On his show, Anderson Cooper 360, Cooper was completely taken aback after reading a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Trump spent 10 minutes learning some history about China and North Korea, and then proclaimed that solving the escalating crisis in North Korea might just be "not so easy."
Donald Trump realized fixing N Korea is
Donald Trump realized fixing N Korea is
"President Trump said in the Wall Street Journal today that after listening to the Chinese president explain the history of China and North Korea for about 10 minutes, he, quote, 'realized it's not so easy.'"
Cooper took a moment to let that statement sink in, and you should too. And then check out his face, because it is all of us.
The panel talks about how we really shouldn't be all that surprised because Trump has done the exact same thing on a number of issues, like, I don't know, when he said "no one could have known" that health care is complicated. As Cooper puts it, "You know what? A lot of people did. In fact, pretty much everybody knew it was really, really complicated."
On one hand, the joke's on Trump for being a giant fucking idiot about policy in the country he now runs. On the other hand, joke's on all of us because we elected this asshole, and now this is what we have to deal with. Way to go, America. Way. To. Go.
For years, she’s graced our TV screens with laughs, suspense and a provocative take on society’s politics. But there’s more to Debra Messing than just a sense of humor or a razor-sharp wit. And as part of the #MamasMakeChange series, where amazing moms who double up as influential and innovative trendsetters are highlighted, Messing talks about her views, ideals and brand-new ventures toward positivity and compassion.
Messing, probably better known as Grace Adler from the long-running NBC sitcom Will & Grace, is also known for being a powerful female voice that rings loud and clear. Messing’s strong, feminist persona has carried through the various causes she supports, including being a global ambassador for HIV/AIDS for Population Services International.
But even with her busy lifestyle and never-ending pursuit for positive change, Messing is eager to talk about the newest addition to her growing list of partnerships: CoolSculpting. It’s something she’s very excited about, especially since this new system helps to continue a positive dialogue and attitude surrounding body image and what it means to love yourself through the changes or choices you make.
"CoolSculpting is this amazing new treatment that is totally noninvasive," Messing says. "It doesn’t hurt, and there’s no down time." This procedure is the only FDA-cleared fat-freezing method that doesn’t require surgery, pain or even a recovery period. The procedure can be applied at your own dermatologist’s office, where they freeze any part of your body that you’d want flattened or smoothed out, wait for approximately half an hour to 35 minutes, and then go about the rest of your day.
Messing is an avid supporter for the procedure, saying that a few months after the procedure "it’s frozen your fat cells, and it breaks down and disintegrates the fat cells and then over the course of one to three months it slowly is released from your body." But, the magic of disintegrating fat is not the only reason she supports it.
"I love the fact that CoolSculpting is really an option that is about empowerment. It’s about embracing and loving who you are,” says Messing, addressing many concerns that people may have with any kind of procedure that alters your appearance. With present-day society constantly questioning people’s motives for wanting to change themselves, Messing is ready to support the ideals that CoolSculpting pushes at the forefront of their methods. She focuses on the idea that the system is a means to empowerment, helping people feel more comfortable in their own skins for their own reasons — and not for anyone else's.
"This isn’t about perfection," she says. "This isn’t about living up to any sort of beauty ideal. This is about saying, ‘I feel good as I am, I like the way I am. I like the way I look. I just want to be a better version of who I am already.'"
As a working mother, another integral piece of her identity includes her relationship with her son and the lessons she chooses to teach him. "I don’t think there’s anything more important as a mother than guiding my child into empathy and compassion, to see his level of privilege and to see that he’s just a tiny part of a much larger, more diverse world," she says.
When asked about how being a mother affects her views or how she communicates the passions she stands for to her son, she explains that keeping him close and letting him see the investments she’s made in causes for the greater good and for the ultimate betterment of the world really helps. Including him in her initiatives is how she believes he can learn to confidently stand for his own beliefs.
As a woman who refers to every kind of televised competition as "sportsball," I can't say I ever expected to relate so hard to an NFL star. But Aaron Rodgers, who recently split from his girlfriend of three years, actress Olivia Munn, is handling his breakup exactly how I would handle breakups if I were living my absolute best life.
Since the breakup, insiders say they've seen "drastic changes" in Rodgers, which, as it turns out, just means he's been pampering the shit out of his heartbroken self.
"He’s been getting weekly facials in Beverly Hills and has also hired Ryan Gosling's personal stylist to dress him," one source close to Rodgers told Us Weekly. He's also working out with his famous bro friends instead of his Green Bay Packers teammates.
"He used to work out in Calabasas with his teammates during the offseason, but this offseason he’s chosen to work out primarily with Nick Jonas in West Hollywood," the insider said, adding that he's also been hanging out with actors Ryan Rottman and Eddie Mills, even though a few of his teammates are salty that he hasn't been hanging with the Packers as much.
So basically, he's hanging out with his most famous friends and dropping a bunch of money on looking fly as hell. He's a man handling a breakup the way most of us only wish we were rich enough to.
What remains to be seen is whether any part of his post-breakup healing will involve reconnecting with his family. He's been estranged from them for years, and rumors have said Munn was a big part of the reason why.
"When he got together with Olivia Munn, his family told him they didn’t trust her and thought she wasn’t with him for the right reasons," a source close to Rodgers said. "That made him furious, and he ended up choosing Olivia over his family."
Oh, Negan... how do we love, er, loathe thee? Let us count the ways! Although, if we're really being honest with ourselves, there's more love to go around for The Walking Dead's bad boy these days than we care to admit. After all, it's not like he's the worst villain on TV.
There are examples past and present of TV villains so vile that they simply lack enough humility for fans to find any redeeming quality about them — think The Wire's Marlo Stanfield, Game of Thrones' Joffrey Baratheon, Breaking Bad's Gus Fring... these characters are easy to hate.
Why is it so hard to completely write off Negan despite the fact that he is nefarious?
None of us will ever forget that he took Glenn and Abe from us, because we're still not over it. We may never be over it. It was Glenn, you guys. That's a hard pill to swallow and it ain't going down anytime soon. Negan is sadistic AF, and we're all now acutely aware of it.
But something strange has happened since Negan arrived on The Walking Dead scene. A shift has occurred somewhere along the way, where we've gone from impatiently waiting for someone to kill Negan off to hoping that he ekes out a few more seasons.
So how do we love TWD's resident big bad? Let us count the ways.
Although the character is based on jack-of-all-trades entertainer Henry Rollins, we can't say we're mad that Jeffrey Dean Morgan was tapped to bring the bad guy to life on screen. Morgan plays the part with such... panache.
Does he survive by horrible, awful, no-good, oppressive means? Er, yes. But the raw truth about Negan is that he's the cockroach of the zombocalypse — you get the sense that everything else around him could go nuclear, and somehow Negan would manage to hang on for dear life. In his interactions with others, it's readily apparent he doesn't view himself as a villain. He sees himself as a man who has done whatever he has to do to survive. I mean, damn, he was a PE teacher and a car salesman before. That's quite a transformation.
Despite the fact that Negan did imprison and torture both Daryl and Sasha, he also respected them. He pretty much told Sasha that to her face. And even though he probably wasn't pleased when she took Eugene's suicide pill so she could leap out of the coffin walker-fied and try to eat Negan, I like to think he respected the way she used her last moments to play him. Negan has also had numerous opportunities to take Lucille to Rick's skull, yet he has refrained because he sees Rick as a foil.
It seems counterintuitive that Negan would have a soft spot for anyone, but he's got one for Carl. If you read the comic series, you know that the villain really takes Carl under his wing. And even after he eventually falls from power, he still maintains a connection with Rick's kid. It makes it a little easier to imagine that in another life — the one before everyone turned into zombies — he may actually have had a heart and used it to empathize with others.
