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They may seem far off, but the holidays are approaching fast! If you’ve been searching for a way to refresh your living room ahead of your holiday hosting plans, this cozy couch from Walmart might be just what you’re looking for. The bestselling Neche 67-Inch Corduroy Bonless Chaise Sofa is comfortable, durable, and spacious, and it’s currently on sale for over $150 off.

Right now, the stylish sofa is on sale for $220 (down from $380) in the all-white and gray hues. You can also score a black option for $270. Both styles are versatile enough to complement any style of home decor, from farmhouse to minimalist. If you’re looking for a way to add extra seating to your home without breaking the bank or settling for something that doesn’t deliver on comfort, this is a great option.

Neche 67-Inch Corduroy Boneless Chaise Sofa, From $220 (was $380) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Featuring an extra-deep 56.3-inch seat, the oversized chaise sofa features ample space to sit, rest, and sleep. The soft corduroy fabric adds a distinctive touch of texture to any room while also offering plush, cloud-like comfort that’s perfect for lounging. It also has generously wide 9.9-inch armrests that provide plenty of room to stretch out on or to hold books, drinks, and remotes. 

Built with high-resilience foam and spring coils, the sofa has a unique boneless support system that’s durable and contours effortlessly to your body, making it feel like a custom fit. It’s designed to hold up to 330 pounds, and it comes with three “beautiful” accent pillows in the same corduroy upholstery for added relaxation. 

Perhaps the best part about this comfy chaise sofa is that it’s entirely assembly-free. It arrives vacuum-sealed in a single cardboard box. To get it ready for use, simply unbox it, remove the packaging, and let it fluff up to its full size within 72 hours — no tools required.  

Related: Walmart’s $65 Freestanding Bathroom Cabinet Turns Vertical Space Into ‘Practical’ Storage

With all three colors still in stock and available at a stellar markdown, this popular corduroy chaise sofa is likely to sell out fast. Make sure to grab yours while it’s still on sale for $220 at Walmart.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales twice a week.

Some Christmas decorations never go out of style, and nostalgic ceramic Christmas trees are near the top of the list. With their colorful little lights, cheerful glow and unmistakable retro charm, these festive favorites bring back memories of Christmases at Grandma’s house. Original vintage versions can fetch hundreds of dollars on resale markets, depending on their age, condition and maker. But if you love the look without the antique shop price tag, Aldi has a wallet-friendly alternative for just $19.99.

The adorable Merry Moments Nostalgic Tree brings that classic Christmas look to the holiday lineup, with a traditional green finish, colorful lights and a white star topper. It’s the decoration that feels right at home on a living room side table, a mantel or a festive console table. Plus, it’s a much more accessible way to get the vintage look than hunting down an original.

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Merry Moments Nostalgic Tree, Green, $19.99 at Aldi

Aldi

And green isn’t the only option for shoppers looking to add a little retro magic to their holiday decorating. It’s also bringing the nostalgic trees back in several other finishes, giving the classic silhouette a fresh twist. A white version features colorful lights and a matching white star topper, while an iridescent pinkish-white option pairs its pearly finish with white lights and a white star. There’s also a shimmery gold version with white lights for anyone who wants a little extra sparkle to any Christmas display.

The different finishes make it easy to work these trees into all kinds of holiday decorating styles. The green version is a natural fit for traditional red-and-green Christmas displays, while the white tree would look right at home in a snowy winter wonderland theme. The iridescent option brings a playful, pastel touch and the gold version could add a little glam to a mantel or holiday tablescape.

Related: Target’s $16 Green Toile Stoneware Appetizer Plates Will Make Your Holiday Table Feel Extra Special

These Retro Ceramic Christmas Trees Come in Four Fabulous Colors

Even better, these tabletop decorations let you embrace the vintage Christmas trend without committing to a pricey collectible. Original ceramic trees became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, and their recent resurgence has made them a sought-after seasonal accent once again.

If you’ve been dreaming of recreating the cozy Christmas decor you remember from childhood, keep Aldi’s under-$20 trees on your radar. They’re nostalgic, cheerful and easy to style just about anywhere you want a little extra holiday glow. With four finishes to choose from, the hardest part might just be deciding which one deserves a spot in your home.

Related: Aldi’s $30 Oval Dutch Oven Is a Le Creuset Lookalike Without the Sticker Shock

When planning for retirement, conventional wisdom has long pushed retirees toward the traditional Florida playbook: sell the family home, downsize into a two- or three-bedroom coastal condominium, and settle into warm weather. But for 57-year-old content creator and Disney Vacation Club (DVC) investor Rachel Friem, that traditional script felt completely out of touch with how she actually wanted to live.

Instead of sinking half a million dollars into real estate and locking herself into one static zip code, Friem made a radical pivot, reimagining Disney World not just as a vacation spot, but as a flexible, multi-generational second home that lets her travel six to seven times a year.

Beyond the financial numbers, Disney gave her a much-needed place of joy to recharge and focus on her own well-being after a long, demanding season of supporting loved ones. By treating her vacation points like an investment portfolio, she built a financial strategy that lets her host her growing family without any of the maintenance, taxes, or headaches of homeownership.

For now, Friem is keeping her home base anchored in Pittsburgh, where her adult children and ties remain. Rather than relocating permanently down south, she spends about four to five weeks a year on Disney property across multiple seasonal visits, while keeping the rest of her calendar open to check off major bucket-list adventures around the globe.

Here’s how she built her strategy, why she considers the parks her ultimate escape hatch, and how she makes the numbers work for the long haul.

Related: The Disney Vacation Club Benefits Members Say Make It Worth

View this post on Instagram Why Disney Became the Ultimate Escape Hatch

Friem’s decision was born from a season of caregiving that emptied her tank. As her mother’s dementia progressed, and she could no longer manage basic daily tasks on her own, so every Friday after working a full week, Friem would pack a bag, board a plane to Chicago, and spend her entire weekend doing her mother’s laundry, managing her care, and keeping her safe before flying back to do it all over again. Watching the people who raised you decline and slip away left a deep grief—one that forced her to realize she desperately needed to carve out out some space to breathe.

“Disney was an escape hatch,” Friem reflects. “I really had to tell myself you don’t have to make yourself go through it to get to the other side, there are things that you can do in the middle. And honestly when I bought my first contract, that’s where my head was. I knew this was coming to an end. And I was like, I need to put things in place in my life that really bring me happiness.”

For Friem, Disney was never about escaping reality just to ride roller coasters—it was about immersing herself in an environment intentionally engineered to lift the human spirit when real life felt impossibly heavy. “What Disney, I think, does well is puts everything in place for you so that you can feel joy. Disney can’t make you happy, but the smells and the cast members and the property and the parks and everything and the food and everything is in place for you to experience joy.” When the world outside felt overwhelming, stepping onto the grounds gave her permission to put down the weight she had been carrying, slow her pulse, and reconnect with uncomplicated happiness.

Related: Disney Vacation Club Unveils Its Biggest Perks for Members

The Points Breakdown and the ‘Step-Down’ Dues Strategy

To make the numbers work over time, Friem blended direct purchases with lower-cost resale contracts, strategically spreading her 1,075 DVC points across different expiration dates. Her home resort properties include Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, alongside contracts at Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas. “My strategy of buying cheap points at Saratoga will—I stand by that,” Friem notes, explaining that she pays approximately $9,500 annually in dues today, with built-in exits so expenses shrink rather than balloon as she ages.

“When you come up with that magic number of how much I need to retire, you have to figure that your dues are going to increase between 3% and 5% every year,” Friem explains. “Now, keep in mind, owning a condo, your assessment, and your HOA fees, those go up too. Your association dues are pretty comparable to what your Disney dues are. And I didn’t have to shell out half a million dollars. I shelled out 150. And that money was dedicated money that I didn’t need to grow, but the rest of that money is still growing in my retirement funds.”

