No one wants to go through a cheating scandal (especially not when you're age 82) and these latest reports about Larry King's wife's affair must be devastating to him.
Sources recently revealed to People magazine that Shawn King (who has been married to Larry since 1997) has allegedly been involved in a yearlong affair with another man. The man in question has reportedly been identified as Richard Greene, and according to People, he and Shawn did briefly split, although they are believed to have since reunited.
"It's true, and Larry is completely embarrassed and anguished by all of this," one source close to the situation told People of the alleged infidelity. "He doesn't know what to do."
So, what's next for Larry and Shawn? Is there a possibility that they might be able to work past this? According to Page Six, Larry has yet to make a decision on whether or not he wants to file for divorce.
"All options are being considered," a source told the publication. "Nothing has been ruled out." But the source also told publication that even before news of the scandal broke, Shawn was reportedly "ready to divorce Larry for this guy, but the guy was hesitant about it." Wow, just wow.
We should also note that this isn't the first time the Kings have almost called it quits. In 2010 the couple filed for divorce, only to later change their minds and rekindle the romance. However, according to Page Six, an insider revealed that the marriage has essentially been over since 2010 and that Shawn has only stayed with her husband "for the kids' sake."
For the past few years, fall has been synonymous with hysteria over the arrival of pumpkin spice beverages at Starbucks. But Dunkin' Donuts is out to prove that the green mermaid isn't the only one with a stake in this game.
On Aug. 29, the Dunkin' Donuts fall menu returns, and while it does have pumpkin-flavored coffees, doughnuts, Munchkins and muffins (the chain has to if it wants to compete with Starbucks), it's banking on a new flavor to set it apart.
This year, Dunkin' Donuts is introducing a new line of Salted Caramel beverages. You can choose from flavored coffee, lattes and macchiatos, hot or iced. I am so here for this. Salted caramel, with its toasted sugar notes, is a perfect flavor choice for fall, and if I can enjoy a nice, warm latte that doesn't reek of synthetic nutmeg and public bathroom air freshener, I'm all about it.
Dunkin' Donuts isn't the only one looking for new fall flavors this year. M&M'S came out with a seasonal butterscotch flavor, Peet's Coffee is mixing it up with a Dark Chocolate Pumpkin mocha, Jiff has a maple peanut butter spread, Pop-Tarts is releasing a caramel apple flavor... Companies are slowly broadening the range of fall flavors that we can choose from. And having a choice other than "Uhhh... that spiced pumpkin one, I guess?" is truly a relief to my taste buds.
As one last gift to us all, Dunkin' Donuts (in partnership with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze) will also carry almond milk at all of its stores now. It started rolling out a vanilla-flavored almond milk at many stores in 2014, but now you'll be able to use it as a nondairy creamer alternative everywhere, not just in select stores.
This fall, you won't be stuck with pumpkin. Sure, the devout lovers of the orange gourd will still be able to eat and drink it to their hearts' content — at Dunkin' Donuts and beyond. But for the rest of us, it's nice to know that salted caramel and other fall flavors are finally out there waiting for us too.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Lifetime intends to make a TV movie about Spears' life (which is set to include her parents' divorce, as well as her high-profile split from Justin Timberlake). But really, she'd rather they didn't, and her feelings were made perfectly clear in a statement released by her rep.
"Britney Spears will not be contributing in any way, shape or form to the Lifetime biopic," the rep told Us Weekly, adding, "nor does it have her blessing." Yikes!
This statement gives a clear indication of Spears' feelings toward the film, and we'd say they're pretty black-and-white. So, if Lifetime was really inspired by her life and her work and if they truly respected her, then it would be the right move to scrap the project altogether. We get that's no easy thing to do, especially since Natasha Bassett has already been cast as the leading lady and the project is set to begin production in September with a planned 2017 premiere. But if they didn't even bother to get the OK from Spears, then is this something that her die-hard fans would even want to see and support?
Some fans are even urging people to sign a petition to get the movie stopped.
Reaction to Britney Spears movie
Reaction to Britney Spears movie
But what are your thoughts on the movie? Is it a bad move on Lifetime's part to not even get Britney Spears' approval? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It was one of those nights that just crushes your heart.
Parenting is hard. There is no doubt about that. Certain things push us to and past limits we never knew we had. I don't know how my mother did this four times or how my adopted parents did it so many more.
This was one of those nights.
My daughter was always a great sleeper. She loved going to bed at night. She very rarely fussed. She happily took naps during the day too. After three years of this, I was not used to erratic sleep patterns from her.
This one week was particularly tough. She cried throughout the night, even screamed in her sleep. I was barely sleeping and my coffee stock was being depleted at an insanely rapid rate.
After trying to get my daughter to settle down for two hours one night, I sat down on my couch and just stared ahead. "I'm not cut out for this," I said aloud to no one.
An oddly familiar voice filled my head. "Yes, you are. Calm down."
I looked around. I was alone. Since we lived upstairs at the time, I crept down the stairs, checked the foyer and even checked the garage. Nothing.
Shaking my head, I walked back upstairs. I must be so sleep deprived, I rationalized to myself. I'm hearing things.
