Diaby was only 28 weeks along, but the crew was able to deliver her baby — a girl named Kadiju — safely in the cramped, high-altitude setting.
Turkish Airlines baby
Turkish Airlines baby
“The lady was in great pain,” Turkish Airlines cabin attendant Bouthayna Inanir said. “And then the baby was on the seat. This was the hardest part. I had to grab the baby. I took her and give her to the mother.”
Luckily, the newborn and her mother were in good health (and we're betting they're totally keeping the airline blanket). As a precaution, both were taken to a hospital upon landing in Burkina Faso for observation.
When it comes to love, the old cliché does usually turn out to be kinda true: The heart wants what it wants, and that doesn't always (or even usually) fall within the bounds of what you'd want or expect in a partner. One of the more interesting romantic scenarios, along with people from highly different cultures, religions or backgrounds pairing up, is when people who are decades apart in age fall for one another.
A recent study in Evolutionary Psychology found that most singles prefer to date those within their general age group — even the ones who modern stereotypes indicate would prefer a partner of a different age, like, say, middle-aged straight men going for younger women. You have to admit that it probably keeps things a lot simpler in certain ways if you are close in age.
“Partners from different generations may have different cultural reference points and values and polar opposite tastes in music and film and even friends and also have different approaches to the sex life,” says Dr. Fran Walfish, a relationship psychotherapist and author based in Beverly Hills. Still, with research showing that typical marriages still have about a 50 percent chance of lasting, who cares how old each partner is if the relationship is working out?!
We wanted to find out from real women what being in an LTR with someone significantly younger or older is really like. Here, four women open up about their experiences.
Going way younger
Bonny, 42, of Vancouver likes dating younger people. Her last two partners were 11 years younger, and before that, 13 years younger. “In my case, I prefer a younger partner for a variety of reasons: I look very young myself, I find we're in a similar place in our lives and honestly don't notice the difference." Like most relationships with large age gaps, a common challenge is how you both appear as a couple to society.
“I've had several experiences where folks thought I was significantly younger than my partner — one of whom was 13 years younger than me — and other experiences where dating men my own age had people thinking they were my father!” says Bonny.
And ultimately, she believes it won't affect your relationship happiness as long as you’re both into each other. “I've yet to date anyone more than 10 years older; but it's a mindset thing for me, and I just don't meet men my age or older who want what I want. If I did, I'd surely date them,” she says.
Claudia, 49, of Boston always dated people her own age until she met her husband of three years, who's 17 years younger than her. At first, she thought it might just be about the great sex after a series of failed relationships, but it ended up being more than that.
“We met at a party, and while I told myself I should've been going for the people my own age, I felt more attracted to and enjoyed spending most of the night with the bartender," she says. "He was more mature than most guys his age at the time. I fell in love with his energy and open-mindedness. He wasn’t bitter or arrogant like most of the people my own age I met. I was worried that over time, it would feel more like a mother-son relationship, but now I know I was meant to be at that party for a reason!"
Sounds like a fairy tale, but Claudia admits there were and still are challenges at times. “To this day, I don’t think his parents still approve of us, but they’re a lot more accepting than when we first met," she says. "And my friends still think I’m having a midlife crisis, even though they love hanging out with us. I think our relationship will forever be questioned, but in the end, we love each other, and I don’t care about much else.” Rightly so!
Barbara, 31, of New York City is 29 years younger than her husband of two years. They met and fell in love thanks in part to their shared interest in motorcycles and cars. “I knew Mark was older, but it wasn't until months after we met that his actual age came up. He admitted that he was afraid that sooner or later I'd leave him because of his age,” she says.
Mark's age didn’t matter to Barbara, but she worried what her family and friends would think. “When I had to tell my parents how old my future husband was, I was afraid they would object, but it turns out they were eager to meet him and made him feel like family right off the bat.”
Barbara loves the fact that she and Mark have so much in common, and their shared competitiveness and adventurous personalities keep the relationship fun. However, there are of course some challenges to her May-December relationship. “I totally don't get his old-school music and he laughs at my taste in songs," she says. "But one thing that does scare and upset me is the thought that I'm not going to have him with me when I get older,” she says.
Anne, 57, of Charlottesville, Virginia, is 15 years younger than her husband and says the relationship works well despite their age difference. “We come from similar backgrounds and worked together, so we had a professional life to share. This is my second marriage and my husband's third, so those experiences contribute to how we work on the relationship.”
The most challenging part of Anne's marriage came with her husband’s four adult children, whom she's closer to in age than she is with her husband (yes, kinda like those situations you too often see in rom-coms like It's Complicated.)
“His kids made it clear that they did not consider me to be their stepmother," says Anne. "They would instigate drama and arrange for get-togethers where I would be sure to run into my husband’s ex. One of the worst times was when his oldest daughter was giving birth to her first child. She called us to come to the hospital and when we arrived, my husband’s ex — who his daughter isn't even close with — was just leaving the room. It was a bit humiliating."
Aside from his children, Anne says the difference in their life experiences can also create conflict. “When we met, I was 34 and he was 49," she says. "Now that we’re 57 and 72, we’ve both gained experience, but my husband still occasionally speaks to me as if I’m still young and inexperienced. That can be annoying! But to his credit, if I remind him that I have experience in the area or that I know how to do something, he'll stop,” she says.
Sounds kinda similar to the communications challenges (and occasional drama) that even couples of similar ages experience. While surely the fear of not being able to grow old together presents an emotional hurdle, it sounds like if you're compatible and in love enough, that's not something that should prevent you from moving forward with the right person — even if he or she is decades older or younger than you.
What's the rush for Brad Pitt to get into a new relationship?