Friem engineered a deliberate schedule so her annual dues naturally taper off right when she enters her mid-70s. “I have this step-down philosophy where people are like, why are you buying a 2042 contract? Well, I’ll be in my seventies. I’m going to want less dues in my seventies,” Friem explains. “I’m 57, so 2042 is actually a great way to retire three contracts. And then I have other contracts that’ll go up into my eighties, and my Floridian will be there until I’m in my nineties. I was very thoughtful and strategic in allowing myself three properties that retire in 2042, and those are my highest dues. So as those step down, I take what I am going to spend on travel. When I decided what my retirement was going to look like, travel was my biggest piece outside of my living expenses, and I said to my financial advisor, this is what I want to spend every year on travel.”

To make regular flights between Pittsburgh and Orlando virtually cost-neutral, Friem pairs her lodging points with aggressive credit card mileage accrual. “I am actually a points credit card miles study because especially going into retirement, that’s a strategy I can’t afford to skip,” Friem says. By putting large everyday household expenses—and even her son’s college tuition—onto travel reward cards, she stockpiles hundreds of thousands of miles: “I can max out and I can fly to Florida for 24,000 miles round trip on United. Everything goes on a credit card. United has now made it you actually get a better deal if you use the credit card than if you’re a frequent flyer. Some people think the way to build loyalty is flying a lot, but I’m sure it’s not a surprise to you. The way to build loyalty is a credit card.”

Related: The Multi-Gen Family Guide to Navigating Disney World

Replacing Theme Park Sprints With a Slow, Walkable Lifestyle

Retiring through Disney does not mean battling 90-degree heat to wait in two-hour roller coaster queues or frantically racing after Lightning Lanes. For Friem, the resorts function as a pedestrian-friendly lakeside village designed for gentle wellness, people-watching, and great dining. “Even when I only went once a year, that was absolutely never my strategy. I want to walk around and be happy, not feel like I’m cramming the next thing in just to check off a ride,” she emphasizes. “To me, Disney is about slowing down and like feeling things and looking at things and smelling things. And it’s the whole experience. And if you’re trying to check off a list of rides, which some people do, that’s never going to be the way I do Disney.”

Her daily vacation routine prioritizes steps, open water, and quiet mornings before crowds pour in. “I love to walk the monorail resorts. Start at Bay Lake Tower and you can make it all the way to the Transportation and Ticket Center. It’s the best morning walk of your life,” Friem shares. “I do a ton of walking around the monorail area. And it’s literally one of my favorite things to do. I will get my phone, sometimes that’s when I record content, and I just get my feet and I walk along that bay. I always laugh, I’m like, this is my lake house. You watch everybody wake up in the morning, you watch all the cast members start to water the flowers, everybody greets you. You know, people joke about how many steps you get in in a day. But one of the fabulous things about Disney is it’s a vacation that includes walking, and there’s a real health value to that as we age.” When hunger strikes, she skips quick-service theme park stands for elevated fare, from fresh pasta at Ravello inside the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort to morning pastries and coffee at The Cake Bake Shop along the Disney’s BoardWalk.

Related: Disney’s Beloved After-Hours Park Tradition is Returning With Surprise Dates

Why DVC Beats Buying a Three-Bedroom Florida Condo

The biggest practical flaw in the traditional retirement condo dream, Friem discovered, is how poorly static square footage adapts to an evolving family tree. As adult children marry, start careers, and welcome grandchildren, fitting everyone into a single two- or three-bedroom condo becomes a cramped, stressful compromise—this way, she can tailor each year’s vacations to her multi-gen family’s needs. “When you buy a condo, a three-bedroom condo, unless you’re getting a five-bedroom house—which, okay, if people are doing that more power to them, they’re spending a million dollars—how are you fitting your three children?” Friem says. “When you have a house, what are you doing when your grandchildren and you’ve got suddenly 12 people in your family? You’re cramming into it, or you’re getting a hotel room for your kids to come visit you.”

A multi-contract points strategy gives her total flexibility from year to year. “Disney Vacation Club actually makes it possible for you to grow with the size of your incoming family,” Friem explains. “You can get a studio, you can get a two-bedroom, you can get a one-bedroom. And that makes it possible for me to think about the changing needs of my family and give each one of my kids, their families, their own space. As my grandchildren age, I am able to get room sizes that accommodate us. And guess who’s not washing towels? Guess who’s not washing linens? Me. I can host my family somewhere and all of that is taken care of. I don’t have to have a housekeeper.”

Who This Retirement Strategy Is Really For—and Who Should Skip It

While Friem has inspired more than a hundred followers in her online community to explore points-based retirement living, she stresses that it requires a distinct financial perspective that is not for everyone. “If you think about the opportunity cost of the money that you’re dumping in, don’t even go down the road,” Friem warns. “If you’ve said, ‘but what about the opportunity cost?’ it’s not for you because that mentality is not about investing in future vacations, it’s about ‘I need to be making money with every dollar I own all the time.’ And that is a guaranteed person who should never do this.”

Similarly, anyone on an inflexible retirement income who cannot comfortably shoulder rising association dues should walk away. “If you’re worried about dues and can’t afford it in 10 years, and your financial situation is going to change after you retire so it’s going to be harder for you to come up with the dues, it should not be you,” she cautions. But for those who value predictable comfort, effortless family hosting, and guaranteed escape, the security of a beloved, familiar destination is priceless. “Disney is kind of like that centering, grounding piece that is a known quantity,” Friem says. “A lot of the travel that I do is unknown. You get somewhere and you have no idea what you’re gonna get, and you have to figure it all out. There’s something really nice about my travel to Disney because guess what? It’s known to me. And as I get older, that really will be important.”

Related: I Tried Every Single Disney Vacation Club Perk—Here’s What Disney’s Most Exclusive Club Is Really Like

Thirty-eight years ago, Roseanne debuted on ABC with the episode “Life and Stuff.”

Airing on Oct. 18. 1988 on ABC, the sitcom introduced fans to the Illinois-based working-class Conner family: Dan (John Goodman), Roseanne (Roseanne Barr), Becky (Lecy Goranson), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), DJ (Sal Barone in the pilot, then Michael Fishman), and Aunt Jackie (Laurie Metcalf).

Reviews were good from the start. In October 1988, The Los Angeles Times described the then-new sitcom as “a rip-roaring romp in which boisterous Roseanne and Dan are often as hilarious and likable as they are loud.”

In the opener, viewers are introduced to the Conners’ chaotic home and sharp-tongued banter as Roseanne nags her unemployed construction worker husband to fix the kitchen sink while she juggles line work at a plastics factory with parental duties such as an impromptu teacher conference. The episode culminates with an end-of-day argument about sharing household responsibilities, with Roseanne and Dan delivering what would be the first of many “corn” jokes during the first season of the sitcom.

“You want me to fix dinner? I’ll fix dinner. I’m fixing dinner!” Dan shouts as he pulls a big can from the pantry.

“Oh, but honey, you just fixed dinner three years ago!” Roseanne replies, before adding, “Oh, we can’t have a big can of corn for dinner!”

The corn theme played out throughout the first season of Roseanne, with the word or a physical piece of corn intentionally hidden in nearly every episode. In the pilot episode’s first minutes alone, Becky Conner is told “Don’t touch that creamed corn!” as she gathers cans for a food drive. In addition, an arrangement of dried corn cobs hangs as décor by the kitchen pantry.

Decades later, fans still post to social media to speculate about the running corn gag on Roseanne, with some assuming it’s a nod to the Midwest corn belt. In a Reddit thread, others speculate that corn was Goodman’s favorite food.

In a 2015 interview with Retro Lady land, Fishman was asked why corn was mentioned in “almost every episode” of Roseanne’s first season.

“Not sure if it really is every episode, but I know they fight over Dan making dinner in the pilot and he picks up cream corn,” Fishman said. “It just became a standard inside joke for us.”

But it was Barr who finally explained why the show  was so “corny.”

