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Project Runway Season 15's 'Mean Girls' were not the product of editing

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Strong personalities dominated Project Runway Season 15, and as a result, the drama was heavy until Cornelius Ortiz was eliminated for the second time. Viewers expected the claws to come out again for the reunion — and they did not come away disappointed!

One of the biggest arguments of the evening revolved around (surprise, surprise) the group challenge fiasco in which good friends Erin Robertson and Dexter Simmons appeared to leave all the work to former villain Ortiz. Robertson and Simmons now claim that they were unfairly portrayed, and that they merely appeared hurtful due to bad editing.

Corenlius Ortiz video

Corenlius Ortiz video

Of course, the other contestants disagree. Ortiz thinks that the episode portrayed the situation with complete accuracy by highlighting how hard he worked and how much his fellow contestants slacked off. Mah-Jing Wong also believes that the episode accurately captured Robertson and Simmons' dynamic and their tendency to alienate others. Even Tim Gunn feels that the pair was portrayed correctly, based on what he observed with his own eyes.

More: Erin Robertson has become Project Runway's ultimate one-trick pony

Editing can certainly skew things, but only to an extent. Yes, the powers that be at Lifetime may have been selective with what they chose to show, but then again, certain contestants manage to keep their noses clean, and as a result, have absolutely no instances of bad footage. If Robertson and Simmons had been more inclusive, it would have been far more difficult to edit their footage in a way that made them look bad.

More: Roberi Parra is Project Runway's most underrated contestant

To be fair, Robertson and Simmons were by no means the only contestants to act dismissive toward their team members. The same problem clearly occurred with Jenni Riccetti and Nathalia JMag, who were known to have secret meetings without Wong's input (although Riccetti largely acted as mediator). Amazingly, by the end of their little reunion tiff, JMag and Wong were able to agree that, despite their differences, they produced a magnificent runway look.

More: Project Runway's Season 15 winner left much to be desired

Ultimately, a show like Project Runway is going to try and push contestants' buttons. It is a testament to the designers' strength of character when they are able to avoid giving in to pressure and snapping at one another. We still have respect for the accomplishments of Ortiz, Robertson, Simmons and JMag, but episodes like these make us even more appreciative of Roberi Parra, Laurence Basse and other contestants who keep the drama to a minimum.

Project Runway interview video

Project Runway interview video

What did you think of the editing for Project Runway Season 15? Were the designers portrayed fairly? Comment and share your opinion below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Project Runway finalists slideshow Image: WENN

Why you shouldn't "give" your husband more sex

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I saw a graphic on Pinterest recently titled "8 Reasons to Give Your Husband More Sex.” In it, the author discussed the ways that sex benefits women, including improved health, reduced stress, and a stronger marriage, and made the case that regular sex in marriage is good for wives. I don't disagree with that. As a matter of fact, I strongly agree with it. Despite that, the graphic really bothered me. And it still bothers me whenever I think about it.

Why? Because "give your husband more sex" sets the wrong tone for talking about sex in marriage. I know the author was trying to encourage wives in their sex lives and to emphasize the positive aspects of sex. But I feel that it sends the message that sex is primarily about your husband. "If you'll just go along with it, you'll get some benefits too." And I just want to say, "No, sex is not primarily about your husband, with benefits for you tacked on as an afterthought. Sex is about both of you. It's as important for you as it is for him."

Many married women, though, have accepted the “sex is for him” message. Somewhere along the line, they stopped thinking that sex has much of anything to do with them. If you've fallen into that mindset, here are three reasons to move away from it:

1. It distances you from your own sexuality

If you’re always “giving” sex to your husband, it reinforces the idea that sex isn't about you. And that’s just not true. You’re a sexual being and deserve to enjoy sex in your marriage. For a lot of reasons, though, women often struggle to accept that and to "own" their sexuality, and the idea that sex is primarily about men contributes to that struggle.

More: How to start using sex toys with your partner

2. It limits intimacy in your marriage

Obviously, sex is only one way to build intimacy, but it’s an important one. When it's a shared experience that both of you enjoy, it enhances intimacy. When it’s always a “favor” you’re doing for your husband, it doesn't. Sex is the activity that distinguishes your marriage from every other relationship in your life. If you embrace it, it will create an intimate bond between the two of you in a way nothing else can.

3. It creates resentment

Unless you're an exceptionally saintly person, if sex is always about your husband and never about you, at some point you're going to begin to resent sex or your husband or, more than likely, both. And to be honest, your husband will probably resent it too.

More: I finally realized I don't need to be having sex to be happy

Do you often think of sex as something you "give" your husband, and have a hard time remembering that sex is about you too? If so, here are four barriers that may be keeping you from enjoying sex and intimacy, and some ideas for overcoming them:

1. Lack of understanding

Some women don't understand the ways their sexuality may differ from men's. Because our culture tends to hold up male sexuality as the standard, women whose sexual interest and response is not the same as a typical man's may think that something is wrong with them. They may conclude that their libido is broken, or that they just aren't interested in sex. For years I had the vague thought that something must be wrong with me, because my sexuality was so different from my husband's. Then I read some articles which explained clearly that my sexuality was entirely normal - for a woman. If you've ever thought that your sexual response might be "broken," do some reading and research - you'll probably learn that it isn't broken at all.

2. Fatigue and stress

For women, much more so than men, feeling worn out or stressed out takes a toll on their enthusiasm for sex. If sex ends up as something you frequently "give" to your husband because you're too tired or stressed to enjoy it, it may be time to take a serious look at your schedule and commitments. Few things are more important than building intimacy and increasing joy in your marriage. If you want those things, you may need to let go of some other things and find ways to get more rest, to say "no," and to control your family's schedule.

3. Poor communication

Let's be honest - it's hard to talk about sex. But failing to talk about it leads to all kinds of problems, including unrealistic expectations, unmet needs and utter frustration. Sadly, I know this from personal experience. When my husband and I got married, I had no idea how to have an open and honest conversation about sex. It took me years to learn, and I'm still not very good at it. I wished I had learned earlier - it would have saved us a lot of heart ache and frustration. If talking about sex (or failing to talk about it) has tripped up your marriage, begin learning and practicing better communication. Tell your husband, "I know this has been a problem for us. I'd like to start talking about it so we can find a solution." Read a book and share with him some things you've learned. Even better, read a book together and talk about it.

More: Bartending at a strip club gave me way more confidence in bed

4. Difficult issues

Some of the things that cause women to lose interest in sex or see it as an obligation are difficult to address, and may require professional assistance. If you’re experiencing serious marriage problems or have suffered sexual abuse in the past, for example, consider talking with a counselor who can help you address them. And if you’re dealing with medical problems, or taking certain types of medications (including antidepressants and birth control pills) that can affect sex and intimacy, you may need to work with your doctor to address those issues.

Embracing your sexuality and enjoying sex in your marriage can take more effort than just “giving your husband more sex.” But in the long run, it pays much better dividends for both of you.

Gaye Groover Christmus encourages married women to slow down, live with vitality and energy, and enjoy sex and intimacy. She blogs at CalmHealthySexy.

This post was originally published on BlogHer.

10 funniest tweets from parents this week

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Few things are funnier than the things that come out of our children's mouths... except maybe tweets from parents about said funny things.

1. What? That's weird?

that's weird

that's weird

2. An awkward example

awkward example

awkward example

3. Advent blues

advent blues

advent blues

More: Kid uses sleeping mom's thumbprint for shopping spree

4. You give and you get

give and get

give and get

5. JK!

jk

jk

6. Blame it on the kids

blame it on the kids

blame it on the kids

More: The funniest tweets from parents in 2016

7. Merry Christmas

merry christmas

merry christmas

8. Say, "Cheese!"

say cheese

say cheese

9. Christmas Eve fun

xmas eve fun

xmas eve fun

More: 16 adorably crafty holiday gifts kids can make themselves

10. Mama needs a nap

tired mama

tired mama

Read this before making a New Year's resolution

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As we head into the midnight countdown that lets us finally say goodbye to 2016 and hello to a new year, one of the main things that’s floating through our heads to accomplish before the ball drops is putting together a list of personal resolutions. That to-do list of goals may include all of the things we didn’t get to do over the past 365 days or didn’t do to our full potential.

While drafting up resolutions for 2017 may seem like the popular thing to do, it’s actually pretty unhealthy. Wondering why? These three experts share why New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time and what you should do instead if you’re looking to get fit, find love and just be kind to yourself.

