Lebanon, NH – September 23, 2026 -- Buyers eyeing an empty lot instead of a finished house face a checklist that looks nothing like a standard home purchase, according to real estate expert Vanessa Stone of Vanessa Stone Real Estate, LLC in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Zoning rules can quietly block a buyer's plans

Local zoning ordinances dictate how a parcel can be used, including setbacks, minimum lot sizes, and rules on accessory buildings. Stone notes these restrictions can determine whether a buyer's intended structure is even legally possible before construction begins.

Scenic land often hides costly site work

Wooded or sloped lots may offer privacy and views, but wetlands, drainage patterns, rock, and steep grades can raise construction costs and limit where a structure can sit.

Leiper's Fork, Tenn. – September 23, 2026 -- A string of fall festivals is rolling out across the rural communities bordering the Natchez Trace Parkway, the 100-mile stretch of National Park land anchoring what organizers call Nashville's Big Back Yard.

Lavender and pudding lead the harvest lineup

Near Hohenwald, the Oak Grove Lavender Farm hosts an all-day Fall Festival on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with artisan vendors, seasonal food and a dog costume contest. In Centerville, the National Banana Pudding Festival runs Oct. 3-4, featuring a cook-off and a tasting trail dubbed 'The Puddin' Path.'

Douglassville, PA – September 23, 2026 -- Lennar is opening Venue at Leaf Creek, a 55-and-better community in Amity Township, Douglassville, Pennsylvania, with homes priced starting in the $400,000s and an opening anticipated this fall.

The community offers more than 300 single-family homes across 10 floorplans.

Homes range from 1,570 to 3,700 square feet, with two to four bedrooms and two to four bathrooms. Each layout is a single-level, open-concept design that includes an exterior deck.

Every home comes with Lennar's Everything's Included program built into the base price.

That covers gourmet kitchens with modern appliances, upgraded bathroom finishes, premium flooring, Ring doorbells, and wireless thermostats.

New York – September 23, 2026 -- Expert Consumers has named Needed the top pick in its 2026 review of prenatal vitamins with choline, citing a disclosed 200 mg dose delivered through both capsule and powder formats.

A 200 mg dose covers 44% of pregnancy's daily choline target.

The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements sets the adequate intake for choline at 450 mg per day during pregnancy and 550 mg during lactation. Needed's 200 mg serving meets about 44% of the pregnancy target and 36% of the lactation target, according to the review. NIH guidance notes many prenatal supplements contain little or no choline, a nutrient tied to cell membrane structure and early brain development.

Berlin – September 23, 2026 -- Morphy Richards closed out IFA Berlin 2026 with two award wins, including recognition for a hose-free portable air conditioner and a dehumidifier honored for design.

The British small appliance brand, marking its 90th anniversary this year, presented its "Smart Ideas" product philosophy at the trade show, spanning both kitchen appliances and home air treatment devices.

The D1 Ultra Dehumidifier earned a Best in Design honoree spot at the IFA Innovation Awards.

The award is judged by an international panel recognizing innovation, design, and engineering across consumer tech categories.

Philadelphia – September 23, 2026 -- Zahav Foods has launched two new hummus flavors, Zahav Hummus Matbucha and Zahav Hummus Harissa, now stocked at 185 Whole Foods Market locations across 20 states, including Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles and San Diego.

The brand was co-founded in 2024 by five-time James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Chef Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook, the team behind Philadelphia's Michelin-recommended Zahav and Laser Wolf. Each 10 oz package retails for $7.99 and is Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Kosher, and Seed Oil Free.

New York – September 23, 2026 -- Attack Shark has launched the MEGA B2, a gaming mouse that replaces traditional mechanical switches with TMR-based Magnetic Micro-Switches, letting players set actuation distances as fine as 0.1mm.

Magnetic switches allow adjustable trigger sensitivity

Instead of physical contacts, the MEGA B2 detects button movement through magnetic sensing, a design the company says reduces switch wear over time. The mouse also supports Rapid Trigger technology, letting activation and reset points shift dynamically so players can fire repeated inputs without waiting for a fixed reset distance. Both primary buttons include linear motor haptic feedback, with independently adjustable trigger sensitivity and tactile intensity.

Las Vegas – September 23, 2026 -- EZ Elephant, a ladder-free gutter cleaning tool, will be on display at Booth #834 during the Western Roofing Expo, running September 27–29, 2026.

The device lets users clear leaves and debris without climbing a ladder

The American-made system uses an extended-reach pole with adjustable angles to reach gutters from the ground. Its attachment, called the Elephant Clip, holds a gutter screen that tilts to let accumulated leaves and debris fall away.

The company describes the process as "Hook, Flip, Clean," saying it takes only minutes and can be repeated as needed without ladders, harsh chemicals, or professional cleaning services.

San Francisco – September 23, 2026 -- Janie and Jack has launched a 12-look fall capsule curated by British fashion journalist Louise Roe, blending English countryside style with the American childrenswear brand's classic aesthetic. The collection went live in the U.S. on September 14, 2026, and in the UK on September 22, 2026, arriving as the brand expands its UK footprint following its first London store opening in Chelsea.

The edit mixes equestrian and heirloom details

Roe, a mother of two who spent over a decade covering style in the U.S. and UK, drew on her English upbringing and her own daughters' wardrobes to shape the collection. The 12 looks include a heritage plaid jumper, a tiered floral dress, a gingham dress, cable knits and tailored outerwear. Pieces are available in girls' and boys' sizes from newborn to age 12.

Frederick, Md. – September 23, 2026 -- A new survey from NaturaLawn of America finds that 78% of American adults feel guilty choosing screen time over time outdoors, even as 76% say they feel the need to disconnect at least once a week.

The survey, fielded August 22-23, 2026 among 1,137 U.S. residents ages 18-61 with a margin of error of +/- 2.964%, found that roughly three in four adults recognize the phrase "touch grass." Among those who know it, 83.2% have used it themselves, most often to mean unplugging from technology (54%) or getting outside (52%). Only about one in four use it literally.

Intentions don't match behavior over the past month

Despite widespread guilt over screen use, more than a third of respondents managed just 20 screen-free minutes outdoors on two or fewer days over the past month. One in nine managed zero such days.