Michael Strahan has made it clear that he has no regrets about leaving Live! for Good Morning America, but does he regret the drama that his exit caused with former co-host, Kelly Ripa?
In April, Strahan announced (seemingly out of nowhere) that he would be headed to Good Morning America, and it's safe to say that Ripa did not take the news well; something which Strahan has now addressed in an interview with People magazine.
"At one point I think we were friends. I don't know what happened at the end. I learned a lot from her, though," Strahan told the publication. And yes, things were as bad as the media reports suggested — at least, that's the way Strahan's comments make it seem.
"Toward the end of it all, we didn't really communicate that much," Strahan says. "I kinda looked at it like, 'It was what it was.' I come from a business where you have to collaborate. The show was going well? We're all winning. That's all that matters to me."
However, he does regret the way his sudden departure from the show painted him in such a negative light, and according to Strahan, there's a lot more to this story than we know.
"The most disappointing thing to me was that I was painted as the bad guy, because I value the way I carry myself," he confessed. "I don't want people to see me as 'Oh, he just ran out, just left them there.' That's just not true."
Whether we'll ever know exactly what played out behind-the-scenes with Strahan, Ripa and the Live! crew, we can't be sure, but his comments do offer us a new angle: He didn't leave in a hurry, and perhaps there's more to this story than what has been previously reported.
For most families with school-age children, homework is a challenging and unavoidable aspect of their education. Your student may forget to bring necessary materials home, or she might consistently struggle with a particular subject, much to the frustration of all involved parties. While issues may arise from time-to-time despite your best intentions, establishing great homework habits at the start of the school year can help your child perform to the best of her academic ability.
Here are four tips that can help you and your student build the best homework routine this school year:
Speak with your child’s teacher
Before you officially establish a homework routine with your family, speak to your student’s teacher. He or she may have specific expectations for this time, including its duration and your role. For example, if your child is in kindergarten, her instructor may ask you to spend a maximum of 10 minutes on homework, regardless of whether the assignment has been completed in its entirety. Her teacher may also ask that parents provide no help outside of simply facilitating homework time, or he or she may invite families to assist struggling students in a variety of ways.
Create a homework corner
Your child’s homework corner can be a desk, an entire room, or even an actual corner — what is most important is that this space is consistently available and well equipped for the task at hand. Your student can store her school bag in this corner, as well as place newly assigned homework in a visible location in this area. Stock her homework space with items like sharpened pencils, lined paper, and erasers, as well as a comfortable and supportive chair. Older children in particular may feel more accountable for completing their homework when they have a space dedicated to that purpose.
Mold your routine to your student’s learning style
As you likely realize, each child is different, and these differences extend to homework habits. For instance, your student’s best friend may be able to return from elementary school at 3:15 p.m. and begin her homework at 3:30 p.m., but your child may need to run and jump around outside for an hour before she turns to her math or reading homework. Perhaps she prefers to eat a healthy snack prior to completing that science worksheet, or maybe she is happier eating after she finishes. Molding your routine to your student’s learning style can lead to increased homework success.
Remain consistent
One of the most important keys to effective homework habits is consistency. Consistency allows both parent and child to know what is expected of them, as well as what they can expect of the other person—i.e. your student may expect you to provide assistance only when she requests it, while you may expect her to unpack her belongings and organize her homework as soon as she returns home from school. While initially establishing a homework routine can be challenging, consistency will allow you to see this routine through to the end of the school year, hopefully to great success!
For more tips and strategies to help your student succeed in school, visit varsitytutors.com.
Babies have a universal trait: They're pretty kissable. If you're particularly fond of babies, as we are, it's difficult to pass up the opportunity to plant a big old smooch on those little cheeks. They're so round and soft. It's like a moth to a flame.
But there are lots of reasons to put your lips away and back away from the baby. Some of them are innocuous (the kid's mom would rather you didn't, thanks) but some of them are downright scary, like how a little cold sore can turn into a full-blown case of herpes. One mom experienced firsthand how an innocent kiss can turn into a trip to the hospital, and she's hoping her experience will keep other babies safe.
In a Facebook post that's well on its way to going viral, Amy Stinton highlights what a case of herpes can look like when it comes to little babies. She took her 14-month-old baby boy Ollie to the doctor with what she supposed was the chicken pox. But that raised red rash isn't the pox, it's actually HSV-1, or herpes simplex virus Type 1, and he ended up in the hospital for a few days instead. You can see what the outcome of kissing a baby when you've got the virus can be.
There is more than one kind of herpes, as pretty much anyone who has ever Googled how to get rid of a cold sore knows. There's the type Ollie contracted, which is different than HSV-2, the kind of herpes that you contract through sexual contact and can present in blisters around the genital area during what's known as a "flare-up"
For the vast majority of people, either type of herpes is unlikely to present with complications. Even with the blisters and sores, herpes is not life-threatening and unbelievably common. Anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of American adults have HSV-1, while an estimate puts the rate of genital herpes at about 1 in 5 adults.
That's obviously a lot of herpes. What's more is that because herpes so rarely causes any serious problems in adults that are not immunocompromised — besides a lifelong stigma — and because some people are completely asymptomatic, not everyone knows they have it. When it comes to that second type of herpes, almost 90 percent of people have no idea they're carrying the virus. For oral herpes, you're more likely to know if you're a carrier simply because it recurs more often than its genital cousin.
But of course, babies are not adults with healthy immune systems. They are babies with brand new immune systems, and that's where innocent cold-sore kisses become a problem.