“Everyone always asks this question: What was the obsession with corn during the first season?” she shared in a fan Q&A. “Yeah, we have a lot of corn jokes and the corn is always kind of visible in every kitchen shot. Basically that was just a statement on how we needed to make everything cornball to be on TV. It  was kind of like an artistic rebellion statement.”

While it was most prominent in Season 1, the “corn” theme actually continued throughout Roseanne’s 10-season run, with jokes about corn dog batter, candy corn and boxes of corn flakes visible on the kitchen table.

Roseanne aired from 1988 to 1997 on ABC and was revived for a one-season reboot in 2018.

Related: ‘Roseanne’ Child Star Says Show Was ‘Rightfully Canceled’ 8 Years Ago

The 36-year-old singer Taylor Swift attended the star-studded Academy Museum Gala on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, wearing a strapless dress designed by Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson. The dress featured a crystal-embellished bodice, a sparkling bow and a flowing skirt that gave the look a touch of old Hollywood glamour.

Swift completed the outfit with Chopard jewelry, including platinum earrings featuring more than 32 carats of diamonds, a matching bracelet and a diamond ring. She wore her shoulder-length hair in soft curls, styled partly back, and completed the look with her signature winged eyeliner and light pink lipstick.

But the designer behind the dress made the appearance particularly meaningful. As ELLE reported, Anderson also designed the custom wedding gown Swift wore when she married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in July. Her decision to wear another of his creations brought a personal connection to an otherwise glamorous evening.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

The Academy Museum Gala is one of Hollywood’s major annual fundraising events, bringing together stars from film, music and fashion to support the museum’s exhibitions, educational programs and public screenings.

This year’s ceremony honored filmmaker John Carpenter and actors Colman Domingo and Charlize Theron. Swift was also announced as the evening’s musical performer, adding another major name to the star-studded celebration.

Her appearance came just weeks after the MTV Video Music Awards in September, where she received the inaugural Artist Director Honors and won Video of the Year and Best Direction.

Saturday’s event offered another glimpse of Swift’s evolving red carpet style. This time, she embraced classic Hollywood glamour in a Dior gown designed by Jonathan Anderson, whose work already holds a special place in her personal life.

Paulina Porizkova has learned that male attraction has an expiration date.

The Czech-born supermodel, 61, noticed a total decline in the male gaze when she turned 58.

“If you want to find somebody, and you go out to events to meet people, if you are in your late 50s going out to parties, going to a bar, you’re going to totally get overlooked,” Porizkova told PEOPLE in an interview published Saturday, Oct. 17.

She continued, “I know people don’t believe me. They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re Paulina Porizkova, how is that possible?’ Well, you should just shadow me at a party and see how guys my age will just walk away and follow the 30-year-old to buy her a drink instead.”

The Her Alibi actress knows: Before she met her now-husband, television writer/producer Jeff Greenstein, 62, whom she wed in July, she tried a dating app after her 2017 split from Cars frontman Ric Ocasek.

Getty

The two had been married since 1989, and raised two sons, Jonathan, 32, and Oliver, 28.

“I was on Raya for five years, and I got, I got maybe four hits,” she said. “In five years! Older women are f—-ng invisible on Raya.”

Having made a career out of her looks, the sudden disinterest served as a surprising reality check.

“It was shocking to me, because [after the divorce from Ocasek], I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll do a lot of dating.’ And then I was like, ‘Wait, but with who?’ Because when I was dating before I met my husband, I was an extremely popular date. So going from being the hottest girl in town to being an invisible 58-year-old was really shocking.”

Fortunately Porizkova’s age was just right for the man she married.

“I wasn’t ruling out the idea of meeting a contemporary,” Greenstein told PEOPLE.

Some songs never stop collecting trophies. When the Grand Ole Opry asked fans to name the greatest country song of all time during its 100th anniversary year, they picked “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. Fans voted for a full year, with songs going back to the 1930s in the running, and Vince Gill sang it at the Opry to reveal the winner.

Jones was an unlikely candidate for a legend. He was born Sept. 12, 1931, in a log house near Saratoga, Texas, the youngest of eight children. He got his first guitar at nine and was soon playing for tips on the street corners of Beaumont. As a teenager, he landed a spot on a local radio station and recorded rockabilly under the name Thumper Jones.

By 1980, his career was slipping. He had split from Tammy Wynette and been through years of personal struggles. Producer Billy Sherrill had an idea: a ballad about a man who keeps loving a woman until the day he dies, written by Curly Putman and Bobby Braddock.

Jones hated it. He thought it was too morbid to sell. He recorded it anyway, and in July 1980 it shot to No. 1 on the country chart. Jones later said “a four-decade career had been salvaged by a three-minute song.”

The awards piled up. The song won Jones a Grammy in 1981, and it earned Song of the Year honors from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008.

The Opry marked the fan vote on its anniversary album, Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs, with a “Full Circle Mix” that pairs Jones with Alan Jackson. Jackson sang the song at Jones’s funeral in 2013 and again at that year’s CMA Awards, the second time with George Strait.

There are so many different forms of parenting to consider for your child, but if you haven’t yet heard of Stoic parenting, there’s a lot of compelling evidence for incorporating Stoic principles into a child’s life. In particular, there are quite a few parenting lessons to take from Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor and famous Stoic philosopher from the second century CE.

“I think one of the most useful lessons parents can take from Marcus Aurelius is that resilience is not about avoiding struggle or teaching children to simply ‘toughen up,'” says licensed psychologist Dr. Connie McReynolds, who works with children, teens and adults in California. She adds that Aurelius’ teachings can help kids “discover that difficult experiences can be faced, understood and worked through.”

“When children know they have choices, support and the ability to respond thoughtfully, difficult moments become something they can move through rather than something that defines them,” she continues.

If that sounds appealing to you as a parent when it comes to important lessons for your children to learn, there’s more where that came from. In her interview with Parade, Dr. McReynolds distills Aurelius’ various theories into handy parenting lessons on resilient kids that you can replicate at home in hopes of raising a child who can deal with things outside of their control.

Related: Philosopher Plato Had a Surprisingly Modern View of Raising Girls, Psychologist Says

The Core Stoic Principle: The Dichotomy of Control

As Dr. McReynolds explains it, “Stoicism is the practice of recognizing what is within our control and putting our energy there, rather than becoming consumed by what is not [in our control].”

She says that while so-called “Stoic parenting” isn’t necessarily a common modern parenting style, “many of its principles are already part of healthy parenting.”

“We want children to learn how to tolerate disappointment, manage strong emotions, solve problems and recognize what they can and cannot control,” she adds.

The latter is the core Stoic principle, also known as the “dichotomy of control,” which Dr. McReynolds explains as “the idea that some things are within our control and others are not.”

“We can influence our choices, our effort, how we treat people and what we do next,” she notes. “But we cannot control how someone else responds, whether plans change, what has already happened or whether everything turns out the way we hoped.”

Related: The Parenting Advice Grandparents Swear by That Big Little Feelings Says Is Outdated

By focusing only on what you can control, Stoicism aims to help alleviate some of the anxieties that can come from trying to predict and respond to every outcome. For parents who want to help teach this concept to their children, Dr. McReynolds recommends having kids draw two circles—an “I can control” circle and an “I cannot control” circle—and sorting concepts into each one.

“In the ‘I can control’ category, children might include things like, ‘How much effort I give, whether I ask for help, how I speak to someone, whether I practice, whether I tell the truth and what I choose to do next,'” she tells Parade.

She continues: “In the ‘I cannot control’ category, they might include, ‘Whether another child invites me to a party, whether it rains, what someone else says or thinks, whether my team wins, a grade I have already received or whether someone agrees with me.'”

Dr. McReynolds says this exercise is helpful for children because it helps them see where to best put their energy.

“When they can separate what they can influence from what they cannot, a difficult situation can begin to feel more manageable because they can focus on the part where they still have choices,” she shares.

Related: If Your Child Is Losing Confidence, Dr. Becky Says This Is What To Do

4 Lessons from Marcus Aurelius on Raising Resilient Children 1. Focus on what you can control

“Children become more resilient when they learn that even if they cannot change a situation, they can still make choices about what they do next,” says Dr. McReynolds.

