According to TMZ, last Wednesday, an anonymous caller phoned the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division claiming that Levine had "struck his wife so hard it knocked her to the ground," and that he had hit his infant daughter in the face.
Investigators reportedly spoke to Prinsloo and examined both her and her daughter. They found no visible injuries, and concluded that the claims were unfounded. Sources told the publication that there will be no further investigation, and the case is considered closed.
How does Levine feel about what happened?
Sources close to the singer reportedly told TMZ that while he's pleased the police department did their job so quickly and professionally, he feels it's unfair being in the public eye means you sometimes "fall victim to false, atrocious allegations," according to TMZ.
Angela Simmons became a mom on September 29th. The 29-year-old star of Growing Up Hip Hop gave birth to her first child a baby boy, with her fiancé, Atlanta businessman Sutton Tennyson. She shared the happy news on Instagram.
It's an image that just perfectly captures that overwhelming feeling of awe when you finally get to meet the child you've been carrying for nine months.
Angela Simmons baby
Angela Simmons baby
The reality star, fashionista and daughter of Rev Run revealed in June that she was expecting a boy, posting, "I can't wait to kiss your little toes baby boy," on Instagram.
It seems the little boy arrived earlier than expected, as Simmons said last week that she had six weeks to go. Luckily, the baby shower was held a couple of weeks ago at New York City's Sugar Factory, where friends and family celebrated the pregnancy with a TapSnap photo booth, cocktails and a cake by Sweet Grace, Cake Designs.
Angela Simmons cake
Angela Simmons cake
Simmons and Tennyson, announced their engagement shortly before the pregnancy. They've only just revealed their baby boy's name as of October 19th. Would you consider Sutton Joseph a junior?
Recently leaked police reports show that in 2015, Kate accused Jon of a lot of things, from selling drugs to kidnapping their own daughter.
In Touch Weekly obtained the police reports, which were filed over a period of about a week in April 2015. In the first report, filed April 24, Kate claims Jon "kidnapped" their daughter Hannah, then 10, from school. In the same report, Kate told police that "[Jon] is a drug dealer, who uses his disc jockey employment as a front to sell narcotics. She also stated he frequently drinks alcohol around the children."
"Jon didn’t even know all of what Kate had accused him of until he saw the police report himself," a source close to the family told In Touch. "He believes Kate will stop at nothing to get what she wants — even if it means lying to police. She has no boundaries."
Things didn't stop there. Kate reportedly called police again, three days later on April 27, to say that she thought Jon, a gun owner, would involve her in "a hostile dispute." At that time, she added that she "detect[ed] suspicious behavior" between Jon and Hannah.
"Jon had no idea at the time that she accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with Hannah," the insider said. "He was upset when he found out."
After that, even though Kate called police three more times over the next five days, officers refused to get involved and "informed her this was a custody/civil matter, to be handled in court." Jon requested an emergency court hearing, and the judge dismissed every allegation that had been thrown at Jon, saying there was no evidence to support any of Kate's claims.
Both my children (ages 4 and 7) were conceived through intrauterine insemination. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of eliminating the element of surprise when it comes to undertaking new challenges, yet I failed to follow my own philosophy and didn't educate myself enough on what to expect when you're expecting fertility treatments.
Here’s what I wish I knew when I was starting.
No two experiences are alike
Having conceived our first child on the first round of IUI, I expected the same kind of magic to reoccur with child No. 2. Unfortunately, the second time around involved four failed treatments and one miscarriage before I eventually got pregnant — one year after we started trying. Knowing that our previous experience would not be a viable predictor of the actual outcome would have been helpful in setting more realistic expectations. Had I been prepared, I’d be less likely to treat every “no” delivered by the clinic nurse at the end of every round as an anomaly. I would have approached the process as more of a marathon instead of a sprint and I would have ultimately protected my heart from breaking with every single “no.” The process you undergo in an attempt to conceive your child (“the process” includes the medical care you’re receiving, your emotional and physical state, the duration of treatments and outcome) won’t necessarily be a replica of other IUI or IVF pregnancies. You may even find that conceiving your second child bears little resemblance to the experience you had conceiving your first.
When I was undergoing my fertility treatments, the last thing I wanted to do at home after spending hours at the clinic and doing overtime at work was to delve into “more fertility stuff.” Doing so would not only be overwhelming, but also might acknowledge that this situation is more than a temporary hiccup. In retrospect, I know that making time to read fertilityblogs or join online forums and Facebook groups would’ve been an investment in my emotional health. I felt alone. Pregnancies are visible; failed treatments aren’t, which meant I had spent a year noticing every pregnant belly on the street, subway, my Facebook feed and feeling like I was the only one failing in performing what was supposed to be a very basic function of the female body. Had I joined such groups or followed fertility blogs online I would have realized that I’m part of a community.