Make no mistake: Negan is a bad, bad dude. Here's the thing about him, though — he makes no apologies or excuses for it. He just comes right out with everything and lays it all out on the table. In some ways, it's one of the things you hate most about Negan. If he says he is going to kill someone or that there will be consequences, well, he's a man of his word. On the other hand, it's kinda nice to always know exactly where things stand with Negan.
We all love Rick, but he'd gotten to a point where he was basically coasting. He wasn't the dynamic character we'd known in early seasons. In fact, he had started to get a little predictable (as much as we hate to say so). Negan coming onto the scene and taking away some of the people Rick loved the most added a new depth to our beloved leader. He had to suffer through intense vulnerability, and he came out on the other side of it scrappier than ever
It may not have always seemed like it at some points this season, but The Walking Dead has experienced significant growth since Negan came onto the scene. I mean, think back... can you really remember the season or so prior to his arrival? Like it or not, TWD needed Negan to move it forward — to shake loose more suspense and to help our favorite character grow. Life without Negan would be boring.
Do you have a love-hate relationship with Negan too? Let us know in the comments below.
Remember when your parents discovered Candy Crush and suddenly your life was a constant barrage of 700 social media notifications a day while they invited you to play and sent you lives and gifts? That's pretty much Tarek El Moussa on Instagram right now.
El Moussa shared a photo of his 19-month-old son Brayden with, no joke,19 hashtags. Well, only 17 if you don't count the ones he used more than once. Sorry, Tarek, but you're not doing that right.
Tarek El Moussa pic of son with 17 hashtags
Tarek El Moussa pic of son with 17 hashtags
Among the tags El Moussa used (which, for anyone who doesn't know, exist so users can find photos that fit certain descriptions), were #gangster, #everything, #instagood, #beautifull with two L's, #handsome, #cute, #adorable, #summer, #friends, #smile, #fun, #fliporflop, #hgtv, #me, #smile again, #friends again, #picoftheday, and, for some reason, #remodel. Pretty sure people checking out the #gangster and #remodel tags on Instagram aren't looking for pictures of a baby eating mac and cheese, but that's what they're gonna get. Someone stop this guy.
El Moussa's embarrassing lack of social media acumen aside, his kid is friggin' adorable and looks just like him. And he and his estranged wife, Christina El Moussa, have been kicking ass at co-parenting since they split up more than a year ago. They're also parents to a 6-year-old daughter named Taylor.
"There are good days, bad days, but, you know, it’s our job," Tarek told Entertainment Tonight in an interview about their split back in February. "We love what we do, so we fight through it. We know what we have to do to support our family and continue our career."
At 33, Emily Henderson has built up a stellar reputation — not to mention devoted following — as an interior design guru who makes decorating your home stylishly feel super-approachable rather than something that takes tons of money, time and expertise. As the host of HGTV show "Secrets from a Stylist" and proprietress of her own blog, Style by Emily Henderson, luckily Henderson gives fans plenty of places to find her tips and inspiration.
As a wife and mom of two, Henderson's also got plenty going on besides her styling career. We asked her about her fitness routine (she's working on it!), favorite date-night activity and the three things you should never spend a ton of money on in your home. Check out her secrets below.
Emily Henderson: Pour a cup of coffee — with a baby and a toddler, neither of whom can guarantee they’ll sleep through the night, I’m literally desperate every morning. But the effects are immediate and all of a sudden, I’m back!
SK: What’s your go-to healthy breakfast?
EH: Most days, I make a smoothie with kale, spinach, frozen berries and vegan protein powder.
SK: What’s your favorite healthy snack? What about snacks you make for your kids?
EH: We aren’t as fussy or "Martha" as you may think. We all snack the same — nuts, fruit, string cheese. I always mean to prepare some cute turkey and cheese wraps, but ultimately, we all just love almonds and berries.
Emily Henderson 1
Emily Henderson 1
SK: Do you have any dinner recipes that the whole family loves?
EH: We get Munchery delivered three nights a week, which is family-friendly and affordable meal delivery. But when I’m cooking, it's usually tacos, chili or pasta. There are no secret family recipes here, and I rarely prepare a noteworthy meal.
SK: Can you describe your workout routine? Does it change seasonally?
EH: Right now it's bad, and I’ve got to get back into it. Typically, it's either with a trainer or power yoga. Right now, though, it's just chasing after two kids and schlepping around bags of decor accessories.
SK: Do you meditate, journal or have any other sort of emotional wellness routine?
EH: The blog is definitely a journal for me, and while I often don’t publish my more personal posts, writing them and emailing them to myself — which I then save and compile — is always super-cathartic.
SK: How do you balance alone time for yourself and time with your family?
EH: There is no balance or even a juggle. I focus on surviving most of the time and laughing through the stress. Brian and I have the intention of going on dates once a week, and we probably manage every other week. Quality time with the kids happens most nights, but as most moms of two littles know, there is virtually no personal or alone time and while that takes a toll on you, time with kids and husband often trumps alone time.
SK: What’s your favorite date-night activity?
EH: I love a long dinner where we can really catch up and talk about things other than just the kids. Brian and I also work a lot together, so we make sure to connect on things outside of work and kids so we feel like real people.
SK: Do you have any favorite entertaining tips?
EH: God, I really feel like I’m not giving anybody any real tips here, but I tend to make huge vats of chili or a big lasagna. I am incapable of entertaining while cooking, so everything has to be done beforehand.
Emily Henderson 2
Emily Henderson 2
SK: What’s your easy fix when you’re craving a quick decor change?
EH: I rearrange furniture almost daily and I play with pillows, throws and art all the time. I kinda have to for my job, which is to create content for the blog. Another thing you can do is change up the scent of a room to help freshen it up. Air Wick just released a Bullet auto spray that’s perfect for those of you who can’t light candles or have too much on your schedule to even think about constantly refreshing the house. It delivers continuous bursts of fragrance, so it takes the brainwork out of it while being really simple design-wise, so you get set it and get back to your life. Sometimes it's the little things that can help you feel like you have your life together.
SK: What are three home items that are worth spending more money on?
EH: It’s not three particular things — it's the conversation or statement pieces. There are so many great, affordable big-box retailers that make major pieces of furniture, so if you're on a budget, don’t splurge on a $5,000 sofa. Instead, buy a special piece of art, a unique rug or a statement piece that makes people gasp when they see it — in a good way, of course.
SK: What are three things people shouldn't spend money on for their homes?
EH: Throw pillows, bedding and lighting. These are the things you can go to places like Target and purchase so easily. Sure, you can spend $500 on a duvet, but that's not where my money is going, nor would I recommend you spend it that way!
Emily Henderson 3
Emily Henderson 3
SK: What’s your best tip to working moms for having a healthy work-life balance?
EH: I have no idea and I’d love the answer. Mostly, I'd say to outsource what you aren’t doing well yourself (for me, that’s cooking and help around the house) and then order a lot online so you aren’t running around on the weekends doing errands instead of spending time with kids.
SK: What was your biggest surprise when you became a mom?
EH: When I had my first kid, I was shocked and surprised by how much fun it was and how we thoroughly enjoyed it. When we added another baby, it was like, "Oh, this is what extreme exhaustion feels like." Now that they're getting old enough to play with each other it's pure magic amid the mayhem.
SK: What would you say is your biggest day-to-day challenge as a mom?
EH: It's challenging to stay present and focus on my kids when I’m with them. My work is all-consuming and I have to shut it off from 5 to 8 p.m., but that can be difficult when I’m getting a million text messages about the next day's post or meetings. My staff knows that this is my family time, but they also have a lot on their plate and need answers. I find myself zoning out at the dinner table or while bathing my kids, thinking about a presentation, article or even whether or not I should put navy or black lampshades on our nightstand. So yes, staying present with my kids is a challenge and something I work on daily.
SK: Do you have a strong female community in your life?
EH: Yes, or I would die. I have two extremely close friends in LA who come over with their toddlers often and they play while we commiserate. We go on vacation together and it's pretty much ideal. My three best friends in Portland are also working moms who are the main financial supporters of their family with two small kids. When we get together on our own, sans kids, we exchange advice, horror stories and encouragement. Since my kids are the youngest, they make me feel better by saying things like, "It only gets easier," which really helps.
