at No. 1 on Top Country Albums since its April debut. That’s the most for any woman since the chart moved to its current multimetric method nearly a decade ago.

The song behind this latest milestone came out of a hard stretch. In 2025, with her career taking off, Langley started struggling with her mental health and ended up canceling two weeks of shows. “My imposter syndrome kicked in. My life was moving faster than ever,” she said in a news release.

She went home to Alabama, closed on her first house, spent time with family and grew closer to her faith. By the end of those two weeks, she felt like herself again.

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Everyone has that one Disney fanatic in their life. You know, the person who can name every princess, has a favorite snack at Magic Kingdom, and considers a pair of Mickey ears an essential vacation accessory. When Christmas rolls around, shopping for them seems like it should be easy. After all, there’s no shortage of Disney merchandise out there. But finding something that feels more personal than another character T-shirt or coffee mug? That’s where things get tricky.

Luckily, you don’t need a fairy godmother to work gifting magic. Walmart has the Disney Birthstone Crystal Earrings starting at just $18, with every option priced at $25 or less. They combine one of Disney’s most recognizable characters with a birthstone-inspired detail, making them a cute way to show someone you put thought into their present.

Disney Birthstone Crystal Earrings, From $18 at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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The earrings put a sparkly spin on Minnie’s signature silhouette, with three round crystals forming her head and ears and a tiny silver bow perched on top. Each pair features colored crystals inspired by one of the 12 traditional birthstones, so you can choose a shade that has some personal significance. The December version, for example, features icy blue crystals that mimic blue topaz, while other months offer their own birthstone-inspired colors. The earrings are crafted from silver-plated brass with an e-coat finish designed to resist tarnishing, and the bullet-style backs help keep them securely in place.

Disney Birthstone Crystal Earrings, From $18 at Walmart

Courtesy of Macy's

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There are plenty of ways to make these feel personal when gifting them, too. The obvious choice is to pick the recipient’s birth month, but you could also choose the month of their wedding anniversary, their child’s birthday, or another date that means something special to them. Each pair comes in a gift box, so you can wrap it up for Christmas, slip it into a stocking, or pair it with an ornament or another Disney-themed present.

Shop More Disney Earring Deals

• Disney Minnie Stud Earrings, $28 at Walmart
• Disney 14-Karat Gold-Plated Sterling Silver Minnie Stud Earring Set, $48 at Walmart
• Disney Minnie Mouse Crystal Birthstone Silver Plated Hoop Earrings, $40 at Walmart

If you’re planning a bigger surprise, imagine tucking the earrings into an envelope alongside tickets to Walt Disney World. It’s a cute way to give them something they can wear on the trip while revealing what’s really waiting for them under the tree. Just keep in mind that prices vary depending on the birthstone, ranging from $18 to $25, so it’s worth double-checking the cost of your chosen month before adding a pair to your cart.

Walmart shoppers gushed over these “pretty” and “sparkly” sets in the reviews section, calling the design “adorable” and “fun.” One shopper wrote, “They are well made with brilliant color and look awesome.”

Related: Macy’s Lab-Created Diamond and Gemstone Earrings Deliver ‘Expensive’ Sparkle on a Budget, Now 75% Off

Whether you’re shopping for a lifelong Mouskateer, a Disney World-traveling best friend, or someone who could use pixie dust in their stocking, the Disney Birthstone Crystal Earrings deserve a spot on your holiday shopping list. Get them at Walmart for under $25!

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