New reports are saying that Pitt, whose production company is behind the new film The Lost City of Z, attended a cast dinner for the movie and that he was doing some "serious flirting" with one of its stars, Sienna Miller.
There was a large group of people at the event, but onlookers told Page Six that Pitt and Miller were "heavily enjoying each other’s company" and that "they were talking to each other all night."
But a source close to Miller told the site that there were 25 people at the dinner, and she talked to all of them, including Pitt. And let's not forget that there have already been rumors about Pitt and Miller — back in 2015, before Pitt and Angelina Jolie split, Miller had to shut down rumors that they were flirting on set while filming The Lost City of Z.
"So this is the truth about that: Brad Pitt is producing the movie that I just wrapped, but I didn’t see him. He’s not been to the set," Miller said at the time. "You know, he’s the producer of the film and I’ve met him twice. It’s insane."
Pitt and Jolie only split up a few months ago after 10 years together. Their divorce isn't finalized, and it's been a little messy so far. So why are we so desperate to see Pitt move on already? We already gone through this when he was "linked" to Kate Hudson, something her rep said was "categorically untrue." Why can't we just leave him be and let him mourn and heal from what was clearly a really difficult breakup?
Thought grabbing a boxed salad was a safe, healthy choice when you're on the run? Think again. In an entirely new level of horrific food recall news, two people ate some of a pre-packaged salad at Walmart that contained a dead bat.
OMG. I mean, rodents, bugs and human hairs are bad enough — but a flying animal that resides in caves and is well-known to carry the deadly rabies virus? That is gag-worthy not simply because it's disgusting, but because it could kill you.
The packaged salad mix, which was made by Fresh Express and issued to stores in Florida, has been recalled. The two poor unsuspecting victims ate some of the salad before discovering the bat in the box. The CDC has sent the bat to labs for rabies testing, and the two people were also tested and are reportedly in fine health so far (but are being monitored).
If you live in Florida and are concerned that you may have eaten or bought one of the Fresh Express pre-packaged salads, here are the deets. The recall is for Organic Marketing Spring Mix in a clear, 5-ounce container with a best-if-used-by date of April 14, 2017. You can get a full refund, but more important, won't be exposed to any deadly diseases simply by opening the box.
It's still unclear how the hell this happened (I mean, at least when metal pieces get into chicken, you know it came from the factory or machines that helped package the food up — not that that's especially comforting). Either way, if you're getting the heebie-jeebies just thinking about buying prepackaged food right now, you're not alone, and we'll all be making our own salads for the foreseeable future.
Storms has not addressed her health issues, but she did take a break from the show and from social media. The producers sent her character, Maxie, off to Portland to pursue a job offer and visit her daughter Georgie.
In the past, her role was temporarily recast. Last spring, it was former Days of Our Lives star Molly Burnett, who filled in for her while Storms’ allowed her skin issues to clear up.
The good news is that Storms popped up on social media this weekend to thank everyone for the birthday wishes, and she shared a photo on Instagram. While she didn’t have much to say in her caption, Storms looked beautiful and less angular than her last General Hospital appearance.
Kirsten Storms birthday wishes
Kirsten Storms birthday wishes
Kirsten Storms returns to Instagram
Kirsten Storms returns to Instagram
Fans swarmed her comments feed with warm wishes about how much she was missed and how lovely she looked. They were happy she was making her health a priority — whether it was tied to her recent divorce from Brandon Barash or an ongoing physical issue, GH fans shared their support.
While spoilers so far do not reveal a return of Maxie to Port Charles just yet, Storms posting to social media definitely sparks speculation that a return to work might be in order soon. Producers made a clear decision not to recast her role, so fans are hoping to see her back on their television screens soon.
No matter what the issue is, Storms will make the best decision for herself and her family on whether it needs to be addressed. A happy and healthy woman is what GH fans want to see and a return to the show would be welcome when she’s ready.
Have you ever looked at a photo of you and your spouse and thought to yourself, “Gross… we kind of look like brother and sister”? Well, if you've ever wondered why your cheesy mugs look more like a picture of siblings than people who should be having sex, you’re not alone.
According to a new study published in PLOS Genetics, when two married people appear similar, it isn't necessarily a coincidence, but may be related to the tendency to marry someone with the same ancestry. This trend can have important effects on the genetics of different populations, says Dr. Ronnie Sebro of the University of Pennsylvania and senior authors Josée Dupuis from the Boston University School of Public Health and Neil Risch from the University of California, San Francisco. The researchers in the study looked at the genomes of spouses from three generations of people and 879 spousal pairs from Framingham, Massachusetts, who were originally part of a 1948 heart health study.
So, how exactly does this creepy phenomenon happen? Apparently, when most of the people studied got married, they picked significant others from their own community, and those people often had the same ancestry. Over time, the attraction to people like us, or from our communities, has created a similar genetic structure in the population.
Study participants with Northern European, Southern European and Ashkenazi ancestry were likely to select a spouse with similar ancestry, but each successive generation was less likely to choose a spouse with the same ancestry. Phew! So, props to all the dating apps out there helping us meet people who aren't like us and don't necessarily come from where we live. Keep branching out, single people!
People have ovaries removed for a number of reasons, including cancer, infection, endometriosis, cysts and tumors — but having one ovary does not eliminate your chances of getting pregnant.
Under most circumstances, the remaining ovary still ovulates and can produce an egg for fertilization as long as the fallopian tube is still intact and there are no other underlying health or fertility complications, Dr. Jane Frederick, an OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, told SheKnows.
“This is not uncommon and we regularly treat women with single ovarian function trying to conceive,” she explained.
