When Jana Shortal of KARE 11 news station in Minneapolis woke up on Tuesday, she probably wasn't thinking much about her fashion choices. Admittedly, Shortal was thinking about Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year-old boy who went missing in Minnesota in 1989, whose remains were only just found this week.
The Wetterling case has haunted Minnesotans — and much of America — for decades, so when people were watching Shortal deliver the news of Wetterling's fate, they probably weren't thinking much about Shortal's fashion choices either.
C.J., a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune, wrote a scathing piece on Shortal's report, but her main focus wasn't about the atrocities that befell Wetterling back in 1989. Instead, C.J. chose to dedicate her work that day to shaming Shortal's skinny jeans.
"She looked great from the waist up in a polka-dot shirt and cool blazer, but the skinny jeans did not work. I was among a number of media types who found them inappropriate and, given the gravity of the day’s subject matter, downright jarring," C.J. wrote, via Jezebel (C.J.'s original article was removed on Wednesday).
"Being hip in skintight pants while discussing this story was unseemly, perhaps disrespectful," C.J. continued. "Many TV types keep a spare set of clothes around the station just in case what they are wearing isn’t appropriate for what they end up covering. Maybe Shortal doesn’t."
How dare Shortal, right? Exactly what is the proper attire for reporting the death of a child? Formal wear? A suit skirt? It seems like what Shortal was wearing isn't the real issue here — and she's definitely not the one making light of the situation, as C.J. had accused her.
The public has rallied around Shortal, expressing support — and many have called for the removal of C.J. from the Star Tribune staff.
C.J./Shortal tweet 2
C.J./Shortal tweet 2
Shortal, of course, was devastated that the columnist chose to home in on something so petty, trivializing Wetterling's story.
Jana Shortal Facebook post
Jana Shortal Facebook post
The Star Tribune yanked the article and issued an apology after there was an uproar, but it seems a little too late. Have they no editors? Does C.J. have no checks and balances for the content that she publishes? It seems crazy that her ridiculous article ever made it to print on a reputable/non-tabloid news site.
C.J. herself has issued an apology statement, saying, "I want you to know that I’m sorry it hurt Jana Shortal and I have told her so," but her Twitter activity doesn't really point to regret. Not only did C.J. slam Shortal in her column, she also took her bullying to social media.
C.J./Shortal tweet
C.J./Shortal tweet
What do you think of C.J.'s remarks about Shortal's clothing?
Lacey Chabert may have played one of Regina George's devoted followers in Mean Girls, but in real life, it seems she's the one who's setting all the trends. Chabert just gave birth to her first child with husband Dave Nehdar, and she gave the little girl a stunning name that's unlike anything we've seen before.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Chabert announced her latest arrival and shared her unique name, writing, "#TBT to the best day of my life. One week ago I became a mom to this precious angel. Julia Mimi Bella." The mom also called her daughter her "heart's deepest dream come true," and shared the very first photo of the adorable newborn.
Lacey Chabert new baby
Lacey Chabert new baby
Julia is one of those classic and easily recognizable girl's names that we simply don't hear that often. It has roots in French and means "youthful." Last year, it was No. 89 on the U.S. baby girl name chart, after falling from No. 86 the previous year. It's gradually losing popularity, but Chabert's gorgeous name pick may turn that trend around.
Chabert's baby name is particularly special because her daughter has two middle names. Mimi is a less popular Teutonic name that means "resolute." It's often used as a nickname for Margaret, which is probably why it hasn't appeared in the top 1000 baby names for girls in the U.S. since before the year 2000. The baby's third name, Bella, is the exact opposite of that. Bella is a Hungarian name that means "intelligent," and it's held a steady spot at the top of the name charts since 2009, thanks in part to the popularity of the Twilight series.
Chabert's name choice is classic and beautiful, especially in comparison to some of the more unique names we're used to seeing from celebrities. But what really stands out is her to choice to go with three names rather than two. It could represent a new naming trend for all those expectant moms and dads out there who can't seem to narrow down their naming lists. Just use them all! Chabert did, and she ended up with something absolutely gorgeous.
When we think of unique names, we usually think of things that are difficult to spell or impossible to pronounce, but as Chabert's name choice shows, sometimes being one of a kind is less complicated than that. Little Julia's name is classic and beautiful, but still offers something totally new. Something tells us lots of other parents are going to think Chabert's triple baby name idea is totally fetch.
By the time most pregnant women go into labor, they have a pretty clear idea of how they'd like their birth experience to go. They know whether or not they want the option of an epidural, how they're planning to help themselves cope and, most importantly, who they want present as their child makes its way into the world. Moms have been known to ban a particularly mouthy mother-in-law or sibling from the delivery room, but one Staten Island mom is making headlines after she got a court order to keep her husband away.
Brianne Stoffer Tagliarini is expecting her third child any day now with her estranged husband, Eric. Last week, she sought — and was granted — an emergency court order barring her husband from being present in the delivery room when she goes into labor. Brianne told her husband she wanted a divorce in early February, and the couple has been apart ever since. She says having her husband in the delivery room would cause her too much emotional distress, but her husband firmly believes it's his right to witness the birth of his child.
In a groundbreaking ruling, Richmond County Supreme Court Justice Catherine DiDomenico sided with Brianne, saying the mom has the sole legal right to determine the course of her medical treatment, including who she allows into the room while she's being treated. Eric may not like the ruling, but allowing him into the room would violate Brianne's privacy and potentially cause a messy situation. That's not something any laboring mom needs to worry about while she's trying to give birth.
It takes two people to make a baby, but at the end of the day, we have to remember it is the woman's body that's being used to grow, nurture and deliver the child. A laboring mom is a patient in a hospital, and it's up to her to dictate what happens during her delivery experience. A father may have rights to his child, but that doesn't mean he gets to override a woman's rights to her own body, privacy and peace of mind.
We tend to think of birth as a shared experience, but we have to be careful that we're not stripping rights away from moms in our attempts to make it "all about the family." If a man were demanding to be present during his wife's pap smear or while she got her wisdom teeth removed, that'd be ludicrous. It's equally absurd to say that anyone would be justified in barging in on a woman's labor. Hospital births have to abide by the same rules as any other medical procedure.