More: The harsh realities of keeping New Year's resolutions

1. Because they can’t always be measured

When we’re jotting down our list of resolutions, oftentimes, it can feel like a grocery list of promises that are almost impossible to measure or hold ourselves accountable for. We want to fall in love this year, but there’s no explanation of how we’re going to do that. Losing weight is a popular one, so we might make a resolution to hit the gym more (but not say how much more) or be healthy (without detailing what that actually means). Amy Gorin, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in Jersey City, New Jersey, advises that when it comes to health, you should make resolutions with actions attached to them.

“It’s best to make resolutions that can be measured — such as ‘I resolve to prep healthy meals at least three weekends a month’ or ‘I resolve to go on after-dinner walks at least three nights a week,’” she suggests. “These resolutions are 100 percent achievable, and you’ll feel great when you accomplish them every week, whereas resolving to lose 10 or 20 pounds puts the focus on the result, not the journey, and you might feel inclined to beat yourself up if you reach your goal more slowly than you’d like or if you have a setback.”

More: Ask a raging feminist: What is your New Year's resolution?

2. Resolutions add pressure

There’s no easier way to feel a giant buzzkill slap you in the face when you’re counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve than eyeballing a list of resolutions you vowed to commit to when the ball drops. Resolutions can be a stressful way to tiptoe into January, and when too much stress is present, you might get the urge to run the opposite direction and make no changes at all.

Max Fischer, CEO of BeLinked, says the last thing you want when approaching your love life is a feeling of pressure.

“Nobody wants to spend time with a person who’s acting like the first date is some kind of strategic military operation,” he notes. “Resolving to get married or to 'find somebody that completes me’ is just plain unhealthy emotionally and spiritually.”

Fischer explains that many people begin to question their own progress at the start of each year — like whether this is the year they’ll fall in love.

“Here’s the best advice for the new year: Be yourself, have fun and be discerning,” he says. “Take advantage of specialized dating apps that allow you to be more selective, providing higher-quality dating candidates. Be truthful in your dating profile so you can spend time with those that meet your needs and desires. Enjoy the process, seek high-quality partners. No pressure, no resolutions.”

More: I lived by my New Year's resolutions for a year and it changed my life

3. You might set yourself up for failure

If you decide to approach your New Year’s resolutions with the mindset of “go big or go home,” you might be setting yourself up for failure rather than for success. Resolutions that are attainable and include steps that you can actually work toward are the only kinds of resolutions you should have.

Dr. Neeta Bhushan, best-selling author, host of the Revolutionary Leadership podcast and founder of the Global GRIT Institute, says that the most important relationship you will have in your life is with yourself.

"Make sure to set yourself up for success and pause regularly to reflect,” she suggests. “Successful relationships start when two people set out on their own path first. Know what makes you happy before committing to another person. Then, you are able inspire and support each other to form a true partnership."

My dog's dry skin turned out to be a serious medical condition

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When my dog was diagnosed with demodectic mange, often referred to simply as demodex, my first thought was "ew, mange." Mange sounds gross, but I never imagined it was serious. She had it mostly around her eyes, and the dry, flaky skin didn't seem to bother her, so I wasn't overly concerned when my vet suggested that I take her to a dermatologist. No biggie, maybe some meds and she would be back to normal.

My visit to the specialist was sobering. He took some skin scrapings and confirmed my vet's suspicions — it was, in fact, demodex — and then I mentioned that her coat had thinned out and changed color too. My cocker spaniel has been described by most who meet her as "literally the softest dog ever." Recently, her legendary plush had turned coarse and thin, and her black fur had taken on a slightly reddish tint in places.

The specialist made that face that every pet owner dreads. You know what I'm talking about — the doctor face. The face that says, "that's interesting."

"I highly recommend you get her tested for Cushing’s disease," he said, effectively casting a black cloud over the rest of my dog's life. I had heard of Cushing's before, but never imagined my dog's dry skin could be a serious disease.

More: Cat-scratch fever is more serious than we thought, but there's no reason to panic

Cushing's occurs when a tumor affects either the pituitary or adrenal gland. There are two kinds of Cushing's disease. Pituitary-dependent Cushing's is much more common and usually results from a benign tumor. Adrenal-dependent Cushing's is less common, and the tumor can be benign or cancerous. These glands control steroid production in the body. To put it simply, when the body produces too many steroids, bad things happen.

If you've ever had to take a course of a steroid like prednisone, you've had a tiny peek into the world of a Cushing's dog. The flood of steroids in their system wreaks havoc on their bodies, basically breaking things down.

More: Ladies, we have an explanation for your dog's fascination with your period

Symptoms of Cushing's disease in dogs

Demodex and changes to my dog's coat were just a few of the symptoms of Cushing's disease in dogs. The list is long, but worth familiarizing yourself with, especially if you own a miniature poodle, dachshund, boxer, Boston terrier or a beagle, as these breeds are prone to the disease.

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Heat intolerance
  • Lethargy
  • Potbelly appearance
  • Panting
  • Obesity
  • Weakness
  • Recurring urinary tract infections (ouch)
  • Hair loss
  • Thinning skin
  • Bruising
  • Changes in skin color
  • Demodex
  • Seborrhea (scaly patches and red skin)
  • Calcinosis cutis (calcium deposits on the skin)
  • Papules (aka, zits)
  • Varicose veins

And those are just the common symptoms.

My dog developed quite a few of these symptoms as time went on. We got her a pee mat and doggy diapers to help deal with her accidents while we figured out the right dosage for her meds. Her skin is thinner now and doesn't heal as quickly, but the good news is that her hair did grow back just as plush as ever and she is back to her super-soft self.

More: Inquiring (and grossed out) minds want to know: Why do dogs eat poop?

Diagnosing Cushing's

When the specialist first told me to get my dog tested for Cushing's, I was relieved. A test sounds so simple, and we are conditioned to associate tests with accuracy.

Cushing's is not that simple. Diagnosing a dog with Cushing's is complicated. After assessing the clinical signs (aka, symptoms), my vet ran blood work to look for markers of the disease. If you're familiar with blood work, those markers are abnormal levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transferase and blood urea nitrogen. If, like me, you are not that familiar with blood work, then all that is mostly gibberish and what you actually need to know is that your vet knows what to look for.

My dog's blood work had these warning signs, so next they analyzed her urine to get a urine cortisol to creatinine ratio. This test is tricky and not always conclusive, so to confirm results, they then performed a final test.

There are two "final test" choices: an LDDS test and an ACTH stimulation test. LDDS stands for low-dose dexamethasone suppression and measures cortisol levels over a period of time by suppressing cortisol levels with dexamethasone. ACTH also measures cortisol levels over time using the ACTH (adrenocorticotropic) hormone to stimulate the production of cortisol.

Our vet recommended the LDDS test, which confirmed her diagnosis. She had Cushing's.

More: Dog allergies 101: How to spot and treat them

Treating Cushing's

Cushing's Disease is described by veterinarians as "insidious." It is slowly progressive, and in most cases there is no cure, just treatment.

The course of treatment for Cushing's depends on several variables, including where the tumor is, what kind of tumor it is, the state of the pituitary gland and the dog's health. What works for one Cushing's dog might not work for another, and so the best judge of the dog's treatment is the veterinarian, as frustrating as that can be for those of us who consider ourselves Google doctors.

Medication

There are two main drugs used to treat Cushing's, mitotane and trilostane. These drugs suppress cortisol levels and require testing every few months to measure their effectiveness.

Surgery

Surgically removing the pituitary gland or pituitary gland tumor is another option, although early diagnosis improves the prognosis according to a 2005 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine. Surgically removing the adrenal gland or adrenal gland tumor is also possible. In both cases, surgery comes with risks and complications that owners need to weigh carefully.

Radiation

Radiation is indicated in certain cases of pituitary-dependent Cushing's and is generally very effective.

We opted for medication for a variety of medical reasons, and now we monitor her carefully. We've learned that when she starts drinking more water, urinating more or losing hair, it is time to take her to the vet to get her tested and her medication adjusted.

It's been two years since my dog's diagnosis and my cocker spaniel has shown no signs of slowing down, which gives me a lot of hope. She is comfortable, carefree and completely unaware that her body is breaking down on her. We have our fingers crossed that things stay that way.

My dog's Cushing's diagnosis was heartbreaking, but we are dealing with it. I did learn one very important lesson from this whole ordeal: Never underestimate the importance of taking your pets to the vet, even if the issue doesn't seem serious at the time.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Image: shark_toof/Instagram

All the Netflix original series available to stream and coming in 2017

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Netflix has come a long way since its first original series, House of Cards, which premiered Feb. 1, 2013.

In just three short years, the streaming service has become one of the most dominant forces in television, churning out new content and changing the television landscape.

From drama to children's shows, Netflix is changing the way we watch for good. Hello, bingeing!

Unless you're a Netflix ninja, I'm going to go ahead and guess that you haven't seen all 82 original series the service offers.

