Upgrade Your Beach Chairs With These Three Hacks

You guys, I am in heaven, because beach days are finally here! My weekend beach bag essentials have grown to include a sick pizza beach blanket, various sun screens and tanning oil, but the one thing I was missing was a one-of-a-kind beach chair! These three beach chair hacks are great for updating old or new chairs to make them really stand out on the beach this summer. ‘Cause face it — we’ve all had that moment of panic when exiting the water and we can’t remember where we were sitting on the vast beach :)

Stamped Beach Chair

Materials + Tools:

beach chair

— sticky-backed craft foam

— wood block

— scissors

— fabric or acrylic paint

— foam brushes

— pen

Instructions:

1. Draw out your stamp design onto craft foam, cut out and adhere to the wooden block.

2. Cover the stamp with fabric or acrylic paint and press onto the chair.

3. Stamp away until your beach chair is covered in a pattern upgrade!

Of course we decided to upgrade our beach chair with pineapples. Draw your design onto craft foam, cut it out and stick onto a wooden block.

Cover the stamp with paint (acrylic or fabric paint will work just fine) and stamp away!

Materials + Tools:

Embroidered Chair

beach chair

— fabric

— embroidery floss

— scissors

— pen

— needle

— glue gun

Instructions:

1. Hand letter your sassy saying with pencil or pen onto the back of your beach chair.

2. Using embroidery floss, stitch over your penned letters.

3. Cut a piece of fabric to fit the back of the chair and hot glue to cover your embroidery knots.

Hand letter your favorite beachy saying onto the seat back of your chair and then stitch with embroidery floss. Use the back stitching technique to fill in your letters.

To make key words stand out and really make a statement, use different colored thread.

Once you are done stitching, cut a piece of fabric to size and hot glue onto the back of the chair. This will hide all the extremely not cute embroidery knots or mistakes ;)

Woven Chair Back

— 2-inch cotton strap

— elastic cord

— hot glue gun

— wax thread

— needle

— scissors

Instructions:

1. Remove the back of your beach chair and cut five 23-inch strips of two-inch cotton strap.

2. Apply a strip of hot glue to the strap, stick onto the metal post of the chair and then secure the strap onto the chair by stitching with wax thread.

3. Stitch all five straps onto one side of the chair and then follow the same process for attaching the strap on the other side of the chair.

4. Weave the elastic cord through the white straps and tie in place.

So this hack is more suited for a beach chair that has seen better days, but can also be done on a brand new chair just like this one!

Cut five 23-inch strips of cotton strap to create the new back of your chair.

Add a strip of hot glue about 4 inches from the end of the strap and press onto the metal frame of the chair. Fold the strap around the metal frame and stitch together using the wax thread.

Pull the cotton strap lightly and glue onto the metal base on the other side, and stitch into place.

Weave the elastic cord through the white straps. Get creative on patterns, density of cord and types of cord you use to weave with.

Tie the cord or use a few stitches to hold the woven strands in place.

Sit back and relax in your new one-of-a-kind beach chairs while catching up with friends and soaking in some rays.

100 points for whoever can name the song this lyric comes from without using Google.

“And then the tide rolls in!”

Show us your project by tagging us on Instagram + using the hashtag #iamcreative!

DIY Production and Styling: Kelly Bryden
Photography: Kurt Andre

I honestly never feel more at ease than when I'm eating a yummy meal on the beach. After a long, sun-soaked day, my body craves something hearty, homemade, and fresh. That's why stacked sandwiches or cold pasta salads are the best. Of course, the most crucial factor of a beach meal is that it's easily transportable and can withstand some time out of the cooler while still retaining its flavors and textures. These 12 beach lunch ideas do just that, and are perfect for bringing along on your next sandy adventure. You can even share these easy recipes with a pal. Just make sure you have a good reusable sealed bag or sturdy Tupperware container on-hand! From there, you can dig in and fully enjoy the seaside sights with a satisfied, full belly. Let's dive in!

Cravings: Hungry for More by Chrissy Teigen

Pork Bánh Mì With Quick Pickles & Roasted Broccoli

This flavorful stack is the perfect post-swimming treat. It's full of fresh veggies and seasoned pork, but the most critical aspect of this recipe is using thick, toasted bread to ensure it doesn't get soggy on your travels. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Lazy Girl Breakfast Sandwiches

Looking for something more protein-packed? Opt for these delicious breakfast sandwiches, which can be easily prepped ahead of time and stored in an easy layer of foil. (via Brit + Co)

Half Baked Harvest

Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wraps

These buffalo chicken wraps are a total treat, plus they pack a nice, spicy punch. All of the ingredients get folded up on top of one another, so there's not a ton of potential for spillage or falling apart. Wrap 'em in foil or store 'em in a Tupperware container before you dig in. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Pizza Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is one of the best beach lunch ideas, since it can be served cold or at room-temperature. If you have to venture out to the shore without a cooler, this meal will keep really well. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Chicken Salad Keto Lettuce Wraps

