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5 women on the thrills and challenges of working in tech

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The tech boom has simultaneously simplified and complicated our lives in massive ways—our smartphones insta-deliver news, entertainment, communication, food, and even dates, but basic systems like the presidential election are now vulnerable to digital hacks. Another gripe people have with a tech-fueled world is that it’s not creating the number of jobs you might expect, given how it rules our lives.

I talked to five women about the careers they’ve created in the tech space. Jobs at Tinder, Candy Crush, and other digital mainstays might not be easy to come by, but the people who do them drive our everyday experiences. And to hear them tell it, tech is becoming increasingly friendly to ambitious women who are determined to break in. Below, find out more about how they did it—and how you can, too.

"It sucks that women in the gaming world get targeted by trolls on a larger scale than men."

The Game Designer

Yonna Ingolf, 26, Narrative Designer at King for Candy Crush Franchise, Stockholm, Sweden

“I’ve always played and loved games, but didn’t think about it as something I could work with until I was around 20. I found a school focusing on game design and everything fell into place. My days can look very different, since I work with a couple of different games and a lot of different teams. In a week I can work on stories for new episodes, themes for different live events in the games, and new gameplay features. My office has a very relaxed vibe. There are definitely stressful periods, like any job, but there is a lot of playing around and fun events surrounding the industry. My biggest challenge has been, and still is, to not become my job. Working in a creative environment you constantly put yourself out there, and feel a personal attachment to the work you deliver. I’ve learned is that if I have an off day, that’s OK—and normal.

While I’m outnumbered by men in my industry, I’ve never felt underestimated by the people I work with. Where I have felt underestimated is rather in some toxic communities surrounding gaming. It sucks that some ‘dudebros’ doubt that I work in the industry, that I like games, or say I should be a ‘booth babe’ instead of a designer. It sucks that women in the gaming world get targeted by trolls and hate on the internet on a much larger scale than men who say or do the same things. It can be hard, but there’s no better way of fighting that toxicity than from inside the industry. If you’re interested in going into gaming, make sure the school you go to has an internship period—that way you’ll experience the industry and get to know people. See if there are any game dev meetups in your area and get to know people in the industry. Learn a little about everything! Make some art, try out 3D modeling, write some code or script, create some sound effects. If you don’t have the opportunity or tools to do it, then you can at least read about it.”

"It’s not as simple as ‘build a website and they will come.’"

The Virtual Assistant

Michelle Mangen, Virtual Bookkeeper at The Virtual Assistant, LLC, FL

“I first learned of virtual assistants as a result of reading a romance novel. It was a few years later before I explored it in more detail. I started as a general administrative virtual assistant and have, over time, evolved and now I only offer bookkeeping services to small businesses. Most of what I do in a day is bookkeeping related-paying team members, reconciling bank statements, preparing financials, etc. I work at home, so most days I’m in comfy clothes. The biggest challenge was getting my first client—it’s not as simple as ‘build a website and they will come.’ I often considered throwing in the towel and finding a corporate America position. My best advice, if you want to be a VA, is to get tech savvy and don’t ever quit learning! Be brave and reach out to established virtual assistants and see if they’d be willing to hire you as an intern.”

More: 10 Things Never to Do in a Job Interview

Pambakian with at Tinder HQ with Communications Manager Evan Bonnstetter
Image: @rosettep

"We all need to do our part to mentor and encourage other women."

The Tinder Exec

Rosette Pambakian, 33, VP of Communications and Branding at Tinder, Los Angeles, CA

“Growing up, I always aspired to make a difference somehow. It may be cliché, but I believe creating connections across the world is making that difference. Experiencing friendship and love is so powerful, and I’m proud to work at a place where I get to help people do that. Every single day at Tinder is different. Our company and product is constantly evolving, which is what makes my job so exciting. One day I’ll be in Europe meeting with reporters, the next day I’ll be discussing branding strategy with other Tinder executives, and the next day I’ll be in the office planning product releases for the upcoming year. The tech industry can be difficult, though. People work long hours and pour their hearts into products that may not work out in the long run. Instead of letting that intimidate us, we use it to push ourselves to be our best. I often spend more time in the office than I do at my own house, so the people I work with really feel like family.

I think the tech industry is a great place for women to succeed and stand out, and the Tinder workplace is such a creative, fun environment that fosters creativity and collaboration. It’s empowering to work in a male-dominated industry and come to the table with results and ideas that are just as impactful, if not more so, than what the men are doing. The industry is evolving, and more and more women are thriving in tech, but we all need to do our part to mentor and encourage other women. If you’re looking to go into tech, my best tip is that if there’s no risk, there’s no reward. I said yes to a few huge moves in my career that propelled me to where I am today. I knew there were risks when I joined Tinder, but I also knew that there was a possibility for a great reward.”

"When you can work from anywhere, you end up working everywhere."

The Digital Entrepreneur

Michelle Dale, 35, CEO of Virtual Miss Friday & 1nSourcing, usually in Greece

“I quit my job and left the UK when I was 23 on a one-way ticket to Egypt, which was when I realized I wanted to live abroad full-time and be able to travel the world whenever I wanted. I started looking for how I could work online and I came across virtual assistance, which became my source of income and passion, and led me to create a virtual assistant assistant training program. An average workday for me involves working through items that my team needs assistance with; planning and implementing projects for clients; devising new ideas for online launches and products; blogging and vlogging. For me, it’s all about the lifestyle: working online, living the dream, breaking away from the 9-to-5, being your own boss, earning more money, doing what you actually enjoy. It’s about working around your lifestyle, rather than the opposite. In any service-based industry, particularly when you have your own business, the challenge is to make plenty of time for yourself. When you can work from anywhere, you end up working everywhere, so it’s not unusual for me to check emails in the middle of the night, work on weekends, and hours just roll into other hours. You have to find the right balance.

Virtual assistance is one of the fastest-growing online industries, mainly because the demand is growing so much. I don’t think anyone, man or woman, can make you feel outnumbered or underestimated unless you allow it. It’s about focusing on yourself, developing your skills, delivering value, and having the confidence to go out there and do your best because you know you’re worth it. My best advice is to find a role model, someone who you can look at and say, I like what they’ve done, I like their lifestyle, and I want to learn from them. So many people offer online courses, training, and mentorship—myself included!—so take advantage of resources, hold your head high, and go for it. Never wait for everything to be perfect—there will never be a perfect time, place, circumstance, financial situation, family situation. There’s now, so work with it!”

"As a woman, you’re naturally outnumbered."

