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8 totally gross things your kids can catch at school

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Do you ever wonder why kids' school supply list includes about a thousand containers of disinfectant wipes?

Believe it or not, the teachers are not just trying to make your life more difficult. There's a reason those wipes are desperately inside the halls of your child's school.

Pediatrics professor Dr. Harley Rotbart refers to schools as "germ candy stores." Just what every parent wants to hear, I know.

Germs are everywhere in schools, with so-called "hot zones" including drinking fountains, cafeteria trays and sports equipment. But besides common colds and flu, schools can be filled with other, really dangerous and disgusting stuff. Here are 8 gross things your kids could catch at school, to encourage parents everywhere to get prepared for the year ahead — and a reminder to maybe buy even more disinfectant wipes than they're asking for.

Gross things your kids can catch at school
Image: Becci Collins/SheKnows

Sources: ABC News, CNN, Centers for Disease Control, KidsHealth, Real Simple

This post was sponsored by Clorox Health and Wellness.

More on germs and kids

The real danger of sending kids to school with flu symptoms
Tips to keep your kids healthy at school
Everything you need to know about sick child care


Drake's emotional ode to Rihanna will go down in MTV VMAs history

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Drake's surprise appearance at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards to present his main squeeze Rihanna with the Video Vanguard Award had us melting into our seats.

More: Rihanna and Drake are back together because he never stopped loving her

That boy knows how to give a speech. And he knows what will make women swoon.

He had Rihanna like...

VMAs Rihanna
Image: MTV

And the rest of us like...

Ariana Grande at the VMAs
Image: MTV

Check out Drake's full speech below.

The first time I met Robyn Fenty was 2005. She was shooting a music video at a restaurant called Avocado in Toronto. The song was "Pon de Replay" and the director of the video was Little X. I was introduced to her as a kid who played background music at the restaurant as people ate their dinner. It’s hard to believe that 11 years later, all three of us would come together to create the visuals for a song called "Work."

Today the world knows Little X as Director X. They know me as Drake, and not the kid singing while you order pasta, but 11 years later, they still all know Rihanna as the one and only Rihanna.

Captivating from day one, the iconic being that is Rihanna was already at a place where most artists only dream of going. For them, that’s often the peak, but for her that was a starting point, and she has kept ascending to an untouchable level ever since.

When it comes to music, she relentlessly takes over the charts with every release.

When it comes to performance, they swarm in masses just to be in her presence, obviously.

And when it comes to fashion and style, she makes it seem so effortless until you try and do it yourself, which is when it gets a little awkward.

What’s most impressive isn’t the endless lists of stats, awards and accomplishments, what's most impressive is the person. Some artists need to play a character to achieve success. Some need to downplay their own natural instincts to blend it. She succeeds by doing something that no one in this music industry does, which is being herself.

This woman has surpassed all competition, while still being the same girl from Barbados surrounded by the same friends, speaking with the same accent and never missing a crop-over, unless it’s to come perform at OVO Fest.

We love the music which can change styles from album to album, we love the videos which change the artistic vision from year to year, but most of all we love the woman who hasn’t changed since day one.

She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old. She’s one of my best friends in the world, all my adult life I’ve looked up to her even though she’s younger than me. She’s a living, breathing legend in our industry.

Drake, normally private with his relationship with Rihanna, even went in for a kiss at the end of his speech. Even though it looks like he got some lip action, Rihanna totally gave him the cheek at the last second.

Rihanna and Drake at the VMAs
Image: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Rihanna was the next one to step up to the mic. And after a few words about how the mic was too low for her, she had some amazing words to share as well.

This is such an amazing night, it's such an amazing moment in my career. When I think about the Vanguard Award and receiving this tonight, all I could think of was my country. They're going to be so proud. This is the first Vanguard to land anywhere close to my country. And so, you know my success, it started as my journey, but now my success, it’s not my own. It’s my family's, it's my fans, it's my country's, it's the Caribbean as a whole, it’s women, it’s black women. So many people feel like their little piece is such a major part of this puzzle, and I have to thank you guys for supporting me over and over ... I can’t believe I’m receiving a Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at 28 years old. It’s crazy, and I have so many people to thank...

More: Drake's gift to Rihanna for her VMA award proves he's gaga over her

Was Drake's surprise appearance at the 2016 VMAs your favorite moment of the night?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below!

Image: Getty Images

So Anthony Weiner sexted around his kid — so what?

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Anthony Weiner is one of the most aptly named humans on the face of the planet. The disgraced former Congressman who resigned after inappropriate photos and tweets he sent to women online made headlines is back in the news once more, and the reason why will surprise no one.

More: Doctor calls mom a 'prostitute' for breastfeeding... in a hospital

While Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, is away campaigning for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he's home sexting another lady. One of those sexts included a totally not G-rated photo of Weiner's clothed but aroused crotch with his son lying next to him. According to the text exchange, Weiner was chatting with his lady friend when his son joined him in bed, and he took and sent the picture.

Some are uncomfortable with the fact that Weiner was sexting and sexually aroused with his son nearby. However, while Weiner once again stepping out on his wife is obviously wrong, and Abedin has since announced they are separating, there's nothing inherently bad about a parent engaging in healthy sexual activity.

Anthony Weiner is a jerk-face. He's one of those people who just the mere mention of his name can cause your lip to do that involuntary snarl thing a dog does if you come toward it with a toothbrush. Sexting with a woman who isn't your wife is despicable. And sending a woman an unsolicited picture of your erection is beyond offensive. Basically there are a ton of reasons why Weiner is the last person you'd want to pick for your dodgeball team.

More: I told a stranger she needs to be nicer to her kid, and I'd do it again

But all of that being said, is sending a sexual text or (gasp!) daring to get sexually aroused while there's a kid around really that awful of a thing? Parents may have a questionable sense of how many pictures of our kids posted Facebook is too many, and we may tear up too easily over commercials, but we still have normal healthy, sex drives just like everyone else. It's not like they pull that part of us out along with the placenta. Sexting isn't just for single 20-somethings; it's for parents too, and we shouldn't be made to feel ashamed about doing it.