To make these wraps beach-friendly, store the filling and lettuce pieces separately then assemble upon arrival. (via Brit + Co)

Most Hungry

Pizza Bianca with Mortadella, Burrata & Pistachio Pesto

Sandwich supremacy! This bready bite is so delicious and elevated, thanks to the burrata and pistachio pesto. Feel free to adjust the toppings based on your specific cravings and diet. (via Most Hungry)

Live Eat Learn

Vegan Chicken Caesar Wraps

The zesty, peppery flavors of Caesar salad are best enjoyed by the water. This vegan version of chicken wraps is super satiating and will leave you feeling powered up enough to take another swim! (via Live Eat Learn)

Takes Two Eggs

Easy Tteokbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cakes)

This beach lunch idea carries a ton of Korean foodie flair. It's definitely one you have to prep ahead of time, but the spicy flavors and addicting textures make the extra work oh-so worth it. You can even enjoy it cold, and it's still gonna be extra tasty. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Two Spoons

Easy Vegan Burritos with Sheet Pan Filling

These burritos are packed with a bean and veggie filling that's cooked on a single sheet pan, saving you from washing a whole slew of dishes after the fact. After the filling's done, simply wrap things up and head right to the beach! (via Two Spoons)

Cozy Cravings

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Save yourself from the drive-thru by making this copycat Panera mac & cheese! It tastes just like the real thing, plus it's one of those beach meals that's definitely going to keep you feeling full all day long since it centers carbs. (via Cozy Cravings)

Bowl of Delicious

Caprese Sandwiches

Can't make it to the Italian coast this summer? Make these Caprese sandwiches to channel the country's signature flavors without ever having to catch a flight. Make sure to prep the bread super crispy to avoid any unwanted sogginess. Though, soggy sandwiches can sometimes hit different at the beach! (via Bowl of Delicious)

The Endless Meal

Cranberry Chicken Salad

This chicken salad works well on bread and lettuce wraps alike, so the serving is really up to you. Either way, it'll keep well in a durable Tupperware container until you're ready to eat. (via The Endless Meal)

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

If there's one thing I love to see, it's celebrities going makeup-free. And I'll celebrate it every single time! In addition to Drew Barrymore taking her makeup off on live TV (and throwing her extensions on the ground) and Millie Bobby Brown showing off her acne in selfies, Lady Gaga loves to go makeup-free. Remember when she performed at the Oscars with no makeup and ripped jeans?! Well the actress and singer just posted another adorable selfie without a stitch of makeup.

Here's what Lady Gaga had to say about "Die With A Smile" alongside her no-makeup selfie.

Lady Gaga is "so grateful" the song is #1.

To celebrate "Die With A Smile" (her song with Bruno Mars) hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Lady Gaga posted a photo of her laying in the grass with a huge grin on her face — and without any makeup.

"Thank you to all of the monsters and hooligans for helping make 'Die With A Smile' #1 on the Billboard Hot 100! We love you and are so grateful," she says in the post. "Having multiple songs of mine hit #1 across three decades feels surreal, and I am overwhelmed by the love and support you have shown me from the beginning. I have so much more in store for you and can’t wait to share it."

Friends and fans flooded the comments with everyone from Noah Cyrus saying, "you’re so gorgeous," to a fan account adding, "Thank you for your art! So proud of you and Bruno. You deserve this!"

And she loved recording it with Bruno Mars!

The song was released on August 16, and in a statement to Page Six, Lady Gaga praised Bruno Mars as a collaborator. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” she says. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on...It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

After revealing they "stayed up all night” to finish both writing and recording it, Lady Gaga continues, “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him." There's no one like you either Gaga!

Has "Die With A Smile" been on repeat for you? Let us know your favorite Lady Gaga song on Instagram!

Chances are you're packing for your long holiday weekend, with a swimsuit or two stowed away in your travel tote bag. While you're trying to remember if you packed your new TSA-approved bottle of sunscreen and the cream blush you can't live without, it's a good idea to make sure your attitude is in check, too.

I like to believe that most people aren't intentionally inconsiderate while on vacation, but it doesn't mean none of us are immune to doing things that annoy other people. Whether it's accidentally kicking sand in someone's face because you're running to catch a flying volleyball, or screaming loudly next to someone who's reading their latest book club find, here are 8 rude behaviors to avoid at the beach.

Rude Behaviors To Avoid At The Beach

Ron Lach

Beach Blanket Battles

Sigh. I'm not sure what it is, but we're all guilty of claiming 'our' space in public. Sometimes it's harmless, but there are those who take things to the extreme by making sure no one gets remotely close to a space they're interested in. We've definitely seen this in parking lots, but it can at the beach too.