The Engineer

Anna N. Schlegel, 48, Senior Director, Globalization and Information at NetApp and author of Truly Global, Silicon Valley, CA

“I never set out to be in Engineering! I fell into it through different high-tech job assignments in Silicon Valley, and taking risks within these companies. I started working with Cisco in the 90s, and from there I went on to working at Xerox, VMware, and NetApp. I have been a general manager and CEO for two globalization companies. An average day at my current job entails a lot of global calls with Europe and Asia to align, evangelize, and monitor our program goals; talking to our suppliers and agencies; and reporting back to executives on progress, or escalations and wins. NetApp has repeatedly been ranked as a great place to work which is hugely important to be able to work within a respectful environment. There’s a lot of room to innovate.

High-tech engineering environments have low numbers of gender diversity. As a woman, you’re naturally outnumbered. The key is to work in groups where all participants value your opinion and prepare yourself to be part of environments where you will be the minority. Unconscious Bias trainings can help. Find out who’s leading gender diversity in your company and try to volunteer to help change with our companies. For women looking to become engineers, my advice is to learn how to present in public; communicate succinctly in writing, calls, and presentations; join forums of your craft to hear how others resolve similar issues; and find mentors and talk to them regularly.”

More: How 6 Women Became CEOs Before 30

Originally posted on StyleCaster.com


Two Stranger Things stars might be dating offscreen

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Anyone who 'ships Stranger Things' Nancy and Jonathan, there's amazing news: They really look like they're dating in real life.

More: Finally there's proof Stranger Things' Steve is actually Jean-Ralphio's dad

Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy, and Charlie Heaton, who plays Jonathan, have been spotted together all over the world in the last few months, but they didn't spark major dating rumors until this week, when they were spotted catching a flight together after the Golden Globes.

They partied after the Globes with the rest of the cast, but then flew out together the following morning. They were spotted at LAX looking awfully cozy for just co-stars.

More: Millie Bobby Brown's dad is at serious risk of ruining his daughter's career

This comes after they've documented hanging out on Instagram. In September, Dyer shared a pic of Heaton covered in birds when they appeared to be in Spain together.

"Wow congrats @charlie.r.heaton on his new one man show Stranger Wings!! Sure gonna miss you s2 but happy you’re doing what you love," she wrote alongside the pic.

Stranger Things Nancy and Jonathan are dating IRL 1

Stranger Things Nancy and Jonathan are dating IRL 1

In October, they celebrated Halloween together, as documented on Heaton's Instagram this time.

Stranger Things Nancy and Jonathan are dating IRL 2

Stranger Things Nancy and Jonathan are dating IRL 2

A month after that, they were spotted together in Nashville, which is Dyer's hometown, having coffee.

On the show, Dyer's character Nancy is in a sort of love triangle with Heaton's character Jonathan and Steve Harrington, who's played by their close pal Joe Keery. But everyone who watches Stranger Things knows that Nancy and Jonathan are meant to be. Don't @ me.

More: Barb was resurrected from the dead on Halloween in 13 glorious ways

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Stranger Things theories slideshow
Image: Netflix

You won't believe how real these replicas of famous houses look

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Have you ever visited a historical site or even seen a house in a movie and thought, "that's exactly the kind of house I want to live in"? Well, there's a group of homeowners just like you that took that dream and built it into reality. The Wall Street Journal captured some of these replica homes on video, and we just had to share because they're each so amazing.

From the fictional Disney Up house to the White House, this eccentric group of homeowners has built their dream homes — that just happen to be exact replicas of notable sites from around the world. And the results are crazy cool.

1. The Up house

Up House
Image: Wall Street Journal

Lynette Hamblin and her husband Clinton built this exact replica of the house in Disney's Up in Herriman, Utah, in 2011 for about $400,000 according to The Wall Street Journal. The Up theme carries into the house, where custom furniture and accessories were made to complete the doppelgänger dwelling. This shows true commitment to the theme.

More: Bella and Gigi Hadid's father puts their opulent family mansion on the market for $85 million

2. Virginia governor's mansion

In St. Charles, Illinois, Ellen and Ted Roberts build a replica of the Executive Mansion in Richmond, Virginia, after Ellen fell in love on a trip to the historic residence built in 1813.

Imitation house

Image: Wall Street Journal

The Roberts finished their version in 1995.

More: Make your own candles in the colors and scents you've been dreaming of

imitation-house
Image: Wall Street Journal

3. The White House

Imitation house
Image: Wall Street Journal

A replica of the 1924 White House in Morgan's Point, Texas, was purchased by Judy Masson in 2013 for just over $3 million.

Imitation house
Image: Wall Street Journal

According to The Wall Street Journal, this is just one of at least six knock-off White Houses that have been built by die-hard American history buffs.

4. Petit Trianon

Imitation house

Image: Wall Street Journal


Centre Island, New York, is where you'll find this French-inspired home built to exact specifications after the Petit Trianon at Versailles for an unnamed Chinese homeowner who sold the property in 2013 for $9.5 million.

More: 8 vanities that can make your small bathroom still feel luxurious

5. Virginia Governor's Palace

In McLean, Virginia, there's this home of former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, which is on the market for $4.2 million and constructed to mirror the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Imitation house

Image: Wall Street Journal

The original was the home of Virginia governors until 1780.

Imitation house

Image: Wall Street Journal


So if you're in the market for a new house yourself, maybe consider building an imitation house of your very own. Who says you can't have your very own Munster's mansion or even a Full House inspired by the sitcom? If you can dream it, you can build it, for a price, of course.

Check out The Wall Street Journal's full video of replica homes.

Wall street journal: replica homes

Wall street journal: replica homes

RHOBH could be affecting Eileen Davidson's Y&R screen time

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There’s no question that Eileen Davidson has been a force in the soap world for decades. From her role as Kristen DiMera on Days of Our Lives to her current gig as Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless, there’s a reason fans tune in to see her storylines.

More: RHOBH star Eileen Davidson reveals a dark secret no one knew about

However, in recent years, Davidson’s character has been on the back burner and been relegated to less screen time than fans would like. Why would Y&R take a legacy character and relinquish her to background status?

In a November interview with TVInsider, returning head writer and co-executive producer Sally Sussman explained her thoughts on the topic.

“Here’s the problem: Eileen is a very powerful performer and there are very few men that she’s really worked well with over time — very few who can match her,” Sussman said. “And that’s going all the way back to 1982 when she first came to Y&R. I wrote her exit story on Days, so I know her power.”

Now a new interview with TVInsider is proving that Davidson doesn’t necessarily agree with Sussman’s assessment.