What's problematic for the weenie known as Weiner is who he was sexting and what he sent to her, not that he was sexting around his son. Keeping the romance alive with kids underfoot forces you to get creative. Who hasn't waggled an eyebrow across the couch or made a suggestive joke that literally and figuratively went over the kids' head at dinner. And if the kids are monopolizing the post-dinner conversation and you want to make some plan with your partner for later, there's nothing wrong with sending them a sext while the kids are none the wiser. After all, that's what the eggplant emoji was invented for. And certain things have to happen for siblings to be conceived, soooo....

More: I was that 'entitled' millennial whose parents never said 'no'

Bottom line: If you're a parent who sends the occasional sext from the laundry room to keep things spicy, don't worry — you're nothing like Weiner. You're just doing what it takes as a mom or dad to fan the flames of romance without having to spring for a sitter.

Anthony Weiner

Anthony Weiner

120 unique male dogs names you won't mind calling out at the park

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Just like naming a baby, yes, it is entirely possible to have your own doggie "naming style." You may lean more traditional in your dog name choice, with a throwback like Fido or a modern favorite like Max. Or maybe you've been racking your brain (and scouring the Internet) for a dog name that's a little off the beaten path — a name you're not going be hearing at the dog park anytime soon.

With inspiration from pop culture, sports, celebrity kids, beer and so much more, we've got more than 100 male dog names to keep you busy for a good week or longer. Because a dashing doggie named "Guinness" is too right to be wrong:

Unique dog names inspired by comic books

Superheroes are back with a vengeance. These names, inspired by some of our favorite heroes, villains and sidekicks, are suitable for any pup who knows his No. 1 job is to protect Mommy.

  • Oliver
  • Thor
  • Loki
  • Astro
  • Doom
  • Toxin
  • Alfred
  • Vertigo
  • Warlock
  • Spectre
  • Gambit
  • Mr. Fantastic

More: 200 Names for big dogs that have big heart

Unique dog names inspired by celebrities' babies

Celebrities never cease to amaze us with their ability to come up with the craziest names for their kids. Take a page out of their book, without the disbelieving stares, by unleashing your creativity on your pooch's name.

  • Banjo
  • Gunner
  • Jagger
  • Kai
  • Jett
  • Jax
  • Ikhyd
  • Bear
  • Draco
  • Denim
  • Mowgli
  • North

Unique dog names inspired by Urban dictionary

Slang is a part of our culture, so why can't you use it to inspire your pooch's name?

  • Bobot
  • Hipster
  • Yolo
  • Farkel
  • Neckbeard
  • Swag
  • Pozer
  • Soulja
  • Porb
  • Sleepy Bear
  • DudeBro
  • Bitcoin

Unique dog names inspired by beer

A dog is man's best friend. We have these names tapped for the pooch who never misses a game with Dad.

  • Widmer
  • Guinness
  • Doppelbock
  • Atwater
  • Unidragon
  • Hoegaarden
  • Abner
  • Zombie Dust
  • Bad Boy
  • Rasputin
  • Blondie
  • Murphy

More: 200 Adorable names for little dogs

Unique dog names inspired by athletes

Have a fur-baby who just can't slow down? Knock it out of the park with one of these athletic names.

  • Ali
  • MJ
  • Lochte
  • Yogi
  • Peyton
  • Manu
  • Revis
  • Griffey
  • Dirk
  • Deion
  • Elway
  • Tiger

Next Up: Unique dog names inspired by sports

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Unique dog names inspired by sports

To keep the sports metaphor going, we've also got some adorable names inspired by the sports themselves.

  • Fenway
  • Rambo
  • Blitz
  • Grinnell
  • Grubber
  • McNasty
  • Red Zone
  • Cashspiel
  • Scrimmage
  • Bolo
  • Bronco
  • Piston

Dog names inspired by Dictionary.com's word of the day

Maybe you'd like a name that shows off your mad crossword skills. These dog names, inspired by Dictionary.com's words of the day, shows your Words with Friends buddies you mean business.

  • Hoodwink
  • Mulligan
  • Klaxon
  • Cockalorum
  • Galligaskins
  • Inglenook
  • Salchow
  • Scrappy
  • Blatherskite
  • Slake
  • Jamboree
  • Slyboots

More: 97 Funny dog names based on pop culture puns

Dog names inspired by other animals

If your dog's personality might be more suited to another four-legged animal, he'll get along swimmingly with one of these names.

  • Wabbit
  • Phish
  • Leopard
  • Fennec
  • Hedgehog
  • Dingo
  • Coyote
  • Wombat
  • Possum
  • Tarantella
  • Cub
  • Foxy

Dog names inspired by automobiles

Gear-heads will love calling their pooches by these luxury names inspired by vehicles.

  • Cooper
  • Berlingo
  • Ferrari
  • Suzuki
  • Bugatti
  • Hyundai
  • Renault
  • Cadillac
  • Aventador
  • Jag
  • Chevelle
  • Herbie

Dog names inspired by exploration

From sailing the ocean blue to going boldly where no one has gone before, name your inquisitive little guy something inspired by exploration.

  • Drake
  • Aldrin
  • Benedict
  • Columbus
  • Picard
  • Pike
  • Hyecho
  • Hudson
  • Pizarro
  • Whymper
  • Jacques
  • Clark

Don't forget to pin this list!

Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows

Originally published Feb. 2016. Updated Aug. 2016.

There's one thing wrong with this pic of Taylor Swift at jury duty

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That moment when you pull that oh-so-very official-looking envelope from the county out of your mailbox. Your heart beats fast, you feel a little faint, and your mind starts racing with every frickin' excuse under the sun. That's right, you've been summoned.

Jury duty?! Ain't nobody got time for that.

Except for maybe Taylor Swift. Because while most of us look like this when we open up that dreaded summons:

Taylor Swift gif
Image: Giphy

...this was pretty much Swift's reaction after her number came up to serve on a jury:

Taylor Swift gif
Image: Giphy

More: Calvin Harris made a bad move not thanking Taylor Swift during the VMAs

OK, so maybe we're being a little dramatic, but Swift was photographed by some fellow jurors this week looking pretty chipper considering she had just been chosen to serve her civic duty.