2. Pause before reacting

“Marcus Aurelius wrote often about the importance of how we respond to what happens,” states Dr. McReynolds. “Helping children slow down, notice what they are feeling and think before acting can help them make better decisions when emotions are running high.”

3. Do not remove every difficulty

“Challenges, mistakes and disappointments are part of life,” Dr. McReynolds notes.

She adds that parents can support their children through issues, rather than trying to protect them from them altogether. This lets kids “have the opportunity to discover that they can cope, adapt and recover,” she says.

4. Notice the story you are telling yourself

“The meaning a child gives to an experience can shape how overwhelming it feels,” shares Dr. McReynolds.

She says reframing a moment like “nobody likes me” into “I had a difficult interaction with one friend today” lands very differently.

“Helping children look at what actually happened, rather than immediately accepting the most painful interpretation, can make a situation feel much more manageable,” she points out.

Related: 7 Key Traits of Parents Who Raise Kids With Healthy Boundaries

‘Control Your Perception’: How To Teach Kids Perspective

Reframing overwhelming thoughts is a key aspect of Stoicism. To help teach that concept to kids, Dr. McReynolds recommends you “start by acknowledging the feeling rather than immediately trying to talk the child out of it.”

“Then help them identify the thought underneath the anxiety by asking something like, ‘What are you worried might happen?'” the psychologist explains.

From there, she says parents can help their children consider another way to understand the situation.

“Reframing is not about pretending everything is fine or replacing a difficult thought with a positive one,” she tells Parade, adding, “It is about helping a child move from the most frightening interpretation toward one that is more balanced, realistic and manageable.”

She continues, “Over time, that process can help children learn that their first thought is not always the only possible explanation.”

Related: 3 Psychologists Agree This Is the Most ‘Underrated’ Positive Parenting Habit

How parents can model Stoicism at home (before teaching it)

“Children will not be able to control everything that happens to them, and neither can we as parents,” notes Dr. McReynolds. “What we can help them develop is the confidence to ask, ‘What can I do from here?'”

“Children learn a great deal by watching how adults respond when things do not go as planned,” the psychologist shares.

She suggests parents verbalize their approach to dealing with things that they, themselves, cannot control.

“[Make] the process visible: ‘I am disappointed that our plans changed, and I cannot control that. What I can control is what I do next,'” she says.

She adds, “When children regularly see adults pause, manage frustration, adapt, apologize when needed and work through problems without becoming overwhelmed by them, those responses begin to feel normal and available to [kids] too.”

Related: If Your Child Says ‘I Can’t Do It,’ Big Little Feelings Says To Remember This—‘People Are Not Going To Want To Hear This’

Common Misconceptions: Stoicism Isn’t About Emotionless Kids

The dictionary definition of “stoic” is “not affected by or showing passion or feeling,” which people often believe Stoicism similarly is about. But Dr. McReynolds clarifies that the philosophy “is not about shutting down emotion. It is about noticing what we feel, thinking clearly about what is happening and then choosing how we want to respond.”

She adds that “children need to be able to feel sadness, anger, disappointment and fear,” and having parents who can help them navigate those feelings is important.

“The Stoic principle is that a feeling does not have to determine what we do next,” says Dr. McReynolds, adding, “A child can feel angry and still choose not to hurt someone. They can feel disappointed without giving up. They can feel nervous and still take the next step.”

She continues, “That distinction is important because resilience is not about feeling less. It is about learning that even strong emotions can be experienced without allowing them to completely direct our behavior.”

Up Next:

Related: A Psychologist Shares What Stoic Philosophers Can Teach Parents About Raising Kids Who Don’t Need Constant Praise

Source:

• Dr. Connie McReynolds is a licensed psychologist in California and a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Vocational Evaluator. She is the founder of Morningstar Educational and Psychological Services.

The Eiffel Tower, Victor Lustig told a room of Paris scrap dealers, had to come down. “The tearing down of the Eiffel Tower has become mandatory,” he said, according to Smithsonian magazine.

Lustig was a con man who arrived in Paris from Austria-Hungary in May 1925 with fake French government stationery and a plan, per Smithsonian. He wrote to the city’s top scrap dealers and invited them to the Hôtel de Crillon, a stone palace on the Place de la Concorde.

According to Mental Floss, the letters listed him as a deputy director general in the French postal ministry. Five dealers took the bait. He told them the government would tear the tower down and sell its roughly 7,000 tons of metal to the highest bidder.

Lustig picked his mark carefully. André Poisson, a newcomer to Paris who wanted to join the city’s business circles, won the bid, per Smithsonian. Lustig then hinted that public servants earned meager salaries, and Poisson understood that a bribe was in order and paid it.

Smithsonian says Poisson paid $20,000 in cash and $50,000 more once Lustig secured the winning bid, or $70,000 in all. That is roughly $1.3 million in today’s dollars, based on U.S. consumer price index data.

Either way, Lustig left for Austria with the money. He had bet that Poisson would be too embarrassed to go to the authorities, and he was right, according to Mental Floss.

Lustig’s earlier success probably went to his head, and, not being content with his initial haul, returned for a second go at it. About six months later, he returned with the same letterhead and pitched five new dealers, per Mental Floss. One went to the police, the story hit the papers, and Lustig ended up fleeing to the United States.

His luck ran out in 1935, when he was arrested for counterfeiting. He was sentenced to 20 years on Alcatraz and later died of pneumonia complications at a federal prison medical center in Springfield, Missouri, according to Smithsonian magazine.

A different Paris from across the pond has a lighter Eiffel Tower story. Paris, Texas, has its own 65-foot Eiffel Tower, and it wears a red cowboy hat, described as “the tallest Eiffel Tower… with a hat.”

For decades, booking a Caribbean cruise almost always meant paying for expensive flights down to South Florida, braving crowded airports, and burning an entire day on travel before even stepping foot on the gangway.

But along the Texas coast, Galveston is quietly staging an enormous cruise revolution that is turning the island into the nation’s premier departure hub outside the Sunshine State. Backed by roughly 46 million travelers living within driving distance across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, cruise lines are aggressively expanding year-round deployments. Royal Caribbean is bringing the world’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, to the island in August 2027 alongside Liberty of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, while Carnival Cruise Line recently opened bookings for its brand-new 6,000-guest Carnival Tropicale for 2028, joining Disney, Princess, MSC, and Norwegian, with Margaritaville at Sea also slated to arrive.

As Jorge Oliver, Editor at Cruise Critic, explains: “Galveston is a cruise market that’s really gaining steam, and there are a number of reasons why. To start, Galveston is ideally located within driving distance for a wide range of travelers—making cruising from the port incredibly convenient and cost-effective. Add to that the investment the port has made— and continues to make—in the port infrastructure, with a $2.4 billion 20-year plan to continue improving and expanding terminals, parking and nearby lodging. This has generated huge interest from cruise lines: not only are lines sending ships, but they’re sending their newest ships—in the case of Carnival and Margaritaville at Sea—to sail from the city.”

Related: We Asked Travel Experts for the Best 2027 Cruises for Travelers Over 60—These 7 Made the Cut

Why Cruising From Texas Offers a Better Vacation Rhythm

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Choosing to set sail from the Gulf Coast does more than just save you the expense and stress of an airport run—it fundamentally changes the pace of your voyage. “For travelers who can drive to Galveston, one of the biggest perks is that cruising from the port allows travelers to save on the cost—and headache—of flying to Florida for a cruise,” Jorge Oliver notes. “Galveston also offers Western Caribbean itineraries that tend to be a bit more immersive in the region, including stops in destinations like Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Mexico.