The chances of someone unknowingly passing a herpes infection onto a baby is very small. It's most likely to happen when a cold sore is present or if mom's received a genital herpes diagnosis before or during her pregnancy. So if there's a piece of comfort you can take, it's that it's really unlikely for you to make any kind of herpes-related trip to the doctor out of the blue like Stinton did.
But on the other hand, it can get really serious, really quickly. Left untreated, babies who contract herpes are at risk of a brain infection, hearing or vision loss and seizures. So what does that mean for moms? If you're pregnant and know you have herpes, it's likely you've already told your doctor. If not, do it now. Your baby's health depends on it.
When it comes to HSV-1, there's not much to do but run interference on out-of-towners or loved ones who are sporting a cold sore or blister. If they've got one, there's no kissy-kissy for them. Anyone you want in your kid's life will understand when you tell them to come back after they've recovered. And anyone who doesn't understand shouldn't bother you too much. Keeping your baby's health intact is far more important than their bruised feelings.
Marion Cotillard is not about to let herself get wrapped up in this Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt divorce mess.
As if there aren't already enough rumors surrounding Pitt and Jolie's sudden divorce news, reports started circulating midweek that Cotillard is possibly pregnant with Pitt's love child.
The rumor stems from the huge piece of gossip that has flashed across headlines, claiming Jolie filed for divorce after she hired a private detective to follow Pitt on the set of his new movie and learned that he was getting a little too cozy with Cotillard, his costar. And who can blame Jolie for being a little paranoid? Pitt left his last wife, Jennifer Aniston, after falling in love with Jolie while they costarred together in Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
Meanwhile, outlets are reporting that Cotillard is reportedly "absolutely devastated" about the rumors, since she's been with French actor and director Guillaume Canet for nearly 10 years and they have a 5-year-old son together.
According to a source, "Marion and Guillaume are blissfully happy, and these kind of claims are not what Marion wants to be hearing. Everyone in Paris is reporting that Marion is having another baby, and she looks absolutely blooming right now. Rumours that she's now cheating on Guillaume with Brad will leave her absolutely devastated. This doesn't sound like her at all."
The love child gossip is fueled by that fact that supposedly Cotillard is due in December, which would mean she conceived in March — right in the middle of the time she and Pitt were filming together.
Before Wednesday, Cotillard had not said anything about being with child, but she just came out to confirm that she is pregnant — and not here to play.
The usually quiet Cotillard took to Instagram to clear everything up and say that she's not involved with Pitt in any way — nor is she "devastated" by the gossip.
"This is going to be my first and only reaction to the whirlwind news that broke 24 hours ago and that I was swept up into," she wrote on the social media site. "I am not used to commenting on things like this nor taking them seriously but as this situation is spiraling and affecting people I love, I have to speak up. Firstly, many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting. He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need. Secondly to those who have indicated that I am devastated, I am very well thank you. This crafted conversation isn't distressing. And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery. Finally, I do very much wish that Angelina and Brad, both whom I deeply respect, will find peace in this very tumultuous moment. With all my love Marion."
Ever since his days as Jack Bauer on 24, fans of the Fox series have been waiting for Kiefer Sutherland's return to TV. That finally happened Wednesday night with ABC's premiere of Designated Survivor.
The drama follows Sutherland's character, Tom Kirkman, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C. His lower-level cabinet, mundane and easy-going job (compared to POTUS and pretty much everyone else in government) quickly takes a turn when the president, Congress members and a massive amount of other people are killed during the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol where a bomb goes off.
Before the bombing, Tom gets a phone call alerting him that he has been chosen as the "Designated Survivor," aka an individual in the presidential line of succession who is taken to an undisclosed location when the president and the country's other top leaders are gathered somewhere else, like for the State of the Union. The Designated Survivor will become the next leader of the country if or when the president and those above the Designated Survivor who are also part of the presidential line of succession are killed or unable to perform their duties.
That's exactly what happens, and before he knows it, Tom is now the POTUS. One would think that Sutherland's character would channel Jack Bauer and become this badass president. Wrong, because this time around Sutherland is not playing a Jack Bauer-type character, but a more gentle, calmer and kinder man. Let's just say adjusting to running a country during a stressful time is going to take a while for Tom.
As much as Sutherland does a great job as Tom (so far, at least), his character isn't the one who stands out — it's the women characters. There is a core group of women at the forefront and they are all strong, intelligent and successful. It's always wonderful to see these kinds of female characters on television and it's going to make Designated Survivor a success if it continues in this direction.
First, there is Italia Ricci's (Chasing Life, Supergirl) character, Emily, who is Tom's chief of staff. As soon as she comes onscreen, she is a force. Emily is a powerhouse, great at her job and doesn't back down to any of the men around her. I know she is going to do great things and I can't wait to see what else Ricci brings to the character.
Then, there is Tom's wife, Alex Kirkman, played by Natascha McElhone (Californication). She is so much more than a wife and a mother, but also a lawyer. By the end of the first episode, she also becomes the first lady, so it will be interesting to see what she does with that.
Finally, there is Maggie Q's (Nikita, Stalker) FBI agent Hannah. Maggie Q as an FBI agent? She totally pulls it off. She also isn't the one taking orders, but giving them. Yeah, there was that one moment where her superior told her she shouldn't be at the bombing site, but did she listen? No, and she gave a powerful speech telling him exactly why she is needed there.