Taylor Swift Jury tweet

Taylor Swift Jury tweet

Swift beamed in the courthouse waiting room, happily posing for selfies and signing autographs for fans. Someone sitting in the same room with Swift tweeted that she had been picked for voir dire on Monday morning, which is defined by law.com as "the questioning of prospective jurors by a judge and attorneys in court."

Maybe the timing of her jury duty has something to do with her excitement. Swift — who has been embroiled in a bitter feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian — was legally bound to attend jury duty in Tennessee, which provided her with an excellent excuse to skip out on the 2016 MTV VMAs and some potentially uncomfortable interactions on Sunday night.

Swift also conveniently missed out on West's speech at the VMAs, which was laced with references to her. He even walked up to the podium to the sound of his song "Famous," which is allegedly the root cause of all the latest drama between him and Swift.

What's worse? Facing your enemies on the world stage, or serving time on a panel of jurors? You be the judge — tell us what you think in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Beyonce VMAs 2016
Image: Nicholas Hunt/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Ariana Grande's fans don't approve of her new boyfriend, not one bit

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Ariana Grande has a new man in her life, and he looks to be making her very happy.

More: We're with Ariana Grande — Selena Gomez is so much more than Justin Bieber's ex

So who is the man holding Grande's attention? According to TMZ, it's Mac Miller (who happens to be a rapper from Pittsburgh), and the couple are not hiding their affection for each other.

During a date on Sunday night, the new couple enjoyed a meal together at Katsu-Ya in Encino, but that's not all they enjoyed, because apparently they couldn't keep their hands off each other and were kissing and giggling throughout the meal. According to witnesses, at one point in the evening Grande was even spotted lying in Miller's lap.

More: Ariana Grande fires back at crude celeb body comparisons

Plus TMZ managed to get some photographic evidence of the date, and we think it's safe to say that Grande and Miller look very content in each other's company. And that kiss definitely suggests they are more than friends (despite Miller downplaying the relationship and referring to Grande as a "homey").

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller

Ariana Grande and Mac Miller

Sources close to Miller and Grande reportedly told TMZ that they were dating — and it's been a long time coming, because they knew each other even before Grande dated Big Sean, because Miller starred as her boyfriend in her "The Way" music video.

In addition to their kissing date, Grande also recently brought Miller onstage during her New York concert at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater for a surprise performance of their track "The Way."

But what makes it official? During the MTV VMAs preshow, host Charlamagne Tha God asked Grande where Miller was, to which she responded, "Being supportive. It's OK to be alone even when you have a boo." Not only that, but she posted this to her Snapchat following the awards show:

Ariana Grande & Mac Miller
Image: Ariana Grande/Snapchat

However, there's only one problem with this new romance: Grande's fans don't approve.

More: Doughnut shop owners make decision in Ariana Grande licking case

Fans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on Grande's new man, and unfortunately there are a lot of unhappy people.

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 2

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 2

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 3

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 3

Yep, a lot of people don't like it.

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship

Some are even convinced it's a PR stunt.

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 5

Reaction to Ariana Grande's new relationship 5

Do you think Ariana Grande and Mac Miller could be in it for the long haul? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Ariana Grande slideshow
Image: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN

My boss confessed his feelings and made me dread the job I once loved

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Today I'm tackling how to handle when your boss makes romantic overtures toward you.

More: Bullying at work is just as toxic as in the school yard

Question:

Three weeks ago, my supervisor confessed he had romantic feelings for me. He had misinterpreted my friendly gestures and thought I reciprocated them. The whole situation horrified me, but I didn’t know what to say that wouldn’t be insulting. I ended up lying and telling him I was in a relationship.

Since then, I’ve felt increasingly uncomfortable at work. Before that I’d enjoyed working closely with him on projects and our occasional lunches out. But now everything he does leaves me uncomfortable. When he brought me a latte and muffin from the coffee cart last week, I didn’t know what to say. In the past, I would have thanked him profusely, but I was worried doing so would make him think he still had a chance with me.

I didn’t want to go to HR because that would have made a bigger deal of this than it deserves, but now I feel that I have to. I’ve been looking for a new job, and although I asked the interviewers not to call my supervisor, one of them did. Now my boss is paranoid because he knew I loved my job before he said anything. He isn’t talking to me anymore, just emailing me assignments, and it’s incredibly uncomfortable. What do I do?

More: My co-workers hate each other and they're dragging me into their feud

Answer:

Your supervisor’s actions are a big deal because they made you decide to leave a job you loved and have created a tense working environment for you. He crossed a boundary and could partially fix this by realizing you were his employee and thus off limits. He needs to stop compounding the problem by treating you like a leper.

Because you didn’t invite this mess and may want to stay with your company, ask HR for help. Let them know you didn’t consider your boss’ confession sexual harassment but had hoped he could interact normally with you moving forward.

Tell them that since that doesn’t appear possible, you’d like a different position and supervisor or a hefty severance check and positive letter of reference enabling you to find a new job.

HR will likely breathe a sigh of relief, given how reasonably you’re presenting the situation. To protect yourself, call your city or state’s equal rights commission and outline what’s happened. Their services are free to you, and they can protect you from anything that might go sideways in this situation, such as HR thinking you’re making up a story or your supervisor trying to spin this situation differently to escape consequences.

© 2016, Lynne Curry. If you'd like an answer to your career question, it's easy. Write lynne@thegrowthcompany.com. Lynne authored Beating the Workplace Bully (AMACOM, 2016) and Solutions. You can also follow Lynne@lynnecurry10 on Twitter or access her other posts on SheKnows, www.workplacecoachblog.com or www.bullywhisperer.com.

More: My co-worker is a condescending jerk no matter how nice I am to him

It took a raging UTI to give me the confidence to confront my harasser

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I was living in Los Angeles for a summer when I had the worst pain in my pelvis. It was sudden and debilitating, and it hurt so bad I could hardly pee. I took to the internet and found that many of my symptoms suggested that I had a UTI, something I’d never had before but was somewhat familiar with due to many women in my life being open about the commonality of the infection.