For those who like sea days, Galveston sailings also tend to offer more of those due to the logistics of sailing from the port.” Rather than rushing through standard beach stops, these routes linger longer at sea and dive into Central American culture. As Oliver points out: “The inclusion of Central America ports like Belize and Roatan in Galveston’s Western Caribbean itineraries is really something cruisers tend to love, because you get a nice mix of so many different experiences—cultural exploration, eco-adventures and your more laid-back beach days. Those itineraries don’t just feel like you’re moving from one beach to another, but you’re really experiencing a wide range of cultures and experiences that combine for an incredibly well-rounded trip from start to finish.”

Related: 10 Best Caribbean ‘Micro-Cruises’ for 2026

What to See and Do: Victorian Charm and Secret Rocking Chairs

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Because traffic heading down from Houston can bottleneck and parking fills up quickly across the port’s four terminals along Harborside Drive, heading in a day early lets you explore an island rich with history and coastal character. Megan O’Malley Martin, a cruise industry public relations director with deep family roots on the island, recommends taking in Galveston’s historic architecture on foot before ever heading to the gangway. Martin suggests taking time to “stroll through The Strand District and Historic Downtown Galveston to check out the sites, historic Victorian homes and great food.” While exploring the downtown district’s historic iron-front storefronts, she points shoppers toward local indie spots like Kimmy’s Boutique, which she describes as “owned by one of my close friends, adorable clothes,” alongside Gracie’s Gift Shop for “great gifts, clothes and souvenirs,” and Strand Brass for festive holiday and gift finds. For art lovers, she highlights Rene Wiley Gallery as a “favorite local artist,” noting that during community Art Walk nights, “the local galleries and boutiques will open their doors after hours and provide lite bites and sips as the community comes together to peruse the local haunts.”

If you want to feel the coastal breeze, you do not need to wait until your ship hits the open sea. “You can walk onto the beach in town (Bennett’s Beach Service is a great option for chair rentals) or drive your car out on the West End,” Martin says. Right along the oceanfront on the Seawall, she shares an insider tip at one of the island’s most recognizable souvenir landmarks: “Murdoch’s is a souviner shop on the Seawall but the insider secret is that they have rocking chairs on the back that overlook the water. Great place to grab an ice cream or soda and take in the views.” For history buffs wanting a look into the region’s storied past, The Bryan Museum is a must-see stop that Martin highlights for its rich collection of “world war artifacts, Warhol art, etc in scenic old home.”

Related: MSC Cruises Is Expanding to Texas with MSC Seascape Sailing Out of Galveston

Where to Eat and Drink: Cajun Shrimp Fondue, Craft Cocktails, and Texas Kolaches

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Galveston’s dining scene is a vibrant blend of fresh Gulf seafood, Cajun flavor, and warm Texas hospitality that makes pre-cruise dinners an absolute highlight. For a fun, casual meal right downtown, Martin recommends Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill for “great seafood and chicken fried steak but the real draw is the Cajun Shrimp Fondue,” as well as Rudy & Paco, which she praises for its “amazing service, one of the fancier places in town, standout food.” When you are ready for a craft cocktail, head to DTO, which Martin loves for “great craft cocktails, location of the Christmas Miracle Bar pop up, cute outdoor courtyard, often has food trucks and last I heard also had a speakeasy on-site.” For nightlife that transitions from day to evening, she points to Yaga’s Cafe, calling it “a Galveston institution that is restaurant by day and bustling nightlife after dark.”

If you want to dine with a water view, Martin highlights The Spot on the Seawall as “4 restaurants and bars within one venue overlooking the water,” or suggests heading away from the downtown core to West End Marina for “great fish and chips, fun cocktails and laid back vibes overlooking the canals.” Seafood lovers can also hit up Black Pearl for its famous crab cakes or BLVD Seafood for fresh catches and waterfront vistas. And if you are visiting Texas from out of state, Martin insists on starting your embarkation morning with true Lone Star comfort food: “If you’re not from Texas, you may not be familiar with kolaches or the simple joy of a homemade breakfast burrito. There are tons of little mom and pop places that are not to be missed for a great, casual breakfast.”

Related: Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils New Galveston Cruise Ship to Kickstart Winter Season

Where to Stay: Historic Grandeur and Design-Forward Hideaways

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Booking a hotel the night before your sailing gives you total peace of mind on embarkation morning while letting you experience the island’s distinct lodging personality. Martin highlights The Tremont House right in the downtown historic district as “my personal favorite, has an old Galveston feel, beautiful lobby bar and fun rooftop bar.” Along the Seawall, the iconic pink Grand Galvez offers sweeping ocean panoramas and historic prestige, which Martin notes has “a great Sunday Brunch and Spa plus some really cool haunted history.”

Travelers seeking a full resort experience can check into The San Luis Resort, which Martin calls a “great hotel with water views, good onsite restaurants, great boutique, pool cabanas and a fun bar called H2O.” For travelers drawn to retro, design-forward aesthetics, she suggests Hotel Lucine, sharing that “this place has been completely redone and I haven’t personally been but it looks really cool, people are raving about it and their outdoor music lineup is fire.” If you prefer a charming bed-and-breakfast setting, Carr Mansion is an historic gem that “looks adorable,” offering a quiet residential retreat just minutes from the terminal docks.

With port officials actively laying the groundwork for a fifth cruise terminal at Pier 14, Galveston’s trajectory shows zero signs of slowing down. As Jorge Oliver sums up: “While capacity levels will certainly add a cap to how many ships are able to sail from the region, the port’s 20-year expansion plan points to even more growth ahead in the years to come. What that looks like is still to be determined, but it’s safe to say there’s a ton of enthusiasm around Galveston both from a consumer and cruise line perspective.”

Related: Margaritaville at Sea’s New Beachcomber Is Coming to Galveston With Caribbean Cruises and a Zac Brown Venue

Another week is here, and that means plenty more books are being released. As bookstores get overwhelming, we help to take some of the stress out. The problem is, you’re still going to be left with a productivity-ruining list in the best way possible!

We have seven books that cover all sorts of genres. Want an Appalachian horror that brings a supernatural monster? Check! Need haunting historical fiction? You’ve got it. There is something for absolutely everyone on this list.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House ‘Chain Reaction’ by Lee Child and Andrew Child

The biggest release of the week has to be the 31st (yes, 31st!) book in the Reacher series. Lee Child and Andrew Child are back with Chain Reaction, which sees General Susan Turner from the Pentagon reach out to Reacher, as he’s the only man who can do the job she needs. A member of her team has been brutally murdered while on a covert mission, and she needs someone who is able to solve problems like this without a lot of attention.

Well, Reacher doesn’t tend to help just because people ask him to. In this case, he does, and we get exciting twists and turns as he takes on one of the more mysterious cases he’s ever been involved in. One of my favorite elements is that Chain Reaction continues to show that the Child brothers can bring in real, modern-day elements and still make it feel like a timeless tale.

Courtesy of Simon & Schuster ‘The Betrayal of Cora Wexford’ by Bethany Joy Lenz

One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz is no stranger to the publishing world, but that was in non-fiction. Now she’s here with her fictional debut, The Betrayal of Cora Wexford, and it is a must-read. As the title suggests, it follows Cora Wexford, an American living in London in the late 1880s. Yes, the time of Jack the Ripper.

I did fear that this would bring another take on who Jack the Ripper was, but it didn’t. Instead, it brings a different betrayal, one that so many women can relate to. Despite being set in the late 19th century, there are stories that are still told today, and I feel like Lenz drew on experience with some of the more haunting parts of the story.

Courtesy of Berkley XO ‘Crash Course’ by Piper Lawson

Want a sports romance? Piper Lawson’s new novel Crash Course is perfect. I finished this in hours; I just couldn’t put it down. It all starts with Shay getting run over by a car, a car driven by one of the best motorsport drivers in the universe. It’s not the best start to her first day at college.

All Shay wants to do is finish her education and open a garage with her dad. Things have a weird way of not quite working out that way. As she meets the Ashford brothers, she suddenly realizes that romance may get in the way after all. No, this isn’t a book that involves a love triangle, so I’ll let you read to find out which brother she immediately picks.