I sat back down and put my head in my hands, sobbing as my daughter started crying again.
I was spent. I felt like I had nothing left. I didn't hear the front door open, but I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Strangely, I was not afraid.
I lifted my head as my hands turned cold. I recognized that touch. The last time I felt it was Christmas of 1999, a month and a half before those hands were taken away from me forever. Life had left her body, leaving a void that wasn't even partially filled until my beautiful daughter came along.
The footsteps continued down the hall and into the bedroom, even hitting that creaky spot I always avoid. My daughter quieted immediately. Her crying gave way to even breaths and her light, adorable snore. I walked around the corner to the doorway. Someone was sitting on her's bed with her, rubbing her back, soothing her.
I stepped forward, my heart racing. The figure turned around.
Mother.
She stood up and walked toward me. I felt her arms wrap around me, and then she vanished. My daughter never had a sleep issue again after that, save for the random occasional nightmare.
A few days later, we were the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed kind of refreshed and playing in the living room. I stumbled across a picture that was in an old purse I gave to my daughter to play with. I handed the photo to her. She stared for a second, then her face lit up.
"That's Grandma!" she excitedly said, smiling.
I froze.
Nothing could prepare me for the next words that came from my daughter's mouth, words I had not heard in 10 years, words I only heard exactly in this entirety from one person my entire life:
It's really no secret that we're rooting for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner to rekindle their romance, and while that may, or may not happen, they continue to be the perfect example of how exes should treat each other.
Seriously, it takes a lot to to be civil towards someone who hurt you, but these two seem to have nothing but respect for each other, and we love them so much for it. Which is probably the reason (or at least one of them) why we get so darn excited every time we spot them out together — which was most recently their family getaway on Aug. 15, for Affleck's 44th birthday.
The former couple, along with their three children, visited Montana's Yellowstone Club for Affleck's special day, and according to Us Weekly a wonderful time was had by everyone (the destination is reportedly also one of their "favorite places").
"There was a cake and they did the usual stuff: hiking and playing outside," a source close to Affleck told the publication. "They wanted to be together as a family."
But before you start getting your hopes up and thinking this family getaway could lead to the reunion we've all been waiting for, we're going to have to burst your bubble. According to the publication, the former couple "got along great," however, "they didn't sleep in the same room. And they are not getting back together."
OK, so they may not be getting back together (for now anyway) but we really admire Affleck and Garner for the way that they've handled their relationship post-split, and we hope to hear about a lot more of these family outings in the future.
If your hair color isn’t the only thing changing on your body, you certainly aren’t alone. As we age, pregnancy, lifestyle, and hormonal changes affect our skin, hair, and even the *ahem* lady parts. But if you’re suffering in silence, don’t be ashamed! The changes you may be facing are more common than you realize. Here are some tips to help you get your groove back.
1. More UTIs
As we age, the delicate tissue around our urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside that carries urine) becomes thinner and more sensitive. This can happen because of changes in our hormone levels and make the body more susceptible to urinary tract infections. Staying well-hydrated, following the age-old advice of “front to back” wiping and urinating after intercourse can help you avoid those pesky UTIs.
2. Vaginal dryness
Over time, post-pregnancy and perimenopause affect estrogen levels. As we age, our estrogen levels begin to decline, leading to an increase in vaginal dryness and a loss of elasticity of vaginal tissue. For some women, this dryness can lead to irritation and even discomfort in public settings. If you're suffering from this, you are absolutely not alone.
3. The bulge
Our "lady parts" or reproductive structures are held in place by a group of muscles and tendons known as the pelvic floor. As we age, go through childbirth, experience changes in our weight and even regularly participate in high-impact workouts, these muscles sag and give us a feeling of bulging or heaviness. This is also what may lead to urine leakage when we cough or sneeze. The best remedy for this is the good ol’ Kegels. This exercise helps to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and tightens the muscle fibers, helping to create more stability and strength. If you find that you are regularly doing Kegels and this area is still impacted, speak with your physician about other options. You may be a candidate for a supportive device or require a procedure.
4. More infections
These are not necessarily the type of infections you are thinking. When levels of estrogen and progesterone shift and eventually decrease (usually in our 30s and 40s), the pH levels and tissue thickness change in the vaginal canal and around the vaginal opening. This change makes us more susceptible to infections like bacterial vaginosis, which can cause a sour odor and white discharge. This is not a sexually transmitted infection; however, it can be a pesky irritation. Adding a moisturizer or lubricant and eliminating sweaty clothes post exercise can help. Although yeast infection incidence does not necessarily go up as we age, protecting the vagina from this annoying itch is also important. You can do this by regularly eating yogurt or taking a probiotic supplement and sticking to those cotton undies.
If you notice any symptoms that are not improving, schedule a visit with your physician. She can help determine what is causing your discomfort and offer you a variety of solutions that might be quicker and easier than you think.
In the blink of an eye, Ryan Lochte went from gold medal-winning swimmer to the scourge of the 2016 summer Olympics.