SK: Any tips for how to stay sane in the current political climate?
EH: I focus on the positive and what I can do to help those in my community. We're doing a ton of pro-bono projects this year — refugee families, mostly — and we’ll be posting about them on the blog with the intent of encouraging others to use their talents and skills to make change in their community, not just rant on Facebook.
SK: As your kids grow up, how do you see your career and lifestyle changing?
EH: I don’t have a five-year plan, nor do I try to predict too much. Our kids are our first priority and our focus will be to make sure they're thriving at any age in every environment. I think I’ll always be the same parent — good at some things and working on others, but loving obsessively along the way.
Planning a nursery can be overwhelming. All the gear, all those tiny baby items to procure! Add in the safety component, and it’s enough to make you want to just delete your registry and give up. But putting together a safe nursery doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a handy list of the most important items you should consider when prepping your little one’s room. And to make things even easier, the website Make Safe Happen lays out all the most important safety information.
Cord cleats. You don’t want baby to be able to access drape or blind cords, as they’re a strangulation hazard. Principal investigator for the Center for Injury Research and Policy Lara McKenzie, Ph.D., tells SheKnows that parents forget to cut the looped cord. “Snip the cord to get rid of a dangerous loop that can cause strangulation,” says McKenzie. “Use a cord-shortener to keep the cords high up and out of the child’s reach.” If you don’t want to cut or replace your window treatments, you can simply add inexpensive cord cleats. (I could not figure out what these things were called when I was trying to get them for my daughter’s nursery. They’re called cleats. Everyone learn from me.) Wrap the cords around the cleats to keep them tucked up and out of the way.
Electrical outlet plugs. This might be the most obvious bit of gear and the easiest thing on the list. These little plastic prongs go into electrical outlets so that little fingers can’t. Get extra plugs so that when some inevitably go missing you’ll have backups. If you want to be even more thorough, you can install self-closing outlets.
Baby gate/play yard. It’s nice to have a place to put baby where they can play safely, especially once they’re mobile. I usually arranged my “baby corral” in the living room, but the handy thing about these plastic panels is that you can set them up anywhere. This setup is ideal until you’re ready for your babe to go free-range. Remember playpens? Think of a play yard as the modern equivalent. North States makes a popular indoor/outdoor Superyard.
Fire alarm and CO monitor. The Onelink by First Alert Environment Monitor can detect high-level and low-level carbon monoxide as well as keep track of a room’s temperature and humidity. And it’s Wi-Fi-enabled. But a basic smoke/fire/CO alarm will also do the trick, like this one by Kidde.
Video monitor. The Summer Infant Baby Touch is my choice to keep an eye (and ear) on your babe when you can’t be in the room. (Side note: the latest model is the Panorama Monitor.) My kids are solidly in their toddler years, and you can have my monitor when you can pry it from my cold, dead hands! But it really does relieve anxiety to be able to hear and/or see what they’re up to. Plus, you can add cameras as you add to your family and toggle between them. Just remember to keep any cords installed away from baby. “One of the biggest safety tips that Summer Infant wants to ensure all parents and caregivers are aware of is that all cords should be out of reach of children, including the camera cord,” says Allison Katz, publicist for Summer Infant. “It should be more than 3 feet away from crib. All of their video monitors come with security clips should parents decide to mount the camera to the wall.”
Ceiling fan. If there isn’t a ceiling fan in the nursery, you might consider adding one. Recent studies have shown that turning on a ceiling fan in a baby’s room can reduce their risk of SIDS by 72 percent. Fans prevent pockets of carbon monoxide from forming, and they also reduce the risk that your child could overheat (both causes of SIDS). Of course, installing a ceiling fan is not always possible, so maybe have a portable fan (and/or air conditioner) on hand, especially for warmer months.
Furniture straps. Secure furniture to the wall! “Anchor furniture with L-brackets or safety straps,” says McKenzie. If your bookshelf, drawers, etc. didn’t come with something to strap it/attach it to the wall, you can order furniture wall straps. I learned this lesson the hard way when my 2-year-old daughter managed to pull her dresser over during nap time. Luckily, she was unharmed, but I almost had a heart attack! I never imagined the short, heavy dresser could be toppled, but it just goes to show how you’ll be surprised constantly at your child’s penchant for danger.
Toy bins and shelves. You’ll want to avoid storage with heavy lids or lids that aren’t easily opened. Better yet, just skip the lids. These open cubbies from Badger Basket are a great choice. Ikea also makes popular toy storage systems. Pay attention to how you arrange items on shelves. “Parents forget to stack shelves smartly,” says McKenzie. She recommends placing heavy items on lower shelves to make a bookcase, for instance, more stable.
Safe paint. Pick up an eco-friendly can of paint to avoid harmful chemicals called VOCs (volatile organic compounds) being emitted in the nursery. There are plenty of baby-safe paints on the market now, and many can be found at big-box stores like Home Depot. You’ll want a water-based, lead-free, zero-VOC formula. Some brands that make nursery-safe paint include Milk Paint, Valspar, and Sherwin-Williams.
Corner guards. Stick these suckers on any sharp corners because your baby will probably crash into them at some point. Just looking at a sharp corner when there’s a baby around makes me cringe. We replaced our cool, industrial-style coffee table for this reason; the stress of those metal corners just wasn’t worth it.
Cabinet locks. Secure any cabinets or drawers your little one shouldn’t get into with locks. Because they will get into them. And they will take everything out.
Crib. Make sure your crib meets current government safety standards. The slats shouldn't be more than 2-3/8 inches apart, about the width of a soda can. Drop-side cribs are no longer considered safe. “A crib manufactured after 2011 will meet the latest safety standards and recommendations,” notes McKenzie. “No finials, no baby monitor cords near the crib, no night-lights within baby’s reach.” If you’re not getting an organic mattress, keep in mind that a used mattress (or at least an aired-out mattress) could have fewer chemicals being emitted. Any type of crib bumpers are a hazard, so get those — along with anything else except a fitted sheet and maybe a mattress cover — out of the crib. No blankets, no toys, nothing in there.
Sleep sacks. Blankets in the baby’s crib are a no-no. Rather than risk suffocation, dress little ones in wearable blankets, or Halo Sleepsacks for nighttime. There are many options in this department, some with swaddling incorporated. There’s the Magic Merlin suit (these worked pretty well for us when my babies started breaking out of their swaddle), the Woolino, Woombie and lightweight muslin Aden and Anais sleeping bags for warmer weather. McKenzie reminds parents, “Learn the ABC's of safe sleep. Alone — make sure your child sleeps in a crib alone (without parents, siblings or pets). Back — place baby on his back at nap time and nighttime, every time. Crib — when it’s time to sleep, put your child into a bassinet, play yard or crib made in or after 2011.” Visit the American Academy of Pediatrics to learn more about infant safe-sleep recommendations.
Other tips: Make sure any wall hangings are properly secured, and never hang heavy items over baby’s crib. Don’t place the crib (or other climbable furniture) near a window or within grabbing distance of curtains. Think like a wily baby bent on destruction. If your nursery is not on the ground floor (or maybe even if it is) install window guards or stops. To be safe, sign up for baby product recall alerts on recalls.gov and add the poison help number to your phone contacts: 1-800-222-1222.
For more safety info, check the (free) app Make Safe Happen, recommends McKenzie. “There is great information on setting up a nursery and safety tips for every room in your home.”
Nothing against big dogs or anything, but there's nothing better than a good cuddle session with a teensy, tiny little pup. Yeah, little dogs kinda have a bum rap for being yappy, but we almost think that was just a smear campaign started by the big dog camp.
And now that our lives are more fast-paced than ever, small dogs really are the way to go when you're looking to adopt. They're lower-maintenance, easier to care for and don't require a big yard to run around in.
