If the thought of spring-cleaning makes you want to go into deep procrastination mode, you may be in need of a simple spring-cleaning guide or some home-organizing inspo. For the latter, you might want to look to Kourtney Kardashian. She may not be the most famous of her sisters, but Kardashian's always had the reputation for being one of the more responsible and organized Kardashians, and according to a recent Snapchat video, her kitchen pantry is hard evidence of that.

More: 19 Times the Kardashians duped and lied to their fans

“We have pantry wars going on, Kourtney and I,” Khloé Kardashian said in the Snapchat showing the interior of her sister’s pantry, which featured perfectly aligned bottles of Fiji Water, SmartWater, sparkling water and glass jars, which are individually marked with white labels. Looks like Kourtney Kardashian — or, dare we say, her hired help — is pretty on top of keeping her kitchen in perfect shape.

In the snaps, the sisters bicker about whose pantry is more organized, with Khloé saying, "Kourtney has tried to outdo me," and Kourtney zinging back, "I have!" Khloé proceeds to throw shade on Kourtney's labeling system, saying she shouldn't have ugly white ingredient labels on pretty glass jars. Jeez, these are some #FirstWorldProblems if we've ever heard them. But still, our inner perfectionist is kinda impressed by how pristine the storage space is.

While there are some expensive-looking stainless steel appliances in the pantry, the one thing Kourtney doesn't have is a microwave, which she doesn't believe in. Wait, what? Apparently, she prefers to warm food up in the toaster, which she considers far more “solid.” LOL, OK.

We've heard our fair share of crazy health conspiracies, but the one about microwaves being bad for you has definitely been disproven many times. Maybe Kourtney and Kellyanne Conway should get together and chat about their microwave conspiracies together over first-world cocktails. In the meantime, we're going to get back to spring-cleaning, and we might steal a trick or two from the pantry-warring Kardashians.

More: Kim Kardashian Considers Surrogacy in Her Quest for More Kids

For four long years, we've wondered. Rumors have circulated; reporters have speculated. Deep down, we may have all known the truth all along, but never was there proof.

Until now.

More: Does Tom Cruise Have a New GF and Did Scientology Really Choose Her?

You guys, Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx are actually together. True love still exists. They've kept this ish a secret for literally four years. And now, finally, somebody snapped a photo of them together on a dinner date and put it on the internet. We could kiss you right on the face, you mysterious, camera wielding internet stranger.

And yes, we see that it's kind of hard to tell whether that's actually Foxx, so we submit further evidence as Exhibit B:

More: Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx know exactly how to keep a Hollywood romance low-key

That hat looks awfully familiar, no? Apparently, Foxx jetted to LA for a dinner date with Holmes, then hopped back on his private jet, snapped the pic that — unbeknownst to him — proves all our yearslong suspicions about their secret relationship and then just casually flew back to Budapest where he's filming right now.

Honestly, we're so lucky this even happened — over the course of the four years (did we mention it's been four years???) that Foxx and Holmes have been secretly dating, one of the ways they've kept it so secret has been having date nights catered at home instead of going out. At least, that's what sources have said. We wouldn't know if that's true because Holmes and Foxx have stayed perfectly silent about their personal lives together.

Maybe this will be a tipping point. Maybe they'll finally realize they can't hide the perfection that is their relationship from the world. The world needs this. Long live... Jatie? Folmes? Hoxx?

More: The Arrangement Cast Still Insists the Show Isn't Based on TomKat — Ha-ha

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

I like quickies as much as the next girl — frankly, if they weren’t a regular part of my fiancé’s and my bedroom repertoire, we’d be getting laid far less frequently. Life is busy, sleep is hard enough to come by, yada yada. But a nice, long, liiingering sex session is absolutely worth making time for every now and then.

More: 8 Sex Positions for Lazy Mornings

I was reminded of this a few months ago while reporting articles on slow sex and tantra, when I decided to give some of these tricks a shot. Rather than racing to the finish line so we could pass out, resume Netflix, beat the brunch lines — whatever — my partner and I focused wholly on one another and the immediate sensations we felt. Since it takes a bit to let the real world (and all its unsexy stressors) fall away, we found that we were able to achieve a much deeper state of relaxation, connection and pleasure when we carved out a good hour or so to just roll around in bed and see what happened.

To help you achieve your own quest for longer-lasting sex, I asked Marissa Nelson, certified sex therapist and founder of IntimacyMoons Retreats, which positions are most conducive to unhurried, not-so-quick-to-come sex. Below, check out her top recommendations (which also got the thumbs-up from her husband) for moves that will help you and your partner last.

More: How to Have Awesome Sex While You’re Pregnant

Riding astride

"Couch lovin' is some good stuff, and riding astride does the trick," says Nelson. "It's gravity-friendly, relaxed, and doesn't include too many bells and whistles that could physically overstimulate either partner."

*Gay- and hetero-friendly

Scissors

"This position allows for a deep and unique angle for women, allowing for her G-spot to be hit by either a thrusting penis or sex toy," says Nelson. "Male partners have an opportunity to take things at their own pace, allowing him to last longer. And female couples can get some nice grinding action going, which they can use as a slow lead-up to orgasm, which might be achieved through a sex toy or oral or digital play, if not the grinding itself."

*Lesbian- and hetero-friendly

Sybian

"Put that ottoman to work without being constricted," says Nelson. "Men, when you're getting close, communicate, communicate, communicate to make sure your partner's on the same page."

*Gay- and hetero-friendly

Butterfly

"This position allows the kneeling partner to thrust and go the distance without deep penetration," says Nelson. "Thrusting slightly upward, the man has gravity on his side while enjoying a full-frontal view and easy access to his partner."

*Gay- and hetero-friendly

Spoons

"The spoon can be a lot of physical stimulation for male partners, depending on the angle they're entering from behind, so this might trigger some guys faster than others," says Nelson. "However, with both partners on their sides, you can take things at your own pace, changing the speed and depth of thrusting as needed. For female couples, this can be a fun position where one partner grinds her ass into the other's lap, while the other stimulates the small spoon's clit."

*Gay-, lesbian- and hetero-friendly

Reverse Sybian

"The top partner can control how fast he or she moves, slowing down as needed if either partner gets turned on too fast," says Nelson. "Essentially, there's a lot of control, so you can take it at your own pace."

*Gay- and hetero-friendly

Screw

"The screw is similar in mechanics and motion to the butterfly, putting gravity and pace of thrust on the side of the kneeling male partner," says Nelson. "That will allow him to go for as long he can."

*Gay- and hetero-friendly

Intersextion

"Intersextion functions similar to scissors, so male partners can take their time achieving maximum penetration, while female couples can enjoy some sexy friction — oh, and feel free to use your hands to zoom in on each others' clits," says Nelson.

*Lesbian-, gay- and hetero-friendly

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

The woman who lives next door to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in their new neighborhood in Washington, D.C., doesn't look like she's a huge fan of the first family. On Saturday night, hundreds of LGBTQ protestors gathered outside the Kushner home for a "dance party" protest for gay and trans rights, and Trump's neighbor decided to make an appearance — in a luxurious fur coat and with a glass of white wine in hand — to watch the festivities.