But even though it is possible to conceive with one ovary, there can still be challenges conceiving.
“As we age, so does our fertility,” Frederick added, noting that if a woman is having trouble conceiving for six months or more, she recommends seeking the expertise of a reproductive endocrinologist.
Aside from having one ovary, women struggling to conceive may have additional health factors making it hard to achieve pregnancy, such as a low ovarian reserve, hormonal imbalances or a blocked fallopian tube, Frederick said.
And just because a couple where the woman has one ovary is having trouble conceiving, it doesn’t rule out her partner as the cause.
“It takes two to conceive,” Frederick said. “Even though a woman has a single functioning ovary, it may be her partner’s sperm causing challenges to conceive. The single ovary can release an egg, travel down the fallopian tube and enter the uterus, but if healthy sperm is not present to fertilize the egg, pregnancy will not occur.”
She recommends that men have a semen analysis to ensure proper sperm health, count and motility for optimal pregnancy.
Dr. Yen Tran, an OB-GYN at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, recently had a patient with one ovary — the other was removed because of enlarged cysts — who was surprised to learn she became pregnant so quickly after a previous miscarriage.
“Although not all women are this fortunate, there is little data regarding fertility following unilateral oophorectomy — the surgical removal of an ovary,” she explained.
Most of the research on fertility after the removal of one ovary has been done in the context of women with ovarian cancer or tumors with low malignant potential who have undergone conservative surgery, but there is no consensus on the ability to conceive, with rates varying from 42 to 88 percent, according to Tran.
The impact of having one ovary likely varies with age, since younger women have more follicles per ovary, Tran explained.
“If these women want to increase their odds, they could ask their OB-GYN to order a hysterosalpingogram, a special imaging procedure to ensure the other fallopian tube is open,” she said. “If a woman is over age 35, she may wish to speak to her physician about ordering blood work to check the quality of her eggs from the intact ovary.”
Your OB-GYN may also consider having you take the prescription drug Clomid (clomiphene) to stimulate ovulation and to increase the odds of getting pregnant. Tran also recommended scheduling a consultation with an OB-GYN or reproductive endocrinologist to discuss further options, including egg-freezing and embryo-freezing options.
Remember when Drake and Rihanna were happily in love and everything was good and right in the world and happiness still existed? And then they broke up and plunged the entire planet into darkness? We thought things couldn't get any worse than the end of AubRih, but we were wrong. Things are about to get much, much worse. Warning: Scrolling down will hurt both your eyes and your heart.
Somehow both Drake and Rihanna ended up at the same party over the weekend. What's even weirder is that it apparently was a birthday party for a little kid. (???) There was a ball pit and everything was brightly colored and we're honestly not sure what was going on there. But one thing is certain: Drake was there and then Rihanna walked in and they proceeded to be the most awkward exes of all time in front of a bunch of kids and other guests and their Snapchats and Instagram stories.
Drake & Rihanna being awkward AF at a kid's bday party
Drake & Rihanna being awkward AF at a kid's bday party
Basically, Drake looked downright shook when RiRi walked in. She was totally chill and played with the kids in the ball pit, and he crouched awkwardly in the corner and stared at the ground and tugged at the zipper on his jacket. One of the best couples the world has ever seen has been reduced to this. We are heartbroken.
And now, since we all need it after watching that, here's a reminder of far, far happier times.
Drake & Rihanna kissing during far, far happier times
Drake & Rihanna kissing during far, far happier times
If you've ever seen a tiny dog totally snap at a small child, you know just because a dog is little, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be good with little humans. There are, however, some small dog breeds that will probably instantly become your kid's new BFF.
Yes, every single dog is different and accidents can happen at any time, but these small breeds get along great with children as a rule. The added bonus is that smaller kids won't feel as overwhelmed with a new family pet if it's closer to their own size.
Figuring out what dog breed is best for your family is exhausting, so we've done some of the legwork for you by narrowing down your list to these 10 parent-approved dogs that are famous for being kid-friendly.
This pint-sized pup has an irresistible face and prominently curved tail that any child will find intriguing. The Pug does especially well in a moderate climate but is just as comfortable hanging out indoors to keep your kiddos entertained.
Though a tiny canine, the Yorkie has a big adventurous personality that makes it an engaging dog. This affectionate pint-sized pup is an ideal pet if your family loves travel — it will keep your kids affectionately entertained in the back seat while you're en route.
The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds (which include the giant and standard sizes), the Mini Schnauzer is an intelligent and cheerful canine that is as happy hanging out in the house with the family as it is romping outdoors with the kids in the yard or at the park.
One of our favorite small dogs, the Beagle is naturally communal and friendly with humans and other animals. This curious, energetic pup will keep the kids on their toes as it needs love and exercise to keep itself out of trouble.
This toy-sized silky-coated canine is in high demand as a family pet because of its affectionate temperament, easy trainability and hypoallergenic non-shedding coat. The Havanese is as eager to be a loved-on lap dog as it is to playfully chase the kids around.
If you've got a big yard or live on a farm, the Sheltie will keep your kids well-exercised. One of the best obedience breeds, this long-haired, energetic beauty thrives on physical and mental activity.
Naturally gentle and friendly, the Cavalier is easy to train and a trustworthy companion for children. This soft, silky-coated canine is content being a lap dog or playing with the kids.
Bold and friendly, the Corgi thrives on having work to do. Considered a herding dog, this strong, sturdy pup is ideal if your family lives on a farm but, if given adequate mental and physical stimulation, can adapt easily to any living situation.
The pint-sized Miniature Poodle is a top pet choice for kids with allergies. Highly intelligent, this cuddly fluff ball easily entertains its family with smile-evoking antics and heartwarming cuddles.
