Call it royal wedding-adjacent: Pippa Middleton's nuptials to James Matthews are the most anticipated since her sister Kate said her vows six years ago. We've got the deets on Pippa's dress, her venue, her guest list, her wedding party and even what kind of champagne will be flowing.

Her gown will be very different from Kate's

Pippa has none of the restrictions Kate had to deal with when searching for her perfect gown: She doesn't have to look the part of demure virginal princess, for example, nor does the fate of the entire British fashion industry rest on her (possibly) lace-covered shoulders. Designer Giles Deacon was spotted at Pippa's house with armfuls of dresses last November, and his Instagram feed is full of clues about the shape her gown may be taking, based on his other designs. It remains to be seen whether Pippa's butt will be the focus of this dress, as it was at her sister's wedding.

More: Kate Middleton Is Planning Pippa a Pretty Stellar Hen Party

Her venue is a bit smaller than Westminster Abbey

Pippa's ceremony will be held on May 20 at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire — a modest little country church close to her parents' house, where her reception will be held. It's a lovely venue, and the ceremony definitely will not be broadcast to nearly every country in the world. While Kate invited nearly 2,000 guests to her nuptials, Pippa is thought to be nipping her guest list to a "mere" 400.

Meghan Markle is not invited

We're still more than a little bummed that Pippa isn't marrying Prince Harry. Maybe she is, too, because we hear that Harry's current princess-wannabe is not invited to this shindig. But it's nothing personal — the couple is just enforcing a strict "no ring, no bring" policy for dates to keep the guest list in check.

Kate won't be her matron of honor

It's a bit surprising, since Pippa and Kate are like peas and carrots, but Kate probably won't stand up for her sister at the wedding like Pippa did at the royal wedding. Reason? Kate doesn't want to steal the show the way Pippa's butt did on her own special day. "Kate would upstage her sister," royal expert Judy Wade told People. "If your sister is a future queen, she is going to upstage the bride and draw attention. Kate would want to be in the background as much as possible."

Kate may join their brother James for a reading, though, and we're still holding our breath for George as a ring bearer or Charlotte as a flower girl!

More: Pippa Middleton Says Yes to Her Own Prince Charming

Bottles will be popped — lots of them

No red cups here, and you can forget the modern boho farm vibe while you're at it.

"It will be blingtastic," a source close to the couple told The Mirror. "The best champagne, Krug or Bollinger, and a specially devised champagne cocktail. Pippa and James have a penchant for Blanc de Noir Tillington 2009 from Nyetimber at £75 a bottle — and wonderful food. No expense will be spared. This isn't a bangers-and-mash, sitting-on-hay-bales affair. Pippa is hardly a floaty bohemian type."

Only a little less than two months to go until those wedding bells ring! We can’t wait to see the pics!

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Ever since middle school, I have disliked my underarm hair. Once I began removing it, I became hooked. I liked shaving because it quickly removed the hair. I liked depilatory cream because the hair did not grow back as quickly. Then I heard of another form that was quick to remove the hair and long-lasting: waxing. I wanted to try waxing for a while, but I didn’t gain the courage to do so until a new waxing salon opened in my neighborhood. A great excuse for a new experience, right?

The waxing salon I visited uses hard wax. Hard wax is a special wax that is applied to skin, hardens to the skin and is pulled to remove the hair follicles; no paper strips are used. I entered the salon feeling very nervous. I prepared for the big day by watching videos on YouTube of technicians learning how to hard wax and people getting hard waxed. When my name was called from the waiting room, I got up and took a deep breath. "I can do this," I thought to myself.

Looking back, my first time hard waxing was not too bad. When I tell people I got my underarms waxed, many look at me like I am insane. The first question I always get is, “Did it hurt?” The answer is yes. It did hurt. I admit that I did scream the first time. When I went for a second trip, though, there was a slight discomfort and no screams escaped my lips.

Despite the pain, my first experience hard waxing was a pleasant one. However, there are three things that I wish I had known before my first time.

More: So there might be link between bikini waxing and STIs

1. It takes time

Hard waxing has to be done in sections to be most effective. A wax specialist cannot just cover the whole underarm and rip the wax off. Body hair also grows in different directions, and the wax has to be pulled the opposite direction of hair growth. By waxing in sections, a wax specialist can give a client the best wax possible.

When I first walked into my personal waxing room to get my underarms waxed, I had to lie down and put my arms above my head, holding my hands together. After a quick swift of a cleansing pad and some application of baby powder, it was time for the wax to begin. My wax specialist explained that each underarm would be waxed as three large sections (left, middle and right) followed by touchups. The appointment lasted for about a half hour.

When I shave in the shower, it probably takes about three minutes to remove my underarm hair. It is a luxury not to have to personally be the one removing my body hair. This luxury came with an increase of time though.

2. It is expensive

When it came time to pay for my visit, it cost $18, not including a tip. For $18, one could buy a six-pack of razor cartridges.

In my experience, a six-pack of razor cartridges can last about two months. One hard wax can last anywhere from two to four weeks, depending on individual hair growth. My underarm hair began to grow back about two weeks later, and it was amazing not to have to worry about the little pesky hairs for two whole weeks.

However, if I were to get my underarm hair removed twice a month, that would cost $468 a year! Shaving is, for sure, a less expensive hair-removal route.

More: Why you should quit waxing and get laser ASAP

3. Your skin may get irritated

Keep in mind that you are literally putting foreign chemicals at a warm temperature on your skin and quickly removing said chemicals. After about four minutes of waxing, my specialist grabbed a piece of paper towel and began blotting my underarm. She told me that I was bleeding a little bit, and it was completely normal for a “first-timer” to bleed. It was not a bloodbath, but there was a bit of blood.

After the wax, my underarms were also a tad sore. Again, it is perfectly normal. My wax specialist warned me that that could happen. The soreness wore off after a couple of hours. The second time I hard waxed, I was not sore at all.

Overall, hard waxing is a great way to remove hair. Everyone has a different experience, as everyone’s body hair grows differently. I like to get my underarms done before I go away somewhere so I do not have to worry about shaving for the duration of the trip. While there are some cons, there are for sure a good amount of pros.