Go ahead and scroll through to find your new favorite show. You know you wanna.

1. House of Cards

Ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) will stop at nothing to conquer everything.

House of cards trailer

House of cards trailer

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2. Hemlock Grove

Sexy, gripping, emotional and twisted, Hemlock Grove is unlike anything else you've ever seen.

Hemlock grove trailer

Hemlock grove trailer

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3. Orange Is the New Black

A crime she committed in her youthful past sends Piper Chapman to a women's prison, where she trades her comfortable New York life for one of unexpected camaraderie and conflict with an eccentric group of fellow inmates.

orange is the new black trailer

orange is the new black trailer

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4. Marco Polo

Discover the little-known beginnings of the legendary explorer, whose life of adventure began as a ward of the powerful 13th century Mongol emperor Kublai Khan.

marco polo trailer

marco polo trailer

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5. Bloodline

The Rayburns seem to be a normal American family, but as their dark past creates rifts among them, things start to go horribly (and criminally) wrong.

bloodline trailer

bloodline trailer

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6. Sense8

One moment links 8 minds in disparate parts of the world, putting 8 strangers in each other's lives, each other's secrets, and in terrible danger.

sense8 trailer

sense8 trailer

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7. Stranger Things

A love letter to the supernatural classics of the 80's, Stranger Things is the story of a young boy who vanishes into thin air. As friends, family and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl.

stranger things trailer

stranger things trailer

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8. The Get Down

The Get Down is a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to a new art form. Set in New York in 1977, this music-driven drama series chronicles the rise of hip-hop and the last days of disco -_ told through the lives, music, art and dance of the South Bronx kids who would change the world forever.

the get down trailer

the get down trailer

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9. The Crown

At a time when Britain was recovering from war and her empire was in decline, a young woman took the throne as a matter of duty not desire. Prepare for a world full of intrigue and revelations in The Crown.

the crown trailer

the crown trailer

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10. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Picking up nine years after we last ​dropped in on the whimsical Connecticut town, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life finds each of our ​leading ladies at a major crossroad: Lorelai’s relationship with Luke is at an unnerving standstill; Rory’s budding journalism career in New York has stalled before it's even begun; and Emily’s world is turned upside down following the untimely passing of her beloved husband, Richard.

gilmore girls trailer

gilmore girls trailer

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11. The OA

Trust the unknown. The groundbreaking series offers audiences a singular experience that upends notions about what long-format stories can be.

the oa trailer

the oa trailer

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12. A Series of Unfortunate Events

We regretfully present you with the official trailer, a word which here means a collection of the unhappy happenings surrounding the lives of the three Baudelaire orphans and one despicable Count Olaf.

a series of unfortunate events trailer

a series of unfortunate events trailer

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13. Daredevil

Matt Murdock, with his other senses superhumanly enhanced, fights crime as a blind lawyer by day, and vigilante by night.

daredevil trailer

daredevil trailer

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14. Jessica Jones

After a tragic ending to her short-lived Super Hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a private detective in Hell's Kitchen. It's time the world knew her name.

jessica jones trailer

jessica jones trailer

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15. Luke Cage

In this Marvel live action series, a street-fighting ex-con battles crime on the streets of New York as the Super Hero, Luke Cage.

luke cage trailer

luke cage trailer

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16. Iron Fist

Danny Rand fights relentlessly to regain everything he's lost in Marvel's Iron Fist, coming soon to Netflix.

iron fist trailer 1

iron fist trailer 1

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17. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

From "30 Rock" executive producers, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock comes this hilarious new comedy series starring Ellie Kemper as a woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult and starts life over as a nanny for an Upper East Side socialite in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers and a couple way-past-due library books, she takes on a world she didn't think even existed anymore.

unbreakable kimmy schmidt trailer

unbreakable kimmy schmidt trailer

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18. Grace and Frankie

From the co-creator of Friends, Netflix original comedy Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two women who form an unlikely bond after their husbands reveal they are gay and leave them for each other.

grace and frankie trailer

grace and frankie trailer

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19. Wet Hot American Summer

It's the first day of camp in this outrageous prequel to the hilarious 2001 cult classic movie. And at Camp Firewood, anything can happen.

wet hot american summer trailer 1

wet hot american summer trailer 1

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20. Master of None

Meet Dev (Aziz Ansari), a 30-year-old actor in New York who has trouble deciding what he wants to eat, much less the pathway for the rest of his life.

master of none trailer

master of none trailer

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21. W/ Bob and David

After being dishonorably discharged from the Navy Seals, Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are back serving our country the way they do best -- making sketch comedy.

w bob and david trailer

w bob and david trailer

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22. Love

Having recently ended their respective dysfunctional relationships, Gus and Mickey meet each other by chance at a convenience store and forge a connection in the mending of their broken hearts and egos.

love trailer

love trailer

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23. Fuller House

Fuller House is the long-awaited sequel to the iconic hit series Full House.

fuller house trailer

fuller house trailer

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24. Flaked

Flaked is a dry, slice-of-life comedy about Chip, a celebrated long-time resident of the insular world of Venice, California who falls for the object of his best friend's fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullshit that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. Will Arnett plays Chip, a man doing his honest best to stay one step ahead of his own lies.

flaked trailer

flaked trailer

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25. The Characters

Netflix gave 8 comedians each their own episode of a series. No rules. No limits. No one else would do this. Seriously.

the character trailer

the character trailer

26. The Ranch

Set in the present day on a Colorado ranch, The Ranch stars Ashton Kutcher as Colt, a failed semi-pro football player who returns home to run the family ranching business with his older brother Jameson "Rooster" (Danny Masterson) and father Beau (Sam Elliott), whom he hasn't seen in 15 years.

the ranch trailer

the ranch trailer

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27. Lady Dynamite

Based on what she has accepted to be "her life," the semi-autobiographical, semi-surreal series is a truthful look at the highs and lows of Pam Brady's life — as an actor on the rise, during her hospitalization for bipolar disorder, and through her present life in LA, where she's reached a middle ground and found love.

lady dynamite trailer

lady dynamite trailer

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28. Easy

Easy is an anthology series from creator Joe Swanberg that explores diverse Chicago characters as they fumble through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture.

easy trailer

easy trailer

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29. Haters Back Off

You don't become famous without attracting a few haters. Go inside the world of Miranda Sings in Haters Back Off.

haters back off trailer

haters back off trailer

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30. Trailer Park Boys

Three petty felons have a documentary made about their life in a trailer park.

trailer park boys trailer

trailer park boys trailer

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31. One Day at a Time

When no one else is there to tell you you're wrong, there's always family. Nobody puts the love in tough love quite like the Alvarez family. One Day at a Time, a new show from legendary producer Norman Lear, premieres exclusively on Netflix January 6.

one day at a time trailer

one day at a time trailer

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32. Santa Clarita Diet

They're ordinary husband and wife realtors until she undergoes a dramatic change that sends them down a road of death and destruction. In a good way. Season 1 coming in 2017.

Santa Clarita Diet starring Drew Barrymore
Image: Netflix

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33. BoJack Horseman

Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the '90s ... 20 years later. BoJack Horseman was the star of the hit TV show Horsin' Around, but today he's washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and sometimes wearing colorful sweaters.

bojack horseman trailer

bojack horseman trailer

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34. F is for Family

Follow the Murphy family back to the 1970s, a time when you could smack your kid, smoke inside and bring a gun to the airport.

f is for family trailer

f is for family trailer

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35. Ever After High

Welcome to Ever After High, a boarding school for teens destined to follow in their famous parents' fairytale footsteps. Only this is high school, and that spells drama.

ever after high trailer

ever after high trailer

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36. Turbo FAST

Join Turbo and his posse, the Fast Action Stunt Team. Filled with comedy, action and fun, this series amps it up to the extreme.

turbo fast trailer

turbo fast trailer

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37. Veggie Tales in the House

The beloved faith-based brand hits the small screen with a fresh new look and all-new adventures. Join Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and all their veggie friends as they explore new areas of their wondrous house while singing catchy, original songs included in each episode.

veggie tales in the house trailer

veggie tales in the house trailer

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38. All Hail King Julien

In this Emmy winner for Outstanding Children's Animated Program, Madagascar booty-shaker King Julien takes on the jungle’s craziest adventures.

all hail king julien trailer

all hail king julien trailer

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39. The Adventures of Puss in Boots

The boots are back. Grab a glass of your finest milk and join Puss in Boots on his latest adventures in an all new Netflix original series.

puss in boots trailer

puss in boots trailer

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40. Dinotrux

Half dino. Half truck. All awesome. Ty Rux, a massive Tyrannosaurus Trux, and his best friend Revvit, a razor-sharp Reptool, are building a bigger and better world together, and battling against the biggest and baddest of them all, D-Structs, who seems determined to wreck everything that's good about their world.

dinotrux trailer

dinotrux trailer

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41. The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show

Dust off your suit and whip out those jazz hands, as Mr. Peabody and Sherman dance their way to the finale!

the mr peabody and sherman show

the mr peabody and sherman show

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42. Popples

The Best Popple Pals are back in a new Netflix original series for kids! They're going on fantastical adventures in eye-popping colors with their signature brand of optimism and energy that more often than not ends in mayhem of the very best kind.

popples trailer

popples trailer

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43. Care Bear and Cousins

The whole huggable gang is back bringing fun tales of caring and sharing to a whole new generation.

care bear trailer

care bear trailer

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44. Dawn of the Croods

The world's first family is back and funnier than ever in this all-new original family sitcom! Eep, Grug, Thunk, Ugga, Sandy and Gran are taking the prehistoric Croodacious era by storm as they deal with modern-day problems for the first time ever in history.

dawn of the croods trailer

dawn of the croods trailer

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45. Lego Bionicle: The Journey to One

Six legendary heroes find themselves on an epic quest as they harness the power of nature's elements to defeat the forces of evil.

