It's about time Khloé Kardashian found a man who makes her happy — and oh boy, does Tristan Thompson do that.

More: Khloé Kardashian & her new boyfriend Tristan Thompson are all about the PDA

Things are really working out for Kardashian and Thompson, and one month into their relationship they remain very happy. In fact, according to an E! News source they're "doing really well" and they're also exclusive.

"There is a lot of chemistry between the two of them and they are happy together," the source added.

Kardashian has been through a lot in the love department, having to deal with the break up of her marriage to Lamar Odom, and then her decision to put her divorce on hold to rally behind him during his near-death overdose (both of which must have really taken their toll on her emotionally). And while she seemed happy with French Montana and James Harden in the past, Thompson really sounds like a keeper — and he wants Kardashian to be a part of his life, even showing her off to his friends.

More: James Harden thinks dating Khloé Kardashian is basically career suicide

"She's even gotten close with a few of his friends and they all hang out sometimes. Khloé hasn't had this much fun with someone in a while," the source said.

But things may be about to get even more serious in the future, because according to the source, Kardashian plans to make herself readily available to support her beau (she attended his Cleveland Cavaliers pre-season game just last week). The source said, "She had a few clothes shipped to Ohio because she plans to keep flying back and forth during the season."

Yep, that sounds pretty serious to us.

Plus, if anyone deserves to be happy, it's Khloé Kardashian. She's proven time and time again how loyal and dedicated she is to the people she loves, and it would be great to see someone value her in the same way.

More: Khloé Kardashian says Kim's robbery served as a major wakeup for the family

Do you think Tristan Thompson and Khloé Kardashian are a great match? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Since last Friday, the Donald Trump video has been one of the hottest topics in the country. It has not only been a part of the last presidential debate, it has also damaged Billy Bush’s broadcasting career and drawn two unsuspecting women into the story — entertainment reporter Nancy O’Dell and Days of Our Lives star Arianne Zucker.

More: Too many of us have walked in the same shoes as DOOL star Arianne Zucker

After releasing a statement over the weekend, Zucker spoke with Today and took the high road with her comments about the incident. However, the morning news program seems to be the one who took the low road in reporting the story.

The heavily edited video that was shown on Thursday morning’s show eliminated the entire section where Bush asked Zucker to give Trump a hug. Only moments before they had stepped off the bus, the men had made sexist comments about Zucker without her knowledge.

Leaving that vital section out of the video diminishes the story against Zucker, who didn't know the full story until the entire nation saw the Trump video. She told NBC Newsjournalist Janet Shamlian in the interview, “These are offensive comments for women. Period.”

More: Donald Trump's joke about dating a little girl is creeping everyone out

Shamlian did ask her if she felt that Bush “egged on” the situation, even though that crucial section was left out of the NBC video package.

Zucker responded, “Who knows how he was feeling when he walked off the bus or what he needed to do or the relationship… because when he came off the bus along with Mr. Trump, I had no feeling but professional. That’s it.”

The explanation Zucker gave is how she was feeling in the moment in 2005, not 2016. It’s really hard to believe NBC News thought it was best to eliminate that footage because it’s a vital part of the story. Trump didn’t act alone when it came to his bad behavior, he had an accomplice.

More: Trump's comments showed me that words really do matter

Even though Bush has apologized and has been suspended by NBC News, it does feel like the network is protecting him and making Trump out to be the only bad guy in the situation. This is such a teachable moment for women and men of all ages and editing that video to have less of an impact feels nothing but shady. But are they protecting him or taking precautions due to Bush's legal threats?

Zucker wasn't surprised that any of this happened after working in the entertainment industry for decades.

"Not with that type of personality," she summed up. "I wasn't shocked, which is why it probably doesn't mean a lot to me."

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Evan Peters has finally arrived in American Horror Story: Roanoke, and I'm honestly not sure what to make of his role as Edward Mott, the man who built the murder house.

More: American Horror Story Season 6 might bring the series full circle

It's clever, of course, as always, but he didn't seem to have a broad space in Roanoke aside from his brief moment of helping Shelby, Matt and Flora escape the murder house thanks to the tunnels he had built.

Knowing how creator Ryan Murphy has handled the show and Peters' history in the series, this will be the first of a big arch for Peters, who has been on the show since Season 1 and is one of the only cast members to appear in every season. But where will his story go?

His character clearly had ties to Hotel, as is the pattern of this season. Like Peters' character Mr. March in Hotel, Mott built the murder house. Mr. March, you will remember, built the Hotel Cortez. He is also playing another ghost. Unlike last season, though, it seems that this season, Peters will be one of the good guys.

More: The American Horror Story Season 6 opener was all anticipation and no delivery

Let's just go ahead and assume that Matt and Shelby are going to be dumb again and return to the house despite every reason possible indicating that they should stay away. Will Mott be the one to save them once again?

Really, beyond Mott's character, I'm just excited to see where Roanoke is headed in general. Next episode is the episode we were promised would be the shocking turning point in the season. Something's about to go down, and cast and crew have promised our minds will be blown.

I'm wondering if maybe the Matt and Shelby we see talking to the cameras are dead. Who are they talking to? Could they be in some kind of purgatory?

I also think Murphy intend to break the fourth wall this season by bringing the ghost to that interview-style setup. Those characters aren't going to be sitting and talking to an unknown person all season. There's no way!

More: We're picking up the clues American Horror Story's dropping about Season 6

I feel like I have bits and pieces of what's to come, but the full picture is still one big blur of AHS: Roanoke. T minus six days until it's going down, and I can't wait.

How do you think Evan Peters' character Mr. Mott will play into the rest of American Horror Story Season 6?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Last week, one of my husband’s and my marital tripwires was set off when one of our sons got sent home from day care with a fever. My husband and I both work from home, which can be convenient, but also makes it difficult to drop everything and stay home for the day with a child. We have a fairly predictable fight when this happens — one borne of stress and concern that stems from a very tricky topic: Whose time and work is worth more?

As we quarreled, my 4-year-old put his hands over his ears and said, “Stop it!” Then he made us apologize to each other. You might think that would have slowed us down, but with the fight not yet over, we still bickered until our little arbiter was dropped off at preschool and we could get on with our days.

My son’s chiding made me wonder, though — were we causing him emotional harm by arguing in front of him? Or is it actually healthy and normal to show your kids what a marriage really looks like? For answers, I turned to parenting expert Joani Geltman, author of A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens.

More: How to avoid money arguments

SheKnows: Is there any upside to fighting in front of your kids?

Joani Geltman: Four year olds are very sensitive to their parents; they’re just starting to recognize emotions in themselves and others. They’re just starting to see another person’s perspective, so there is a positive side not just to seeing that people aren’t always nice to each other, but modeling forgiveness. Make sure they see you kiss and make up. But otherwise, it’s not helpful to hide arguments from your kids — otherwise when they argue with people, they’re going to feel like something’s wrong with them. Conflict is a natural part of being human. If you feel in control enough to say, “I think we need to take this into another room,” do that, but not when it’s about emptying the dishwasher. Otherwise, hiding arguments is not real life. If there’s never any conflict in a family, there’s no roadmap for what to do when there’s conflict in their own lives.

SK: But surely some arguments are not meant for kids to overhear.

JG: You wouldn’t want to talk about sex in front of them. You wouldn’t want to brawl in front of them. I don’t like to see parents degrading each other — that is a nonstarter. Calling names, very overt aggression, saying things like, “You did something to me,” — that shouldn’t be in front of the kids because that becomes more personal to the kids than just being mad at each other... They need their parents to be secure. Plus, as they get older, if that’s how kids are observing how people speak to each other, it gives them permission to be bullies. Just remember that there’s a difference between a personal argument and one between two people who have had a long and frustrating day. And nobody wants to sit in on anybody’s fight when it’s personal — and it’s very scary for a child.