After concocting an elaborate and strange lie about being robbed during a night out partying with his teammates, Lochte quickly hopped on a plane and bailed back to the United States in an effort to outrun the Brazilian authorities who wanted to question him for his part in the night of debauchery.
Lochte will be officially summoned by officials for what turned out to be a case of the swimmers committing vandalism, as opposed to being robbed, says NBC. Brazilian police are said to be closing their investigation in the criminal case this week and will then hand it over to Rio's public prosecutor, according to Detective Clemente Braune, via NBC News.
According to Brazilian news source G1, Lochte can be facing 1-6 months in prison for the false communication of a crime. However, if Lochte does not honor his summons, the case will go on without him and he cannot be sentenced.
Someone else who thinks Lochte deserves to pay dearly? Al Roker.
Roker got quite heated during a segment of the Today show this week, saying,"He lied to you, he lied to Matt Lauer, he lied to his mom," to cohost Billy Bush. "He left his teammates hanging while he skedaddled. There was no robbery, there was no pull over. He lied."
Al Roker on today
Al Roker on today
Lochte has lost four major sponsors (Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gentle Hair Removal and mattress maker Airweave) in the wake of the scandal, but he did pick up a sweet gig on Season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, according to USA Today.
Remember when ABC abruptly canceled Nashville earlier this year and fans revolted? Yeah, I was one of them — I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a total Nashie. And while I was overjoyed to see CMT pick up the twangy series, the latest news to come out of the Nashville rumor mill makes me nervous.
In case you missed the adorable memos posted all over social media by the show's stars, the official premiere date for Season 5 is Jan. 5. Yes, as in 2017. Also known as dear-god-can-this-year-be-over-yet-I'm-already-tired-of-waiting.
That news, although the premiere is painfully far away, is pretty good. The bad news comes by way of Entertainment Weekly, who say they've been hearing quite a bit of talk about Connie Britton taking her final bow sometime during the fifth season.
We've already had to make peace with the fact that actors Will Chase (Luke Wheeler) and Aubrey Peeples (Layla Grant) will not be making the crossover to CMT. Although, to be honest, I was only really broken up about the loss of Luke. Layla was kind of a pain in the proverbial ass last season.
Still, as broken up as I was about Luke leaving, the show certainly can and will go on without him. If the Rayna Jaymes leaves, the fate of the show is far more shaky.
The official word is that Britton has actually signed on for the new season, but so far her contract is only for 10 of the 22 episodes ordered from studio Lionsgate by the cable network. A source close to the show reportedly reassured EW that Nashville is still hopeful Britton will commit to coming on board for the entire season but is simply holding out right now (for reasons unbeknownst to us).
As for Rayna's arc in Season 5, TV Guide reported that she is going to cross paths with a hotshot young app developer who is a huge fan of hers. He pitches the idea of marketing her music to a new generation, but he allegedly has something more sinister in the works. Curious. Very curious.
So I suppose it's perfectly plausible that Rayna could be written out in dramatic fashion following some sort of fallout with or due to the app developer. But really, what would Nashville be without Rayna Jaymes?
While I adore nearly all of the characters, I'm not confident they could carry the show without a character as pivotal as Rayna.
She's the epicenter. No matter what happens and to whom, Rayna always finds a way to pull people back together. Plus, Britton's acting on the show is fantastic. Sometimes I have to remind myself she isn't actually a contemporary country music star.
Unless Rayna's exit is because she dies, I don't see how you could possibly have her daughters, Maddie and Daphne, remain a central part of the show either. C'mon, y'all... those girls (Lennon and Maisy Stella, IRL) are another huge reason fans tune in.
And if Deacon could manage to not crumble in Rayna's absence, I can't imagine fans would ever feel comfortable with him cozying up to another woman. Even before the couple finally got hitched, it was hard to embrace anyone who came in between the great love story that is Deacon and Rayna.
To be blunt, it would be a damn shame to bring this often underappreciated (but very deserving) show back from the brink just to see Britton bail on it. Fingers crossed she wouldn't do that to the series, its fans or her fellow faux country music superstars.
What do you think? Would you tune in if Rayna was written off?
Yolanda Hadid is finished with RHOBH, leaving Erika Girardi in desperate need of a new BFF. She could join forces with new Housewife Dorit Kemsley, but that wouldn't be entertaining enough. Far better to break up the longstanding friendship between Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump, which started to show some signs of wear last season.
Girardi and Richards have been hanging out a lot these days, and while that doesn't necessarily mean that Richards and Vanderpump are over, it is definitely a new dynamic. When was the last time Richards actually got close to a non-Vanderpump cast member? Yes, she's friendly with several of the current Housewives, but I never thought she'd go to bat for the other Housewives like she's done for Vanderpump in the past. Perhaps that's about to change.
Richards' new friendship has been making waves on social media. She and Girardi recently hit up Mykonos, Greece, together, and based on the barrage of Instagram pictures they've posted, they're having a great time. Girardi even was able to get Richards to show off her wild side, as evidenced by a picture taken during a very glamorous (and seductive) looking after-party. In a repost of the same photo, Girardi referred to the two as the #funones, thereby leading to some speculation that Richards and Girardi are on the outs with the rest of the cast.