If that isn't enough, viewers still have Virginia Madsen's (American Gothic) character to look forward to. She is playing the major recurring role of Kimble Hookstraten, the "other" Designated Survivor during the State of the Union for the other political party. She is said to be a "chief political rival" to Kirkman, which will surely make for some great scenes between Madsen and Sutherland.
Overall, Designated Survivor is going to keep me coming back and mainly thanks to the empowering women.
Angelina Jolie's public image has undergone a huge metamorphosis since that much talked about, uncomfortable kiss with her brother on the night of her Oscar win. And her mastery of the PR machine has never been more apparent than with her divorce from Brad Pitt.
She was Hollywood's bad girl: the gorgeous goth who never failed to make us wonder what the hell she'd do next. From the aforementioned too-familiar kiss at the Academy Awards, to wearing her then-husband Billy Bob Thornton's blood in a vial around her neck, to their red carpet proclamation that they had "f***ed in the limo" on their way to the event, we thought we had seen it all from her.
We all know the story. Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were supposedly living in domestic bliss until "homewrecker" Jolie came into the picture and seduced him with her magical v — at least, that's how the tabloids spun it. So Jolie decided to spin it back. And it worked.
While we were all drawing lines in the sand over whether we were Team Aniston or Team Jolie, she was busy turning herself into a savior. When news of Pitt and Aniston's split broke, Jolie headed to Pakistan to visit Afghan refugee camps. Pitt later joined her for a trip to Kashmir to bring attention to the plight of displaced earthquake victims.
"Presto, they come out looking like serious people who have transformed a silly press obsession into a sincere attempt to help the needy," Michael Levine, a celebrity publicist and author, told the New York Times Magazine in 2008.
A cynical take, to be sure — it was charity work, after all — but not necessarily out of line. It is wonderful, and some believe obligatory, to use your fame to help others whenever possible. Jolie has certainly done that. And she has done it in a way that has changed the way the media talks about her.
In the past 12 years, Jolie has expanded her brood from one to six and changed her image from sexpot to earth mother. For years, instead of reading about her love life, we've been reading about her work on behalf of refugees. She's been doing important work, and making sure she gets publicity for it, first for the causes themselves and secondly for her.
So now we come to yesterday's events. She filed for divorce from Pitt, after a 12-year relationship and two years of marriage. She made sure to request full custody of all six children and her statements specifically mentioned parenting, not the rumors that Pitt cheated with Marion Cotillard and a bunch of Russian hookers. Complaining of infidelity would simply serve to remind the public of the couple's inauspicious start (as if we need a reminder) and change her narrative from human rights crusader to hypocrite.
Instead, she is once again shaping her narrative. Stories are appearing saying Pitt's drinking and pot use, coupled with an anger problem, led to the marriage's demise. Is her team responsible for this? The mama bear must protect her cubs, and no one can argue with that. But Pitt seems to be onto it and he is refusing to allow her to shape his narrative, too.
"Brad thinks Angelina is a great mother," an insider told People. "But he is also a great father. There is no way he is going to be absent for any part of his kids' lives." Angelina shouldn't hold her breath when it comes to full custody, it seems. But perhaps Pitt should keep in mind that she has already cut him a break. She filed the divorce paperwork after the week’s editions of tabloids had already gone to press. She has plenty of time to reshape the story before next week’s editions.
What do you think about Jolie's transformation and the way she and her team are handling the divorce? Let us know in the comments below.
Every season of Survivor there's always one castaway that immediately captures the nation's attention. For Season 33, aka Millennials Vs. Gen-X, that person is Zeke Smith. With his kooky Hawaiian shirt and Harry Potter-like specs, his style stands out from the rest.
But that's only a portion of what makes him a Survivor star.
While some contestants were barely noticeable throughout the entire 90-minute premiere (Lucy, anyone?), Zeke stole the show from beginning to end and became an early favorite.
While admitting he doesn't fit in with the cooler kids in the tribe, he wasn't afraid to step up and prove he's a valuable member of the team. While his muscular tribemates couldn't seem to build a strong shelter, he took over and guided the group into creating what looked like an effective place to sleep. It was a major achievement for a guy who described his previous outdoor experience as riding a New York City subway. Based on first impressions, he would be a memorable winner.
Only a few people have ever started a fire on Survivor without the use of flint and steel. Add Zeke to that list. With the help of a few tribemates, Zeke sparked a flame by simply rubbing bamboo together. It was amazing to watch his excitement spread throughout the tribe with a grin that couldn't be wiped away by the wildest Survivor storm. He labeled the moment as an early sign that Survivor would change his life.
Image: CBS
3. His personality
What I most like about Zeke is he's not afraid to be his hilarious self. Within the first few minutes yapping about himself, Zeke admitted he doesn't fit in with the other millennials in his tribe. Instead, he labeled himself as an 80-year-old man who belongs at a singles mixer at the retirement home. I appreciate his raw, real self-described traits. He's clearly not there so he can move to Hollywood and become a star. Seriously, how do you not like this guy? It was like falling in love with Tai Trang from last season all over again.
Rupert had his tye-dye, Zeke has his flowery shirt and big glasses. Can you even remember what other contestants were wearing? Probably not. But I bet Zeke's outfit is sticking in your mind. His Hawaiian shirt even got quite a bit of Twitter love, which can't be said of anybody else's fashion choices (except for all the women chatting about the young guys in their underwear).