At the time, I didn’t have a car, and my roommate wasn’t around to help me out. It felt too urgent for me to sit around and wait for her, so I grabbed my keys, my phone and my sneakers, and headed out on what would be a disappointing and frustrating adventure — and not just because I felt like my vagina was literally going to tear itself out of my body.

More: The 'Anne of Green Gables' quotes that made us fall in love with her

I’ve always liked walking, but I’ve never enjoyed the major downfall of being a woman walking alone in public: catcallers. For basically my entire life, I’ve dealt with them: men who stand on street corners and make it their job to remind us that our bodies aren’t ours, not really, but instead belong to those who watch us. The male gaze is alive and well on any street in the country, and it makes itself known in the variety of hoots, hollers and comments women and feminine folk hear on a daily basis.

So, of course, this day was no different. In between my walk from the first to the second clinic in search of a doctor who would accept my insurance, a man probably a few years older than I was at the time approached me and started walking right alongside me like we’d met somewhere before. At first, I ignored him. It’s my go-to when some weirdo won’t leave me alone. But he was persistent.

I said, simply, “No.”

“No?” he said, sort of laughing in my face. “You don’t even know what I want.”

“No.”

“I’m not selling anything,” he said. “Why do you have to be so mean?”

More: The woman who brought ‘Serial’ to life talks new book, and we're hooked

Dealing with this man was worse than usual because I just was not in the mood. If there’s a time you don’t want to keep asking a woman why she doesn’t want to talk to you, the day she has a raging UTI is probably that day. The pain was real, and it took over any fear I normally feel when approached by strange men who think my body belongs to them.

I should have torn into him. To this day, I wish I’d shouted that my vagina felt like it was grinding its way out of my body with each fallopian tube holding a tiny knife. Instead, I said, “Bad day.”

With that, he looked like his world shifted a little, like it hadn’t even occurred to him that my day was mine, and that I hadn’t materialized out of nowhere to entertain him. I was a person, with a past, and a present, and emotions, and the last thing I wanted was his attention. “I’m not interested.”

“Well,” he said, “Thanks for not leading me on.”

All I could do was laugh as he headed across the street, undoubtedly back on his way to his original destination. As I kept walking around the city, going from one clinic to the next, I just kept thinking about that man, and about all of the men who assumed I was just a character in their story. Just someone created by the universe to please them for the moment until they decided they were done with me.

But to that man and every man who has ever harassed me on the street: You have no idea who you’re messing with. When you approach and bother and shout at a woman who you’ve literally never met, you are meeting a real, live human, a person with feelings and experiences that make this a threatening and downright awful experience.

I find it impossible to believe, though, that men who catcall don’t already know this. While some, like the man I interacted with that day, just haven’t thought it over, many just don’t care. They crave power and they want to steal it in bits and pieces from the women they meet on the street by reminding us that the street corners, roads, public spaces, aren’t ours. We are there as decoration, meant to be commented on.

More: Boxer Heather Hardy kicks ass, and not just in the ring

But screw that, and screw them. We deserve to claim space that should have been equally ours from the get-go, whether we have the bravery of a raging UTI to spur us on or not. It’s not our job to talk down men who harass us, and it’s honestly so dangerous to even try. It’s up to them to call each other out and control their own behaviors, because they’re leaving us with two choices: to never leave the house, or to find our own ways to feel brave in public spaces.

And I can promise them that the second option, the likely option, won’t work in their favor.


Fall activities that will get the whole family craving a PSL

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Are you looking for some marvelous activities for this fall? I don't know about you, but we get tired of the same activities over and over again, so I decided to share some of my favorite fall family activities so you can rock mommyhood this fall!

More: Creating a parenting village has been crucial for my family

For my family, we are looking for activities that are low cost or free because this momma wants to stretch her budget as far as possible.

1. Visit the zoo

My kiddos love the zoo, but I hate going during summer time. I mean seriously, who wants to go sweat all day just to see a tiger who is doing nothing but napping because it is too freaking hot outside? And never mind the fact that the "zoo smells" are so much more prominent during summertime.

Our favorite time of the year to visit the zoo is spring or fall. One thing I love about our zoo is the extra activities it plans around the season. You can always find something new to see, and most of the animals are happier with cooler weather.

2. Pick a pumpkin

My kids love to visit our local pumpkin patch! Who can think about fall and not instantly see a pumpkin? A lot of pumpkin patches will have other activities set up for you so you can enjoy your visit. From small animal petting areas, corn mazes and even slides, your kids will love visiting there. Plus, you can come home and make an amazing homemade pumpkin pie.

More: Our whole family sleeps in the same bed – and we love it

3. Go hiking

When I say hiking, it is not some super strenuous hike, but just a leisurely stroll through your favorite trails. Take time to enjoy the changing leaves and smell the crisp, fresh air. Fall is a beautiful time to plan a trip to some of the National Parks. Locally, we like to go to Bernheim Forest. It is about 30 minutes away and well maintained.

4. Get a pumpkin spice latte

I don't know about you, but for me, fall hasn't started until I'm sipping on my pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks! (Caffeine always helps me be a better mom.) Have you ever tried toffee nut? It is my go-to flavor when pumpkin spice is not in season.

5. Host a chili cook-off

What would be better than hosting a chili cook-off? You could even have a simple awards ceremony. Here is my chili secret: I love to flavor mine with Frontier Chili Powder and Flavor God Seasonings! The Everything Seasoning and Garlic Lovers are fantastic and add tons of flavor to my chili.

Originally published on Haley's Vintage.

More: 5 ways to budget for a family on a single income

Calling Ann Coulter a 'racist c***' is wildly inappropriate — even at a roast

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Ah, roasts. They're that special time when all bets are off and it's totally OK to make off-color jokes that normally wouldn't fly. It's so magical because everyone who shows up knows what they are getting into (remember how nervous Justin Bieber looked walking into his?) and fully expects to be ripped a new one.