Important note: In general, the small dog breeds on our list are good with kids. However, keep in mind that any dog, regardless of breed, can be a danger to children. Be sure to properly train and supervise your pup around your kids as well as teach your children how to properly handle their pets.
Here we are: The final two episodes of the three-part Vanderpump Rules Season 5 reunion. So far, we've seen Katie Maloney shockingly apologize to Lala Kent.
katie maloney tweet apology
katie maloney tweet apology
James Kennedy made an appearance and actually made the rest of the group laugh with him (not at him, for once) — joking about Stassi Schroeder "crawling back" to the show.
james kennedy vpump reunion tweet
james kennedy vpump reunion tweet
And Tom Sandoval kept talking.
Tom Sandoval tweet
Tom Sandoval tweet
(But in his defense, it's not like he was wrong about any of it.)
And we're sure tonight's ep will be just as juicy. How can it not? It's Vander-fucking-pump Rules.
Lucky for you (and us because we're obsessed), we had the chance to ask Schroeder (via email) a few pressing questions about this season, and of course, her podcast Straight Up with Stassi.
SheKnows: First off, regarding your podcast, which I love…
Stassi Schroeder: So honored to be doing this, and I really have to express how much I love the way these questions were worded. I feel like I wrote them, lol. So thank you for that.
SK: Who has been your favorite guest and why? What was one thing revealed on your podcast that surprised you?
SS: Ahhh, that is incredibly tough. It’s like a mother choosing her favorite amongst her own children. But I’ve always said that I’ll probably be that mother who shamelessly admits she prefers one of her children over the other (lol). I mean, you love them the same, but it’s human nature to have favorites, right? I say this to make myself feel better about judging my future children.
So with that I will say my favorite guest will always be Rachel Zoe. I remember a year or two after I moved to Los Angeles, her show on Bravo debuted and I became completely enthralled by her. She became an inspiration. I have a huge love for style & aesthetics. Nothing makes me happier than putting together an outfit or decorating my apartment. And I became obsessed with how she made "style" accessible to anyone. She made fashion fun, and she brought humor to it with her wit & personality. So to be in her office and have her on my podcast… It was a very special day for me
SK: For those not already listening, why should they start now?
SS: I’ve been trying to spread the word about podcasts for a long time. I’ve always been a fan of talk radio. It’s the most intimate form of entertainment. When you listen to someone on the radio, it’s like you’re becoming best friends with that radio host. When I started my podcast, I set out to make women feel like they’re sitting around with their best girlfriends, drinking wine, talking about things they never say in public. And I hate that I alienate men in that because I love that men listen as well! That has just been a bonus for me! So if I were to try and convince someone to listen, I would say: When you’re doing your makeup, when you’re in your car, on the subway, bored at your desk, doing the dishes, making dinner, etc. — do you want to make it fun? Because you’ll laugh a lot and feel like you’re at "girls' night," if you give it a listen.
SK: Who’s your dream guest that hasn’t already been on your podcast? What would you like to find out from him/her?
SS: Well, aside from Joan Rivers (because she was everything I look up to and want to emulate), it’s easy... Kate Hudson. I really love open, honest, laid back, funny women. I like when women put their whole selves out there. And I’ve always felt she was someone who is just so incredibly herself. I really like what she represents. I don’t know that I would have anything I want to find out from her; I kind of just want to sit, stare and listen to her speak... and then attempt to soak that all in. lol.
SK: In what ways does your podcast break boundaries? What makes it stand apart from the rest (aside from it being hosted by you)?
SS: I feel really lucky to have gotten into podcasting at the perfect time. When I started, there were quite a few other reality people doing it, but I didn’t hear any that were similar to what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to rely on a producer to write me an outline, or have a sterile studio, or use celebrity guests as clickbait. I wanted my podcast to be an audio version of someone’s real life experiences. I wanted it to be raw and real. I make it a point to not edit anything out, and I don’t censor myself (something that has gotten me in trouble A LOT). But I’m doing something different, and I’m very proud of the community of listeners I brought together. Podcasting is an experience for me. It’s not just some branding extension to help my image. I love it and it’s made me finally feel fulfilled. Joan Rivers changed broadcasting, in my opinion. She ripped the blinds off the "politically correct" type of talk. She never set out to hurt anyone, but she said what she wanted because she found the humor in every situation. I want to be like that, and I hope that’s what I’m doing. I don’t want to live in a world where you’re scared to even be you because you have to worry about offending someone.
SK: Now about Vanderpump Rules… VPR has been a bit all over the place when it comes to portraying you as specific character types. At different times you've been a princess-type, a bitch-type, a ride-or-die BFF-type. Does watching these various sides to you affect you at all? Do you think it’s fair that women get slotted into these roles more frequently on TV than the men? Jax is arguably the only guy on the show who's been through a similar journey in terms of being portrayed in explicit stereotypes/character types.
SS: I would absolutely be lying if I said that what I see of myself on the show doesn’t bother me, but I can’t be mad at it. All of those things (the princess, bitch, BFF, etc.) are me. No one is making me something that I’m not. I only get frustrated when I see that just one specific aspect of who I am is the only thing shown. But that is also the way reality TV works. There aren’t enough minutes in the episode to show every single person’s whole self. I think that both men and women get slotted into specific roles for entertainment; I don’t feel it’s just females. My "gender issue" with reality TV is that male "villains" are glorified while female "villains" are torn apart. I will never understand that. When Jax has been at his most villainous, he gets high fives from men and direct messages from chicks. When women are at their most villainous, we get tweeted a detailed outline about how we should kill ourselves.