More: How to argue the healthy way

SK: Should parents apologize to their children for arguing in front of them?

JG: I don’t like parents to apologize for it. Then that takes away permission for their kids to express their anger when they feel it. I think it’s more understanding their feelings and then showing them a positive resolution. If a child is upset about an argument instead of apologizing, you can say, “I see that made you feel uncomfortable and it was scary to see Mommy and Daddy fight, but we love each other and we made up. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy disagree just the same way you disagree with the way I told you to pick up your toys and you yelled at me. Sometimes we lose our tempers.”

SK: My 4-year-old tried to get us to stop arguing even though we weren’t done with our fight yet. Should we have taken his lead?

JG: Kids are very bossy at that age. You can say, “We see that you’re feeling upset,” but it’s not really his role to order you to hug each other. Say, “I love Daddy and he loves me” and kiss and make up, but not at [your son’s] request.

I don't get starstruck. I've worked in entertainment long enough, interviewed enough people, that it isn't really a thing for me anymore. Justin Timberlake is apparently the exception. Just watching him in his new Netflix special Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids was enough to make me squeal at my television.

More: Justin Timberlake, like most new dads, has no idea what he’s doing

Timberlake is magnetic. He has that star quality, that charisma that draws you in and doesn't let you go for the entire hour-and-a-half ride that is Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids. With the help of his greatest hits, some glitzy lighting and a few smooth moves, Timberlake has me ready to drop whatever kind of cash I must to see him next time he's in concert.

Oh, and let's not forget. Timberlake doesn't just excel in using his voice as an instrument. He can also play a host of instruments as well. And he does. Every chance he gets during his concert special, he's playing away with his band, making me swoon.

I guess that makes this special a success.

More: Guys, take note — Justin Timberlake praises "MILF" Jessica Biel

But it's deeper than that. Timberlake has heart and passion. Despite being in the entertainment industry for decades, it's easy to read the love he has for music and performance art. He is a master of his craft, but that doesn't stop him from playing and having fun.

He's constantly flashing his signature cheeky grin at the cameras along the way. He's looking over his shoulder at his band with a toothy smile on his face. He's busting out a move or two just because he feels it.

Like he said at the beginning of the show to his Tennessee Kids, "Look to your left, look to your right — that’s who this show is for." Well, Timberlake is front and center on that stage. There's no one next to him most of the time, which means he isn't performing for anyone but himself. The rest of us are just lucky to witness whatever piece of it we can.

More: 19 pop songs little kids can dance to (oh, and parents can hang too)

Do you think Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids is one of the best musical tour specials ever?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

The Criminal Minds' band is back together! Well, kind of.

Last night's episode, "Taboo," brought SSA Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) back to the BAU. When Emily walks into the BAU with a box of Spence's favorite doughnuts, it’s almost like she never left. She falls seamlessly back in with the team. This episode is also the first one that does not feature SSA Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) — or "Hotch" as he is most often called by his team. Speaking of Gibson, fans might recall he was fired from Criminal Minds this past summer after an incident in which he assaulted a writer on the show. It was explained to Emily on last night's episode that Hotch is out on a special assignment, but it remains to be seen how his permanent absence will be explained throughout the remainder of the season.

More: Hotch's death would be the best thing for the BAU and Criminal Minds

I almost hate to admit it, but Gibson’s absence went largely unnoticed by me during this episode. Emily's return seems to have brought a breath of fresh air to the cast and the show, which quite frankly, was becoming somewhat of a snooze-fest for me. These shows deal with some pretty grim subjects, but I've always loved the way Paget Brewster brings a certain even temper and lightheartedness to Emily Prentiss. She's like the big sister of the team and is often a light in the tunnel of darkness that is usually a CM episode.

And I'm clearly not alone in feeling this way:

More: We're not so sure we buy Thomas Gibson's side of the Criminal Minds story

But enough about Gibson. Did you guys catch the sexual tension?

There is a bit of a cute moment when Prentiss, who is back temporarily from her stint at Interpol in London, starts profiling the BAU’s newest team member, Alvez, based on his desk. Of course, apparently channeling NCIS's Leroy Gibbs, he shows up behind her as she’s profiling him. When Prentiss and Alvez do properly meet, it becomes quite clear that there is possibly going to be some sexual chemistry between the two, which quite frankly does not surprise me.

The show’s closing quote comes from Buddha: "Three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth." The truth is Emily’s return seems to have rejuvenated Criminal Minds in spite of Hotch’s absence. Fans of the show have been concerned about the show's future since Gibson's firing, but with Paget Brewster returning to CM as a series regular, this show will probably be just fine.

More: Prentiss' Criminal Minds return makes me nostalgic for a superior cast

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Sometimes, being punny feels so right it can't be wrong. And while we know your friends and family are probably going to moan and groan at a pun-based dog name, we can't get enough of these silly names with a double meaning. We've also added in some totally nonsensical doggie names to keep things interesting.

Because honestly. Clever dog names like Billie Howliday, Bark Obama and Sasha Fierce are way too good to pass up. At the very least, one of these snappy names will make for a great icebreaker at the dog park.

Funny dog names based on famous people

1. A-fleas Ansari
2. Anderson Pooper
3. Bark Obama
4. Bark Wahlberg
5. Barkevious Dingo
6. Barking Madoff
7. Billie Howliday
8. Brad Sit
9. Chuck Norris (for a small or fancy dog)
10. Diggy Azalea
11. Dog Johnson
12. J.K. Growling
13. Jack London
14. James Earl Bones
15. Jim Barksons
16. Julio Diglesias
17. L.L. Drool J
18. Katy Pawry
19. Maria Sha-ruff-pova
20. Ma Barker
21. Notorious D.I.G. (or Diggie Smalls)
22. Pawtrick Stewart
23. Piss Hardwick
24. Rosa Barks
25. Ruth Bader Ginsbark
26. Sinéad O'Collar
27. Sir Francis Bacon
28. Snarls Barkley
29. Sophia Vergrrra
30. Spambot
31. Tina Spay
32. Queen Elizabark
33. Vera Fang
34. William Shakespaw

More: 120 unique names for male dogs of every size, shape and color

Funny dog names based on pop culture

1. Bilbo Fleabaggins
2. C3 Pee-O
3. Chalupa Batman
4. Darth Maul (for a small, harmless dog)
5. Deputy Dawg
6. Fuzzbucket
7. Hairy Pawter
8. Hamburglar
9. Jabba the Mutt
10. Lady Lump (perfect for a lazy dog)
11. McGruff the Crime Dog
12. Mr. McGiblet
13. Mulligan
14. Nerf Herder
15. Orko
16. Princess Pee
17. Ramen
18. Salacious B. Crumb (perhaps for Jabba the Mutt's sidekick)
19. Sasha Fierce (for a cowardly dog)
20. Weeny Cooper (for a dachshund)
21. Scarlet O'Hairy
22. Turtle O'Power
23. Ubu
24. Underdog
25. Virginia Woof
26. Whoopi
27. Winnie the Poodle
28. Xena Waggly Princess

Next Up: Funny dog names based on silly words

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Funny dog names based on silly words

1. Bumfuzzle
2. Collywobbles
3. Fopdoodle
4. Gardyloo
5. Gubbins
6. Lollygag
7. Mollycoddle
8. Sassafras
9. Schnigglepeuf (supposedly, this means an enjoyable fart)
10. Snickersnee
11. Tara Diddle
12. Toondoo
13. Wallaby
14. Widdershins

More: 120 unique female dog names that you definitely won't be hearing at the dog park

Just plain funny and punny dog names

1. Countess Von Scuttlebutt
2. D.J. Doggywampus
3. Defense Secretary Waggles (for a guard dog or small yapper) 
4. Donglebum
5. DOTUS (Dog of the United States)
6. Droolina
7. Earl Yippington III
8. Eleventeen
9. Flee/Fleigh (the latter for a girl)
10. Fu Dog Chew
11. Grrrrace
12. Knucklehead Wonderpup
13. Lord/Lady Lapdog
14. Madame Barklouder
15. Mittens (especially for a large-breed "tough" dog like a doberman)
16. Mr./Ms. Kitty
17. Mrs. Mugglesworth
18. Pickles McPorkchop
19. Piewacket
20. Rear Admiral Dan/Ann Ruffington
21. Rudy Loosebooty
22. Sir Yaps-a-lot
23. Tomato/Tom-ah-to

More: 60 Incredibly sweet French dog names

Originally published May 2015. Updated Oct. 2016.