More: DIY sugar wax removes hair without messy papers

By Taylor Horan

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Thank God April 1 has come and gone. The worst day of the year was marked for me by a dozen Facebook friends falling for a news story about kangaroos being released in Wyoming because at some point someone decided it's OK for news sites to participate in April Fools' Day. Ugh.

More: VPR's Scheana and Shay Already Went Back on Their BFF Promise

Celebs were also taking part, obviously, including Vanderpump Rules' Kristen Doute, who had us all going for a minute after she posted this photo/cryptic caption:

Yep, that's a big ol' diamond on that finger.

More: VPR's "White Kanye" James Kennedy Really Can't Rap, Like, at All

Doute has been dating her boyfriend, Brian Carter, for a few years now, and they happily live together. It didn't seem like much of a stretch that they could get engaged, so naturally, tons of people fell for the joke. A few, though, remembered that time Doute talked about buying herself an engagement ring so she could "try it out," and commented with their suspicions.

Doute fessed up later with another photo sans ring.

"Where did that damn ring go?" she wrote, "at least I got a tan and it's finally April 1st!"

Don't feel too bad if you fell for Doute's prank — she even managed to punk her mom with this one.

At least she didn't pretend she was pregnant.

More: VPR's Jax Taylor Makes a Serious Claim About James Kennedy

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

When is the Church of Scientology going to accept that it can't push Leah Remini around?

More: The Craziest, Most Mind-Blowing Things We've Learned About Scientology

Now that her docuseries, Scientology and the Aftermath, is confirmed for a second season, the church has been going after Remini hard. Scientology writer Tony Ortega wrote on his blog that he thinks the church sent private investigators to dig up dirt on Remini, which would make sense considering its latest smear campaign against her.

On the website the church started to refute Remini's show, there's a series of videos featuring people who have been a part of Remini's life and who still belong to the Church of Scientology. All of them speak into the camera documentary-style to say terrible things about Remini's character.

More: Leah Remini Says Tom Cruise Could Be the End of Scientology

"I was acting in an episode of King of Queens. I was cast in it. I didn’t know Leah or anybody in her family beforehand," one woman says. "I just was cast. And when I arrived on the set for rehearsal that week, immediately she’d had a huge blowup with the director. And she was acting very mean and pretty awful and they actually had to shut the set down for at least an hour while she, you know, whatever, cooled off, came back, and then, she was pretty mean the whole week. And because I knew she was a Scientologist, I actually was embarrassed that she was acting that way."

That's pretty much the extent of it. In all five videos, people describe Remini as being unpleasant, rude, ungrateful and a bad mother. It's kind of telling that instead of defending itself against the actual claims she's made about its practices, the church is going after her personally. Still, this doesn't seem like it's over, and Remini has proven time and time again that she can handle whatever the church throws at her.

More: Scientology Is Fighting Leah Remini's TV Show With an Entire Network

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

BDSM fantasies — specifically, being dominated — are pretty common among women. According to one study, more than 60 percent of us have them.

Some women turn to dating sites to start exploring their submissive side, but testing the BDSM waters with someone you’ve never met can be dangerous, especially after the success of the Fifty Shades books and movies, men have felt more comfortable advertising their status as “dominants,” using the sites to find women looking for their own Christian Grey. The problem is, many of these men are intentionally looking to prey on inexperienced submissives. Take it from Amy and Megan.

More: BDSM & Consent: What's the Big Deal?

When Amy began talking to Scott on OkCupid, she was looking for the “strong, take-charge kind of guy — the opposite of her flaky, aloof ex-husband.

“I was emotionally tired of having to be the only grown-up in the relationship,” she explained. “I've always had somewhat submissive sexual tendencies — I love any sort of ravishment fantasy — so the idea of being in a safe place to let go and no longer have to be in charge was exciting for me, not just sexually, but emotionally.”

Their flirting online intensified. Scott told Amy he was going to “punish” her, and Amy had gone along with it as a fantasy. But on their first date, Scott assaulted her, informing Amy she knew what she was getting into.

Megan, who met Jack on a dating site specifically for those interested in BDSM, doesn’t call what happened to her outright assault.

“It's in that wobbly zone of yes and no,” she said. “I was into it at the time, even if hesitatingly. There was a slew of sex-included acts I hadn't OK'd, and stuff at the end made the previous stuff feel way ickier.”

Both women said that they ignored warning signals. For Megan, the biggest red flag was Jack’s inconsistencies around substance abuse. After Jack told her he was sober and in a support group, he had a drink on their date. Megan said she should’ve stopped the date then.

Even though Amy was attracted to Scott’s dominance, he came on too strong from the get-go. Afterward, Amy blamed herself for breaking one of her own rules: Never go to a person’s house on a first date.

“I still can't tell you why I let him talk me into it,” Amy said. “The whole experience was the only time in my life I've ever felt like I was powerless over my own actions. I felt brainwashed.”

Amy didn’t report the assault to the police because of the record of flirting that existed from their online conversations. She was worried it would be used against her in court.

More: 6 Things Fifty Shades Got Wrong About BDSM

While Amy hasn’t explored her submission fantasies since, Megan has become active in the BDSM community.

“I believed — and still believe — in the potential for shared catharsis and connection, which is possible in [BDSM] scenes,” she said. “Many of the connections I made early on have become chosen family. When BDSM works, it can bring bliss. When we negotiate well and stay close to our authentic voice, we can experience extremely rewarding and fulfilling connection through scenes.”

Megan learned to trust her intuition in order to protect herself. “Our threat-detection system is necessary for survival, and experience has shown that when that system is activated, it's for good cause,” she added.

I was lucky. All my earliest experiences with BDSM were with a partner that I trusted. We were in an open relationship when we learned about the local BDSM community and found others to further explore our interests with. I’ve explored being both dominant and submissive, and it’s important to note that these roles can be fulfilled by someone of any gender.

The kink community itself is not always a safe space, but it does teach awareness of consent and safety practices. In the five years I’ve been active in the kink community, I’ve learned valuable lessons about how to identify whether wannabe dominants know what they’re doing. Here are some suggestions.

Don’t trust anyone who dismisses the need for a safe word

One creepy dude I came across on Tinder had a pic with the text “real men don’t need a safe word. They know what to do, how hard to do it and when to stop.” I was so pissed. No one has the right to decide for another person how they are feeling or what is too much. And if they disagree, they’re not a safe person to play with.