And that's kinda why things don't quite feel right about the recent taping of Comedy Central's roast of Rob Lowe. Jeff Ross and his usual host of celebs and comedians were all supposedly there to light up Lowe, but instead it turned out to be a roast of notorious conservative social and political commentator, Ann Coulter, who admitted that she hadn't ever seen a roast and didn't really know what they were all about. In fact, she was just there to plug her new book, In Trump We Trust, which — aside from not properly researching what roasts are like — was probably her biggest mistake.

To worsen the fact that Coulter wasn't privy to what kind of minefield she was walking into is the unfortunate depravity of the jokes — and I use the term "jokes" lightly — hurled her way.

More: Padma Lakshmi's shocking revelation about Ann Coulter on The View

SNL performer Pete Davidson called her a "racist c***," at the taping, via The Hollywood Reporter, Peyton Manning said she looked like a horse, and even the sweet-faced Jewel took some jabs, saying, "I do want to say as a feminist that I can’t support everything that’s been said tonight. But as someone who hates Ann Coulter, I’m delighted."

But perhaps the most inappropriate "joke" came from standup comic, Jimmy Carr.

"Ann is one of the most repugnant, hateful, hatchet-face bitches alive," Carr said, via The Daily Beast. "It’s not too late to change, Ann. You could kill yourself!"

More: Ann Coulter schools The View's Raven-Symoné for being racially offensive (VIDEO)

Seriously? Go kill yourself? Dark humor certainly has its place at a roast and Carr's zinger is certainly not the first death joke to ever grace a roast on Comedy Central. But this one feels real and... icky.

For her part, Coulter is taking the roast in stride because, let's face it, she's probably used to death threats and being called the C-word.

"Everybody has such thin skin," Coulter emailed The Daily Beast in response to the roast. "Bless their hearts, they were trying to be funny."

Do you think the celebs went to far at the Ann Coulter Rob Lowe roast?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

donald trump quotes slideshow
Image: Alex Wong/Getty Images

5 ways to go hard at a conference and not blow your fitness goals

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Going to a conference can test your ability to remain calm. There are options for excess to overwhelm you everywhere you look. Just opening the schedule can send some people immediately into a panic attack. But step away from the anxiety. I have five suggestions to calm your mind and help your heart.

The most important choice to me is knowing I cannot do everything. I know I will skip things that other people feel are essential because I have to pick myself first. I might miss “the best” lecture or night out, but at the end I will feel good about my choices that matched my goals. My most important goals are to eat well and exercise every day to keep the weight off I lost years ago.

1. Schedule your day to match your goals

I plan my day in advance at a conference. I can either change the time I want to set my alarm or choose to arrive at the event later than others. If I am willing to miss sleep, I can be at the earliest sessions. At the last conference I went to, there was a time change and I was unwilling to miss sleep, so I missed the opening plenary.

At another conference at the Mall of America, I chose to miss the closing session. During that time, I returned to my hotel so I could put away my laptop, change my clothes and walk back to meet the bus for the closing party. I did miss a great speaker, but I also had on comfortable shoes for the party, knew my belongings were secure, had a great walk through the park nearby and saw a stunning sunset.

2. Plan for food

Eating well can be challenging at a conference or really anywhere. When I eat at a hotel, I often step away from the buffet. After paying for the entire breakfast buffet, it can seem a requirement to eat one thing from every section or everything that is there. I look at the menu and think about what I would eat if I were at home. What is a good, simple choice for me? What will keep me going throughout the day? I know if I skip breakfast and rush to the conference, I will feel hungry and not pay attention. I will make choices that I will regret, like eating a candy bar or anything that I can find. I often take a banana or apple from breakfast with me so I have a morning snack choice that is healthy. Often there are muffins and cookies as snacks, and if I do not have a good choice in my bag, I will eat what is there. I recommend keeping small bags of nuts or a box of raisins in your bag. I almost always have a protein Luna bar with me so I can pick a snack that is good for me.

3. Working out is a commitment to yourself. Write it in your schedule!

Many people have a list of their appointments. We write down when we are going to the eye doctor or the dentist, our meeting with our supervisor and parent-teacher conferences. Sessions with a personal trainer that cost money often get in the weekly calendar. I have found that during a conference, the focus is on the speakers, meetings and events.

I make certain to schedule the time I am going to work out. I often wake up and hula-hoop for twenty minutes while listening to a mediation experience about gratitude from Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey. If I can wear sneakers, I might choose to walk twenty minutes to a conference so I spend time outdoors and get my blood pumping. I often choose to stay at a hotel near a conference instead of at the main hotel so that I am more likely to have a reason to go outdoors and walk. Most hotels have large and often empty fitness centers where you can find top-quality exercise equipment. Make the decision to work out. When I work out and choose which sessions to go to carefully at a conference, I feel better and I get more out of my day.

4. Make connections in advance

For a recent travel conference, I made many appointments in advance. The conference offered many activities and tours before the conference. I thought about which ones matched my website and would make the best videos. I was able to contact Beth Blair, the author of the upcoming book The Unofficial Guide to the Mall of America and interview her before and after the tour. It made my video better and I made a new friend.

Mall of America

Mall of America

As part of the conference, there was speed networking. I contacted all the companies and people in advance. When I could, I made personal connections so that when we met for our allotted eight minutes, it was as fruitful as possible.

5. Have fun

There have been times where I went to a conference and left feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and frustrated. I knew I ate the wrong things, made the wrong choices and did not get much out of it. Now, I carefully choose which events to go to and think about my goals. I have the intention to take care of myself before, during and after the experience.

I do go to the evening events, but not all of them. I often drink sparkling water at the parties instead of the free alcohol. By the end of the day, I am thirsty and cheap glasses of wine do not solve that. I feel better if I rehydrate and I can always buy myself a good drink later that I will enjoy more and that will not hurt my head in the morning.

There are times when an early night or a massage at the hotel spa are the best ways to end the day. When I stayed at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach, I spent one night at one of the seven fire pits with my s’mores kit and enjoyed being outdoors by the water and at my own campfire!

My conference was literally a short walk over the bridge to the convention center, and each time I returned to my hotel, I felt like I was a world away. Choosing carefully can make all the difference!