For apartment-dwellers, families, busy professionals and those who just don't like big dogs, here are our top 14 small-breed dogs.
14. Maltese
Image: Darrell Knetsch/EyeEm/Getty Images
A good dog for those with allergies (it's not a big shedder), the Maltese is friendly and often gets along well with other dogs and even cats. Just don't leave them alone too much, these companion dogs need human contact. Easily distinguished by their straight and long white coat; it may seem as though the Maltese has just stepped out of a doggie hair salon. However, over-coddling these adorable creatures can actually do them more harm them good, often leading to behavior disorders.
A great family dog, the Boston Terrier is friendly and bonds well with kids. Another plus is they don't require a ton of grooming. Instead, it just needs the occasional brushing to get rid of excess hair. But be warned, they love to munch on household items, so lots of chew toys are definitely recommended. You should probably keep anything you don't want destroyed out of this dog's way, too.
12. Pugs
Image: Melissa Thereliz/Getty Images
What's not to love? Their small, wrinkled face, short legs, and charismatic personality makes the Pug a comedic and friendly companion. And though they can be headstrong at times, the Pug is generally pleasant and willing to please. The dog's unique muzzle does make them prone to snoring and wheezing, so you may want to consider buying some ear plugs if you decide to bring this dog into your bedroom.
Originally published March 2009. Updated April 2017.
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11. Pomeranian
Image: Evgeny_Kozhevnikov/Getty Images
The Pomeranian is an adorable dog with a mellow and gentle personality, but they can sometimes get noisy (just like children). As a matter of fact, if you want a Pomeranian, they are great with kids, just as long as they are introduced as puppies. However, because Pomeranians shed profusely, it may not be the best choice for a house with very small children.
10. Chihuahua
Image: Tomoaki Takahashi/Getty Images
Meek though they may look, this small dog can really pack a punch in attitude. They are known for nipping at children (probably not the best choice for a house with kids) or barking incessantly at strange dogs. They can also be loud and demanding. But before you cross this breed off the list, you should know that the Chihuahua is loyal and affectionate, even seen canoodling with cats every one in awhile (after an adjustment period, of course).
Known for being less aggressive than the usual terrier, the small bearded Miniature Schnauzer is playful, spunky, and curious. So curious, in fact, that they may bark at every passerby it sees through your window. That being said, Miniature Schauzers enjoy the company of children and make for an excellent family pet.
Primarily bred as a domestic and family companion, the Shih Tzu is extremely friendly, and, most importantly, gentle around children. While they don't shed, the Shih Tzu's double-layered, full, and dense coat, does require daily grooming. Consider the "mini lion" if you want a lovable and trustworthy friend.
7. Miniature Poodle
Image: DODDYTANK/Getty Images
A sensitive breed, Miniature Poodles tend to be dedicated to a single person and are shy around strangers, at least initially. They do, however, get along with children, dogs, and other pets. The Poodle's body type is a reflection of their athletic roots. Truly, there are not many dogs that can carry their bodies as well as this dog. Cut your Poodle's coat in a variety of styles, including Puppy, Continental, English saddle, or Sporting clips.
6. Dachshund
Image: Jillian Lukiwski/Getty Images
Believe it or not, this dog actually makes an excellent watchdog and was bred to exterminate vermin! The Dachshund is very attached to owner and family, but can be aggressive around unfamiliar children. Their elongated bodies and short, stubby legs can lead to spinal cord problems and issues with obesity. Just make sure you take this "badger dog" with you on short walks around the block or in the backyard.
It isn't a coincidence the Yorkshire Terrier has been in the American Kennel Club's top 10 most registered dogs ten years running (coming in second place the past two years). The Yorkie, as it is lovingly referred to, is bold, curious, and always ready for an adventure. The Yorkie's coat, which is silky, long, and straight, may be cut in various styles and comes a clear shade of tan with a dark steel blue hue. A beautiful lapdog and wonderful pet addition.
These are the little guys everyone’s always going gaga for at the dog park. Beagles are cute, cuddly, friendly and energetic — what’s not to love? And while most of us are already familiar with the fact that small dogs live longer than big dogs, you might be surprised to learn that beagles are one of the longest-living dog breeds, with an expected lifespan of more than 15 years. On top of that, these playful pups are good with kids and easy to groom.
3. Papillon
Image: Dmitri Kotchetov/EyeEm/Getty Images
These shaggy little pooches that the American Kennel Club calls “happy, alert and friendly” fall into the toy dog group, making them extra-easy on the eyes. But don’t let their froufrou reputation fool you — Papillons are considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds on earth, with protective watchdog characteristics. Overall, this small breed is even-tempered, active and easy to groom.
A cute household pet today, this ancient toy dog breed hails from China — which explains why Pekingese pups are also commonly called lion dogs... because they resemble Chinese guardian lions. Across the board, the laid-back Pekingese are known to be great apartment dogs and can be an especially good match for newbie pet owners. While these fluffy dogs do shed, they are also trainable and smart as a whip. Ever the loyal sidekick, your Pekingese is going to be happy spending most of his time on the couch with you while you watch Netflix, as long as he's getting his cuddles.
Considered a toy dog by the American Kennel Club, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel from the U.K. is known to be affectionate, graceful and gentle. If you're looking for a family-friendly breed that’s great with children, this small spaniel may be your best bet. The highly trainable Cavalier enjoys relaxing at home and playing with the kids. And here's another fun fact that may make you love this little guy even more — Charlotte also had a Cavalier King Charles on Sex and the City.
Which small-breed dogs get your vote? Tell us below!
She's been such a champion for the women she works with, fighting for their equal pay and recognition in the industry, for as long as she's been in it. And since she revealed in August of 2015 that she was battling breast cancer, she's been inspiring people all over the world with her real, brave-as-all-hell social media posts documenting what it's like to fight the disease.
It's no wonder she has the kinds of friendships that are so beautiful they make us wanna cry.
One of those is with longtime friend Sarah Michelle Gellar, who recognized Doherty's birthday with a tribute on Instagram that has us sobbing.
"Where do I even start with this birthday girl?!?" Gellar wrote alongside a photo of herself and Doherty, who's cracking up at something. "She's everything. She's inspired me...well since... even before I called her a friend."
Sarah Michelle Gellar bday post for Shannen Doherty
Sarah Michelle Gellar bday post for Shannen Doherty
Gellar continued, "But over the last year, I have watched her inspire and give hope to the world. I thought I knew how tough she was, but I didn't even have a clue to her power. When I think twice about leaving the house without makeup, Shannen shaved her head on the public stage. While I fiercely guard my privacy, she opened her life, her struggles, her fears and her journey to help people she has never even met. She is a true friend to everyone. Shannon [sic] also has the greatest laugh in the world, which is why I chose this picture. To the fiercest, most loyal friend I know....let's party like it's your birthday!!! I love you."
You could hear the emotion and exhaustion in Jeff Varner's voice. Just hours after outing Zeke Smith as transgender on a tense episode of Survivor: Game Changers, Varner joined us on the phone for a conversation to explain his side of the story. We were prepared with a plethora of questions, but as our interview began, it was clear he had a lot to get off his chest. Limited to only 10 minutes, we only had the time to ask a few things, as Varner delivered very lengthy replies.
This was admittedly one of the most difficult Survivor interviews we've ever been a part of. Although that episode filmed 10 months ago, you will find Varner's actions still cut him deep.
SheKnows: How are you doing today?
Jeff Varner: It's been better. I've been talking nonstop since 8:30 this morning, so pardon my voice. I think I've cried myself to where there's no more tears to cry. Just know I'm devastated and I'm doing my best over here.
Image: CBS
SK: When you walked into that Tribal Council, were you planning all along on outing Zeke as transgender or was it something you decided in the moment?