Know that this may start to feel like a contest and that that’s OK
The longer your journey toward the coveted pregnancy lasts, the more likely you are to start feeling as if you’re competing against others and yourself. I didn’t know that I wasn’t the only one feeling that way until after I started reading articles and blog posts about fertility treatments (long after I completed mine). When you’re trying to conceive for months, sometimes years on end, it can seem like you’re the only one standing while everyone else is moving. I remember taking our toddler to the beach shortly after my miscarriage and running into an old Gymboree friend of his that we had lost touch with. Nervous butterflies spread through my whole body when I realized the mother was definitely sporting a pregnant belly. I spent the rest of our stay trying to avoid them at all costs. I was ashamed of the negative emotions I experienced, but unable to shift my focus to the family’s happiness when confronted once again with my own failure. Feeling like you’re losing in this race, inaccurate as that feeling might be, is hard enough without also feeling ashamed about becoming competitive. The feelings you’re experiencing are natural. Parents always compare in order to assess where they and their children stand in comparison to others. They do it out of love and concern. All this means is that you’re thinking like a parent.
Don’t wait for positive things to happen; make them happen (and I don’t mean the baby)
The longer my treatments lasted, the more uncertain and unstable I felt. I felt like a failure, and this made it impossible for me not to feel stressed out. At some point, I realized that we have to create our own islands of stability and joy, whether it’s by exercising or meditating, writing or getting together with friends. For me, this meant speaking to a life coach once a week as a method of managing and reducing my stress levels. Janice and I discussed the various stress factors in my life (not just conception, but also work, life and relationships) and she was exactly what I needed at that point. She was able to offer a different perspective, but just as important was taking time out of my schedule to do something soul-nourishing for myself. Find your island. When we’re trying to conceive, we’re under so much pressure to produce a positive result. Trust the professionals you’re working with to help you with that. We, expecting parents, can make a different kind of positive happen.
You know how you have those girlfriends that make you feel relaxed and comfortable to be yourself? It's a feeling you wish you could have with the guys in your life. I seem to have this common thought with all of my dear friends that were born under the Pisces symbol, the dual fish. They have been my most loyal friends through my toughest times. They are deeply committed to their friendships and relationships, and ask for nothing in return. Their kindness and understanding never seems to exhaust. It is rare for me to feel like I can be myself, but not with the Piscean ladies I call friends. So I’m writing this to showcase all you wonderful Pisces women out there.
Women born under the Pisces symbol will sacrifice all for love and romance. If you’re able to appreciate her deep emotions, in return you will get her intense feelings. In order for her to really shine, you just need to make her feel stable. Once you do that, she’s all yours and the ride will be full of excitement.
Her depth of knowledge will surprise you
A Pisces woman has the tendency of having an old soul though she’s too modest to flaunt that fact. When she lets you in on her insight however, your world will open up to new ideas and possibilities. Don’t forget that still waters run deep.
She's hilarious
The depth of the Pisces symbol means she’s actually really funny. She’ll have you on the floor gutting yourself with her humor.
She's always got your back
The Piscean woman is ultra-selfless and if you have a problem or you’ve had a bad day, she’ll listen and make you feel cozy and safe. She is the master of “calm” and will help you overcome any problems in life.
Her love comes from a good place
If you don’t want games and you’re ready for the real deal, love from a Pisces comes from where it should – the heart. Pisces are well known for their good-hearted, empathetic and compassionate nature. They think with their heart so there’s no manipulation tactics, simply love.
She's a tough cookie
While she will nurture you to the ends of the earth, she is a strong person herself and is considered to have the heart of a soldier. She would do anything for family, friends and her lover, and takes care of herself just fine.
The Pisces woman has that rare positivity that makes her so delightful to be around. She seeks out positive, joyful people that are honest. Her positivity is so intense that she negates the negativity in people that are close to her.
You can be yourself with her
A Pisces isn’t looking for perfection, she only asks that you are real. She relies heavily on her instincts anyway, so she bases her relationship with you on a feeling as opposed to what you can do for her. There’s no need to put an act on for her, she will accept you just for who you are regardless.
If you are serious about finding someone to share your life with, the Pisces woman is the all around package. Instead of drama and uncertainty, you will feel fully loved and appreciated. There is a saying that you don’t know what love is until you’ve been loved by a Pisces. The thing is, all of these facts are shockingly true in my experience. So dive off the deep end and swim in the depths of the lovely Pisces woman.
Social media outlets can often feel like the Wild West, particularly if you are a parent trying to raise a mentally healthy tween or teen. While you can't always monitor which underwear-wearing celebs they'll encounter on any given day on Instagram, a new Instagram tool is doing its part to make it a little easier to help out young people who may be contemplating self-harm.
Teens often use SM like Instagram as personal diaries where they share their innermost thoughts, fears, desires and insecurities about their bodies. Let's say a young woman or man posts what his or her followers consider a cry for help. There are two ways Instagram tools are here to help. First, the buddy system: A person who follows anyone posting messages that suggest she or he is thinking about suicide, self-mutilation or eating disorders can anonymously report that person. The friend will receive a message that says, "Someone saw one of your posts and thinks you might be going through a difficult time. If you need support, we'd like to help." The message will also offer a helpline that can be instantly accessed where the user can confide in a trained professional.
The second Instagram tool prevents users from using hash tags that suggest self-harm. If a young woman (or man) posts a photo of a thin celebrity and attempts to tag it "#thinso" (short for thin inspiration), that user will be directed toward that same message offering help.
We have to commend Instagram for teaming up with groups like the National Eating Disorders Association and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as for working with Seventeen magazine to launch a campaign called #PerfectlyMe that focuses on IG users who promote healthy body image. As parents, we can't always be on top of our children, especially when they reach an age when they crave more independence. At the same time, many are too young to understand the influence that Instagram images and messages can have in promoting negative self-thoughts.