Brianne has said she doesn't plan on keeping Eric from seeing his child. As soon as the baby is born, the father will be allowed to meet and bond with the new arrival. The only time he'll be asked to stay away is while his soon-to-be ex is actually laboring and giving birth, and that seems like a fair compromise. Just a few short decades ago, it was common for dads to be asked to sit in the waiting room during delivery. Brianne's court order may be unprecedented, but making a dad wait outside the room is not. And, more importantly, it guarantees this mom her right to a private, distraction-free labor experience.
An innocent photo of a mother playing in the water with her topless son was flagged by Facebook for violating community standards, causing the mother’s Facebook account to be suspended. Kelly Stone and her 8-year-old son, Mayne, were swimming in the San Marcos River in Texas when a family friend snapped a photo of them. In the picture, Mayne and his mom are all smiles. Mayne, like many boys his age, is wearing only a pair of swim trunks and perched on top of his mom’s shoulders.
Like a lot of proud parents, Stone made the image of her and her child her Facebook profile picture, but was shocked two days later to learn her Facebook account was suspended. She received what appeared to be an automated message claiming she had posted an image containing nudity and sexual content, and the image had been removed. She was surprised to see the picture they were referring to was the one of her and her son in the river.
shirtlessboy
shirtlessboy
As a result of her suspension, Stone was locked out of her Facebook account for a week, able to see things in her feed but not comment or post on anything. While not being able to “like” your friend’s daughter’s back-to-school pictures or share the latest viral cat video may seem like no big deal, today more and more people are mixing their work lives into their social networks, and Stone is no exception. She is a comedian who books performances through Facebook and arranges teaching panels through her Facebook page. An accidental account suspension over a perfectly innocent photo like this one could have a serious impact on people’s careers.
Mayne does wear his hair on the longer side, so perhaps that played a part in why the photo was flagged, but that doesn’t excuse what was still a wrongful suspension of the account in the first place. Plenty of boys choose to wear their hair in longer styles these days. And while there are sadly pockets of deranged people on the internet, can we all agree that in the context of a photo like this one, a topless child of either gender isn’t sexual? Children play in the water all summer long, and for some families, social channels like Facebook are the best and sometimes the only way to keep extended family aware of what’s going on in their kids' lives. You shouldn’t have to worry about being locked out of your account for a week if you post a sweet snap of your baby’s chest in a swimming pool. If a parent feels comfortable posting the image online, that should be at their discretion to do so.
Furthermore, even if Facebook admits it was an error (as it did to Stone) and even if the account suspension was only temporary, there’s a sense that society is passing judgment on parents who chose to post these pictures of their children online when you're flagged like this. Think of how embarrassing it would be to explain to your friends and family that your account had been suspended. Even if you eventually received a “whoops, our mistake!” email, you may still second-guess yourself in posting the image in the first place.
Once she was regranted access to her account, Stone posted the photo again, this time as a meme that explains Mayne is a boy in hopes that Facebook will not flag the image again. Facebook has apologized and acknowledged that the account was suspended in error, so it’s likely that Stone’s photo will remain online. Hopefully Facebook can alter their screening process so we can post images of our children being innocent kids without having to worry about getting flagged and suspended. But just in case, maybe save that cute bathtub pic and send it as an email attachment to Grandma instead of posting it online.
Easter is usually a warm and fuzzy time of year, but apparently, things aren't so peaceful at the Just Born Quality Confections plant in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which manufactures Peeps.
Apparently, around 400 union employees there went on strike over failed contract negotiations. And this is the time of year when they are working on churning out their orders for Easter.
Now, an Easter without Peeps would be a sad thing, indeed. What sugar-encrusted, fluffy confection would ever be able to take their place? But at the same time, the workers are fighting against some seriously downer changes to their contracts — the elimination of pensions, a reduction in pay increases, and an increase in how much employees have to pay for health care.
So, yeah, I can see why they're not too happy. Especially since Peeps have gone from an Easter-only treat to a year-round seasonal confection, they must be actually working more. Like, there is a Maple Brown Sugar Peeps flavor for fall, so it's not like they're only working for Easter anymore.
I truly hope that the workers get what they deserve. But in the meantime, I am kind of freaking out over the idea of an Easter without Peeps. I mean, we could (gulp) make our own Peeps. Or we could always just buy some of last year's surplus from eBay, but have you ever tasted a stale Peep? I did once and I swear, it almost turned me off marshmallows for good.
Le sigh. Here's hoping The Man doesn't end up putting the kibosh on our favorite Easter candy by not paying workers fairly. Until it's resolved, I'll be over here trying to figure out how to create tiny sculptures of baby chickens out of a bag of mini 'mallows and a bowl of sugar.
We now take a break from your regularly scheduled Kardashian and Jenner news to bring your attention to something that truly matters (no shade, Kylie — your blonde hair was the center of my universe for three days, but we have to pause for this). An incredibly strong, empowering, brave…and every other synonym that doesn’t do her justice…acid-attack survivor walked — sorry, slayed — the runway at New York Fashion Week last night, and the entire industry tried to refrain from both hugging her and bowing down to her at the same time.
On Thursday evening, 19-year-old Reshma Qureshi opened the show for Indian designer Archana Kochhar. The only noticeable difference between Qureshi and the other veteran models in the lineup was the fact that she was missing an eye, the result of her brutal acid attack in 2014. Acid attacks are a particularly heinous crime that almost always target women and children, are almost always committed by men, and are almost always due to jealousy, rebuked marriage proposals, and all the other bullshit that makes someone think acid attacks are OK
Reshma Qureshi Instagram video
Reshma Qureshi Instagram video
This wasn’t Qureshi’s first courageous act, though. Back in India, the teen is a YouTube beauty vlogger, using the platform to speak out against the sale of acid in open markets while demonstrating beauty tips and tricks. “Why should we not enjoy our lives? What happened to us is not our fault and we’ve done nothing wrong and so we should also move forward in life,” said Qureshi to Agence France-Press.
But make no mistake; Qureshi does not want your pity. “I want to tell the world—do not see us in a weak light, and see that even we can go out and do things,” she added, after she walked the runway in a floor-length gown. “People have a tendency to look at acid attack survivors from one perspective and I don’t want them to look at them like that anymore.”