In the kink community, green, yellow and red are standard words used by the person in the submissive role during a BDSM scene to identify how they are feeling and whether they want to keep going.

Saying, “green,” means we’re good to go; yellow is used when someone believes they are approaching their limit, but would like to continue the scene; and red means the scene needs to stop immediately. They’re easy to remember, and if someone has weird reasons for not wanting to use them, this is a major red flag for me.

Ask them how they negotiate scenes

Scene negotiation involves communicating things you do and do not want to do, as well as whether you have emotional triggers, health conditions or other factors your partner needs to be aware of. Negotiating isn’t just about setting limits; it’s also about getting used to communicating with your partner and building trust.

If a dominant isn’t used to these types of conversations, they’re not experienced enough to play with another beginner.

More: BDSM Sex Tips for "Vanilla" Couples, No Red Room Needed

Try out saying, "no," before meeting

Say you’re flirting with a person online, and they ask you for something — like, to exchange numbers or personal information. Try telling them you don’t feel comfortable yet just to see how they react. If a guy can’t take a no politely and understand whatever you need to do to keep yourself feeling safe, they’re not worth meeting.

Educate yourself first

If you’re serious about exploring your kinky side, I suggest checking out The Ultimate Guide to Kink: BDSM, Role Play and the Erotic Edge or The New Bottoming Book, which offers advice about “emotional support and ethical interaction during kinky play.”

When you think about porn, you might associate it with a lot of things, whether it's a turn-on, an obstacle in your relationship or something you don't have strong feelings about either way. But one thing you probably don't associate with porn is religion, right? Well, a new study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that in the U.S., religious people are the ones who are likelier to be watching the most porn. Surprise, surprise!

The researchers examined the popularity of various porn-related search terms throughout all 50 states in the U.S. over the last six years. The results: In states where more people identified as religious or church-going, porn search rates were higher, and there were fewer porn searches in states where more people identified as non-religious.

More: Adult website makes it possible for the visually impaired to experience porn

As for the "why" behind these findings, there are a lot of potential factors. Perhaps some who consider themselves religious use porn as a sexual outlet when casual sex isn't an option because of their beliefs or maybe when your faith means major behavioral restrictions, people crave that "forbidden fruit" even more. Or maybe they're just curious — most religions I'm aware of don't encourage sexual exploration, so they may not be getting those answers from their own life experiences.

"Our findings support theories that more salient, traditional religious influences in a state may influence residents — whether religious or not — toward more covert sexual experiences," the researchers wrote in the study abstract. They also noted that states where more people identified as politically conservative tended to have lower rates of porn searches — so don't conflate religion with conservative politics, at least when it comes to porn habits. Fascinating!

In any event, it seems that the people who you might least expect to watch and enjoy porn might be watching more than anyone. You can't judge a book by its cover — or a person by the church he or she attends.

More: Should teachers introduce pornography in the classroom?

The most recent batch of Mylan’s EpiPens and EpiPen Jrs. distributed nationwide have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

More: DIY-ing Your EpiPen Is a Really Bad Idea

This latest recall is hugely concerning for people who need EpiPens on a daily basis to protect them from dangerous or life-threatening allergic reactions. Thirteen lots of the EpiPen injectors are being recalled due to the possibility of defective parts with the mechanism.

Allergies run rampant throughout the United States alone, and an estimated 50 million people suffer from some sort of allergies, while specific food allergies affect almost 15 million people, with 1 in every 13 of those people being children. The biggest offenders when talking about allergies that require the use of EpiPens are food allergies — with peanut or lactose allergies being most prevalent in children and seafood being more active in adults. These types of allergic reactions have the tendency to become anaphylactic, which is the state in which an individual can experience typical allergy symptoms like a runny nose or skin rash, but also hives, trouble breathing and swollen lips or tongue.

This isn’t the first time that Mylan has been under fire. Last year, the company increased the costs of their EpiPens by a huge margin, raising the price from $100 for two devices to $600 — to be paid completely out of pocket. People everywhere expressed their anger over the price increase, arguing that something so necessary and practically lifesaving should not be on the verge of unattainable.

The FDA notes that any EpiPens sold between Dec. 17, 2015, and July 1, 2016, should not be used, but anything bought or used before or after that date range do not need replacement. In the event that you are unsure of your EpiPen’s status and whether or not it has been recalled, the FDA's complete list of affected EpiPens is available here.

More: The EpiPen Discount Every Mom Needs to Know About ASAP

In the latest episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim Kardashian expressed her desire to grow her family. “I’d just love nothing more than to expand my family and just know that I have this world at home that’s safe,” she said.

More: Kim Kardashian Accused Of "Whitewashing" North West

During the same episode, Kardashian received a procedure that would hopefully try and help her carry another child if she decided to do so. But the procedure failed.

“I’ve gone through so much with really bad deliveries that the doctors don’t feel like it’s safe for me to conceive again myself,” Kardashian revealed, adding, “I can’t carry any more kids… it’s the worst.”

After the infamous Paris robbery, Kardashian’s desire to expand her family with husband Kanye West became even more fervent. But now that the opportunity to have biological children is no longer possible, the two have begun looking at other options, with Kardashian leaning toward possibly giving surrogacy a try.

More: Kim Kardashian Shares Never-Before-Seen Pics From Her Wedding

Gestational surrogacy costs could begin at around $40,000 and go as high as $150,000 depending on where you go or what type of program you choose. (Not that cost is an issue for the Kardashians.) 

In 2011, there were 35,000 surrogacy cases in the U.S., and the percentage of gestational surrogacy increased by 89 percent in 2014. In the United States, the success rates for a surrogate mother younger than 35 can be as high as 60 percent; as in all pregnancies, the numbers dip when the mom is older.

Surrogacy is not legal in all areas. Countries like France, Germany, Italy and Spain completely prohibit any and all forms of surrogacy, while countries like the U.K., Ireland and Denmark allow the procedure as long as the surrogate mother is unpaid or only compensated for certain expenses.

In the United States, commercial surrogacy — that’s when the surrogate mother is paid a fee — is legal on a state-by-state basis. The varying laws make it very important for people to do as much research as possible before even considering surrogacy as a viable option for childbirth. But even if the Kardashian-West family decided to go down that route, they wouldn’t be alone. Other famous faces that have used surrogacy or a gestational carrier include Robert De Niro, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and Jimmy Fallon.