SK: You've been with VPR since Day 1. Where do you stand in terms of wanting to continue with the show? At what point would you call it quits?
SS: I’ve always said that what sets our show apart is that we were a real group of friends before VPR was ever even an idea. Some of these people are my best friends. I love doing the show with my friends. And I hope to keep doing it as long as my life fits into what Vanderpump Rules is about. Obviously, at some point we are all going to go through different life changes, but until then, I’m enjoying it.
SK: On VPR, you strike me as someone who values her female friendships ferociously; and IRL, you're balancing quite a lot of professional and personal commitments. What advice would you give to women when it comes to balancing personal and professional with nurturing/maintaining female friendships?
SS: My female friendships bring so much joy to my life, I can’t boast about it enough. I’m so proud of my girlfriends, and I truly wouldn’t feel like myself without them. I think it’s so important to have positive female energy around you, it’s like getting Vitamin D or something. I’ve never had trouble balancing work & personal commitments with my friends because I make girl-time a priority. This is going to sound so incredibly BASIC but I’m going to do it anyway: I spent my high school years watching Sex & the City. Those girls were what I looked up to in terms of female friendship. And that’s who I try to model myself after as a friend.
SK: OK, so you're stuck on a desert island and you can only be stuck with one of the following castmates: James, Jax, Ariana or Tom Sandoval. Who would you choose and why?
SS: Ariana. I actually like Ariana. I think she’s really hard on me, but despite that, I enjoy her company when I’m around her. I don’t want to be someone who only "likes" a person because I know that person likes me back. I also feel like she might be super capable on a deserted island. Tom Sandoval is a close second, I could see him being MacGyver-ish.
SK: Speaking of, and this is not a question. Please tell me we’re done seeing James. Because I cannot anymore.
SS: LOL — I have zero clue, actually!
SK: What are some things we didn’t see last season that you wish they aired?
SS: When we were in New Orleans, we went on a ghost tour and had an awesome girls dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Brennan’s. The dinner was in a private room that looked like it was straight out Versailles. It was magical!!!! I just love my hometown so much and wanted to see more of it. We filmed all around the French Quarter while we were on the ghost tour. I’m dying to see that!!!
SK: What’s your favorite one-liner from this past season? (Either your own or someone else’s.)
SS: Ohhh, that’s a tough one!!! I may give this one to Kyle from Summer House when he called me Steve Jobs. EPIC. hahahaha.
Image: Bravo
SK: Let’s end this on a random note: Your obsession with aliens, ghosts, death, etc. — I can totally relate to. I go on ghost hunts all the time and even went to Sedona to try to spot alien activity (seriously, if you haven’t looked into Bradshaw Ranch, do it; it’s worth it). Have you done any "hunting" of your own and what were your favorite spots?
SS: I grew up in New Orleans, one of the most haunted cities in America. So my friends and I were constantly sneaking into cemeteries, going on ghost tours and visiting haunted spots. Lately, I’ve been into looking around the Los Feliz area because that was where most people in the entertainment industry resided back in the day. During the Black Dahlia time, Los Feliz was the place to be, so I’m discovering that there are so many haunted houses and spots there. There is ONE specific place I’m too scared to go to, and am looking for the will to try and go. And that’s the Cecil Hotel. I’m terrified of it. Research the death of Elisa Lam & watch the elevator footage of her... then you’ll totally understand why I’m so scared of it.
Elisa Lam elevator video
Elisa Lam elevator video
SK: What is your favorite alien conspiracy theory and why?
SS: I love hearing channelings from the Blue Avians via Corey Goode, which say the moon isn’t natural & instead serves as a Secret Space Program base for Earthlings and other extra-terrestrials. I mean, you can’t make this shit up. LOL.
Part 2 of the Vanderpump Rules reunion airs tonight on Bravo at 8/7c.
So Ryan Phillippe is totally dating Katy Perry now, right? I mean, what other way is there to interpret his tweet telling us all exactly how he feels about dating Katy Perry?
Ryan Phillippe is probably not dating Katy Perry 1
Ryan Phillippe is probably not dating Katy Perry 1
"I AM NOT DATING KATY PERRY," he wrote in all caps. "BARELY KNOW HER. PLEASE STOP FLYING HELICOPTERS OVER MY HOUSE. SHE IS NOT HERE."
Phillippe then added, "thx," because he's polite like that, and he probably doesn't want Perry to think that he's totally repulsed by the idea of dating her.
Consider this, though: His tweet sounds exactly like what someone would say if they were hiding Katy Perry at their house. But whatever. We'll just give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Apparently the dating rumors started last month when some witness claimed to media outlets that Perry and Phillippe were "totally flirting" at Elton John's 70th birthday party. And if helicopters have been staking out Phillippe's house since last month, we can kind of understand why he's so over it.
But still. They're both single. Perry pretty recently called things off with her longtime casual boo Orlando Bloom, and Phillippe has been single since calling off his engagement to Paulina Slagter a few months ago. Two attractive single people hanging out together at a party is more than enough to spark dating rumors. They've both been in the fame game for long enough that they shouldn't be surprised.
The backstory: If you've not seen lunch-shaming in action, be grateful. Recently a child in Arizona who was behind on lunch payments to the school was stamped (!) on the arm with "I Need Lunch Money."
If you're shaking your head in horror at the body-branding of a child, we're with you. And we're still shaking our heads about the commenters who thought this was a perfectly legit, no-big-deal way for a school to convey that message to the parents behind on payments.