Erika and Kyle Instagram Picture
Erika and Kyle Instagram Picture
Richards shared a picture of the behind-the-scenes crew for RHOBH, so chances are, her adventures with Girardi will be featured in a future episode. Unfortunately, we probably won't know for sure what's going on with her and Vanderpump until the new season arrives. For now, all we know is that there are no recent pictures of the two on social media. Instead, Vanderpump's page is littered with pictures of dogs, as per usual.
Vanderpump and Richards might be so close that they have no need to flaunt their friendship on social media, but something just feels off. Regardless of whether Girardi's involved, I anticipate more drama between Richards and Vanderpump this season — because no friendship is safe when Bravo gets involved.
What do you think of Kyle Richards and Erika Girardi's blossoming friendship? Could Girardi be Richards' new best bud on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills? Comment and share your opinion below.
Frances Bean Cobain's divorce may have just taken a turn for the worst. Cobain's ex-husband, Isaiah Silva, is reportedly requesting $25,000 per month in spousal support from her.
Yes, you read that right! While Cobain is worth an estimated $100 million, that's still a lot of money. Some people even live comfortably on $25,000 per year.
According to court documents, Silva says his monthly expenses include $4,500 on rent, $200 on clothes and $3,333 on private schooling for his child from a previous relationship. Cobain and Silva have no children together.
So, why does Silva need so much money from Cobain? The musician says that his income from his band, The Eeries, has "changed significantly" since the divorce proceedings started. He also reportedly "left a steady job" when the couple got married.
"Due to break up of marriage and incidents of violence and harassment against me I have been unable to tour and record music," Silva stated in the the court documents.
Silva also believes that he is entitled to half of Cobain's assets she earned during their marriage because he and Cobain did not sign a prenuptial agreement.
However, Cobain requested that Silva not receive any monetary gains from her late father's estate in the original divorce documents filed in March of this year.
"Petitioner requests that all gifts, inheritance, bequests and all other pre-marital assets, and all of her post-separation earnings, and acquisitions, as well as her clothing, jewelry and personal effects, be confirmed and/or awarded to her as her separate property plus all credits, offsets and reimbursements to which she is entitled," the court documents state.
However, Cobain has said she would be open to paying and receiving spousal support. Cobain and Silva dated for five years before getting married in 2014.
First of all, the Bates family doesn't have a small car. They're a family of 21. They have a 16-passenger van. The thing might as well be a bus, and that's what their poor children are forced to learn in.
Of course, I suppose if they can drive that thing, they can drive anything.
The best part wasn't watching them try to navigate the newness of driving in that van (I don't blame Josie for being terrified), but it was also watching Kelly Jo, Carlin and Lawson attempt to teach the girls. Which means they were talking over one another in the midst of frenzied yelps as Josie or Katie would mistake the gas for the brake. Good times.
Jokes aside, by the time Kelly Jo and Gil have to teach little Jeb to drive, they'll probably just throw him the keys and tell him to have at it.
Although, it seems that even though they've already taught about eight or nine kids the techniques of the road, they still aren't pros at it, but that just made it all the more fun to watch.
When I was learning how to drive, my dad was in charge of the lessons and even then I had a driving instructor for those details my parents may not have a handle on. It seems like maybe the Bates family should consider the same. Especially since Lawson didn't even know why you would shift the car into neutral. (Towing mostly, Lawson. Towing.)
You guys, things just got really serious in the Big Brother house. Not only was Victor eliminated yet again after a 2-1 house vote, but the members of the jury had to compete against each other in an endurance competition for Head of Household. The last one standing after said competition would also win back their spot in the house (so no pressure). We didn't find out who the winner was on Thursday, but James looked to be doing the best job hanging on to the moving wall. Before any of these things happened, though, we got to see something truly majestic: the women of the house telling Paulie what they really think of him.
Da'vonne, Bridgette and Zakiyah watched the footage of Paulie's eviction with such glee, cackling with laughter and toasting. Paulie entered the jury house full of his usual gross and arrogant swag, and the ladies were not here for it or him. (It was fully repellant that he managed to be such a cocky slimeball while in the jury house, but, hi, it's Paulie.) It was lovely to see the ladies getting along and presenting a united front against Paulie. Bridgette, who had been holding back until this point, told him she has zero respect for him, and Zakiyah laid into him as well, although, not shockingly, despite their attacks on him, Paulie continued to be a misogynist garbage bag, yelling about how the women in the house were petty and catty.
Note to Paulie: This is not how you win fans. Claiming that you're the best and the most awesome and saying everything rotten that happens is the fault of other people when you're standing in the jury house is not a good look (or an accurate one). It was so fantastic to see him getting owned by the ladies, even Zakiyah, who he's apparently been sleeping with, although they aren't talking now. His "woe is me" speech last week, during which he begged for his spot on the show, was also pretty great, but we know there was nothing genuine behind it except a desire to stay in the running. Let's be real, it's not like if he stayed he'd change his behavior, he's obviously so threatened by all of the women in the house, as he made very clear by his reaction to being confronted by them. Bye, Paulie. We will not miss you.