Courtesy of Penguin Random House ‘When the Night Comes Knocking’ by Katherine Daniel

It’s October, and you know that means needing a terrifying horror. Katherine Daniel brings that with her debut, When the Night Comes Knocking. It is packed with Appalachian folklore, small-town clichés, and horror tropes that will have you turning page after page.

It starts with Thomas and Jane, siblings who haven’t spoken to each other since an incident that nearly led to death. One holiday, their parents decide they should enjoy it in a cabin in Blood Mountain. Little do any of them realize that there’s a monster that nobody wants to believe in roaming those woods, and it’s out to feed on the hearts of people trapped in a small convenience store. Think The Mist but with an Appalachian twist.

Courtesy fo Ace ‘Our Dark Incantations’ by Wanda Hellmund

Dark academia is a favored genre for a reason. It brings stories of learning, passion, and adventure, and so Our Dark Incantations by Wanda Hellmund is going to be the book you need to ruin your productivity for. It follows an ex-healer, Mira, who swore never to touch magic again. However, sometimes, you have to go against that promise, and she does so for Aidric Dawson.

This is a fun enemies-to-lovers story. You will laugh and cry all the way through. Aidric is the annoying, arrogant, sexy book boyfriend everyone wants. He’s smug and infuriating, and you will certainly feel Mira’s annoyance and pain. Also, make sure you get it for the absolutely gorgeous sprayed edges as a trophy for your bookshelf.

Courtesy of Viking Books ‘An Auction of Souls’ by Amber Chen

When you need a young adult fantasy, look no further than An Auction of Souls by Amber Chen this week. It’s the start of a new duology, perfect for fans of A Forgery of Fate. This is more than just a fun fantasy story, though. It’s filled with Asian mythology and culture.

It follows Meng Lingzi, who runs a legendary auction house with her grandmother. However, when a mysterious stranger arrives, Lingxi’s grandmother mysteriously vanishes, and suddenly spirits descend on Meng Wu — the House of Dreams. This is a story of resilience, perilous adventures, and family loyalty, as Lingxi stops at nothing to get her grandmother back, even if it means facing off against gods and demons.

Courtesy of Berkley ‘Now That We Don’t Talk’ by Rachel Pologe

We have to end with a cozy romance. After all, this week has been a lot with all the twists and turns, and sometimes, you need the excitement to come from a couple searching for love. Now That We Don’t Talk by Rachel Pologe offers just that, following Norah and Henry, who haven’t spoken for a decade.

When a friends-with-benefits situation got too clingy, Norah decided to run. Since then, all she’s done is run, but now she’s back home for the holidays, and it brings a shock she never expected. Norah and Henry’s moms are dating, and this could open an entirely different world of conversation for the two of them. Is it possible to ignore that need to run? It’s a conscious choice you have to make for yourself, and you’ll get to see Norah’s attempts.

There are rock stars, and then there are the people who helped build rock and roll in the first place.

Chuck Berry planted himself in the latter camp.

Born Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis, Missouri on Oct. 18, 1926, the singer, songwriter and guitarist would have celebrated his 100th birthday today. Nearly a decade after his death in 2017, his fingerprints are still all over popular music.

Berry didn’t invent rock and roll single-handedly. What he did was boost the emerging genre by giving it a language of its own, blending blues and R&B with country influences, distinct storytelling and a guitar sound that became instantly recognizable.

Then there were the hits.

After signing with Chess Records, Berry broke through with “Maybellene” in 1955, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and crossed over to the pop chart. He followed it with a run of classics including “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

His lyrics were just as important as the riffs. Berry wrote about everything from cars, school, romance, and jukeboxes to teenage life at a time when America’s youth culture was becoming a force of its own. The result was music that crossed racial lines in a segregated country and spoke directly to a generation of young listeners tired of their parents’ music.

It turns out musicians who followed were listening, too. The Beatles recorded Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven,” while the Rolling Stones were among the many artists who openly acknowledged his influence.

Keith Richards once summed up that debt, claiming, “I lifted every lick he ever had played.”

Berry’s reach eventually went much farther than any concert stage. In 1977, “Johnny B. Goode” was placed on NASA’s Voyager Golden Record, a collection of sounds and music from Earth aboard Voyagers 1 and 2. It remains the record’s only rock and roll song.

In 1986, Berry was inducted as part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s inaugural class.

And a century after Berry was born, “Johnny B. Goode” is still playing—both here on Earth and billions of miles away from it. Not too shabby for a song recorded nearly 70 years ago.

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If you’ve been searching for cozy shoes that look stylish with your fall outfits but are comfortable enough for everyday wear, Clarks’ Aydria Ray Faux Fur Collar Round-Toe Mules are an excellent pick. The slip-on shoes feature a versatile, fall-ready design with a plush faux fur lining with cushioned support, and they’re now on sale for 40% off at Macy’s.

Right now, you can snag the stylish round-toe mules for just $60, down from $100. They come in three classic shades that are neutral enough to complement any wardrobe: black, gray, and fig. Sizes range from 5 to 12, including half-sizes and wide width options. 

Clarks’ Aydria Ray Faux Fur Collar Round-Toe Mules, $60 (was $100) at Macy’s 

Courtesy of Macy's

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Designed with optimal comfort in mind, these Clarks mules have a plush foam footbed with enhanced arch cushioning for supportive all-day wear. The faux fur lining and collar add a cozy touch that keeps feet warm as temperatures drop, while the fleece sock lining provides an extra layer of softness underfoot. The nubuck upper adds a textured finish, while the closed, round-toe design gives them a classic clog-inspired look. 

The shoes also feature elastic stretch panels that make them easy to slip on and off, so you can get out the door without having to undo laces or buckles. The two-layer rubber outsole offers  bounce and flexibility during every step, while still providing durable traction for busy days on your feet. There’s also a 1.8-inch flat heel, which adds a little height without sacrificing comfort. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Comfortable’ $14 Walking Sneakers Can Take You Straight From Errands to Exercise

With the plush faux fur lining, these mules are made to pair effortlessly with fall staples like jeans, leggings, sweaters, and casual dresses. Their easy slip-on design makes them convenient to keep by the door whenever you need to run a quick errand or take the dog for a walk. When they need freshening up, simply spot-clean them according to the care instructions.

Shop More Clarks Shoe Deals:

• Clarks Cloudsteppers Breeze Myth Round-Toe Mules, $45 (was $75) at Macy’s
• Clarks Adalynn West Buckle Round Toe Booties, $78 (was $130) at Macy’s
• Clarks Cloudsteppers Breeze Amelia Mules Flats, $45 (was $75) at Macy’s

With their plush lining, supportive footbed, and classic look, Clarks’ Aydria Ray mules would be a versatile addition to any fall shoe collection. Make sure to grab a pair while they’re still on sale for just $60 at Macy’s.

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

“This is my home. This is my castle.” That is how Vera Coking, an Atlantic City widow, described her house in 1998, according to the Institute for Justice, and she acted like it.

Coking and her husband bought the 29-room, three-story boardinghouse in 1961 for $20,000, per the Associated Press. It sat a block from the boardwalk, and in time it sat in the way of two of the biggest names in town.

The first was Bob Guccione, the publisher of Penthouse. The Institute for Justice says he tried to buy her property for $1 million to build a casino. Coking refused, and Guccione “built a steel and concrete structure all around (even over) her home,” per the institute.

Donald Trump came next. According to the AP, he bought Guccione’s unfinished project and later tried to buy Coking’s building for his Trump Plaza casino. A state agency, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, tried to take her home by eminent domain and hand it to Trump for a private limousine parking lot. In July 1998, a New Jersey court ruled that it could not, per the Institute for Justice.

Trump has said Coking was willing to sell but the two never agreed on a price, and that he offered her millions plus lifetime housing. Her grandson disputed that, according to the AP.

By 2014, Coking was 86 and had moved to California to be near her family, per the AP. Her old house went to auction on July 31 with a starting bid of $199,000, after it sat on the market at $995,000 for months. It sold for only $583,000, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, way below the $1 million price offered to her years before.

