A letter from a mom of six to her husband has gone viral for one simple reason: We can all relate to it on so many levels.
Before she went on a girls' weekend away from her hubby and kids, 36-year-old Meghan Oeser from Illinois left Kevin, 33, a detailed note about what to expect in her absence — and how best to deal with it.
Because Kevin juggles working 12-hour days and working on the family's new lake house, it was his first weekend at home alone with their youngest child in three years. Oeser began the letter by explaining how to set up her diffuser, but it quickly spiraled into something way, way bigger.
Right away it sets the tone and makes every single mom feel a little better about their own chaos. "Nighttime, daytime, breakfast time, and somewhere around lunchtime can easily be mistaken for pure HELL, with Satan coming off as a My Little Pony in comparison."
However many kids you have — the Oesers have five girls, aged 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12, and one 15-year-old boy — you'll be able to relate to some aspect of this letter. We've all looked at our homes and thought, when exactly did this turn into a bomb site? We've all looked at our kid and thought, why the hell won't you just eat what's in front of you? And we've definitely all felt at some point during the course of a day — and possibly more than once — that we actually were in "hell hour."
This is exactly why we love this so much. It's raw. It's real. It's not sugar-coated stories in a glossy magazine or the perfect picture of family bliss we take from too many parenting books. It shines a light on the reality of being a parent. The relentless struggles we all endure, day after day and night after night, because our kids are complex and fickle and overdramatic and unpredictable. Why do we do it? Because, as Oeser says, "We honestly love it."
Peanut butter and jelly was my go-to lunch as a kid. I loved how sweet it was. I know my mom was happy too, because it was super easy to make. Nowadays a lot of schools don’t allow peanut butter in their lunchrooms because so many kids suffer from severe peanut allergies.
But there are plenty of other ways to get your kids their protein without peanuts or any of the other tree nuts. Here we have 10 delicious recipe ideas that are great alternatives to PB&J. To be quite honest, I wish I had some of these snacks as a kid. Some of them are other types of sandwiches, but there are other new and interesting snacks your kids are sure to love.
One of our new favorite proteins is coconut butter, which you can make yourself. Just pour coconut flakes into your food processor, and let it go. Be patient, because it takes up to eight minutes. Stop every few minutes to scrape down the sides.
Once you've got your coconut butter in a little container, you can pack fruit for dipping. Try bananas, berries — even thinly sliced apples would work.
Avocado-sweet potato "toast"
Skip the bread, and plunk a slice of sweet potato right into the toaster. Smash up some avocado with lemon juice, salt and pepper, slather it on the "toast," and you have a healthy and delicious packed lunch. Depending on how smooth you make your avocado spread, it’ll have the same consistency as peanut butter (it’ll just taste so much better).
Veggies with hummus dip
Chickpeas are another excellent source of protein, and hummus comes in all kinds of fun flavors. Let your kids pick out their own, plus carrots and whatever other veggies they like. Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, lettuce and green beans all work.
Surprise your child with a breadless sandwich. Take two slices of cheddar or provolone cheese, and place turkey slices and lettuce between them.
Chicken and salsa pinwheel
Grab some rotisserie chicken from the market, and make a pinwheel with whole-wheat tortillas, cheese, chicken and salsa. Your kids will never think about peanut butter again.
Homemade lunchable
The perfect lunches are ones that kids get to create themselves. Send them off to school with crackers, chunks of cheddar cheese, pepperoni and ham, and have them create their own cracker creations. Serve with a few sliced apples (and hopefully they’ll end up eating that too).
Pizza pita
The great thing about mini pizzas made from pita bread is that they taste delicious warm or cold. Mix together shredded mozzarella and pepperoni, tomato sauce and veggies, and throw it in the oven for a few minutes, then into your kid's lunchbox.
Cream cheese and honey sandwich
Kids love peanut butter and jelly because it's supersweet, but this recipe will satisfy their sweet cravings without the peanut butter. Try making a sandwich with cream cheese, honey and sliced strawberries. You can serve it with regular bread, or you can toast the bread — either way, this is a killer sandwich.
Rice cakes and edamame
If your kids aren't already hip to the fun of eating steamed edamame — whole soybean pods — then now is a good time to introduce them. Steam or poach the pods, and toss with salt. To eat, scrape the pods with your teeth until the soybeans inside pop out.
Egg salad with honey mustard
Here's an egg salad idea for the more adventurous eaters out there. Stir some honey mustard in with the mayo, and add a few julienne-cut veggies on top. It won’t take long at all to make, and you’ll know your kids are having a super-healthy meal.
I have two children, ages 14 and 12. My 14-year-old daughter is a typically developing girl who is getting ready to start high school next month. My 12-year-old son is on the autism spectrum. He has severe ADHD and exceptional needs. And me? I have been battling severe depression a long time. It's a bear to manage, and raising two kids, especially when one has special needs, can be very overwhelming. I do the best I can.
My son is high functioning. He is progressing at school, which consists of a lot of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. He does well in school because he is used to the structure and the expectations his teachers have of him. But I know he needs more than what I can give him at home. I know he needs to be in a structured setting that will help him thrive. And I recently came to the conclusion that it is not realistic for me to do that at home, in the way he needs it.