This article was originally posted on STYLECASTER. Chloe Metzger is STYLECASTER's beauty editor.
The couple was married for only four months before they petitioned in court to have their marriage annulled, citing "fraud" as the reason why. That one word — "fraud" — sparked pervasive rumors that still haven't died down: that Chesney is actually gay, and that's what caused the marriage to fail.
Neither star has ever been forthcoming with details about their marriage or their split, and they've never publicly addressed the rumors about Chesney's sexuality. But the question keeps coming up — Zellweger was asked about it during a recent interview for LGBT magazine The Advocate. When asked, she confessed she had forgotten about the whole scandal — I mean, it's been 10 years.
"It's a pretty big thing to forget, isn't it?" she said. "That made me sad. It made me sad that somehow people were using that as a way to be cruel and calling someone gay as a pejorative, which has fateful consequences. Of course, there's the bigger-picture problem of why anyone had to make up a story at all."
At the time of the divorce, the only way Zellweger addressed the controversy over the word "fraud" in the filing was with a statement saying the word was "simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character."
It makes sense that Zellweger would stay out of the press with details about her divorce, though. She's been outspoken against tabloid journalism and penned an essay for The Huffington Post last year to share her thoughts.
"I’m an old-fashioned gal who doesn’t feel it’s appropriate to hang out your laundry on the lawn," she wrote. "I feel you devalue yourself as a human being when you share very personal things with a bajillion strangers who are making fun of you. I just don’t see that there’s any dignity in that. But sometimes it is difficult to just let something be what it is, especially when it’s unnecessary ugliness. Once you’ve said your piece, shouldn’t that be enough?"
There's a man out there who has the fuck-witted notion that feminism is to blame for why women these days "hate men." The difference between him and other men with the same attitude is that he went and committed his asinine thoughts to the internet. In his latest post, "Why I'll Never Date a Feminist," Dave Hon more or less expresses his belief that women loathe the opposite gender to such a degree that we only breed in the hopes of reproducing more men-hating girl babies. There's so much to set a match to in this piece that the bonfire could consume an entire town — which is why we should probably start at the end. Pissed-off readers are leaving slews of hateful comments — but a lot of them are comments that are missing the point.
Writers are often required to post their headshots in their articles. Most of us aren't professional supermodels, which explains why some of our pics feature us standing in front of our kid's purple bedroom wall trying to hide a butterfly wall decal with our big heads. But because Hon went and put himself out there as a man who refuses to date any woman who values herself as a human being, his looks took center stage in a number of comments. And the comments weren't pretty. Naturally, the conversation carried over to Twitter.
A lot of folks can't get past Hon's looks and are taking to tearing him apart and berating him for assuming he is even date-able. The problem with these comments is that they're identical to the disrespectful ones female writers experience on the daily. If a woman pens an essay about her dating life — or about politics, crime, art, education, wildlife or the weather — it isn't unusual to find a comment left for her about her "tits." It's totally predictable that someone will write something like, "Of course you're voting for XYZ — you're both ugly as dogs." Female writers just learn to roll with it. We tweet back "Thanks, now you have a great day, too!" and then glance at ourselves in the mirror and think "Well, he's just crazy, I'm hot AF." As long as your "fan" doesn't show up at your doorstep with a machete, you take it as part of the job. Because men and women are totally equal. Isn't that right, Hon?
The point is: Whether you find Hon a fetching specimen or not is irrelevant. Let's focus instead on shredding his article to bits based on what he actually writes.
Hon charms us with this intro:
They’ve been told there’s a wage gap (I disagree). That there’s a culture of rape on college campuses (I also disagree).
If we were sitting across the table from one another at Applebee's (on a purely platonic date because he wouldn't date me in a billion years), I'd call up the Institute for Women's Policy Research on my phone. Oh, darling, I'd giggle, we both know I don't know a whole lot about big ole topics like this one, but looky what these raging feminists are claiming: "In 2015, female full-time workers made only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, a gender wage gap of 21 percent. Women, on average, earn less than men in virtually every single occupation for which there is sufficient earnings data for both men and women to calculate an earnings ratio." Why, heavens, they must be making all those numbers up because we're so bad at math!
Culture of rape on college campuses? Glad you brought that up, Hon. Over the course of a college career, between 20 and 25 percent of women will experience completed or attempted rape victimization. Brock Turner spent just three months in jail for assaulting an unconscious woman and leaving her body by a dumpster near Stanford University. Meanwhile, possession of marijuana can get you up to one year in jail, even though the most harmful thing you'll ever do while stoned is finish a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. So, yeah, I'd say we still have some work to do.
Hon defends a Reddit subreddit called "Red Pill" with this statement: "Men’s Rights Activists have taken flight with a new philosophy called "Red Pill" which aims to point out how derogatory, hypocritical and vindictive third-wave feminists can be."
I'd be careful about what I consider a philosophy (Confucius is rolling in his grave somewhere). I may disagree with them, but some of the posts on this site are thoughtful. And then you come across a heaping pile of garbage on the subreddit that contains messages like this one:
Women will complain endlessly about how men are pigs. Men objectify them. Men use them for sex. Men don’t take the time to get to know them and recognize how smart and special and unique they are and how great their personalities are and treat them appropriately based on what special people they are. How by failing to get to know them, men don’t respect them.
Frankly, that’s just plain not true. Just look at the statistics. It’s the men who know women the best that respect them the least. Women are far more likely to be murdered, beaten, or raped by a husband or boyfriend than by a stranger who hasn’t taken the time to get to know them.
The fact is, the more a guy gets to know a girl, the less he respects her. Because women aren’t respectable.
When men and woman are strangers, most men treat most women decently, because a woman who is a stranger still has the potential to be good. But as time goes on and a man gets to know a woman better, he gets sick of her shit and genuinely wants to beat the hell out of her.
Sounds a little "derogatory, hypocritical and vindictive" to me. And this doesn't sound like a citizen looking out for his own rights in the hope that we can all take one more step closer to equality. Because, that, Dave Hon, is the goal of feminism that you have clearly missed.