While I'm not entirely confident that a child's peer is going to serve as a reliable source who can distinguish between a friend's emotional declaration and a post that can actually indicate self-harm, these tools are a step in the right direction. As a young woman who suffered from an eating disorder, part of me always wished my diary would be found and that someone would try to prove to me that my screwed-up mind was worth saving. I never went as far as publicizing my private thoughts and have always suspected that those who do via social media truly are crying out for help.
If social media can, in some small way, replace the village we so desperately need and lack these days to help us raise healthy children, then maybe Instagram is leading the way.
It probably helps that it's been public knowledge for years that Smith is gay. Though he never said it himself, he never denied reports that he was gay, and he's been a recurring member of Out magazine's "Power 50" list for years.
Still, what made him finally publicly acknowledge his sexual orientation was the sex scandal surrounding Fox News exec Roger Ailes, who has been accused by a growing number of former and current Fox employees of sexual harassment. Smith weighed in when reports started circulating that Ailes, as his boss, had told him not to publicly come out.
"That’s not true. He was as nice as he could be to me. I loved him like a father," Smith wrote for Huffington Post. "He was very fatherly and mentorish... I wasn’t new in the business when I came here ― I’d been doing reporting for 12 years ― but I wasn’t old in it either, and he gave me every opportunity in the world and he never asked anything of me but that we get it right, try to get it right every day. It was a very warm and loving and comfortable place."
Ailes has also been accused of using anti-gay slurs in the workplace, and Smith denied that too.
"He treated me with respect, just respect," Smith said.
Smith also spoke out about how the scandal has affected him, saying, "I trusted him and trusts were betrayed. People outside this company can’t know [how painful that betrayal was]. This place has its enemies, but inside, it was very personal, and very scarring and horrifying."
Welcome back to Parental Advisory, where I answer all of your social media and IRL parenting etiquette questions. This week, let's talk about 'tragedyjacking' on Facebook. Tragedyjacking is a category of mommyjacking, which is when parents hijack their friends' status updates to talk about their kids. Tragedyjacking is when parents hijack a national tragedy, environmental disaster or historical anniversary and find a way make it about themselves.
Q: For years, I've seen you post about mommyjacking of tragedies, but never saw one for myself until today. To naturally come across one in the wild is as upsetting as finding a unicorn having a seizure. Why do so many parents feel the need to hijack natural disasters, national events, mass shootings, etc. on Facebook? Do they not realize it makes them look incredibly insensitive? Can you provide some tips or advice for parents so they know NOT to do this? Thanks!
A: Sometimes it feels like there isn't a holiday or major event that goes by without someone finding a way to hijack it. On STFU, Parents, I've written about parents hijacking everything from the anniversary of D-Day, to the tsunami in Japan, Sandy Hook massacre, death of Osama bin Laden and even the Joe Paterno scandal, and there isn't a year that goes by that parents don't mommyjack the anniversary of 9/11. Year after year, parents take these events and insert themselves, oddly and awkwardly, thinking they're making good jokes, exhibiting patriotism or reverence or just killing two birds with one stone by mentioning the significance of the day in the same breath that they mention their child's potty training progress. A couple of weeks ago, I received this submission as news outlets were reporting the potential for significant destruction due to Hurricane Matthew, and state governors were urging people to evacuate their homes.
Image: STFU Parents
Ughhhhh. The dichotomy between posts like this and posts that focus wholly on friends' safety can be pretty mind-blowing. Why is it that some parents know not to make tasteless jokes or reference their children in "silly" ways (especially during a hurricane), while others look at their calendars or turn on the news and think, "How can I make this day a little more about me and my kids?" Here are just a few examples sitting in my current events submissions folder right now that make me SMH.
A post during Hurricane Isaac:
Image: STFU Parents
A post when Pope Francis was chosen:
Image: STFU Parents
A post that was mommyjacked after the Supreme Court made gay marriage legal:
Image: STFU Parents
Another post on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks:
Image: STFU Parents
And a post on watching President Obama's eulogy for the pastor who was murdered in Charleston:
Image: STFU Parents
Whether online or in real life, it's never a good idea to brush aside national events or place yourself or your kids in the center of a larger conversation. Some events are bigger than we are as individuals, and they don't need to be punctuated with cheesy jokes, unnecessary anecdotes or in the case of the waiting room example above, children's nursery rhymes. Showing respect is easy if you're willing to acknowledge your place in the universe and imagine (or brief yourself on) how others might be feeling. Sure, it's natural for humans to focus on ourselves and ask ourselves how an event, historical date or catastrophe might personally affect us, but sometimes it's better for certain people to keep their mouths shut. And when it comes to the types of people who are most likely to eschew these unspoken "rules," parents tend to top the list.
You can post a status update about how an event makes you feel without cracking wise about a toddler's tantrum. Just because a hurricane isn't hitting your city doesn't mean it's OK to joke around about kids being "little hurricanes." And it's always OK to write separate status updates if you want your friends on your timeline to know your thoughts and feelings on a particular subject, but you also want to relay exciting news about your kids. There's no need to say, "What happened in the attacks in Paris is horrific, so let's take a moment to reflect on my son's great report card." There's no need to write, "Sept. 11 is a somber day of reflection, but it's also the day my baby girl tried bananas for the first time! She loved them!" Try breaking up those two updates out of consideration for who might be reading. As long as you're not tragedyjacking by lumping incongruent topics into the same status update, you won't come across as a selfish jerk or as someone who only half cares about the seriousness of an event. It's important to remember that just because social media allows us to exploit ourselves and our kids doesn't mean it's always a good time to do so.