Realizing that I can't really give my son what he needs was a wake-up call for me. I knew I had to make a decision about his future sooner rather than later. I know that he will be dependent on someone for life. He won't go to college, drive, get married or have a career. It was a very depressing thing to realize that he will need to live in a group home. I have been fearing for his future for a long time now. Who will care for him? Eventually I won't be around. And I can't put that kind of responsibility on my daughter. She deserves to live her own life.
And I am not able to do so myself right now because my mental health won't tolerate it. I am trying to do what is best for him and also what is best for myself. I haven't really been able to take care of myself because everyone else's needs come first, which has only made my illness worse. I have to take care of myself so I can do what is best for the kids.
My husband and I have agreed that the only option for him to really thrive is to transition him into a residential facility where he will receive vocational training and be as independent as he can. I decided to reach out to a community living facility to find out how to get the process started. Of course, there were concerns: Will it be the right type of facility for him? How will he get along with others there? What about waiting lists? But with the aid of our social workers, we're assured that they can find the best fit for him and are doing the proper assessments to ensure he will be happy in his situation. We're also fortunate enough that our Canadian taxes will go toward paying for his care and thereby making this feasible for our family.
I have told some people about this decision, and many do support it. I have also been called selfish, been told that I only want to get my son out of my hair, and told that I need to quit using my depression as an excuse for everything. The people who said that to me probably wouldn't even last a day in my shoes.
If I kept my son at home, he would not thrive. I would become more frustrated. His behaviors would escalate. My becoming more depressed would be a very real outcome, and that wouldn't be good for either of us. Depression is a real illness, just like cancer. And like cancer, people need to take care of themselves and get treatment. Like cancer, not everyone is able to beat depression.
Of course, my decision does not at all mean I am abandoning my son or that I won't miss him and his sweet smile. I will visit and will do all that I can so that he is set up for when he turns 18 in every way possible. Whenever someone who is quick to judge asks me, "Don't you want to do what is best for your child?" (when what she meant is to keep him "protected" at home), my response is always, "Why yes, of course. This is why I made this incredibly devastating decision. Because this IS the best thing for my child."
7-Eleven is going crazy with its 50th birthday celebration. For a second time this year, it's bringing back Bring Your Own Cup Day... for two days in a row!
It couldn't come at a better time. It's been so hot lately that consuming anything that isn't a frozen beverage is totally unappealing (and forget actually turning on the oven), so loading up on a jumbo Slurpee sounds pretty good to me.
On Aug. 19 and 20 (that's Friday and Saturday), from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., you can bring your own container and fill up on that frozen treasure that is the Slurpee for just $1.50. Don't go crazy, though. The container has to fit through the 10-inch cutout at your 7-Eleven store. So leave that birthing tub at home.
You can try their new flavor, Sour Patch Redberry, or go with a classic (it's hard to beat blue raspberry!). And once you actually fill up, you can send a snap to all your friends with a special Snapchat geofilter you can access at the store. Because the only thing better than getting a huge Slurpee for just $1.50 is bragging to all your friends about it. Plus, using social media on a sugar high is always a good idea. These people had no qualms sharing their insane BYO Cup Day choices last time the promo rolled around:
This is likely the last BYO Cup event at 7-Eleven for the year, so take advantage of it while you can. And maybe stock up on frozen Slurpee goodness while you're there — this summer heat doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
There are plenty of girl names that end in Y on popular baby name lists. In fact, the nation's eighth most popular baby name in 2015 was Emily, which has enjoyed tons of success over the last hundred years or so — even way back in 1900, it was just outside of the top 100, at 105, and dropped as far as 273 only in the '60s before catapulting up toward the top. In fact, it was the most popular baby name for girls for 12 years running, falling out of the top spot only in 2008.
More recently, Emily was followed by a couple of other super-popular baby names ending in Y, including Avery in the 16 spot, and then Aubrey looking firm at 21. Still others fill in down the top 100, but don't worry — there are plenty of others that fit the bill as well.
We have a huge selection of Y-ending baby girl names here, and this list really touches on many different naming styles and trends. We have classic names like Ivy and Molly. We also have some more-modern, trendy names like Kinley and Zeely. Also, there are quite a few names here that could go for either gender, and they sound like they'd be a great choice for a solid girl name — Kennedy and Delaney are good examples of cute girl names that are on the strong side.
Years ago, while standing in a business adviser's office, I was told to change the way I dressed. My adviser said that in order for anyone to take me seriously as an entrepreneur, I was going to have to change everything from the colors I wore to the shapes of the clothing I wore. She handed me the card of a woman who could give me a makeover and sent me on my way.
My style is eclectic. I’m usually in long flowing skirts or maxi dresses. I feel more comfortable in a Bohemian-style than anything else. And apparently, even in the professional world, that wasn’t feminine enough. Of course, women should dress professionally in professional settings, but the way we judge women's clothing choices isn't just about how professional we look. If we show the slightest bit of cleavage, we're assumed to be promiscuous. If we wear more modest clothing, we're thought to lack self-confidence.