“I feel like surrogacy is the only option for me,” Kardashian says, after explaining that she and Kanye West both felt adamant about having more children and also nervous about her procedure and the uncertainty around her success rates. While Kardashian may be disappointed, she remains realistic, keeping her options open and the possibilities as broad as possible. “Whatever is meant to be will be.”

I never thought I'd say this, but Beyoncé, I have a bone to pick with you.

I know that you have no idea who I am, a middling Canadian writer thousands of miles away. I have nowhere near the name recognition that you do, obviously. And no, my schedule is nowhere near as busy as yours, but nonetheless, I do have stuff going on, you know?

More: Beyoncé Is Planning Something Big, We Just Don't Know What

I just moved, for example. And I'm not sure if you're aware of how that works for regular people like me, but for us, moving means touching every single thing you own (which, granted, isn't nearly as many things as you own) and putting each of those things in boxes and then lifting those boxes with our own arms and putting them into a truck and then driving that truck by ourselves to our new place (which, by the way, is probably like 1 percent of the size of your house) and then unloading everything again and unpacking it.

I mean, Bey, it's a whole process.

I also have a daughter — 4-year-old. And I know that you have a daughter too, but I'm a single mom. That means no Jay to help out. No nannies, either. Just me!

Of course I also work and volunteer, plus I have to cook my own goddamn meals like a chump. And If you're reading this like, “Whoa Madeleine, that sounds like some real bullshit,” you're completely right because I mean, I'm a good cook, but I don't like cooking, you know? It's boring and requires planning and grocery shopping and I have to do it multiple times a day. Don't get me started on the cleanup, Yoncé, because I am not a tidy cook.

Anyway! I digress.

The point of this long-winded rant is that I. Do. Not. Have. Time to decipher your baby hints anymore.

More: Beyoncé's Earrings May Actually Be Her Gender Reveal Announcement

Look, someone had to say it. I ain't sorry.

I was there for it in the beginning. I picked up the pink/blue bra and underwear meaning. I gamely guessed at why you were wearing so much green. But this weekend broke me, Beyoncé.

I was taking care of my daughter, obvs. And I moved houses, as I already told you. But then my brother and his wife had a new baby (a healthy little boy named Alastair if you are wondering and/or looking for some name inspo) and so I made the three-hour drive to their city to meet the little guy, my very first nephew.

And then, in between all of this parenting and moving furniture and driving (and driving myself no less, because I don't have a chauffeur) you drop this little gem:

I was excited initially. And then? Then you and this Instagram video totally ruined my weekend.

While soaking up time with my nephew, I found myself feverishly wondering what the hell kind of flowers those were. While I watched my daughter playing with her new cousin, I was thinking about how much research I'd have to do to find out the significance of the dress color and the music and the rings you are showing off in this photomontage.

Because there is some significance, isn't there? We know you don't just pick things because they're pretty. We know better than to take your photos at face value.

And before, I was into it. Before this weekend, I thought it was kind of a fun little mystery to be picking up the clues you were putting down. Following the breadcrumbs to find the truth, unraveling the symbolism and layers of meaning behind your words and dresses and jewelry.

But Bey, I'm tired. I'm tired and I'm done. I just can't anymore. I have a life! I have too much shit going on to be doing this much recon. So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm formally throwing in the towel. I'm retiring my magnifying glass. I'm giving up.

More: If You Think Beyoncé Is Already Winning 2017, Just Wait

When you post another picture, I think I'll just look at it and remark, “What a lovely photo of Ms. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter,” and I'll ignore the colors and I'll ignore the background imagery and I'll ignore absolutely everything short of a neon sign blinking out a due date and gender reveal.

I think it's just better for everyone this way.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Millions of little girls across the country (and a good number of little boys too, we hope) grew up reading the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which followed an awkward orphaned redhead through her life on Prince Edward Island at the turn of the 20th century. Millions more watched Anne Shirley grow up throughout the 1985 miniseries of the same name, which starred Megan Follows and presented a light, idyllic look at Anne as well as her time and place.

Now, CBC Television and Netflix have teamed together to create a new reimagining of the story, and one that promises to be a bit more somber and complicated than the adaptations that have come before and even, in some respects, the original text. Our first look at the series' trailer for the plainly titled Anne confirms that the eight-episode first season isn't going to be a cookie-cutter version of the tale, and that it might tell us more about both the past and the present than you might expect.

More: Anne of Green Gables Goes Dark — No, Really

"Anne is damaged"

The first thing we noticed in the two-minute trailer, which we watched four times in a row until the shivers stopped, was that the Anne, played by newcomer Amybeth McNulty, is going to be a more complicated, rounder character, perhaps than ever before. We see her in some traditional "Anne" moments, like when she breaks a tablet over a boy's head in class, but also in some fresh and moving moments — crying in her nightgown as she looks out at the ocean, walking through the foggy forest, collapsing to the ground when she finds out her adoption has been a mistake. She also seems to be more of everything: She looks more awkward than Follows ever did, and seems to be even more lost in her world of imagination. She also seems more affected by her traumatic childhood.

These are no mistakes. Showrunner and award-winning screenwriter Moira Walley-Beckett wanted a more complex Anne to be at the heart of the project, noting, "Anne is damaged. She never wasn't." Walley-Beckett, who is best known for her Emmy-winning writing for Breaking Bad, wanted to bring out deeper themes in her reimagining and to delve deeper into Anne's darker side, which is only hinted at in the books.

More: The Anne of Green Gables Quotes That Made Us Fall in Love With Her

"An accidental feminist"

Anne also strives to take on new (and topical) topics of conversation that have only been skimmed in past adaptations.

"Anne was an accidental feminist," Walley-Beckett told SheKnows. "She was ahead of her time. The themes of equality, gender parity, feminism, intolerance and prejudice against those who 'come from away' are all built into L.M. Montgomery’s story. And since Anne is so timeless and timely, I’m bringing these issues to the forefront and taking part in the current conversation."

We can see a few teeny glimpses of this in the trailer. In one shot, we see Anne bucking gender roles as she tells Marilla, "Girls can do anything a boy can do — and more!' In another, we see her experiencing bullying, both based on her looks and her background.