More: Donald Trump Isn't Too Busy Being President to Slam Nordstrom

The look on her face is just so gloating and petty. We can all only aspire to be this woman. She's the kind of woman who unapologetically drinks martinis at breakfast. The kind of woman who wears her diamonds in the bath because why wouldn't she? The kind of woman who wears her Louis Vuittons to the grocery store for no reason other than that they look damn fine, thank you very much. In other words, the kind of woman we all should aspire to be.

More: Leonardo DiCaprio Is Schooling Ivanka Trump in the Ways of Climate Change

And, naturally, the internet was here for it.

More: Was Ivanka Trump's White Pantsuit a Subtle Promise to Do Better?

Never change, Ivanka Trump's petty neighbor. Never change.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

By now, you've probably seen the trailer for the new adaptation of Stephen King's It, and if you are anything like me, you still haven't quite recovered. Coming out Sept. 8, the 1980s horror classic will get a modern reboot with a whole new gang of Loser's Club kids and a new terrifying Pennywise. What should we do during the wait until fall? Let's look at some It trivia from the book, the 1990 cult classic miniseries and the upcoming feature film.

More: The Definitive List of Stephen King’s 50 Novels, By Release Date

Stephen King originally abandoned It and literally had to move to start writing it

King wrote a first draft of the book in 1980 right after finishing another classic of his, Firestarter. The story completely drained him, and he didn't pick the draft up again until almost a year later. Not only that, but he felt like he had to move in order to even start the book, so he relocated his family to Bangor, Maine, which inspired him to really conceptualize the novel.

King was also struggling with a drug and alcohol addiction during this period, and has said in interviews that he doesn't remember much of what he wrote in the mid '80s because he was often high while writing and drunk while revising. It was finally published in 1986 shortly before the writer got sober for good after a family intervention.

Both the book and the 1990 miniseries were runaway hits

It was the 10th best-selling novel of the 1980s, selling 1,115,000 copies by 1990. One million hardcover copies were printed for its original release in 1986, at the height of King's popularity.

When ABC ran the two-part four-hour miniseries in September of 1990, 30 million people tuned in to watch the premiere, making it a major success.

Every person in the Losers' Club is an outsider

Each of the seven members of the Losers' Club have something about them that separates them from all the other kids and makes them an outsider: Bill stutters, Ben is overweight, Bev is a tomboy, Richie has thick glasses, Eddie has asthma, Mike is black and Stan is Jewish.

Bill, the protagonist of the book and the leader of the Losers' Club, seems to be based loosely on King, as the character grows up to be a famous horror writer.

The book was an omnibus for King

King has called It "the summation of everything I have learned and done in my whole life to this point." His longest book, the story hits on many of King's favorite themes, including coming-of-age stories, lurking evil, evil as place and 1950s classic monster tales. The book, like King's earlier novella The Body (which was adapted into the movie, Stand by Me), is also heavily influenced by King's own childhood experiences (minus the horrifying clown).

More: Scary Movies: Curl Up With These Stephen King Classics

Tim Curry was not excited to take the role of Pennywise

Tim Curry was so terrifying as Pennywise the evil clown that everyone avoided him on set — and he was praised by critics for his work in the role. But originally, the actor didn't want the part at all. Curry had just finished playing Darkness in the movie Legend, and he was reluctant to do a film that involved hours of makeup work. However, director Tommy Lee Wallace let Curry wear less makeup for the role since his portrayal was so terrifying to begin with.

It is King's longest (and heaviest) book

It clocks in at 1,138 pages and a hefty four pounds. Maybe put it on your Kindle.

The town of Derry is based on Bangor, Maine

King based the creepy fictional town of Derry, Maine, on Bangor, Maine, where he moved to complete the novel in 1979 and where he still owns property today. King said, "I thought that the story, the big story that I wanted to write, was here. I had something fixed in my mind about bringing together all my thoughts on monsters and the children’s tale ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff’ and I didn’t want it to be in Portland because Portland is a kind of yuppie town."

Once in town, he started collecting local histories and tall tales, which would end up in It: "I asked everybody for stories about places that caught my attention. I knew that a lot of the stories weren’t true but I didn’t care. The ones that really sparked my imagination were the myths. Somebody told me… apparently you can put a canoe down into the sewers just over across from here at the Westgate Mall and you can come out by the Mount Hope cemetery at the other end of town… This same guy told me that the Bangor sewer system was built during the WPA and they lost track of what they were building under there. They had money from the federal government for sewers, so they built like crazy. A lot of the blueprints have now been lost and it’s easy to get lost down there."

The book has a very controversial sex scene

Even the biggest fans of the book and its adaptations are torn about what to think of the, um, climactic sex scene in the book in which the male members of the Losers' Club take turns having sex with the female member, Beverly, while lost down in Derry's sewers after going after Pennywise. It's her idea, and it's not quite as weird in the writing as it is in describing it, but it's still pretty weird since they are 11 and 12 years old at the time and have just defeated evil. The scene is not in the miniseries, and we're going to take a safe bet that they'll skip it in the theatrical release this fall too.

In the book, Pennywise isn't even mentioned for 500 pages

Yep, it takes a lot of time for King to get around to naming the monster of his own book. The kids don't discover Pennywise until almost halfway through the tome. Of course, before that, they just call it "It."

The 2017 adaptation has been in the making for years

The new 2017 remake was first announced in 2009 and originally set to be directed by Cary Fukunaga with Will Poulter as Pennywise the clown. However, by the time the film went to production in 2015, Andy Muschietti had taken over as director and Bill Skarsgård had taken the role of the evil clown. The new movie was originally going to be a two-part film, though it's now unclear if that is still the case.

Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler on Stranger Things (which many see as a Stephen King tribute), will play Richie Tozier.

More: Under the Dome: Book vs. Show

Are you excited about the new adaptation of It? Sound off in the comments.

Kerry Washington is proving yet again that she's one of the most woke women in Hollywood.

In the May issue of Glamour, Washington opens up about her political views and how they've affected her work on Scandal.

More: 13 Times Celebs Condemned Donald Trump & His Muslim Ban Policy at the 2017 SAG Awards

"For democracy to work, everybody has to have a voice," she said. "It’s not about demonizing other voices. It’s important that there be real conversations across the aisle. There are people on the opposite end of the political spectrum who think that I’m part of a left-wing propaganda machine. It makes me sad that people would think that, because I believe for democracy to work, there has to be diversity of thought."

Part of that diversity is using her Scandal character, Olivia Pope, to send one very clear message. More in the world of Scandal than in real life, the lives of black women matter. It's a message that doesn't get told in most of our media, but Scandal says it loud and clear.

More: 51 Powerful Images of Celebrities Supporting the Women's March on Washington

"When Olivia was kidnapped, it was not lost on me that the fictional president of the United States was willing to go to war to save one black woman at a time when hundreds of black women were missing in Nigeria and we were begging the world to pay attention," Washington said. "Shonda [Rhimes, creator] was saying, 'The life of a black woman matters.'"

That's a huge departure from earlier in the series, Washington added.

"In the first season, it was as if Olivia Pope was raceless. There was no denying that Olivia was a black woman, because I’m a black woman playing her in badass white trench coats that call to attention the fact that I’m not looking like anybody else on television. But we didn’t talk about her identity as a black person."