The particular stylist I saw suggested that I wear form-fitting dresses and skirts. She suggested I wear heals to bring attention to my legs. She suggested I wear tops with a V-neck to even out my body proportions. But none of this was natural to me. I knew there was a way to dress professionally without having to call attention to my legs or my cleavage or my form. And I was right.
In fact, there's a whole website dedicated to it. Zahra Aljabri started Mode-Sty to sell more conservative clothes that still keep up with fashion trends. Because let's face it, we shouldn't have to show skin in order to be trendy and especially not when we want to get ahead professionally. Just a few clicks around Mode-Sty and you'll see just how possible it is to dress fashionable (even sexy if you want to) without succumbing to low necklines and skin-tight dresses if you don't want to.
Actress Mayim Bialik is also well known for being vocal about her modest fashion taste. She’s often criticized for showing too little on red carpets and critics have called her dresses shapeless. However, to Bialik, dressing modestly is about staying aligned with her values. It's not about being afraid of her sexuality or feeling repressed, something people often like to say about us modest dressers.
I was recently inspired by a quote from Zahra Aljabri in which she talks about how she believes it takes fortitude to go against culture and consciously dressing means we believe in everything we wear, which is very similar to how Bialik views her fashion choices. Aljabri was also this year's BlogHer16 The Pitch winner, which means she scored $50,000 from GoDaddy to grow her business. Obviously, it pays to be yourself even if that means going against the grain.
So rather than celebrating a woman when she’s flaunting her figure with plunging necklines or dresses with slits up to the hip, we should be celebrating a woman for loving who she is regardless of what she is wearing.
As a curvy woman to begin with, it’s difficult to find clothing that I feel confident, sexy and comfortable in. But when I’m in love with a piece of clothing, I feel radiant. And that, to me, is what being sexy is all about. Believing in what we wear means we believe in who we are.
Here's the not-so-good news, followed by the better news. We see a lot of theatrical screaming in sex scenes on TV, but IRL, only an estimated 57 percent of women are having orgasms every time they have sex — and most of the time, it's not from vaginal penetration alone. The silver lining here is that you can control your orgasm as you get to know your body better and choose the sexy sex positions that are the right fit. Specific positions targeted to the female can make the elusive orgasm become a reality.
For all the ladies who can't think of the last time you had the big O — and for the women who just want to do it better, harder, faster, stronger — these mind-blowing sex positions are for you.
1. The butterfly position or modified missionary
Image: Becci BurkHart/SheKnows
"With the woman on her back and her hips on the edge of the bed, the man penetrates her while standing. She then puts her legs over his shoulders and tilts her hips slightly upward. This gives a wonderful angle for cervical stimulation, with deep penetration that can produce some intense vaginal and uterine orgasms. With more shallow penetration, a man can stimulate the anterior vaginal wall to hit the G-spot."
— Dr. Madeleine M. Castellanos, a psychiatrist who specializes in sex therapy
2. Modified coital alignment technique
Image: Becci BurkHart/SheKnows
"A couple starts off in missionary position. Once a man penetrates a woman deeply, he allows her to bring her legs together between his. He then shifts his weight slightly forward so that the shaft of his erection is producing firm pressure and friction on her clitoris as he moves. This works very well for women that prefer to have clitoral stimulation during penetration to reach a very powerful orgasm."
"Either partner can perform this technique, although the bottom person's hands may be more able to pull it off. Form a ring with thumb and forefinger around the base of the penis. Then pull down so the skin on the shaft is taut. This exposes more nerve endings and increases the penis' sensitivity. It can also help maintain his erection. Engage in intercourse with your hand still encircling the base to send his pleasure soaring."
— Jaiya, new world sex educator and author of Red Hot Touch
4. The countertop
Image: Becci BurkHart/SheKnows
"This is my favorite. It's when the woman is lying on her back on the counter or table while he enters standing. It's rough. There's pushing aside of papers, pepper shakers, which add to the sense of urgency and inappropriateness. It's easy to maneuver and move the woman to slide along the counter. There is still contact. He goes deep and feels in control. It works all the way around. The keys are clothing, stuff in the way and being in an open space. Still allows for connection while feeling dirty. It just works on so many levels. It's not about acrobats. It's about context."
— Margaret Wagner, sex expert and founder of Bedroom Matters
"This position allows the woman to have the control in order to determine the depth and angle of penetration as well as how much clitoral stimulation she gets. With the man lying flat on his back and his knees bent, she straddles him with one leg to the side of his hip and the other leg between his legs. The woman can then find just the right spot to grind against his pubic bone with him inside her. She controls the pace, the depth and the amount of pressure and friction she receives. This is definitely a prescription for mind-blowing sex!"
"I'm no [pro], but whenever I've had sex standing up and holding my partner in the air or up against the wall, it's been mind-blowing for both of us. I suspect it taps into some of our innate gender differences — the strong man and the small woman — which in turn heightens the sexual experience. It also forces us to be in a full embrace, which furthers the emotional connection as well as our physical one. It's physically demanding and not for all couples, but for those that can, it's highly recommended."