There are other stunningly cruel approaches to lunch-shaming: Some schools require their cafeteria staff to remove a child's hot food and dump it in the trash if they find out he doesn't have money to pay — while providing alternatives like sandwiches, milk and fruit. (Somehow we can't imagine a kid would be all that hungry after the humiliation of having their peers watch their hot lunch be taken away and dumped in the trash.) Other schools force poor children to clean cafeteria tables in front of schoolmates, ostensibly to "pay the debt." Wow.
This shaming is often just as soul-crushing to adults forced to carry it out to keep their jobs. A Pittsburgh-area cafeteria worker made the national news when she quit her job rather than refuse students hot lunches. (She's our hero, pretty much.) And many school employees say they will pay for kids' lunches rather than see the children shamed.
The good news? New Mexico has now outlawed the public shaming of kids whose parents can't make lunch payments for them. On Thursday, Governor Susana Martinez (R) signed the Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights, which demands that schools work directly and privately with parents on lunch debts. The bill also directs schools to help parents sign up for federal meal assistance. This move by New Mexico (go, New Mexico!) is the first such legislation in the country. The best part: The bill applies not just to public schools, but also to private and religious schools that receive federal student-meal subsidies.
Anti-hunger activists (and seriously, who could be against "anti-hunger"? Are there any "pro-hunger" activists out there? We'd love to hear from you) are understandably thrilled by New Mexico's legislation.
“People on both sides of the aisle were genuinely horrified that schools were allowed to throw out children’s food or make them work to pay off debt,” said Jennifer Ramo, executive director of New Mexico Appleseed. New Mexico Appleseed is an anti-poverty group (again, can't we file this all under "pro-human" and "pro-children"?) that spearheaded the legislation.
“It sounds like some scene from Little Orphan Annie, but it happens every day," added Ramo.
The New York Times reported that Senator Michael Padilla (D) said he was very glad to introduce the bill after his own childhood spent in foster homes, experiencing numerous brutal shaming tactics.
“I made Mrs. Ortiz and Mrs. Jackson, our school lunch ladies, my best friends,” Padilla said. “Thank goodness they took care of me, but I had to do other things like mop the floor in the cafeteria. It was really noticeable that I was one of the poor kids in the school.”
School meal debt is a problem for more than three-quarters of school districts in the U.S. Most school districts instruct staff to collect outstanding debt via texts, emails and phone calls. Collection agencies are also occasionally brought in, which can be downright terrifying for a family already living in poverty.
The New Mexico law still says it's OK to penalize students who owe lunch money by withholding transcripts or revoking parking privileges for high school students. Sigh. Wish we lived in a world where every child was fed a hot lunch at school, every day, at no cost to families. They didn't ask to be born and have to sit through fourth grade geography and P.E. class, people. The least we owe our kids is a free hot lunch at school.
It's been just over a year since Joey Feek died, and as an avid reader of her husband Rory's blog, This Life I Live, I still cry at everything Joey+Rory. So excuse me for a minute while I have a low-key breakdown because Rory just decided to release Joey's 10-year-old solo album for the first time.
"This collection of music sat quietly on a shelf for the last 10 years or so, waiting for the right time to come along, when maybe somehow, someone would care. A time like now," he wrote. The 12-track album, If Not For You, was recorded when Joey and Rory "were still newlyweds, or at least we felt like we were," Rory continued. "It is one of the great joys of my life to dust these songs off and bring life to them again. Not just the songs, but also the stories and the life of the special woman that these songs represent."
Rory documented every heartbreaking moment of his wife's battle against stage-4 cervical cancer. She was diagnosed in May of 2014, and then had multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation to fight the disease. She entered hospice care and died in October 2015, and through it all, Rory wrote raw messages to their fans on his blog. He's continued to document his life with their young daughter since Joey died. Theirs is one of the most beautiful love stories ever captured, and Joey's solo album will only give us more of a glimpse into a once-in-a-lifetime love.
When it comes to interviewing for a job you really want, most of us will take all the help we can get, whether it's résumé formatting advice, body language tips or in this case, what to wear. A helpful new study recently found that of hundreds of job candidates, people who wore black were likelier to get offers than those who didn't — in addition to some other useful insights.
The study, which was sponsored by digital recruiting company SmartRecruiters, examined nearly 2,000 job applicants, 180 of whom received offers, and 1,800 of whom were rejected. Seventy percent of hired candidates wore a "mostly black" outfit to their interview (only 33 percent of rejected candidates wore black).
While what you wear to an interview might matter, it turns out that your looks don't play as much of a role — thank goodness. Seventy-eight percent of hired candidates rated themselves as "average" or "slightly unattractive," whereas 66 percent of rejected candidates considered themselves "attractive" or "very attractive." (That, or people who get jobs tend to be more modest?!)
Looks and clothes aside, the study confirms that it's important to focus on the company and the job itself in an interview (rather than, say, droning on at length about your own experience and interests): 63 percent of hired candidates reported spending more time talking about the company culture and specific functions of the job than rejected candidates.
It also pays to tailor your résumé for each job interview — even if it's just to fake it 'til you make it or pad your résumé with skills to make you appear to be a better fit for the role. Forty-five percent of successful candidates tailored their résumés and 18 percent of them said it was to fake it 'til they made it.
Oh, and one last thing to keep in mind: Of the rejected candidates, 42 percent had public social media profiles, 23 percent said there were public photos of them drinking and 23 percent admitted to spelling errors on social media. Hey, we knew it already, but it bears repeating: Prospective employers will look at your social media accounts, so keep them private if they're mostly personal, or even better, make them public and keep them reigned in so they reflect the type of person managers want to hire.
A new study has found a correlation between a man’s fitness routine and his sex drive.