Feminism isn't here to scare the shit out of you or take anything you've earned away from you. We aren't trying to be men and forcing you to be more like women. We can acknowledge and celebrate our differences, but that doesn't mean we won't fight tooth and nail to ensure what makes us different is held in the same high regard (and that we're paid for equal work). Just as we want paid maternity leave, we will fight for the paid paternity leave you deserve. We don't want you to work your fingers to the bone each day while we sit around watching reality TV and cursing men — all men everywhere — for being born male.
Now, be a doll, Hon, and pass the double crunch bone-in wings. If it makes you feel better, this feminist will even let you foot the bill.
Welcome back to Parental Advisory, where I answer all of your social media and IRL parenting etiquette questions. This week, let's talk about snot.
Question:
How do I politely tell my friends that I don’t want to turn on my phone and see close-up-in-your-face photos of their kids’ faces covered in snot? I totally understand that kids are snotty. We all get colds. But as adults, we would never take a selfie with a snot bubble coming out of our noses. We would expect our friends to be disgusted. Why is it so hard for some parents to see it’s the same problem coming out of a child’s nose?
Anonymous
Answer:
One of the most inexplicable conundrums I've yet to understand since starting STFU, Parents is why some parents share stories, images and at times daily or hourly updates about bodily fluids, while others remain firmly on the side of disgust. Snot, as a point of interest, seems to be the fluid that divides parents the most. I've heard from parents who wouldn't dream of posting about their kid's massive blowout or first poop in the potty, but are willing to defend those who do simply because they understand the pride of potty training and relate to the horrors of diaper explosions.
Rarely do those parents extend this courtesy to pictures of sick and snotty kids. For one thing, kids are frequently sick. It's not a milestone when a child is sick again, so it's hard to argue that it's worthy of a social media post. And as you said, Anonymous, everyone knows what a cold looks and feels like. The last thing most of us want when we're sick is to have our picture taken, so why should it be any different with kids?
There's a distinction between parents who are garnering sympathy for themselves and parents who reach for sympathy for their children. We're all personally familiar with respiratory illness. Why do we need proof of it rubbed in our faces, and why do some parents need to hear "poor baby!" recited over and over again by their friends? Can't we just get through cold and flu season or allergy season without propping up sick kids for attention? A strand of snot is not a revelation; it's a gross-out tactic. Daily updates about a child's common cold aren't necessary; they're histrionic. And the further parents push these things — snapping close-ups of snot bubbles, sinks and toilets filled with vomit or their kid lying in a hospital bed — the more side-eye they receive from their friends.
Being around a small child requires a lot of face-wiping and nose-blowing, but unlike the "mysteries" of baby poop (weird colors! terrifying textures! projectile-related nightmares!), snot amazes no one. There's nothing remarkable about it, no matter how thick the viscosity or how long it dangles from a kid's nostrils. Plus, it takes less time to wipe a kid's nose than it does to snap a picture, so every example marks an occasion when a parent chose option A over option B. Sometimes the attention-grab is even grosser than the updates themselves because the posts don't stop until the kid's week-long cold goes away. And while I'm in favor of telling someone that a picture of their kid's mucus is barf-inducing, I'm not entirely convinced it will do much good.
Some parents love to gross out their friends, so telling them a picture is nauseating will only serve to satisfy their goal. Therefore, my advice is to feel free to leave comments on posts, but have low expectations for anything to change. Is there a polite way to say, "Your posts make me sick," or, "Your invasive pictures of your kid's oozing face offend me"? Not really, no. So if you want to try to effect real change in your feed, with the exception of hiding or blocking someone, being straightforward is your best bet. You don't have to be the Snot Police — and I don't recommend sending a finger-wagging DM about something as superficial as a snot post — but couching your comment in a way that expresses sympathy while lightly pointing out your disgust might not be enough.
If you're going to "poor baby!" the situation, don't throw in a frowny face and the word "Ew!" It only reinforces that you feel sorry for the kid, which parents want to hear, and it won't cause them to refrain in the future. If you want to tell your friend that her zoomed-in picture of her child's face sludge is nasty, just say so bluntly without blowing air kisses or sending a virtual hug.
Mixed messages don't get the job done, and for every parent who doesn't want to see her friend's kid's snotty face, there's another parent who revels in the attention. It's worth noting that older kids don't tend to let their parents post (or take) pictures of them when they're sick, so we're really only talking about parents of young children. If you can candidly convey your feelings before a friend gets in the habit of documoming every occasion her baby is sick, it just might allow the rest of us to breathe easier when we're scrolling through our newsfeeds. Good luck!
Do YOU have a question about parents on social media? Send whatever is on your mind to stfuparentsblog AT gmail.com!
According to Cinema Blend, Mariska Hargitay will have a mini-reunion — her former ER co-star Anthony Edwards will have a guest-starring role on SVU this season. On ER, Hargitay played Edwards' love interest. She was the needy desk clerk, desperately in love with the doctor he played, and she eventually dumped him when she realized his feelings for her weren't nearly as strong as her feelings for him. There are no details yet about what kind of role Edwards will play on SVU, but after seeing the chemistry the two actors had on ER, we can only hope it's someone with some romantic involvement with Detective Olivia Benson.
This will be the first time Hargitay and Edwards will appear on screen together since ER. They co-starred during the show's fourth season.
Plenty of other big names (and big storylines) have been tapped for guest appearances on the upcoming season of SVU. Henry Thomas, known for his work on Sons of Liberty, and Kelli Williams, who has appeared on The Practice and The Fosters, will co-star in an episode inspired by Netflix's mega-hit documentary series Making a Murderer. Vice President Joe Biden will also appear on the show this season playing himself.
Amid an impressive roster of guest stars, SVU's core cast will be grappling this season with (spoiler alert!) the death of their co-worker Mike Dodds in Season 17. Dodds' father is Benson's boss, which will make the shooting especially hard on her, producers say.
Guys, we have been duped. The theme for Season 6 of American Horror Story will not be revealed until the season begins.
This has never happened before and it's stressing me out. FX CEO John Landgraf told the press at the Television Critics Association press tour that although the theme won't be announced, we have already been given the clue for what it is. Well, you know those short trailers we all gobbled up? Only one of those is the real deal. Landgraf said that the marketing team “went out and created many more trailers than you’ve actually seen for hypothetical seasons of American Horror Story, in different genres, different places. One of them is accurate and the others are all misdirects.”