More: These 11 Hollywood Mamas Are Bringing Change Into Their Communities

We're really glad that changed, and that Scandal is taking such a hard stance to say that black lives matter.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Getting picky kids to eat their veggies isn't always easy, but it is possible. To crack the code on making produce-rich recipes irresistible to the under-18 set, we decided to ask an adult (Thea Baumann, food editor of Goop and co-author of It's All Easy) and a kid (Logan Guleff, 2014 winner of MasterChef Junior) for their expert advice on cooking up healthy, kid-friendly recipes.

The biggest secret to incorporating healthier foods into kids' diets: You've got to start slowly. "Don't expect your little one to go straight from a diet of french fries and chicken fingers to salads and steamed veggies," says Baumann. Instead, start by making you classic favorites healthier: Add extra veggies to your pasta, for instance, or swap meat for beans in your next batch of slow cooker chili (see recipes below).

More: Quick and Delicious Protein Hacks to Start Your Day Right

That said, don't be afraid to try new things. "I love cooking and exploring the world of food," says Guleff. Sometimes, that exploration can be as simple as heading to the farmers market to seek out the best produce possible.

"You'd be surprised how many kids will devour a plate of sugar snap peas or cut-up carrots on their own or with a bowl of hummus" when they're market-fresh, says Baumann. She recommends serving fresh peas, snap peas, raw carrots, steamed broccoli and sweet potatoes as a side, even if you still end up ordering a take-out pizza — it's all about slowly incorporating healthier foods into your family's diet.

Ready to get cooking? Check out the recipes from Goop and Guleff below.

Chef Logan's veggie oodles with cream sauce recipe

Ingredients:

For the zoodles

• 2 large zucchini, spiral sliced or thin-cut
• 1 teaspoon butter

For the easy Alfredo

• 1 garlic clove
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 block cream cheese (low-fat is OK)
• 1/2 – 1 cup milk (depending on your preference)

Directions:

For the zoodles

1. Put zucchini strands in cold water for 5 minutes, then rinse and drain.
2. Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in saucepan and sauté noodles until tender.

For the easy Alfredo

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add cream cheese, then add milk until it's nice and creamy.
2. Toss Alfredo sauce into the zoodles and serve.

Chef Logan's carrot fries recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 pound carrots, cut into sticks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. Toss carrots in olive oil, cumin seeds and cinnamon and bake at 375 degrees F for 22 to 30 min.

Conchiglie pasta with zucchini and pesto recipe

Recipe courtesy of Goop

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup fresh herb leaves (such as basil, parsley or arugula), packed, washed and thoroughly dried
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, walnut pieces or pecans, cooled
• 1/2 cup grated hard cheese, such as Parmesan or pecorino, plus more to finish
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 20 ounces good-quality conchiglie pasta
• 4 medium zucchini, grated on the large holes of a box grater
• 1 – 2 tablespoons butter

Directions:

1. First, make the pesto: In a food processor, pulse the herbs, pine nuts, cheese, garlic, a pinch of salt, pepper and olive oil until the mixture achieves a paste-like consistency.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add enough to salt to make it as salty as the ocean – about 1 tablespoon of salt per liter of water, depending on the type of salt.
3. Add pasta and cook according to package directions.
4. About 1 minute before the pasta is finished cooking, add the grated zucchini to the pot of boiling water, cook together for the remaining 1 minute, then drain both pasta and zucchini through a colander set over the sink.
5. Immediately add a pat of butter to the pasta-zucchini mixture and stir. This will keep the pasta from sticking to itself.
6. Mix the pesto into the cooked pasta and zucchini.
7. Serve, finishing each portion with a little grated cheese.

More: How You Can Change Picky Kids' Eating Habits in Just Two Weeks

Slow cooker veggie chili recipe

Recipe courtesy of Goop

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 large carrot, finely diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed with your hands
• 1 cup dried cannellini beans
• 1 cup puy lentils
• Red onion, finely diced (optional)
• Sour cream (optional)
• Grated cheddar cheese (optional)
• Fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions: 

1. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat (or the slow cooker over high heat if it is a multi-cooker). Add onion and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add carrot, bell pepper, garlic and a large pinch of salt and sauté another 5 minutes.
3. Transfer vegetables to the slow cooker (or switch to the slow cook function), add spices, diced sweet potatoes, crushed tomatoes, beans and lentils.
4. Fill the tomato can with water and add to the slow cooker along with 2 more cups of water.
5. Set the slow cooker to the slow cook high setting and cook for 6 hours.
6. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with minced red onion, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro.

Turkey shepherd’s pie recipe

Recipe courtesy of Goop

Ingredients: 

• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 pound dark ground turkey
• Salt and pepper
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 whole sprigs rosemary
• 1 small can tomato paste (1/3 cup)
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 pound russet potato (1 medium potato), cut into 1/2-inch dice
• Water
• 1/2 head medium cauliflower, stem removed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for the top

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat the largest sauté pan you have over high heat. When the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the ground turkey and season generously with salt and pepper. Sauté until very well browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onion, carrot, garlic and rosemary, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and the veggies are just starting to brown.
4. Add the tomato paste and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often and being careful not to let it brown.
5. Add the chicken stock to the pan with the turkey to deglaze, then transfer everything to the Dutch oven along with the Worcestershire sauce.
6. Bring the mixture up to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. While the meat sauce simmers, put the diced potatoes in a small to medium saucepan and cover with cold water by at least 3 inches. Add a very generous pinch of salt and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, reduce to a steady simmer and set the timer for 6 minutes. When the timer goes off, add the cauliflower, bring the mixture back up to a boil, reduce to a simmer again and cook for another 6 minutes.
8. Drain the mixture, return to the saucepan and cook over low heat for 1 minute to cook off any residual water. Turn off the heat and mash the mixture very well with a potato masher. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
9. When the meat sauce has reduced for 25 minutes, remove the rosemary sprigs, add the frozen peas, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Transfer to a 2- to 3-quart baking dish (or leave in the Dutch oven) and spread the potato-cauliflower mixture evenly over the top. Drizzle over a little extra olive oil and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the filling is starting to bubble. Turn on the broiler and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, just until the topping starts to brown.

More: 12 Cute Easter Breakfast Ideas Your Kids Will Love

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

What do you do before a date? Pick out your shoes, play some jams, fix your hair? Well, you might want to add watching a little porn to that list according to new research. The study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, found that watching porn before a date has a “sex priming” effect, which may make you feel more flirtatious and outgoing — good qualities to have on date, if you ask us!

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

Basically, priming with porn can give you that much-needed confidence boost (yes, even more than watching "Lemonade" on replay). According to the U.K. Times, the researchers found that students shown a naked picture of the opposite sex for a fraction of a second were more willing to go on a date — even a blind one — than participants who were shown a picture of a fish. Uhhh, well that part might not be that shocking.

“Disclosing personal information makes the other person like you more, thereby motivating him or her to reciprocate. Consequently, you get the impression that this person likes you, and you react by liking him or her more — we tend to like people who like us — and behave accordingly, for example by being nicer, flirting or complimenting. Overall, sex starts a positive cycle of getting closer to a stranger that may eventually build emotional connection between previously unacquainted people,” the professor said.