Lego Bionicle
Image: Netflix

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46. Lego Friends: The Power of Friendship

Five best friends face adventures side by side in their hometown. Zany antics, love and missteps are better with friends!

lego friend music video

lego friend music video

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47. Kong: King of the Apes

In 2050, an evil scientist is about to unleash an army of robotic dinosaurs. Now it's up to Kong and friends to fight back and save the day.

kong trailer

kong trailer

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48. Voltron: Legendary Defender

The '80s classic returns to defend the universe against evil with the help of five intrepid kids.

voltron trailer

voltron trailer

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49. Justin Time GO!

A young boy's imagination takes him throughout the world and history, where he learns life lessons and has tons of fun with two make-believe friends.

justin time go trailer

justin time go trailer

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50. Word Party

Cuddly, cute and curious. These four baby animals love to play, dance and learn new words together.

word party trailer

word party trailer

{pageBreak}

51. Adventures with Tip and Oh

Growing up has its challenges, but growing up alongside a Boov is a completely different story! Picking up where the hit movie DreamWorks Home left off, join Tip Tucci and her best-Boov-friend Oh as they embark on the everyday adventure of becoming family.

adventures with tip and oh trailer

adventures with tip and oh trailer

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52. Ask the StoryBots

Ask the StoryBots follows the adventures of five curious little creatures who track down the answers to kids' biggest questions, like how night happens or why we need to brush our teeth.

storybots trailer

storybots trailer

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53. Kulipari: An Army of Frogs

In a tale of bravery and heroism, fearless frogs go to war against the sinister scorpions and spiders that have teamed up to conquer the amphibians.

kulipari trailer

kulipari trailer

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54. Skylanders Academy

At Skylanders Academy, the greatest young warriors, Spyro, Stealth Elf and Eruptor from realms all across Skylands, are trained to protect the universe from evil-doers

skylanders academy trailer

skylanders academy trailer

{pageBreak}

55. World of Winx

This time the Winx are deep undercover on Earth, for the most top secret mission: to investigate the mysterious Talent Thief. And determined to save talented boys and girls in danger, along with an energetic host named Ace, they star in the talent reality show "WOW"!

winx club trailer

winx club trailer

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56. Luna Petunia

With help from her magic toy chest, fun-loving Luna Petunia enters the fantastic land of Amazia, where adventures, friendship and learning await.

Luna Petunia
Image: Netflix

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57. Trollhunters

Trollhunters is an epic saga from master storyteller Guillermo del Toro featuring a group of friends who discover a fantastical new world wrapped beneath their home town and who will face a battle between good and bad trolls.

trollhunters trailer

trollhunters trailer

{pageBreak}

58. Tarzan and Jane

Saved from a plane crash and given supernatural powers, teen Tarzan joins forces with brave city girl Jane to protect his jungle home from threats. Season 1 coming January 6.

Tarzan and Jane
Image: Netflix

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59. We're Lalaloopsy

The Lalaloopsy gang and their adorable pets know every day is a perfect day to celebrate the magic of friendship, creativity and collaboration. Season 1 coming January 10.

We're Lalaloopsy
Image: Netflix

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60. Richie Rich

Richie Rich is just a normal kid, except that he has a trillion dollars! Following his overnight success, Richie moves his father, Cliff, and his sister, Harper, into his newly built mansion. He also shares his success with his two best friends, Darcy and Murray. Richie now lives the coolest life of anyone his age where his opportunities for fun and adventure are limitless.

richie rich trailer

richie rich trailer

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61. Project Mc2

Teenage spy, McKeyla, teams up with super smart girls, Adrienne, Bryden, and Camryn, who use their science skills to help save a prince's space launch.

project mc2 trailer

project mc2 trailer

{pageBreak}

62. Club de Cuervos

When the patriarch of a prominent family dies, his heirs battle to determine who will gain control of his beloved soccer team: The Cuervos of Nuevo Toledo. Egos, tempers and soccer balls fly as the director, producers and star of Nosotros los Nobles reunite to bring this even crazier family to life.

club de cuervos trailer

club de cuervos trailer

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63. Narcos

The Medellin cartel - the most violent, ruthless and wealthy criminal organization in the history of modern crime. And the one man who lorded over them all... Pablo Escobar.

narcos trailer

narcos trailer

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64. Marseille

Robert Taro has been the mayor of Marseille for 25 years. Now he faces a merciless election against his young, ambitious former protege.

marseille trailer

marseille trailer

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65. Hibana: Spark

A dramatic series about friendship and conflict between two comedians who search for meaning in life and comedy. Based on the prize-winning book.

hibana spark trailer

hibana spark trailer

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66. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

Patrons of an otherwise mundane Japanese diner find simple yet profound connections with one another based on the shared love of a particular dish.

midnight diner trailer

midnight diner trailer

{pageBreak}

67. 3%

A world divided into progress and devastation. The link between the two sides - Offshore and Inland - is a rigorous and painstaking system called The Process. Everyone in Inland has a chance to go through The Process to live a better life in Offshore. But only 3% make it through.

three percent trailer

three percent trailer

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68. Russell Peters vs. the World

This companion series to Russell's latest stand-up special, Notorious, follows Russell and his team on the world tour.

russell peters trailer

russell peters trailer

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69. Chef's Table

Chef's Table goes inside the lives and kitchens of six of the world's most renowned international chefs.

chefs table trailer

chefs table trailer

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70. Making a Murderer

He served 18 years for a crime he didn't commit. Now he's on the line again, and some want to see him put away for good.

making a murderer trailer

making a murderer trailer

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71. Chelsea Does

Chelsea Handler is going there. In this new four-part documentary series, Handler is asking the questions that we all have, but are too afraid to ask.

chelsea does trailer

chelsea does trailer

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72. Cooked

Explored through the lenses of the four natural elements — fire, water, air and earth — Cooked is an enlightening and compelling look at the evolution of what food means to us through the history of food preparation and its universal ability to connect us.

cooked trailer

cooked trailer

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73. Last Chance U

A gut-wrenching behind-the-scenes look at the world of college football.

last chance u trailer

last chance u trailer

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74. Fearless

On a journey from Brazil to the Las Vegas championships, professional bull riders risk it all to earn money, respect and titles.

fearless trailer

fearless trailer

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75. Chef's Table: France

Netflix invites you back to take another globe trot in Chef’s Table: France.

chefs table france trailer

chefs table france trailer

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76. Roman Empire: Reign of Blood

This stylish mix of documentary and historical epic chronicles the reign of Commodus, the emperor whose rule marked the beginning of Rome's fall.

roman empire trailer

roman empire trailer

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77. Captive

Captive delves into the terse, dangerous world of hostage negotiation. Victims, negotiators, and kidnappers give an unprecedented look at what it means to be captive.

captive trailer

captive trailer

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78. Abstract: The Art of Design

Step inside the minds of the most innovative designers working today in a variety of disciplines and learn how design impacts every aspect of life.

