If you have kids, there's a 99.9 percent chance you also have a bucket of stubby old crayons somewhere in your house. It's tempting to just throw them out, but why not make them brand new again with an easy craft?

All it takes is one-dollar ice cube molds from Ikea to repurpose crayons into fun shapes and breathe new life into those misfit pieces. And the shapes are a huge hit with kids.

More: Animal Crafts You Can Make With Your Kids

Seriously: these crayons are so cheap and easy to make.

Supplies:

• Crayons
• Flexible molds/ice cube trays
• X-Acto knife
• Cookie sheet

Instructions:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 200° F. Next, work on peeling off the paper wrappers from each crayon. Running the blade of an X-Acto knife down the length of the wrapper will help this step go quickly.

Step 2

Break crayons into pieces. Smaller bits will melt more quickly in the oven and will therefore have less time to run and bleed into neighboring colors. Use a kitchen knife to cut pieces down to about 1/2".

Step 3

Fill molds with crayon pieces. I wanted the crayons to be monochromatic, so I grouped similar colors together, graduating from dark to light, but rainbow crayons would be fun too!

Make sure to just slightly overfill each mold, as the crayons will melt down and take up less space.

Step 4

Place molds on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes, or until crayons are completely melted.

Step 5

Very carefully, so as to not spill any melted crayon, remove cookie sheet from the oven.

Step 6

As the crayons cool, they will harden. To speed up the process, transfer molds into the freezer after the crayons firm up.

Step 7

After about 30 minutes, remove molds from the freezer. If the bottoms of the mold are cool, you can release the crayons from the mold by first gently pulling and stretching molds to loosen up crayons, then pushing each crayon up and out from the bottom. If the molds are still warm to the touch, return to the freezer and check again for coolness in 10 minutes.

More: Dollar Store Crafts for Kids That Don't Look Like They Just Cost a Buck

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Originally published December 2012. Updated February 2017.

I guess it's entirely possible that Beyoncé and Jay Z named their firstborn Blue Ivy because it's an adorable name and it's unique and they like it. But that would be no fun, so enter the internet with all kinds of theories about why they actually did it.

More: Beyoncé’s Pregnancy News Is Great, but Let's Talk About That Photo

Setting aside that theory that it's because "Blue Ivy" spelled backward means "daughter of Satan" in Latin because it's demonstrably false (anyone with Google can tell you "daughter of Satan" in Latin is "filia Satan") and also *eye roll*, there's this fun tweet going around that claims to be proof that Blue has her name because Bey and Jay are the Illuminati's secret rulers.

I'm not here to trash the Illuminati rumors because honestly, the idea that Beyoncé and Jay Z are the rulers of the new free world makes a lot of sense. But you guys, the tweet is just dumb. Literally anyone can make up a poem using Blue Ivy's name to "prove" her Illuminati status. To show it, some SheKnows editors did the very important work of writing their own.

There you go. Now we've "proved," like, four times via bad poetry that Blue Ivy is a tiny Illuminati queen. Also, we wrote these, which don't prove anything, but they're kind of funny, so here you go:

There you have it, world. Bears love underwear eggs. It's on a meme, so it's def true. #Science

More: 21 Artists Who Have Won So Many Grammys, It'll Make Your Head Spin

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

By ZLiving

Gyrotonic workouts aim to ease everyday functional movements like lifting bags, climbing stairs, carrying children, etc. This workout — also known as yoga for dancers — is a new and emerging fitness trend, much like the cardio barre workout.

In fact, Lady Gaga recently took to her Instagram account to post pictures of her in motion, rocking gyrotonic exercises. The pop icon's amazing physique is just one more reason for us to delve into this process, and its many benefits.

Also on Z Living: You've Gotta Try This Flat Belly Workout From Class FitSugar

What Is A Gyrotonic Workout?

Gyrotonic is a sequence of exercises that string together circular movements in a repetetive and rhythmic flow, with corresponding breathing patterns. Founder Juliu Horvath initially devised it as a means to treat chronic pain, based on his own suffering. Make note that Lady Gaga too, battles with pain, for which she indulges in hip exercises every week.

The Benefits Of A Gyrotonic Workout:

• Lengthens and strengthens the muscles
• Improves blood circulation
• Improves joint mobility
• Improves sense of coordination and balance
• Improves flexibility and posture

The basic premise is to expand and contract the body to help it stabilize. Kutztown University researchers who analyzed the gyrotonic arch and curl in the Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies noted, “there is a continuous wave-like pulsation of reaching out, and reeling in from the center of the body. In this way, stability is attained by a counterbalance of opposing forces.”

Gyrotonic also decompresses the joints and creates awareness of movement in your body.