So maybe it’s really about revving up your engines before meeting someone new? Porn gets a bad rap, but if you can find a benefit from it — like a successful first date! — maybe you should give it a whirl. Just don’t get so absorbed in that porn you end up late to meet that special someone, because we're pretty sure that would counteract any of the positive priming effects.

More: Virtual reality porn was so clearly designed for men

Binding is most common among transgender men and some nonbinary people, and is used to lessen body dysphoria as well as give trans and nonbinary people more comfort and confidence in their bodies. However, not all binders are created equally, and the difference between a well-fitting binder and a makeshift compilation of Ace bandages is pretty significant, both health- and comfort-wise. To learn more about how to find a properly fitting binder and the health risks associated with unsafe binding, keep reading.

More: Gender Identity 101: A Guide to Understanding Transgender Issues

The first piece of binding advice I received from my friend Cal, and that seemed to appear first in all the resources I’ve found, is that most alternative binding methods are extremely detrimental to a person’s health. Cal first started binding about a year ago, and found that using materials such as Velcro and Ace bandages to bind was extremely painful. “I bound with Ace bandages for a while, and after about an hour I was struggling to breathe,” he told me. “Most alternative binding methods lead to, at best, rib bruising or shortness of breath.”

Alternative binding methods can also lead to scarring, sores and skin irritation, limited mobility, broken ribs, and excess fluid in the lungs. Duct tape (or any kind of tape), Ace bandages, Velcro and even an actual binder that just fits too snugly, can all be very unsafe and painful, even for short-term wear.

So, what’s a trans or gender-nonconforming individual to do? Find a binder that actually fits! When I asked Cal how he determines whether a binder fits or not, he gave three key tips: “Your boobs should not pop out of the top or bottom, you should be able to take a big, deep breath and hold it without much difficulty [and] your ribs and back should not be in any more than minor pain.” Most binders are not recommended for exercise, as they may cause extreme shortness of breath, but there are some that are suitable for light swimming.

More: 7 Things You Need to Know About the Transgender Population in the U.S.

Binders may take a little getting used to, especially if it’s your first time wearing them, so pay attention to how your body feels and try not to wear the binder for too long. Most sources recommend wearing a binder for no more than 6 to 8 hours a day and washing the binder regularly to take care of the garment and prevent skin irritation. Most places that sell binders will have their own size guide, but a general tool to help with fit is knowing your chest measurements.

As for binder designs, according to Cal, “If you’re willing to pay $30 or more, you have a world of options… a main brand (GC2B) just released flesh-colored binders in, like, five different colors,” perfect for the beach! There are also brands that carry a wide array of styles and sizes, from brightly colored tank tops to fun prints in varying lengths. For those who want to ease into a more flat-chested appearance or who would rather not wear a binder for health purposes, there are also plenty of options for ultra-supportive, compressive sports bras. While sports bras won’t be quite as flattening as a regular binder, they can still do the trick, and are obviously made to withstand movement and sweat, which can be helpful.

Another tip Cal shared with me was to look into binder swaps. There are a variety of websites and blogs that allow trans men and non-binary people to donate old binders and inherit someone else’s gently used one. This is great for those who are still living at home and aren’t allowed to order a binder online or don’t have the funds to buy a new binder.

More: My 5-Year-Old's Friend Is Transgender, and He's Doing Just Fine, Thanks

If you’re still searching for the ideal binder, please don’t give up. “Keep looking,” Cal encouraged. “Putting on the perfect binder for the first time is an amazing feeling… For me, there was such a drastic difference in wearing Ace bandages versus an actual binder. I felt validated and comfortable in my skin.”

If you’d like to learn more about finding a well-fitting binder or helpful binder swaps, please check out the resources below.

• Chest Binding 101
• FTM Resource Guide
• Binding 101
• Before Buying a Binder
• Questions About Binding

By Ariel Wodarcyk

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Question: 

My friend lives in a state where marijuana is legal (I don’t). She told me recently that she plans to smoke pot with her kid, who’s 16. She thinks he should experience it for the first time in a safe setting, and she knows he’s going to try it either way, and anyway it’s legal now. My own kid is 15, and I would never smoke pot with him while he was still a minor. I told her I thought she was bananas. Would you drink with your kid just because alcohol is legal? It’s still not legal for him. “But you’d let him have a sip of your wine,” she said. “Maybe even a small glass.” Which is a fair point, I guess. I don’t know what to think. Who’s right?

Answer: 

One of my all-time favorite Barack Obama parenting moments was him announcing, on Today, “What we’ve said to the girls is, ‘If you guys ever decided you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will get the exact same tattoo in the same place. And we'll go on YouTube and show it off as a family tattoo.’ And our thinking is that might dissuade them from thinking that somehow that's a good way to rebel.” Likewise, I can think of no better way to dissuade your kids from smoking ever than by offering to make it a shared experience. “If you guys ever decide to drop acid, then we’ll all drop acid together. It’ll be a family trip!”

That said, I’m not actually in favor of offering to get high with your underage kids, but not because it’s illegal. And just so you know where I’m coming from, I’m in favor of legalizing marijuana. I think that parents might do better to help their kids learn moderation as an approach, rather than some kind of fantasy abstinence. I think that all of these decisions are specific to particular kids in particular families and must take into account your religious and cultural values, your histories of addiction and the social context within which your child is considering experimentation.

More: Should We Let Our Bisexual Daughter Have Sleepovers?

But back to your friend. Getting high together could be absolutely the right thing for her and her kid, but here’s why I wouldn’t do it: Your teenagers need you there to push up against. I mean push up against in two different senses. On the one hand, you’re the safe person they can lean on — the one with the good boundaries and the sobriety who can pick them up or talk them down if their experimenting goes awry. On the other hand, if part of what they’re doing is differentiating from you, then they need you to remain stably, responsibly the parent so that as the kid, they can stray. And, as my own 17-year-old son put it, “If you make it so that pot doesn’t count as rebellion, maybe they’re going to have to up the ante. You know, do harder drugs.” This seems like an excellent (if troubling) point.

The other thing both my kids felt was that your friend, ironically enough, seems to be practicing a weird form of helicopter parenting — a desire to control every aspect of her child’s experience. Neither of them thought it sounded healthy. “Smoking pot isn’t like learning to ride a bike,” my son said. “It’s not really your experience to horn in on as the parent.” (That said, a friend of his has parents who do smoke pot and offer it to her all the time, and she’s so weirded out by them that she has never ever smoked — so the Obamas are kind of onto something.)

If you want to make sure that your kids are experimenting safely, there are other ways to do it. Be trustworthy. Give them articles to read about pot and the teenage brain to add a little scientific backbone to your lectures about moderation. Talk openly, but not hyperbolically, about your misgivings. Get to know their friends. Fall all over yourself with gratitude if they confide in you — rather than leaping with teeth and claws at the content of the confession.

More: How Do I Convince My Smelly Teen to Shower?