Yeah, that's right. All of those trailers are fake, except for one. Cue the sighs.
You may remember a couple of weeks ago that we were given the vaguest hint when all official American Horror Story social media pages changed their photos to a red six, with what appeared to be a question mark embedded into the design. It was against a black background and gave fans nothing to work with. I gotta tell you, the natives were getting restless when a few weeks went by and no theme was hinted at or revealed. Unfortunately, we now know that we have to wait until the season begins on Sep. 14 to get the real answers, so hang tight, natives, hang tight.
What does this mean? Well, it means that we can take a look at the promos we do have and try and guess the theme, because they did say that one of them is correct. There is also the frustrating possibility that the AHS creators are merely throwing us completely in another direction because they like to see us cry.
Since we are being led on a wild goose chase, let's take a look at what clues we do have so far and try to put something together for what could be the theme and maybe some things that will happen in Season 6.
There is a winner in here somewhere... hopefully.
1. The Lost Colony
AHS Lost Colony
AHS Lost Colony
With the news of set photos (one of which has "Croatoan" carved into a tree) being leaked by TMZ, I am thinking we are going to be focusing solely on some kind of old-timey, colonial-inspired horror. If you remember the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke in history class, the set photos may jog your memory. Basically, when settler John White returned back here from England to the colony he had settled, it was completely abandoned/looted and he found the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree/post. There was possible evidence of cannibalism, which fits nicely into the AHS aesthetic, and it's a generally creepy mystery in American history. This "Lost Colony" idea could be the theme or it could be a flashback.
The opening shot of the promo titled "What's Cooking?" is of a house in the middle of a field, with black smoke billowing out of the chimney. The smoke forms itself into that number six with the question mark from the earlier clue photos that the social media pages teased out weeks ago. That's weird and all, but then we hear the revving of a chainsaw and a woman scream. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, anyone? This opens up some possibilities involving incestuous, murderous families. Horrifying.
We slide right into a clip of a woman running for her life down a set of metal stairs in the promo titled, "Descent". Hands pop up each and every way to grab at her feet (nightmare material) and they appear to be bloody and/or rotting. Are these zombie hands? I kind of hope not, because I am very over the zombie cliché happening lately. These are possibly hands of people trapped or living under stairs/underground. This looks like it is a hill-people season. That means we could see some really messed up stuff, and some truly messed-up family dynamics, in particular. These could be hill-children hands.
Another shot from "Descent" resembling that number six with a question mark. This looks like it's referring to someone trying to get out. They look like scratches. Those hands have got to be people trapped or raised in darkness of some sort. Backwoods fun, friends.
"Lullaby"
Lullaby
Lullaby
5. That's probably not safe
Image: FX
In "Lullaby," we're introduced to what looks to be a pretty unconventional mobile. I mean, who am I to judge though, right? There is clearly a baby's bassinet with a mobile hanging over it. The mobile appears to be made from crude farming tools, like wheat reapers and sickles. That's disconcerting, to say the least.
6. What an adorable baby...
Image: FX
That's 100 percent a hill child. That's The Hills Have Eyes kind of child right there. The "Lullaby" teaser has a child's cooing noises, but then that mutated hand reaches up to grab the butcher's knife hanging from its mobile. I have a feeling that the way children will be integrated into this season will be horrifying on a level previously not considered. We are going to see some backwoods realness.
7. Farm equipment
Image: FX
This is obviously an homage to a sickle or another scary-ass piece of farm equipment that will no doubt be used to harm someone greatly.
"Sunset Stroll"
Sunset Stroll
Sunset Stroll
8. What an adorable family
Image: FX
So, in "Sunset Stroll" we now have a cute little family sauntering towards the camera in a completely non-threatening way that somehow also feels intensely aggressive. Maybe it's their old timey prairie clothes and their glowing eyes? Maybe. That may be it. This fits in really nicely with the whole Hills Have Eyes vibe that they seem to be hinting strongly at. The glowing eyes seem rather demon-ish. Also, there's a child, which Ryan Murphy mentioned would be part of his theme this season.
In "Post Op" we have a really gnarly looking man who is lying on the ground with what I can only assume is a sadistic doctor's staples on his head in the shape of that question mark and the six. He then says, "Try to keep it dry," and I am glad he took the time to administer after-care instructions. The man on the floor looks dirty and deformed with long nails. Again, it fits perfectly into the whole Hills Have Eyes/ Texas Chainsaw Massacre idea. Now, the voice sounds like Wes Bentley, to be honest. I may just be hearing things but I swear it is him.
"Milli Crossing"
Milli Crossing
Milli Crossing
10. This is not a drill
Image: FX
Is that Gaga in "Milli Crossing"?! We know she is coming back, but it's real now. I am almost positive that is Gaga. Who else looks that fierce with a millipede scuttling down their face? No one. That's who. This one is very American Horror Story. It's very similar to things they did in promos for Hotel. I mean, if it's a dirty, backwoods farm/woods theme, then bugs would be everywhere, right? But she seems pretty cool with that thing, so is she one of the bad guys? I hope so, because she wears villain really well.
11. Lady Gaga will slay
Lady Gaga AHS trailer
Lady Gaga AHS trailer
This, obviously, is the winner out of all of our theories and musings because there's no way that Gaga won't be a highlight this season. We were recently blessed with an "Illusion" teaser that doesn't clarify any questions for us, but does reinforce the fact that Lady Gaga can sing her butt off.
12. Stray observations
So, there is a very creepy song that plays in many of the promos. It's almost like an old, country tune. It's a woman humming, and it's only serving to terrify my soul and to reaffirm my notion that some backwoods/colonial shenanigans are coming our way. I am truly hoping for some classic horror like the movies I have mentioned above.
My only question is what Lady Gaga is possibly going to be doing out in the backwoods of who knows where or in colonial times. I am so curious. We know there is a definite homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes and things of that nature. This season will be disturbing, guys. Get your big-kid pants on and plug in the night light.
American Horror Story Teaser
American Horror Story Teaser
This article was originally published on July 2016 and updated on September 2016.
Do you think American Horror Story is going to focus on colonial times or do you think it will be something else altogether this upcoming season?