Also on Z Living: Get Off The Couch With This 1-Minute Workout From Class FitSugar

FYI, You Will Need Some Gear For A Gyrotonic Workout

Much like Pilates, this workout requires special equipment (here's a shoppable list) that keeps in mind the patterns and natural movements of the human body. Suitable for all age groups and genders, the adjustable apparatuses can help you target specific areas to cater to your needs.

Check out Altar'd Tuesdays at 8 PM, only on Z Living. Find out where you can watch Altar'd.

Originally published on ZLiving

The Women’s Marches around the world on Jan. 21 were unprecedented — the largest collective protest and inaugural protest in history, with people showing up with signs in hand everywhere from Washington, D.C., NYC and LA to London, Paris, Berlin and beyond. Women stood up around the world to let our voices be heard and make it known that we won’t be taking this presidency sitting down.

And now, the folks behind the Women’s March are planning another protest. “The will of the people will stand,” they tweeted yesterday, alongside a graphic with the words, “General Strike: A Day Without a Woman.” The date is TBA, but — get ready.

People are already excited. “I’m so in,” Neko Case tweeted. “I am so here for this,” feminist writer Jessica Valenti added. “This is what I'm talking about. Hit 'em in the wallet,” Corinne Fisher wrote, while Tegan and Sara simply wrote, “YES!”

More: One way we can resist Trump's agenda? Raise conscious kids

Women’s March activists have been organizing to inspire people around the country to take a series of 10 actions, one every 10 days, for the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency. The first action involved getting together with like-minded folk to write letters to local elected representatives; the second called for “huddles,” which are basically events for people to gather, put their minds together and find action-oriented solutions “grounded in the tradition of nonviolent resistance.” As of this writing, there were 3,095 huddles registered on their site, so — looks like it’s working.

Women’s March spokespeople said last night that they would be “releasing information in the near future around plans to hold corporations economically responsible.” Again, as Fisher said — hit ‘em in the wallet. “At a time when our foundational principles of freedom and equality are under threat, The Women’s March is committed to engaging in actions that affirmatively build community, strengthen relationships and support local, women- and minority-owned businesses,” they wrote. “The Women’s March applauds the efforts of #GrabYourWallet and others protests that brought the corporate practices of Uber and Nordstrom to light, and we support the continued coordination of economic power.”

More: The most gorgeous posters for the Women’s March on Washington

Preach. Though a general women’s strike is sadly not possible for all women who want to participate — many of us have jobs that demand we show up, lest we are fired, and scores of others do not have the luxury of making the financial sacrifice of a lost day’s work — this is still a solid idea, and one that has been called for frequently since the Trump era became a reality. If every woman across the country skipped out on work one day, the nation would come to a screeching halt. Stay tuned for more info, including the exact date.

More: Being more genuine on social media could make 2017 suck less

Yes, I know we mostly cover topics like Kim Kardashian West’s Instagram feed and Beyonce’s baby-times-two announcement. But we are many things, people.

We love Kim K and Bey, but we really, really love us some Ruth Bader Ginsburg — especially right now, with the U.S. being run by an overgrown toddler who needs Cars vitamins and a nap to get through a successful phone call with, say, Australia. #NotAlternativeFact #TrueStory

We need all the sanity we can get in the government at this second, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is at the top of our list when it comes to the judicial branch. RBG is not only a badass U.S. Supreme Court Justice, she’s also a well-known and mad-fierce defender of women’s rights (somehow, we think she’d like being described as “mad-fierce”).

You know what else she is? An amazing, relatable mother — proving once and for all that we are the total slackers and terrible multitaskers we have always suspected ourselves to be.

So happy early Valentine's Day to the coolest Supreme Court Justice around.

More: No, really, there is a Ruth Bader Ginsburg coloring book

She credits her kids as her inspiration — and the reason for her success

In an article in The Atlantic, Ginsburg said, “When I started law school my daughter Jane was 14 months. I attributed my success in law school largely to Jane. I went to class at 8:30 a.m., and I came home at 4:00 p.m., that was children’s hour. It was a total break in my day, and children’s hour continued until Jane went to sleep. Then I was happy to go back to the books, so I felt each part of my life gave me respite from the other.” Aww, RBG, we have all the warm fuzzies right now.

She and her husband, Marty, have been splitting house chores 50-50 for a long damn time

Yep: when RBG was co-creating the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU in the 1970s, she and her husband were working as a team. Nobody puts RBG in the kitchen — unless she wants to be there.

RBG has never had time for guilt over traditional gender roles

In fact, she was overjoyed when Marty assumed all kitchen duties: “Marty took over the kitchen entirely and I was phased out of it, to the everlasting appreciation of my food loving children. I’ll tell you, I appreciated that.” Oh YES YOU DID. We would too.