Trying to eat healthier can feel like a never-ending puzzle. One day some superfood is in, the next day it's out — it can feel impossible to keep track of what's actually good for you and what's just a fad. And when you find yourself choking down a kale-maca-manuka honey-matcha smoothie, you just might find yourself wishing you knew if it's actually any healthier than your favorite fruity sugar bomb from Jamba Juice.

That's why we reached out to doctors and nutritionists to find out the truth about different sweeteners. Sure, refined table sugar isn't good for us, but what about its substitutes? Below, learn about the most common alternative sweeteners, and hear health professionals weigh in on their pros and cons.

Note: The glycemic index measures how much a food raises your blood glucose. Under 55 is considered low, 56 to 69 is medium, and 70 or more is considered high.

Aspartame

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 7-1/4 teaspoons

Glycemic index: 0

"Aspartame, marketed as NutraSweet and Equal, [has] been the subject of constant controversy since its initial approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1974," Dr. Larry Goldfarb of the Medical and Wellness Center of New Jersey said in an op-ed he shared with SheKnows.

"Since some of the artificial sweeteners are 200 times sweeter than regular sugar, our body responds by secreting more insulin to deal with the overload of sugar. With that much insulin secreted (insulin is the chemical needed for sugar to get into the cell), the blood levels deplete and the person gets hungry again at a very rapid rate, ingesting unnecessary calories over and over so there is weight gain."

Sucralose/Splenda

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1 cup

Glycemic index: 0

"Popular in decades previous, artificial sweeteners are decreasing in popularity due their potential link with brain abnormalities, and the increased risk of developing certain cancers," Zoe Martin, a nutritionist for Discount Supplements shared with SheKnows. "However, it's worth noting that many studies involving these sweeteners have been carried out on rats, and in very large quantities that do not align with what would realistically be consumed."

Stevia/Truvia

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1 teaspoon powdered or liquid concentrate

Glycemic index: 0

"Stevia is classed as all-natural, and has a calorie/carb value of zero. The active compounds in stevia — steviol glycosides — are much sweeter than sugar, and are deemed safe for consumption. It is believed that stevia may possess other health benefits that are not yet understood. The drawback, however, is that pure stevia has a slightly bitter aftertaste that's akin to licorice — it's not for everyone," Martin told us.

More: Forget fat, it's sugar that's causing all our health problems

Xylitol and erythritol

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1 cup

Glycemic index: 12

"These are sugar alcohols, which are pretty great as far as sweeteners go," Martin told SheKnows. "They are extracted from corn or birch trees; they have an equal sweetness to sugar, and look and taste about the same. However, unlike their toxic cousin, they contain roughly a third of the calories, and have a much lower impact on blood glucose levels. Plus, they do not contribute to tooth decay (xylitol is actually approved by some dental experts for its role in preventing tooth decay)."

Any cons? "Since sugar alcohols are mostly absorbed in the gut, large quantities may cause gastrointestinal disturbance," Martin explained. However, most foods use a very small amount of xylitol, so you should be fine.

Agave syrup

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 3/4 cup

Glycemic index: 15

Although agave is low on the glycemic index, it's 90 percent fructose, which is more harmful than glucose. "Agave is not as healthy as once thought. It's high in fructose, higher than that of high-fructose corn syrup, and research suggests that fructose does not shut off appetite hormones," Rogers told us.

Brown rice syrup

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1-1/4 cups

Glycemic index: 25

"Brown rice syrup is often praised because it's comprised of entirely glucose, as opposed to fructose — the latter of which has been linked to raised triglyceride levels in the blood, which can lead to atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries). Again, though, sugar in any form is something we should minimize intake of," Martin told SheKnows.

Honey (raw)

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1/2 cup

Glycemic index: 30

Some of the experts we talked to thought honey was just as bad as sugar, while others touted its supposed antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. If you do choose honey, just remember to "purchase raw organic honey, and not honey from China that can be just made from high-fructose corn syrup," nutritionist Connie Rogers advised SheKnows.

Coconut sugar

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1 cup

Glycemic index: 35

"Coconut sugar does retain quite a bit of the nutrients found in the coconut palm and may have a lower glycemic index [than table sugar]," Rogers told SheKnows. "Make sure you are getting coconut sugar and not just palm sugar."

Date sugar

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1 cup

Glycemic index: 50

"Date sugar is made from dried dates. It doesn't dissolve in water and has a high glycemic effect," Dr. Barry Sears, president of the Inflammation Research Foundation, told SheKnows.

More: New FDA nutrition labels unmask hidden sugars like woah

Maple syrup

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1/2 – 2/3 cup

Glycemic index: 54

"Maple syrup is made from boiled-down maple tree sap and contains minerals," Rogers shared. "[It's] not as refined as agave, and healthier."

Molasses

Amount to replace 1 cup sugar: 1-1/3 cups

Glycemic index: 55

Some experts say we should be wary of using molasses as a sweetener.

"Most of the chemicals which are used in the refining process of cane sugar eventually find their way into the waste residue, which is the molasses," Rogers explained. "Therefore, you not only have the harmful effects of the sugar but also of the toxic chemicals which are used in its manufacture."

Table sugar

Glycemic index: 63

"Refined sugar is perhaps a little worse than all of [the above] because it is so easy to overconsume. It's not the sugar per se that is bad; it is when it is combined with fat that it affects the brain more acutely," and that's when we should be worried, Sears told us.

At the end of the day, Sears told us that "all [sweeteners and artificial sweeteners] have problems. Try to use the least amount that combats any bitterness without trying to oversweeten the taste of the final product. In my opinion, the best sweetener is fruit as it contains fructose and polyphenols."

More: The 5 steps of sugar rehab

When your child starts school, assuming you are a parent who works outside the home, you quickly begin to sense that the entire educational system has been set up to drive you out of your ever-loving mind. There are 9 a.m. start times for first graders — which is great because it allows them to sleep in a bit more — but is pretty terrible for the parent who has to get to the office by 8 and has an hour-long commute. There are half days (seriously, what are those about?), 2 p.m. dismissals and at least a handful of vacation days each month that leave you scrambling to find a sitter.

A new study suggests that children's school schedules are designed for the 1950s household, in which there was usually one parent (mom) home at all times. Since about a bazillion more women are working outside of the home now, does it make sense to keep school exactly the same? Or to keep insisting that children need two months of vacation during the summer — a ridiculously long break that not only wreaks havoc on working parents' schedules and financial situations (because, hey, day care is crazy-expensive), but also results in them forgetting a lot of what they learned the previous year?