"The freedom to imagine"

Another hint we gleaned from the trailer is that this is not going to be a scene-by-scene reboot of the book or the '80s miniseries. While some scenes are lovingly familiar to any fan, like Marilla saying, "We sent word to Mrs. Spencer to bring us a boy," others seem totally new. Walley-Beckett has confirmed this as well, saying that she wanted to retell the original story while also adding new events and stories.

How did she create the new material?

"I read between the lines of the book, and just like Anne herself, I gave myself the freedom to imagine," she said. "In addition to staying true to the place and the characters within the book (and making sure the world and the people who populate it feel depthful and real), I wanted to be sure to include all the most beloved iconic moments amid some new territory. For example, the epic Mrs. Lynde apology, the slate, raspberry cordial, puffed sleeves... We approach these moments from a slightly different direction, but they’re all there!"

Walley-Beckett has also said that Anne will be more true to its time and place, showing more of the harsh realities of what it was like to live on Prince Edward Island in the 1890s, largely isolated and with limited opportunities.

But fans fearful that their beloved Avonlea has been altered in some drastic way shouldn't be worried. While Walley-Beckett has added depth, she also took a careful and caring approach to her series. "I fondly [approached the story] with regard for the world and the characters amid an abiding and profound respect for L.M. Montgomery," she said.

And from the trailer, it looks like she might have done a completely fabulous job of it.

Anne debuts May 12 on Netflix.

More: Anne of Green Gables is the one guide to life your daughter needs

We need to know: What was your opinion of the Anne trailer? Let us know in the comments.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

It's a weird, weird world when a toddler has to school an adult about racial bias... over the purchase of a doll.

The toddler in question is Sophia Benner in South Carolina, and she's a viral inspiration at the moment, after her mom posted about an incident at a local Target.

Sophia's parents promised her a new doll if she would just please, please, pretty please with sugar on top poop in the potty for a whole month straight. Pretty sweet deal.

Sophia agreed to the deal and earned her prize. (Nice going, kid.) Her mother, Brandi Benner, took her to a Target — where Sophia immediately fell in love with a black doll.

More: Kids' surprising request to parents: Talk to us about racism, please

Apparently, the sight of a little blond white girl clutching a dark-skinned doll was too much for the cashier, who asked Sophia if she was "going to a birthday party" and the doll was a gift for a friend.

Brandi Benner let the cashier know that the doll was a prize for Sophia being fully potty trained. The cashier's response? "We have lots of other dolls that look more like you."

And yes, we checked: It is indeed 2017.

The cashier added, "Are you sure this is the doll you want, honey?"

According to Benner, her daughter's response was, “Yes, please!”

The cashier was still incredulous (really! 2017!) and replied, "But she doesn't look like you."

More: Teaching kids to stand up against racism

Benner wrote on Facebook, "I immediately became angry, but before I could say anything, Sophia responded with, ‘Yes, she does. She's a doctor like I'm a doctor. And I'm a pretty girl and she's a pretty girl. See her pretty hair? And see her stethoscope?’"

The cashier finally dropped the matter, and Sophia and her new best friend were on their way.

Little did Benner know that her potty-training bribe would become the stuff of internet legend. She said she is "blown away" by the overwhelmingly positive response her post on Facebook has received.

Most of us purchase a fitness tracker to count our steps, check how many calories we’ve burned and keep an eye on our progress — including monitoring our heart rate while exercising and at rest. And it looks like we can now add one more crucial benefit to these wearable health gadgets.

Patricia Lauder, a 73-year-old retiree from Harwinton, Connecticut, has her Fitbit to thank for alerting her to a potentially life-threatening condition. Lauder originally purchased her tracker to help monitor her steps while she walked, but when her resting heart rate continued to climb by around five beats per minute every day, she knew something was seriously wrong.

More: Now You Can Work Out Like the Notorious RBG

Lauder’s resting heart rate had previously been below 70, but she had also been experiencing shortness of breath and feelings of exhaustion. According to KFOR.com, Lauder had been battling a sinus infection and suspected a case of walking pneumonia. After several doctor visits, she was awaiting the results of diagnostic tests to determine the cause of her symptoms.

“Finally, my resting heart rate got to the point where a simple chore was a big effort,” she said.

Realizing that her Fitbit might actually be warning her of a potential health threat, Lauder called 911 and was taken to the emergency department at UConn John Dempsey Hospital, and it was during the ride there, that the first responders confirmed what she suspected — that her tracker’s heart rate of 140 was accurate.

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After a series of tests, her doctors discovered she had blood clots in both lungs and immediately treated her.

Dr. JuYong Lee, director of vascular and endovascular medicine at UConn Health Calhoun, told news station, KFOR, “I think the Fitbit actually helped her decide whether or not this was a serious condition at that time,” Lee said. He noted that several of his patients wear fitness trackers, but in this situation, it could have been lifesaving.

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Lena Dunham, writer, producer and star of the hit HBO series Girls, was recently freed of the excruciating chronic pain that came as a result of her endometriosis. But as it turns out, a different sort of ache remains.

Dunham has battled endometriosis since her first period. Endometriosis, simply stated, is a condition in which the tissue that typically lines the inside of the uterus ends up developing outside of the uterus, often on a woman’s fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowels, bladder or anywhere else in the pelvic region. And because this tissue builds up outside of the uterus, it doesn’t have anywhere to exit the body when it is ready to shed each month. This results in internal bleeding, the development of scar tissue and severe chronic pain.

More: The Link Between Ovarian Cysts and Endometriosis

Last weekend, after an unusually painful morning, Dunham underwent her fifth surgery in the past year — one that would change her life. When she awoke, her doctors told her that for the time being, her endometriosis was all gone. She would be, for the first time in years, healthy.

Through powerful essays, Dunham has taken her followers along for her endless medical and spiritual journeys. New doctors and obscure treatments, bedridden workdays and compromised relationships. Endometriosis had taken hold of her life in more places than just her medical records. And now, the disease that has impacted her life since her very first period had completely vanished. Wouldn’t this cause a world of relief? A rush of juvenile freedom?

More: Julianne Hough Talks About Her Struggle With Endometriosis

For Dunham and many other sufferers of chronic pain, that’s surprisingly not the case. In her most recent Lenny Letter, she writes, “What we don’t always talk about is the way that pain — emotional and physical — can become our companion. Our constant, unyielding, toxic pal, a place to put all our 'if onlys' and 'just imagines.'” 