More: How you can support women's rights post-election

She’s a terrific role model for young girls

Did you know that RBG is a killer pen pal, frequently taking time out to write to her many fans? #AlsoNotAnAlternativeFact

She is relatable, admitting there were plenty of times she was not Mom of the Year

“Jane came out to the living room where I was with my typewriter and my books and her mouth was filled with mothballs,” Judge Ginsburg told The Atlantic. ”We went off to the Cambridge City Hospital to have her stomach pumped and thank goodness she hadn’t actually ingested [any].” Yup. We've been there.

She’s got her priorities solidly in place

"[W]hen that child was screaming I realized the practice exams, which were coming up, were not all that important,” Ginsburg also said about the infamous mothball incident. “Having Jane gave me a better sense of what life is." That's awesome, RBG. Juuuust so long as you know that, right now, your job is definitely more important than those practice exams. We need you, Ruth.

You know the old adage about food being the way to a person's heart? Turns out that's truer — and more literal — than you may have expected according to recent research. Keep this in mind as Valentine's Day approaches and you make those dinner reservations or plans to dine in: 75 percent of women would rather have a good meal than sex according to a survey by the meal delivery service Home Chef.

The survey, which polled 1,000 people, also found that 44 percent of women would rather date a great cook than someone with a great body — hey, props for not being shallow, ladies! — and a staggering 90 percent found the ability to cook sexy.

Skilled cooks are definitely hot, but if you're not one of those lucky people dating a master chef, takeout isn't such a bad option (provided you trust the place to deliver A-plus food). GrubHub did a Valentine's Day survey of their own and discovered that Indian dishes such as saag paneer or tandoori chicken were the most popular choices to order in on Valentine’s Day, with sushi rolls following closely behind.

More: Yes, Valentine's Day Is Commercialized, but It's Still Important

Meanwhile, for couples going out to eat, Zagat found that Americans are spending more than ever on Valentine's Day meals — the average tab is predicted to be $170, up 16 percent from 2012. But a word of wisdom if you're trying to decide where to go: You might want to give your S.O. a not-so-subtle hint about what kind of restaurant or cuisine you're craving, or if your partner is a woman, ask her for her preference. Darkened rooms and candlelight might be what you imagine for a romantic dinner, but 43 percent of women aren’t into the traditional idea of ambiance with violins or shared spaghetti à la Lady and the Tramp.

In fact, more than half of those surveyed believe all that really matters is having a good meal. We can’t help but agree with that logic. Not sure where to go? Most women surveyed went with an Italian meal (17 percent) followed by French (13 percent), seafood (13 percent), steak (11 percent), American (10 percent), sushi (7 percent), Mexican (3 percent) and Chinese (1 percent).

Yet in spite of all this data pointing to how much people care about food — even more than sex for some — a full 20 percent of Valentine's Day diners say the cuisine doesn't matter to them. Either they're more focused on what they hope will happen after dinner or they're hopeless romantics who only have eyes for their partners rather than their dinner plates... or a little bit of both.

More: How to Tell Your Partner You Want an Open Relationship

Nathan Fillion admittedly didn't do himself any favors in the wake of Stana Katic's explosive exit from Castle, which had fans reeling and calling for a boycott so vocally, the network ultimately decided to just cancel the show rather than face the backlash any longer.

More: Fans Turned Against Castle's Nathan Fillion and Now He's Out of a Job

Fillion's attempt to laugh off the drama at the end of the series coupled with his inability to seem genuine when talking about his time on the series had fans calling out Fillion's bullshit. It also only fueled rumors that Fillion and Katic had beef.

I know this isn't the popular opinion but, well, it put yourself in Fillion's shoes for a second. He had no control over the network's decision to give Katic the boot and then he lost his paycheck in the fallout. That would make anyone feel a little bit bitter. Fillion had his moment to lick his wounds, but now he's on the rebound. And he's doing a really great job of reminding all of us why he's a star. The guy is charming as hell.

More: If Nathan Fillion wanted to ruin Stana Katic's career, he'll have to try again

First, he killed it on Modern Family and now he's taking on Brooklyn Nine-Nine with a role that is close to home for Fillion after his Castle days.

According to Entertainment Weekly, he’ll be portraying an “actor who thinks he’s got the skills to be a detective simply because he played one on TV."

More: What's Going on With This Supposed Castle Spinoff?

Hmm, that sounds a lot like an author who becomes a detective. Yup, I think Fillion is up for the task.

Do you think Fillion has redeemed himself after the Castle drama?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

The Bachelor's Vanessa may be falling in love with Nick Viall six weeks into the show, but during her audition she initially had her eye on another Bachelor suitor.

More: Everything Nick Viall Has Done Right and Wrong as the Bachelor

Warning: Do not continue reading unless you want some potential season finale spoilers from The Bachelor Season 21.

Vanessa admitted to Glamour that she told producers she wanted Chase, third runner-up from Jojo Fletcher's season, to be the man handing out roses in Season 21. Now, in all fairness, Vanessa said she only named Chase because she thought she had to pick from the pool of men from the previous season of The Bachelorette. When she found out Viall was the guy, she was ecstatic.