Abstract
Image: Netflix

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79. White Rabbit Project

The coolest tech. The weirdest weapons. The craziest escapes. Three science-loving sleuths put them under the microscope.

the white rabbit project trailer

the white rabbit project trailer

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80. Chasing Cameron

Lights. Cameron. Action. Cameron Dallas is more than just a social media star, he’s an entrepreneur and one of the most influential personalities of his generation. In the Netflix original doc-series, Chasing Cameron, peel back the curtain of what happens within the social media and into the lives of Cameron and more of todays' MAGCON Boys as they meet and greet the world.

chasing cameron trailer

chasing cameron trailer

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81. Ultimate Beastmaster

It lives to destroy all challengers. 108 challengers from 6 different countries will compete in the most physically demanding competition the world has ever seen. But only one can be crowned The Ultimate Beastmaster.

ultimate beastmaster trailer

ultimate beastmaster trailer

{pageBreak}

82. Chelsea

Free the talk show! Welcome to Chelsea, an all new Netflix Talk Show, hosted by Chelsea Handler. In-studio interviews meet dance classes in Russia. Conversations with tastemakers meet harajuku girls in Japan. It's out in the world, in the studio, 3-days a week and all over the world. It's Chelsea.

chelsea trailer

chelsea trailer

Just how much money are Canadians paying for child care?

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Child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers can feel like a second mortgage for many Canadian parents, and sometimes you wind up paying wildly expensive fees just to put your kid on the waitlist. If you feel like child care has been getting more and more expensive, you're right on the money. The price of child care has skyrocketed since 2014 in many Canadian cities according to a recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

More: I love my kids — but I don't want to spend every waking moment with them

"It will be no surprise to many parents that regulated child care is expensive, but what is most shocking is that in many cities fees have risen much faster than inflation since 2014,” explained study author David Macdonald in a press statement.

Child care fees climbed over 8 percent in the past few years for parents in Canadian cities. So what exactly does this mean for parents? "This can amount to parents paying $1,000 more a year per child than they did just two years ago," Macdonald said. While child care subsidies exist for low-income families in most provinces, they're not always enough. Low-income parents in Saskatoon can still wind up paying nearly $500 in additional fees that aren't covered by subsidies.

"With additional user fees so high, it's unlikely that this family could even utilize licensed child care," said the study authors.

What's a parent to do if their child care fees are eating up a considerable chunk of their monthly paycheck? Some have actually left cities with expensive child care, like Toronto, to find more affordable child care options. Former Toronto resident Kathleen Kahlon told CBC News that her $1,800 a month preschool costs "were almost as much as [her] mortgage." So she moved to Ontario's Caledon East, where her child care costs are now halved at $900 per month. "I can't imagine having more than one child in day care. I don't know how families do it," she said.

Leaving your city to find cheaper child care can actually be a sensible financial choice because there are absurd differences in the price of child care from one Canadian city to another. Child care is cheapest for parents living in cities in Quebec, Manitoba and PEI, where the provincial government sets the fees, and more expensive in provinces like Ontario, where market forces determine the fees. For instance, in Quebec — where parents pay the lowest fees — a Montreal family might only find themselves out of pocket $164 a month for child care. But if you live in Toronto, you're stuck with the most expensive fees for child care: a median of $1,649 each month to put an infant in child care, $1,375 for toddlers and $1,150 for preschoolers.

How does the typical family fare? Let's imagine you're a middle-income Toronto family with an infant and a 3-year-old. You'd wind up paying nearly $3,000 each month for regulated child care, or a whopping $36,000 per year — and that's if you could even snag your children spots at preschool to begin with. The study found that 89 percent of Toronto child care centers have waiting lists.

MoreScientists prove motherhood changes your brains

Being waitlisted is even costing some Canadian parents money. While Ontario banned waitlist fees in September, in other Canadian provinces, parents sometimes have to pay to hold their child's spot. Parents pay waitlist fees, for instance, at nearly half of child care centers in Vancouver and a third of child care centers in Richmond.

Macdonald told The Star that researchers are not exactly sure what's driven up the price of child care in recent years, but added: “Even if we could explain it, I don’t know if that would help, particularly, because they still have to pay the fees."

More: 10 reasons I'm not a supermommy and I don't want to be

Anastasia Lin is the outspoken beauty queen the pageant world needs

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Anastasia Lin represented Canada in the 2016 Miss World competition in Washington, D.C, but her goal wasn't to snag a tiara. Rather than vague mentions of wanting "world peace," Lin had a very specific dream in mind. She used her platform as a beauty queen contestant to bring attention to reports of China's abuses of practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement that centers around meditation and compassion.

More: How you can support women's, LGBT and civil rights post election

"My one goal was not the tiara,” the Chinese-Canadian actress told The Star. “I just wanted to be on Chinese television... If they can see me on stage they will know [I have not given up], so neither should they.” 

Lin didn't win the crown — that went to the Puerto Rican contestant — but she's been dominating headlines ever since with her message. She drew attention to claims that the Chinese government is harvesting organs of prisoners who practice Falun Gong.

“I’m talking about organs being taken from prisoners of conscience, meaning citizens who have not done anything wrong but to speak their mind and believe what they believe in," Lin told the Associated Press. "It’s like innocent citizens being killed for their organs and their body parts sold for profits. It’s happening and people need to pay attention to it."

Lin's had a difficult time getting her message across, though. The Chinese government labelled Lin a persona non grata, prohibiting her from entering the country last year to compete in last year's Miss World competition. But Lin is trying to get her message across on multiple platforms. She also stars in a controversial new film, The Bleeding Edge, playing a young mother and Falun Gong practitioner who endures horrific abuses at a Chinese labour camp.

Anastasia Lin

Anastasia Lin

While the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa reportedly dismisses Lin's claims of human rights abuses as "sheer fabrication," many others back her up. An investigative report by human rights lawyer David Matas, journalist Ethan Gutmann and former Canadian lawmaker David Kilgour claims that China performs an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 organ transplants each year, with only 10,000 of those accounted for in official records. They report that the tens of thousands of organs that aren't officially on the books come from the bodies of prisoners.

More: Canadian women are still fighting for equality in 2016

So now that Lin's offstage, what should Canadians moved by her message do? You can take action to support practitioners of Falun Gong. Start by signing a petition by Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting "calling for immediate action to end the unethical practice of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China."

And as for Lin now that the pageant's over? She told NBC News she's leaving her pageant dreams behind for now to continue working as an actress and human rights ambassador: "We have a lot of power. So we don't need to be afraid," she said. "We have way more leverage than we think we do."

Anastasia Lin

Anastasia Lin

More: 11 craziest pageant scandals of all time


The queen is quite impressed with Victoria Beckham

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Queen Elizabeth thinks Victoria Beckham is doing impressive work these days, but not all of the U.K. seems to agree.

More: Victoria Beckham was so un-Posh-like in this awkward yet hilarious video

Beckham just announced that she's been named on the Queen's Honours List for 2017 and that she's receiving an OBE, which means she's being named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The former Posh Spice is getting the recognition both for her work in fashion and for her role as UNAIDS ambassador.

Beckham's husband, David Beckham, received the same award 13 years ago. She told People magazine that she's "delighted and humbled" to be on this year's list after her husband said meeting the queen when he was honored was "one of his proudest moments."

More: Victoria Beckham squashes hopes of another Spice Girls reunion

But not everyone is as stoked as the Beckhams about this. There was some pretty immediate backlash on social media from people who thought Beckham's background as a Spice Girl and current role running her fashion line made her a less-than-worthy candidate for the award.

"If Victoria Beckham OBE isn't death knell for honours system god help us. I know a cat more deserving and he just licks his bollocks all day," one Twitter user wrote. Another chimed in: "Victoria Beckham OBE? Can't imagine that's one of the Queen's nominations. Who next? Kim Katrashian for honorary Damehood? Sad."

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 1

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 1

Others rushed to Beckham's defense, including one Twitter user who wrote, "Why shouldn't Victoria Beckham, a woman with a savy business mind & UN charity worker get an OBE for showcasing Britain on a world stage?"

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 2

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 2

And then there's this gold from actor Ricky Gervais, who apparently isn't taking a side:

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 3

Victoria Beckham honours list OBE award backlash 3

More: Victoria Beckham on her boobs: "I don't have them anymore"

Do you think Victoria Beckham deserves the award? Sound off in the comments.

We know what you ate in 2016

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Here we thought 2016 was the year of the poke bowl. Well, according to the folks at Foursquare, Americans were obsessed with other foods. They took a dive into all their user data to find out where we were eating this year, and there are a few surprises. Were you as into these foods as everyone else?

Hottest cuisines

Sure, we're still into the usual pizza and burgers. But in January, the hottest growing food in the U.S. was Filipino. Ube halaya anyone? Mediterranean came in a close second.

More: 19 Filipino dishes that are the comfort food you didn't even know you wanted

Dim sum was also hugely popular, and we can see why. It's kind of a meal made up of appetizers, which is the tastiest part of a restaurant menu.

We also couldn't get enough of noodles. People flocked to udon and soba restaurants in 2016. Foursquare predicts 2017 will be the year of the noodle. You're craving a hot, steamy bowl of ramen now, aren't you?