JV: No. That's not something that I planned. It's not something I intended. The editing [made] it look like it was, but [those] were conversations I was having about other things. Earlier — right before Tribal — I spent several hours looking for an Idol. Ozzy was hiding behind trees and following me around to make sure I didn't find it. I caught him doing it, and I was like, "Ozzy, just come to me. If you find it, then I don't have it. So just hang out with me. I'm going home. This game is over. Just be here with me."
It's like I [got him to bring] his guard down. I had my guard down. In that conversation he admitted that he was in a secret alliance with Zeke and Andrea. You don't see that in the show. I don't know if the camera angle wasn't right, but [for] whatever reason, that was the beginning of the discussion of deception.
I saw that as an out. I took that [information] back to camp and pulled people away one at a time and started talking about deception...
When I went into Tribal, I was arguing [that I shouldn't be voted off] because they [were all being lied to]. I had 'em right there. I thought they were all about to flip [the vote]. You don't see this because it was edited out, but Zeke spoke up and said, "There is no deception. Jeff is lying. There's no deception here."
Emotionally, in my Survivor brain, it just [came out]... I had no expectation of any reaction. I had no expectation of any effect that it would have. It just was something that happened. You know after watching me for three seasons that I have a tendency to open my mouth when my back is against the wall and say stupid shit. This was an example of that. I've been working for 10 months to find out why I do that.
That's what was at play in that moment... It never dawned on me for a second that Zeke was in the closet. I couldn't even fathom the fact that you'd come on a show like this — not once, but twice — with a big old secret like that. Surely somebody knows. It's gonna come out. How are you hiding this? To me, he was out — loud and proud. I thought the viewers who watched Millennials vs. Gen-X knew because we didn't have a luxury due to timing of the show to see Millennials vs. Gen-X. We didn't know who Zeke was. So to me, Zeke was Russell [Hantz.] I needed to let everybody know, "Here's Russell. Here's what Russell is doing." I didn't think telling everybody about his gender identity [was bad] because everybody knew it.
When I argued, I thought everybody knew. I don't mean the six people that were sitting there — I mean the public, CBS and the producers. When it dawned on me that nobody knew and [when I realized] what I had done, I couldn't even breathe. That's not who I am... I would never in a million years do that. The fact that — here I am, not only doing that to a human, but doing it on television — is just too much. It happened during a two-hour Tribal and you don't see all of it. There was a whole meltdown...
Let me just really be clear: I'm not making any excuses. I'm not defending myself in any way, shape or form. What I did was absolutely horrifically horrible. It was a massive mistake — the worst mistake of my life. I would never in a million years do that again, but [I do] hope that nobody ever does that... When you out somebody, you marginalize them; you stigmatize them; you shame them; you push them back into the closet and force them to not be who they authentically are. You don't allow them to fit in, and that's just a disgustingly horrible place to be. When you out somebody, you insult them. I'm just so upset that I'm the poster child for outing at the moment. I hope that everybody can look at me as an example of why you should never do that. There's a lot that I hope comes out of this.
I know I took you down another road. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to derail your questioning...
SK: It's OK. I know this has been an emotional roller coaster for you. You posted a lengthy apology on social media shortly after the episode aired taking responsibility for your actions. Some have accepted your apology but many others are rejecting it. What is your response to those who don't believe your apology is genuine? [You can read Varner's apology after his response below.]
JV: I don't have a response [for] those people. [I want] good things to come from this shameful situation. I've been working with several doctors and a lot of people in the LGBT community to get past this. One thing that Dr. Brown talks about is "the arena." You can't say a word to me if you're not one of the people in the arena getting your ass kicked. If you're just a spectator, then what you have to say is not important to me...
What those people have to say is none of my business. They all have their own issues that make them say and do whatever they need to do. What they saw last night unleashed pain. People in pain react in dangerous ways. Let them say [whatever]. Let them believe [whatever]. All I have to say to that is I hear you; I agree with you on a lot of different levels; I respect you; and I give you room for that pain, and am so terribly sorry. That apology was genuine. I don't care to acknowledge anything anybody says otherwise. They don't know me. They don't know my journey. They're not in my arena.
Jeff Varner apologizes for outing Zeke Smith on Survivo
Jeff Varner apologizes for outing Zeke Smith on Survivo
SK: Have you spoken to Zeke in the past 10 months since that episode was filmed?
JV: Yes. Several times. It took a while... I reached out to him, he then reached out to me and we scheduled a phone call. We got back in July [from taping the show] and talked in October. That July to October was horrible. Talking to Zeke for the first time — hearing his forgiveness [and] grace just amazed me. Zeke is an amazing human being. I think watching it has sort of stirred up some really awful emotions for him. He's throwing some things at me this morning that aren't fair. I understand it and I respect it. Zeke has all the room in the world to react however he needs to react. I get it. I support him 100 percent. If he needs to take a swing at me, I will give him the bat. I love Zeke. I have great respect for him. Every conversation I've had with him has been, 'We're gonna get through this. I forgive you.' That's what I am leaning on. I love Zeke. I think very highly of him.
Image: CBS
SK: What was going through your mind as the episode aired and you had to relive that night all over again?
JV: There was a lot going on in my mind. Mostly all day yesterday, all I could think about was Zeke, his family and his friends [and how they were preparing] to watch it. I watched it alone with my boyfriend, and I never once, in that entire hour of viewing, thought about myself. I watched Zeke's face. I watched Zeke's eyes. I lived that experience again through his experience. I'm so proud of him. I'm so proud of his reaction. I'm so grateful for his grace in his reaction. I think he is a walking, talking beautiful example of how someone should handle a situation like that.
I will forever lift the voice of Zeke. I think we all should be lifting the voices of trans people. That's what needs to happen. We've got to stop minimizing, marginalizing and discriminating against these people. They're humans. They're dignified humans, and we need to lift their voices and let them be heard because that's the only way we're gonna move forward. All this stupid bathroom bill bullshit angers me so much. It's not about bathrooms, at all. It's about whether or not a trans person has human rights. It's about erasing trans people from society. That's horrible. I don't know where you live, but I know that California passed bathroom protection for LGBT people several years ago. In the four years [since] that's been enacted, absolutely nothing has happened. What has happened is more important. Trans people feel included. They feel like their leaders and their legislatures support them. It's creating an environment where they can be their authentic selves and thrive... which is what we really want for everybody.
Image: CBS
SK: Out of three seasons you've competed on the show, do you believe this situation with Zeke is your defining Survivor moment?
JV: No. One mistake does not define a human being. I will leave other people to decide what my defining moment is. I've been in the Survivor family longer than anybody on this season. This organization, this production team, this network has been nothing but gracious and wonderful to me. I will forever be grateful. Once a Survivor, always a Survivor. I'm in this family until the end, and so is Zeke. We are together. We will be together. This will all be a positive, wonderful thing. I'll let other people decide how to define me.
The looming finale of Girls has left me with a lot of emotions. Mostly ticked off that it's actually ending and I can no longer use the excuse, "Well, if Hannah Horvath can do it, I can too," but also because I love these women to bits. Saying goodbye sucks, so can you blame me if I want to hold onto these characters as long as possible?
Well, as luck would have it, I (well, all of us Girls viewers, really) have already said goodbye to a ton of the core Girls cast. When news broke earlier this week that both Jessa and Shoshanna wouldn't return for the series finale, I was none too pleased. This couldn't be the end of my time with them. No, it's too soon. Then came the double-whammy came that the men of Girls — Adam, Ray and Elijah — had also wrapped up their storylines and wouldn't return for the finale either.
So, what's a girl to do with all these pent-up feelings about the end of a truly great television series? I am going to, according to my own true feelings about the various endings, rank how satisfying each Girls character's ending truly was. It's about to get very real up in here.
You always knew Ray was going to be OK. Arguably the most adult of the characters from Day 1, Ray was a coffee shop employee (and then a business owner) with a Seinfeld-esque brand of curmudgeonliness that made him weirdly endearing. He has had a strong moral compass (remember when he briefly toyed with local politics?) and a good heart. In his own way, he always tried to be kind, see the good in people and wasn't afraid to give his friends the business if they got too out of hand. Sweet, wonderful Ray.