The buyer turned out to be billionaire investor Carl Icahn, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Property records showed the house transferred to an Icahn entity on Sept. 9, per the Inquirer, and the three-story building was reduced to rubble on Nov. 20, 2014, according to NBC10.

Coking was not the only homeowner to say no to a seven-figure check. In 2006, Seattle’s Edith Macefield turned down $1 million for her house, and a five-story building went up around it instead. Unlike Coking’s boardinghouse, the Macefield house is still standing today, outliving its owner.

Another Dancing With the Stars alum is weighing in on the recent “lift” drama involving Carrie Ann Inaba, Jenna Johnson and Harry Shum Jr.—and he thinks the ballroom rulebook could use an update when it comes to the use of backup dancers in the routines.

In a video posted to Instagram, original DWTS pro Louis van Amstel sided with Inaba over her critique of the couple’s samba—but with a caveat.

“I’m not being diplomatic here, but Carrie Ann was right to call out that lift,” van Amstel, 54, said in the Oct. 17 video. “That was a lift. Two men assisted Harry off the floor.”

“The rules are not very specific,” he added. “This was three men lifting the guy. The rule is for a couple in the ballroom dance industry. You cannot do that. Carrie Ann is right to call it out. But, you can also blame the producers for not being clear on the rule when there is more than just a couple on the dance floor. You can also blame Jenna a little bit because she’s playing with fire. She’s poking the bear by putting in a lift, knowing that rule. But, then again, in her defense, she didn’t lift him.”

The DWTS Season 1 pro noted that the confusion with Johnson and Shum’s routine comes because Johnson technically wasn’t the person who lifted her celebrity partner. Van Amstel suggested the DWTS rulebook should be changed to clarify: “You cannot do a lift whether it’s by your partner or any extra dancer in the entire number.”

“Then, I would say that rule is waterproof,” he added.

The DWTS veteran also noted that Johnson’s husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, did a “full-on lift” with his partner Jenna Dewan in their paso doble during last week’s show but that it was overlooked by the judge.

 “Carrie Ann did not call that out. That, to me, is inconsistent,” van Amstel said. “That’s been my issue. I don’t mind the ‘lift police.’ She’s right to do it, but be consistent!”

Van Amstel’s comments about the inconsistency with the lift rules were in line with those of fellow DWTS alum Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who is Johnson’s brother-in-law.

On Oct. 15, Chmerkovskiy appeared on The Viall Files podcast  where he addressed Inaba’s “reading off the rulebook.”

“But then that same rulebook that’s applicable in ballroom with lifts is only applicable to a couple dancing,” Chmerkovskiy, 46, explained on the podcast. “You’re not talking about extra background dancers running out.”

“There’s no ‘three other people’ in the rulebook,” he continued. “The point is: Carrie Ann, get some consistency. A lift is a lift if a partner lifted his partner. … If you’re going to have [the] troupe run out and throw someone in the air, that’s not a lift. That’s Dancing With the Stars creative direction, and you should complain to the creative director.”

During the Oct. 13 episode of Dancing with the Stars, Inaba called out Johnson over the lift she spotted in her samba with Shum Jr., reading the definition from a paper: “A lift is any movement during which one of the dancers has both feet off the floor at the same time with the assistance or support of their partner.”

Johnson took the feedback in stride, but her husband, Val Chmerkovskiy, was not happy. The dancer posted and deleted a TikTok comment that threatened, “You almost saw Fresh Prince enter the ballroom last night.” The comment was a reference to Will Smith’s famous altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.

Chmerkovskiy has since apologized and has been suspended from the competition for this week’s Dedication Night.

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

While speaking on a panel at Thats4Entertainment’s 90s Con on Saturday, The Nanny actor Daniel Davis opened up about the celebrity guest stars on the 1990s ABC comedy and revealed which one was “the biggest” diva.

According to People, Davis recalled Elizabeth Taylor’s many requests during her February 1996 appearance on the show. Her cameo was part of a larger campaign to promote her newest fragrance, Black Pearls, which saw Taylor appear in all four of CBS’ sitcoms airing during its Monday night programming. The takeover was known as “Taylor-Made Monday.”

Davis said Taylor came with an “entourage” and while she was “charming and gracious and lovely,” the people she brought to set were “a little demanding.” 

“For example, the dressing room she was in had to be painted lavender,” he continued. “The towels and the washcloths had to be lavender. There had to be two different kinds of water — water for her to drink and water for the dog to drink because her water made the dog’s mustache turn brown.”

Davis also said that, per Taylor’s contract, The Nanny cast and crew were “not to look at her eyes” and that the actress demanded a gift from Tiffany’s worth no less than $5,000. 

“But this is the entourage making these demands, not Ms. Taylor at all,” he explained, adding “and then, she never saw the present.”

Davis recalled asking Taylor if he could take a photo with her. She agreed, but said it would cost him $150 for a hard copy. 

“I said, ‘Why?’ and [the photographer] said, ‘Because according [to] her direction, it had to be retouched so she looks like a billion dollars,” Davis explained. The 80-year-old still has the photo hanging on his wall. 

The Nanny, which followed Fran Fine (Fran Drescher), a cosmetics saleswoman from Queens who is accidentally hired as a nanny for the wealthy Sheffield family, aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999. Davis played Niles, the Sheffields’ trusted butler, for the entirety of the show’s run.

For decades, airline loyalty was built on a simple, unwritten deal: if you spent your life cramped in middle seats putting in the actual miles, the airline had your back.

That era is officially over.

United Airlines just blew up its MileagePlus program, effectively kicking classic “road warriors” to the curb. Starting in 2027, taking dozens of flights a year will no longer count toward your elite status. Going forward, United only cares about one thing: cold, hard cash.

Under the old rules, frequent flyers had a lifeline. If you were taking frequent, shorter, or regional hops that didn’t cost a fortune, you could combine a reasonable amount of spending with a required number of flights. Starting next year, that option vanishes entirely. Status will be calculated strictly on how many total dollars you drop on airfare, fees, and credit card swipes. To make matters worse, hitting the top-tier Premier 1K status will now require a eye-watering $32,000 in spending—up from $28,000.

As Summer Hull over at The Points Guy put it, United isn’t just simplifying the rules; they’re changing the whole game. “United isn’t simply making elite status qualification easier to understand. It’s eliminating a pathway that rewarded travelers for booking with United on flight after flight, even if those flights weren’t always the most expensive,” Hull noted. “Frequent flyer perks, at least on United, are now officially high-spender perks.”

What makes this shift so jarring is that other airlines are heading in the opposite direction. Programs like Alaska and Hawaiian’s newly unified Atmos Rewards are actually giving travelers more options to qualify—whether through miles flown, segments taken, or direct spend. United, on the other hand, is placing a hard bet on big spenders, likely trying to thin out overcrowded airport lounges and mile-long priority boarding lines.

Related: United Airlines Overhauls MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

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For travel creator Rachel Friem, who runs the platform genxtravelmom, this change hits on a level that goes far beyond perks or upgrade lists—it breaks a deeply personal family connection.

“So my mom was an early 1 million-miler (terrified for years of flying eventually started flying when she divorced my dad),” Friem explained. “So being a United one K was actually an emotional decision. She shared status with me because she was able to do that when I started taking care of her when she developed dementia. Eventually, I earned it on my own, but I’ve only basically flown them and with the recent changes, I just have decided I can’t do it anymore. It’s not worth it. I’m literally going to pay for what I want.”

When program changes can sever a bond that personal, it’s a sign of a massive shift in how people view airline loyalty. While you can technically make up the spending gap by using a co-branded United credit card, you’d have to spend a fortune on everyday purchases just to move the needle.

For standard vacationers and practical business travelers, the math simply doesn’t add up anymore. When loyalty gets this expensive, it’s time to become a free agent—and just buy the flight with the best schedule and price, regardless of whose logo is on the tail.