Full disclosure: my husband thinks I’m a snob for being all “I’d never smoke pot with my kids” even though I will happily pour them a half-glass of Chianti at a dinner party. He thinks the distinction is largely one of social class and stigma with potentially racist implications, and that it might be hypocritical to approve of one thing and not the other. (Fuller disclosure: His mother was an alcoholic.) But I still think it’s different. At least in our family, we drink alcohol as part of a larger social ritual: to sip at a glass of wine that we enjoy, that tastes wonderful with our meal, that yes, maybe puts a little buzz on us, but does not mean that we are immediately, all of us together, totally hammered. But I still think of smoking pot as a way to get high — nothing more, nothing less.

As our son put it, “Having a glass of wine with Grandma and Grandpa seems not at all weird. But then the thought that we’d all be smoking a joint feels totally insane.” Indeed.

When all seven episodes of the S-Town podcast — from the team behind Serial and This American Life — were released on March 28, it immediately became mandatory listening.

What started as an investigation into a possible murder ended up turning into an investigation into the life of John Brooks McLemore — an eccentric antique clock restorer from Woodstock, Alabama, or as he refers to it “Shit Town.” As host and reporter Brian Reed uncovered parts of McLemore’s past, it became evident that McLemore was dealing with some serious mental health issues.

Listening to the podcast as a journalist, bioethicist and someone with my own mental health challenges, I was left with a lot of questions, including — as Vox’s Aja Romano raises — whether it should have been made in the first place.

In order to get a better grasp on the possible wider mental health implications of S-Town, I spoke with several professionals in the area about how the show handled mental illness and the major takeaways.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

1. Suicide threats should be taken seriously

Listeners quickly find out that the podcast is, in fact, about a death, but not an unsolved murder as we were initially led to believe. McLemore’s suicide was shocking but not entirely unexpected, even given the limited knowledge we, as the audience, had about his mental state at that point in the show.

Getting a glimpse into McLemore’s mind, as well as the involvement (or lack thereof) of his friend/son figure Tyler Goodson and town clerk Faye Gamble might prompt some people to take others’ suicide threats more seriously, according to Gennifer Morley, a therapist in Boulder, Colorado.

“John took many actions prior to his death that signaled the seriousness of his suicidal ideation, including disclosing those thoughts and feelings to a wide community of individuals, writing and sharing a suicide note and talking openly about what to do with his possessions following his death,” Dr. Danielle Keenan-Miller, director of the UCLA Psychology Clinic told SheKnows. “It’s important that listeners of the podcast know that even if someone brings up suicide in a way that seems incidental or even humorous, it’s important to take that risk seriously.”

More: Serial Creators' New Podcast S-Town Will Leave You Feeling All the Feelings

Dr. Ryan Hooper, a clinical psychologist practicing in Chicago, thought S-Town did a remarkable job connecting listeners to the individuals discussed in the podcast, which included how they handled McLemore’s suicide.

“The gravity and seriousness with which S-Town examines John’s suicide finds a balance of appreciating his life while also stating the serious consequences of his mental health struggles,” Hooper told SheKnows. “The undertone through much of the podcast is the tragic outcome of his death and a wanting desire to not only understand John but to help him.”

2. There is a strong need for improved mental health care, especially in rural areas

“I think the lack of mental health services, education and support throughout the country speaks to a sad political state that does not value helping people as much as it could,” Morley told SheKnows.

If the story was to make some change, Morley hopes it would illuminate the need for access to mental health in rural areas.

“When John was in college in a bigger town, he got some support — although it didn't work for him — I imagine he may have made more efforts if there were options closer,” she noted.

Keenan-Miller stressed the importance of considering seeing a therapist over the phone or internet if you live in an area where mental health services aren’t easily accessible.

Therapists practicing in rural areas also have the challenge of potentially knowing their clients personally, which could be off-putting in tight-knit communities.

“Seeing someone remotely through technology can enable those seeking services to find someone unaffiliated with their community or someone who shares their particular worldview,” Keenan-Miller added.

More: S-Town Will Do For Podcasts What HBO Did for TV

3. Mental illness diagnoses are complex

There really is no such thing as a straightforward mental health diagnosis. Every person is multifaceted and unique with different contributing experiences, making one-size-fits-all diagnoses impossible. This was certainly the case for McLemore.

“A diagnosis often makes us feel like things made sense when they didn't,” Morley said. “John's life as reported was challenging and confusing, as many are.”

She went on to speculate that McLemore likely would not have wanted a complete diagnosis, and given his worldview, it probably wouldn’t have saved him anyway. So would it have helped anyone? As Morley put it, “Do we as listeners or even family have a right to seek a diagnosis for someone who does not want it for themselves?”

Hooper praised the podcast for how it handled the complexities of McLemore’s condition.

“I thought S-Town did a tremendous job of describing John in both his triumphs and struggles while also adding context including his mental health diagnosis and suicide,” he said. “We are human and therefore our experience of mental health symptoms and their appearance to others can be confusing and uncertain. S-Town is a triumph as a real-life presentation of someone’s mental health struggles, including how they impact other people.”

4. It could make people feel less alone

McLemore made no secret of the fact that he was lonely and looking for companionship, and the more Reed dug into his past, the more this became apparent.

“We hear John share honestly about his struggles with his hometown, but you could also hear the struggles in his voice,” Hooper said. “Because of this, I believe that we were able to understand and relate to John... and we can bridge the empathy gap. One of the best predictors of having compassion towards any particular struggle or issue is if it affects us or someone we know. I believe that the intimate story-telling and open book approach of John in S-Town allows many of us to relate to John. That connection can raise awareness to help us better understand the complexity and challenge of living with a mental health disorder.”

More: Southern True Crime Books To Read Until The S-Town Podcast Drops

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among certain age groups and the 10th leading cause of death overall, and in 2015 alone, more than 16 million Americans experienced a major depressive episode. This is no small problem.

5. Caring for — or about — people with mental health issues is complicated

Anyone who has had a friend or loved one with mental illness knows that there is no easy way to “help,” and it’s frequently difficult to tell what exactly “helping” constitutes. Does it mean forcing your way in when a person wants to be alone? Does it mean respecting their self-imposed boundaries? The only consistency is that it’s never easy.

"I appreciate that it showed that John had the freedom to live and die as he wanted to despite that fact that it made other people uncomfortable — without actually hurting them,” Morley said. “This is real. The impulse for us to 'rescue' people from their own life can be more of a reflection on how distressing the person is to us rather than anything they are actually wanting out of.”

6. Finding the right mental health provider is hard, but crucial

Like so many people, McLemore did seek mental health treatment during college, but chose not to continue with it after not finding the experience fulfilling or helpful. Finding a therapist isn’t like finding a general practitioner — of course it’s important to be comfortable with both, but there are different types of therapists with different styles, and it’s so important to find one that works for (and with) you.

“We know from a large body of research that one of the most important factors in treatment outcome is the quality of the relationship with the treatment provider, so it often takes several attempts to find the right person,” Keenan-Miller said. “It’s hard to keep searching and holding on to hope for treatment when one is feeling depressed, but friends and family can facilitate the process by helping to identify potential providers.” 

If you or someone you know is thinking of harming themselves or others, please contact the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or via their online chat service.

Beyoncé and Jay Z have been married for nine years, and to celebrate their anniversary, Bey dropped the sweetest, sappiest music video we may have ever seen on Tidal.