If you feel like you don't want someone close to you on the beach, don't be petty by positioning your beach blanket in a way that doesn't leave room for them. You can either verbally express that you'd like space, or you can try to find a spot that's not crowded.

You and other visiting beach goers don't actually own the beach, so try not to act like it.

Ron Lach

The Loud Music Hog

I don't know too many people who dislike music. It's something that unites people from all walks of life (hello, have you been to a Taylor Swift or Beyoncé concert), having an almost transcendent effect.

However, this doesn't mean that people on the beach want to hear your summer playlist when they might be trying to relax. Also, you don't want to be that person who has no regards for kids if you're listening to something that's on the more explicit side. We know that kids will be introduced to a number of things, but don't be an a-hole just for the sake of "living your life."

Unless there's an actual approved beach party going on, it's best to pop in your Airpods to avoid disturbing others.

Pavel Danilyuk

The Inconsiderate Splashers

Splashing in the water brings out everyone's inner kid, but everyone might not appreciate being splashed if they're trying to sunbathe, read a book, or just...in general. Some people might be forgiving, but it could irritate others.

As a courtesy, move your splash war away from large crowds so that you're not disturbing others.

KoolShooters

Heavy Smokers

You're an adult who can do whatever they want, I know. The thing is that people don't always want to smell the residue of someone smoking while they're trying to relax.

Never mind the fact the people may want to smell fresh air, but you also don't know who could have asthma. I'm sure you don't want to be the person who accidentally triggers someone's asthma attack from your second-hand smoke.

Kampus Production

Parents Who Let Their Kids Do Destructive Things

I'm a parent who has a busy body for a toddler, so I get that kids need to burn excess energy. However, it doesn't hurt to teach them how to be considerate of others. There's nothing cute or funny about letting your kids disrupt a volleyball game that's not theirs, or smash someone's sandcastle just for fun.

If it helps, try to come up with fun activities the entire family can do together. You can build your own sandcastles, fly kites, or even go on a beach scavenger hunt!

Cassiano Psomas

People Who Ignore Their Dog's Poop

Every living thing has to use the restroom at some point, so no one's gonna be mad that your dog has to do their business. The issue is that some people refuse to pick up their dog's poop in public for whatever reason.

If you willingly let your dog go to the bathroom on the beach and pretend like you don't see it, that's pretty annoying. I'm sure whoever's going for a stroll on the sand won't appreciate stepping in a fresh (or old) pile of poop. Just pick it up and toss it out, okay?

Yan Krukau

Parents Who Leave Their Kids Dirty Diapers On The Beach Or In The Ocean

I don't have much to say about this except please spare everyone. I don't know why people continue to do this, but it's unsanitary and extremely uncool. Find a trash can to dispose of their diapers or see if you can change them in a nearby restroom, but please don't subject others to your child's waste.

Gantas Vaičiulėnas

Excessive PDA

Freedom of speech is one of those things that people can really try to take too far — especially when it comes to PDA. If you're headed to the beach to have a handsy makeout session with your S.O., don't. No one wants to see (or hear) the two of you getting hot and heavy while they're trying to relax. Leave that for a hotel room or the beach house you're staying at.

Don't forget to check out these bad work habits before you head back to the office after your beach trip!

Lead image via

Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

Liane Hentscher/HBO

I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

Kate Middleton has been top of mind for a lot of people over the last year after the princess announced in March 2024 she was battling cancer. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown," she shared in a video update. "This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved." And in honor of Kate's 43rd birthday, Prince William posted the sweetest tribute honoring her strength and perseverance.

Here's what Prince William had to say in Kate Middleton's birthday tribute.

Prince William celebrates "incredible" Kate Middleton's "strength."

Kate Middleton turned 43 on January 9, 2025. In honor of the big day, Prince William took to Instagram to celebrate, praising his "incredible" wife.

"To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable," he says in the post. "George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you. W."

And well wishers flooded the comments. "Happy Birthday Catherine, wishing you a wonderful year ahead surrounded by family and loved ones," one user says, while another adds, "Happy Birthday Princess of Wales! What a gorgeous photo. Wishing you a wonderful year 😍 xx"

And the tribute comes after revealing Kate was doing "amazing" following her cancer battle.

The birthday celebration comes after the prince shared an update on Kate in early November that had us all breathing a sigh of relief. “She's doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on," he said before the Earthshot Prize awards (via People). “She's been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success."

"From what I understand, Catherine is doing very well," royal author Robert Jobson added in an interview withHello!that same week. "She is back training at the gym and doing all the things she wanted to do."

We're sending Kate Middleton so much birthday love! For more about your favorite members of the Royal Family, check out Meghan Markle’s New Netflix Cooking Show Will Feature Some Of Your Fave Celebs.