For some of us, period cravings can be so intense that we spend a good week out of each month holed up on our couch, eating junk and binge-watching Netflix. And while giving in to the period crave can be comforting, it can totally derail all the healthy efforts that you make the rest of the month. Potato chips and a pint of ice cream can taste amazing when you're cramping like crazy, but this time around, you may be able to manage some of your worst menstrual symptoms by eating healthier alternatives instead.
A few female-friendly foods could make it all better:
1. Do eat complex carbohydrates
"Fruits, vegetables and whole foods are your friends always, but especially during menstruation. The fruit from sugar may help alleviate sugar cravings," explains health and fitness consultant Tari Rose. Try adding apricots, oranges, plums, pears, cucumbers, artichokes, corn and carrots to your diet.
Cutting back on caffeine intake can help reduce bloating and calm an irritable stomach. "Caffeine can increase stomach acid and be rough on sensitive intestines. If you want a rich-tasting coffee substitute, try my traditional Indian chai," professional chef and healthy living expert Jennifer Iserloh says.
3. Do eat calcium-rich foods
According to certified holistic health counselor and nutritionist Latham Thomas, women need at least 1,200 mg of calcium every day. "Some good sources of calcium include kale, collard greens, broccoli and yogurt."
Though salt is crucial to good health, bloating and water retention can occur if you overdo it. According to Iserloh, nutritionists recommend a diet with 2,300 milligrams/day, or roughly one teaspoon. "The best way to control salt intake is to avoid processed and fast foods, many of which contain three to four times the salt you should have in one meal."
Eyeing that chocolate bar? It's OK — give in! As Rose points out, having a piece of dark chocolate (with 60 percent or higher cacao bean) every day during your period will help soothe cravings. Plus, dark chocolate has helpful antioxidants and is linked to boosting serotonin, which can help improve your mood.
6. Don't skip the water
This one may feel counterproductive, but Rose explains that drinking more water will help your body release water retention and alleviate bloating. "Your body is retaining water because it's afraid of not getting enough. So, if you give it what it needs (more water) it will release the water it's holding onto."
Thomas suggests adding vitamin-friendly foods to your diet, especially during your cycle. Vitamin E can help eliminate some PMS symptoms; you'll find it in avocado, hemp seeds and egg yolk. Vitamin B6 can help relieve bloating and boost your mood; find it in potatoes, bananas and oatmeal. Lastly, vitamin C and zinc support the health of a woman's eggs and reproductive system. Find vitamin C in grapefruits and lemons and zinc in pumpkin seeds and squashes.
9. Do eat some comfort food
Before you jump for joy at the thought of stuffing your face with a bowl full of Kraft Mac & Cheese, let us explain. The health-ified versions of your favorite comfort foods could be exactly what you need to make it through your period in one piece — by fending off those uncontrollable cravings. Eating lean protein and fiber can help to stabilize blood sugar and potentially reduce sugary and carby binges. Try toasting a piece of sprouted bread and slathering it with almond butter for breakfast or, better yet, to kick off a night of Netflix R&R.
Originally published July 2010. Updated Sept. 2016.
Ever since it was announced that Netflix is reviving Gilmore Girls, fans of the beloved series haven't been able to contain their excitement. It certainly is thrilling news for those who will forever hold a special place in their hearts for Rory, Lorelai, every other character and, of course, the town of Stars Hollow.
Yes, all three of Rory's major love interests will make an appearance. It's unclear who she will end up with (or if she'll end up with any of them), but Dean, Jess and Logan are all returning.
7. The original series creator returned
Original series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Daniel Palladino wrote all four episodes. Each of them also directed two of them.
8. The series title
The revival is titled Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
9. Those final four words
The infamous final four words ASP had planned since the very beginning will finally be revealed. They will also be exchanged between Lorelai and Rory. As Lauren Graham told Entertainment Weekly, the final four words don't bring closure, but actually set up some type of a cliff-hanger.
10. First-look photos
Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, fans can get a better view of the revival through these sneak-peek photos.
Seeing as Edward Herrmann died in 2014, his character Richard will no longer be part of the GG universe. Kelly Bishop told TV Line that when the revival begins, four months have passed since Richard's death.
Despite all of that drama over whether or not, and why McCarthy wouldn't return as Sookie, that's all over and done with. She is back as Lorelai's best friend — thank goodness.
15. Here is the poster
Gilmore Girls poster
Gilmore Girls poster
Just look at that cup of coffee. It's just so GG.
16. Lorelai still loves snow
Lorelai and Rory snow
Lorelai and Rory snow
In this photo shared by Entertainment Weekly, it's good to know that Lorelai's infatuation with snow hasn't gone away. Also, can we talk about how beautiful this photo is?
17. Luke and Lorelai are surprised by something
Lorelai and Luke
Lorelai and Luke
Hmm... what are these two so shocked over? Is Kirk showing a horrible movie at the Stars Hollow movie theater? Does it have to do with all that baby talk? Whatever it is, Luke and Lorelai are really surprised.
18. A funeral is happening
Emily, Lorelai, Rory
Emily, Lorelai, Rory
Based on the above photo released by Entertainment Weekly, Emily, Rory and Lorelai are all at the cemetery. I can only imagine this is in relation to the death of Richard. If this photo is making me emotional now, I can only imagine how I'll feel seeing it play out on-screen.
19. They still eat at Luke's Diner
Luke's diner
Luke's diner
Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, fans will feel so much excitement over seeing Rory and Lorelai hanging once again with Luke at his diner. Also, take note of Lorelai drinking coffee, those holiday decorations in the background and how Luke is still wearing his famous hat.
I overheard my son telling his friend the other day how October was the best month ever. He’s a little biased, of course, since he was born in October, but he does have a point. Once the autumn months roll along, we dive headfirst into the seemingly endless stretch of food holidays. His birthday leads to Halloween, which takes us to Thanksgiving, and all the eating holidays beyond.
We’re essentially celebrating with food for about five months straight.
Image: Liren Baker/SheKnows
In between all these holiday gatherings, we can’t forget game days and all the “just because” reasons families have to get together and have a party, right? It’s those gatherings that I love because there’s less pressure for show-stopping menus — it’s more about sharing cozy, wholesome dishes and just enjoying one another’s company.