More: Ditch working-mom guilt for good

The report found that the average full-time employee uses up all of their paid vacation and holiday days to care for children when they're off from school — and still needs to shell out an average of $6,600 a year to cover the cost of care for them for an additional 13 days during the school year. Given this information, it really isn't so crazy that one of the recommendations that has come out of the report is for schools to extend their hours to 5 p.m. This isn't about forcing teachers to work longer hours for less pay — I'm sure there are educators who would volunteer to work a few extra hours a day. This is about providing children with more instructional time and time to socialize, as well as suiting the needs of families that are struggling to adapt to their children's school schedules and are poorer in pocket because of it.

As a mom who works from home, I am fortunate because my husband earns a decent salary, we have an affordable health insurance plan and we were careful to spend less on our mortgage than what was approved by our bank. Even so, it kills me to know I could be putting my degrees to better use as a full-time employee. I realize I'm preventing myself from furthering my career and from putting my family in a position to earn more, but my husband and I crunched the numbers early on and realized it made less financial sense for me to commute to work and pay for sitters than it did for me to take on less work and stay home with the kids. This shouldn't be the case. Working mothers need more support to help them achieve their career and financial goals so they don't have to forfeit everything they've worked hard for because they want to raise families.

Before my children started school, I assumed I would only be home with them for a few years. But now, with my daughter in kindergarten, I see the error of my thinking. If both my husband and I worked, we'd have to arrange for early morning child care, after-school child care and of course, coverage for all of those many days when there are parades, holidays, professional days, you name it. And I haven't even cracked open the jar of other expectations placed on parents: mid-morning tea parties, early afternoon PTA meetings, stepping up ceremonies and nursery school graduations.

And summers? I shudder to think about the amount of money most families are paying to ensure their kids are cared for so they can work. Even worse, how many children are left alone at home because there simply isn't enough money in the bank to pay for day care?

More: Pulling kids out of school for family vacation: Yay or nay?

It's time to step up, re-evaluate our school system and bring it up to date. Offering parents more flex-time and paid leave is fantastic if you can get it — but we're ignoring a key way we can benefit both children and working parents.

I watch a lot of TV — more than I should probably admit, actually. I watch adventures, dramas (I’m partial to police shows), sitcoms and reality TV. And although my DVR is super-diverse, there’s a handful of black shows that I absolutely watch — without fail. I know what some of you are going to say — I don’t see race. Why make it about color? What’s a “black” show, anyway? For the purposes of this post, a black show is defined as a show in which all or most of the main characters are black. And based on my own unscientific account from friends — both real and of the Facebook variety — while most of my black friends have some or all of these shows in rotation, fewer of my white friends do.

More: 6 TV shows that are having important conversations about black men

One reason I've heard is that they can’t relate to them. *Insert record player scratch here* I wasn’t a 20-something living in what seemed to be an all-white area of New York City, but I still enjoyed Friends. So if you’re in the “It doesn’t relate to me camp” (not you, of course, but maybe some friends or friends of friends) here are 10 black TV shows you need to add to your DVR queue. You'll thank me later.

1. Empire (Fox)

If you haven't heard of Empire, I'm really questioning where you've been the last few years. Terrence Howard plays the head of a music company who looks to find a successor when he's diagnosed with an incurable illness. Add in a fabulous ex-wife fresh out of prison, a soundtrack that makes you literally bob your head, and it's obvious why the show quickly gained a cult following. With the over-the-topness of it all, it's basically a soap opera that airs at night, and we're here for it.

2. Black-ish (ABC)

I gotta admit. I absolutely hated the name of this show before it came out. I pre-emptively disliked it, just because. And the first episode felt like they were trying too hard to make us get how “black” the family was. But after that rocky start, it’s a show my husband and I watch faithfully each week. My sister-in-law even texted us to say that the family is “totally us.” It does a great job of showcasing two black parents from different walks of life that go through the same struggles as everyone else, but through a different lens. Episodes explaining the struggle of a black man’s barbershop experience and the family watching news coverage of police brutality are equally as real (and the emotion is equally relatable).

3. Survivor’s Remorse (Starz)

Not gonna lie. This show can do no wrong in my eyes. I love it so much, and the relationship between couple Reggie and Missy is total #relationshipsgoals. The premise revolves around a Boston-reared basketball player who makes it big when he’s picked up by a team in Atlanta. It’s loosely based on (and executive produced) by LeBron James, who happens to be my spirit animal even though I don’t follow sports (don’t ask). It’s a comedy and it has you laughing when you least expect it. In one episode, a kid awakens from a lengthy coma and all he wants is a night of drinking and strippers from his favorite hoops star. In another episode, the family navigates a church visit in which the basketball star’s sister brings her latest girlfriend to church and the family has to deal with the church’s homophobia. Seriously, do not not watch this show. You’ll regret it.

4. Atlanta (FX)

True story: When I first found out the corny dude from Community (I literally had to Google the name of the show just now) was the same dude who produced and starred in Atlanta and was the same dude who’s a rapper (Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino), I wasn’t really sure what to think. Plus, the trailers were super-weird and I couldn’t tell what the show was about. But since my husband is from the ATL — meaning I am by proxy — we gave it a try. And it didn’t disappoint. My boo, the barometer of all things Atlanta, gave it the stamp of approval. Glover used an all-black writers’ room to make the show as authentic as possible, which is evidenced in the scenes in which Paper Boi (Glover’s drug dealer cousin-turned-rapper) gets a hookup on some lemon pepper wings (WET!) and the prison scene in which that Atlanta accent goes hard for like a full scene (and yes, there is such a thing as an Atlanta accent, Google it). But warning, it’s a dark comedy — you won’t be laughing the whole time, but already, the character development is on point and I can’t wait to watch the rest of the season.

5. Luke Cage (Netflix)

We knew this show was going to be black AF when the trailer opened up to a Wu Tang Clan track. We couldn't have been the only ones who fell in love with Harlem's bulletproof hero during his recurring role as Jessica Jones' love interest on the Netflix series of the same name. So it was only a matter of time before he got his own show. It's violent and dark, like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, but I dare you not to get hooked. The show also features some of our favorite actors of color — including Alfre Woodard, Rosario Dawson and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, who plays another badass on House of Cards. Luke tries his hardest to keep a quiet existence sweeping up hair at a barbershop, but can't help getting caught up as an unlikely hero when violence hits his neighborhood.

More: Who is Luke Cage, and how is he connected to the Marvel Universe?

6. The Carmichael Show (NBC)

Two different people told me I remind them of a character on this show. I'm still not sure which character they were referring to, but the LOL-worthy episodes made me forget that's what I was watching for. The show is named after lead actor and executive producer Jerrod Carmichael, a stand-up comedian, and follows his and his family's day-to-day life. Think Black-ish with no kids and no mansion. They discuss sometimes heavy topics, like politics, gender and social activism, but with an eye toward comedy. One episode followed the family's discussion of whether it was OK to watch porn after their pastor admitted being addicted to it. I never knew an argument about porn could be so funny.

7. Insecure

Confession: I've only ever watched a couple of episodes of Issa Rae's acclaimed web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. But I was super-excited to watch her new HBO show based loosely on the series. The comedy follows Rae's life as she navigates work, her best friend and the boyfriend she's thisclose to breaking up with. I laughed out loud so many times during this show that I was afraid I'd wake up my kids. My favorite scene? When Rae gets up on stage during an open mic night — prompted by her ex — and raps an original ditty called "Broken Pussy." For real. Trust me, it's much funnier than you'd think.