Fan tweets about Zeke Smith's Survivor fashion
Fan tweets about Zeke Smith's Survivor fashion
Zeke Smith tweets about his Survivor fashion
Zeke Smith tweets about his Survivor fashion
5. Cyclone who?
On the second day of filming, Cyclone Zena hurled her wrath at Fiji. The wicked winds and pelting rainfall resulted in a history-making moment where all 20 castaways were evacuated from their beach. Admitting it was possibly the hardest night of his life, it was the waterlogged conditions that seemed to spark a fire in him to fight even harder. After the storm settled, it was when Zeke really shone brightly with his ability to build shelter, make fire and stay positive.
As you probably guessed, Zeke was not the first person voted out of the game. That distinction went to Rachel, a castaway who will be forgotten as fast as Jeff Probst snuffed her torch.
Image: CBSImage: CBS
What did you think of the premiere? Is Zeke your favorite? Who do you predict will win the entire game? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.
Reality TV offspring have a terrible reputation for coasting off their parents' fame. Not all deserve that reputation; Yolanda Hadid's kids are hardworking models and Kyle Richards' daughter is enrolled in college. Even the Manzo kids have a few career accomplishments under their belts, including a published children's book.
Unfortunately, for every reality star's child who works super hard to make a name for him or herself, there's another who prefers to sit back and let Mom or Dad do all the work. These unmotivated children don't seem to recognize that the money train that began with reality television could easily come to an end.
Image: Bravo
Say what you want about the Kardashians, at least they know how to capitalize on their fame and create multiple streams of income. No, Brielle Biermann doesn't quite have the resources of, say, Kylie Jenner, but she should be doing everything she can right now to make the most of the gift she's been given.
Instead, it looks like Biermann will learn the hard way that the perks of reality star life don't last forever. Yes, she made a few steps toward adulthood last season, even going so far as to check out the west coast and see what life might be like as the next Giuliana Rancic. But now she's back at square one, with no job or education, and no prospects to speak of.
Image: Bravo
The fault doesn't entirely lie with Biermann, although she is certainly old enough to know better. Kim Zolciak has something of a reputation for letting her kids get away with murder, and while Ariana Biermann is fortunate enough to be naturally motivated, the same cannot be said of her older sister.
Zolciak did take a few baby steps tonight by once again bringing up the issue and even giving Biermann a job (of sorts) as her assistant. But when push came to shove and Biermann decided to ditch her duties in favor of Snapchat, Zolciak failed to put her foot down.
Until she gets a true kick in the butt from her parents, I very much doubt Biermann will change her ways. I'd love to see a complete transformation on Don't Be Tardy, but I anticipate stagnation.
What do you think it'll take for Brielle Biermann to get a job or enroll in college? Comment and share your opinion below.
Though I'm not feeling as fiery as some of the above tweeters, I do agree that Paul should have won. Even Nicole seemed to think that Paul had it in the bag.
In pleading with the jury for votes, Paul said a heartfelt, "All I could count on was the loyalty of my partner, Victor, and my social game... there’s one rule I’ll never break: friendship!"
To which Nicole said, "Crap, that was good! Hey guysssss, snake joke… I said to myself, ‘Nicole, you’re here to play Big Brother, not Big Baby.'"
Uh... right. Good one?
Apparently, it was effective though.
On the other hand, the feminist in me understands why Natalie ended up gunning for Nicole. In the 18 seasons Big Brother has been on the air, Nicole is only the sixth female to win the competition. It's time to even those odds.
I guess, at the end of the day, Big Brother is so exciting because of the twists and turns the game can take. It's clearly unpredictable. Yet, Nicole won fair and square.
Maybe she should at least take Paul out for a drink or two?
Are you shocked and outraged that Nicole won Big Brother Season 18?
Throwback baby names are more popular than ever, but we think it's time to throw it way, way back — back to a time before the West was won, and people pretty much did whatever they damn well pleased. If you want to capture the same rugged spirit in your little dude, you're going to get a kick out of these baby boy names inspired by famous outlaws and historical icons.
Western-sounding baby names can come from many different sources. The famous names from American Old West or Wild West (the second half of the 19th century) are the names of famous or infamous outlaws and the lawmen that sought after them. You’ll find the names (first and last) of Frank and Jesse James, outlaw brothers from Missouri, and the Earp brothers (Morgan, Wyatt and Virgil), legendary lawmen of the Old West.
Other names here come from Western tales in radio, film and literature, from popular actors like John Wayne and Gary Cooper to authors such as Louis L’Amour to fictional characters like Ranger Reid, otherwise known as The Lone Ranger.
So hop on your horse, don those boots and wrap that bandana on — you’re in for a fun ride.
You may not be ready for your Top Chef audition, but you still deserve better than the dollar menu. Those of us who aren't quite "chefs" still have to make dinner, so we spoke to Rebecca Lewis, dietitian and in-house nutritionist for HelloFresh, to get a few strategies to keep meals healthy, and most important, simple.
1. Get your basic tools first
Skip the Vitamix until you know you're going to use it. First, stock your kitchen with tools you'll use every day, like sharp knives, a meat thermometer, a can opener and measuring cups.
2. Always keep whole grains on hand
Grains like brown or wild rice, whole-wheat couscous and oatmeal are the bases for tons of different recipes — and all you have to know to cook them is how to boil water.
3. Save any dish with simple spices
Stock your kitchen with salt, pepper, olive oil, lemons, limes, onion and garlic. You already know how to use these, and they'll make even the most basic dishes more fun.
4. Make a grocery list around planned meals
"Cooking starts at the point you decide 'What do I want to eat this week?'" says Lewis. Making those decisions before you enter the supermarket is a great way to avoid a breakdown in Aisle 5. I like WTF Should I Make for Dinner and Crepes of Wrath for recipe ideas.