More: Y&R is officially killing [SPOILER] off — but don't despair

“I don't completely agree, but... okay,” she said. “It's not the first time I've heard it. I used to get that from [Y&R co-creator] Bill Bell when I was in my 20s.”

Even if Bell was telling Davidson the same story decades ago, she was still at the forefront of Y&R’s storylines. Sussman promised “an unexpected soulmate story” for Davidson and it looks like it’s playing out with computer geek Ravi, played by actor Abhi Sinha.

The new romance hasn’t reached a boiling point, nor has it made her a central character again on Y&R. So what’s the real problem here?

It’s possible that Davidson’s other gig over on Bravo is affecting her Y&R job. Even though CBS cast her Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Erika Girardi in a small role recently, it seems like the network is shirking away from the drama and girl fights that play out on the reality show.

More: Erika Girardi proves that The Young and the Restless is just like RHOBH

That doesn’t seem to affect Davidson too much because she’s been open and honest about her personal struggles on RHOBH. She wants to be true to who she is in her personal life.

“I just try to be myself. Sometimes I take the high road, sometimes I don’t,” she said to TVInsider. “The thing that makes this reality gig so hard is that you are constantly voicing thoughts you’d normally let slide or keep private.”

Is her honesty keeping her from moving into a greater storyline on Y&R? It’s hard to say, but Davidson admits that she gets a variety of opinions about her time on Bravo.

“I’ve heard it all. ‘You shouldn’t be doing a soap opera.’ ‘You shouldn’t be doing reality TV.’ Everybody has an opinion, but, as time marches on, I’m still standing,” she laughed. “And there’s a lot to be said for that.”

For Davidson, doing it her way seems to be the best approach. Two jobs, staying in the spotlight and staying authentic works for her.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Actors who started on soap operas slideshow
Image: CBS Television

Kody Brown and his wives are now exiled from their polygamist church

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After a crazy, scandal-filled year, Radar Online reports that Kody Brown and the rest of the Sister Wives family have been kicked out of their Utah church.

More: Sister Wives' Kody Brown reveals he wanted to quit the show (VIDEO)

The polygamous offshoot of the Apostolic United Brethren takes issue with how the family has made polygamy look to the rest of the world, an insider told the site.

"From day one, Kody pitched the show as a documentary, but a lot of people in the faith think that this has become a straight-up reality TV show for ratings," the source said.

In the last year, the Brown family has been at the center of scandal after scandal, from Kody's wife Meri being catfished online to constant rumors of divorce and money problems tearing the family apart.

More: One of the Sister Wives is rumored to be leaving the house for good

This shouldn't come as a surprise to viewers after Maddie Brown tried to get baptized in the church during a 2015 episode but was instead sent a rejection letter saying that her family was too public and that she could only be baptized there if she disowned them.

"This has been brewing for a long time and Meri’s catfishing scandal was the final straw," the insider told Radar. "It was a huge, kind of war in the church. The church elders told Kody that he would never be welcomed back, even if the family moved back to Utah."

The source continued, "Polygamy is not an easy path but they made it look like kind of a joke. People really live this way and it’s a hard life to live. When the Browns sit there and put themselves on TV but won’t discuss the real issues they face and instead look for ratings, of course people in the religion are going to get annoyed at how they’re being portrayed."

More: Sister Wives: 6 reasons Meri should leave the family

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

sister wives family slideshow
Image: TLC

Audrina Patridge laughs off the haters upset about her premarital baby

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Move along, judgy people. Audrina Patridge has no patience for you. And we don't either.

The reality TV star — best known for surviving numerous seasons of interpersonal SoCal drama with her perfectly coiffed frenemies on The Hills — and her now-husband, Corey Bohan, a professional BMX dirt bike rider (yes, that's a thing), had their first child before getting hitched. And Patridge has gotten a lot of flak for having her daughter out of the sanctity of holy matrimony. Gasp.

More: Audrina Patridge's wedding day was the exact opposite of her The Hills days

Shocking, we know. Our delicate sensibilities are getting all crinkled over here. Pass the smelling salts.

Patridge isn't too fazed by the finger-waggers. “God has a plan for everyone. The baby was a surprise,” she told Momtastic. “And I was like, you know what? This is meant to be.”

Patridge and Bohan did tie the knot this past November in Hawaii. Take that, haters. Daughter Kirra Max, then 4 months old, was a scene-stealer, decked out in a sweet white dress and matching headband.

“A lot of people gave me a hard time for having a baby before getting married, but who are they to judge?” Patridge said. “You always have those few haters who are going to be negative in every situation… nobody is perfect. You have to do what’s good for you.”

More: Jessica Alba, Audrina Patridge, Kim Kardashian and more celeb mom photos

That includes having Kirra Max by C-section — not what Patridge had planned. Bizarrely, she found herself on the receiving end of harsh criticism about this too. “I would have loved to have had her naturally, but it was just impossible,” Patridge explained. “She was bigger than we thought and she couldn’t turn. It’s really strange to me that people are so opinionated about how someone else gives birth.”

It's really strange to us as well. How is it possible that where the baby comes out is still such a hot-button issue for anyone in 2017? It's time to get some hobbies, weirdos!

Patridge has a chill, live-and-let-live approach about all the shamers. “Just because they have a different opinion or want to do something else doesn’t mean they’re wrong. Everyone is different. Accept people for who they are and don’t judge.” 

Wait... does that mean we're not supposed to judge the people who're judging her? Damn your logic, Patridge.

My purity ring gave me the strength to take control of my sex life

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I have a purity ring. I got it when I was nearly fifteen years old, accompanied by a lovely ceremony for which I wore a fluffy, beautiful white dress. After waltzing with my father and performing a dance as my talent, I, along with nine other girls, made a promise to not have sex until I was married.

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

When I turned twenty, that promise was broken. I cried right after the deed was done, and my bewildered boyfriend had to console me. I felt like I had failed. That feeling continued, along with the pleasure from having sex, and I felt conflicted.

I liked sex, but I felt ashamed for having it. That feeling continued as I got older, but it eventually waned and evolved into an entirely different feeling: empowerment.

It was like a light bulb had gone off in my head. One day after “doing it” (Insert teenage girl giggle here), I thought, “Hot damn. I DID that,” and had an amazingly productive day afterwards. I got through my entire to-do list, enjoyed wonderful memories of the interlude from that morning, and there wasn’t any shame, just an afterglow.

Sex had become empowering. It was one thing to feel an energy boost, but an entirely different thing to feel as powerful as I did. After the years of looking at my ring and thinking, “My father would kill me if he knew the copious amounts of sex I just had with my boyfriend,” I grew to think of it as a reminder to not feel pressured to have sex (or not have sex).