More: Noodle dishes that say comfort food in any language

The Beyoncé effect

People flocked to Red Lobster after Beyoncé's Super Bowl performance of "Formation." Y'all are highly suggestible. They don't mention hot sauce, but we're guessing a lot of fans that weren't carrying before sure are now.

Dessert trend of the summer

Despite all those epic Black Tap milkshakes we saw on Instagram, it was rolled ice cream that brought in the crowds, with new restaurants specializing in the frozen dessert nationwide. People were also obsessed with churros through the summer. In fact, we reached peak churros in August.

The cocktail of the year was frozen

Everyone was obsessed with frozé — rosé wine in all its various frozen forms, from ice pops to shaved ice. Mentions were up this summer by 600 percent.

More: Rosé wine and pink grapefruit ice pops

We like our coffee flat

And finally, the most talked-about coffee drink wasn't nitro. It was the flat white, espresso with a bit of hot, foamed milk on top. Also, apparently we switch over from iced to hot coffee around September.

foursequare year in review
Image: Foursquare

TV legend Barbara Tarbuck dies at age 74

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We're nearly finished with 2016 and yet the heartbreak still rolls in. Legendary television actress Barbara Tarbuck has died at age 74, leaving behind an incredible body of work. Her daughter, Jennifer Lane Connolly, reported that she died at home after a long fight with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare disorder which typically affects the brain.

More: We are so not OK with Tyler Christopher's General Hospital exit

Tarbuck was best known as Lady Jane Jacks on General Hospital. She was a regular player on the long-running daytime soap since 1996. Tarbuck's credits, though, extend further back; the actress has been working in film and television since 1978. She maintained a lively theater career, having trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before going on to star in shows like Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and David Mamet's Water Engine.

Tarbuck Twitter

Tarbuck Twitter

Tarbuck was a true maverick of many mediums and her roster of over 100 film and television credits proves it. Aside from her decade-long run on General Hospital, she also had special guest roles on a variety of hit television shows, including Charlie's Angels, St. Elsewhere, M*A*S*H, Dallas, Dynasty, Santa Barbara, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, NYPD Blue, and most recently, American Horror Story: Asylum and Mad Men.

More: 5 clues that give us hope Steve Burton is returning to General Hospital

Tarbuck was born in Detroit and had worked since she was 9 years old, when as Variety reports, she began appearing on the WWJ children's show Storyland. It would seem that those early days on Storyland began a lifelong love affair with acting. Tarbuck kept that passion alive and delivered some truly wonderful performances to us all.

More: General Hospital producers made the right move bringing Ingo Rademacher back

There's no doubt in my mind that while the work of Tarbuck will live on. She will be sincerely missed.

Billie Lourd's stepfather has the sweetest message for her

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As heartbreaking as it has been for the entire world to lose Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher so close together, we can't even imagine how it's felt for Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter and Reynolds' stepdaughter.

More: Debbie Reynolds dead at 84 following stroke

But Lourd's family is stepping in with some extra support, including her stepfather, Bruce Bozzi, who married Lourd's father, Bryan Lourd, just a few months ago. Bozzi shared an emotional tribute to Reynolds and Fisher on Instagram, including a sweet photo of Lourd with the two women on her college graduation day.

"It's an honor to be your Stepfather," he wrote in a caption addressed to Lourd. "This day, your NYU grad day we had so much fun! Yankee Stadium your mom and I laughed our asses off, as she kept one fantastic line coming after the other - no less when we all fell asleep the night before in the smaller ceremony because it was so boring"

More: What you need to know about women & heart attacks after Carrie Fisher's death

He continued, "Every time Carrie looked at me she said 'how are you still awake'! Your grandmother with our sweet Ava was the kindest most loving. So...as Carrie said to me years ago 'I'm a good stepmother' I promise I will always be & the strength of these women live so vibrantly in you. I've been lucky enough to see this for a decade! Many decades to come.....heaven just got a s--t load more fun!!!! I love you @praisethelourd xo Bru Thursday 12/29/16."

Billie Lourd's stapfather pays tribute

Billie Lourd's stapfather pays tribute

Lourd's uncle, Todd Fisher, told E! News about how hard it's been for her to lose two family members so suddenly.

"Carrie's daughter is 24 years old. To have to lose the girls, it's just horrible," he said. "She's got their genes, but you can't even imagine. I can't imagine being 24 and having to do this — and I'm 59."

Lourd has remained silent other than to release a statement through her mother's publicist confirming Fisher's death on Dec. 27.

More: Carrie Fisher's legacy goes well beyond Princess Leia

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebrity deaths 2016 slideshow
Image: WENN

Wait, did Adele get married and casually forget to tell us?

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It would appear that Adele has some major explaining to do, because I, like many of her dearest fans, are currently wondering whether or not she is a married woman. That's right. I said it: Adele may be a married woman and she sort of forget to tell any of us. I mean, she has every right to keep the news to herself, but why? There are a few key reasons to believe that she got hitched to her partner, Simon Konecki. Gosh, I really hope this news is the real deal.

More: 6 times Adele has shown her support for the LGBT community

Adele was recently spotted running some errands looking very casual and not at all shouting from the rooftops that she is a married woman. The thing is, while exiting one shop, photographers were able to catch a glimpse of her ring finger on her left hand — also known at the most important finger for married people — and there was a simple gold band. Just sitting there on Adele's finger as if it was no big deal. But I kid you not; this is a very big deal.

Adele Married Twitter

Adele Married Twitter

Why are you holding out on us, Adele? Is that just a simple piece of jewelry you threw on to complete an outfit, forgetting to look where you were putting it? Or can we now call you Mrs. Simon Konecki? We just want to know whether we can send you congratulatory tweets or not. Please put us out of our misery, Adele. The excitement and curiosity is too much to bear.

More: 7 times Adele was all of us during James Corden's Carpool Karaoke (VIDEO)

It would make a bit of sense if she had indeed gotten married considering there were reports of a December wedding in the works back in early November 2016. To her immense credit, Adele has kept her private life strictly under lock and key; it would be right in line with her previous levels of secrecy not to announce if she and Konecki had gone through with a Christmas wedding. However, if this news pans out, the sheer excitement I feel for Adele at finding success and happiness is just too much for words.

That said, come on, Adele. Just give me a little hint about your marital status. I promise I won't tell.

A timeline of the nearly lifelong friendship of Debbie Reynolds & Liz Taylor

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Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor were pegged by the press as the original Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie of their day, due to a scandalous affair and the breakup of a so-called perfect marriage. But despite the tabloids, their friendship endured for decades.

1950

Reynolds and Taylor meet as classmates at the studio school on the MGM lot. "I was just a beginner, and she and I were not in any manner alike, but we got along very well because I was in awe of going to school with Elizabeth Taylor," Reynolds told People in 2015.

1955

Debbie Reynolds Eddie Fisher wedding

Debbie Reynolds Eddie Fisher wedding

Reynolds married actor Eddie Fisher. They have two children together, Todd (named after Taylor's husband Mike Todd) and Carrie Fisher.

1957

Liz Taylor Mike Todd wedding

Liz Taylor Mike Todd wedding

Taylor marries producer Mike Todd. Reynolds serves as the matron of honor and Fisher as best man. The couples are neighbors in Los Angeles.

1958

Liz Taylor Eddie Fisher wedding

Liz Taylor Eddie Fisher wedding

Todd dies in a plane crash, leaving Taylor absolutely bereft. Fisher becomes her main source of consolation. "Eddie always wanted to be Mike Todd… So, when Mike passed on, Eddie became Mike," Reynolds told Entertainment Tonight in 1988. "He started smoking cigars, he started drinking. He had never drank, never smoked cigars, you know? And all of a sudden, he just took on this other personality. Well, naturally, Elizabeth, who was deeply mourning, was attracted to Eddie."

Reynolds first heard rumors of the affair at a dinner party she attended solo, which were confirmed when she called Taylor at her hotel room in New York and Fisher answered.

Carrie Fisher Wishful Drinking

Carrie Fisher Wishful Drinking

Carrie Fisher described the affair a bit differently in her 2001 book, Wishful Drinking. "Naturally, my father flew to Elizabeth's side, gradually making his way slowly to her front. He first dried her eyes with his handkerchief, then he consoled her with flowers, and he ultimately consoled her with his penis," she wrote. "Now this made marriage to my mother awkward, so he was gone within the week."

Taylor issued a statement in Sept. 1958 confirming the affair, in an unprecedented (and rather defensive) move. "Eddie is not in love with Debbie and never has been… You can't break up a happy marriage. Debbie and Eddie's never has been."