Some days, we should all slow down and take stock of our world without injecting our own spin or personal tales of woe (or joy). Being a good Facebook user can be as symbolic a gesture as being a good friend. Don't let your own obsessions or eagerness to be funny get in the way of being a solid person. That's why people are friends with you in the first place. It's OK to mention that your baby took his first steps a day or two after the nation reels from a tragic occurrence. It's OK not to mention it at all! Just imagine if social media had existed before the mid-aughts, and parents had hijacked the national events we all grew up with. JFK's assassination could've been met with a Facebook response like, "RIP JFK. So sad what happened to him. On a positive note, today Nevaeh lost her first tooth!" The Challenger space shuttle tragedy might've inspired a status update like, "As we mourn the seven crew members we've lost, my son plays with his rocket ship toys in the bath, unaware of the tragedy. The future is still bright." Or maybe the Oklahoma City bombing would've caused one mother to compare the horror and devastation to her daughter's recent diaper explosion, just as the Boston bombings did. Doesn't that hypothetical sound kind of depressing? It's really not that hard to avoid making these faux pas.
That being said, if you're going to mommyjack an event that's in the national discourse, there are still tactful and/or funny ways to go about it. You just have to go after the events that carry less emotional weight. Hurricane Matthew might not be the best bet, but the incident with the Oregon Militiamen who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge? Open season.
Image: STFU Parents
Do YOU have a question about parents on social media? Send whatever is on your mind to stfuparentsblog AT gmail.com!
Loyal Grey's Anatomy fans have followed Meredith and the gang through more than 12 seasons of medical drama, and the years haven't been kind to everyone at Seattle Grace. In memoriam, we're taking a look back at some of the tragic deaths that have rocked our world over the years — and upon doing so, we realized that Shonda Rhimes is trying to destroy us one gut-wrenching loss at a time.
Let's start things off with a bang, shall we? There's been a ton of death on Grey's Anatomy, but nothing shook us to the core quite like when Dr. Derek Shepherd met his maker. McDreamy was taken from us suddenly in Season 11 after he was involved in a tragic car accident, and the scene where Meredith says her final goodbye to her husband still gives us chills.
It's hard to witness the death of any character, but when a baby dies, it's just devastating. In Season 11, Jackson and April made the hard decision to induce labor early when they learned Samuel's rare medical condition was causing him pain in the womb — and sadly, he didn't make it. Samuel's death was really the beginning of the end of the Japril relationship.
Alex Karev's father Jimmy Evans died a relatively peaceful death on the Season 10 winter premiere episode after a pretty tumultuous recurring role throughout the season. A former heroin addict and current alcoholic who beat his wife and sons when they were younger, Evans ditched Karev and his siblings early in life. As such, Karev has daddy issues, which manifested in a major way in season 10 after his girlfriend Jo proved Karev's patient was actually his father. Evans' health goes downhill after complications from his alcohol and drug abuse lead to cardiac arrest and, subsequently, a botched surgery at the hands of sleep-deprived, ego-trippin' intern Shane. Karev forgives his dad, tells him it's OK to let go and says goodbye for the last time.
She may have been a bit overeager, but we liked Brooks. She was shaping up to be a real contender for favorite resident. Brooks tragically died in the Season 10 premiere after she got electrocuted in the basement trying to find Dr. Webber. Shepherd attempts surgery to save her life to no avail. Yikes.
Chief Richard Webber's wife, Adele Webber, suffers through the last few seasons of her time on Grey's Anatomy with Alzheimer's. Even though Meredith Grey tampers with her and Shepherd's Alzheimer's drug trial to get Adele the medicine she needs, Adele's Alzheimer's continues to get worse. On the way to Bailey's wedding, Richard receives a call from the hospital telling him that Adele is on the way to the hospital. Bailey and Richard head to the hospital together, where Bailey immediately begins to work on Adele. They ended up working on her together, though, nearly causing Bailey to totally miss her own wedding. While the talented surgeons were able to save Adele's life on the table, the surgery proved too stressful for her heart and she died of a heart attack soon after.
Remember when Mark Sloan first came to Seattle Grace? Hello, Dr. McSteamy! Sure, he was a bit of a philanderer who wrecked Addison and Derek's marriage in the beginning of the series, but his growth and benevolence later more than made up for his initial shortcomings. He really made us swoon over his love for on/off girlfriend Lexie Grey, which ultimately kind of ended up being the death of him. When he, Lexie and several other Seattle Grace doctors go down in a plane crash, Lexie gets crushed beneath debris from the plane and dies. Sloan confesses his undying devotion to her in her final moments, lamenting that they were "supposed to end up together. We're meant to be." Although it appears for a time that he'll overcome his injuries, you get the sense the fight is gone from him now that he's lost Lexie, and he ultimately slips into a coma and dies in the Season 9 premiere.