The ring now says “It’s your decision.”

It is my decision whether or not I should have sex with whichever partner I choose. It is my decision whether or not I have sex at all. The choice is mine, and if the other party doesn’t like it, too damned bad. That outlook has helped me feel more open to exploring sex. There are so many ways to have it that I didn’t truly think of until my thoughts about sex in general changed.

More: My husband shamed me into believing I was a sex addict

It just so happened that I came into this new way of feeling toward the end of the year, so in true new year's tradition, I made a goal list just for sex. First goal? Learn how to orgasm faster alone. I’m sure it will bring me a source of pride, in addition to not feeling so pent up.

The ring isn't all bad. It encouraged me to wait until I was older to have sex. By the time I had it, I was on birth control, understood the necessity of using protection, and was open enough to talk about it honestly with my doctor. I'm glad I waited until I was nearly 20. Having sex brought emotions that I know I wouldn't have been able to handle when I was 16 or 17 years old. It gave me time to be more responsible with my body, and my emotions.

I'm 25 years old, and it took me five years to feel this positive about sex and now that I do, I won't look back.

More: If a guy can't handle my zits, we probably shouldn't be together

Originally published on BlogHer

Sistine Stallone & her sisters are poised to become the next Hadid sisters

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As soon as they took the stage at the 2017 Golden Globes, it was clear that the Stallone sisters were poised for total breakout stardom.

More: Francesca Eastwood named Miss Golden Globe

The young women all share a very famous father: Rocky star Sylvester Stallone. But unlike their father, the Stallone women are all on their own unique paths toward fame and universal recognition. While their historic honor as the first three simultaneous Miss Golden Globes landed them on the map, they've been moving and grooving in flashy Hollywood circles for years.

As young women coming up in the Hollywood crowd — all three incredibly good-looking and talented in their own ways — it's only natural that we draw comparisons to other famous celebrity sister squads like the Kardashians and the Hadids. But mark my words: The Stallone women will, without a doubt, not only take up the mantle from the Kardashians and the Hadids as the greatest celebrity sister squad, they'll deserve it too.

Why? Primarily because they are young women who are so totally not infatuated with all-consuming fame. Their Instagram feeds aren't flooded with product endorsements. They don't stage their lives to exude a faux sense of glamor. Heck, their Twitter accounts are barely a month old.

They're real women, and yes, they're actually really relatable. Here's what you need to know about the three young women I am proclaiming 2017's breakout sister squad.

Sophia Stallone

Sophia Stallone Insta

Sophia Stallone Insta

The oldest Stallone daughter is currently a student at USC (tell us what you're majoring in, girl!) and is a bit more shy in the limelight as compared to her father and her younger sister, Sistine. The USC undergrad is also a Delta Gamma sorority sister, so basically she's cornered the market on how to be an amazing sister no matter the relationship.

Sophia Stallone USC instagram pic

Sophia Stallone USC instagram pic

Sophia's Instagram also shows us a woman who is living life to the fullest. When you consider that she underwent surgery at a young age for a congenital heart defect, that vivacity is even more precious. Sophia told Paris Match, "Every day I think of my heart. I eat really healthy, and as I get more tired than normal, I have to be very careful when doing sports." Sophia is just like the very real Gigi and Bella Hadid: down-to-earth and approachable. What more could you ask for?

More: 5 reasons Sylvester Stallone deserves to win a Golden Globe

Sistine Stallone

Sistine Stallone Love Magazine

Sistine Stallone Love Magazine

Sistine Stallone is already gunning for the Hadid honor of coolest Hollywood daughter by diving headlong into a modeling career. She's already signed to IMG Models and is the star of the latest Advent video for Love magazine. Sistine may be the one sister most poised to break out into full-fledged stardom (so clearly, that makes her the Gigi of the Stallone girls), but she wants to earn fame and fortune on her own terms. She also wouldn't trade her modeling career for anything in the world, not even a chance to act. In a March 2016 Vogue interview, she said, "I don’t enjoy acting as much as I love modeling. I [am] drawn to the art and craftsmanship of what goes into creating unique images."

More: People either loved or hated Gigi Hadid's Melania Trump impression

Scarlet Stallone

Scarlet Stallone Instagram pic

Scarlet Stallone Instagram pic

Can you believe Scarlet Stallone is only 14 years old? I know. It's totally crazy. But from the looks of her Instagram, the youngest Stallone is not a jaded teen in the slightest. She's out here enjoying all of the things an average teenager would enjoy even if they weren't the daughter of one of the most famous men in movies: pizza parties, school supply restocking trips to Staples, chilling with her sisters, using the best Snapchat filter (the dog filter, duh) and even enjoying mocktails with her besties.

Scarlet Stallone Entertainment Tonight interview

Scarlet Stallone Entertainment Tonight interview

Scarlet is not only chill, she is very relatable. In a revealing interview with Entertainment Tonight, when asked to choose between Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds, she said, "I'd pick both." Same, girl. Same.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

yolanda foster slideshow
Image: yolandahfoster/Instagram

Michelle Obama paid a surprise visit to these people — and they totally freaked out

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Michelle Obama dropped in on a few people recording messages to her, and the results will probably make you cry. A handful of people were selected to face Obama’s portrait and tell her what she means to them, but little did they know that FLOTUS herself was in the wings secretly watching their thank-yous on a monitor. After each person finished their tribute, Obama stepped out and surprised the living daylights out of these very lucky (but also very flustered) people.

Michelle Obama Surprises People Recording message

Michelle Obama Surprises People Recording message

The first was a young woman who said that because of Obama, “I know that my race does not define who I am or what I can accomplish.” When Obama walked in — immediate tears.

More: Michelle Obama tells Oprah the sound advice she gave to Melania Trump

The second was also a young woman, who took a deep breath before she started and said, “Thank you for making me a more confident woman.” Obama walked on — tears. (Though she did manage to hold it together long enough to assert that yes, indeed, she would like to work for Obama someday.)

Next, a young man said, “I feel the same way about you that I feel about the best teachers that I’ve ever had — those special teachers that you never forget, because they realize the powerful influence they can have.” Though he didn’t quite burst into tears, he looked as though he couldn’t believe his eyes when Obama walked out from behind a curtain. (He probably couldn’t.)

More: Michelle Obama's most inspiring speeches over the past eight years

Another young woman called Obama “a total inspiration to all of us,” and when Obama showed up, she managed to blurt out that it was “really an honor” to meet her. Oh, yeah — and more tears.

A dad said he wanted to thank her “because my daughter looks up to you, and I don’t even think she knows exactly all the ways,” adding that his daughter has tried the salad bar at her school because of Obama and values her kindness. No tears here, but — well, a bit of a flush, we’ll put it that way.