1959

Liz Taylor Eddie Fisher wedding

Liz Taylor Eddie Fisher wedding

Reynolds and Fisher divorce and he quickly married Taylor in Las Vegas; they become the original Brangelina. Taylor is branded a homewrecker by the press and NBC cancels The Eddie Fisher Show because of the negative publicity generated by the affair. The newlyweds star in Butterfield 8 together, in which she plays a prostitute having an affair with a wealthy married man.

1962

Liz Taylor Richard Burton Cleopatra

Liz Taylor Richard Burton Cleopatra

Taylor begins an affair with Richard Burton while filming Cleopatra, which will lead to her divorce from Fisher two years later.

More: Debbie Reynolds lived a life of heartbreak but didn't let it destroy her

1966

Finding themselves on the same cruise ship to Europe, Reynolds and Taylor reconcile their friendship. "I sent a note to her room and she sent a note back to mine saying that we should have dinner and get this over with and have a good time," Debbie recalled. "The four of us ended up having dinner and it was wonderful… we had a wonderful evening with a lot of laughs. She'd moved along in her life and so had I. If your husband's going to leave you for anyone, it might as well be Elizabeth Taylor. She was beautiful, smart, and a very sexual woman and I was very different — not exactly a sex kitten. I told [Eddie] she'd throw him out eventually and that's exactly what happened. But he wasn't the brightest of men."

More: Debbie Reynolds reveals all to Oprah

1970-90s

Liz Taylor White Diamonds

Liz Taylor White Diamonds

Reynolds and Taylor keep up their friendship privately throughout the ensuing decades. Taylor earns a second fortune hawking her own perfume line and is instrumental in driving the push for government funding of AIDS research. Reynolds married twice more, developed a critically acclaimed Broadway career, and began collecting Hollywood memorabilia in the hopes of creating a museum which never came to fruition.

2001

These Old Broads

These Old Broads

In her final onscreen appearance, Taylor costars in the Carrie Fisher-penned TV movie These Old Broads with Reynolds, playing two former rivals who fell out when one stole the other's husband. Reynolds later described how Taylor contributed to the script as a means of public apology for their own past. "Liz told Carrie to write that scene because she said I deserved to have that after all these years," Reynolds told the New York Times. "She kept saying, 'Have her really tell me off and make it meaner — it's not funny enough.'"

On Sept. 11, the two found themselves stranded in New York until airspace opened back up, and spent several days holed up together in Taylor's hotel suite watching news coverage together.

2011

Debbie Reynolds statement on Liz Taylor's death

Debbie Reynolds statement on Liz Taylor's death

Taylor passes away, and Reynolds reveals that she last spoke with Taylor a mere two weeks before the icon's death.

"'Getting old is really shitty,' I said. Elizabeth laughed that wonderful full laugh. "It certainly is, Debbie. This is really tough.'"

Taylor leaves Reynolds an astonishing bequest in her will: a stunning jeweled set of sapphire and diamond earrings, bracelet and necklace.

2016

Reynolds Fisher funeral plans

Reynolds Fisher funeral plans

Reynolds dies just a day after her daughter, Carrie.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Pop star feuds slideshow
Image: David Lucas/WENN.com

Ellen Pompeo has a new baby boy

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Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo has only gone and sprung a holiday surprise on us.

Pompeo and her husband Chris Ivery have a new addition to their family: son Eli Christopher Ivery. And the little guy looks pretty content in a cute father-son pic Pompeo posted on her Instagram account.

The actress also warned her husband that he has been usurped as the No. 1 male in the family. "Chris Ivery just fell a notch," she captioned the snap. "I've got a new guy."

More: Pink's new baby is here and his name is gorgeous

Ellen Pompeo new baby boy

Ellen Pompeo new baby boy

More: Netflix helps you ring in the new year with your kids

The couple may not have announced Eli's arrival so soon had they not been papped hiking in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles Wednesday, with Ivery carrying the baby boy in a front holder. After all, 2-year-old daughter Sienna May's arrival via surrogate wasn't announced until two months after the fact. Damn you, paparazzi.

Pompeo and Ivery are also parents to daughter Stella Luna, 7.

More: I'm using baby dolls to teach my daughter about racial bias


Drake and Jennifer Lopez are officially DraLo

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We kind of already knew this moment was coming.

More: After 3 failed marriages, Jennifer Lopez still believes in love

Drake and Jennifer Lopez have been slowly but steadily moving their budding romance from the shadows into the public eye, and they're officially not even trying to hide it anymore. They're definitely together, and they don't care if the whole world is watching, which is kind of awkward because they're also at that new couple stage where they're just all over each other.

They went together to a prom-themed Winter Wonderland party, where they were named king and queen (of course) and were also caught on a lot of bystanders' cameras getting really, really cozy on the dance floor.

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

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 1

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 1

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 2

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 2

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 3

Drake and J Lo are definitely a real thing now 3

What makes all this footage even better is that they seem to be dancing to an unreleased track they made together — both their voices can be heard in the duet that's playing in the background. They need to drop their music for real, ASAP.

Onlookers said they were cuddly and close all night, made out on the dance floor, took cute photo booth pics together and other gross things that definitely mean they are a couple for real. Not that anyone is surprised by that after the cuddly photo they both dropped on Instagram earlier this week.

Drake posts cozy photo with new GF J-lo

Drake posts cozy photo with new GF J-lo

More: 8 times Drake was actually hilarious, including that "Bad Blood" Apple ad

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

drake's girlfriends slidesehow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

11 best beauty tricks new moms learned from other moms

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If one more person tells me to invest in a good tinted moisturizer, I’m going to lose it.” That’s an actual quote from an actual friend who has two actual kids and one more on the way. “It’s like the magazines think we have no idea that we’ll have less time in the morning when we decide to procreate, but I’ll be dead before I trade in my full-coverage foundation.”

Amen to that. So in the name of digging up beauty tips for moms that aren’t BS (or, you know, a total waste of valuable time), we went straight to the source: We asked 11 new-ish moms to find out what the best beauty tip they ever got from a fellow mom was. Read on for our favorites below:

“For some reason, my four-year-old son would never let me sit and polish my own nails during his quiet play time, and a fellow mom suggested letting him pick out the color so he feels involved without actually ‘helping’ me polish them—a.k.a. making a huge mess all over my hands. It worked like magic: Now he sits and plays with his toys while I polish my nails in peace. He likes to ‘approve’ them when I’m done.” —Anna, mother of one

More: The Gifts 8 Real Moms *Actually* Want to Get This Year

“The best beauty tip I learned is to put on my face masks while my daughter is in the bath. She thinks I look funny and ridiculous, I’m able to keep my skin looking amazing, and it’s all done in exactly 15 minutes. It may be the most genius thing I’ve ever done.” Katya, co-founder of Hey Mama

“About two weeks before my due date, I got my eyelashes tinted at the insistence of a fellow new mom. Best decision I’ve ever made. I’d suggest going a little earlier in your pregnancy if possible though since it’s hard to lay flat on your back at eight-plus months.” —Chloe, mother of one

“I keep hair ties in every single pant and jacket pocket that I have, this way I can easily put my hair in a top knot in the middle of the day when I realize that I should have washed it the night before! For moments like this, I just add baby powder to my hair so that it has a fresh smell.” —Adele, mother of two

New Moms on Beauty Tricks
Image: StyleCaster

“I used the same Mary Kay powder blush my mom used for as long as I could remember. I even brought it to the hospital with me when I gave birth to my twins. When the nurse saw it, she laughed and suggested I replace it with a cream version that can do double-duty on my cheeks and lips for when I want to look presentable, and it was so true. I also find it’s easier to carry a small pot in the diaper bag and use my fingers when I’m out of the house, rather than a compact with a brush. Now, half my beauty products come in pots and require no brushes!”—Charlotte, mother of two one-year-old twin girls

“My hair never does that braid-it-while-wet-and-get-perfect-waves thing so foam rollers were the best trick any mom has ever taught me. I usually put my toddler to bed around 8:30, which is three hours before I lay down. Once she’s out for the night, the foam rollers go in. They take about half an hour and I can do it while catching up on my shows. Genius!”—Christine, mother of one

“I have long, thick hair and rarely get the chance to style it with a blow-dryer or flat iron. So when it comes to hair-wash day, I deep condition and comb it while I’m still in the shower. After I towel-dry my hair with a cotton T-shirt, I put it in a braid. I get to look cute while it’s drying and when it finally dries (usually next day for me), it’s wavy.”—Kira, mother of one

More: 10 Fast Beauty Tricks from Top Mom Bloggers

“I was trying to find another use for nipple cream after coming home from the hospital. The first ingredient in mine was olive oil, so now I use it to remove eye makeup!”—Gioia

“I had a friend that worked at a fancy department store counter for years, and she told me eye cream was a waste of money. Instead, when I have bags under my eyes, I use green tea bags instead.”—Francesca, mother of three

“I literally have 12 minutes in the morning to get ready since I go to the gym at 5 a.m. so I shower at night. When I wash my hair—I learned all about dry shampoo after being a mom, so now I wash my hair maybe twice a week—I spray it with beach wave spray, put it in a bun on the top of my head, and sleep with it. When I take it out, even after the gym, it’s dry and wavy. To get it looking someone uniform, I go in with a curling iron and curl a few choice pieces. It saves me almost 20 minutes that I definitely don’t have in the morning.”—Lori, mother of two

“Cream highlighter is your friend! Dab it on the inner corners of your eyes and in the center of your eyelid, and you just might trick your co-workers into thinking you got more than four hours of sleep last night.”—Max, mother of four kids all under age 5

More: 9 DIY Skin-Care Ingredients That are Bad for Your Skin


Originally posted on StyleCaster.com

Police are still investigating George Michael's death, even after his autopsy

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Police will continue investigating singer George Michael's death after his autopsy didn't reveal anything conclusive about how he died.