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Over a new song, "Die With You," family videos roll showing candid moments throughout Bey and Jay's relationship. It's really, really sweet. It will probably make you cry.

And while you're squinting at the end of the video through your tears, you might miss the most important part of the video.

BEYONCÉ JUST CONFIRMED SHE IS IN THE ILLUMINATI.

It's so easy to miss, but in the last few seconds of the video, she finishes the song and throws up this innocent-looking hand signal:

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It is not as innocent as it looks, fam. It's called the triple six, and it's one of the known symbols of the Illuminati.

The rumors about Bey and Jay being the leaders of the new free world have been around almost as long as Bey and Jay have. If you're like me, you always kind of shrugged them off, maybe even made fun of them a little. But for the first time, I'm starting to wonder. This seems kind of blatant. Are Beyoncé and Jay Z really hiding a secret of this magnitude? I am shook.

Probably more likely, though, is that Beyoncé knows how much people analyze every single image and video she releases for secret meanings, so she did this to fuck with all of us. She's either our future queen or she's kickin' back with Jay Z and laughing at us right now.

More: Beyoncé, Literal Divine Human, Fulfills One Fan's Final Wish

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Updated April 5, 9:30 a.m. PT: New reports say that while the El Moussas are handling their divorce peacefully, a nasty feud has broken out with some of their former friends and HGTV co-stars and that could be contributing to their decision not to film future episodes of Flip or Flop.

Vintage Flip stars Jessie and Tina Rodriguez were Christina and Tarek's best friends according to In Touch Weekly. But after the Rodriguezes appeared on Flip or Flop and were so popular they were offered their own show, that relationship reportedly turned sour.

"They used to be Tarek and Christina’s closest friends," a production source said. "But then Jessie and Tina appeared on Flip or Flop, were noticed, and were given their own show [by HGTV in 2016]. Tarek and Christina got so incredibly jealous that they stopped talking to them!"

Clearly it's just one dramatic situation after another for the El Moussas.

Original story:

Flip or Flop fans' worst fear may actually be coming true — sources say Tarek and Christina El Moussa aren't filming any more seasons of the show.

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In Touch reports that five separate HGTV sources have confirmed that the El Moussas are not currently filming Season 8, even though this is normally the time they would be filming for their upcoming season.

"They won’t go beyond what they’ve already shot. There will be only the spin-off shows with the new couples in different cities," a source at the network said. "Christina El Moussa and Tarek El Moussa won’t be filming more episodes. Season 7 is their last."

The timing sure makes sense. HGTV recently announced it plans to roll out at least five spinoffs of the show in other cities. In making that announcement, the network assured fans that it had no intention of phasing out the El Moussas, but come on. We all suspected that's what was happening.

More: Christina El Moussa Reportedly Already Moved On From Gary the Contractor

And sources says Christina is preparing to leave Flip or Flop behind by securing her own spinoff show about interior design. Sources say she's confident that the network will go for it.

"She’s drawing a lot of interest and feels HGTV will let her out of her contract," an insider told In Touch. "She has impressed several people at other networks who can give her a new show. They think she’s a hot commodity."

HGTV gave In Touch a statement in which it danced around the issue of whether Flip or Flop will film another season.

"Flip or Flop still is in active production on Season 7 of the series. No additional new info to share beyond that statement," a rep said.

More: Christina El Moussa Fires Back at Insta-Shamers

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Yes, we know: It's marketing. But it's good marketing, so we're digging it, OK?

Dove hit it out of the park again with its new campaign "There Are No Perfect Moms, Only Real Ones." The #RealMoms campaign accompanies the launch of the company's new Baby Dove line featuring baby products like wipes, hair and body wash, bar soap, lotion and more. (We're kind of surprised Dove waited so long to get on the baby care wagon — watch out, Jessica Alba! — but hey, it was worth the wait.)

The new campaign's message: There's no one way to be a fantastic mom (or dad). This shouldn't be a message that's so deeply needed in 2017, but it is, so we won't kick it to the curb.

More: Beautiful or average? Dove's new commercial is a stunner

A campaign video proves the point with real (not just real-ish) mothers rejecting the perfect parent stereotype and highlighting the things they love about their own way of parenting.

"Do what fits your family," says another mom. "And trust yourself."

These are definitely messages we all still need to hear. In fact, Dove conducted an online survey this year of more than 1,000 new mothers. The research was pretty heartbreaking (but not surprising): 9 out of 10 mothers feel intense pressure to be perfect.

But Dove found — paradoxically — that 81 percent of mothers don't buy into the idea that they have to give up outside interests to pull off motherhood. And 84 percent think that the concept of perfection in motherhood is completely unrealistic.

The best stat of all? A whopping 94 percent of moms Dove surveyed think that they're far better mothers when they take the time to take care of themselves too — and keep doing what they love.

More: Dove's Self-Esteem project is just what young women need to hear

We all remember those “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” commercials from years ago featuring Fabio spreading a butter-like product on his toast. While we could never get too much of Fabio (or his spread), the debate over “real” butter versus a substitute is actually kind of a big deal to a lot of people, so much so that one Dunkin' Donuts customer sued Dunkies for selling him fake butter!

The New York Times reports that Jan Polanik of Worcester, Massachusetts  (for context, Dunkin' Donuts is pretty much a religious experience in Massachusetts) stopped by a local store to order a bagel with butter and was instead given a butter substitute.

Fine, people mess up orders all the time. We ask them to fix it or just deal. Jan did better, though. He sued not only that chain, but 23 franchises, for having charged him 25 cents for butter and giving him something else — a butter-like product. Wow, you gotta admire this guy's dedication to real butter (and/or making a buck off a mega-chain).

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"Candidly, it seems like a really minor thing, and we thought twice or three times about whether to bring a lawsuit or not," Thomas Shapiro told the Boston Globe. "The main point of the lawsuit is to stop the practice of representing one thing and selling a different thing."

Maybe, but Dunkin Donuts settled, and now, if you happen to live in Massachusetts, you may score some free food as a result: Now, up to 1,400 people will receive up to three buttered muffins, bagels or baked goods — with real butter, no faking allowed. You have to go to one of 23 Dunkin' Donuts locations in the state to get the freebie.

And from now on, Dunkies has to disclose when they are using something other than butter as butter. Damn, that was one expensive lesson to learn!

More: 7 Crazy-delicious ways to add butter to your butter

Want to be in the room where it happens? Well, good news. Hamilton is now playing down the hall in the nursery.

We've been trying really hard not to sing about bastards and sons of whores in front of the kids (Lin-Manuel Miranda, this is all your fault), but the Hamilton soundtrack is too damn addictive. Which is why Rockabye Baby produced a new version of eight songs from the mega-hit Broadway musical — all in lullaby fashion.

And listen, this is something to enjoy even if you don't have kids in the age range for Rockabye Baby. We see you there with your lavender-scented eye mask and sound machine from Brookstone. Wouldn't you rather fall asleep to the sweet sound of an instrumental "Schuyler Sisters"? WORK! (Quietly.) 