For heterosexual couples, a richer sex life may include asking a question that is oftentimes not asked of men — how much do you exercise and would you be willing to cut back?
A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise outlined how after studying a group of willing men, the researchers found that men who incorporated an intense workout schedule into their lifestyles were more likely to report having low libidos.
“Dr. Hackney speculates that both physical fatigue and lower testosterone levels after exhausting exercise likely play a role,” according to TheNew York Times.
The study itself focused on 1,100 adult men who had a history of being physically active or participating in training and competitions according to The New York Times.
These men were given a questionnaire that focused on their sex drive and the level of exercise they identify with. The researchers found that the men who reported light to moderate exercise levels were more likely to also report having a higher sex drive than those who identified with more intense workouts.
This finding is especially relevant for heterosexual couples who are looking to conceive.
The New York Times article explains that the researchers are clear that this is the first step to a longer research process, as many questions remained unanswered, like at what point in an exercise routine a man’s libido begins to decrease.
Get this: Research from the University of Alberta in Canada shows that women with dogs have healthier babies. (We're assuming they're only studying the health of the baby, as the mental health of whichever parent steps in a little "present" from the dog first thing in the morning is probably not going to get high marks.)
How did researchers figure out that baby plus dog equals healthier baby? We'll do our best to explain.
Researchers analyzed more than 700 moms and their babies over a three-year period. The researchers examined whether or not the mother-baby pairs also lived in homes with pets that were present during the first three months of the infant's life. (Seventy percent of the pets were dogs. Sorry, cat people. We're sure there's some super-cute research out there for you too. Someday.)
The researchers then analyzed the babies' poop (really!). They found two very useful types of gut bacteria, oscillospira and ruminococcus (also linked with a fondness for Tilt-A-Whirls and a penchant for thinking too much in later life) in the stool of children who had exposure to household pets.
So what's the big deal? Well, oscillospira and ruminococcus have been negatively associated with childhood obesity and the probability of allergies — which means Maverick over there eating your thong underwear under the bed is actually a very good boy.
Here's more science-magic: The data also suggests that if there is a dog present consistently during a woman's pregnancy — but the dog is gone when the child is born — the benefits are still there. Still, please don't use this as an excuse to get rid of Maverick and his taste for your La Perla lace lingerie. He really is a good boy and is happy to keep you and your baby well-stocked with oscillospira and ruminococcus for the rest of his life, which is more than you can say for most people, are we right?
(Sometimes we just write things to make ourselves laugh. But the science is totally for real.)
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.
Princess Charlotte will be very involved
Multiple sites are reporting that Princess Charlotte, who turns two next month, will be one of Pippa's bridesmaids. Still no word on whether she took part in the booze-fueled hen party Kate and Pippa threw on the slopes of the French Alps.
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.
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!
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!
Let's not mince words: Jenny Slate's life goals are so good, they're worth co-opting for yourself. The Gifted actor sat down with SheKnows to discuss her new film, but also spoke about how empowered she feels right now to take her life and career by the horns. "I feel a beautiful change within myself," Slate related, "I’ll tell you that. I feel so free."
Slate stated that this freedom comes not only from working hard, but from the fact that the hard work has given her a level of independence that leaves her excited by what's to come. "A part of that does come from being able to work enough that you have savings and you feel more financially independent, but also a lot of that — a lot of the way that I feel — is this exciting feeling of ‘Whoa, I have so much more to learn. I have so many more skills to gather.' As a woman, I am so proud of what I've become. I feel really glad to be myself. It’s like a new, interesting feeling. That’s where I’m at right now," she noted.
Slate has had a busy couple of years recently, popping up nearly everywhere: Parks & Recreation, Obvious Child, Bob's Burger's, The Lego Batman Movie and Zootopia are just a handful of the notable hot projects she's been a part of. She's been able to not only break out of whatever mold you may have thought she'd let Hollywood settle her into, but in the process found that she is willing to take a chance turning down "hot" material in favor of choosing work that satisfies her soul. The way she sees it, "it’s that, like, a lot of times it’s a job you don’t get paid a lot of money for and [the project is] just perpetuating this really degrading set of assertions about women. So it's not that great out there. There’s still just so much garbage material. Enough people are hungry to work, so that material floats. But it’s just, like, I’m 35. I know what I like; I know what I want. I just don’t want to feel bad. I don’t want to feel like a shithead." Amen to that.
Jenny Slate Life Goals Insta 1
Jenny Slate Life Goals Insta 1
That confidence in knowing what she wants stems in part from the fact that this work, acting, is what she has always wanted to do. "I wanted to be an actress forever. It is my true love. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t want to be an American film actress. So, in a way, it's like I’ve been gunning for this forever. I’ve described it as a game that I’ve played until it became real. I just feel like it's unfolding." For Slate, the unfolding sensation refers to the increased momentum in her career, but in a way we should all hope to feel that kind of momentum in our own lives, right? That ability to feel good about the line of work you're in and feel like you are on the right track is precious.
For Slate, age and experience brings not only the confidence to go forward without worry, but a new feeling of wholeness. It would appear that the worries of small things don't get to her quite the way they used to and her life goals emerge as something simple: Love yourself always.
"I feel like I have a very specific nature and that will never change. I will always need connection with people," Slate explains. "I will always need to feel kind of a large amount of love, coming from myself and coming to myself. I think I’ve learned to accept that and to satisfy myself in useful and healthy ways. I think I am learning to do away with shame. I am celebrating being straightforward. I just don’t think you can go wrong," she says, implying that there is another level of freedom that can be achieved in living your truth. "I think I’m learning to trust myself and why I want to be in this world and not think that any part of my life is embarrassing or secret. The more I think about it that way, the more I live that way."