— Jim, an experienced heterosexual male
7. Uncloaking the clit
Image: Becci BurkHart/SheKnows
"Given a woman's clitoris is buried under the clitoral hood and cushiony mons pubis surrounding it, it's no wonder this tiny nub rarely receives enough stimulation during intercourse to catch the O train. Your hands, though, can help change that. Form a V with your index and middle fingers, and point your fingers toward your feet. Press this V onto the mons pubis, with a finger to each side of the clitoris. Then pull up, moving the skin with your hand. This should unveil the hard-to-reach clit in all its glory, exposing this little love button to a lot more action."
"If you're craving a quick but stimulating break from intercourse, this move is the perfect titillating timeout. To do it, the man withdraws and rests the tip of his penis on the clitoris. Then, hold the base of the penis, and shake it quickly from side to side so that the head hits the clitoris with every wiggle. In doing so, you'll be stimulating both heads at once — that of the clitoris and the penis — which should send you both into paroxysms of pleasure."
— Jaiya
9. Pushing tush
Image: Becci BurkHart/SheKnows
"If your guy enjoys having his back door explored, reach around with both hands, and grab both cheeks. From there, you can do 'butt yoga' (a technique whereby you spread the cheeks apart, then together, one up one down, then vice versa) or 'anal yoga' (a technique whereby you place your middle fingers to the sides of the anus, then spread them apart, then diagonally, then up and down). If that gets him hankering for more, feel free to delve deeper."
"Heating up hot spots aren't your hands-only talents. They're also great at moving body parts where you want them, and this technique is a prime opportunity. During intercourse, raise your legs, then have your man hold an ankle in each hand. From there, you can spread her legs apart, hold them together, part them at 80 degrees — the options are endless. And since the tendons of the legs pivot deep in the pelvic cavity, moving them around will subtly alter the below-the-belt sensations for you both. Talk about getting a leg up on a little variety!"
Never let it be said that Nick Cannon has a hard time moving on. The former Mr. Mariah Carey is rumored to be spending time with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC. Clearly someone has a type — strong entertainers.
Cannon is fueling the rumors by sharing the spotlight in the music video for his new song "If I Was Your Man" with Chilli. In Instagram photos from the set, the chemistry between the two is clear.
If the song's title is any indication, the two aren't quite dating yet. But judging by this picture, they should be.
nick cannon
nick cannon
In a recent interview, Cannon had high praise for Chilli. In fact, he thinks so highly of her that he doesn't want to date her. "Where I am at in my life, you can't just play with a woman like that," he said on The Breakfast Club. "You have to be serious... I don't want to mess with nothing I can't stand firm and be a committed man in."
A source told E! that their shared background in entertainment makes for a savvy couple. "Chilli is a very mature woman that's been around the music industry for some time and gets it," says the insider. That sounds a little Swiftian, but we have to admit, they would make a great couple.
The source continued, "Nick has always had a crush on her growing up. He thinks she is beautiful." Does he think that, or does his publicist?
“You’re my best friend, Mom,” my 3-year-old tells me with a huge grin on her face. It puts a grin on mine almost as large. Although she’s just learning about friendship and doesn’t completely understand what it means, I know it’s true.
I never thought I’d be a friend to my kids. My mom believed the roles "friend" and "mom" were in opposition to each other. It was one or the other. If she was going to parent me right, she couldn’t be my friend. And for a long time, I thought she was right.
But now I enjoy playing games, watching movies and even joking with my teens and toddler. They confide in me when they’ve made a mistake, and I offer to help them correct it. We talk about their problems and I offer support. I respect them and let them make their own choices, just as I do my grown friends. In most respects, our friendship mirrors the other friendships in my life.
This doesn’t mean I talk to them about my sex life, or relationship problems. I realize that our friendship shouldn’t be balanced, that I need to be more of a friend to them than they are to me. I set healthy boundaries, of course, but I am still their friend.
I didn’t have this type of relationship with my mom. We didn’t have any shared hobbies, nor did we really joke around. For the most part, she was just my mom.
She used to always remind me of this fact. She’d say, “I am not your friend, I’m your mom,” and then she’d set a boundary or make a rule. She was doing what she thought was best for me, even when I’d hate her for it. Being a parent sometimes means not being liked. I guess that’s why my mom thought she couldn’t be my friend.
But my best friends are the ones who tell me when they think I’m on the wrong path. They care more about helping me stay on course than they do about being liked by me at all times. They’re the friends like the ones in high school who told me I should get help when I was cutting myself, instead of being cool with it. They’re the ones who dared to question my choices in men, instead of helping me chase after an asshole because I thought I loved him. They are the ones I’ve hated at least once in my life, but many of them are also the reason I am still alive.
But my mom didn’t think a friend would ever put their likability on the line like that. Maybe that’s why she didn’t spend much time with me once puberty hit; maybe she thought that if I liked her, she would somehow lose her ability to parent.