All things considered, Ray's ending was safe, predictable and a bit "meh." Don't get me wrong. I'm legit happy he found love and that it was with someone we never expected (Shoshanna's former boss, Abigail, played by SNL's Aidy Bryant). But honestly, would you have expected Ray to not be OK when all was said and done? No way.
In a similar vein, Shoshanna ended up right where she wanted to be. From Season 1 until now, Shoshanna has been the one person on Girls who has craved a fair amount of normalcy. We may have been prone to teasing her for being basic in the beginning (her love of Sex and the City and pink was just a lot to deal with), but now, that instinct for "basic" has transformed into something real and fulfilling for Shoshanna.
She may have met her fiancé in a way that continues in that "basic" pattern (she met him at a Sprinkles Cupcakes ATM), but she's happily engaged to him. She's working on her career; she's choosing friends with, as she puts it, "purses and nice personalities." It's no surprise Shoshanna is going to end up balancing a life of happy domesticity with the professional life she always wanted, but it doesn't mean it's not totally sweet.
Elijah's always been a hot mess, but he was our hot mess. Our self-centered, ambitious, horny, caring hot mess. I'm not ranking Elijah above Shoshanna and Ray because I think he's suddenly transformed into a more likable person; I'm ranking him above them because I think that for a while it looked like Elijah wasn't going to be OK in literally any way and then suddenly everything came together.
Elijah's journey on Girls has been a messy one, but the final season has made a point to show that even when Elijah was a shitty person, he had enough self-awareness to try to atone for his actions. He is on track to become a huge Broadway star in White Men Can't Jump, so don't expect the ego to deflate anytime soon. He may or may not stay romantically involved with troubled politician Dill Harcourt. He may go back to his old ways. But right now, where we left Elijah, we know that he's a markedly better, more tolerable human than he was at the beginning and that his dreams are finally coming true. I mean, that's pretty damn fantastic.
Marnie will eternally be the most frustrating character on Girls, in my opinion. She's not an actually bad person, but she's given me more occasions to loathe her for her selfishness or self-centeredness than I care to have while watching a TV show. The only reason Marnie made it this far up the list is because we have yet to see her in the finale, so she may redeem herself, and she kinda isn't the worst person ever as the entire finale winds down.
Marnie's lost a lot in the final season of Girls. She lost Ray, the second good guy she dated who could have given her what she wanted (we can't forget about Charlie) if she hadn't used him mercilessly. She lost Desi, her bandmate and ex-husband, when she made his substance abuse and recovery about her. She lost a few of her friends at Shoshanna's engagement party (jury's still out on Hannah) when Shoshanna called it quits on the group.
But Marnie needed to be taken down several pegs in order to learn that she needs to stand on her own two feet. If one of the main points about Girls is that growing up is a tough thing to do, this was Marnie's tough-love season. She grew up and stopped being co-dependent on others, hoping they'd give her a sense of identity or purpose. It was satisfying as hell to see her have that kind of reckoning with herself. Who knows if it will stick, though? She was last seen handing out her card to a group of guys and dancing with them all seductively. She may go back to her old ways soon enough.
Adam has woven a tangled web on Girls over the years. While he's had to come to terms with the fact that he can be a totally shitty human, he's also shown that he can actually show up for someone when the going gets tough. His relationship with Hannah proved that. He may have just started out as Hannah's hook-up, but he became a real boyfriend who supported Hannah through some serious mental health issues. The humanizing of this Girls hunk is reason enough to earn him a top spot.
But Adam's Girls ending is satisfying because the last time we saw him, he was just trying to do the right thing. Now, that's all Adam appears to be interested in. He wanted to help Hannah raise her baby. He wanted to make sure he apologized for the way he treated her. Even when it became clear that the spark had gone from his relationship to Hannah, he tried to make it all OK. Going back to Jessa is where he needs to be right now, and that's satisfying.
For what it's worth, I will agree that it was a bit shady that Adam's version of doing the right thing would be to break up with Jessa and raise a baby he had no biological or emotional connection to, but listen, I'm going to favor the nobility of it all over the shittiness of it all. Plus, I just really like Adam.
Talk about big comebacks! Saying goodbye to Jessa in "The Goodbye Tour" was beautiful. After a final season of feeling as if she would never reconcile with one of her oldest friends, Jessa was able to truly apologize for what she'd done to Hannah. Like Hannah admitted, they both said and did things that were wrong, and they'll never be able to truly get over what happened between them when it comes to Adam. But they're on their way.
Jessa has also had one of the biggest developments in her character during the final season of Girls. Despite no longer going to school to help fulfill a dream of counseling others, she's now recognizing her destructive patterns of behavior. Jessa's attempting to make a real and monogamous go of it with Adam. Making peace with Hannah is a cherry on top of Jessa's finale. Like everyone else on Girls, Jessa isn't going to be totally and perfectly fine or happy from here on out, but seeing her really grow and reconcile with everyone in the final season was so wonderful.
We have yet to see how it will all pan out for Hannah, but I can promise you right now that her ending is going to be the most satisfying of them all. In part, that's because Girls has been primarily about Hannah; to not give the protagonist of our story some version of a satisfying or fitting ending (not necessarily happy) is to be expected.
In the penultimate episode, it's actually shaping up to seem like Hannah might not get what she wanted, but she will get everything she needs. She's happy and ready to become a mother. She's going to be teaching in a university setting, which is an environment we saw her really embrace when she went to Iowa. Her writing career did launch into something substantial, and even though she doesn't feel it's true, I'd say she made her mark on New York.
As Girls winds down, Hannah isn't just making choices for herself or eschewing the adult choice for the choice that would make her feel good in the moment. She's looking ahead and planning. She's ready for the unexpected. In that way, her ending will be the most satisfying of all.
Buckle up, kids, because the train to Nostalgia Town is ready to roll thanks to the breaking news that Labyrinth is getting the spin-off treatment. Before you get too excited, you should know there will be some big (like really big) changes and an active focus on creating a new story rather than retreading in the original's footsteps.
So, what's the biggest change? There will probably be no Goblin King. You read that right. No Gobling King! We're not sure if this is out of respect for David Bowie's version of the character or because Director Fede Alvarez is dedicated to creating a new storyline, but we're guessing it's probably a combination of both. Bowie has become so well known for his role as the Goblin King in Labyrinth over the last 30-plus years, it'd be pretty difficult for anyone to fill his shoes.
But, still, this is blasphemy! What would a Labyrinth spin-off without the Goblin King even look like? How will Alvarez incorporate that simmering sexual potency that Bowie brought to Labyrinth if there's no Goblin King to play with magical glass orbs and stare seductively into the cameras? Who is going to sing "Magic Dance" or "As The World Falls Down" for crying out loud? So many questions, you guys. This is troubling stuff.
This Labyrinth news is exciting enough that you should stay tuned to see how things develop. If Alvarez chooses to stick to his horror roots, as he did with Don't Breathe, then there's a chance he'll be teasing out the more sinister aspects of the Labyrinth world as opposed to the cartoonish qualities that came packaged with Henson's version. For now, just turn up "Magic Dance" to 11 and dance around your room like nobody's watching.
Two things you see all over Instagram constantly: pineapples and millennial pink. So, in a great day for the internet, it turns out you’ll soon be able to combine the two and eat actual pink pineapples, which is both awesome and also a little disturbing.
Apparently, fruit conglomerate Del Monte has registered the (genetically modified) pineapples under a patent, and though they’ve been developing the new hue since 2005, the Food and Drug Administration finally signed off on them this week, Ellereports. They’re called rosé pineapples, because, of course, incorporating Instagram’s third favorite thing on Earth. Pineapples, millennial pink and rosé: the holy Instagram trifecta.