Kind of just gave this one away, huh? To be honest, we're still not really over this. Lexie was smart, she was funny and she had a lot more going on upstairs than the Grey's average medical intern. Known particularly for her photographic memory, "Lexipedia" had grown on everyone over the years, including her half-sister Meredith. But, alas, during the Season 8 finale, as she and other doctors struggle to stay alive injured in the wilderness after their plane crash, Lexie dies — in quite possibly the most crushing (literally and figuratively) Grey's Anatomy death scene ev-er.
8. Dr. Thomas
Image: ABC
We weren't prepared to see Yang lose her mentor when Dr. Craig Thomas died on the operating room floor in Season 9. But we did see that Cristina was able to breathe through the surgery with him literally dying beside her, relying on all the skills he's taught her through the years. Quite poetic, really.
Oh, Scott Foley, how we love thee. We were super-excited when Foley came to Grey's Anatomy as Henry Burton, a lifelong diabetic who makes Dr. Teddy Altman believe in love again. True, she married him at first so that he could benefit from her insurance and get the surgery he needed. But ultimately, their marriage of convenience turned into a real marriage when, in the Season 8 finale, she chooses Henry over going to Germany with her on/off boyfriend Dr. Perkins. They kissed, we swooned and then he died. OK, the sequence of events was a bit more spaced out than that, but when he died during surgery performed by Dr. Yang, let's just say we died a little too.
A heart patient at the hospital, Denny Duquette becomes friends with Izzie Stevens early in his stay. While he is waiting for a heart transplant, he and Stevens actually fall in love and get engaged. In a desperate move, Izzie cuts Duquette's LVAD wire, getting him a new heart. Unfortunately, he develops a blood clot and dies. Le sigh... another one bites the dust. Our grief was momentarily tempered in Seasons 3 and 5 when Izzie started seeing him everywhere, but sadly, it turns out he is actually just a symptom of her brain tumor.
12. George O'Malley
Image: ABC
The first real heartbreaker on Grey's was the tragic death of everyone's buddy, George O'Malley, way back in the Season 6 premiere. He'd finally come out on the other side of his drama with Izzie and his wife-for-a-hot-minute Callie Torres, and was totally hitting his stride. When he decided to follow in the military footsteps of Dr. Hunt and enlist in the Army, we knew he was probably leaving the show. However, we didn't realize his exit would be quite so dramatic — on his way to tell his mom about enlisting, he jumps in front of a bus to save a woman's life, sacrificing himself instead. He later dies in surgery after a brief period of being the bandaged man whose identity is unknown.
Which Grey's Anatomy death rocked your world the most?
Tyga made a court appearance in a dispute over a $200,000 diamond watch and chain that he allegedly bought and never paid for, and reports say it didn't go particularly well.
Celebrity jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills won a judgment against Tyga for payment for the watch and chain, and Tyga's now required to sit for a series of hearings in which it will be determined how, exactly, he's going to pay for them. The Daily Mail reports that his first appearance was going OK — Tyga calmly answered an attorney's questions about his properties and finances in the beginning.
Among some huge, flashy diamond rings, Tyga also gave Jenner a $200,000 Mercedes for her 18th birthday. That was after it was reported that he gave her a Ferrari for her 17th birthday, though it was later revealed that he couldn't actually afford the car and he had actually only leased it in Jenner's name.
Daily Mail also reports that Tyga's own Mercedes G-Wagon, a 2013 model worth around $233,000, is set to be repossessed because he hasn't made payments in four months. Other reports say Tyga's money problems are so bad, he's living with Jenner after a series of pricey evictions left him unable to find his own place.
Tyga's hearing — and more discussion about the money he drops on Jenner — has been rescheduled for Nov. 1. Jenner has also been ordered to appear in court that day to make her own statements.
The first? Veteran judge Carrie Ann Inaba reportedly can't stand new judge and former dance pro Julianne Hough.
"Julianne is ruffling Carrie Ann’s feathers, and it doesn’t help that Julianne is now the center judge at the table, with all eyes on her," a source reportedly shared, adding that Inaba can't stand Hough's "diva" attitude. "Carrie Ann is always rolling her eyes at Julianne."
But there's more than just that drama. Apparently, longtime host Tom Bergeron isn't getting along with his partner, Erin Andrews, who started joining him as co-host on the show two years ago.
"They barely talk to each other when the cameras stop rolling," the insider said. "Tom could host any show in his sleep — he’s a natural. But Erin needs to prep and look at notes on every break. Tom just walks away from her, looking annoyed!"
Sounds like he should at least be trying to go easy on the new girl!
Update, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. PST: Shailene Woodley's lawyer appeared on her behalf at her first court hearing and entered a not guilty plea for both charges: criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot. Woodley was not present, and her attorney also submitted a waiver so that she would not have to appear personally in the North Dakota court.
No further court dates have been set in Woodley's case.
Update, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. PST: Shailene Woodley has been released on bail after she was arrested Monday at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site. She was one of 27 people taken into custody during a protest at the site.
Woodley was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing, and she faces up to 30 days in jail and up to $1,500 in fines.
According to Woodley's rep, "She appreciates the outpouring of support, not only for her, but more importantly, for the continued fight against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline."
Much of that outpouring of support has come from other celebs who have tweeted their support for Woodley, including The Fault in Our Stars author John Green, and actors Ansel Elgort, Mark Ruffalo and Charlie Carver.