5. Fruits and veggies
Fruits and vegetables are not only part of a balanced diet, most of them are perfectly delicious raw, making them the perfect treat for the cooking-averse. Even when it comes to cooking veggies, simply sauté with some olive oil in a pan and you're done.
6. Set a take-out limit
Worried you're spending too much money (and calories) on delivery? Tell yourself you'll only order in, say, one night each week. You'll have one meal to check off your grocery list as you inch toward creating a cooking habit (plus, everyone needs a splurge night).
7. Get a slow cooker already
There's a reason there are a million articles about slow cooker recipes. They do all the work for you and you can make a week's worth of food in one sitting. Trust us!
8. Cook in bulk
Don't have the energy to cook dinner every night? Make extra-large meals (see above) or at least double your dinner recipe so you'll have lunch for the next day.
9. Bring your sense of adventure
"The most important thing for me is to have a really positive, can-do attitude," says Lewis. "If you look at cooking like a chore, you're not going to enjoy it or do it again. Have fun in the kitchen! If you burn something, you've learned something."
Turns out Lady Gaga has quite the transformation in American Horror Story: Roanoke — now it would be nice if she actually had some character development and lines.
AHS Roanoke tweet 3
AHS Roanoke tweet 3
I know, I know, patience is a virtue, but I absolutely fell head over heels in love with Gaga on AHS: Hotel, so I'm absolutely itching to see what she'll do in this season. So far, it hasn't been much.
Lady Gaga American Horror Story tweet 1
Lady Gaga American Horror Story tweet 1
What we do know: Her sexy vampire days are over, and she's all about purifying some sinners.
Gaga isn't alone in her mystery either. Roanoke has been all about the unknown so far, harkening back to Season 1's "Murder House." I honestly have no idea what's going on this season or where Ryan Murphy could possibly be taking things. All I know is that I would get the hell out of that house whether or not the bank would give me back my money.
AHS Roanoke tweet 2
AHS Roanoke tweet 2
In an interview with Variety, Sarah Paulson, who plays Shelby Miller this season, teased a big reveal would be coming midseason.
"I know something, and I can’t tell you!" she said. "I have to tease you like that, because you’re going to go, ‘What?’ It’s not necessarily connected, but something’s happening. Something’s happening that people are going to go nuts for. They’re going to go nutty bobo nut town."
Oh, thank God. Because I'm not gonna lie, after two episodes I was thinking maybe this whole season was just going to be a way for Murphy to pay homage to other horror classics, like The Blair Witch Project.
AHS Roanoke tweet 1
AHS Roanoke tweet 1
At least, thanks to this interview, I know my confusion is to be expected and that I'm also not alone. That gives me hope. Especially since, after tonight's episode of the show, I'm going to have a lot of trouble sleeping.
Gaga isn't the only American Horror Story favorite to be missing this season. We still haven't seen Evan Peters, Matt Bomer or Cheyenne Jackson yet. I also still haven't given up hope that Jessica Lange will make a surprise appearance.
And by that, I mean hopefully I will get to dream nice dreams tonight, since I'm still quaking from that pig head and Denis O'Hare's creepy home movie.
How do you think Lady Gaga's character will factor into this season of American Horror Story?
Shannon Beador and her husband David have managed to work past his affair, and their marriage appears to be in a good place — which is why the recent actions of his mother, Donna, are so awful.
The couple has moved on, and we can only imagine that the last thing in the world they'd want is for someone to bring up the past and all David's indiscretions. But that's exactly what Donna did during Monday's episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County.
"He's a wonderful guy," Donna told the couple's daughters during a concert, adding, "He made one mistake. And she pushed him. But I'm sure he regrets it now."
But she didn't just bring up the affair. She also accused Shannon of being the one who caused it, telling Real Housewives stars Tamra Judge and Kelly Dodd that she thought David was justified in cheating.
Dodd relayed the message to Shannon, who was visibly upset by the accusation and confronted David. "I didn't push you to anything," she screamed. "Are you fucking kidding me? I'm fucking done."
Wow.
Shannon and her mother-in-law have a tense relationship, something which Shannon confessed to viewers. She said, "David's mother doesn't like me. David gave his mother a lot of attention when he wasn't married and I was taking him away from her." Of course, Donna thinks it's the other way around, and she told Dodd and Judge that Shannon hates her guts. But regardless of how these two women feel about each other, we can probably all agree that these affair accusations went a step too far.
Shannon also took to Twitter to address the altercation, telling fans that Donna had planned to cause problems between her and David.
Iced tea is about as Southern as it gets, and damn if it isn't delicious. Add a splash of the hard stuff, and you've got yourself an afternoon pick-me-up that'll probably get you through to happy hour. As good as these drinks are, we're not going to judge you if you mix up an iced tea cocktail any time of year, whether it's blazing hot or freezing cold outside.
You can think of iced tea as a kind of blank canvas; it takes on herbs and fruit beautifully, and when you add a dash of your favorite liquor, it's practically perfect. You can enjoy these recipes on your porch swing in the fall or with a light summer dinner. Of course, you will want to begin by brushing up on your iced tea-making skills with a few tried-and-true recipes.
Once you've got a tasty brew you can make with your eyes closed, it's time to add a little of the good stuff and celebrate with these grown-up twists on a summertime favorite.
This cocktail uses a tea-flavored vodka to fulfill the iced tea requirement, and trust us when we say that you'll want to have a bottle on hand this summer. Also, the alternate name for this cocktail is a Mason-Dixon. What's not to love about that?