Not only are the rosé-napples really pretty, they’re also sweeter according to Del Monte. The pineapples, which will be grown in Costa Rica, will be labeled "extra sweet pink flesh pineapple." They might want to get a copywriter on that, but it’s a good start.
They owe their new color to messing with the enzymes that convert lycopene (which is pink) to beta-carotene (which is yellow). The “new pineapple has been genetically engineered to produce lower levels of the enzymes already in conventional pineapple that convert the pink pigment lycopene to the yellow pigment beta carotene,” the FDA said. “Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed."
Okie-doke. We’re not going to wax poetic about how bizarre and slightly horrifying it is that we’re living in a world in which we can control the color of our fruit (and genetically modify salmon to grow faster), but we bet we’ll see rosé-napples all over the world (and Instagram) once they hit the market.
Official images of the pink pineapples haven’t been released yet, so until they are, satisfy yourself with some rosé-napple fantasies, courtesy Photoshop and the internet. What a world.
For example, I feel strongly that President of the United States should know which goddamn country he decided to bomb and also, if it's not too much to ask, have the decency to not giddily mention twice how "delicious" the chocolate cake he was eating tasted while he did it.
I also feel strongly that police officers shouldn't act like hired goons for airlines, and that a person's "troubled past" has absolutely zero bearing on the fact that his treatment at the hands of said airline was horrific and inexcusable.
And, finally, I feel strongly that Jason Momoa looks better with long hair. Like, no contest, hands down, just better. As my four-year-old daughter would say, "Infinity better".
Others seem to have differing (read: wrong) opinions. And they've produced photos to justify these (misguided) opinions.
Before we get to those, here's a photo of long-haired Momoa for reference:
Jason Momoa Long Hair
Jason Momoa Long Hair
I mean...unfff.
I've said it before but I will say it again, I am not typically a fan of long hair on a man. Fabio was never my jam. I like my men neatly coiffed; maybe some stubble or a well-trimmed beard. I don't go for the bad-boy biker types, I'm too risk-averse for that.
I mean, yeah, he's still a handsome dude, I guess. But he also just looks kind of...basic? Like, I see this guy everywhere. I see this haircut everywhere.
And then there's this oldie, where a young Momoa tried on a boyband/Pauly D hairstyle:
Nope, nope, nope, no. Hard pass. This is not the glorious man-beast I find myself thinking about way too often. And part of it is that he's missing his trademark eyebrow scar, sure, but most of it is the hair, right?
Without the mane of hair and the beard, Momoa has been turned into a guy who chants "Chug! Chug! Chug!" at his bros while they guzzling cheap pints of beer. This is a guy who wears tank tops to the beach and spends his whole workout eye-fucking himself in the mirror.
And again, I'm not saying he's not a good looking guy! But this guy works at a bank. Or possibly a car dealership. He's nice enough, but you know that he isn't going to be the one to throw down in the bedroom.
It's been a long and turbulent couple of years for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, the couple who seem to either be making up or breaking up on the regular. Now, it's official: Affleck and Garner are getting divorced. According to Entertainment Tonight, the couple have officially filed after two years of separation marked by periodic reunions and efforts to go to couples therapy and work on living together as a family.
Interestingly, Affleck and Garner filed the petition for divorce together, implying that this is the most friendly split and outcome possible. One would certainly hope that after two years of gently test-driving a breakup, they would be able to part on good terms. There has been no official statement released from either camp announcing the divorce, however; we'll have to wait and see what happens next.
The couple announced their separation back in 2015, one day after their 10-year anniversary. "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," read a joint statement released by Affleck and Garner. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."
The amicable nature of their split was clear from the very beginning, so it's no surprise that this official filing appeared amicable as well. The actors also sought couples therapy at the beginning of their separation. When Affleck returned from rehab earlier this year, his statement implied that Garner was a pivotal person in his recovery. Now, the two will officially go their separate ways after many attempts to reconcile. It would seem that Affleck and Garner are both in agreement this is the best thing to do, and they'll both be able to move forward with their lives.
Chances are your weekend plans involve being horizontal on your couch at some point (#Same). But even so, that doesn’t mean old reruns of Keeping Up with the Kardashians are your only option when it comes to entertainment — some of the best podcasts out there are run for women, by women, and they are totally binge-worthy.
There are pretty amazing women hosting their own podcasts right now, offering inspiration and advice on love, sex, career, friendship and everything else that matters to the modern female. Grab your phone and a pair of earbuds and fire up one of these series.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
The woman who launched a thousand soul-searching journeys with her memoir Eat, Pray, Love is back, only this time she wants to stoke your imagination. As an extension of her latest book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Gilbert further explores the topic of creativity through her debut podcast, offering her own insights alongside those of her guests (most recently, fellow author Brené Brown). If you want to end the year on a high note and start 2016 with loads of motivation — or simply get yourself out of a rut — Magic Lessons will get you excited about your own potential.
We’ve been obsessed with Aisha Tyler for well over a decade (remember her as Joey’s and then Ross’ girlfriend on Friends?), and that feeling only intensified after listening to Girl on Guy. The comedian, author and producer talks to men she loves about everything from family to physical injuries. LL Cool J, Criminal Minds’ Joe Mantegna, Empire’s Andre Royo and Magic Mike’s Adam Rodriguez are all in the archives. Prepare to laugh your ass off.
Image: Courtesy of WBUR
Dear Sugar Radio
She may have become a household name after her memoir Wild was adapted for the big screen, but Cheryl Strayed was doling out her particular brand of hard-earned wisdom well before Reese Witherspoon decided to serve as its mouthpiece. Both she and co-host Steve Almond wrote a beloved advice column for The Rumpus called “Dear Sugar,” and this podcast is its audible second life. From a spouse’s troubling pot habit to emotional infidelity, no listener-generated question is too difficult or risqué for this pair to answer — always in an unexpected, thought-provoking way.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
The Great Girlfriends Show
Entrepreneurs Sybil Amuti and Brandice Daniel started this conversational series to provide women with the information they need to establish a successful business of their own, but it delves well beyond the boardroom. Yes, there are discussions about networking, but also maintaining lifelong friendships, surviving hardships and creating a life you can be passionate and excited about.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
Nerdette
While you’ll find plenty of talk about technology, science and history as the name would suggest, Nerdette is actually a forum for women to geek out over anything they’re passionate about — including pop culture. Co-hosts Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda gush over all manner of things with their guests, from performance artist Miranda July‘s meditation practice to Tavi Gevinson‘s love of music, and you’ll get plenty of book recommendations along the way. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, the duo’s recaps with playwright Peter Sagal are not to be missed.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
Stuff Mom Never Told You
Is being a perfectionist really worth it? How can we manage anxiety? What is the relationship between feminism and witchcraft? These are just some of the questions addressed by Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin in their 30-minute podcast, which is brimming with information, statistics and entertaining stories from their listeners. The conversation is simultaneously hilarious, sharp and intricate.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
#Girlboss Radio with Sophia Amoruso
Now that she’s no longer running the show at Nasty Gal, Sophia Amoruso spends her days chatting with fellow #Girlbosses such as Charlize Theron and nail artist Madeline Poole about their careers and the lessons they’ve learned on the way to success. If you enjoyed Amoruso’s no-holds-barred book of the same name, you’ll love listening to this weekly podcast.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
Women of the Hour with Lena Dunham
Getting Girls creator Lena Dunham and BuzzFeed together sounds like the stuff pop culture dreams are made of. And it sort of is in practice. The internet juggernaut gives Dunham a platform to interview influential women such as Janet Mock, Zadie Smith and Emma Stone, where they candidly discuss their relationships, careers, sex and more.
Image: Courtesy of iTunes
Last Name Basis
We all have our thoughts on pop culture, but few approach the world’s daily musings with the same fresh, on-point and playful perspective as husband and wife Patrick and Franchesca Ramsey (you may recognize her as the host of the MTV web series MTV: Decoded). The pope, Comic-Con and sex with robots is all fodder for the couple, who are also incredibly open about their marriage — both the good and bad parts.