Another reality television couple is headed for splitsville. Chrisley Knows Best star Lindsie Chrisley has filed for divorce from husband William Campbell after four years of marriage.
Chrisley and Campbell started dating in 2009. They got married after three years of dating in 2012, just two years before the 2014 premiere of her family's reality television series.
"He was my first love. We got together when we were 19-years-old, and over time we grew separately in different directions instead of together," Chrisley told People magazine. "I feel like I've become more independent, I've come more into myself, I'm more confident with myself and I just don't feel that relationship gives me what I need anymore. I've outgrown the relationship."
Chirsley, who has a 3-year-old son with Campbell, also revealed to the magazine that the couple briefly separated in 2014.
"We had a little time apart, then we got back together in the hopes that we could make it work for our child," Chrisley said. "But we realized that two people that are not happy with one another and trying to make it work just for the child and not for themselves personally — that's not in the best interest of the child, or either of us."
However, Chrisley doesn't regret the couple's break two years ago, saying, "I take nothing negative from that experience because that's where I was at the time. I feel like I had been struggling with this decision for a long time, and I didn't want to make an immature decision on the spur of the moment."
Todd Chrisley, Lindsie's father, and Campbell never really got along. He always disapproved of the pair's decision to elope without his knowledge and was shown butting heads with his son-in-law on the show.
However, her father had nothing but positive things to say about Campbell following the divorce announcement.
"[Will] has been a very good provider and there has been no kind of anything going on in their marriage that I would tolerate, that Lindsie would tolerate or that Will has done that anyone could twist," Todd told People. "He is a decent young man, and our family will always stand with him for the betterment of our grandchild."
For anyone who has gone through a serious illness, there’s a reason they call it a battle. Every day, you have to focus on staying healthy and fighting the disease that has invaded your body and your life.
On Thursday, Days of Our Lives star Kassie DePaiva revealed on her website that she was diagnosed in July with acute myeloid leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
DePaiva’s message to her fans was positive, yet straight to the point.
“During the 3-week July hiatus, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and have spent 6 of the last 9 weeks in the hospital,” she wrote. “I will continue treatment over the next 3 months. My prognosis is good, I will not likely need a stem cell/bone marrow transplant, and we expect a complete cure. I consider this just a bump in the road. I have amazing prayer warriors, family, and friends that have been extremely supportive and life affirming throughout this.”
While DePaiva has been active on social media, she wasn’t talking much about her return as Eve to the NBC soap. Fans have long anticipated her return after she exited in February.
SheKnows Soaps spoke with her at the Day of Days fan event last October about her departure.
Kassie DePaiva interview at Day of Days
Kassie DePaiva interview at Day of Days
“It was a gift to be on Days. I’ve loved every minute from the year-and-a-half that I was there,” she shared. “You couldn’t ask for a greater group of people or company to work for, so it’s all good.”
For any fan who was worried why she didn’t talk about her time back on the DOOL set this summer, there was good reason. DePaiva was dealing with her illness, prioritizing her health and surrounding herself with family and friends who could help her and keep her secret.
It was important for her to keep those initial days of diagnosis private. Not only did DePaiva have physical issues to deal with, she had to make sure she was taking care of her mental and emotional well-being as well.
It sounds like she is doing what is best for her journey to wellness.
“I have a strong faith that strengthens me every step of the way. This has been a private matter, but with Eve's return coming soon I felt it was time to let my loving fans know what's been going on,” she wrote.” “The Days and OLTL family love runs deep. Although I'm unable to be 'camera ready' now... my goal is get back to stirring up trouble in Salem soon. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.”
For DePaiva to share a personal story about her health is incredibly brave. We applaud her honesty, frankness and thoughtfulness in a time that must be very difficult.
Hopefully fans will not only send her loving support, but also give DePaiva the breathing room she needs on her road back to recovery.
Can you believe Kate and Jon Gosselin's twin daughters Cara and Mady are now 15? The pair has seriously grown up since first appearing on Jon & Kate Plus 8 alongside their sextuplet siblings and are now getting serious about their relationship with their father in a brand new interview.
When asked about their father by People, both twins had strong responses, but Mady laid it all out there, letting the world know how she really feels about her father.
"I wouldn't even know what to say about him," Cara said.
"Here's how I feel about this... this year I'm going to turn 16. I'm going to be learning to drive, taking the PSATs, thinking about college... so much is going on in my life," Mady said. "And the last thing I have time for is a toxic relationship."
Wow. Mady also expressed her frustrations with how Jon talks about his children in interviews, saying, "He makes it seem like we're being kept from him, which is insane."
She went on to say, "He should maybe spend some time thinking about why we don't want to see him, and maybe realize that if he ever does want a relationship with us, talking about us on TV is not the way to make that happen. He doesn't even know us — how can he dare to talk about us?"
As life transitions from summer heat to autumn chill, make sure that your lifestyle doesn’t follow suit. While the bikinis do need to be packed away, your summer attitude doesn’t have to go anywhere. Cold months means more time spent indoors — so why not make your living space as beautiful and inspiring as it could possibly be?