Long Beach

Long Beach

Hyatt Regency Bloomington hosted Lisa near the TBEX conference at Mall of America and Hotel Maya Long Beach hosted her for the SCUBA Show.

I hired a birth photographer, and it was worth every blessed cent

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One afternoon, a few weeks after giving birth to my first son, I looked down at him latched onto my breast. I saw the most staggeringly beautiful image I had ever seen. He was simply lying there, latched on and with his eyes closed. I have struggled for five years to describe what I saw. It was beautiful, empowering, transformative.

I took a picture.

I have yet to stop taking those pictures. Through the act of breastfeeding I have found empowerment. I have learned that my body is the most powerful machine on Earth. I grew a baby inside my body. I birthed a baby with my body. I nourish a baby with my body. Through the medium of photography, I have been able to internalize and celebrate this empowerment.

More: Announcing someone else's birth on Facebook is a total jerk move

So when I became pregnant with my second son, I knew I wanted my birth to be photographed. I had come to learn that birth photography is a profession all its own. I had a very dis-empowering birth with my first son, and I was on a mission to make my second birth experience reflect the empowerment that I had gained through breastfeeding.

Tiny Bubbles Photography
Image: Tiny Bubbles Photography

I was going to give birth at home in a pool of water, with midwives and a doula. I was going into this birth with a completely different mindset than I had with the first. I wasn’t going to just “get through it” or see it as something to get over with. I wanted to celebrate birth.

More: 11 kids who epically failed at forging Mom's or Dad's signature

I wanted to recognize that my body was about to do something spectacular. I wanted to feel connected to the primal instincts that would bring my baby into my life.

Tiny Bubbles Photography
Image: Tiny Bubbles Photography

Initially I felt unsure about having someone there taking photos while I gave birth. It felt too intimate a moment to have someone going “click, click” at me. Then I learned that cameras these days don’t go “click, click,” and it surely wouldn’t be any more invasive than my first birth, when I struggled to push my son out and the head doctor invited the entire resident team in to watch as they finally gave me an episiotomy. I lay back, gazing at about 10 heads between my knees. None of them made eye contact, of course, because they were all staring at my vagina.

I found my birth photographer through simple word of mouth. She came to my house before the birth so we could meet and go over what sort of photos I hoped to have. I wanted pretty much everything photographed. But she asked if there were times that I wanted her to leave the room or if there were family members I didn’t want photographed. I also gave her a tour of my home and a rundown of how a home birth would go. She was someone I connected with, someone I knew was on my side. And I could feel her excitement about being present for such a momentous occasion.

Tiny Bubbles Photography
Image: Tiny Bubbles Photography

When the day came, I texted her, saying it was time. She arrived a short time later. The atmosphere in the house was so electric that the only person who heard the doorbell was me. “It’s the fucking photographer! Open the door!” My husband buzzed her in. I saw her walk barefoot passed me to our dining room table, where we agreed she would keep her equipment. Then, I do not remember her presence at all until I had a baby on my chest. I looked up to weep and cry and be born again, and there she was, camera to her eye.

And now I get to have these photographs for the rest of my life. I get to have actual photographic evidence that I am mighty. I am a powerful being that brings life to Earth. My body is not broken. I am not a victim. Birth is not an illness.

More: Hey, Doc: here's why moms don't breastfeed as long as you want us to

You do not have to have a home birth to have a birth photographer. You don’t even need to have a professional. But I highly recommend seeing birth as a celebration and an example of how powerful you are. And I recommend that someone, anyone, snap some pics of you. You will not regret it.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

breastfeeding in public
Image: Photos by Lei

DIY-ing your EpiPen is a really bad idea

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The price of EpiPens is absolutely highway robbery — even with the announcement of a half-priced generic version — and families are (understandably) looking for alternatives. An Ohio doctor says he has the answer: a DIY kit made with an empty Altoid tin, a sterile needle and the life-saving drug epinephrine.

More: Why kefir is one superfood you may want to make instead of buy

The cost? $10.

"It's a weight-based dose that would be prescribed by your doctor, so you would draw up the recommended amount," Dr. Marcus Romanello, chief medical officer at Fort Hamilton Hospital, told WCPO.

Sounds great!

Except it's not. At all. Administering medication like epinephrine is something medical professionals spend a lot of time mastering — it's not something you can just do on a whim, especially if you — or your child — is in the midst of a life-threatening reaction. Seconds count in these situations; can you really trust yourself to prepare the correct dose as your loved one gasps for breath in front of you?

More: People actually claim there are health benefits to drinking your own urine

No. Even a study in controlled conditions found that it takes the average person over 2.5 minutes to prepare an accurate dose of epinephrine. And that's with all of the materials and instructions right there in front of them.

You don't have 2.5 minutes during anaphylaxis.

Instead, talk to your doctor about alternatives, like Adrenaclick, or take advantage of one of the available discounts. It may cost more than $10, but life is worth it.

More: Cortisone shots to treat psoriasis? Kim Kardashian does it and you can too

How has Blac Chyna not deleted her homophobic tweets by now?

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Blac Chyna has been sitting on a situation with full potential to be a total PR nightmare for quite some time, but clearly she isn't sweating it, because she's had more than one bigoted post hanging out on Twitter for all to see for over six years.

Back in March 2010, Chyna tweeted out a simple, seemingly unprovoked "I hate f**s !!" Eight months later, in November 2010, she posted something similar: "Subliminal tweets is for f**s..."

Blac Chyna homophobic tweet

Blac Chyna homophobic tweet

Without any context, we're not even sure what the tweets mean or why they were posted. What we are sure of is they are gross and hateful.

More: Rob Kardashian took on way more than he could handle with Blac Chyna

SheKnows isn't the first outlet to report on the tweets, but for some reason there hasn't been a huge public outcry against them. Here we are in 2016 with Chyna's tweets still posted in all their homophobic glory, while she tapes her new show and continues to grow her fame as a reality star.