Image: Liren Baker/SheKnows
When it comes to cozy dishes, who can resist anything cheesy? I know that’s a magic word at our house — especially when we make pulled pork steak fries with Sriracha cheddar.
Fire up the oven for these wholesome, oven-baked steak fries, top them with pulled pork, and make a simple cheddar sauce with rich and creamy Cache Valley Natural Shredded Cheese in Mild Cheddar, and you’ve got a dish that everyone will love digging into. The cheddar shreds make it so easy and transform into a sauce full of dairy goodness. The only thing you have to worry about is whether you made enough!
Image: Liren Baker/SheKnows
These steak fries are awesome for game days, a quick meal when all you want is something easy and satisfying, or even movie nights by the fire with the family. Some might say they are the best fries ever to go with the best month ever! At least that’s what my little guy would say.
Pulled pork steak fries with Sriracha cheddar
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
1-1/2 pounds potatoes (2-3 large potatoes; russet, long white or Yukon Gold work well), sliced in half lengthwise and then into wedges
3-4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
2 cups Cache Valley Natural Shredded Cheese, Mild Cheddar
12 ounces pulled pork
Sriracha sauce, to taste
Suggested toppings:
Fresh herbs, such as thyme, cilantro and parsley
Red onion, chopped
Scallions, sliced
Jalapeno slices
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rack placed in the center of the oven.
In a medium-sized bowl, toss the potato wedges in the olive oil, coating them evenly. Season to taste with salt, pepper and paprika. Place the wedges on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven for 25 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from the oven, and while hot, season with a little more salt to taste.
While the potatoes are roasting, make the cheddar sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it is melted, whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick. Slowly stir in the milk, whisking constantly, and let it simmer until you have a fairly thick sauce. Stir in the cheddar cheese. Season the sauce with a little salt and pepper, and stir in Sriracha sauce, to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a little more milk to thin it out.
To serve, place the steak fries in a dish, top with pulled pork, and drizzle the cheddar sauce on top. Garnish with additional Sriracha, herbs, red onions or your favorite toppings and enjoy immediately.
I recently decided to take my sour cream enchilada recipe and convert it to a skillet version. I must say that it turned out perfect and my daughter loved the results.
Of course, a good enchilada must include cheese — cheese inside and cheese on top! That is part of the reason my family loves them so much. We all LOVE cheese. The great thing is I have a great cheese from Cache Valley Cheese right here in my own beautiful home state.
I am proud to be a born and raised Utahn and love being able to support Utah businesses when I can. It makes it so easy when you have amazing goodness like Cache Valley Cheese right in your back yard. My family particularly loves the Mild Cheddar.
Image: Laura Powell/SheKnows
Sour cream skillet chicken enchiladas
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked and shredded or diced chicken
2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
1 can diced green chilies
2 cups sour cream
3-4 green onions, sliced
3 cups Cache Valley Mild Cheddar Finely Shredded Cheese, divided
12 corn tortillas
additional sour cream and chopped cilantro for garnish
Directions:
In a large skillet (use an oven-safe skillet if you plan to finish it in the oven), combine the chicken, soup, green chilies, sour cream, green onions and 1 cup of the cheese together. Heat on stove on medium heat until heated through.
Remove 2-1/2 cups of the mixture from the skillet and set aside.
Top the remaining mixture in the skillet with 6 of the corn tortillas followed by 1 cup of the cheese.
Then top with 1-1/2 cups of the chicken mixture that you removed from the pan and the remaining 6 tortillas.
Then finish with the last of the chicken mixture and the remaining cheese.
Now, if you used an oven-safe skillet, turn on your broiler and place the skillet in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese is nice and bubbly. Or you can cover the skillet and allow to cook on the stove on medium-low until the cheese is melted.
Remove from oven and allow to sit for about 3 minutes and then serve.
Garnish each serving with additional sour cream and chopped cilantro if desired.
Depending on how your kids feel about starting a new school year, they may or may not want to see more chalkboards when they get home. But we think they'll at least be OK with this version — chalkboard cookies you can inscribe using edible chalk. Yes, this is a thing you can make. Pretty cool, right? Here's how.
In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and powdered sugar.
Add the egg and vanilla and stir.
Add flour, baking powder and salt and combine. If the dough feels sticky at all, add a little more flour.
Roll out the dough and refrigerate it until it's firm.
Cut out the cookies.
Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
For the frosting
In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, mix the powdered sugar, meringue powder, water and cocoa powder together on medium for approximately 5 minutes.
Mix on high for 3 to 4 more minutes until the batter gains a meringue-like appearance.
Add black food coloring and mix. It should now have a paste-like consistency for piping the frame around the edge of the chalkboard cookies. After framing the cookies, add a little water at a time until it has a gel-like consistency and flood the middle inside the frame. Smooth it out with a slanted spatula.
Let the icing dry completely while you make the edible chalk. Don't write on them with it until it's completely dry.
For the edible chalk
Melt the candy melts.
Pipe the melted candy into jumbo-sized straws and refrigerate the straws until they're hard.
Using the end of a wooden spoon, push the chalk out of the straws.
Break the chalk into pieces.
In a large plastic zip-close bag filled with powdered sugar, toss the chalk pieces until well coated.
Now you can use your edible chalk to write on your chalkboard cookies!
At the end of Supernatural Season 11, not only was Sam getting shot (off-screen) by Lady Toni Bevell from the British Men of Letters, but the resurrection of Mary Winchester happened. Since those two moments, fans have "patiently" been waiting for Season 12 and now it's almost time.
On Thursday, the Supernatural Season 12 promo was released and it's definitely filled with action, blood, heartache and badassedness. The mission to save Sam is heavily featured, in addition to Sammy looking a little worse for wear (you know, due to the torture he's enduring), Rick Springfield as Lucifer and Dean being chained up, but what really stands out is the return of Mary.
Samantha Smith has popped up here and there throughout Supernatural's run as Mary, so I'm excited to see her in action and fighting alongside her TV sons. Based on the promo, Mary hasn't lost her touch as a hunter (remember, she was the original hunter of the family), nor is she afraid to dive into the action to save her youngest. As she says to Castiel, "Right now, all that matters is getting Sam back." I have a feeling she is going to do whatever it takes to get him back, too.