But she was wrong. The friendship I have with my kids has never prevented me from being a mom. In fact, I think it has actually helped me be a better parent. I have let them get to know and like me. The time we spend just hanging out and having fun is usually the time they tell me the most about themselves and their lives. I have learned to relate to them, despite the age difference, making it easier to offer them the help they actually need to overcome their struggles.
To me, being my kids’ friend is a part of being their mom. It means getting to know them as whole people, looking out for their best interests even if they don’t always like me, and of course, joking around at the table after school. I couldn’t imagine parenting any other way,
Wendell Pierce, star of the The Wire and Treme, suffered damage to his home after the historic flooding in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this week. According to New York, this is the second Louisiana home Pierce has seen destroyed, after his childhood home was ruined during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
He shared the news on Twitter, writing "My neighbors & I have flooded in Baton Rouge. I am reminded of the generosity given to my family during Katrina. Now we will care for you."
Fans have already reached out to help, offering their homes as shelter and asking where to contribute. Pierce suggests contributing to the Red Cross or Food Bank, and shared the following informaton: "Help the people of Louisiana: American Red Cross –Baton Rouge/Louisiana Chapter (225-291-4533)Baton Rouge Food Bank (225-359-9940)."
Pierce may be the most visible victim, but his home is only one of 40,000 affected by the flood. According to ABC News, 20,000 people have been rescued from the floods and 8,000 have relocated to temporary shelters. According to Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard, 80 percent of the homes in the Baton Rouge area may be destroyed from the flooding.
The state remains in a State of Emergency as rains continue to fall, with more flooding — and thus more damage — expected.
Teen Mom stars are infamous for criticizing their show, and Jeremy Calvert is jumping on the bandwagon. He posted an Instagram rant to his private account, which has now been transcribed by several outlets. In it, he defends his girlfriend Brooke Wehr and criticizes the show for "ruining [his] life."
According to RadarOnline, Calvert posted a retort to an article on a Teen Mom fan site that argued his girlfriend was jealous of his ex-girlfriend, Leah Messer. He wrote, "One, Brooke has never ever ever ever made me post anything in regards to her and, quite frankly, she gets upset with the stuff I do post of her. And second of all, she is far from insecure of my ex, so you’re way off there."
He continued, "I don’t need Teen Mom in my life. I was doing just fine before I knew wtf the show was and truthfully wish I’d never been part of it, the bs has completely ruined my life."
But inside all the drama, one bit of happy news is hidden: Calvert and Wehr are planning to get married. “I do plan on marrying Brooke," he wrote. "She treats me great, works hard... takes amazing care of her child. She makes me smile every day, yes we have our moments but what couple don’t. We don’t go to bed mad at each other. I love her more than anything and so does my daughter, so that means even more to me [than] words can explain.” Looks like it's good news for Calvert but bad news for fans — with this attitude, it's not likely that he'll have the wedding filmed for Teen Mom.
Vicki Gunvalson’s love life is a constant source of drama. After Hurricane Brooks Ayers, it seemed like she finally found a good man that her friends and family approved of and someone who isn’t going to make up having a life-threatening illness. Both great qualities in a partner. But the blissful feeling came crashing down yesterday when Gunvalson posted an innocent picture to her Instagram.
Vicki Gunvalson Instagram
Vicki Gunvalson Instagram
The photo shows her and her new boyfriend posing on the streets in Chicago. It’s her hometown, so Gunvalson was obviously eager to share it with him and all of her fans. Unfortunately, the corner that they decided to take the picture on was right in front of a Trump tower. The comments that followed were ruthless.
In the caption of the photo, Gunvalson wrote, “Yes! #showinghimmyroots” — she didn’t even acknowledge that there was a Trump sign behind her, but it was the first thing commenters noticed.
The comments ranged in emotion from, “OMG who could vote for that sick man!” to, “Yes!!!!! #trump2016 of course Vicki is voting Trump, she is a self made woman and doesnt [sic] want the government taking all her money! Anyone with brains would vote #trump!” all the way to, “You know you're vapid California baby boomer materialist trash when you visit your 'hometown' phallic monstrosity on the river. @vickigunvalson you were from here once, real people live here now. Take him to the Signature Room and fly back to materialville.”
It was a real mess in her comments. She noticed the drama breaking out so Gunvalson reposted the picture with the Trump sign cropped out. She wrote in her second caption, Does this now make everyone happy?!! #chicagoriverskyline #myhometown #rhoc, #woopitup.”
Clearly, Gunvalson just wanted to show off her handsome man in her favorite city and isn’t amused that people turned it into a political war.
But on the spectrum of drama her relationships have brought into her life, this is pretty mild. She still got to enjoy her vacation and didn’t have to defend a single cancer rumor. All around, that’s a good day for Vicki Gunvalson.
There's something about the relationship between a father and his teenage daughter. Basically, you don't want to mess. Especially if that father is movie director Kevin Smith.
When Smith's 17-year-old daughter Harley Quinn got pretty much the vilest Instagram message ever, Smith didn't hold back. He shared the disgusting comment (which called the teen girl "ugly as shit" and said "you're cancer and I sincerely hope you end up like Lindsay Lohan and dead") and gave the nasty piece of work a taste of his own medicine. And then some.