This recipe combines pretty much all the best things about summer cocktails and fashions them into a drink you'll want to indulge in long after those warm months draw to a close.
You can't talk about cocktails without including a martini, and this one is perfect.
17. Boozy Thai iced tea
Image: Claire Gallam/SheKnows
This recipe is perfect for early on in the month, when nights are still a little chilly. The heavy cream base makes it well suited for a refreshing treat that won't set your teeth chattering.
The Long Island is technically a cheater tea, since there's no actual iced tea to be found in the recipe. Even so, any home bartender needs to have this recipe in their repertoire. Serve with caution, though, because this "tea" can get you to your happy place a lot quicker than most!
Originally published May 2015. Updated September 2016.
Here's another one of those tough hurdles of parenting, right up there with getting your baby to sleep through the night and potty training: leading by example. You probably already know that your kids are watching everything you do, for better or for worse. And as a result, the worldview that you present to them at a young age is going to stick with them well into adulthood. Reading to kids about different cultures, races and even gender identities can open their minds — and their hearts.
Sometimes these conversations are hard to have, but these captivating children's books make it much easier to start introducing diversity at home.
Facing the challenges of being a new kid in a new country with a new language, Farah finds comfort in the similarities she finds on a field trip to an apple orchard. As the class works together to make apple cider, the young Muslim immigrant begins to connect with her classmates when she realizes it takes many types of apples to make the sweet beverage. One Green Apple by Eve Bunting is aimed at kids ages 4 and up. (Amazon.com, $14)
In a world where biracial children are becoming the majority, this touching children's book celebrates cultural diversity by highlighting a little girl's relationships with her Japanese mother and her African-American grandmother. While the story teaches kids about diversity, it is the lesson that strengths come in those differences, especially within your own family, that shines through. Two Mrs. Gibsons by Toyomi Igus is suitable for children ages 6 and up. (Valore Books, $6)
This children's book about a young transgender girl made a huge splash when it came out in 2014. In the book, recommended for ages 4 to 8, Jazz Jennings tells her story about transitioning as a child in the new millennium. Jazz, who later received a TLC series of the same name, explains what it's like to be a transgender child in a way that most young kids can understand. As Laverne Cox of Orange Is the New Black put it so well in her book review, "This is an essential tool for parents and teachers to share with children whether those kids identify as trans or not." (Amazon.com, $13)
Originally written during a time when races were often separated, two little dots of color form a friendship represented by the color green that was not accepted by all, namely their own parents. However, the message of tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity is delivered through the blending of the colors by the parents themselves in the end. Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni is a terrific book for children in preschool and beyond. (Barnes & Noble, $12)
With messages of tolerance and the beauty of diversity woven into the tales of two birds from different parts of the world, children will grasp the easy-to-understand messages illustrated in the watercolor artwork of Kitty Crowther. Children will learn that the birds' friendship is based on what's beyond their feathers — what's inside their hearts. Jack & Jim by Kitty Crowther is perfect for little ones ages for 4 to 8. (Valore Books, $53)
The message of individuality and self-actualization is easily delivered when Mr. Plumbean's house is splashed with orange paint. Although the choice he makes to paint his house in multicolored hues is in response to the intolerance of his neighbors, the lesson to accept people as they are is received loud and clear to toddlers and grade-schoolers alike. The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater is geared toward children ages 4 and up. (Barnes & Noble, $7)
This book came out in 2015, and with the racial tensions that still exist in our country, the timing was just right. The theme of Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! is "celebrating diversity with empathy," and it's a message that applies to any kid, regardless of race. In the story, we meet Gabe on his first day of school in America, where he doesn't speak English. A simple act of kindness makes all the difference in making Gabe feel welcome and included in his new home. (Amazon.com, $11)
This multicultural series of books features kids of all different ethnicities who experience intolerance but grow through the discovery of their own customs, strengths and appreciation of others' differences. These affordable reads help promote tolerance and understanding of cultural diversity through situations with which kids can identify. The Alphabet Kids book series is geared toward kids ages 2 to 7. (AlphabetKids.com, $35 for the complete set)
Unlike many of the Dr. Seuss books you know, this children's book contains a number of short stories that weave a message of tolerance and teach kids about diversity. Through The Sneetches, The Zax and two other stories, the lesson that friendship is more important than differences is delivered through Dr. Seuss's lovable way. The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss is great for kids ages 5 and up. (Amazon.com, $10)
When a small disagreement over a hummus sandwich causes two best friends to divide, the story spreads across the school and transforms into intolerance. In an effort to mend fences, the principal helps the girls to celebrate their differences while giving the student body a lesson in the beauty of cultural diversity. The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio is a wonderful choice for kids ages 3 and up. (Amazon.com, $10)
Based on interviews with youngsters from all around the world, this children's book celebrates the beauty of cultural diversity while linking the worldwide similarities children of all walks of life share. Filled with photos and information on children of every continent in more than 140 countries, young readers will learn the foods, living conditions and fun in communities that are more similar to their own than they may first think. Children Just Like Me: A Unique Celebration of Children Around the World by Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley was created in collaboration with UNICEF and is ideal for kids grades three to six. (Amazon.com, $16)
Through a little girl's quest to paint a picture of herself, Lena and her mother take a walk through their neighborhood to understand that skin color comes in all sorts of shades. As Lena and her mother compare each person's skin color to food, such as honey, cinnamon and more, diversity is put in a perspective even small children can grasp. The Colors of Us by Karen Katz is terrific for children ages 4 and up. (Barnes & Noble, $24)
Originally published January 2013. Updated September 2016.