This is an interesting, brutally honest approach to this change in her life. Just as the disease affected a great portion of her personal and professional daily life, the loss of the diagnosis would surely cause some disorientation and call for some mental restructuring. Even for those of us who do not suffer the diagnosis of endometriosis, our own relationships with pain deserve some examining. Why do we keep pain? Are we using pain to attempt to prove our "toughness"? Are we hiding behind pain to keep from dealing with bigger demons?

More: Tia Mowry on Meditation, Endometriosis and the Importance of Female Friends

Our strength and resilience as women should not be gauged by how much pain we can endure while still maintaining productivity and a forced smile on our faces. Withstanding chronic pain doesn’t make you a hero, it just means that you’re stuck dealing with chronic pain as the world continues to spin. It’s important to listen to the messages the body is sending.

And once we address the physical relationship we have with pain, the emotional attachment must follow.

As Dunham bravely points out, it’s time to start thinking about what actually limits our lives and what we like to say limits our life. Think about our brain’s internal tape recording of excuses and “if onlys” that we subconsciously employ each day to justify our failures, weaknesses or procrastinations. We need to separate ourselves from the automatic comforts and easily understood alibis that emotional and physical pain sneakily provide. The underlying issues and fears need to be addressed head on.

Being more honest with ourselves — even in our darkest, most agonizing states — will free us in a way that no diagnosis (or lack thereof) could and finally allow us to stand on our own.  

Whether you're into fashion or not, every woman needs something to haul her stuff in, and Stephanie Sarka is making it way more fun and personal to find the right bag for you. As founder and CEO of 1 Atelier, a company that allows you to create your own custom bag starting at $295 — from the silhouette and size to the color and material — Sarka's one motivated woman, and it was fascinating to find out more about her path to success.

Sarka let us pick her brain about what inspired her to start 1 Atelier, how she manages to juggle CEO life with being a single mom to a 3-year-old and why she's 100 percent OK with not worrying about politics right now. Find out more — including the hardest business lesson she's learned — below.

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SheKnows: In a few sentences, what were you doing before 1 Atelier, and what motivated you to start the business?

Stephanie Sarka: Having spent four years founding and building GoTo.com, where we pioneered paid search, I returned to New York City eager to do something where I was giving back. The internet startup community was just burgeoning here, so I started working with startups as an investor and adviser. At the same time, I was doing a gut renovation and building my apartment here in New York with a wonderful architect, and I was loving the opportunity to express myself through the design of my new home. It was a very free and creative time in my life, and it was empowering to create something solely around my taste, lifestyle, unique needs and budget. To this day, I love walking into my apartment, which is a total expression of who I am and how I live.

It dawned on me that this opportunity for creativity and self-expression would be very compelling in other products that are a part of my everyday life. I like the idea of a making a personal statement, and how better to do it than the handbags we carry! In a marketplace flush with logos and high markups, no one was exploring a platform that would not only allow for complete customization, but also empower the consumer to become the tastemaker — 1 Atelier represents the intersection of aspiration and inspiration, and they reflect the individuality of the women who create them, hence the mantra "luxury inspired by my life."

SK: Can you describe an average workday?

SS: I love walking into our atelier each morning. It's a sun-drenched space in New York's Garment District where we run the business and manufacture our handbags. I have the incredible privilege of working with very special people who all bring unique talents to our mission. Every day starts with a visit to Luis, our head craftsman, usually over Cuban coffee, and a quick touch-base with the other leads on our team. Then I'm focused on refining and communicating our strategy and priorities, recruiting and speaking to potential partners and investors.

SK: How do you balance your personal life/family and career?

SS: For starters, as a later-stage mom, I had an amazing career and traveled the world before I had a family, so I'm comfortable with the fact that my life at the moment is fully dedicated to raising my daughter and building 1 Atelier. I'm doing what I love and living life on my terms. But it's a choice not to have an active social life outside of work, for example, and to spend my evenings and weekends hanging out with my 3-year old rather than with friends or taking exotic trips.

That said, it's about priorities and focus. I have a bifurcated workday. I spend my mornings with my daughter and then get to work around 8:30 or 9 a.m. — I have never been more productive in my life in eight hours — and then I spend the evenings with my daughter. Once she's in bed, I work well into the wee hours of the morning, which I find to be a great time to think quietly.

More: How This Mompreneur Is Creating Positive Change Through Her Clothing Company

More sexual harassment allegations are being leveled against former Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes and the network's ratings king, Bill O'Reilly.

More: Don't Believe People Are Still Racist in 2017? Exhibit A: Bill O'Reilly

A new lawsuit has been filed against Ailes, who left the network last summer amid multiple reports of sexual harassment and cover-up allegations by Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky. Roginsky claims in her lawsuit that execs who are currently managing Fox News were an active part of covering up her allegations.

Roginsky also claims that Ailes suggested she sleep with "older, married, conservative men," insisted on beginning meetings with a kiss hello and forced her to bend over and allow him to see down her dress. She says that she was trying to secure a permanent role at the network, but after she turned down Ailes' advances, he refused to meet with her again and she lost out on the opportunity to land the job. Later, when allegations began swirling about Ailes, she said she was pressured by higher ups at the network to publicly defend him, but that she refused.

More: Montel Williams Has Got Beef With Bill O'Reilly After an Unpleasant Visit

And on Monday, Wendy Walsh, a former regular on The O'Reilly Factor, announced during a press conference that she is seeking an investigation by the Los Angeles Human Rights Commission into sexual harassment she experienced from O'Reilly. Her accusations come just days after it was reported that Fox paid $13 million to settle sexual harassment suits against O'Reilly from five separate women.

Walsh claims that O'Reilly said he would recommend her for a paid contributor role at Fox, but over dinner in LA, she declined his request that she go to his room, and she was soon dropped from his show altogether.

Walsh can't sue O'Reilly because the statute of limitations on her claims has run out. Instead, she's seeking the investigation, she said, because she heard many of the women accusing O'Reilly of inappropriate behavior are restricted by gag orders, and she wanted her own story to be heard.

"Nobody can silence me because my voice is not for sale," Walsh said at her press conference. "Nobody can buy my voice."