Smith's "free advice for folks like this Troll" is actually genius. He suggests that the hater make better use of their time by making their own dreams come true instead of going after those who are simply doing just that.
Smith has the defensive dad thing down pat, but he also offers really good advice to the person he describes as "creatively and emotionally bankrupt" (BTW, we couldn't agree more on that point.)
Instead of fighting back with insults, Smith has clearly taken some time to think about how he can, um, constructively criticize. It must have been hard for him to hold back when his teenage daughter had been abused so viciously, but major props to him for keeping his cool — just about.
In fact, Smith's advice for "this Troll" is advice everyone should pay attention to. He's basically saying to forget about what everyone else is doing and go do your own thing. Don't put other folks down for achieving good stuff — be inspired and go achieve your own good stuff. Strive to make people happy, not sad. Make them proud, not embarrassed. But do it for nobody but yourself.
And above all, remember that "attacking teen girls on the Internet is the saddest form of masturbation that exists and requires no discernible skill or talent."
Drew Barrymore sounds like a ray of sunshine in anyone’s life. At least according to her ex-sister-in-law, Jill Kargman. Even though Barrymore’s marriage to Will Kopelman ended last year, his sister still thinks the world of her.
In Kargman's memoir, Sprinkle Glitter on My Grave, she wrote of Barrymore, “She is a delightful happy mirror to our familial morose dark side, and the perfect yin-yang of California sunny outlooks versus our wintry dark humor.”
The book, which went to print right after the couple’s divorce, addresses their split directly. Kargman wrote, “Even though she and Willie went splitsville just as this book was going to print, we are forever sisters. Bottom line: She is a Technicolor flower child bouquet of a person, and a welcome kaleidoscope of hues that infused our Addams Family with optimism and light.”
In interviews, Barrymore has always come off as a sweet, calming soul that doesn’t have anything mean to say about anyone. She’s always laughing and playful, but she’s also an actress so that whole thing could be a personal. It’s great to hear that the way she acts in public is a genuine representation of her.
It’s also incredible that Kargman gave Barrymore such a touching shout out in her book. She had the option to scrap any mention of Barrymore. She didn’t have to say anything at all if she didn’t want to. But the fact that she did says a lot about Kargman. It proves that she is a woman who fully supports other women and who knows that relationships with people are more important than temporary pain.
Barrymore hasn’t responded yet to the kind words written about her, but we wouldn’t be surprised if she acknowledges it because it is so sweet and genuine.
If we have to have half of marriages end in divorce, than can we please have more friendships like this, post-divorce?
Simone Biles is having the greatest summer ever. Two of the things she’s worked hardest for in her life have all come true in the span of a couple weeks. First she dominated the Olympics, winning gold for Team USA and in the individual competition. And now, she got to kiss her ultimate crush, Zac Efron.
All summer long, Efron and Biles have been flirting over Twitter all summer. It really started back in 2009, when Biles first tweeted about her crush on Efron. Like most girls her age, she thought he was the perfect guy. I mean, he has that jawline and those eyes.
Simone Biles with Zac Efron 2
Simone Biles with Zac Efron 2
Once Efron heard about Biles and her incredible talent, he tweeted his support for her. He wrote, “So phenomenal a skill's named after her. Congrats on sticking the Biles and qualifying for the finals @Simone_Biles!” But when he realized she had basically kicked everyone’s butt during the Olympics, he made sure to congratulate her in person.
Efron visited Biles in Rio today and she finally got the kiss she’d been dreaming about. She tweeted a video showing her kissing Efron on the cheek, writing, “on cloud 9.”
Then she tweeted a picture of him kissing her on the cheek with the caption, “just call me mrs.efron already @ZacEfron.”
It’s honestly the cutest thing on Twitter right now.
After years of grueling training and plenty of hours spent focused instead of having fun with her friends, girls or boys, it’s sweet to see Biles able to have a little fun at the Olympics — especially when that means getting kissed on the cheek by Efron.
We’d bet that this interaction inspires even more little girls to sign up for gymnastics so they can be just like gold-medal winning, ZacnEfron kissing, Simone Biles. A pretty incredible role model if you ask us.
Not that you were asking, but in case you're curious: That dent in Kim K's butt is not from getting implants, but from getting cortisone shots in her rear to treat her psoriasis. In fact, she says that the cortisone shots might be the reason the whole butt implants rumor got started in the first place.
"There is a picture of me in Miami wearing an electric blue dress, and another picture of me walking down Robertson," she told the Daily Mail. "You see the indent. And I think that’s when the rumors started."
Of course I found the news about Kardashian's famous all-natural butt mildly interesting. I was super fascinated by hearing how she uses cortisone shots to help manage the chronic skin condition so many people suffer from.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder in which skin cells are triggered to multiply 10 times faster than normal, making piles of dead cells that turn into large, itchy, red, scaly patches on the skin, explains Tien Nguyen, M.D., a dermatologist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Like other autoimmune disorders, it can lay dormant for months or even years before flaring up, often in times of stress. It appears that Kim's flare-ups are limited mainly to her legs, but you can get the patches anywhere, including on your scalp, palms and even face.