More: George Michael's partner Fadi Fawaz tweets about his heartbreaking Christmas

E! News published a statement from Thames Valley police, which laid out the next steps in determining what caused the death of the Wham! frontman.

"A post mortem examination was carried out yesterday as part of the investigation into the death of George Michael," the statement said. "The cause of death is inconclusive and further tests will now be carried out. The results of these tests are unlikely to be known for several weeks. Thames Valley Police will prepare a file for the Oxfordshire Coroner. Mr. Michael's death is still being treated as unexplained but not suspicious."

Those close to Michael have simply said that he died of "heart failure." His death does appear to have been peaceful — he was found in bed by his boyfriend after he died in his sleep.

Michael's longtime partner, Fadi Fawaz, later tweeted about finding Michael dead on Christmas morning.

"ITs a xmas i will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning," Fawaz wrote. "I will never stop missing you xx."

Meanwhile, other artists continue to pay tribute to Michael's legacy. Coldplay's Chris Martin performed his own take on Wham!'s "Last Christmas" at a performance last week, and Elton John, a longtime friend of Michael's, stopped a show to give a touching tribute to the singer.

"As a human being he was one of the kindest, sweetest, most generous people I've ever met," John told the crowd, before playing "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," a song he and Michael famously recorded a duet of in 1992.

More: Celebs react to the death of George Michael

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebrity deaths 2016 slideshow
Image: WENN

I screamed the F-word at my teenager over a silly argument

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If you’re like me, you are finding that it’s not always so easy to like all the people who you’re living with, much less love them. At least once a day, I find myself in a combative situation or heated conversation with someone I gave birth to. I even made that observation aloud to one of them this week, in the midst of one such episode, "This is not how people usually talk to me."

But he just grunted and kept at it.

Not long ago, I posted a friendly link in the Facebook inboxes of my two older kids about a college coed who had fallen asleep (passed out) on a front stoop after a night out in freezing cold temperatures and was now facing amputation of one of her limbs due to hypothermia. I saw it as a cautionary tale that I wanted to share with them so as to avoid future amputations and the need for any prosthesis. God knows their tuition bills are enough to finance. I had also recently shared an article with my 21 year-old son about how smoking too much cannabis can cause man boobs, which he thought was funny.

More: I texted my son to end an argument and it worked

Apparently, he did not think the frozen girl was funny or valuable in any way because he called me soon after freaking out about it.

“Don’t send me that shit,” he said. The conversation began and quickly ended with me screaming, “Fuck you!” into the phone and hanging up.

I promise you, this was never a part of my grand master parenting plan, nor was the moment after I hung up the phone when I had to walk back into the kitchen to find my two younger children – 16 and 11 – sitting on stools and staring at me. This was not exactly the model of conflict resolution I wanted them to see.

Needless to say, the matter was discussed in-depth with my therapist when we next met and she helped me see that while I thought I was using the poor girl’s possible amputation as a teachable moment for my kids, my son viewed it as a message from me that he would be dumb enough to do something like that in the first place.

He was insulted.

More: I love my kids – but I don't want to spend every waking moment with them

And who knows, maybe the day of that terrible conversation I was getting my period, or ovulating or whatever it is nowadays that makes my hormones go a little crazy, which added fuel to the emotional fire. But historically, he and I are good at pushing each other’s buttons and quickly making the other one crazy. We tend to jump right out of the frying pan and roll around in the fire.

And it’s not just him. I get into tussles with everyone around here. I like to joke that my little guy’s been strapping on his teenager training wheels lately because sometimes there’s that tone in his voice when he has to answer one of my many, apparently annoying questions, and he’s given some sassy responses lately, too. Et tu, my sweet young boy?

And while my therapist recommended things like having follow-up conversations with all the kids about the amputation blow up, meditating and making a jar that I put money in every time I act like an asshole (or something like that), I think I have struck upon the perfect antidote to potentially hostile situations with my kids. Last week I picked up a box full of home movies I had converted to DVDs at Costco and was reminded – at least for a few hours – of how fucking sweet my children were (and maybe still are).

Sure, we’ve got boxes of old pictures and photo albums filled with shots from Christmases of long ago. But to actually see the kids in action and hear their little voices – so young and innocent – and watch how we all interacted was wonderful and terrible all at once. How did we get from there to here?

In retrospect, some of the scenes are classic signs of their personalities to come. There was my older daughter shy and hesitant in the hospital room meeting her new little sister but super-excited for the candy in her Christmas stocking; the little sister –at four – decked out in a kooky lingerie-inspired outfit and belting out some made-up song on her Barbie karaoke machine, pausing only to scream at her older brother to stop “annoying” her. Total diva.

But to me, one of the most compelling moments of those recordings was watching my oldest son open his Christmas presents, circa 2001. He was in third grade and had just turned nine and apparently Santa really thought he wanted a lot of books that year. But instead of disgust, he happily opened his deluxe Narnia Chronicles set and lifted the heavy Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tome over his head in victory. He was that sweet. And I knew just how to make him happy.

More: What I wish I'd known before becoming a young mom

Sometimes I tell myself stories about my kid:. “He’s always been this way,” or “She’s always been like that.” And sometimes it’s the truth and other times, it couldn’t be further from it. But I know that since I watched my son lift that Harry Potter book over his head, I’ve been looking at him a little different over this long break home between semesters. I’m seeing him not in a new light, but the way I used to see him.

The two of us went out to dinner last night and had a great time. The conversation was easy – we talked about everything from Breaking Bad to LeBron James – and there was never any point that I felt like I had to say something annoying, like "Put your napkin on your lap," or "Use your knife." He already knew what to do. And I’m reminded that even though he’s a lot taller and hairier than he used to be, inside – and sometimes maybe it’s so deep down in there you’d need an excavation crew to find it – he’s still that same sweet boy I knew all those years ago. And I’m glad I found him again.

How Not to Hate Your Teens
Image: Amy - Author

Originally published on BlogHer.

There may still be hope for BIP's Josh Murray & Amanda Stanton

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Could it be that Bachelor In Paradise's Amanda Stanton and Josh Murray didn't break up after all?

More: Did Amanda Stanton finally see Josh Murray's dark side?

After watching them join at the mouth and become one for an entire season of BIP, we couldn't help but root for these two. Josh is a little sketchy, sure, but Amanda is the sweetest human on the planet, and if she doesn't deserve love, none of us does.

Then, weeks ago, rumors started to surface saying that despite being one of the strongest couples to leave paradise together, Josh and Amanda had broken up. Multiple sources confirmed it: They reportedly had a nasty fight and went their separate ways.

Or did they?

An observant fan caught Josh and Amanda shopping together earlier this week, and snapped a pic with them to post to Twitter.

Josh Murray and Amanda Stanton went shopping together

Josh Murray and Amanda Stanton went shopping together

More: Josh Murray might be the shadiest guy in Bachelor in Paradise history

In the snap, they look happy and relaxed. Why would they be happily shopping together right after a breakup? That just doesn't make any sense.

Of course, there's still the possibility that Josh and Amanda are just trying to trick us by keeping their relationship status under wraps until they can reveal it themselves. They've been in Georgia all week filming a new Bachelor special, "Countdown To Nick," that's set to air Sunday, and it's widely speculated that they'll confirm the breakup rumors — or put them to rest — on the show.

As of now, neither Josh nor Amanda has specifically addressed the reports about their breakup, so while there are a lot of conflicting signs that could go either way, we probably have to wait until Sunday to know for sure.

More: Amanda Stanton is having a hard time enjoying her engagement to Josh Murray

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Bachelor Season 21 contestants slideshow
Image: ABC
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