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Original story:
Shailene Woodley's arrest at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site doesn't surprise me at all. I'm not surprised because I've been to Sacred Stone Camp. I've protested like Woodley has. And I've seen the brutal and intimidating police presence that is there to meet peaceful, prayerful protests at construction sites.
Woodley was broadcasting on Facebook Live when she was told she would be arrested for criminal trespassing.
Shailene Woodley arrested FB Video
Shailene Woodley arrested FB Video
"I don’t know if you guys just heard me, but I was walking back to my RV, which is right there, so we can go back to camp peacefully, and they grabbed me by my jacket, and they said that I wasn’t allowed to continue, and they had giant guns and batons, and they’re not letting me go," she said.
To someone who hasn't been to Sacred Stone, it may seem extreme that the police grabbed Woodley by her clothes and refused to let her go. But there, it's all too common to see police overstepping their bounds and actively trying to intimidate peaceful water protectors. A National Guard checkpoint blocks access to the camp from the north with a barricade and nearly a dozen guards armed with assault rifles. Police look for any excuse they can to isolate protesters and accuse them of whatever they can. As I was leaving camp one day, I was stopped for "speeding" while my cruise control was set at the speed limit; and as the officer ran my license and issued me a warning, two more police SUVs and five more officers arrived on scene. For speeding? I don't think so.
Woodley is one of more than 100 protesters who have been arrested at protest sites near the Dakota Access Pipeline to date. Many of the arrests go unreported, so while it would be ideal that no one gets arrested, Woodley's arrest could actually be a great thing for the Native people who are protesting the pipeline's construction to protect their water and sacred sites.
Hopefully Woodley's arrest will bring more eyes to the situation at Sacred Stone. Native Americans and their allies are doing nothing more there than trying to protect their sacred, ancestral land — land that was stolen from them by white settlers and is now threatened with irreparable damage if an oil pipeline constructed there is ever to break, especially near the Missouri River, the primary water source for the Standing Rock Sioux.
Whether you are trying to whip together a Halloween costume at the last minute or are just a fan of DIY, you'll be amazed at what you can create with only a bedsheet. Grab that extra set of linens and a pair of scissors, roll up your sleeves and get ready to make a Halloween costume you or your kids are sure to love.
How cute is this? This Statue of Liberty costume from MilkandCuddles.com is not only easy to make, it requires no sewing. Simply take a green, twin size fitted sheet and wrap it around your kid, safety-pinning it over the shoulder to fit. To make the tablet, simply wrap a green pillowcase around a book. Finish off your look with the hat (she bought hers for $1 at Target) and you are ready for trick-or-treating.
If you have some colorful sheets lying around, these superhero capes from skirtastop.com would be the perfect Halloween costumes. Follow her easy tutorial (although she uses fabric in hers, a sheet would work just fine) to create a personalized cape for all of your superheroes.
Mummify your kids by simply ripping up an old bedsheet and tying it around their arms and legs. Add on white paint to their faces and black around the eyes to create that "slightly undead" look.
Is your child crazy about the movie Frozen? Thought so. You can make her the perfect Olaf the snowman costume out of a white bedsheet. The eyes and buttons in this costume were made out of felt while the carrot was drawn on freehand. Check out the tutorial for more detailed instructions.
This adorable Princess Leia was made out of a white bed sheet, while her hair piece was made out of a brown t-shirt. You can also make the R2-D2 costume from a cardboard box, which was creased to make more rounded, while the helmet was made from a metal mixing bowl.
Creating a toga out of a sheet will make the perfect Halloween costume for your little Caesar. Check out the tutorial at Kartwheels.org to transform a plain bedsheet into a great costume.
This same outfit can also be used for an angel. Simply swap out the laurel crown for a halo and add in some angel wings.
When life gives you grapes, you pull your sheet off of your bed and make a costume out of it, right? This costume is so fun and just requires a purple sheet, some purple tights and a whole bunch (get it?) of purple balloons. You can even have the entire family wear this costume and go as a grapevine. Check out the Coolest Homemade Costumes' website for the complete tutorial.
We couldn't do a bedsheet costume roundup and leave out the traditional ghost costume. This mom simply cut out holes for the head and arms, ripped the ends and placed a white beanie on her son's head. The white makeup with the black eyes gives it the final ghostly touches.
These butterfly wings are so dreamy and would make a fun DIY project. You can buy these for around $16 at MagicCabin.com — or you can make them out of colored bedsheets! Use paints or markers to add in the detail.
If you've truly left things to the last minute, this is a super-duper easy costume for you or your kids. Wear your jammies, wrap a sheet around your underarms, use a hair clip to secure a pillow to the back of your head, and — voilà — you've got yourself one heck of a cozy costume!
Mike Lanza's Californian home is every kid's dream. There's a map of the neighborhood painted on the driveway, a 24-foot-long play river and a two-story, 12-foot log cabin playhouse with a loft (perfect for sleepovers), which has whiteboard walls to draw on. Music blares from speakers as his children leap from the roof of the playhouse onto the trampoline down below. It has no security netting.
It's enough to make helicopter parents around the world pile pillows at the bottom of their kids' 4-foot-long slide. And Lanza's "Playborhood" (which is also the name of the book he self-published about his belief that kids should have the freedom to take physical risks without supervision and to play without having to worry about being safe or nice to other kids) is the real-life manifestation of his anti-helicopter parenting stance.