More: The Obamas and Hamilton's Lin-Manuel are BFFs, pretty much

Rockabye has given the lullaby treatment to everybody from Beyoncé to the Foo Fighters, so they're pros at this by now. We sampled the album, and frankly, we'll listen to it even if the baby's not around. Check it out.

“Hamilton is a phenomenon,” said Lisa Roth, vice president and creative director of CMH Label Group. “Actually, what’s a word that means something bigger than a phenomenon? Supernatural? When folks on our social media and personal friends started asking for a lullaby version, I couldn’t wait to oblige. Its hip-hop anthems are beyond Broadway and perfect for Rockabye Baby!. Not to mention, I was raised on musical theater. Having the opportunity to mix Rockabye Baby! with a Broadway smash was personally pure pleasure.”

More: 7 amazing things Lin-Manuel Miranda accomplished before Hamilton

We're helpless. And satisfied. And Peggy!

You can stream the album on Spotify or commit big time and buy it on iTunes and Apple Music ($9) or on Amazon ($8). If you're the miserly kind, feel free to purchase individual tracks for 99 cents. But if you do it that way, well, we're thinking you'll be back. (See what we did there?)

No, I'm not crying. There's just something in my eye. I was chopping onions for lunch, I swear. I'm not crying — YOU'RE CRYING.

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OK, maybe I'm crying. But it's just because Jenny Slate and Chris Evans are making me do it again. Seriously, those two are destroying hearts and souls lately. Their breakup is cuter and more loving than any actual relationship I've ever had. They shouldn't be apart, and the photos from the Gifted premiere last night are just more proof of that.

More: Jeremy Renner and Chris Evans Slut-Shame Scarlett Johansson's Character (VIDEO)

Look at how lovingly they look into each other's eyes. Look at the tenderness in that embrace. Seriously, keep looking because I need another cry break.

All will not be right in the world until Evans and Slate are back together. They were made for each other, and we simply won't stand for this breakup. Remember all the sweet things they've said about each other? Like when Evans said about Slate, "She's my favorite human. She's the best." And before that when Slate said about Evans, "His heart is probably golden-colored, if you could paint it." And how both of them said those remarkably sweet things about each other after they broke up?

So anyway, if anyone needs me, I'll be crying giant tears into my Ben & Jerry's pint. Do not disturb. Unless, of course, Chris Evans and Jenny Slate get back together — in that case, please disturb away.

More: Chris Evans Owes One of His Co-stars Money

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Bill and Hillary Clinton are like political royalty these days. Even though Bill's presidency wasn't without scandal and even though Hillary lost her bid for the presidency, they're still a serious D.C. power couple, and something tells us we haven't seen the last of them in the political arena.

More: Hillary Clinton Celebrates International Women's Day With Best Pantsuit Yet

So after looking to the Clintons with so much respect and reverence for so many years, does anyone other than me feel a little weird about ogling their hot shirtless nephew right now?

Tyler Clinton, the 22-year-old son of Bill's half-brother, just signed a major modeling contract with IMG Models, the company that represents a few names you may have know, like Paris Jackson, Millie Bobby Brown, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss and Ashley Graham. You know, basically every huge name in modeling right now, NBD.

More: The Rise of Elizabeth Warren From Determined Little Girl to Powerful Senator

And while Clinton may be a newcomer on the scene, he kind of fits in. Bill and Hill, please forgive me, but this kid is smokin' hot.

He just moved from Los Angeles to New York to pursue modeling full time, so his new representation isn't even his only big career news. And if all the gorgeous shots in his portfolio and on his Instagram are any indication, a Clinton is totally going to be the next big thing in modeling.

More: As the Country Crumbles, Hillary Clinton Is Clearly Living Her Best Life

New York Fashion Week may not be the White House, but there are probably worse places to be.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

In our new series Pregnancy Diaries, we ask expecting women to jot down every pregnancy-related detail of their lives for a week. (Special thanks to New York mag and Refinery29 for the inspo.) Work-related conundrums, struggles with IVF and a whole lot of nausea ahead. For the sixth entry in our series, we have an editor in her mid-thirties who’s 31 weeks pregnant with her first child. She’s had a difficult pregnancy to say the least.

Due Date: May 2017

Occupation: Editor-in-chief

Relationship status: Married

Number of kids: This is our first!

Any other details relevant to your pregnancy? I hope this doesn’t sound cliché, but being pregnant is truly proving to be one of the most interesting journeys to date in my life — one full of unexpected twists and turns, leaving me excited, overwhelmed and scared all in the same breath.

When we found out we were pregnant in the early fall, it was a semi-surprise, but also something we welcomed with open arms. My first trimester was fairly uneventful. I worked out almost every day, had very few cravings (I actually lost weight!) and outside of some serious heartburn and a newly heightened sense of smell (I could literally smell someone’s breath from 4 feet away and that is not OK), my body was feeling really good. That all changed one Friday about 14 weeks into the pregnancy when I awoke in the middle of the night bleeding quite heavily out of nowhere. Two days later, I was rushed to the hospital because the bleeding had become so heavy they thought I was losing the baby (imagine 3 times as strong as your worst period day along with frequent golf ball-size blood clots). After several hours and a really scary ultrasound of waiting to hear the baby’s heartbeat, the doctors told us all was fine, I had a low-lying placenta, had possibly passed a polyp (keep in mind how frustrating it is to hear that it could be any of these things) and to go home and take it easy for a few days.

Fast-forward exactly that, and I decided I was fine to return to work because the bleeding had subsided to the point of light spotting. Wrong! I ended up hemorrhaging in the office (luckily my boss found me huddled over the toilet in the communal bathroom and got me into an Uber quickly) and I was back in the ER with the attending doctors telling me ‘not to worry, I could try again soon.’ It was fucking scary and awful — there are no other words for it. That said, it came to light during my second visit to the ER that in addition to the low-lying placenta, I had developed a hematoma on my placenta that was causing the hemorrhaging and I needed to just chill out or I was going to lose this little guy.

I was immediately put on bed and pelvic rest (yep, no intercourse!) and just like that, my life was turned upside down — I spent the better part of a month moving from my bed to the couch, only getting up to eat and use the bathroom (not fun, people — not fun!). Fortunately, the bleeding slowly subsided and I was given permission to return to work only if I monitored myself and took it really easy, meaning if I felt anything uncomfortable I was to immediately rush to the doctor.

Sort of puts the fear of God in you that any sudden move could cause things to erupt again, but today, at 31 weeks, I’m thrilled to say the bed rest was successful. The bleeding has fully stopped, the placenta has moved to a place where it’s nowhere near the cervix, and I’m back on my feet exercising a bit. I’m even trying to still wear cut-out dresses (tip for all mommas-to-be: Go to Rent the Runway and sign up for its unlimited program — I have managed to successfully rent clothes this entire pregnancy, and it’s been amazing not having to buy stuff I’ll never wear again!). I also transferred to a new high-risk doctor — I call her my angel — by the name of Dr. Annette Bond, whom I see every two weeks to check all vitals of the baby and monitor the internal bleeding. Not sure if it’s just luck on my part, but I feel so thankful to be moving and know this little guy is OK — that said, we’re still day-to-day and will continue to be that way through the remainder of the pregnancy.