Last, a former college pal of Obama’s showed up. “Long time no see. Just wanted to stop by and say hello and... just how much I’ve appreciated you as the first lady these last eight years.” And then she reunited with her fellow alum.

As usual, Obama was the picture of class and elegance throughout all five of these encounters, and made it only more painfully clear how sad people are about saying goodbye to her as FLOTUS. Same, same. Jan. 20 cannot come slowly enough.

More: Forget politics, the state dinner was all about Michelle Obama's glamour

Sorry, but being a mom isn't a job – it's even harder

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I have an unpopular opinion that I’m going to share here with you guys today. And I sincerely hope that the village people of the internet don’t gather with their pitch forks, torches, and try and storm my Barbie Castle in the night.

More: I spent my first wedding anniversary gassy and covered in toddler snot

Guys, motherhood isn’t a job. It’s just not. I can’t tell you how many posts/memes/articles I have read that begin with, “Being a mother is the hardest job I’ve ever had.” It’s not a job, and I’ll tell you exactly why it isn’t a job. Can you quit being a mom? Can you walk into your kids one day and say, “Hey, it’s been real but this is going to be my two week notice.”  No, no you cannot.

Can you hope that if you work really hard and are very good at being a mom, someday you will be rewarded with a promotion and a raise? While an argument can be made that you can get promoted to grandmother or you can get rewarded with more children, I assure you, the pay stays the same.

Can you take a vacation from being a mom? Do you get to take two weeks off and go to Cabo with your girlfriends and be completely and utterly not a mom? No. Even if you leave your kids behind for two weeks, you don’t stop being a mom. You don’t stop thinking about them and worrying about them and calling to check in, and maybe secretly regretting the decision to take a trip in the first place because, oh my god what if the plane crashes on the way home, you die your kids are left motherless, and your husband remarries and they forget about you and start calling this new lady mom and did you ever think about that when you take a vacation from your job? Probably not.

More: My 35 year old lady bits are apparently considered ‘elderly’ by my OB/GYN

Can you one day decide that these kids aren’t really a good fit for you, and maybe you’d do better with some other kids elsewhere? No seriously, can you? Because mine doesn’t ever sleep and I’m just wondering… no? OK, I didn’t think so.

Do you know of a job where you are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, all of the years of your life until you die? You do? Does it pay well? Because my daughter’s doesn’t pay me shit for what I do here. That’s a lie, I get paid in snuggles, giggles, and smiles from my daughter (which while priceless and wonderful, cannot be used to purchase that minivan that is in my very near future- yes, I checked).

Motherhood is not a job (it is work though, my god is it work), but it is not a job. Calling it such cheapens what we do.

Post originally appeared at LakeWi.net and BlogHer.

More: Motherhood should not be a detriment to women entrepreneurs

The Bachelor keeps getting more extreme in its dating tactics

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Each year, The Bachelor seems to get a bit more out of touch with dating and relationships as time is going on.

Nick questions Liz’s attempt to date him on TV since she met him before and had a chance to get to know him previously before the show aired.He questioned her motives, but I think he needs to ask himself the same questions.Is he here for love or fame?Maybe both.Nick is no stranger to the TV dating format and it has not worked out for him in previous attempts, so what makes this time different?He is more popular now. When he was cast in the group of men and on Bachelor in Paradise, he chose to end the relationship (which was different from the times before he was rejected).So, it is a bit confusing to figure out his true intentions.While, the show labels him as heartbroken and searching for love, the women seem to question this.I wonder if Nick is certain to what he is looking for?He does not need to be on TV for love, but maybe fame is something he seeks as well.

More: Can Nick Viall finally find love on The Bachelor?

The drama and antics on the show seem to be more laughable this season. The silliness with the games and set ups the show continues to use on this group of women and Nick is ridiculous.In real life, you do not have to win a competition to get time with a person you would like to get to know.The games are for entertainment, but do nothing for relationship building.Some women in this group seem to feel that they need to up their game to get Nick’s attention.The less aggressive women have to take a back seat to more aggressive styles, but in the end if true love prevails, aggression will have nothing to do with a real relationship forming.

One lesson to learn here is that seeking attention from a male is not indicative of a healthy forming relationship, it just means that you have caught their attention for the moment.I think some of the women need to remember that love is a long-term process and not short term attention.

More: Focusing on looks could leave them single on Married by Mom and Dad

Nicole Kidman is one of the last celebs we expected to support Donald Trump

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Nicole Kidman spoke out on Tuesday, encouraging the nation to support Donald Trump as the new president.

More: Meryl Streep: "I was too ugly to be an actress"

"I just say, [Trump is] now elected, and we, as a country, need to support whoever’s the president because that’s what the country’s based on," Kidman said while speaking with BBC2. "Whatever, however that happened, he’s there and let’s go."

Kidman holds dual citizenship in Australia and the United States.

Though she is encouraging support of the president-elect for the sake of the nation's unity, Kidman does not agree with Trump on his social stances, especially when it comes to women's rights and funding for planned parenthood.

More: Nicole Kidman's return to The Tonight Show was just unbelievably weird

Kidman explained, "I’m very, very committed to women’s issues, in terms of I do a lot of fundraising for U.N. Women and I do a lot of traveling for them. I also do an enormous amount of fundraising for breast and ovarian cancer, because that’s something that’s affected my family deeply. So they’re my issues that I’m very attached to."

It is likely Kidman is speaking out now because of Meryl Streep's impassioned speech during the Golden Globes, while Kidman sat in the audience.

The speech has since caused Hollywood to come out and speak in support of her criticism of Donald Trump, while Trump responded by calling Streep "over-rated."

Kidman did admit that she tries not to speak out politically.

More: Does Donald Trump have nothing better to do than tweet about Meryl Streep?

"I’m always reticent to start commenting politically," she said. "I’ve never done it in terms of America or Australia. I’m issue-based."

Are you surprised Kidman is going against the grain and encouraging the nation to support Donald Trump?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebs against trump slideshow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

Charlie Sheen insults Rihanna — again

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Look, we all know Charlie Sheen is a little bit off his rocker but that's no excuse for calling Rihanna a bitch.

In a Wednesday episode of Watch What Happens Live, host Andy Cohen asked Sheen some fan questions, one wondering if he'd ever patched things up with Rihanna after their 2014 feud.

After looking like he had no idea who Rihanna was at all, Sheen replied, "Oh that bitch? No, no, no."

wwhl andy cohen charlie sheen clip

wwhl andy cohen charlie sheen clip

"I think you just made it worse," Cohen said, before making to quickly move on to the next question.