Let's call it fate since rumor has it Vanessa and Viall will end the season engaged, though Reality Steve is claiming the two are already on the rocks since Viall apparently never had any intention of actually getting hitched. He's apparently only interested in boosting his brand through some additional Bachelor fame.

More: Sounds Like Corinne's Former Flame Wants Her Back Once Bachelor Wraps

If that's all true then perhaps Vanessa and Chase were #endgame all along.

Chase is all for that outcome. During a text conversation between him and fellow Jojo Fletcher suitor, Robbie, Chase called #dibs on Vanessa if she doesn't end up with Nick.

"Vanessa is looking like fire at this rose ceremony," Chase wrote. "Did you see that article of her saying she wanted me to be the Bachelor?"

Something tells me Chase should hold his breath.

More: The Bachelor's Corinne actually had a point about that Taylor 'tude

Do you think Chase and Vanessa would make a better couple than Viall and Vanessa?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Comedians are expected to walk a fine line. During standup, racism, sexism and misogyny generally become topics we can laugh about because a good comedian will shed light on the topics in a way that is both enlightening and ridiculous.

More: Erik Estrada: George Lopez's Career is Over

George Lopez missed the mark during a Phoenix, Arizona show on Saturday night.

"There are only two rules in the Latino family. Don’t marry somebody black, and don’t park in front of our house," Lopez said during his set, which spurred an offended woman to give Lopez the middle finger from the audience.

OK, all comedians have, no doubt, faced some harsh criticism throughout their careers, but Lopez only made the situation worse.

TMZ obtained a video that captured the moment Lopez lost it on the woman, calling her a "bitch" among other choice phrases.

More: George Lopez Was Mistaken for a Housekeeper, and He's Pissed

"Sit your fucking ass down," Lopez repeated three times. "I’m talking, bitch. You paid to see a show. Sit your ass down. You can’t take a joke, you’re in the wrong motherfucking place. Sit your fucking ass down or get the fuck out of here."

He heckled the woman so much that she and her three friends finally left.

Remember that fine line I talked about at the beginning of this article? Ya, Lopez bulldozed right over it and steamrolled into inappropriate territory. So inappropriate that Lopez might need help or he might need to lay off the alcohol... Whatever the case may be, a change needs to happen in Lopez's life if he was to be an entertainer instead of a terrifying hurricane.

More: George Lopez Arrested for Public Intoxication

As of now, Lopez has yet to comment on the incident. Maybe he just... Shouldn't.

Who was in the wrong: the audience member or George Lopez for his racist joke?

Talk about scary: Late Tuesday night, Chrissy Teigen was involved in a hit-and-run.

More: Chrissy Teigen Tells The Truth About How Celeb Moms Get Back in Shape

Luckily, Teigen was uninjured in the incident, proving that somehow she is superhuman and we should all gaze upon her in pure wonder. Hit-and-runs are no joke; Teigen is lucky to have walked away from the scene uninjured from the incident, despite the entire event sounding scary AF.

According to E! News, who gave details on the police report that was filed, Teigen was in the passenger's side when the car was hit. There is no word on who was driving nor if there were any passengers in the back seat. Let's just hope that hubby John Legend and precious, probably next President of the United States baby Luna were not in the car as well. Scary!

More: What Kim Kardashian & Chrissy Teigen's Book Club Will (Probably) Look Like

Teigen's week is already shaping up to be one of the most eventful in recent memory. Not only did she have this unnerving incident occur, but she made hilarious waves at Super Bowl LI. Teigen and Legend attended the fun football festivities together. There, Teigen documented her boozy, pizza- and snuggle-filled night like the amazing human that she is for all of us to enjoy. I mean, if Teigen isn't just an angel sent from above, then why would she have posted this brilliant video of her eating pizza and half-tipsily giving football commentary? She is like us and yet she is so completely on another level. What did we do to deserve her?

More: 10 Times Chrissy Teigen's Hilarious Tweets Helped Fuel a Revolution

But all jokes aside, this hit-and-run is scary news to learn. What counts is that Teigen is okay and we don't have to spend the day worrying for her. Seriously, I don't think my heart could take that.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

You’ve seen that look. The one your dog gives you when you walk by the food bowl and “forget” to fill it. And just to make sure you are aware of your mistake, he politely taps the bowl. This is dogsplaining, plain and simple. Dogsplaining is when your dog thinks you just don’t get it — so much so that it needs to explain it to you — often.

Does your dog dogsplain to you? We checked out Twitter, asked our friends and looked to our own home for some prime examples to share — and included what pet parents can do to address what your dog is truly communicating.

1. You’re most interesting when you’re cooking

Here’s that look again. You’re cutting up cabbage for your slaw and your dog gives you the deepest, longest sigh. You lock eyes. He might even throw in a gentle paw to the knee, letting you know you’re currently the center of everything and how dare you ignore him at this moment.