A major myth about psoriasis, Nguyen says, is that it's contagious. "While the cause is still unknown, there seems to be a genetic predisposition and [it] can be triggered by the environment," he says. "It is not caused by an infectious agent, and it cannot be transmitted to others via contact."
While it's not contagious, it is quite common — 7.5 million people in the U.S. currently have it. Thankfully, it isn't deadly or seriously debilitating, but it can be painful both physically and emotionally for people who have to deal with the ugly rashes on a regular basis. Unfortunately, since the cause is unknown, we still don't have a cure for it, he adds. But there are plenty of treatments that can help and cortisone shots are a primary one.
Corticosteroids work against psoriasis in two ways — by reducing inflammation and by lowering the activity of the immune system. You can get them via pill, cream or injection but many sufferers choose the cortisone shot, like Kardashian, as it is the most fast-acting and comprehensive and the results can last for months.
The downside? Corticosteroids are powerful drugs and taking them on a regular basis can have serious side effects. Too much cortisone can lead to a weakened immune system, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, insomnia and acne. Kardashian said she only gets an injection when she absolutely needs it — maybe once a year — and they aren't recommended more often than every three to four months. If you have flare-ups more often than that then you need to consider alternative treatments.
Fortunately there are a lot of treatment options for psoriasis sufferers with several new treatments being recently developed. The National Psoriasis Foundation has a full list of the biologic, systemic, phototherapies, oral drugs, topical creams and even alternative treatment options that have been proven to work. It's important to try different things and talk to your doctor to find out what works best for you.
And if you do decide to use cortisone shots? At the very least, you and Kim Kardashian could have matching butt dimples.
Season 4 of The Bachelor Australia is underway, and while there are multiple beautiful and interesting women vying for a chance to win Richie Strahan's heart, one in particular has really grabbed our attention: Keira Maguire. It's time we got to know The Bachelor's most interesting contestant.
1. She knows a thing or two about the real estate market
First, let's get the simple things out the way: Maguire is from Brisbane but currently lives in Sydney's glamorous Eastern Suburbs. As for her line of work? According to Woman's Day, she's a real estate professional.
2. She was part of a polygamous cult
Maguire's childhood was far from normal. In fact, her dark family secret was recently exposed and splashed across the media: She grew up in a sex cult. According to Woman's Day, she's the daughter of the late convicted paedophile and polygamous cult leader Alistah Laishkochav, who had nine wives and 64 children. In 2000, he was convicted of 20 child sex offences.
When Maguire was 5 years old, her mother, Michelle, removed herself and her children from the cult. They moved to Brisbane, where Maguire was raised by her mother and grandmother. Maguire said in a statement, "My mother removed my family from that environment when I was 5 years old," adding, "I was brought up by my mother and grandmother in Brisbane in a loving, caring and compassionate household."
4. She grew up with five siblings
Although Maguire has since met and reconnected with her family (after her mother left the cult in 1993), she had no relationship with Laishkochav. And while she has many, many siblings, she grew up with just five, whose names are Ty, Sean, Shath, Leilani and Jade.
5. She's been dubbed The Bachelor Australia's bad girl
Maguire is outspoken and confrontational on camera, something which has resulted in social media backlash.
Reaction to Keira Maguire 4
Reaction to Keira Maguire 4
Reaction to Keira Maguire 3
Reaction to Keira Maguire 3
Reaction to Keira Maguire
Reaction to Keira Maguire
However, fellow contestant Sasha Zhuravlyova recently came to her defence, saying, "The public can see 10 per cent of Keira, and obviously it looks on the TV like that is a massive drama, but sometimes it was probably just one or two comments."
6. She's been compared to Lara Bingle in the media
Maguire has even admitted that she and Bingle share a striking resemblance. "It's not intentional, but my hair happens to be the same as hers, and I take it as a total compliment," Maguire previously told The Sydney Morning Herald. What do you think of the comparison?
Lara Bingle Instagram
Lara Bingle Instagram
7. She's friends with Richie Strahan's cousin
According to Daily Mail, Maguire is friends with Strahan's cousin, Lisa Clark, and she has featured multiple times on her social media.
Lisa Clarke Instagram 2
Lisa Clarke Instagram 2
Lisa Clarke Instagram
Lisa Clarke Instagram
So, could her friendship with Clark have given her an unfair advantage, as she was able to learn more about Strahan's likes and dislikes before the show? Well, we'll just have to wait and see...
What are your thoughts on Keira Maguire? Does she deserve the backlash she's getting? Or is she the only thing that's interesting about this season of The Bachelor Australia? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Olympian Shaun White was just hit with a pretty major sexual harassment lawsuit. Lena Zawaideh, the former drummer of White’s band Bad Things, filed a complaint in San Diego, California this week against White.
In the suit, Zawaideh claims during the time she was in the band, from 2008 to 2014, she was subjected to White’s “darker, misogynistic personality.” She said that throughout the years she worked with White, he sent her sexually explicit and graphic images of penises, forced her to watch sexually disturbing videos including ones that “sexualized fecal matter,” and made sexual remarks to her.