More: Fox News' Chinatown Segment Is the Most Racist POS We've Ever Seen

Fox declined to comment on the new allegations.

An elementary school in Arizona decided it would be a genius time-saving idea to stamp the wrists of kids whose lunch money accounts were running low.

Yes, you read that right. Tara Chavez's son, a second-grader, came home branded with "Lunch Money" inked on his inner wrist like a prison tattoo.

Her son told her his school still let him eat lunch (gee, thanks!), but insisted on stamping his arm instead of sending a note home.

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Chavez was quite understandably shocked by the school's move. "I asked if he was given a choice by the lunch lady and he said, 'No, she just grabbed my wrist and put the stamp on,'" Chavez said. "I was surprised. Normally I get a slip in his folder when he needs more money."

She posted a picture of her son's arm on Twitter — which went viral almost immediately. Chavez said, "He was humiliated, didn't even want me to take a picture of it."

Chavez said the principal assured her that she would talk to the staff about the branding of kids running low on lunch money. Still, Chavez is disturbed by the dehumanizing, demoralizing effect it had on her son.

"I think there's a better way to communicate the message than stamping a child with the words 'Lunch Money,'" she said. "There's a billion other ways you could do it that would be better than that."

We'd say probably a trillion ways. Desert Cove Elementary, what the hell were you thinking? Who signed off on that idea? Please tell us they're out of a job, with a wrist stamp reading "Unemployed."

Flu vaccinations can protect a child from death, but some parents are still opting out.

The science is more solid than ever. New research from the American Academy of Pediatrics' journal demonstrates that kids who get a flu shot are significantly less likely to die from flu and its complications. The study examined the cases of 358 kids, ages 6 months through 17 years — all of whom died flu-associated deaths between the years of 2010 to 2014.

More: Having a child with flu is far worse than having flu yourself

Researchers were able to determine vaccine status for 291 of these deaths, and of the children who died, 74 percent had not received a flu shot.

For healthy kids, a flu shot meant reduced risk of flu-associated death by almost two-thirds: 65 percent.

For high-risk kids (with blood disorders, heart disorders or asthma, for instance), a flu shot lowered flu death risk by half.

More: How to make your child's flu shot a little less scary

So what are the CDC guidelines on vaccinating kids against flu? They tend to vary from year to year, but the CDC recommends that all children over the age of 6 months get vaccinated. Keep in mind that the vaccination can take several weeks to hit peak immunity in a child's system, so earlier is better. And if your child is getting vaccinated for the first time, they will most likely require two doses 28 days apart. (Sorry, flu-shot first-timers.)

And even though spring is (supposedly) here, it's not too late to get the flu shot — for you or your child. Better late than never, always, when it comes to protecting yourself and your kids from the flu.

As Prince Harry's thirstiest most devoted fan, Meghan Markle has been a hard pill for me to swallow. But in the year or so that they've been dating, she's really stepped up to the plate, speaking out for women's rights and using her fame to advance feminist ideals. As much as I know in my heart I'm the only woman for Harry, I just can't hate on Markle anymore. She'll make a fantastic princess.

More: Meghan Markle's New Job Is Basically Passing Royal Sniff Tests

There is still one little issue she can't seem to shake: her estranged family members who have a little trouble staying on the right side of the law. One of them, Markle's half-sister that she reportedly hasn't even spoken to in more than two decades, is apparently targeting Markle for the fame she's about to have.

Reports say Samantha Grant, who recently changed her name to Samantha Markle, is writing a tell-all book claiming that she helped raise Markle even though they grew up almost completely separately.

"Samantha Grant doesn't have a relationship with Meghan Markle and she never has," a source told E! News. "As they were 17 years apart, they were never raised in the same house. Meghan was raised an only child by her loving parents."

More: Prince Harry Super-Chill-Like Closed Off an Entire Museum for Meghan Markle

The insider continued, "This woman who she hardly knows, who has had a lifelong history of lying and manipulation is setting her sights on her for no reason," the source tells us. "In their very limited contact, Meghan has never been anything but nice to her and for the majority of those interactions, Meghan was just a little girl. This is an old, jealous woman (she is in her 50s! who does this in their 50s?) doing anything she can to take advantage of the situation to sell lies for money and fame. Meghan has never done anything to her and continues to take the high road."

The source said that Markle and Grant only lived in the same house for about two weeks more than 20 years ago.

"Samantha was not a part of that life and in no way shape or form did Samantha raise Meghan until she was 12. Meghan saw her on occasion at family functions but never on a regular basis. For about two weeks when Meghan was 12, Samantha moved in with her dad (and Meghan was still splitting time between homes). She has seen her once since then. It's been 23 years."

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While an engagement seems pretty much imminent for Markle and Harry, here's hoping all this family drama won't get in the way.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

How do you set limits on screen time with your kids? This is a question I ask my friends increasingly these days as my son gets older and his devices — and the rules that accompany them — seem to proliferate on their own. If I’m going to be honest, I think I’m a little too lenient with screens, but it’s not easy with a two-income household and a kid whose primary interests (and homework) require his computer.

So I’m asking parents how they do it. How do they determine how much screen time is enough (and how much is too much)? How do they set limits in a world where devices feel increasingly ubiquitous?

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It’s a complicated question, it turns out, because their answers differ wildly not just by parenting styles, but also by location and lifestyle. A suburban kid in a small school may not require daily use of a cellphone, for instance, whereas a city kid who's taking public transportation by themselves probably will. It's complicated, in other words, like all things parenting-related.

My first subject: Karen Walrond. She’s an accomplished photographer and author who lives in Houston, Texas. Her daughter is Alexis, 13.

Where she hails from: Trinidad. And as Walrond will tell you, “Trini moms don’t play.” In other words, she is one tough mother — at least in my estimation. “I actually think I’m too permissive,” she tells me. (She is not too permissive.) 

The bottom line: During the week there is no screen time allowed at all. No television, no computer, no iPad, no phone. Nothing. If it’s a school day, there are zero screens involved. Her phone is confiscated until the weekend. Alexis lives an almost unbearably quaint existence, where she probably churns butter or something. (I’m making this part up.) 

What about the weekend, though? On Friday afternoon Alexis gets her electronics back. “We watch television together Friday nights — we’re on a marathon of The Office. On Saturday she’s supposed to do her homework, so she doesn’t get screen time until her homework’s done.” 