There have been rumors that Lindsay Lohan and her ex-fiancé Egor Tarabasov may be getting back together, but her recent comments about him prove that not only are they not getting back together, but what allegedly happened between them is a lot more terrifying than anyone could have imagined.
In July, Lohan made several accusations against Tarabasov, including accusing him of cheating and assaulting her — and she recently opened up about the latter, during an interview with Russian television's Channel One.
"I went to bed and he broke into my house. He started strangling me," she explained. "I feared that Egor may splash acid in my face. I jumped out to the balcony and shouted with all my force, 'He's trying to kill me, call the police!' I am lucky to come to Moscow to speak."
Lohan's claims paint a pretty terrifying picture of the alleged abuse that she suffered toward the end of her relationship. However, Tarabasov vehemently denies these allegations and made a statement of his own to Daily Mail on Wednesday. He said, "It has come to my attention that my former fiancée, Lindsay Lohan, is planning a new smear campaign against me in the Russian and international media. My relationship with Lindsay came to an end in July 2016. In the weeks that followed, there were numerous attempts to discredit my name by inaccurately portraying the nature of our relationship, publishing distorted facts and making false accusations."
He continued, "I decided not to address those harmful and false statements at that time. As an international businessman, I aim to maintain a low profile and concentrate on developing my business. I also chose to keep my silence out of respect for Lindsay."
Tarabasov also claimed that all accusations made against him by Lohan are untrue and revealed that he would not be making any more statements in the future. However, he does intend to use all possible legal means to help protect his reputation.
Things between Lohan and Tarabasov have turned very toxic, and it's become a classic game of he said, she said with multiple accusations being made. But Lohan appears to have remained upbeat throughout it all, and her Instagram has become a treasure trove of selfies and positive captions.
Lindsay Lohan Instagram
Lindsay Lohan Instagram
Lindsay Lohan Instagram 2
Lindsay Lohan Instagram 2
Let's hope in the future Lindsay Lohan can find real happiness.
When Florida mom Mary Thomaston gave her 6-year-old daughter unicorn-inspired hair, she got plenty of praise. But she also got a bashing from some people, who clearly don't appreciate a freaking amazing hairstyle when they see it.
One commenter called her a "terrible mother," while another accused her of "doing unknown damage to the health and development of that very young child."
Those naysayers should be feeling pretty stupid right now, after several people pointed out that Manic Panic, the dye used by Thomaston on her daughter's hair, contains 100 percent natural ingredients. It's vegetable-based, vegan-friendly and only stains the hair and doesn't reach the follicles, so it causes no harm whatsoever — to innocent children or to anybody else who uses it. Basically there are way more chemicals in kids' sunscreen than in this brand of hair dye.
Thomaston herself responded to the haters by pointing out that her daughter's new hairdo was entirely her own choice and that she had been asking for it for a while before her mom finally gave in. She also revealed that the dye washes out so quickly that it had almost completely faded after two trips to the water park.
Despite this, the judgment kept coming. "Would never do that to my daughter's hair," was one comment, while someone else wrote, "She's only 6 years old and her hair is already destroyed! What will happen when she's a teenager then?"
Why anyone is giving Thomaston a hard time for this is beyond us. Isn't it amazing that she's encouraging such creativity in her child? A child who is willing to be herself and stand out from the crowd should be celebrated, not squashed. People, hair grows back! It's not as if she's given her kid a tattoo or pierced her tongue.
It's also plain weird that some people are bashing the mom for making her daughter sit still long enough to dye her hair. Don't we get mad at our kids for not sitting still? Surely if a 6-year-old is willing to stay in the same place long enough to get something she wants, that's nothing short of a miracle.
So let's just check out this little girl's awesome unicorn hair one more time.
Unicorn hair 2
Unicorn hair 2
Unicorn hair 3
Unicorn hair 3
Unicorn hair 1
Unicorn hair 1
In the words of Mrs. George from Mean Girls, why be a regular mom when you can be a cool mom?
D.J.'s all grown up, if Fuller House is any evidence. And back here in the real world, Candace Cameron Bure has grown up too — with a gorgeous Mini Me daughter to prove it. With the looks and talent of her super-famous mom, Natasha Bure is the young up-and-comer that everyone wants to know more about.
Natasha Bure Instagram 1
Natasha Bure Instagram 1
Here are a few things we never knew about Natasha.
Natasha is known to hit red carpet events with her mom, like in the photo above of the two at the 2012 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
2. She's entering the entertainment industry
Natasha Bure Instagram 2
Natasha Bure Instagram 2
While Candace is a well-known actress and talk show cohost, Natasha is an aspiring singer. She frequently posts clips of herself singing on Instagram and has a beautiful voice.
3. She walks the walk
Natasha Bure model
Natasha Bure model
Yep, Natasha is multitalented just like her mama, and she was also recently spotted strutting her stuff at 2016's New York Fashion Week. Mom Candace posted that she was "so proud" of her newbie fashion model daughter.
4. She has a killer fashion sense
Natasha Bure model
Natasha Bure model
Considering that Natasha is still a teen and all, yes, she went to prom this year — and she looked amazing doing it. But of course Natasha's prom dress wasn't just any prom dress. Natasha's fashion-forward prom gown got over 21,000 likes on Instagram.