8. Power (Starz)

The 50 Cent-produced show is about the life of a drug dealer who is trying his hardest to go straight. Lead character Ghost owns a legitimate nightclub, but is still deeply entangled in the drug game. Him hooking up with an ex-girlfriend (while he's married, no less) who happens to be a federal prosecutor is a recipe for all kinds of disaster. It's got everything — money, power, sex, a trending hashtag on Sunday nights and a lead actor that looks good in and out of a suit. If that doesn't hook you, let me check your pulse.

9. Queen Sugar (OWN)

Based on the book of the same name, Queen Sugar is a drama with some heavy hitters behind it. It airs on Oprah Winfrey's network and superdirector Ava DuVernay is one of the executive producers. The Bordelon siblings come together after a tragedy to run the family's sugar cane farm in Louisiana. It's a heart-wrenching addition to this pretty much light-hearted list, but it's definitely worth it. It's also great to see one of my True Blood favorites Rutina Wesley back on the small screen (can I mention here that her skin is absolutely flawless?). Though I'm still catching up on the season, the show feels "quiet" to me so far — with the family having the kind of quiet tension that you know will eventually boil over. Everything DuVernay touches is gold, and this is no exception.

More: We love Queen Sugar so much we scoured the book for spoilers

10. The Get Down (Netflix)

OK, yes, another Netflix original. But can they help that they're killing the game in diverse original programming? The Get Down is set in the late '70s in Bronx and from the trailer, I couldn't tell what it was about. So I wasn't 100 percent sure about this one when I started the first episode, but the kung fu reeled me in. Let me explain. As a kid who grew up watching Bruce Lee, I perked up when street kid, kung fu fighter and budding DJ Shaolin Fantastic made his first appearance. If you grew up in the late '70s/'80s, you'll love the nostalgia (Yo, remember when everyone was rocking Pumas?). If you like music, you'll love the frequent musical interludes. If you like politics and history, well, it has that too. Basically, I'm saying there's something for everyone — but you may have to watch a couple of episodes to get into the tone and timbre of the show. Trust me, it's worth it, and the action quickly picks up. Oh, and it also features Jaden Smith as a popular graffiti artist who has so many spot-on Jaden-isms that you'll think he had a hand in writing the script.

More: Netflix's The Get Down is the summer jam we've been waiting for

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

In the Washington Post’s parenting section yesterday, psychotherapist Katie Hurley provided some tips for parents of tantrumming kids, both to handle the situation and to handle their own emotions in lieu of spankings. Hurley comes down against spanking for a very clear reason.

A study published in the Journal of Family Psychology in April looked at five decades of research on spanking and found that the more children are spanked, the more likely they are to defy their parents and engage in antisocial behavior and aggression. These kids are also more likely to have mental health problems and cognitive difficulties. The results are clear: Spanking is all harm and no good.

But as you’ll see in any online story about spanking, parents often have strong opinions on the subject, and Hurley picks up an interesting thread, which may explain why so many parents say things like, “I was spanked and I turned out fine!” Hurley says, “Parents feel that taking a hard line against spanking feels like a betrayal of their own parents. They feel like doing things differently sends the message that they weren’t happy as kids.”

More: Dear dad dragging his kid by her hair: I grew up like her and I'm not fine

That point rang true for me. I recall after my first son was born, my mother reacted a bit defensively when she learned how strongly medical experts advise against putting a baby to sleep on its stomach. “That’s how we did it and you turned out fine,” she said. Of course, I know my parents were doing the best they could with the information they had. But I got different information than they did — from sources I trust — and I was going to proceed accordingly.

The same goes for spanking. My parents did practice corporal punishment on my brother and me. It’s not the kind of thing that I would need to see a therapist about, but I certainly don’t recall enjoying the deep pinches and the smacks. I never thought, “I’m learning a great lesson.”

My husband I decided we would not use physical pain when disciplining our children. A lot of that has to do with the April study Hurley mentioned — the evidence seems to indicate that there is nothing good about spankings and so on, so why practice it? Meanwhile, I think by instituting this policy, it will just be easier to have a hard-line rule against hitting and hurting in our house. I’m positive my sons will brawl when they get a bit older and we’ll have to deal with that, but at least there will be no confusion about why Mommy and Daddy can hit and pinch and slap but the boys cannot. (My parents certainly couldn’t use that reasoning when my younger brother and I would physically fight.)

We are no soft-touch angel parents, believe me. Just the other night we went without a bedtime routine because our older son was tantrumming so hard I gave up and told him he could put himself to bed. Sometimes I don’t use a very gentle touch (especially when the toddler is trying to spin around or stand up on the changing table.) We have found timeouts, per the 1-2-3 Magic approach, to be effective with our older son, although I recently interviewed parenting expert Alfie Kohn, who said that timeouts are not a gentle approach because it’s a withdrawal of love. “Even to the extent it’s temporarily effective, it gets its kick from that threatened withdrawal, which in the long run does immense harm.” I wanted to tell him that timeouts are as much for the parents (at least in our case) as for the children — we all need a cooling-off period — but perhaps I’m just getting a taste of what it’s like to have a complete stranger tell you your method of parenting is wrong and bad.

I know my parents and probably many others think of timeouts as ineffective discipline, the lame tactic reserved for parents who are too weak to spank. I can assure you, though, my older son does not feel that way, and probably would come down on the side of Kohn in that discussion.

More: Dad caught dragging son around by rope as 'punishment'

There are many family traditions and parenting techniques that are excellent for passing on. My mother did a wonderful job making holidays feel special and giving us occasional surprises and treats just because — she made being a kid fun, and I think of her often when I’m trying to decide if I should buy something fun for my kid that I know he’d like even though it’s not his birthday or a holiday. My father let us travel more than most little kids get the opportunity to, and I hope we can do the same for our sons. But when it comes to physical punishment, that is one tradition I won’t be passing on. I’m am quite sure that by the time I am a grandmother, of course, my older son will say things like, “A study published in the April 2036 Journal of Family Psychology proves that timeouts are ineffective, Mom, which is why we’re letting the robot nanny intervene instead,” and I will be a little annoyed, but that’s just the way things go.

The trend of states relaxing their laws regarding medical cannabis has encouraged many female entrepreneurs to get join the new ‘Green Rush’ that is the ‘Cannabiz.’ While it’s true that the cannabis industry is male dominated, more women are getting involved in all areas of this lucrative and growing business. “Research indicates that women hold significantly more executive roles in cannabis than in mainstream American industries,” said Jane West, CEO of Jane West and co-founder of Women Grow.

More: I moved across the country so weed could take the edge off my Lyme disease

Perhaps there is a lower barrier to entry and less structured corporate citadel, but one thing’s for sure: The boys club is no more and it is giving rise to a female market force in the industry.

Why is cannabis appealing to female entrepreneurs? I spoke to some influencers in the space and explored this market trend to find out.

Breaking the glass ceiling

Many female entrepreneurs flock to the cannabis industry because they can see opportunity. Perhaps it's a land grab where leadership roles abound. Some see it as the Wild West, where big wins and profits can happen quickly, and far faster than in ‘tech-bro’ Silicon Valley or traditional business environments. In the typical business model, many women find it difficult to advance to certain high-level positions by the impenetrable glass ceiling that allows only well-connected males to hold these positions. Academic qualifications and years of experience can fall by the wayside, and the limits can be frustrating.

The cannabis industry in contrast, is now coming into its corporate manifestation, yet is still considered to be in its infancy (and even slightly dangerous to dabble in if you’re a rank and file executive, male or female). WeedTech has given the industry a sheen of legitimacy, with corporations such as Tom Bollich’s Surna, Inc. bringing forward new systems of production. Even the Pax2 Vape has been spied in boutiques at Martha’s Vineyard, and tucked into the designer bags of socialites as memorialized on the hit show, Billions.