The first step to a fun home? Adorable kitchenware! It’s time to chuck the paper plates and dirty dish towels and invest in a kitchen you can be proud of. Spending an extra few minutes (and dollars) on sprucing up your counters and cabinets now will save you countless dreary moments later. From bird plates to pomegranate spoons, the internet is a haven for elegant and quirky dishware. Find some of my favorites below, all at incredibly low prices. Save money, live better. Now isn’t that a nice mantra to wear alongside your new knee-length peacoat?
Peep peep! Spread the Twitter IRL by having these cute plates peeking through your cabinets. Nothing nicer on a cold day than a little birdie chirping at your window — or, in this case, a shelf in your kitchen. ($24, Anthropologie; get free shipping through Goodshop!)
Store your winter grains in style and feel like Eloise at the Plaza every time you step through your door with these illustrated canisters. ($24.99, Bed Bath & Beyond)
Be the star at the lunch party with these transportable painted ceramic “tupperware” containers. You can get 10 percent off when you sign up for the Urban Outfitters newsletter! ($10, Urban Outfitters)
Have your popsicle and eat it too with these adorable kitchen towels. It’s been confirmed: Summer really doesn’t have to end. Get 30 percent off with this Target coupon. ($15.29, Target)
The first day of school is hard for every parent. For adoptive parents, this day (like many others during your parenting journey!) is full of mixed emotions. You are excited for your child to go to school and experience so many incredible new things. But you are also sad to see her grow up because it means spending more time away from her after working so hard to build your family. Here are some ways you can cope and commemorate the first day of school for both you and your child.
1. Create a journal
Leading up to the first day of school, create a journal with your child about all the things she is excited about for school. You can get very creative with this journal and make it a fun, end-of-summer project to work on. Your child can draw pictures, add photos and bedazzle the journal with glitter and paint. This is a great keepsake to have as she grows and it will help you feel more excited about her going to school.
2. Make a photo collage
Amp up the excitement for the first day of school by showing your child how big she has become with a photo collage. Start with pictures from the adoption process, like a copy of your adoption profile, and continue up to present day. You can even make it an activity with your child to allow her to pick out her favorite photos. The photo collage can hang up in your child’s room or she can bring it to school to show the new friends she is going to make. This will make the child feel grown up and important while allowing you an opportunity to reflect upon your parenting journey up until this point.
3. Involve your child’s birth mother
Remember that this is a big day for your child’s birth mother as well. It’s very thoughtful to check how she would like to commemorate the day, whether it be receiving a picture of your child getting onto the school bus or having a phone conversation with the birth mother leading up to the big day. Along with the other crafts you may make with your child, have her help create something special just for their birth mother to keep her involved in the process. This could be a card or a letter about how excited your child is about her new adventure or even a small gift that your child can help pick out. Keeping your child’s birth mother involved is not only a meaningful way to include her in the child’s life but it’s also an opportunity for your child to share this first day of school excitement with everyone important in her life.
4. Be prepared for new questions and feelings about adoption
Over time through school, your child may encounter situations in which other kids do not understand adoption and may make inappropriate comments to your child, whether well-intentioned or not. Be prepared for these moments — begin thinking of how you want to handle these situations and how you want to prepare your child to handle them. Some parents wait until that moment happens to talk with their child about how to handle these types of situations. Others are proactive and prepare their child for a possible lack of understanding about adoption. However you want to approach it, teach your child patience and how to help educate people about what her adoption is all about — family and love.
Nicole Witt is the owner of The Adoption Consultancy, an unbiased resource serving pre-adoptive families by providing them with the education, information and guidance they need to safely adopt a newborn, usually within three to 12 months.
Angela Liddon is living that life. Cookbook author, popular plant-based food blogger, new mom and the kind of woman who lives on nourishing, energizing foods that are as Instagram worthy as they are (magically) delicious. So when Liddon came out with her second cookbook, Oh She Glows Every Day, we did two things. First, we devoured those recipes. And second, we picked her brain about making that "healthy eating" lifestyle shift we all want to make.
Let me first say, my boyfriend and I are completely addicted to the Salted Chocolate Hemp Shake for Two. I never thought I'd see that man eat anything with hemp in it. And when I made Liddon's Endurance Crackers (made with chia, sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds), my 12-year-old raved. Another shocker. I don't know who these people I live with are anymore, but I'm not complaining.
Anyway! Here's what Liddon — a new mom expecting her second baby — told us about supercharging your diet.
SheKnows: When you pick up this cookbook and see all those gorgeous photos and recipes, the first thing you want to do is throw out everything in your pantry and start over with that staples list at the end of the book. But that’s going to be expensive! How do you build that new pantry in an affordable way?
Angela Liddon: I recommend starting with the foods that you’ll use the most frequently rather than the items you’ll use once in a blue moon. There’s no need to get everything at once; you can build your pantry slow and steady! Pantry staples that I use the most are dried and canned chickpeas, lentils, black beans, whole-grain pasta, jarred tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, vinegars and commonly used spices (that is, garlic powder, chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, cayenne, basil, oregano, etc.). These pantry items are super affordable, especially when purchased in bulk or from discount retailers. Once you have a pantry base built up, you can consider adding more specialty items, like hemp hearts or coconut oil, as you see fit.