I agree with Lanza that when I think back to my own childhood, some of my happiest memories were playing outdoors, generally without restraints, such as balancing on the front handlebars of my dad's bike as he circled the parking lot behind our house and climbing trees behind my friend's house while our parents sat indoors drinking wine, oblivious to our antics or roller-blading up and down our street without a helmet or protective pads. Those were carefree days, for sure.
I can get on board with Lanza's Playborhood, until he starts blaming moms for everything that is wrong — or at least, what he perceives as being wrong — with modern families. "Moms nowadays never go away," he complains. He waxes lyrical about "mom philosophy," which he blames for depriving boys of masculine experiences and overpowering passive dads. Lanza is a dad of three boys, which may explain something else I take issue with. He's really not upset about girls being subjected to helicopter parenting. So not only is his opinion of mothers today — that they are overprotective and out to spoil their children's fun — based on a massive generalization, it's completely sexist too.
I know some helicopter parents (moms and dads, incidentally). I also know some "no rescue" parents (again, both moms and dads). Me, I'm somewhere in the middle — and I think most parents are.
I don't think a bit of rough and tumble does kids any harm. A few bumps and scratches won't leave permanent scars or cause nightmares. I'd much rather my kids run around outdoors instead of sit inside glued to their screens. I also believe that encouraging my kids to take some responsibility for themselves is good for them. I can't always be there to take care of them — as much as I might want to be.
But I can't be fully on board with Lanza's concept because I disagree with so much of what he says. You can have fun and freedom without hurting other kids. You can be a healthy, "normal" boy without being aggressive. Adults can have control of their kids without being too controlling.
Would I let my kids play in Lanza's backyard? Yeah, probably. But I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving them there unattended. And this is from a mom who has a trampoline without netting in her own yard.
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pulled out all the stops for their last state dinner. The guests of honor were Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife Agnese Landini, so hosting obviously called for Italian cuisine. The guest chef for the state dinner was none other than Chef Mario Batali, who worked with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susan Morrison.
As fans know, Batali is kind of a big deal. He’s the award-winning owner of over two dozen restaurants, author of 10 cookbooks and co-host of The Chew, among other shows.
Batali, Comerford and Morrison came up with the kind of Italian feast we dream of. Read and drool, my friends!
The first course of sweet potato agnolotti with butter and sage consisted of paper-thin pasta stuffed with mashed sweet potatoes topped with butter and sage leaves. Grated Monterey Jack cheese added a tangy flavor that balances out the sweetness and completes the dish.
The salad course, warm butternut squash salad with frisée and pecorino di New York tied in the theme of the bountiful American fall harvest and used vegetables from the FLOTUS’ beloved garden.
White House State Dinner
White House State Dinner
Beef braciole pinwheel with horseradish gremolata and broccoli rabe was the main course, and it looks delicious. The meal was an Italian classic that's been given a bit of a twist.
The dessert, green apple crostata with thyme caramel and buttermilk gelato, was made with a semolina batter and a lightly poached green apple and featured thyme from the White House garden.
The White House state dinner was truly a decadent affair — not to mention the performance by Gwen Stefani and FLOTUS' amazing dress. Have to say, nobody throws a dinner party like the Obamas. We are so going to miss them.
When my husband finally made his vasectomy appointment, a wave of panic washed over me. I knew we had come to the decision together and that it was the right one. However, now that it was actually happening, I realized that I wasn’t exactly sure how to move forward in life without being carried along by the strong current of having more babies. I didn’t know how to be me outside of motherhood.
I had spent the last six years in a flurry of baby obsession — pregnant or deciding whether or not to have more kids or trekking through the wilderness of the newborn phase or even suffering through miscarriages. These were times when there wasn’t much self-reflection or focus on my wants and dreams beyond motherhood. The early years of parenting are all-consuming. Even now with my three children ranging from ages 1 to 5, I am constantly in their grip because they need me for everything. They need my constant touch, my constant attention, my constant care and devotion.
I do not mind caring for them in such an intense way (at least not most of the time). There are days when motherhood buries me, when it weighs me down physically and mentally and emotionally. I try my best to remind myself how precious and fleeting this time is, and I am aware of how deeply I will long for this closeness when it is no longer demanded or even offered.
The knowledge that this phase of parental loneliness would be coming for me in the near future scared me. I didn’t want all of my babies to be grown, and as long as I kept having more, I would never have to face that reality. It was a ludicrous thought, but allowing myself the possibility of having more babies was comforting in a strange, if slightly unhealthy, way.
However, when I saw my husband come out of his vasectomy appointment, I was shocked to find my panic turning to an overwhelming sense of relief. I looked in the back of our car where our three children were seated, and found an even deeper comfort in knowing that this was it. These were my people, and now I knew in no uncertain terms how my love and attention needed to be divided. I realized that for the first time, I was able to allow myself into that equation. With no hypothetical babies in my future, I was allowed to turn my focus inward for the first time and allow some space for myself.
Knowing with certainty that I was done having babies allowed me to shift my energy and attention away from the many “what ifs” of having babies and onto having my own life. I could see in the distance a future where my kids would no longer be the center of my life. Now that it was a reality, I was surprised by the freedom I felt.