If the cannabis industry is in fact the new Gold Rush, then women are grabbing the power and cashing in: 36 percent of the executives are female, as opposed to 22 percent in traditional business. This number is slated to increase as women realize how fertile and lucrative the space is. Leadership, legitimacy, cultural acceptance, and buy-in from the American public will pave the way for dynamic growth across the industry for those that give in first and early.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a brand new legal industry which purportedly will be as large as the coffee industry and this one is mostly about a female plant,” remarked Susan Soares, executive director at C.A.R.E., an organization that embraces new approaches to cannabis advancements through producing elegant cannabis culture events, outreach and research. “The female plant or more specifically the flower or ‘bud’ dominates the market. The male cannabis plant’s place is limited to a very specific market, mostly for breeders and researchers."

More: Why I'm not afraid to use weed in front of my kids

Balancing business and family

For some women, the marijuana business is appealing because it allows for a more balanced work and home life. The corporate world can be all consuming and personal goals, time and family life can evaporate, so the flexibility to lead one’s own company, or create one’s own hours is appealing. “I’m meeting a lot of women attorneys, accountants, journalists, and other professionals who are getting into the field, as well as farmers,” observed Ellen Komp, deputy director of California NORML.

The cannabis industry appeals to women on other levels: Getting involved in a plant that does so much for so many is an easy proposition to get behind. “Women’s natural inclination is to be caretakers and healers,” Komp added. “Yeah, there’s money to be made, but cannabis is a cause-driven industry filled with true believers whose main aim is to help people gain access to a medicine they believe in.”

Women like Maya Elizabeth from Maya and Whoopi. Elizabeth is the founder of OmEdibles which is an all female run collective dedicated to providing the highest quality of medical cannabis products to legal patients in California. She and Whoopi Goldberg strive to give women moments of self-care and relief with cannabis. They have a line created for women finding relief during their monthly cycle with four enjoyable products like an Epsom salt soak, two types of delicious raw chocolates, a multi-herb women’s health tincture, and an effective and inviting topical rub.

Some women come to cannabis marketing from personal experience. Carolyn Gerin, strategic partnership director at cannabis PR firm, Precise Cannabis, who formerly ran a successful marketing communications firm in downtown San Francisco weighed in saying: “In 2005, I was asked to help with the marketing for a large medical cannabis clinic in Oakland. I jumped at the chance to be able to amplify the medicines health benefits, while concurrently ‘myth busting’ the social and visual ‘stoner’ stereotypes. Back then, it was dispensaries with pit bulls, and pot leaves on everything. Things have changed drastically.”

Female encouragement and guidance

There have long been local and national collectives that have been run by women since the early days of legal medical marijuana, such as Women’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, and Berkeley Patient’s Group (now with Magnolia). Female entrepreneurs who have risen to the top in the cannabiz are encouraging and actively supporting other women who want to get into the space. Some serve as inspirational thought leaders a to showcase how women can be successful and impactful in the industry.

There are industry organizations that provide support, business advice and community to other women aspiring to succeed in cannabiz. Women Grow, for example, is the nation’s largest association of cannabis entrepreneurs.

Frances Schauwecker and Barbie Sommars are examples of women who have benefitted from Women Grow. Schauwecker and Sommars are the respective founding chair, and vice chair of the Women Grow Orange County, CA Chapter. They are co-owners of Mary Jane University, an in-home cannabis education company that offers several types of parties including Cannabis 101, CannaBliss Spa Experience, Mary Jane's Kitchen, Mary Jane's UniversiDab, Medicated Meditation, CannaSutra, Cannabis and Kids and the CannaTea Party, which is tailored to seniors.

"Mary Jane University brings the dispensary experience to the home and plays a vital role in educating and connecting patients to the medicine," Schauwecker described. "We have found that many, women in particular, do not wish to go to dispensaries. We are here to help the canna-curious to be the canna-educated because there is so much to know about the modern-day applications of this healing plant."

The environment is one that encourages participation, without the stigma. "Mary Jane University also provides the opportunity for individuals to start their own cannabis business by becoming an independent consultant," said Sommars.

New rules, new tools

The cannabis industry is still in its infancy and this means that all the rules have not been established as yet — the social structure is in flux. Women entrepreneurs are in a unique position to create new rules, innovations, and systems in the industry that will lay the foundation for generations to come. New laws and industrialization of processes have not allowed nepotism to take root. The laws are being created now, and change all the time which will certainly abolish the glass ceiling and bring advancement for women in the space.

The female perspective will bring fresh ideas for health and wellness to the space. Female entrepreneurs like Jordan Person, is the founder of Primal Therapeutics, a company that uses cannabis infused massage oils for therapy.

There’s a green rush happening and female entrepreneurs will no doubt demand their place at the table. An estimated $5.7 billion dollars was made from nation legal marijuana sales in 2015 alone. These numbers will only increase as more states relax their laws. With cannabiz being so lucrative, seeing more women succeeding and holding positions of leadership isn’t surprising.

“It’s also interesting that America is likely to be voting in the first female president this year,” Soares concludes. “It’s appropriate that women are flexing their muscles at this time in this space.” Indeed, these are exciting times for the cannabis industry and the historic role women leaders will play in the industrial revolution and widespread cultural acceptance of the space.

More: I'm 50 and weed has been my medicine for 37 years

There are all sorts of arguments for and against having kids close in age, but the same arguments can be made in regard to spacing your kids far apart. In our family, my youngest is 14 years younger than her eldest sibling, and though it has its challenges, it's also pretty amazing. Here's why: 

1. Your older kids will remember those baby years

When your children are born only a year or two apart, they're not going to remember their little sister as a baby. Two-year-olds are basically babies themselves. If you have a 10-year-old kid, though, she's going to always remember the day she met her new little sister and what it was like to see her grow up. Plus, the older kid will definitely remember the "good old days" when Emily was just cute and didn't get into her stuff.

2. Only one baby in diapers

Something I'm grateful for is that I've also never really had to deal with two kids in diapers at the same time. My oldest three children are all three years apart and were all close to being potty trained by the time their baby sibling came around. But with a huge age gap, you don't really have to worry about it at all. When your older child(ren) can go to the bathroom by themselves, that means you only have one butt to worry about.

3. Less worry — for now

New babies need lots of holding, feeding and round-the-clock care. When you have an older sibling who is a toddler, you're kind of screwed if he scampers off to "play" quietly in the next room while you're nursing your new babe. Older kids, however, are less apt to play in the toilet water or scale the kitchen cabinets in search of a treat.

4. A built-in babysitter

I know this is controversial — there are many people who resent the hell out of their parents for assuming they'd watch their younger sibling... regularly... for free! — but if you do it right, it's often a win-win for everyone involved. For starters, pay your older child. Also, don't expect her to give up after-school activities (such as sports or band practice), and don't infringe on her social life. But having a teenager home to watch your first-grader while you run to the store or out to a pub with your partner for an hour? Or a driving teen who can pick up Josie from dance class? Priceless. Bonus: This can lead to more experience as a caregiver and can even lead to better-paying babysitting opps.

5. Less financial hemorrhaging

With only one small child in day care or preschool, you're going to save a ton of money during the school year (as opposed to families with two or three small kids). Day care is not cheap, and adding a sibling or two to your monthly bill can make your wallet scream bloody murder. You're also going to spend less on daily necessities (like diapers, see above) and other big ticket items, like sleepaway camp or a set of braces, won't impact your family all at once.