Slate's life goals aren't merely a checklist of to-dos, nor are they simple. Loving yourself, embracing confidence over self-doubt and living in your truth so much so that you trust yourself to go out and get what you want? Those are huge, but if we can at least take on one of Slate's life goals, we'll be more than OK.
Additional reporting by SheKnows entertainment manager Lauren Kelly
Jenny Slate's new film Gifted hits theaters Wednesday, April 12.
Eavesdrop in any secret Facebook group or support group meeting, and there’s a common refrain: In the infertility experience, women typically get the raw end of the deal. Much like pregnancy and childbirth, women endure most of the physical wear-and-tear throughout fertility treatment — from injecting their bodies with hormones to undergoing invasive surgery to enduring a bevy of diagnostic tests. The man’s job? To ejaculate into a cup.
Of course, that’s not a totally fair generalization. Recent research shows that male factor infertility accounts for up to 30 percent of infertility issues, and some men have to undergo uncomfortable procedures like TESE extractions (surgical sperm removal) and varicocele repair (which corrects tangled blood vessels in the scrotum). But for the majority of couples in which the woman struggles with infertility, the male partner typically has it pretty darn easy. (Physically, anyway. The emotional toll can be a whole other story.)
So what happens when men refuse to do their part, even if it’s seemingly simple? My friend found out the hard way when her husband flat-out refused to get a semen analysis even though they’d already been trying for a few years and no health concerns were detected on her end. Their efforts came to a screeching stop — largely because he decided he’d rather give up on having a baby than take that necessary step forward in diagnosis.
Such an extreme stance is hard to fathom, but it’s more common than one might expect. “I’ve seen a lot of cases where couples are not on the same page about how they want to move forward,” says Dr. Joshua Hurwitz, a fertility doctor at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut. “Men are much more reluctant to look into [the issue] than women, and there is a hardcore group of men who just do not want to be part of the process.”
Thirty-three-year-old Sasha* can relate. Since she and her husband Sam* first met in high school, they’ve been through a lot. Not only have they spent almost a decade trying to conceive, but Sam was diagnosed with lymphoma at age 28. Though he’s now 33 and cancer-free, their quest for a baby continues. The couple has done several rounds of IVF using sperm that Sam froze before undergoing chemotherapy, but all have been unsuccessful so far. According to Sasha, it’s been “suggested over time that Sam could still produce [healthy] sperm,” but he’s not interested in finding out whether that’s the case.
“He has always found an excuse not to get tested and would change the subject,” shares Sasha. “While it hasn’t caused problems between us, I do feel as if he is disconnected from this process. A small gesture like getting tested [would] show he cares and is committed to this as much as I am. Maybe it’s a pride or male ego thing, but I think that’s just one small price to pay for all that I’m putting my body through.”
For those in similar situations, all hope doesn’t have to be lost. Hurwitz recommends taking things incrementally — starting with a joint consultation rather than jumping straight to a semen analysis, which can be daunting for men. “A lot of men feel weird when they walk in, but by the end of an hourlong consultation, guys are usually on the same page about moving forward,” says Hurwitz. “A little bit of counseling goes a long way.”
Hurwitz has two major points he hits when speaking with men. The first is how common male factor infertility actually is; in fact, Hurwitz estimates the number at close to 40 percent of infertility cases (rather than 30 percent). “I want them to know they’re not alone,” says Hurwitz. “I also point out that no one is insulting their masculinity — this is purely medical, and we’re just trying to go through algorithms and strategies to find out what’s holding you up as a couple.”
He also employs sports analogies to get men more invested. “I always tell men that this is a team sport — they can’t do it without their partners and their partners can’t do it without them,” he says. “We’re working together to achieve the common goal of building a family, so they need to get off the sidelines and get in the game.”
For men who simply refuse to even set foot in a fertility doctor’s office, options do exist for at-home testing. Case in point: Trak Male Fertility Testing System, an FDA-cleared device which measures a man’s sperm count as “low,” “moderate,” or “optimal” based on World Health Organization guidelines. However, sperm count isn’t the only deciding factor for male fertility, and since at-home tests don’t evaluate motility (shape) or morphology (movement), it’s best to visit a specialist for a complete picture.
According to Hurwitz, males should work on setting aside their ego and doing just that. “For a guy, the workup for semen analysis is pretty basic, while the female side is extremely invasive,” says Hurwitz. “If a female partner is going to go through all of that work, the man should step up. I feel strongly about that.”
"Thank God, my son is well. When things like those that happened to us occur, your take on life changes," Lopilato said. "It happened to us. Now I value life much more, the now and the today. I would like to thank people for their support, for the prayers they said, for their love, and I want them to know that they reached us and that it helped us a lot to come through this."
She told the crowd that Noah had been declared cancer-free very recently and that the family is still recovering from his battle.
"But the love is daily, when people stop me in the street," she continued. "It's wonderful to know that you're accompanied in life and that people love you."
The family will now continue life in Argentina, but they're going to continue to be careful with Noah's health, she said.
"My son's recovery is a long process as you all know and he has to continue with check-ups," she explained. "But we are very happy. We are looking forward to thinking about the future, to seeing our children grow... My faith in the fact God had a miracle helped me. I became strong so my son would get better. I transmitted that to all my friends and family. As a family we were always very united and we fought this together. We did everything we could for our son, so he would come through this."
Bublé announced Noah's diagnosis on Facebook in November before Noah began four months of chemotherapy treatments in LA. During that time, Bublé canceled all public appearances so he could stay by his son's side, including dropping out last minute from hosting the Brit Awards.