SK: How else do you recommend buying these ingredients without breaking the bank? Some things (chickpeas) are inexpensive enough, but others, like hemp hearts, can be pretty pricey.
AL: We buy a lot of pantry staples from Costco, including chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Not only are the bags/containers much larger than found at traditional grocers, but the cost works out to being quite a bit less. We are also Amazon Prime members, so I will often buy items from Amazon with free two-day shipping. Lastly, I’m a member at an organic co-op, where we will often wait until things go on sale and then buy nonperishable items in bulk. Normally you have to own a business to buy from the co-op, but they also offer family buying clubs, where you can go in with other families, so that can be a fantastic option too.
SK: Any foods you've found to be especially good at supporting you through pregnancy?
AL: I’ve been drinking a lot of fresh green juice during this pregnancy, and I really find it boosts my energy levels. I also make a green protein smoothie once a day, as it’s an easy way to get 25 grams of protein in a single glass! Healthy fats, in the form of hemp hearts, avocado, coconut oil, chia seeds and an algae-based DHA/EPA oil, also keep me feeling satisfied and balanced, and I try to consume them daily.
SK: I know your husband had to be persuaded to give up his fast food and start eating healthier along with you. Were there any particular dishes or ingredients that won him over in a big way? What advice do you have for helping your partner make healthy changes with you?
AL: Eric absolutely loves my veggie burgers, such as my newest Oh Em Gee Veggie Burgers. He also goes crazy for my Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Garlic-Avocado Aioli. Both recipes can be found in Oh She Glows Every Day. These recipes are great ones to serve to plant-based skeptics, as they are delicious, hearty, satisfying and made up of familiar, everyday ingredients. You also can’t go wrong with making any of my vegan desserts. Often you can win someone over with dessert and then gradually introduce other savory foods to them as well.
Oh, this granola. It has become an obsession for me and for Eric, who loves it as much as I do. The first time I made it, I knew it had to go into this book. It’s stolen the hearts of everyone who has tried it, from my recipe testers to family and friends. The granola is brimming with fragrant toasted hazelnuts and almonds, and it’s studded with chocolate chips and dried cherries. Binding it all together is a decadent mixture of maple syrup, coconut oil and my homemade Roasted Hazelnut-Almond Butter (page 77), which brings out the naturally nutty flavor of the granola. If you don’t want to make the Roasted Hazelnut-Almond Butter, you can substitute raw or roasted almond butter in a pinch. Hard as it is not to keep this granola all to yourself, it makes a lovely homemade gift for the holidays too. Just allow it to cool completely, and then fill up a Mason jar, and add a ribbon and tag. It’s easy and festive, and your friends and family will be just dying for the recipe!
1/2 cup (125 milliliters) unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (90 milliliters) nondairy mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup (125 milliliters) dried cherries, finely chopped
2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chia seeds
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon (1.5 milliliters) fine sea salt
1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) virgin coconut oil
4-1/2 teaspoons (22 milliliters) brown rice syrup
1/4 cup (60 milliliters) Roasted Hazelnut- Almond Butter (recipe below)
1/3 cup (75 milliliters) pure maple syrup
2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Spread the hazelnuts over a small baking sheet and the almonds over another small baking sheet. Put both in the oven, and roast for 12 – 14 minutes, until the hazelnut skins have darkened, cracked and are almost falling off. Let the nuts cool on the sheet for 5 minutes or so. Transfer the hazelnuts to a damp dishcloth, and rub vigorously until most of the skins fall off. The goal is to remove most of them, but a few stragglers are OK! Chop the hazelnuts and almonds, and set aside.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and keep the oven set to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
In a large bowl, stir together the chopped hazelnuts and almonds, oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, cherries, chia seeds and salt.
In a small pot, melt the coconut oil over low heat. Transfer it to a small bowl, and whisk in the brown rice syrup, hazelnut-almond butter, maple syrup and vanilla until smooth. (Normally I would just whisk everything into the pot to save a dish, but for this recipe we don’t want the wet mixture to become warm and melt the chocolate chips while mixing.)
With a spatula, scoop the wet mixture on top of the dry mixture, being sure to get every last drop. Stir well until thoroughly combined.
Scoop the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, and spread it out into a thin layer, no more than 1/4- to 1/2-inch (5 millimeters to 1 centimeter) in thickness. Try to space out the granola as much as possible so it has room to “breathe” while cooking.
Bake for 10 minutes, then rotate the pan, and bake for 8 – 12 minutes more, until the bottom and edges of the granola are just starting to turn golden (the granola itself will still look a bit pale in color). The granola will get crispy as it cools.
Let the granola cool completely on the baking sheet, then break it apart into clusters. It will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 – 4 weeks or in a large zip-top freezer bag in the freezer for a couple of months. Be sure to press all the air out before freezing (or use a straw to suck out all the air from the bag).