Of course you understand why. You control food, including the scraps that may fall to the ground. (Or in my house, the cabbage we toss as a treat.) But having a pup underfoot when cooking can prove dangerous. Teach a good backup and wait command to keep your dog out from underfoot and safe while you’re cooking.

More: 8 Ways to Deal With Your Dog's Separation Anxiety

2. If it falls on the floor, it’s fair game

Sometimes it just doesn’t matter whether it’s edible or not — anything your dog sees fall to the floor must be a treat. As seen with this poor dog who decided a cooking spoon was the perfect dog treat, most pups will tell you that it doesn’t have to be digestible to be gobbled up.

Want to avoid the emergency trip to the vet? Check out these tips for puppy proofing and be sure to teach your dog a solid leave-it command for those “oops” moments when something drops.

3. Any food is my food… but especially cat food

It may smell tasty and satisfy the taste buds, but a regular cat food diet for your dog is inadvisable. If your pet likes to taste or (let’s be honest) steal your cat’s meals, a really solid leave-it command is super-helpful.

Take a look at some additional tips and tricks to keep dogs out of your cat’s food.

4. It’s a dog’s sovereign right and duty to lick its butt

Gross… and generally OK, right?

Yes, but not too much. Too much licking or dragging your dog’s rear on the carpet can be a sign of intestinal worms, anal gland impaction and allergies, according to Dr. David Elbeze of PetCoach. So if Fido seems to be really going at it, you may want to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian and get it checked out.

More: 15 Toxic Foods for Dogs Every Owner Should Know

5. No walk is long enough, except when it’s cold… or raining… or too hot… or snowing…

Whether your new puppy is first learning to walk on a leash or your elder, seasoned dog hates to walk in the rain, sometimes a quick walk can turn into a war o' the wills when your dog’s just not feeling it.

Check out these quick tips for leash-training success. And for the dog that has difficulty in rain, a few small changes can help build confidence and make walking, even in bad weather, a pleasant stroll around the block.

6. Kids are weird

Well, truly, they are. Kids move fast, yell, laugh, are different sizes and shapes and otherwise are perfect for weirding out dogs who enjoy a simple routine and not much going on. Liza, one of our senior rescue dogs, is beloved by little boys — much to her chagrin. She’s much happier when we walk the other way, away from small children, which we do as a rule to keep everyone safe.

However, socialization of puppies and dogs with children can go a long way to helping your dog become well-adjusted. Get your dog comfortable around kids with these tips.

7. Food tastes better the second time around

You look out into your backyard to see your dog sniffing at and then, ugh, eating its poop. It’s gross to watch your dog re-eat its dinner, but also fairly common. In fact, your dog could decide poop is yummy for a number of reasons.

Find out common reasons dogs eat poop here. Then check out some ways to stop your dog from eating its poop.

Of course, poop isn’t the only way dogs re-eat their food. Dog vomit can also be a delectable second breakfast for Fido, so be sure to clean right away when your dog throws up. (And learn more about what’s considered “normal” dog vomiting here.)

More: Why Your Dog Chews Its Paws and How to Stop It

8. Your house is boring

Just like you, if your dog’s mind goes unstimulated, mischief can follow — and the winter months can make keeping your dog’s mind active even harder.

Alongside entertainment, regular enrichment activities help keep dogs happy, healthy and out of trouble. Check out ways to stimulate your dog’s brain. Or during the colder months, relieve winter boredom.

9. You’re all I've got

Remember, while we have the whole outside world, chances are your dog’s whole world revolves around you. For some dogs, that means much of their world goes away when you leave them alone. If your dog’s one of those that freak out when you leave for work, take it as a compliment, be as patient as possible and contact a local trainer for help.

Unsure of what is actually happening when you leave? Here are six common signs of separation anxiety in dogs.

OK, now we want to hear yours: How does your dog dogsplain to you? Tell us below.

Jessa Duggar Seewald just had baby No. 2, but already Jessa’s pesky sister Jill is stealing the spotlight with a controversy surrounding her own pregnancy. You’re not the boss of her, Jessa!

Jill Duggar and husband Derick Dillard are getting a whole lot of flak for their plan to return to their missionary work in El Salvador.

At the moment, Jill and Derick are back in Arkansas after several months in El Salvador with their infant son. Many fans were freaking the heck out that pregnant Jill was in a ground-zero Zika virus hotspot in Central America, which to be fair, is a totally legit reaction. What the heck, Jill and Derick? Killer mosquitoes and pregnancy are generally not the best combo, but hey, what do we know?

More: Jill Duggar had a scavenger hunt to reveal the gender of the baby on the way

Fan fears only worsened when reports surfaced of Derick suffering big health issues. Look, Jill, Derick, we need to have a conversation. It's great that you have a purpose and all, sort of. But your health has to come first.