I am still sad that all my babies will grow up and there will be no new sibling to take their place in my arms. Every last “first” is hard to stomach as I move further away from the baby stage. But each step forward means I am also allowed a clearer view of who I am and of who I want to be outside motherhood.
I get to be me and discover myself — to plan a future that doesn’t hinge on dirty diapers and the conundrum of child care. Being able to cultivate my sense of self is a gift I didn’t expect, and it’s the thing I love most about not having any more babies.
There have been a lot of shocking celebrity breakups and divorces this year, and this one is definitely up there with the most unexpected: Robert Matthew Van Winkle (better known by his stage name Vanilla Ice) and his wife, Laura Van Winkle, are getting divorced after almost 20 years of marriage.
The couple was married in 1997 and they share two daughters, Dusti Rain and KeeLee Breeze, but according to Entertainment Tonight, Laura decided to call time on their marriage and filed the official paperwork on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Palm Beach, Florida.
There is no confirmation as to the reason for the divorce, but according to TMZ, it's been in the cards for quite some time. Sources close to Vanilla Ice reportedly revealed that he and Laura had "actually been separated for a few years now, and she's just making the split official." This report makes sense, as a glance at the rapper's social media pages show that he has been rather chipper of late, which seems to suggest that he had prepared himself for the divorce (either that, or he's good at hiding his despair or the fact that he was caught completely off guard).
In fact, just two days ago, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant (he was eliminated in week four of Season 23) took to Instagram to wish his dancing partner, Witney Carson, a very happy birthday. Posting a sweet selfie, Vanilla Ice captioned the post with, "Happy birthday to my partner @WitneyCarson The best dancing @Ninja ever. @DancingABC #dwts."
Vanilla Ice and Laura appeared to have a somewhat volatile relationship, as he was arrested for domestic battery in both 2001 and 2008. He admitted to pulling his wife's hair to prevent her from jumping out of his truck during the first incident, and in the second case, which was later dropped, Vanilla Ice was arrested for allegedly kicking and hitting his wife, Daily Mail reports. However, she later claimed he only pushed her, while a neighbor stated that it was a verbal argument.
Are you shocked to learn that Vanilla Ice and his wife have broken up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Talk about doing the Time Warp — 40 years after the original Rocky Horror Picture Show became a cult classic, Fox is bringing a two-hour adaptation to the small screen. And damn it, there's no better way to toast such a tribute than, well, to actually toast to it with our drinking game.
After all, the beloved debauchees in the film are nothing if not hedonists... or at least they wind up that way after a flat tire forces them to take refuge in the home of the eccentric Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Which brings up a salient point: Pick a weak drink, y'all! You're gonna be tossing 'em back.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again airs at 8/7c on Thursday, Oct. 20 on Fox. So grab a few drinks and a few friends and get your weirdo on, dahlings.
New reports have broken this week stating that the notoriously private Jennifer Lawrence is secretly dating director Darren Aronofsky.
Aronofsky, whose works include Black Swan and The Wrestler, was previously engaged to and has a 10-year-old son with Rachel Weisz, but apparently he and Lawrence have been spotted on intimate dates together as of late.
JLaw new bf pic
JLaw new bf pic
"Jennifer and Darren have tried to keep things low-key and under wraps but they are really into each other," a source tells The Sun, via the Daily Mail. "Recently Jennifer was working on a grueling project and she relied on Darren for support and they were in constant contact. It seemed to show they were the real deal."
Still, it's a new relationship and they're taking it slow, according to another source.
"They’ve been hanging out and are casually dating," one of Lawrence's friends told People.
Being that the age gap between Aronofsky and Lawrence is over 20 years, and it's the second alleged relationship in the past year that Lawrence has been in with a sizeable age difference (the other being with Coldplay's Chris Martin), it's easy to launch into the whole "she's obviously into older men" conversation.
The internet is abuzz today with the breaking news that reality star Blac Chyna is angry about the copycat Ferrari-themed birthday party her part-time rapper ex Tyga and his reality star girlfriend/teenager Kylie Jenner threw for her son King Cairo.
Obviously, this is a scenario all parents can identify with. Here are the ways this scenario is as old as time:
1. Throwing your 4-year-old son a Ferrari-themed party
As we all know, children love luxury cars — for their craftsmanship, their speed and of course, their exclusivity. Children love luxury sports cars almost as much as they enjoy Wolf ovens, trips to the Canyon Ranch Spa and really stinky cheese. So we can all understand the inclination to surround your preschool-aged child with merchandise related to a product he cannot legally operate for at least 12 years.
It’s so hard to find good help these days. From the nanny who texts at the playground to the cleaning lady who doesn’t do the baseboards to the producer of your reality show who doesn’t understand the sacredness of the secrecy behind the two-month-process of planning your 4-year-old’s Ferrari party, we all get let down by our friends and help.
3. Allowing your child’s birthday to be the centerpiece for a made-up reality star “controversy”
Look, we all want the best for our children, but life is full of difficult choices. Breast vs. formula? Attachment parenting vs. helicopter parenting? Letting your child grow up in private vs. forcing him into the spotlight and alerting the press in order to put your dysfunctional co-parenting on display rather than let a moment go by where your name is not in the news? We’ve all been there!