Roasted Hazelnut-Almond Butter recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup (250 milliliters) raw hazelnuts
1 cup (250 milliliters) raw almonds
3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) coconut sugar or natural cane sugar, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon (2 milliliters) pure vanilla extract
Dash ground cinnamon
Fine sea salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Spread the hazelnuts over a small baking sheet and the almonds over another small baking sheet. Put both in the oven, and roast for 12 – 14 minutes, until the hazelnut skins have darkened, cracked and are almost falling off. Let the nuts cool on the sheet for 5 minutes or so. Transfer the hazelnuts to a damp dishcloth, and rub vigorously until most of the skins fall off. The goal is to remove most of them, but a few stragglers are OK!
Transfer the almonds and skinned hazelnuts to a heavy-duty food processor, and process until a smooth butter forms, 5 – 10 minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl as necessary.
With the processor running, slowly add the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt to taste through the feed tube.
Store the nut butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
After a lot of victim-blaming and other ugliness, it looks like the tide might be turning for Kesha in regard to her sexual-abuse lawsuit against producer and record executive Dr. Luke. The New York judge who ruled in April that the singer couldn't record outside of her contract with Dr. Luke is married to an attorney who works at a firm that includes Sony as a client.
What does that mean for Kesha, who was counter-sued by Dr. Luke for defamation and breach of contract? In short, judges aren't supposed to rule in cases in which they have actual or potential financial stake in the outcome, and being married to a lawyer who works for Sony, which houses Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records, totally counts as a conflict of interest. We don't yet know if Kesha's legal team plans to attempt to have the legal rulings thrown out, but at least now they have grounds on which to do so. The whole case could get a do-over, which would include a new judge. While the prospect of starting from scratch legally sounds exhausting, it would be great to see Kesha and her lawyers have another chance at getting her out of her contract and away from Dr. Luke.
The ruling in New York legally bound the singer in her contract with Dr. Luke, which required her to make as many as six records and prompted the FreeKesha hashtag to trend on Twitter. Kesha dropped her lawsuit in California in order to get out of the deal she made with Sony at age 18, and recorded 28 songs, the expenses of which she incurred, in an effort to work quickly toward fulfilling her contractual obligation. Her first show post-lawsuit took place in Atlantic City on Aug. 6, and she's now touring with The Creepies, after announcing that she'd be performing this summer in a variety of intimate venues across the country.
Books, newspapers, magazines, websites — a whole publishing industry is built on the backs of women's bodies. So of course it's very important to know how to write a factual, interesting headline about women. To help you, we've come up with an eight-step primer on how to talk about us broads.
Step 1: Forget what we said about factual
Always go with as much over-the-top hyperbole as possible. And don't worry about the actual woman involved.
Here's what we now know: She is tanned and toned. She loves Prada and blue. She wears lace. She likes art. Oh, and her name is Mary something, and she might have a purpose other than body-showing, but Googling her work is too hard. See? It's perfect! Just the important info, none of the fluff.
Step 2: Always mention boobs
It is very important that no one forget this very important information. So take every opportunity to remind people about boobs — not in, like, an anatomical way (breastfeeding, ew!), but in a super-sexy way, like breasts, bewbz, fun bags, pillow puppies... Your options are endless.
This, my friends, is a work of art. Not only did they call out her boobs and butt, but they managed to simultaneously mock them, all without even humanizing her with a name.
Step 4: Fashion with a capital F (You)
Ladies love clothes and shopping and stuff, so that is all we want to talk about forever and always, amen. Again, mention her clothing before talking about her boring charity work or Nobel Prize or whatever little thing landed her in the news.
(Psst... She was actually there to help mentally ill children, so make sure to pull focus from that by talking about her dress and her husband. Are you taking notes yet?)
Step 5: Always mention pregnancy
A woman's womb is everyone else's business. Literally. How are we supposed to sell ads for pregnancy workouts, post-pregnancy workouts and shame spirals without a parade of bumps? Sometimes you may find yourself in the position where no one famous is pregnant. Don't let that stop you — make one up based on a flowing shirt or a food baby. Or just scream "Bump Watch!" and run.
Check out this genius work! They planted the seed that J.Lo is knocked up, and then denied it so they won't get sued. "You take it from here, speculative commenters!"
Step 6: Put aging women back in their box
Be sure to mention she either looks old, is on her way to old, is super old or is just flat-out dead. Women exist only for sexy headlines, and old women cannot be sexy. So if you find yourself writing about a woman not in her 20s, make sure you point out her age while also making fun of her for it.
SCARE CAPS: You can never have too many of those. But remind me, why is age relevant here?
Step 7: Don't forget the fatties
We're trying to be all-inclusive here, which means we insult every female body type. But don't let the reader think an obese woman is just, oh, a woman. You have to point out her fat (for shame!) before anything else.
Well, she'd never felt so much shame... until this headline at a very large news site came out. You're welcome, fat lady!
Step 8: But seriously, back to the sex
Remind the reader that women's bodies are there for the voyeurs' — ahem —readers' pleasure. Note: That's the only (acceptable) reason women ever dress up, wear high heels or put on makeup — to please a man.