6. Less sibling rivalry (maybe)

In general, kids who are close in age tend to have more conflict with one another than kids who are spaced further apart. Close-set sibs have more access to each other and have more opportunity to annoy the hell out of their sisters and brothers, whereas bigger gaps tend to afford fewer chances for competition. This doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but if you grew up fighting your sibling(s) to near death, your widely spaced apart kids may not.

7. Older kids are full of sage advice for the younger ones

Of course, this is a double-edged sword — older kids know how to get away with stuff and will gleefully impart that precious knowledge to your grade-schooler, but often younger kids will go to an older sibling with questions they're not hyped up to ask of Mom or Dad.

So, if it doesn't look like having your kids close together is in the cards, don't stress. While there are concerns that older kids and their tiny siblings won't have a strong friendship when they're older, it still happens, especially now when staying connected is easier than ever.

There's a truly adorable new trend on Instagram: Little kids are recreating Solange Knowles' album cover for A Seat at the Table.

More: Tina Knowles pulls a Kanye West on Solange — but don't worry, it's pretty great

The trend seems like it began with 5-year-old Ahnari, whose mom posted a side-by-side comparison of Knowles' cover and Ahnari copying it.

Ahnari's mom, Michaela Lemoine, told Buzzfeed News that Ahnari pretty much recreated the look on her own — that she "put most of [the clips] in her hair and I just had to fix them [in place]."

Lemoine went on to explain to Ahnari, at only 5 years old, already likes to make a statement by dressing up.

"Ahnari is very outspoken and loves to dress herself," Lemoine said. "I may not agree with her choices in clothing sometimes (lol) but I allow her to artistically speak through her wardrobe."

And Ahnari seems to have started an Instagram trend with her Solange-inspired look. Other kids have followed suit and their moms have been posting photos too.

More: Here are all the deets on Alan Ferguson, aka, Mr. Solange Knowles

There's 4-month-old Clover from Queens, New York:

And 7-year-old Nilah from Rockford, Illinois:

One of the cutest photos is of 2-year-old Jolie Dior, whose mom, Ashlyn Ursua, decided to do her hair like Solange's as part of an impromptu girls' night.

"It was ‘hair day’ so I was massaging her scalp and giving her an olive oil treatment and playing Solange’s album and one thing lead to another! LOL," Ursua wrote, adding that she's happy her daughter has someone like Solange to be a role model to her.

"It is very important for my daughter to see black representation in the media because that is who Jolie is,"' Ursua said. "With past generations the media has always been so saturated with one type of image. It’s time for us to break down those barriers because beauty comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes."

More: Solange’s new album A Seat at the Table is unapologetically black

Corey Feldman is making a brave stand against all his haters.

More: The history of Corey Haim & Corey Feldman — 30 years of fame & tragedy

After he performed on the Today show last month with his band, Corey's Angels, Feldman became the subject of an absolute avalanche of online hate. The performance was instantly viral, and as harsh criticism poured in over what can only be described as Feldman's weird aesthetic, the disheartened star started to speak out against online bullying.

In a now-deleted Facebook video, Feldman claimed anonymous Twitter users had told him to kill himself over his performance. He broke down as he admitted that at some points in his life, the hate he was receiving might have made him do just that.

More: Corey Feldman says online bullying could have caused him to commit suicide years ago

Now, Feldman is standing up for himself and other victims of online abuse. On Thursday, he returned to Today to perform another song and spread his message about stopping online bullying.

Feldman explained how he came to terms with all the hate he received for his last performance after a friend explained to him that some of music's greats, like Kiss and Eminem, weren't well-received at first.

"That really turned it around for me," he said. "I'm like, you know, you're right: A lot of people get hate in the beginning."

And Feldman's second performance definitely went over a lot better. While there were haters here and there, for the most part, Twitter was flooded with support for Feldman.

Good for Feldman for continuing to chase his dream, even in the face of so much hate. Watch his second performance below.

More: Corey Haim's friend is making serious accusations about Corey Feldman

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

If you thought getting dumped by text or email was harsh, get a load of this.

More: It sure seems like Dr. Phil had a hand in Steven Avery's latest breakup

Making a Murderer's Steven Avery just dumped his fiancée, Lynn Hartman — via a letter from his attorney.

"Please let this letter act as formal notice that Mr. Avery terminated his engagement with you effective yesterday, October 2," the letter reads.

Harsh.

The letter continues, "As Mr. Avery expressed to you during your relationship with him, he deems his correspondence and communications with you to be confidential. This constitutes an oral agreement with him. You should therefore cease and desist giving interviews of any kind concerning your relationship with him."

More: Steven Avery's comments about Teresa Halbach's family rubbed me the wrong way

It ends, "Although we believe that you have already breached the oral contract, we will not take any legal action against you unless you continue to violate the terms of your agreement with him."

I don't know, a phone call might have been a smoother method.

Avery and Hartman started their romance when she wrote to him at Waupun Correctional Institution, where he's serving a life sentence for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach. They broke the news in August that they had plans to get married once Avery gets released from prison — following the Netflix docuseries Making a Murderer, there's been a push to reexamine the evidence that landed Avery in prison, and his nephew has already been released.

Hartman did an interview with Dr. Phil about her relationship with Avery, prompting Avery's other ex-girlfriend, Sandra Greenman, to call her a "gold digger."

Hartman declined to comment on the end of her relationship with Avery.

More: Brendan Dassey's overturned conviction doesn't mean he's free quite yet

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Maureen McCormick has come a long way.

More: Jana Kramer's courage steals the Dancing with the Stars spotlight

From playing Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch to battling addiction, an eating disorder and mental illness to competing on the current season of Dancing With the Stars, McCormick isn't too shy to open up about the epic journey her life has been.

"I’ve been through almost everything you can go through — bulimia, cocaine abuse, depression, anxiety — but I’m a fighter," she told Closer Weekly. "It’s been a roller-coaster, but today I have never felt better in my life."

McCormick, who says she has been a fan of DWTS since its early seasons, never envisioned herself actually competing for the Mirror Ball trophy, mostly because she was sure she'd be too nervous — she actually froze up during her first dance at her wedding even though she and her husband had taken dance lessons to practice for the big day.

More: DWTS' Julianne Hough did the right thing after Amber Rose body-shaming claims

"I just thought it was way beyond my ability," she explained. But as she progresses on the show, she's getting more confident and loving every minute of it, she says.

"I’m being pushed harder than I have in years," McCormick said. "I love it. I love to give 100 percent."

Despite injuring her back early on in the season, McCormick is still in it, and she's got her eye on the prize. But more than anything, her success on the show is reminding her of how far she's come, from addiction and depression to successfully competing. Marcia Brady would approve, she says.

"Are you kidding me? Marcia Brady would have been in heaven on DWTS!" she adds.

More: Maureen McCormick on Dancing with the Stars makes me fangirl Marcia Brady all over again

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Gwen Stefani keeps moving on and on and on — past her failed marriage to Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and into her new(ish) relationship with Blake Shelton.

More: Gavin Rossdale has moved on with his life & he wants y'all to do the same

Stefani and Shelton, who worked together on The Voice before they started dating, have been together for more than a year now. Their relationship is supposedly super-serious — source after source has insisted they plan to get married before the end of the year (ticktock, you guys!), and while Shelton has gifted Stefani with the most lavish wedding present of all time — a new house in Oklahoma — she's been letting him get super-cozy with her three boys.

Stefani, Shelton, and her kids — 2-year-old Apollo, 8-year-old Zuma and 10-year-old Kingston — had the most adorable little outing this week, when they were photographed looking like a picture-perfect family unit at Disneyland. Shelton held Apollo in his arms in line for rides, and all of them huddled together in roller-coaster cars and while walking between attractions.