Related: United Airlines Is Matching Delta and American Airlines Status, but Travelers Have Just Days to Apply

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Fall has officially arrived, and the days are already getting shorter with the sun setting earlier. However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from spending your evenings outdoors. All you need is some ambient lighting to replace the lost sunlight. Solar string lights are a fabulous choice, and they’ll transform your backyard into a cozy getaway that you’ll never want to leave. If that sounds like something you want to add to your home’s outdoor space, check out the Qishi Cherry Blossom Solar String Lights at Walmart.

Now’s the best time to snag these string lights because they’re currently on sale for a whopping 55% off! Normally retailing for $20, the lights are now marked down to just $9 in warm white. These solar string lights are also available multicolor, pink, and purple. Those are currently on sale for $10, which is still a buzzworthy price. 

Qishi Cherry Blossom Solar String Lights, From $9 (was $20) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

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Featuring 50 decorative cherry blossoms, these string lights nail the cottagecore aesthetic with a nature-inspired design. The cherry blossoms add a romantic and peaceful vibe, capturing the essence of a slow-paced lifestyle. Strung anywhere in your backyard, these lights will instantly elevate your space and bring it to life. Whether you hang them from your overhang or deck, or drape them on a bush or tree, this string of lights will transform your outdoor space into a relaxing oasis. 

Every cherry blossom has an LED light bulb that emits a warm white hue. Together, they’ll illuminate your space at night, giving it a cozy and inviting vibe. The lights have various modes, including constant light and various flashing patterns. The still light is ideal for relaxing evenings, while the flashing lights add more energy to the space. Whether you’re reading out on your balcony or hanging out with some friends on your patio, it’ll get the mood and ambiance just right. 

“The lights are so beautiful when they come on,” one Walmart reviewer raved, explaining that “they look so lovely and magical throughout the whole night.” A second shopper noted that these lights “add a beautiful ambiance” to their flower garden. 

Qishi Cherry Blossom Solar String Light, From $9 (was $20) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Sustainable and environmentally friendly, these string lights don’t require batteries or electricity. Fitted with a solar panel, the strand only relies on sunlight for power. The solar panel comes with a ground stake so you can secure it in dirt or grass and position it towards the sky for maximum sunlight. It requires about six hours to fully charge and automatically turns the lights on when it gets dark outside. On a full charge, the lights can stay on for up to eight hours. 

The string is 22-feet-long with each cherry blossom spaced 7.8 inches apart. Made of waterproof and erosion-resistant materials, this strand of lights should hold up to rainy fall weather and last for a long period of time. Shoppers attested to this, noting that their lights were able to withstand rain, frost, and snow. 

Related: Walmart’s ‘Incredibly Lush’ $24 Christmas Greenery Is Perfect for Holiday Wreaths and Centerpieces

If you want to add cottagecore charm and create the perfect ambiance in your backyard, be sure to snag the Qishi Cherry Blossom Solar String Lights at Walmart while they’re still on sale for just $9! 

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Tom Rhys Harries went through an unusually grueling casting process to get the lead in DC Studios’ Clayface. Director James Watkins spent three months with the Welshman, including two very long screen tests, to ensure he could meet the role’s psychological and physical demands.

That approach is indicative of the ambition of the film, which is very much a horror film in its intent and which eschews the usual superhero fare in favor of a tale of transformation, identity and revenge.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s world premiere on October 13, Watkins said Harries had caught his eye from the outset, but he wanted to see what the actor could do before deciding.

“I auditioned the hell out of him,” Watkins said, describing the auditioning process.

A still from the ‘Clayface’ movie. (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Rather than just looking for someone who could play the scary look of Clayface, Watkins was looking for an actor who could get the audience to care about Matt Hagen the man. “He came in, and I thought he really had something, but I wanted to explore it. So we spent time exploring it,” Watkins added.

Harries was happy with the extra time. He told The Hollywood Reporter that it allowed him and Watkins to develop the character together before production. For a character that needs to be both vulnerable and menacing, that kind of prep could be crucial.

The film is about Matt Hagen, a Hollywood actor whose life is turned upside down following a catastrophic facial injury. In his desperation to get his face back and to get his career going again, he goes down the path of an experimental treatment which results in a truly horrific transformation.

Hagen eventually becomes Clayface, a creature whose body can take on the properties of living clay. He’s been a fixture in Batman’s comic-book lore for a long time, but this film takes a very different approach to his origin story, going down the body horror route rather than the standard superhero path.

Harries stars alongside Naomi Ackie and Max Minghella. James Watkins is at the helm, with the screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

‘Clayface’ First Reactions Tease a Brutal Horror Experience

Early reactions to the film at its premiere have been very positive for DC’s attempt at a genre film. Chris Killian at ComicBook.com was very complimentary of the film’s horrific take on Hagen’s tragic tale, and Collider’s Steven Weintraub called it fantastic, with particular praise for the brutality of the film.

The early responses also suggest that you don’t need to be a huge DC Comics fan to get the story. That said, they’re not really reviews at all, and the wider reaction from the audience will tell us a lot more.

Clayface is scheduled to release in North American cinemas on October 23rd, 2026.

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As the temperature drops and the leaves start changing color, you might find yourself reaching for some of your favorite movies to get into the spirit of fall. And if The Nightmare Before Christmas is on your watchlist this year, Sam’s Club has the perfect sweet treat to celebrate the 1993 cult classic: the Member’s Mark ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Cupcakes.

Sold in a 30-count package for just $16.67, this ghoulishly fun variety packs two flavors and plenty of classic movie details. Ready to make you the star of an upcoming Halloween party, it’s a worthy indulgence to kick off the holiday season, but it’s only around for a limited time.

Member’s Mark ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Cupcakes, $16.67 at Sam’s Club @samsclubfavorites

🎃 The Nightmare Before Christmas cupcakes are at Sam’s Club, and these are so fun for Halloween! 👻 You get 30 white and chocolate cupcakes decorated with Jack, Sally and Oogie Boogie. 🧁 These would be perfect for a Halloween party or movie night! 🖤 ($16.67) #samsclub #samsclubfinds #nightmarebeforechristmas

♬ original sound – Sam’s Club Favorites Shop It!

Spotted in-store by @samsclubfavorites, Member’s Mark ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Cupcakes couldn’t have arrived at a better time. While we’re still a couple of weeks out from Halloween, holiday parties are already filling up our calendars. And unless you plan to down a whole 30-count variety of cupcakes on your own (no judgment here), there’s no better way to be the star of any spooky soiree.

Made fresh in-club daily, this delicious trip down Tim Burton’s cinematic lane includes 15 white and 15 chocolate cupcakes, each adorned with green, purple or white icing, black sprinkles and minifigure heads of Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie. The entire lot comes in a clear, resealable plastic package and perfectly captures the whimsical, eerie theme of the beloved animated picture.

Available in-club and online for a limited time, don’t miss your chance to try these cupcakes before they disappear.

Related: Pillsbury’s Iconic Shape Cookies Have Been a Fall Favorite for Decades—Here’s the Surprising Story Behind Them

More Seasonal Treats Worth Indulging In

Looking for more ways to satisfy your sweet tooth? Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find something new. While at Sam’s Club, keep an eye out for Halloween favorites like the $17 Pull-Apart Cupcake Cake and $20 Chocolate Halloween Cake Balls. Each dessert offers its own festive charm, with the pull-apart cupcakes resembling a giant pumpkin with festive Día de los Muertos details and the cake balls featuring an assortment of creepy eyeballs.

Heading to Costco instead? Don’t worry, the seasonal indulgence is strong here, too. Right now, you can score the brand-new Apple Pie Sundae at the Costco food court for just $2.99 or head to the freezer section for the viral Dot Cakes in miniature form for just $15. Pro tip: Hit the food court first for your sundae fix, then browse the freezer aisle for more tasty desserts to enjoy later, or head to the bakery to check out the many seasonal treats already in rotation.

Related: I Baked Lucille Ball’s Forgotten 1950s ‘Apple John’ Recipe—and It Might Be Better Than Traditional Apple Pie