Jill, meanwhile, told People to stuff it. OK, no, she would never say that. We would say that. Jill just said that she and Derick were “planning to go back very soon” to El Salvador and would “come back for the birth of the baby.” So they’d squeeze in a little more missionary work at the beginning of her third trimester. What could go wrong?

Fans are especially worried about the Duggar-Dillards because Jill’s first delivery was fraught with scary issues, and she was rushed to a hospital despite planning for a home birth.

But Jill is stubbornly chill about her second pregnancy. “There’s a level of ease that comes with your second pregnancy," she said.

More: Jill Duggar protests against Planned Parenthood — and finds herself in hot water

Jill. Jerick Derick. Kids. You know that a pregnancy is only nine months long, right? Here’s a thought: Maybe put your feet up on the coffee table in Arkansas, host a few Bible study classes, protest women's rights by writing letters in bed, deliver your second-born in peace, make sure everybody’s healthy and then think about returning to the wilds of El Salvador. Everybody wins except the Zika mosquitoes.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

I found myself sitting across from a therapist for the very first time two months ago. I had a personal life-changing event occur and needed to speak to a professional. It took me a good 30 minutes and a few pep talks in the bathroom outside her office before I finally mustered up the courage to shake her hand, take a seat in the sunken-in chair and spill my guts to a stranger with a lot of degrees and even more years of practice.

But after three sessions, I never went back. It was less about my therapist. She was great. If there ever were a time for me to say this and really mean it, it would be now: It wasn’t you; it was me. I found it hard to leave work and commute to my session and make it there on time. Plus, there were days I just wasn’t up to talking and if I canceled day of, I’d still have to pay for my session.

More: How to Find The Right Therapy for You

That’s when I started toying with the idea of going virtual for therapy. After doing research and giving it a go, I realized there are some significant benefits to using a virtual therapist.

Do it from your couch

When you go the virtual route, you no longer have to shower, put on clothes, and look presentable to speak to your therapist for 30 minutes or an hour. You can roll out of bed, still be in your pajamas or just have a session while you’re on the couch and eating dinner at the same time. For some, just the pressure of making sure they look put together and carving out enough travel time to make it to their standing appointment on time is enough to make them cancel a session or rethink the whole idea of having a therapist in the first place.

Save money

The virtual therapy option can be less expensive for people whose insurance plans don’t cover therapy sessions. Most virtual therapy websites take insurance and provide plans and discounts for recurring sessions. Check with your insurance provider to see if virtual therapy may be the most cost-effective way for you to seek guidance and help.

Drop the stigma

It can feel a little bit strange sitting in the waiting room beside other people who are going to a therapist in the practice or who are waiting to see your therapist after you’ve gone in. Some people want to keep it a secret that they see a therapist for fear of how others will perceive them. While there has been a general shift away from stigma surrounding mental health treatment, avoiding waiting rooms and offices can be an easy way to abandon the fear of being seen marching in to talk to your shrink.

More: 7 Things You Never Knew About Going to Therapy

No face-to-face

Some days, you may feel as though you’d rather just speak with a therapist via text message or chat instead of face-to-face, and that’s OK. Having a virtual therapist allows you to pick the option of how you feel like communicating that day. So if you find yourself in a state of mind where it’s easier to communicate without having someone look directly at you, you can chose a text or phone option and turn off the video.

Read a transcript

You may find yourself spending the majority of your session with a therapist jotting down every single piece of advice they give you. Some virtual therapy programs provide you with a written transcript after your session so you can refer back to the conversation and the next steps your therapist recommends you take.

More: 7 Unusual Therapy Pets That Will Totally Surprise You

Stay anonymous

If the reason you haven’t seen a therapist is because you don’t want to confess what’s going on with you to anyone, you can try virtual therapy and stay completely anonymous. Some virtual therapy websites don’t even ask you for your name. You can provide only the amount of information that you are most comfortable giving your virtual therapist.

How to pick a virtual therapist

If you’re looking to give virtual therapy a try, ask your current therapist if they offer online services or spend some time reading reviews of patients who have given virtual therapy a chance. When selecting the right website to use, compare pricing, capabilities (whether they offer both a text and video option) and what their refund policy is in case you don’t like the service and would like to switch back to in-person therapy instead.

When I was on the hunt for the perfect virtual therapist, I started by asking friends who I knew turned to the online option for their therapy to suggest websites that they preferred and why they had a good experience. I also did research on my own, starting with the website Virtual Therapist Network and was able to search for therapists by filtering them based on different preferences, such as sliding pay scale, credentials and a free consultation.

Before picking your virtual therapist, I highly recommend doing three consultations. That way, you can test virtual therapy out and see if you find someone who is a good fit for you and the situations that you are going through.