More: Charlie Sheen tweets about arthritic goat milk HIV therapy

"She abandoned common courtesy and common sense," Sheen added.

That's a statement I find particularly ironic since Sheen is the one who just referred to Rihanna as "that bitch."

The feud started back in the day after Sheen's then-fiancée Scottine Sheen, formerly Brett Rossi, wanted to meet Rihanna when they found out she was dining at the same restaurant.

Sheen lamented about the encounter in a Twitter rant, explaining, "So, I took my gal out to dinner last night with her best friends for her Bday. We heard Rihanna was present as well. I sent a request over to her table to introduce my fiancee Scotty to her, as she is a huge fan. (Personally I couldn't pick her out of a lineup at gunpoint.)

"Well, the word we received back was that there were too many paps outside and it just wasn't possible at this time. At this time? AT THIS TIME?? Lemme guess, we're to reschedule another random 11 million to 1 encounter with her some other night...?"

He went on to insult Rihanna's hair and conclude, "Here's a tip from a real vet of this terrain. If ya don't wanna get bothered DON'T LEAVE YOUR HOUSE! And if this 'Prison of Fame' is soooooo unnerving and difficult, then QUIT, junior!"

More: Denise Richards has the best response to Charlie Sheen's ugly Twitter rant

Well Rihanna fired back with a tweet of her own.

rihanna tweet to charlie sheen

rihanna tweet to charlie sheen

And changed her Twitter banner to a photoshopped image of her signing an autograph for a fan with Sheen's head superimposed over the image.

More: Charlie Sheen has incredibly harsh words for "extortionist" ex-fiancée

Looks like that's some bad blood that will never go away.

Rihanna has yet to comment on the newest Sheen diss. It's been a tough week for poor Rihanna.

Are you Team Rihanna or Team Sheen in their feud?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

charlie sheen scandals slideshow
Image: Nikki Nelson/WENN

The Bates family motto is one we should all use

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The Bates' family motto is "All hands on deck," and it's a saying more families should adopt.

More: Check out Bringing Up Bates' Whitney and Erin Bates' post-baby bodies

The point, as we learned on tonight's episode of Bringing Up Bates, is that whether you're a boy or a girl, no task is off limits. Every kid pitches in and if they have an interest in a certain task that would, in the past, have had a pesky gender label, it goes out the window. With 19 kids, there isn't time to worry about those silly gender expectations. It's teamwork, and teamwork in the Bates household means everyone pitches in equally.

It warmed my heart to see Erin Bates fostering Warden Bates' love of cooking during tonight's show.

"You know, if you get really good at this, you could be a chef one day," Erin told Warden as he got ready to serve the meal.

She told him all about Bobby Flay and explained that most famous chefs are men. (Annoying, but true.) Warden said he had no clue who Flay was, but that's beside the point. He still has plenty of time to learn.

More: Screw Tinder — let's give Bringing Up Bates courtships a try

And learning he is thanks to Erin's patient teaching.

In fact, Warden prepared it all, from setting the table to peeling the potatoes. Erin spent the whole time holding her new baby in her arms. She admitted she loves having Warden come over because he's such a big help.

It was Lawson, though, who explained to the cameras that in the Bates family, it's all about pitching in however you can.

"In a lot of households, the guys kind of do these things and the girls do these things," he said, gesturing with his hands. "But in our house, it's not really that way. It's all hands on deck."

More: Bringing Up Bates family is about to add another baby to the mix

"Everybody in this family learns to do everything as much as they can," Zach added.

What's your family motto when it comes to chores?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

bates family slideshow
Image: Bringing Up Bates / Facebook

2017's biggest actors are serenading Donald Trump with some strong words

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Hollywood is making it clear: We will — somehow — survive Donald Trump's presidency.

More: Does Donald Trump have nothing better to do than tweet about Meryl Streep?

In a new musical montage of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive," some of Hollywood's biggest names are sticking it to Trump thanks to W Magazine's Best Performance Issue.

Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, Amy Adams, Ruth Negga, Chris Pine, Taraji P. Henson, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali, Hailee Steinfeld, Dev Patel, Michelle Williams, Andrew Garfield, Joel Edgerton and more use the song to proclaim their feelings.

"This is going to be interesting," Garfield jokes in the video before singing. "It may get too real."

"I'm not sure that I will survive," Edgerton adds while Williams laughs by his side. "But that's what we're gonna do."

More: Meryl Streep's Donald Trump impersonation is better than any we've seen on SNL

"[It’s] the antidote for a still-grieving Hollywood, many members of which were outspoken Hillary Clinton supporters over the past year," W Magazine explained of the montage. "And a few of whom have found themselves on the unfriendly end of Donald Trump’s Twitter account."

Most recently, it was Meryl Streep who came under Trump's scrutiny, following her Golden Globes speech in which she called out Trump ahead of his inauguration. Trump responded by calling Streep "over-rated." Since then, many members of Hollywood including Robert de Niro and Alec Baldwin have expressed their support for Streep and her Golden Globes speech.

More: Meryl Streep's 10 fiercest characters

Check out the full celeb montage of "I Will Survive" below. While most of the actors singing are great, some of them definitely should stick to their day job.

w magazine i will survive celeb montage

w magazine i will survive celeb montage

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebs against trump slideshow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

6 ways to boost your pet's immune system and avoid the dangerous dog flu

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We all dread when flu season rolls around because it's obviously no fun to be that sick — not to mention the serious danger getting the flu can pose to your health. But while you're doing everything you can to avoid it, well, like the plague, you may not realize you should also be worried on your pup's behalf.

No, your dog isn't in danger of catching the same flu you might come down with. However, your beloved pup could be susceptible to the very real risk of canine influenza. Or, as it is better known, the dog flu.

There are two types of influenza viruses that afflict dogs — an H3N8 virus and an H3N2 virus — and both can lead to serious illness and even death. So what can you do? Are there precautions you can take for your dog like you take for yourself when trying to flee the flu?

More: Dogs may play a key role in a cancer patient's recovery

In a word, yes. Let's explore some of the ways pet experts recommend boosting your pet's immunity and protecting them from dangerous illnesses.

1. Ask your pet's vet about getting vaccinated

For starters, there is an approved vaccine to protect dogs against at least the H3N8 influenza virus. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, a large part of curbing and treating the dog flu is helping your dog mount an immune response.