Unlike other celebs, Chyna doesn't seem to be getting much backlash about her statements. When Jonah Hill yelled a slur at a paparazzo, he quickly apologized and was obviously embarrassed about his behavior. Iggy Azalea got raked over the coals for her homophobic tweets, as did Chris Brown (just to name a few), but no one seems to care about Chyna's words.

And what does it mean that Chyna hasn't even bothered to delete the tweets? Her tweet history is nothing to be proud of, but she's not taking it down — even after she got engaged to Rob Kardashian and followers were blowing up her mentions, advising her to erase the offending tweets so they wouldn't get picked up by the press. At this point, it almost seems like she's proud of what she posted.

More: Don't cross Rob Kardashian & Blac Chyna off your relationship goals list just yet

How can we even think about discussing her recent nude maternity photoshoot for Paper magazine or petty stuff like her massive food delivery bill without first asking why she has yet to address her homophobic posts?

What do you think of Blac Chyna's tweets?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Anna Kendrick tweets slideshow
Image: Winston Burris/WENN.com

Lance Bass' Finding Prince Charming will tackle bigger issues than love

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Finally there is a reality TV show that is tackling the stigma of HIV.

More: Lance Bass is married — 9 cutest Instagram photos with hubby Michael Turchin

Finding Prince Charming, which is a new all-gay dating competition show, will feature an HIV positive contestant, host Lance Bass confirmed to People on Monday.

"It is true," Bass said. "This is one of the things I love about the show — it's a fun reality show, it's dramatic, but there's a lot of heart in it and amazing story lines that you're going to shed a tear over. And one of those is finding about this guy's HIV."

The show will be like a gay version of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, with the first Prince Charming set to be Robert Sepúlveda Jr., a handsome former fashion model and interior designer looking for Mr. Right.

Sepúlveda Jr. said he wasn't scared away at the idea of dating someone with HIV.

More: Lance Bass shares thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner's gay marriage remarks (VIDEO)

"In the gay community, in just any community, if you have a disease, it's not going to be anything that someone's going to push you away from," he explained. "Again, me being 'Prince Charming' — the guy that everyone's vying for their attention — I'm not going to not date someone because they're HIV-positive. That's ridiculous. It's really a stigma that we have to resolve now."

Bass echoed those sentiments, "And that's what's so great, it's fighting these stigmas. What's so great about this moment is the brotherhood that really formed in the house with these guys because of this situation. It's a beautiful thing to watch."

Though we'll have to wait until the season premieres to find out which contestant will be the one with HIV, Bass said it's sure to educate viewers, along with being just downright entertaining, of course.

More: Lance Bass reveals *NSYNC was sexually harassed by someone close (VIDEO)

Finding Prince Charming premieres Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. on Logo.

Do you think Finding Prince Charming will be the show LGBT viewers and beyond have been waiting for?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Lance Bass slideshow


Looks like Kimye has forgiven Beyoncé & Jay Z for not attending their wedding

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Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and more all partied after the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night at a dinner to end all dinner parties.

More: Drake's emotional ode to Rihanna will go down in MTV VMAs history

Keys' husband, Swizz Beatz, shared a photo of the group, which was full of smiles. Of course, they had reason to be smiling after their successful night at the VMAs. West got four minutes to ramble and debuted his new video, Beyoncé won some more awards, of course, and put on a killer performance, while Keys gave a powerful speech and Kardashian got some social media-worthy photos.

VMAS after party pic 1

VMAS after party pic 1

The photo also includes longtime couple Puff Daddy and Cassie and hip-hop mogul Steve Stoute with his wife Lauren Branche.

More: Apparently all Kanye West wants for his birthday is Taylor Swift's love

Swizz rightfully captioned his Instagram photo with a bunch of crowns. You had betta believe this was a dinner party filled with royalty.

And there wasn't any bad blood between any of the after-party guests. There were previous rumors that Kardashian was upset with Beyoncé and Jay Z for not attending her wedding to West. Apparently, that's all water under the bridge at this point. It has been two years, after all.

An Us Weekly insider spilled, "Everyone had a lot of fun and there was a lot of reminiscing about the old days and catching up. It was very chill. Everyone was clapping for and congratulating Beyoncé a lot. She was in a great mood and looked gorgeous. Kanye and Kim were seriously congratulating her.”

More: We tried to decode Kanye West's VMAs speech and failed — now you try

Oh, to be just a fly on that wall.

Who would you rather have dinner with: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West or Beyoncé and Jay Z?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below!

Beyonce VMAs 2016
Image: Nicholas Hunt/FilmMagic/Getty Images

DWTS' Noah Galloway freaking loved Robert Herjavec & Kym Johnson's wedding

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Season 20 Dancing with the Stars celeb Noah Galloway didn't hold back from sharing all the details of Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec's wedding.

More: DWTS' Kym Johnson spills details from Robert Herjavec's big proposal

"It was incredible. I'll tell ya... you'd almost expect a little crazy — Robert is worth a lot of money," Galloway explained during an interview with People. "He loves Kym to death, so you kind of expected it to be a little over the top, but it wasn't."

The two tied the knot in a low key ceremony in July.

"It was beautiful," Galloway added. "There was like 240 guests... the emotions that you saw between the two of them and it was great."

Though the majority of the ceremony wasn't over the top, Galloway admitted that there was one big gift for the bride: Herjavec planned a surprise appearance by Olivia Newton-John.

More: Derek Hough wants Kym Johnson, Robert Herjavec to date

Herjavec appeared on Season 20 of DWTS with Galloway. Herjavec and Johnson were partners on the show and their electric chemistry on the dance floor quickly translated to an off-camera romance that clearly didn't slow down.

Herjavec is best known for his appearances on the business competition show Shark Tank, where he acts as one of the regular Sharks.

Just a few days before their wedding, the couple couldn't hide their excitement.

"I'm just so happy to be going through life with Robert," Johnson told People. "He's the most incredible person."

More: DWTS' Kym Johnson, Robert Herjavec took a huge step in their relationship

"I enjoy every minute I spend with Kym," Herjavec agreed. "When I met her, I felt complete."