I’ve also learned in all my online research that many, many women experience these same types of episodes — what so many people don’t tell you is that every pregnancy is wrought with unexpected moments that shock and scare you, but ultimately are preparing your body (and environment) for this little one that’s about to grace the world. I promise that good energy and strength will ultimately carry you through anything, as freaking scary as some moments may be.

More: The First-Time Mom Who Got Her Dream Job While 7 Months Pregnant

Day 1

I am craving milk in the strangest way — specifically organic skim/lactose-free. It’s super-hard to find, but my Whole Foods carries it, so I buy in bulk (the checkout person always sort of stares at me, I’m convinced). I would say I’m drinking four to six large glasses a day alongside maybe a few Oreos (double-stuffed naturally).

Day 2

I went to Stew Leonard's (let’s just call it the Disney World of grocery stores) specifically for their homemade sesame bagels — I bought 12 just so I knew there would be tons in the freezer and could eat one (or two!) a day. I’m really loving them lightly toasted with Smart Balance butter and sometimes a soft-boiled egg. I used to eat hot sauce (I have a steady rotation of Sriracha, Crystal and Cholula) like a madwoman, but since the pregnancy, I’ve chilled a bit with it and have been relying on my longtime condiment Marie’s Chipotle Ranch. If you haven’t tried it, run to the grocery store and buy every last bottle unless, that is, you live in my neighborhood, which would mean I would fight you for them. (Not kidding on the fighting bit.)

Day 3

I started the day out with an indoor spin on our new bike — it was our Christmas present to each other — and am feeling really energized! I can’t push that hard, but the light spinning really made me feel alive and sharper mentally. I watched the Tennis Channel while I was on the bike and got excited at the thought of teaching this little guy to play one day — gosh, I hope he likes to play.

I had two soft-boiled free-range eggs for breakfast alongside a handful of raw almonds. Later in the day, I went crazy and ate Peruvian food, which consisted of fried chicken and rice — it was DELICIOUS!

Day 4

Spending the morning on Buy Buy Baby looking at all the odds and ends I might need — it’s overwhelming to say the least. We had a lot of fun picking out the crib and stroller (we went with the City Mini because it had manly wheels, of course), but every time we get around to the other stuff — like bottles and bibs and swaddlers and bounce-y thingies — I start to sweat a little (OK a lot). I know I can do this, but of course, I get nervous that I’ll buy the wrong thing or whatnot, and then end up having to spend more money buying this stuff again (between us, a lot of it feels really unnecessary and silly to me). I talk myself through it and throw a few more things on my registry and off I go to the office.

Today I’m wearing a rented Giambattista Valli dress with thigh-high boots from Stuart Weitzman, the former of which is from Rent the Runway. The boots have been the most comfortable for me as my feet have swelled a bit.

More: The First-Time Mom Who Got Laid Off While Pregnant

Day 5

It’s the weekend, so we slept in an extra hour and then had coffee in bed — yes, I’ve been drinking coffee the entire pregnancy, Café Bustelo if you’re curious. I only allow myself one cup in the morning, but it’s the BEST CUP IN THE WORLD AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR IT! Did I tell you how much I love my coffee?

After a leisurely morning around the house, we decided to get properly dressed and go out to enjoy the delightfully crisp weather (read: 36 degrees F). We ended up taking a walk around Tod’s Point — the beach in Greenwich, Connecticut, is beautiful and this particular path is one of my favorites.

We stopped at Pinkberry — at my request, of course — for a medium-size cup of their new coconut yogurt with chocolate chips and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce. So yummy!

Home for a nap and a relaxing evening of cooking and watching movies (I’m a huge sci-fi fan and love anything action, so we never fight over what to watch).

 “I ask myself if I’ll have time for this once the little guy arrives. I hope so!"

Day 6

Didn’t sleep super-well last night — I’m a back-sleeper and am having a hard time getting comfortable on my side — so I woke up a little tired. Probably good for me to get used to this sleeplessness, but it makes me a little extra-slow in the morning.

I decide to do a little workout video (still a fan of Tracy Anderson) and it helps me get my blood flowing and head out of the clouds. From there, I make us a big breakfast of thick-sliced bacon with biscuits and scrambled (organic free-range always) eggs and Philly cream cheese — I’m a firm believer in big Sunday breakfasts, and well, clearly I took that to heart today.

By the time we’re done and all cleaned up, it’s the middle of the afternoon, so I decide to head over to the nail salon for a quick pedicure (my feet feel really huge, so there’s that too) before coming back home and dedicating the afternoon to beauty maintenance — I have an at-home microderm machine, which I try to use every few weeks on my face and neck (that, along with regular facials and Skinceuticals CE serum have been amazing). Along with shaving, this whole process takes up a lot of time, so, well, there’s my Sunday, but it’s so fun and relaxing and it makes me feel fresh and ready for the week ahead.

In the middle of slathering my rapidly growing stomach up with oil, I ask myself if I’ll have time for this once the little guy arrives. I hope so!

Day 7

Back to work and I have to say it’s great — I love what I do and the girls I work with, so I feel pretty excited to get in the office and interact with all their wonderfulness.

I brought organic blueberries for breakfast and had them with organic Stonyfield vanilla yogurt (our office always has them in the fridge) and some Elizabeth’s Probiotic Granola.

I get stuck in a lot of meetings that day, so I end up having rice crackers with an avocado and two soft-boiled eggs at my desk for lunch,

It’s 4 p.m. and I’m STARVING and start wandering around the office like a zombie looking for any snacks I can find. Luckily, one of our beauty editors received a gift from a publicist, and alas, I have chocolate to carry me over 'til I get home and can make a proper meal. In bed by 9 p.m. watching Modern Family and couldn’t feel more tired or happier to have my feet up and my glass of milk to finish off the day.

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Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Joe Biden's family has been through hell in the last few years, and still, he stayed rock solid and did his job as vice president.

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First, his son Beau Biden died of a brain tumor in 2015. That should have been plenty of heartbreak for the Biden family to deal with, but shortly after the fact, his son Hunter Biden began a long a nasty divorce battle.

Hunter and his estranged wife, Kathleen, have been flinging accusations at each other since they began their divorce proceedings, and their recent request to have the case sealed because it's been "damaging and embarrassing" to them and their families was denied by a judge in Washington, D.C., this week. According to Judge Craig S. Iscoe, Hunter and Kathleen should have known they would be embarrassed when they "voluntarily publicly filed the pleadings they now seek to seal." In his five-page decision on the case, he added, "Embarrassment... is not a basis for sealing the record of a public case."

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Kathleen was the one who filed for divorce back in December, and in doing so, she kicked off the mudslinging battle between herself and her husband by claiming he spent the family's money on hookers, strip clubs and drugs. Hunter, in return, demanded that Kathleen show proof he had ever been unfaithful during their marriage. Since then, they've calmed things down and agreed to "work together to resolve those matters related to the dissolution of their marriage."

Amid the divorce drama, there's been more family drama for the Bidens — Hunter is now dating his late brother Beau's wife, Hallie Biden. It sounds a lot like a soap opera, but Joe Biden has actually given his blessing to the new couple, saying in a statement, "We are all lucky that Hunter and Hallie found each other as they were putting their lives together again after such sadness."

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Before you go, check out our slideshow below.