It's really no surprise that Mary is such a badass. During all of those flashbacks when she was younger and still hunting with her father, it's clear where Sam and Dean got their hunting skills. Yes, John Winchester technically raised them and taught them all about the hunting lifestyle, but I believe Mary still had a strong influence.
Season 12's Mary is going to be no different, either. In addition to the above promo, just check out these photos of her. The first one shows Mary a little bloody. It looks like she just finished battling it out.
Image: The CW
The second image shows Mary wielding an angel blade covered in blood. Be sure to take note of her facial expression, which proves Mary is not to be messed with.
Image: The CW
Yeah, Mama Winchester is going to be just as big a badass as her sons in Season 12. Previously, Smith teased just that at 2016's Comic-Con. Per The TV Addict, Smith said, "[Mary] will be hunting, I will be fighting and participating. And that is not something that my version of Mary has done so far." She also said at Comic-Con, according to BuddyTV, that Season 12 will feature "strong female ass-kickerage." That's exactly what I like to hear.
So, if you've had doubts that Mary won't be able to keep up with her sons, you'd better think again.
Lauri Peterson, formerly a star on The Real Housewives of Orange County, is launching a Twitter campaign to get her daughter, Ashley Zarlin, on the upcoming season of The Bachelor. Please, please, please let this actually happen.
Zarlin was featured heavily in the early seasons of RHOC, most memorably for trashing Peterson's condo and being a huge spoiled brat. But a few years have gone by since then, and Zarlin is now the successful creative director behind Cheeky Minx, and we officially miss seeing her on reality TV.
Her mom clearly agrees. She retweeted a message from Bachelor producer Elan Gale saying casting is about to wrap up for the new season, along with the message, "What are you waiting for @ashleyzarlin?"
RHOC Larui wants her daughter Ashley on the bachelor 1
RHOC Larui wants her daughter Ashley on the bachelor 1
When a fan replied to Peterson's tweet asking, "how do we submit her for Nicks season ASAP?" Peterson replied with, "I'm not entirely sure! Someone....HELP!"
RHOC Larui wants her daughter Ashley on the bachelor 2
RHOC Larui wants her daughter Ashley on the bachelor 2
So Peterson is pushing hard for Zarlin to meet up with the new Bachelor, Nick Viall. But how does Zarlin feel about all of this? She's stayed quiet on social media, so we can't know for sure. But Zarlin and her mom have always been close, so maybe Peterson has a good idea of her taste in men?
All we can say is that our fingers are crossed that The Bachelor's producers will pull through and deliver on this.
Let's talk about shopping at Costco. It's a huge store. You're there to buy in bulk. You're there for the deals. You're probably not there to pick up a bottle of cocktail onions on your way to a picnic. But still. You may not want to make a whole day of your shopping trip. If you do, hey, great. We get that. But this is for those of you who want to be in and out.
SheKnows executive editorial director Julie Ross Godar just happens to live right by a Costco. Her friends call her neighborhood Costco Flats. She's learned a thing or two about stealth shopping there, and she's been kind enough to share it with the world.
1. Profile those shopping carts
You want to look for big boxes and flats. "Get behind people buying tons of large items that stay in their carts if you can," Godar says. "They don't need to be bagged." Bagging takes time. So does moving items in and out of the shopping cart.
2. Shop on weekdays at opening time
"If you can manage it, go when it opens on a weekday," and right when the doors open, she says, adding, "There's way fewer people." Not only that, people shopping that early are buying for restaurants and tend to buy those big items mentioned in the first point.
"Order and pay for snacks at the register so you don't have to stand in the longer food court line," Godar advises.
4. In fact, avoid mealtime shopping altogether
Be flexible about when you shop so you can avoid getting stuck in a warehouse full of hungry people who will suddenly want to order the Polish sausage and soda deal just as they've been rung up. "Whether or not you plan to order food at the register to pick up at the food counter, the people in front of you might, and those orders will slow down the checkout line," Godar says.
"If you do plan to order food at the register, the prepaid pickup line at the food counter, which is usually shorter and faster than the pay-at-the-counter lines, will also be way long." So that's another reason to avoid mealtime shopping.
Godar says she's noticed that the middle checkout lanes tend to be a bit shorter, but they're often blocked off by the longer lanes on either end. "So if you can, bring your own small pushcart or bring bags and buy only what you can carry around the store in them." This will give you an edge when weaving through the long lanes. "Stay small and you can cut through those blocked lines to the sweet spot."
Welcome to the Divorce Club, where half the population knows what you've been through.
Everything about divorce is difficult and if that's not enough, there still exists an unspoken tarnished image, an invisible “Scarlet D” branded across your Life file forever. It seems that divorce is more forever than marriage because you will never get un-divorced.
When I was getting divorced, no one told me, “Congratulations!” or “Good job!” Instead, they frowned, rubbed my shoulders and wanted to cry. Only, I was euphoric! I was liberated from my controlling husband.
A happily divorced person is like a newly married person, wanting to recruit others into their club. After I was divorced, the euphoria of the freedom was overwhelming and I wanted others to feel it. I wanted my other friends, trapped in controlling marriages, to understand what it’s like to hear their own thoughts, knowing their voice is the one that rules their life rather than their partner’s.
Divorce takes a toll on the psyche. After my divorce, with a three-year-old in tow, even with a co-parenting plan in place, I felt like damaged goods. I came with heavier baggage. I didn’t feel like I deserved a good man. It’s hard to believe you can make a good decision if you clearly got it wrong the first time. How will I know if the second time really is different? How would I ever trust my instincts?
Instead, I found a top-tier caliber man. Never married, he completely adores me and has said so daily for a decade. He’s a children’s entertainer to boot. When my mother and grandmother met him, they practically kissed his hands for taking me on AND my kid. “Oh how good he is to him, it’s like he’s his own!” they said. I see other mothers watch him perform with a longing look in their eyes, wishing they could have him. I can tell they’re thinking, “I’d give my left leg to have this man be my kid’s step-dad.”
Divorce is not the end of something that was right; it’s the end of something broken. Ten years later, my modern family has granted me more of a happily ever after than a traditional family ever did.