Everybody loves a summer trip to the beach — but not everybody lives close to the ocean. Contrary to popular belief, however, not all of the best beaches are located by the sea. There are a bunch of lake destinations that are just as gorgeous and fun as their ocean-side counterparts.
If you plan a summer vacation at the lake, the possibilities are endless. You can rent a houseboat or a cozy cabin, you can camp — hell you can even hole up in a fancy hotel, if that's your thing. But no matter how you decide to lodge, you'll get to enjoy stress-free days by the water with your family and friends, just like the good ol' days.
These are our favorite lakes for summer.
1. Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan sits on Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois — so it's perfect for those living in the Midwest. It's known as the "Third Coast" of the U.S., due to having over 1600 miles of beaches. This lake offers more than your typical water activities and beach sports — you can go wine-tasting, rent a fishing boat, head to the farmers market, shop for antiques, walk the boardwalk and more.
2. Lake Powell
Lake Powell
Lake Powell
Lake Powell sits between Arizona and Utah and is by far one of the most gorgeous lakes you will ever lay your eyes on. Essentially, it's the Grand Canyon underwater — surrounded by red rocks and canyons. The lake stretches almost 200 miles, so you'll be sure to get plenty of privacy and be able to appreciate the beauty of the lake. Most people rent houseboats, but you'll have just as much fun (if not more) camping on smooth rocks and beaches.
Located in New York and known for hosting the 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid is surrounded by the Adirondack Park — a six-million acre alpine village offering family activities galore. You can play golf, go paddling, take a whitewater rafting excursion, go rock climbing or simply relax on the shore with a drink in hand and your favorite book. As far as where to stay — Lake Placid offers everything from luxury resorts and private waterfront house rentals to rustic cabins and campgrounds.
4. Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan
If you live in or near Washington, Lake Chelan — also known as Washington's playground — is not a vacation you'll want to pass up. It's the third-deepest lake in the U.S., and has both a beach and mountain vibe. Activities include touring world-class wineries, dining at gourmet restaurants, skiing and tubing, going on bike tours and more.
5. Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier
And finally, if you live in the Southeast region of the U.S., check out Lake Lanier Islands this summer for an unforgettable lake vacation. Stay at a campground, in a luxury hotel or on a houseboat, and plan your days around golfing, water sports, water parks, wine tasting, horseback riding, ziplining and tons more. This lake truly has it all, and you'll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Anybody who's ordered a round of shots out at a bar knows it's a mistake — it's crazy expensive! Yeah, it's fun to treat your friends and maybe impress some people in the process, but we'd also like to be able to pay rent, thank you very much. If you learn how to pour a perfectly layered shot on your own, however, you can impress everyone from the comfort of home and save about a million dollars, too.
Pouring a layered shot seems intimidating, but is actually pretty easy with a little practice. There's just one thing you need to understand first.
Liquor density: The critical key to layering shots
Liquor density is essentially the weight of the liquor. In general, sweeter liquors or liqueurs with less alcohol are typically the lightest. Alcohol-laden liquors are the heaviest. The heaviest liquor goes on bottom, with the lightest liquor on top.
Jaden Smith is a truly interesting character, so you know anyone who dates him for a significant amount of time has got to be pretty interesting themselves — such is the case with Smith's now ex-girlfriend Sarah Snyder.
We shed a single tear last month when word spread that these two had called things off. I mean, they started dating in 2015 and made it until the early months of 2017. That means in young Hollywood time, they were basically together for like 50 years.
Sarah Snyder instagram 2
Sarah Snyder instagram 2
Here's a little about Snyder and why we still think she's perfect for Smith.
Just like his sister, Willow, Smith seems to prefer the company of those older than him. There are conflicting reports on her age, but according to her Explore Talent modeling profile, Snyder is 21 years old, which basically means that she can drink (legally), while the 18-year-old Smith cannot.
Sarah Snyder instagram 1
Sarah Snyder instagram 1
2. She's a model
Sarah Snyder instagram 3
Sarah Snyder instagram 3
And a talented one. Her Instagram is littered with the usual social media modeling shots, but we dug up some professional photos of Snyder posted by a makeup artist that prove she is the real deal.
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 1
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 1
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 2
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 2
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 3
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 3
3. She's a petite model, at that
Image: Jerod Harris/Stringer/Getty Images
Snyder might not be a 6-foot-tall supermodel, but her smaller frame matches her ex perfectly — she is 5'5" to Smith's 5'7".
Instagram fame these days is nothing to laugh at, and Snyder is one of the youthful leaders of the pack. At sarahfuckingsnyder, the model has gained a following of 1.2 million Instagrammers.
We're guessing not being PDA shy is a prerequisite for dating one of the Smith kids — and Snyder has proven that she is more than game. The couple was graphically smoochie at NYFW 2015, and there's also this footage of them all over each other at the Pitch Perfect 2 premiere back in May 2015.
According to the Bedford County Police Department via Page Six, Snyder was arrested in June 2015 and charged with one count of larceny in the third degree after allegedly stealing a $15,995 Hermès bag from a New York shopping center in February of that year. Whoops.
7. She's got champagne taste
Sarah Snyder instagram 5
Sarah Snyder instagram 5
Sarah Snyder instagram 6
Sarah Snyder instagram 6
Judging by some of her Instagram posts, Snyder not only loves Hermès, but she's a Gucci fan, too.
As evidenced by her penchant for Hermès and Gucci, Snyder definitely has a love for the finer things in life, but we can't help but admire how she's able to also pull off a seriously pared-down look. She and Smith did seem to mesh well together with their eclectic fashion choices. Their looks say "I don't give a fuck," but they somehow look totally gorgeous anyway.
9. The girl is drop-dead gorgeous
Sarah Snyder instagram 10
Sarah Snyder instagram 10
But you probably noticed that already.
10. She may or may not have cheated on Smith
Sarah Snyder Instagram
Sarah Snyder Instagram
Everything seemed to be great with Smith and Snyder until August of this year, when gossip started popping up saying Snyder had cheated on her BF with a photographer named Gunner Stahl. Neither Smith nor Snyder directly addressed the rumors, but they did make a silent statement shortly after the talk started by packing on the PDA at the New York City premiere of Suicide Squad, where they could not keep their hands (or lips) off each other.
11. She's involved in a Kardashian beef
Sarah snyder insta
Sarah snyder insta
So apparently Snyder currently has an Insta-feud going with another one of Smith's exes, the one and only Kylie Jenner. For some reason, this information makes us ridiculously happy. The feud is all speculative and based on a couple of very subtle references to each other on Instagram caught by Hollywood Life, so it's totally possible that Snyder and Jenner have a chill relationship — but we all know that is probably not the case.
Before you go, check out our slideshow below.
Image: Graphics by Terese Condella & Becci Burkhart/SheKnows; photo provided by WENN
Originally published September 2015. Updated April 2017.
We love creative maternity photo shoots, especially ones that feature both parents. But what happens when the parents are 7,000 miles apart?
Ah, glad you asked. Nicole's husband Wesley is deployed overseas, so Nicole decided to hire Traci at Traci Lynn Photography. Traci needed to figure out a way to make sure Wesley could be included in this incredibly special time even if he couldn't be there in person. So the photographer devised a way to incorporate Wesley from half a world away to make the waiting game a little less bittersweet.
The couple knew they wanted their maternity photo series to have a military vibe, so Nicole and Traci used a photo of Wesley as well as some dog tags in her pictures. The best part? Wesley had a friend take a photo of him — posing in just the right way — and Traci edited the pics together to create a one-of-a-kind maternity portrait that tugs at our heartstrings in a big way. Gah! No, we're not crying, you're crying.
Wesley's deployment will keep him from being there for the baby's birth too, but these gorgeous shots capture what it means for a father to really be there in spirit. Although we have no doubt Nicole and Wesley will have the pleasure of sharing diaper duty someday — and soon, we hope.
Image: AMC