Are you surprised that Johnson and Herjavec didn't have a more elaborate wedding ceremony?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

DWTS dating slideshow
Image: Judy Eddy/WENN

Kelly Dodd is making one painfully bad decision after the next on RHOC

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Every season on RHOC, there's at least one big scene that's revisited over and over again, until everybody is completely sick and tired of it. This season, I think that the big moment we're never going to hear the end of is Sushigate, at which Kelly Dodd shouted one of the worst obscenities imaginable at Shannon Beador. The ordinarily calm Heather Dubrow then lashed out and told Dodd to leave.

More: RHOC needs more Flipping Out crossovers

Supposedly eager to make amends tonight, Dodd decided to reach out. Her method for doing so was a bit problematic, however. Sorry, Kelly — a text apology just isn't good enough after you completely destroy what otherwise would just be a moderately melodramatic party. And a text apology is even worse when it's immediately followed up with a bad impression of the recipient. That's right; Dodd decided to show just how sorry she was by continuing to make fun of Dubrow.

Heather Dubrow
Image: Bravo

Eventually, Dodd decided to own up to her bad behavior. She actually managed to meet up with a few of the Housewives and utter a few words of apology, although it was hard to make out the apology in the midst of so many excuses.

More: Kelly Dodd is a way better RHOC villain than Brooks Ayers

A lot of people have been accusing Dubrow of making the kerfuffle involving Dodd all about her, but I think that in doing so, they fail to see the forest for the trees. The real issue is that Dodd is completely out of control. Unfortunately, her behavior at the dinner and in its aftermath was just one example of what has been a disturbing trend all season long — a trend that is only bound to get worse, based on what the rumor mill is saying about filming for the remainder of the season.

Kelly Dodd
Image: Bravo

Dodd is a terrific villain, but she makes me mighty uncomfortable at times. Her insults are unwarranted, especially considering how little she knows these women. They're also needlessly vicious. And then there's the atrocious use of the English language. I can't be the only person who cringed upon hearing her retort, "You don't act like a hierarchy than me."

More: Vicki Gunvalson's comments about Meghan Edmonds' IVF were downright gross

Bad language or not, I'm definitely not a fan of Kelly Dodd. Can she clean up her act? Only time will tell.

What did you think of Kelly Dodd's apology on RHOC? Comment and share your opinion below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

RHOC scandals slideshow
Image: Bravo

Seriously, calm down — Jane dating Cameron on Rizzoli & Isles is not a big deal

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On Monday's penultimate episode of Rizzoli & Isles, Agent Davies, the dude from the FBI Academy, came to Boston to take Jane out to dinner, and the date went so well that Maura found Davies putting his shirt back on at Jane's house the next morning. (Awkward.) Jane spent the episode squealing a lot, when she wasn't busy fighting crime, obviously. It became pretty clear that Maura was starting to feel like a third wheel, as she continued to ponder her own next move, which looks like it's going to be writing her novel in Paris, as one does. With next week's episode being the series finale, it looks like fans of the show will not be getting the ending they've wished for, with Jane and Maura together in love, and they are not happy about it.

More: Jane working for the FBI is just too obvious an ending for Rizzoli & Isles

I'm not necessarily thrilled that it looks like this show is going to wrap up with Jane in a relationship, as opposed to her just going to teach at the academy because it's a good move for her career. I'm totally over the "women's story lines must resolve themselves in monogamy/marriage" trope, but it would have been really great and, frankly, revolutionary, to have the show end with Maura and Jane together. That being said, I do think, and have said numerous times, that the friendship between Maura and Jane is the best thing about this show, and more than anything else (even the future of the Boston Police Department), that has to remain intact.

More: Rizzoli & Isles doesn't have time for boring filler story lines right now

It's pretty clear, after watching Jane and Agent Davies make heart-eyes at one another for an entire episode, that whether or not these two are going to end up in a long-term relationship, we're clearly supposed to root for them, which is hard if you've imagined, for seven consecutive seasons, that this show would culminate in Jane and Maura together. I don't think that Rizzoli & Isles was ever headed there, but according to this follower on Twitter, Angie Harmon was never against the idea, even if the writers didn't plan on actualizing it.

RI tweet

RI tweet

With only one episode left, I hope we're in for some kind of redemption regarding Jane and Maura, so that fans aren't completely heartbroken by the end of the series. It would be sad if Jane ended up in Virginia with Davies and Maura was just sans her best friend. I don't think that will happen; these two have been through too much together to have a dude break them up, but while you're girding yourself for the final episode, consider this invitation in the form of a tweet.

RItweet2

RItweet2


More: Maura's struggle is going to make Rizzoli & Isles' Season 7 unbearable to watch

What do you think of Cameron and Jane? Were you hoping Jane and Maura would end up together? Tell us in the comments!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Rizzoli & Isles sexual tension

Image: TNT

Even when Michael Phelps talks about Ryan Lochte's stupidity, we still swoon

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Michael Phelps knows what it takes to make a comeback after falling out of public favor, and he thinks Ryan Lochte can make it happen.

More: Who's hotter: Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte

Lochte was caught in an Olympic-sized lie after he made a false robbery claim while in Rio competing.

"Ryan and I have been teammates forever and it's always hard to see a friend and a competitor going through a hard time like this — I know what it feels like. I've been through it before," Phelps told People.

Phelps is no stranger to headline scandals. After making a name for himself at the 2012 Olympics in London, he got two DUIs and faced backlash from a photo that showed him inhaling from what looked like a marijuana pipe.

More: U.S. Olympic men's swim team: Get to know the 24 men in the Speedos

Now that Lochte is facing his own hardships, Phelps explained that he's just trying to be there for his longtime teammate.

"Hopefully he can come out of this a better person," Phelps said. "I've reached out to him a couple times, and I think he understands a lot. He will be able to grow from this."

More: Your favorite blue-haired Olympian Ryan Lochte makes it very clear he's single

It's definitely not going to be an easy road to recovery for Lochte, though. Most of his endorsements have pulled the plug on him, including Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren. He's also been summoned back to Brazil as the investigation into his fabricated story continues.

Do you think Lochte can eventually make a comeback or are his mistakes worse than Phelps' scandals?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Michael Phelps memes slideshow
Image: NBC
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