It’s winter in the majority of the country, which means your hair is probably in a state of, well, frizzled, wind-swept messiness. And when you know that even a short walk to the car with earmuffs, scarves, and hoods will turn your hair into a fuzzy creature, it can be hard to force yourself to wear anything but a ponytail for the next three months.

Which is totally fine, unless you want to feel a tiny bit put-together or, dare we say it, dressed up during the week. But trust us when we say it’s totally possible for your hair to look chic (with minimal effort), even in the dead of winter—and to prove it, we rounded up our favorite low-fuss updos that anybody can pull off. Keep reading to see our favorite tutorials, then try one out on yourself tomorrow!

Twisted and Knotted Updo

Sleek, Slick Bun (on Short Hair!)

Double-Braided Puff

Twisted Ponytail

Pinned and Curled Updo

The second half of Suits Season 6 is turning out to be quite the feat for every character involved. Based on the exclusive clip shared below, it looks like Rachel (Meghan Markle) is once again facing a major issue regarding her future law career.

More: Suits' Harvey Finally Got the Closure With His Mom He's Always Deserved

She really can't catch a break, can she? Ever since Mike went to prison for fraud, Rachel's time at law school and her career has been negatively impacted. Her dad even offered her a job at his firm because he knows how difficult it is going to be for Rachel, especially since she's now chosen to stick with Specter Litt.

During Wednesday's brand new episode, Rachel goes to Louis asking for help. Apparently, she got a letter saying she isn't getting into the bar and won't be granted an interview. Of course, Louis flies into a rage and immediately declares, "This is bullshit." Louis promises Rachel he will figure it out, so she gets her interview.

More: Suits' Mike just pulled a Dead Poets Society, & we totally need more

As Rachel says in the clip, the bar is probably holding her relationship with Mike against her, but she thought she would at least have the chance to defend herself. Knowing Louis, he'll handle it. Let's just hope he doesn't make it worse, because sometimes that happens whenever he is involved.

According to episode description, it also appears this particular letter rejecting Rachel "creates unexpected issues for Harvey and Louis." Of course it does, because nothing can ever be easy. The rest of the episode will also focus on Mike mentoring Oliver and Marissa at the law clinic and Donna getting some kind of "surprise" from the IT department, whatever that means.

We'll have to wait and see how all of this pans out when Suits airs tonight at 10/9c on USA.

More: Suits Season 6 photos tease an unpredictable time for Specter Litt

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

A Swedish study made some interesting discoveries on the effects of early menopause in women.

More: Osteoporosis: Expert Answers to FAQs

In this particular study, researchers noticed that the women who experienced menopause early were more likely to develop osteoporosis and fragility fractures.

In this study, 56 percent of the early menopausal women had osteoporosis by the time they were 77, whereas only 30 percent of late menopausal women had osteoporosis by the time they were 77.

More: 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Bone Health

Researchers are still not completely sure whether or not early menopause increases mortality rates in women, but there is some evidence that suggests that it does. Before researchers can claim this, further investigation needs to be made into other potential factors (alcohol, medication, etc.).

More: 10 Ways to Improve Bone Health

By Collyn Morgan

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Maybe it was wrong of us to assume that Ian Somerhalder's wife, Nikki Reed, and his ex-girlfriend, Nina Dobrev, don't get along. I mean, how many wives and ex-girlfriends are chummy with each other? That's not exactly how things usually work. So the constant rumors about feuding between Reed and Dobrev just didn't seem that unbelievable.

More: Nikki Reed Answers 32 questions, Revealing Facts You Never Knew

Somerhalder is here to set us all straight, though. He insists there are no hard feelings between his ex and his wife, and to prove it, he posted a photo of the three of them together on Instagram.

More: Nina Dobrev Uses Starbucks Lingo to Describe Her Perfect Man

"Chilling with these two... After years of websites pretending these two badass ladies knew each other well and baseless, false information of back stabbing and hatred from low-brow websites filled the minds and hearts of fans... They finally were able to get together for their first real dinner," he wrote. "Let's stop spreading hate everyone, there's already too much of that right now in our world. Join in on the love. Only love here- always has been always will be. Media companies preying on the passion from vulnerable and or impressionable minds of fans to sell advertising through click-though traffic is a disease in our society. It's poisonous. Let's finish this series with respect and kindness and continue that in our lives. I think it's time. What do think?"

That's fine and all, and not to pick a fight with Somerhalder or anything, but their smiles do look a little strained, right?

More: Friends Claim Nikki Reed Might Not Be Wife Material for Ian Somerhalder

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Usually we find ourselves covering stories about celebs who are parents, but in this case, we’re totally charmed by the parents of a celeb. The celeb in question? Mandy Moore, whose starring role in NBC’s hit This Is Us is garnering all kinds of acclaim, nominations and sobbing fits on couches across the nation.