But after that? It’s all screens, all the time (or as much as she wants, anyway) until bedtime on Sunday. “I mean, she’s not supposed to be online until she’s done what she’s supposed to do during the day. But once she’s gotten her chores and everything done, she’s good to go. Oh — and I take the phone at night. If I didn’t she’d be on it all night long.” 

How does her daughter feel about it? “She doesn’t complain about it at all, which is good. She’s so busy during the week that she doesn’t have time to think about it. She doesn’t get home until 5 and then she has homework and dinner and an hour of guitar practice every day. There’s no time to grumble.” 

Doesn’t she have homework on her computer? “Not at her school, no.” (Most of my son’s homework involves a computer. I am sick with envy.)

Aren’t her friends on their phones? “I don’t know. Maybe? I get the impression that other parents let their kids use their phones during the week, but honestly, I haven’t checked.” (Because she’s mentally healthy, I think.)

Regarding the weekend activity — do you check what she’s up to? “Yes, and she knows that I do. I don’t do it surreptitiously,. This equipment is ours, so we have the right to check it. Her email is all forwarded to me, and if anything she appreciates it because she doesn’t check her email all that much so I’m her assistant. She also has an Instagram account that I follow.” 

Have there been any social media incidents? Any times where she's gotten into trouble? “Really, no. She’s pretty good. A couple of times I’ve said, 'You know, you might want to rephrase this; I think someone might misunderstand.'”  (Adorable. Also, Alexis just turned 13. So there's still time for some serious teenage shit to go down. Not that I'm wishing for such a thing. I swear I'm not a terrible person.) 

More: Are Parents of Tweens and Teens Massive Hypocrites About Screen Time?

My son is on his phone and his computer throughout the week. Oh, and his Xbox. Are you judging me? Be honest. “No way! I think you think I’m crazy.” 

(For the record, I do not think she’s crazy.)

The first therapist’s office was situated in an affluent part of Washington, D.C., overlooking the Potomac River. The office, outfitted with leather chairs and finely polished oak desks, was nice but uncomfortable, making me feel small.

I had recently been laid off and knew that this feeling of drowning was not just from being out of work or a loss of direction that commonly comes with being in one's 20s. This was the same numb and distant feeling that had rattled around in me since I was 18 — the first bout of what I now know to be major depression, the years since sometimes crawling by while other times they were a rocket.

We don't do therapy

In the black community, we are taught from early ages that we don’t do therapy. We pray and attend church and God will get rid of our problems. Even if God doesn’t get rid of our problems and we still suffer, we are following in a long tradition of suffering like our ancestors before us. While I am fortunate that my own family did not hold that belief, it is the reigning belief of the community at large. We get that message from our relatives, friends, comedians, TV shows and movies.

More: Talking About Depression Is Good — Investing in Mental Health Is Better

I was a young black woman, unemployed, needing help with my mental health. Any of these things would have been difficult, but the combination was beyond description, beyond my comprehension. I was raised in a household with a strong matriarch. My grandmother, a community activist and volunteer, worked tirelessly for children and senior citizens. My mother, a woman with more than 20 years employed with the federal government, was a volunteer in her own right. This was not supposed to be me. I was not supposed to need help with the act of coping.

Sitting in this well-appointed office, I pushed past the awkwardness of not knowing what to say — somewhere between the microaggressions this "professional" threw at me about being a "responsible adult and getting a job to pay my bills," I knew she didn't hear me. This was one of those nightmares where you are screaming at the top of your lungs, but in reality, you aren't making a sound. Something was being lost in translation here.

This was not working; this wasn’t going to work. My jaw felt tight, my throat dry and my ears popped like I’d been in a underground subway car for the last hour. I fought back hot tears and even hotter anger. I left feeling worse, feeling like I couldn’t be helped. My mother, whose employee assistance program benefits afforded me five sessions with a therapist reminded me gently that there was help out there, it just wouldn’t come from her.

More: I May Never Get Off Depression Medication, and That's OK

I wish I could say I was empowered to stop at nothing to save my own health — to find someone who had the words to make getting out of bed in the morning something other than a small miracle. I wish I believed then that someone could help me slay the shame this disease built in my chest, but that's not my story.

Unable to recount my first adult therapy experience to the wonderful EAP folks by phone, I sighed and said, “I don’t feel it’s a fit.” I barely mustered the courage to attend a second therapy session with a different therapist.

I was 15 minutes late for the session with that next therapist, scared and unsure and not willing to trust again blindly that someone could help me slay the dragon or hear my silent screaming from outside of this nightmare. I was guarded. Part of me hoped that she would not see me late. Instead this woman welcomed me into her comfortable office on the second floor of a brownstone, much closer to the ground than the high tower I sat in before. The wall started to come down.

I felt comfortable and heard and over the course of my four additional sessions, I was able to not only get a depression diagnosis, but skills to help me cope and ideas on how to build a support system. Although I do now have some insurance, I am still considered underinsured and my providers can only guarantee a slot with a therapist if it’s an emergency situation where a patient is a danger to themselves or others or is actively considering suicide.

While I still believe this to be unacceptable and my heart breaks for other people living at the margins who are not able to get any services, I am thankful each day for the employee assistance program, which saved me from having to wait until my own depression developed into a life-or-death situation.

Coping after the diagnosis

The years since my diagnosis have not been a fairy tale, but I am able to handle my depression without medicine, although I strongly believe that medicine can be a useful and lifesaving tool in a deep and wide toolbox of solutions for depression and other mental illness.

More: Depression More Likely to Cause Cardiac Arrest Than High Blood Pressure

One part of my toolbox has been finding the voices of other women who live with depression. I highly recommend Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting by Terrie M. Williams, which has helped me tremendously. In reading it, I felt like I was listening to an older sister or aunt who has been through the same things that I have.

I have also learned to trust the people who have shown up and helped me do the heavy lifting. I have a host of friends and family in my circle who ask questions, spend time, listen and remind me that I am not alone.

I am aware that stigma hurts and kills just as much as depression does. Difficulty finding and funding therapy and treatment keep a lot of women —and most especially women and girls of color — from coming out of the other side of this. I share my story in the hope that it can be a life preserver, a hand up from the wreckage and a reassurance that while depression may always be a beast that lives in you, you are not powerless to beat it back.