2. Antioxidants

So to speak, a good defense is the best offense. And the best defense is pet antioxidants, says integrative veterinarian Dr. Carol Osborne of Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic in Ohio. "For the last 10 years, the word antioxidant has become part of our vernacular. Pet antioxidants are widely recognized as one of the most important weapons in the battle against pet disease," Osborne told SheKnows.

She went on to explain, "All the physiological processes in pets and people require oxygen, which provides us with energy. Unfortunately the byproducts of burning oxygen, which are similar to the sparks given off by a fire, are also produced in your pet’s body. These little sparks are commonly known as free radicals and are the major cause of aging and degenerative disease in both people and pets. Pet antioxidants counteract the damaging effects of these everyday physiological processes in your pet’s body by combating these free radicals."

More: Some dog owners believe their dogs need a low-fat diet, but is it healthy?

Basically, pet antioxidants keep your pet's immune system on its A-game at all times. These antioxidants can come in the form of supplements — such as glucosamine and MSM, which are particularly helpful in healing from musculoskeletal injuries — as well as through the diet, which leads us to the next pro tip...

3. Proper feeding

Osborne specifically recommends feeding a fresh, natural diet at least twice daily. There are numerous health benefits in doing so, including easy supplementation of antioxidants. "It's also important to increase protein, fish oils, seeds, nuts, herbs, fruits and vegetables in your pet’s diet and to limit sugar intake. Feeding nutritious pet foods can reduce the overall risk of heart, kidney and liver disease, as well as diabetes, arthritis, cataracts, allergies and a range of other age-related pet diseases experienced by dogs and cats," Osborne said.

Other antioxidant-rich foods recommended by Osborne (for pets and people!) include small red beans, blueberries, red kidney beans, pinto beans, cranberries, blackberries, prunes, raspberries, strawberries, red delicious apples, Granny Smith apples, pecans, black plums, cooked russet potatoes, dried black beans, plums, gala apples, cabbage, broccoli, wheat and barley grasses.

4. Daily exercise

Not only does daily exercise make for a happy dog, but it also makes for a healthier dog. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than half of the dogs and cats in America are overweight or obese. Carrying this extra weight puts pets at an increased risk for diabetes, heart disease and several other potentially deadly health issues. Daily exercise, underscores Osborne, helps maintain a healthy body weight and a healthy immune system.

5. Go easy on your pet's immune system

In other words, try to avoid stressing your dog out whenever you can, especially during your pet's developmental years. "Avoid spaying and neutering," advised Osborne. "Wait until your dog is at least over one year of age, preferably two... avoid over vaccination — antibody titers are legally accepted in many states for the core vaccines: distemper/hepatitis and parvovirus, as well as rabies."

6. Pay attention to any changes in your pet

Shrugging off changes in your pet's behavior or health could be detrimental. For example, when trying to avoid the dog flu, assuming a sneeze or cough could be a little cold could open the door to your dog getting sicker. "Canine influenza usually starts out with coughing or gagging that may last as long as three weeks," said Osborne. "Infected dogs can develop a fever as high as 103 to 107 degrees. In the acute and severe form, a viral pneumonia develops that can cause bleeding in the lungs."

More: Are cat sneezes normal — or cause for concern?

Of course, at any potential sign or symptom of illness, you should consult your vet. Osborne recommends visiting your vet annually, although she notes that biannual vet visits are best for senior pets age 7 and over.

Robin Thicke & Paula Patton are battling it out in a bitter custody lawsuit

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Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's divorce was amicable, but now they're engaged in a bitter custody battle over their 6-year-old son, Julian.

More: Robin Thicke's family isn't celebrating his controversial engagement

Thicke is being investigated on charges of alleged abuse.

At the beginning of the year, Julian reportedly told his school officials that his father had spanked him more than once. The school reported the incident on Jan. 3 to Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services, which subsequently opened a case, sources familiar with the case told TMZ.

This resulted in Patton denying Thicke access to Julian and filing an emergency order with the court requesting that Thicke's interaction with their son be limited to monitored daytime visits only. In the legal documents Patton reportedly told Thicke, "Julian is scared of you."

The site also reports that in Patton's declaration she revealed that Julian had told her (the day before he told the school) that Thicke had spanked him "really hard," and when she asked him to demonstrate, she agreed that it was painful. In addition, a school official reportedly also submitted a declaration stating that Julian told her that Thicke often "punches" him very hard.

More: Oh my dear Lord, Paula Patton's throwback pic of Robin Thicke is glorious

According to Us Weekly, court documents state that the department has already interviewed Julian and was scheduled to interview Thicke on Thursday, Jan. 12.

However, Thicke denies any wrongdoing. In the court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Thicke states, "On a very rare occasion and only as a last resort, I will use light spanking, but it is consistent with the law — open hand on the butt. This is the type of discipline to which Paula and I agreed during our marriage."

He reportedly also feels that the decision to get the court involved is a revenge tactic on his ex-wife's behalf because he reportedly denied her and her family access to his late father, Alan Thicke's funeral last month.

"It is my belief that Paula holds residual anger towards me because I and my family would not permit her or her family to attend the funeral of my father on December 20, 2016," Thicke reportedly alleges in the documents. Before going on to state that Patton and Alan did not have a close relationship and this is the reason why she was not welcome at the funeral.

More: Alan Thicke's death triggers an outpouring of love from celebrities on Twitter

He also claims that Patton's desire to attend Alan's funeral was only "because it would have resulted in additional public exposure for her."

But as ugly as this case is, Thicke appears to have already got a legal victory. Us Weekly reports that a source close to the situation revealed that a "judge denied everything in [Patton's] complaint" and that "Child Protective Services didn't see any evidence of wrongdoing."

Are you surprised by this custody battle between Robin Thicke and Paula Patton? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Kate Gosselin allegations slideshow
Image: WENN

The busy shopper's guide to saving money on groceries

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When it comes to saving big on groceries, I still have nightmares of my family's over-stuffed coupon organizer, which was perpetually bursting at the seams with (usually expired) deals on things we'd never actually need. And nothing was worse than trying to find the right coupons to hand over to the cashier while the other customers in line behind us glared.

But luckily, times have changed. We talked to Lisa Lee Freeman, the Flipp App savings expert, about how to save big on groceries in the modern age. So put your coupon-clipping scissors away and get ready to save the 21st century way.

More: How to save money using coupons if you seriously hate using coupons

1. Use those circulars the easier way

That bundle of grocery store deals you get in your newspaper that you immediately throw into the recycling bin can actually help you save big. But don't worry about bringing them into the store with you. It's much, much easier than that.

You bring your phone with you everywhere, so why not use it to keep track of those supermarket deals too?

Freeman recommends the Flipp app. Load your own grocery list, and "the app will automatically find your local circular deals, including coupons, for everything on your list!"