More: This Is Us, oh, you give us all the feels

Mandy Moore (whom most of us either fell in love with or were jealous of when we saw her years ago with Shane West in A Walk to Remember) somehow always manages to be gorgeous and relatable at the same time. It's pretty annoying. We’re loving her in the role of Rebecca on This Is Us, but Moore’s mom is not so sure about the character as it turns out.

Right after the latest episode of This Is Us aired, Moore’s parents texted their daughter with some, well, concern about her character's... character. Moore — who clearly has a rockin’ sense of humor — posted screen shots of her folks’ critiques:

“Rebecca has issues, doesn’t she? Hopefully she is made to look better in future episodes,” said Moore’s mom. Oh, snap! Come on, Mama Moore! Your daughter’s not writing this stuff. You know that, right?

Moore’s mom continued her perfect mom rant: “Right now Jack is the super hero.” 

Well, he is played by Milo Ventimiglia, so really, what did you expect, Mama Moore? (Although have you seen him as Jess on Gilmore Girls? That boy had real issues.)

More: We loved Mandy Moore in her Tangled days too

Mandy seemed unfazed by her parents’ take on the episode, saying, “Mom and Dad know how to keep it real,” in a caption with the screen shot of the texts. “Thanks guys?”

Oh, man, Mandy. We’re not TV stars, but we can so completely relate to this exchange. (Tell Mom and Dad we think Rebecca is finding her way just fine.)

Women who struggle with fertility are constantly searching for reasons they cannot get pregnant. And now, another study reveals that the time of day you work and what you do there can have an effect on your ability to conceive.

The research, published Monday in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, shows that women who work nights/rotating shifts or do heavy lifting on the job may have fewer and inferior eggs.

More: Two Obese Parents May Mean Difficulty Conceiving

The team of researchers studied more than 470 women having fertility treatment and compared the physical demands and schedules of their jobs against four biomarkers — genes or characteristics in the body — known to be linked to their ability to reproduce, also called fecundity.

The biomarkers were numbers of antral follicles indicative of the number of immature eggs remaining in the body, levels of follicle-stimulating hormone that regulated reproductive processes, estrogen levels and numbers of mature eggs capable of developing into healthy embryos.

More: How "Rainbow Mamas" Are Helping to Spread Much-Needed Miscarriage Awareness

The team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that women working non-day shifts and those who had more physically demanding jobs had fewer mature oocytes retrieved after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. These results provide valuable insight into possible mechanisms linking these occupational exposures with decreased fecundity.

The authors discovered that women who engaged in heavy lifting and moving had 8.8 percent fewer total eggs and 14.1 percent fewer mature eggs compared with women who never lifted or moved heavy objects at work.

The study also found that women who worked nights or rotating shifts also saw a reduction in the number of mature eggs. In addition, they found that in women over 37 or those who were also overweight/obese, this reduction in mature eggs was even greater.

More: 3 Gynecologists on What Happens to Your Mind When Ovulating

"Our study suggests that women who are planning pregnancy should be cognizant of the potential negative impacts that non-day shift and heavy lifting could have on their reproductive health," said Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, a research fellow in the Department of Environmental Health and lead author of the study in a statement.

The takeaway for women: If trying to optimize fertility, avoid heavy lifting at work and keep hours that are consistent with a regular workday.

Tamron Hall's sudden exit from the Today show may have had lucky timing.

More: Rumor Has It That Kelly Ripa Will Have Some Big On-Air Competition This Summer

With the musical chairs game happening with news hosts at all the networks right now, it's kind of hard to keep track of who's going where. But one thing we do know for sure is that Megyn Kelly, formerly of Fox News, is joining the Today show — and that her entrance resulted in Hall being unceremoniously booted from the show's lineup of hosts. She quit almost immediately after the announcement was made that she and co-host Al Roker were being removed, and she's kind of a free agent right now.

Meanwhile, Kelly Ripa has been flying solo over at Live! with Kelly ever since Michael Strahan's surprise (and sudden) decision to leave to join Good Morning America. She's been keeping a rotating cast of guest co-hosts, but hasn't settled on anyone permanent. Could this be an opportunity for Hall?

More: Tamron Hall Doesn't Want NBC's Money if She Doesn't Have Their Respect

One source (and now a lot of rumors) says yes. A witness reportedly told Page Six that he saw Hall having lunch with a couple of big names: Discovery exec Henry Schleiff and CAA co-founder Bill Haber. This is where the news gets a little dubious, because the supposed onlooker told Page Six that the talk of the table was Hall's next career move, something that seems like it would be hard to know if you're just watching a tableful of people in a restaurant.

"He was encouraging her to join Kelly," the "spy" said of Schleiff's conversation with Hall. "He said, 'Throw your hat in the ring! Lighten things up.'"

It would be a move that Hall is definitely qualified for, and though her rep declined to comment, we're not going to write this one off just yet.

More: Kelly Ripa's Life in 2016 Is Even Exhausting to Recap

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.