More: Gavin Rossdale moves on from Gwen Stefani with a long-distance relationship

Seriously, they're so cute it's almost gross.

Reports also say that this is Shelton's first ever time at Disneyland. Stefani, meanwhile, is spotted there with her kids all the time, so she's clearly taken a new step and invited him along for a family tradition. Things are getting serious! But we already knew that.

More: Gwen Stefani didn't just get presents for her birthday — she got a TV show

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

“I totally lack confidence,” one of my clients said when she walked in my office. It's a problem for many women, but particularly for her, as she worked in Alaska’s oil patch, surrounded by type-A personalities jostling for rank.

More: One of my coworkers is stealing money out of purses and my boss won't do anything

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“At quarterly, company-wide meetings, when I’m asked questions to which I know the answer. I freeze. Or I say something, but am so tongue tied, I sound uncertain. My boss likes me and knows that I know what I’m doing, but I’m about to lose my job.”

My job as her coach, was to turn the situation around and fast. She needed to learn how to perform when asked hard questions in meetings and in front of male coworkers who could wither her and each other with scornful looks.

First, I had to get her to believe she could change. Here’s the experiment that convinced her and you can try for yourself. You’ll be surprised.

Stand with both feet firmly planted and turn your head and torso to look at the furthest place you can see on the wall or out the window. Memorize that spot. Now return to face the computer screen, with your feet in the same position.

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Before you make this turn for the second time, and with your feet in the same place, imagine a cloud of bright, empowering light that massages the back of your head, upper shoulders and back, all the way to your waistline. Let yourself fully get the benefit of this massaging cloud by spending a moment in your mind, imagining how it massages you until you feel more relaxed, supple and flexible. Now, turn and see how far you see on the wall or out the window. If you’re like most who’ve tried this, you’ll see one to four inches further.

What happened? Your mind did.

When my client and I talked, she told me she built a picture in her mind of how the others at the next quarterly meeting would ridicule her ideas.

“Do you actually know your stuff?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“And you’re the subject matter expert in your area?” I challenged.

“Yes.”

“What if you imagined they’d think she knows her stuff?”  I asked.

She laughed and said, “That’s what my manager says.”

“How about believing it?”

Next, I had to get her willing to step outside her comfort zone, so she could practice speaking in easier situations and build up her confidence before the next quarterly meeting, coming up in six weeks.

“Where else can you speak?”

“I’m not a speaker,” she said.

“Growth happens when you push through the wall of your comfort zone,” I said. “Where can you speak?”

In reality, she had multiple opportunities, at her kids’ school, in several committee meetings, and at her church.

“Seize every opportunity,” I challenged, “you’re preparing.”

Pushing through begins when you pick a task outside your comfort zone, one which slightly scares or intimidates you, and keep doing it until you get it right. Trying is success, whether you initially succeed in the task or not.

The best part – my client learned others found value when she spoke in meetings – she took that sense of herself into her quarterly meeting. When asked questions, she gathered her thoughts together and spoke clearly and articulately, and kept her job.

© 2016, Lynne Curry. If you have a career questions you’d like Lynne to answer, write her @ lynne@thegrowthcompany.com. Lynne is an executive coach and author of Solutions and Beating the Workplace Bully, AMACOM. You can follow Lynne through her other posts on sheknows.com, via www.workplacecoachblog.com, www.bullywhisperer.com™ or @lynnecurry10 on Twitter.

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How many times have you wished your favorite Snapchat filter could follow you around in real life? Like a million? OK, me too. Thanks to makeup artist extraordinaire, Allison Pynn, your dreams are now a reality.

Guarantee yourself a place on the best costume podium this Halloween by turning yourself into one of Snapchat's most popular filters: the dog face, the rainbow mouth or the crybaby.

First up: The dog filter.

Step 1: Cut out the dog ears

Trace an outline of the ears onto a brown piece of felt and cut them out. Trace a smaller outline on a piece of pink felt and cut those out as well. Bend a pipe cleaner into the shape of the ears and use spray adhesive to attach the pipe cleaner to the pink pieces of felt. Then spray the brown pieces of felt with adhesive and stick the pink pieces on top, with the pipe cleaner in-between.

Leave a few inches of the pipe cleaner sticking out of the end of the ears. These pieces will be used to attach the ears to the headband.

Step 2: Attach them to a headband

Wrap a piece of brown felt around a headband and use spray adhesive to adhere the felt to the headband. Once the felt is securely in place, attach the ears by wrapping the end of the pipe cleaners around the headband.

Step 3: Outline the lighter nose section

Use light brown face paint to draw the outline for the nose and fill it in.

Step 4: Outline and fill in the darker section

Use a darker brown to outline and fill in the tip of the nose.

Step 5: Add shading and dots

Give your nose some dimension by adding a little light brown to the tip of the darker section. Use black face paint to draw a line down the center of the nose and to create the effect of having whiskers.

Step 6: Draw the tongue

Outline the tongue with light pink face paint and then use a deep red to highlight the edges.

Step 7: Fill in the tongue

Paint the entire inside of the tongue light pink.

Step 8: Add dimension

Use the same deep red used to outline the tongue to draw a line down the center of the tongue. You can mix a little white paint with the pink paint and apply the lighter shade to either side of the dark red line for added depth.

The finished look

Bend the ears so they tilt forward and securely place the headband on your head.

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Next: The rainbow mouth

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Step 1: Apply white eyeliner

Create the effect of big eyes by applying a thin line of white paint (or white eyeliner) to your lower eyelid.

Step 2: Add false lashes

Cut a strip of false eyelashes in half and apply half of the strip to the outer section of your eyelid. This will help give the appearance of super-sized eyes.

Step 3: Outline the lower lash line

Use black face paint (or eyeliner) to draw a lower lash line under the white line you already added.

Step 4: Draw the lower lashes

Draw lower eyelashes along the edge of the lash line.

Step 5: Add rosy cheeks

Apply light pink face paint to your cheeks to really amp up the cartoony feel of this look.

Step 6: Draw the rainbow mouth

Starting with red paint, use a medium-sized brush to draw a thick stripe down your lower lip and onto your chest. Create five more stripes in orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Add multiple layers of each color to really make them pop.

Step 7: Add some sparkle

Use white paint to add some faux sparkle to the rainbow. Start by making a cross and then fill in the center portion of the cross to give your rainbow a real twinkle effect.

The finished look

Ta-da!

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Next: The crybaby

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Step 1: Paint your face white

Use a large brush to apply white face paint to your entire face.

Step 2: Draw dark eyebrows

Add some dramatic brows by using black paint to draw thick, arched eyebrows.

Step 3: Draw crease lines

Use a fine brush and black paint to draw crease lines around the brows, mouth, nose and cheeks.

Step 4: Color and outline the eyes

Cover the eyelid in blue paint and then outline your eyes with black paint. Extend the liner out past your eye, almost to the end of your eyebrow to create a winged look. Draw on a few dark lashes above the winged liner to give the appearance of oversized lashes.

Step 5: Draw the tears

Use dark blue paint to outline the tears under your right eye. Then use a lighter shade of blue in the center of the teardrops to add a little dimension.

Step 6: Add a bold lip

Use red paint (or a bright red lipstick) to fill in your lips.

The finished look

Practice your scowl before heading to this year's Halloween party to make sure you're prepared to snag the perfect Insta-worthy pic.

How to remove

All these killer makeup looks require some pretty heavy-duty makeup. To remove all those layers of face paint, we used Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water. It removes makeup, cleanses and refreshes your skin all at the same time.

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This post is sponsored by Garnier SkinActive.