5. She has two younger brothers
Image: FayesVision/WENN
Natasha is older sister to Lev and Maksim. Her dad, Valeri Bure, formerly played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens.
With 184,000 Instagram followers, almost 11,000 Twitter followers and 34,596 subscribers on YouTube, Natasha is certainly no slouch when it comes to the Internet. Her fans were super disappointed when she recently announced she would be giving up social media for Lent.
"Sayin [sic] goodbye to social media for a while," Natasha wrote on Instagram. "See ya in 40 days!! Cleanse time! #prayfornatasha."
"The fictional character that I want to be my husband is Augustus Waters from Fault in Our Stars," Natasha said in a YouTube Q&A in December.
8. She and her mom could be twins
Natasha Bure YouTube 1
Natasha Bure YouTube 1
In a holiday-themed YouTube video, Candace and Natasha sat next to each other and fully displayed their eerie resemblance. From their voices to their facial expressions and mannerisms, it's obvious that the two are swimming in the same gene pool.
Hallmark cut a video featuring Natasha and scenes from Candace's Hallmark Channel movie A Christmas Detour.
10. She's appeared in commercials
Natasha Bure Twitter 1
Natasha Bure Twitter 1
A Twitter fan unearthed these adorable stills of Natasha's Whimzy Pets ad from several years back.
11. She's addicted to Christmas movies
Natasha Bure Instagram 4
Natasha Bure Instagram 4
"My mom and I, we always sit down and we watch a ton of Christmas movies together," Natasha said on YouTube. "One of my favorites is Elf and Home Alone. Like, I cannot go through Christmas season without watching Elf or Home Alone. And The Grinch, but like, towards more the end. At the beginning I just pull out Elf and am like, 'Have to watch it.'"
12. Her golf game is strong
Natasha Bure Instagram 5
Natasha Bure Instagram 5
I couldn't hit it that far. Just sayin'.
13. And so is her Dubsmash game
Natasha Bure Instagram 6
Natasha Bure Instagram 6
Are you a little freaked out at how much Bure is like her mom, or is it just us?
I’m the girl who Instagrams Bible verses alongside mugs of coffee, goes to church at least once a week and prays with her family every night. I’m devoted to God in every way and it’s a huge part of my life.
These two ideas clash constantly, and it’s super hard to find my place in today’s world. Many of my Christian friends think I’m a crunchy hippie. Many of my feminist friends think I’m a backwards, anti-choice conservative. But I think my Christian lifestyle lines up with feminism perfectly.
In fact, many of the ideals in Christianity line up with feminism.
For instance: chastity. A lot of modern day feminists think that “Netflix and chill” is the way to empowerment — but is it really? What screams “empowerment” like a night of two humans using each other for their bodies? Wouldn’t real empowerment be holding out for a person who actually values you for more than your hookup skills?
Pornography is another area where modern-day feminists and Christians could benefit from being on the same side. Last month, Utah declared that pornography was a public health crisis, and in a study of U.S. college-aged men, those who had seen porn in the last 12 months were actually more likely to commit a sexual assault if they knew they wouldn’t get caught. A study of college-aged women found that women dating men who had recently viewed pornography had diminished self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. That sure doesn’t sound very “empowering” to me.
Or take social justice. The Bible is dripping with verses about loving one another. Jesus taught women and spoke with them frequently, something that would have been seen as pretty scandalous in his day. He saved a woman caught in adultery from being stoned, reminding her would-be captors (all men) that they themselves are living lives of sin. Each month, Pope Francis announces his special prayer intention, and this month of May his intention is for the dignity of women to be fully realized by the world.
He said, “We have done little for women who are in very difficult situations: despised, marginalized and even reduced to slavery... we must condemn sexual violence against women and remove the barriers that prevent their full integration into social, political and economic life.”
Every week, I see at least a few essays about how someone’s feminism (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Hillary Clinton) isn’t feminist enough. Instead of joining together and learning from each other’s ideas, women are continuing to build fences and throw each other under the bus. When I wrote an article about why I believe being pro-life is being feminist, I got dozens of emails exclaiming that I wasn’t a “real” feminist. Well, who says what that is? Isn’t being pro-woman and believing in the equality of the genders being a feminist? If so, then Christianity and its values are definitely under that category.
Feminism and Christianity aren’t spoken in the same sentence very often, and sure — there are Christian people that have a long way to go (the number of Christians supporting Donald Trump is pretty disturbing, considering he goes against everything Jesus stood for). But at the end of the day, many of the ideals Christians hold support women, if only people were willing to consider them.
Claire Swinarski is a writer and Christian feminist living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her work has been featured on Vox, Cosmopolitan.com, Seventeen.com, The Billfold, HelloGiggles, Mom.Me, The Kitchn, and many others. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading a library book or changing a diaper. Follow her on Instagram at @whatclairesaw.
It's happened again — Blue Bell is voluntarily recalling ice cream due to possible listeria contamination. Unlike the gigantic April 2015 recall that wiped all of its flavors out of store freezers, this one is focused on just one flavor: its no-egg Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
Why just that one flavor, and is it just a matter of time before the recall spreads to other flavors?
Maybe not this time. The edible cookie dough used in the ice cream comes from a third-party supplier, Aspen Hills, and that's where the contamination was found. Listeria strikes flour again.
Blue Bell, meanwhile, has enhanced its sanitary food safety screenings and cleaned up its act since the bigger recall last year. It's a bummer that it was still hit with a possible contamination scare not of its making. But thank goodness the company is testing that ice cream more carefully before (fingers crossed) anyone gets sick.