Zawaideh also claims that White ran the band like a tyrant, requesting that she start wearing clothes that were sexually provocative instead of the conservative tops she prefered, and that she cut her hair to look more like the style he wanted.
If Zawaideh was fired in 2014, we can’t figure out the “coincidence” of filing a suit against White two years later, but maybe there is stuff going on behind the scenes we don’t know about.
No matter what White says, Zawaideh will continue with her suit. She said, "I am pursuing this case because women should not have to tolerate harassment at work. Shaun White should not be allowed to do whatever he wants just because he is famous. Although I am embarrassed to have been treated this way, I cannot sit by and watch him do this to other women."
Of course, White is innocent until proven guilty so we won’t make any judgements against him. But Zawaideh does have proof to back up her allegations, and we’re not in the business of shaming victims. If this did really happen, we’re proud of Zawaideh for speaking up and getting justice for the way she was treated. Each time someone speaks out, it gives everyone else the courage to do the same.
If White is innocent, he still needs a reality check on what is and isn’t appropriate to send to your co-workers. The rules still apply even if you are a semi-rock star.
Amy Schumer should be having a really great day. Her book, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, comes out today. Her fans should be sending her endless love on Twitter. But instead, she’s blocking women left and right and making a lot of people confused.
It all started because a writer on her show, Kurt Metzger, decided it would be a good idea to mock women who call out alleged rapists. On Facebook, numerous women in the UCB comedy community alleged that one of the male comedians in the community was sexually harassing and had even raped a few of them. They were asking the powers that be to ban him from participating in their community.
Metzger decided he was offended by this. In his Facebook post, he mocked the women for pretending to be brave by coming forward with allegations, but not going to the police about it. But, instead of making a calm, rational suggestion to his fellow comedians, he went on a toddler-like rant that amounted to nothing more than misogyny and bad behavior.
Obviously, women writers and comedians decided to do something about his ignorant hate speeches and started tweeting to Schumer and Comedy Central asking them to reprimand Metzger, at the very least, for the things he was saying.
Schumer is, after all, a very outspoken feminist, so it would just make sense that she would step in and do something about what was going on.
But in a totally unexpected move, Schumer started blocking the women who were asking her to do something. Not only did she ignore them, but she totally blocked them from reaching out to her at all.
Amy Schumer blocking women
Amy Schumer blocking women
Amy Schumer blocking women 2
Amy Schumer blocking women 2
There is obviously a difference between Schumer and Metzger, and Schumer didn’t have anything to do with what he said. But the fact that she’s blocking women who are trying to get him to stop shaming victims is her way of siding with Metzger, and in a way, co-signing what he’s posted.
We’re totally confused about why Schumer would side with someone who is clearly out to offend a very vulnerable group of women. There better be a really good explanation for what she’s doing, because otherwise us question whether or not we want to support her in the future.
Amazon is known for innovation, and their latest venture is definitely no exception.
They're releasing a comedy cooking show this fall on Amazon Prime in Japan. The show will feature food from different regions of Japan, beginning with Hokkaido. But the crazy part (though comedy + cooking is kind of a funny pairing to begin with) is that viewers will be able to use one-click ordering to have the food featured on the show delivered to them.
Now, this all sounds delicious, but it made me wonder... could this lead to a huge breakthrough in how we interact with the food we see on television?
Like, imagine if, while watching a commercial for Taco Bell's latest cheese-bomb monstrosity, you could just hit a button on your remote and have that very item delivered to your home. It has incredible marketing potential.
More deliciously, what if you could order delivery of the foods being made on your favorite cooking shows? Or any show, really? I am super excited by the possibility because who wouldn't want to order food from:
Giada at Home: This show could get a lot more deliciously literal. I'd love it if I could just get some campanelle pasta salad and biscotti delivered to my house at the touch of a button.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: I mean, have you seen the insane cheese stretch on their pizzas? #goals
Chopped: OK, maybe this is a stretch, but, like, wouldn't it be cool to be able to get a three-course meal of the winning dishes from each round of a course on Chopped? Sure, sometimes it would be a terrible meal (even the winners can be losers on Chopped, depending on the basket), but it'd be more exciting than ordering a Greek salad for lunch for the thousandth time.
Golden Girls:Cheesecake.
Gilmore Girls: Pizza, burgers, coffee, pancakes, Chinese food — Gilmore Girls is practically a food delivery service's wet dream.
The Great British Baking Show: I want to taste a "perfect sponge," dammit.
Chef's Table: Who needs reservations when you could just get some of the fancy-ass food shown on Chef's Table delivered to your door?
Barefoot Contessa: Finally, you can pretend that you've been invited to the Hamptons for one of Ina's fabulous dinner parties.
Scandal: Hello, wine delivery.
Sex and the City: From bizarre theme restaurants to trendy fad bars, I'd love to be served up the hilarious '90s food and cocktails (tartinis, anyone?) that Carrie & Co. enjoy on the show.
It could be fantastic. It could be a flop. But I'm on pins and needles just waiting to see if instant television food delivery is going to be a thing here in the good old U.S. A.