2. Ask for a rain check

Did you know that if a sale item at your store is out of stock, you can often get a rain check on the deal? "A rain check entitles you to the sale price when the item is back in stock," even if the sale is technically over, Freeman explained. "Most rain checks do come with time limits, so read the fine print. If you had intended to buy multiple of the item, make sure that is noted on the rain check."

More: 21 money-saving tips that are so much smarter than "bring your lunch"

3. Don't forget the dollar store

Dollar stores don't just sell off-brand and no-name foods, as some of you may already know. "More dollar stores are now offering big savings on major food brands like Heinz and Jif," Freeman says. You can also get staples like milk and eggs at deep discounts. Check your local dollar store's circular or website for weekly deals — you may find big discounts on some of the staples already on your shopping list.

4. Use loyalty programs

Don't ignore the loyalty programs at your local grocery stores — taking a couple of minutes to sign up could save you a lot of money in the long run. "Some stores will require a loyalty card in order to receive sale prices. Many also offer incentive programs like gas savings when you spend a certain amount on groceries," Freeman explained. Check in at your favorite stores and see what sorts of perks their loyalty programs offer.

5. Plan a weekly savings strategy

One of the biggest keys to smart shopping? Planning ahead. According to Freeman, there are three smart savings strategies you should be using every week: "1. Determine where to shop based on which stores have the best deals on the stuff you need, 2. Plan meals around what's on sale and 3. Plan big stock-ups of sale items you use regularly. If you're not doing all three, you're missing out!"

With these easy tips, you can save a lot of money — no coupon-clipping required.

More: What to buy at your local Asian grocer

Apparently Joaquin Phoenix is the reason Rooney Mara ditched the Golden Globes

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Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix reportedly got very close on the set of their latest film, Mary Magdalene, Page Six reports.

More: Cate Blanchett's recent remarks suggest Rooney Mara deserves Golden Globes win (VIDEO)

Sources told the publication that the pair "fell for each other" during filming of the biblical drama and that they've been spending a lot of time together ever since. Apparently Phoenix and Mara were spotted hanging out together multiple times during breaks from filming in Italy, including enjoying a smoke together on the balcony of their hotel room in Matera in Southern Italy, last November.

According to Us Weekly, they were also spotted together at a movie theater in Los Angeles last month, and prior to that they were seen at the We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California.

More: Joaquin Phoenix told David Letterman he's engaged — but is he making it up?

And according to the Page Six source, the reason that Mara skipped the Golden Globe awards last Sunday (even though her new film, Lion was up for four nominations) was because she and super-private Phoenix decided to spend some time away and were "holed up together in the desert."

However, it's entirely possible that what Mara and Phoenix have is friendship: Mary Magdalene was their second film together, as they previously starred in 2013's Her, and will be starring together once again in Gus Van Sant's Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot, which is set for release in 2018. So, it's not surprising that they would develop a close bond, plus Phoenix's rep has denied the romance report, telling Us Weekly that he and Mara are just friends.

More: No one will be surprised if Prince Harry & Meghan Markle get engaged in 2017

There's also the fact that Mara has been in a longterm relationship with Charlie McDowell — although according to Page Six the couple have not been spotted together since August of 2016.

What do you think of the Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix dating rumors? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Top Chef challenges that I’ve accidentally faced (and failed) in my own home

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Each season on Top Chef, some of the best rising chefs in the country are placed in high-pressure situations that test their skills, their knowledge, and their passion for cooking. Episode after episode, they are given time limits, mystery ingredients, and other insane challenges that test who is truly the best, all while Padma looks on, appearing to hover a few millimeters off of the ground.

Padma Lakshmi Top Chef
Image: Bravo

Honestly, it kind of reminds me a lot of my own kitchen, where my poor planning, two toddlers, lack of skill, and absentmindedness often result in food preparation tests that are on par with those of a cutthroat cooking competition. Here are just a few challenges I’ve weathered recently:

Make a quiche with the food in your fridge that has expired but still smells pretty okay.

Every Top Chef fan knows that time is of the essence. So when I saw that my bacon was starting to grey, but still smelled vaguely of bacon, I decided to step up to the literal plate. Sure, the bacon was two days beyond its BEST BY date, but perhaps that simply meant it was really, really good bacon instead of the best bacon. I paired it with some over-the-hill Parmesan (fuzzy green parts skillfully removed), some limp spinach, and a clinically depressed onion to create an extremely passable, totally edible quiche. Look for it on the brunch menu at Emeril Lagasse’s newest restaurant (though you won’t find it).

Top Chef gif
Image: Giphy

Prepare breakfast while holding a toddler who is screaming, “No breakfast!”

In the past, the Top Chef contestants have had to perform while blindfolded or with one hand behind their back. But that’s really nothing compared to Tuesday, when I had to prepare breakfast while holding a mid-tantrum 20-month-old. “Pancakes!” she screamed as I made waffles, deftly pouring batter onto the hot griddle with one hand. “Juice!” she screamed as I poured her milk and imagined Tom Colicchio curled in a ball and weeping. As the clock ran down to the exact minute I had to leave to get my older child to preschool, I realized I would never have time to plate my masterpiece. The judges were forced to eat plain waffles with their hands in their car seats.

Top Chef gif
Image: Giphy

Do something–anything–with the three-pack of enormous watermelons you bought at Costco when you were hungry.

You should never go to the grocery store hungry. And you should never, evergo to Costco hungry. If you do, you might end up like me, staring down three watermelons in my kitchen as if they were live bombs, thirty minutes before friends arrive for dinner. How about an elegant watermelon salad, prepared with feta and mint, except without the feta and mint? How about I carve the largest watermelon into a basket and fill it with the smaller watermelons? How about instead of eating, our dinner guests experience food as art by smashing the melons against a blank canvas? Gail Simmonsloves experimental stuff.

Top Chef gif
Image: Giphy

Where did this eggplant come from, and where will it go?

How has Top Chef never had a challenge when each contestant is simply given an eggplant and told to make it taste good? Also, where did this eggplant in my kitchen come from? I vaguely remember picking it up at the grocery store in a sleep-deprived state, cradling it, and then gently patting it on its eggplant bum as I bounced it over to the cashier. And now I am stuck Googling “30-minute non-slimy eggplant dishes that don’t involve skill or thought.” Can I just fry them and then cover them in cheese and marinara sauce? Or should I gently place the eggplant in my Ergo and sing to it softly as I pack my knives and go?

Top Chef gif
Image: Giphy

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Top Chef where are they now slideshow
Image: Joe Kohen/Getty Images
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