Remember the good ole Days of Our Lives days when Sami Brady was stirring up trouble in Salem? She knew how to manipulate her way through friendships, family and of course, men. Well, get ready for a dose of DOOL nostalgia — Sami’s back!

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Alison Sweeney made the big announcement on Instagram Live on Monday to reveal that she will begin shooting in May for a two-month stint. She explained to Soap Opera Digest how she finally was able to carve out the time for her soaps return after her brief cameo in 2015.

“From my end, it takes a little bit of logistics with projects I’m working on,” she told the magazine. “And unfortunately, this year’s been hard for me because of my knee injury, so I had to push some stuff back. So, I figured out a schedule, blocked out some time that I had available and we figured it out! I’ll be shooting in Salem in May and June.”

The only drawback is that fans will have to wait until the fall for her TV return since DOOL shoots six months ahead. It will be a long summer, but viewers will have something to look forward to since it's just the shot of adrenaline the show needs.

More: 5 Clues that Alison Sweeney Is Making a Days of Our Lives Comeback

Here’s where it also gets really interesting. DOOL fans have seen audition tapes floating around the internet that appear to be a recasting of EJ DiMera. Even though EJ is supposed to be dead, everyone knows that death is rarely a permanent condition in the soap world. If EJ’s death was faked, could one of Salem’s most exciting couples be back together? It would make for a hot storyline later this year.

One final snag that could put a major monkey wrench in this welcome return is the writers' strike. The Writers Guild of America began voting about a strike on Tuesday. If talks fail with producers by May 1, the WGA strike will begin on May 2. This would affect all network, cable and streaming TV shows and movies.

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Soap writers are doing their best to prepare scripts ahead of time in case of a long strike. DOOL would be in the best position out of all four soaps due to their six-month advance schedule, but no one wants to see a long, drawn-out halt to the entertainment industry.

For now, we will relish the fact that Sami Brady is going to stir the pot in Salem soon.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

At this point, we're all plenty familiar with food mashups. Whether it's a Fruit Loops milkshake or a Whopperito, restaurants — particularly of the fast-food chain variety — are always trying to catch consumers' attention and entice them to become addicted to something new. And while normally, we raise a bit of an eyebrow and evaluate new mashups with a healthy dose of skepticism, Ben & Jerry's latest creation just has us damn excited.

Starting this Thursday, April 20 (appropriate for munchie-craving 4/20 celebrators the world over) Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops will launch the Chill-aco, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: A ridiculously indulgent ice cream treat that comes in — what else? — the shape of a taco.

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Here's the Chill-aco creation process: First, you pick two scoops of any ice cream flavor, which will be nestled inside two caramel-coated waffle cones before being topped with fudge and cookie crumbles. (Oh, and if you can't come up with your own ice cream flavor combo, B&J's has five amazing suggestions) Ummm, yeah. Did you stop breathing for a sec? Us too.

Alison Gilbert, senior brand manager for global Scoop Shop said in a press release, "The crunch of the taco, the layer of the caramel, and the smoothness of the ice cream makes it the ultimate snacking experience." Awkward food marketing lingo aside, we'd have to agree that it sounds delicious AF.

The only sad news: The Chill-acos aren't a permanent menu fixture (yet, at least). Of course, B&J's hasn't said when they'll disappear from shops, so basically, you'd better run to the closest location on Thursday and make sure you get one before they're gone. Sigh. All good things must come to an end.

More: Ben & Jerry's Cookie Cores are here to change your life

For those people lucky enough to get some form of sex ed in school — rather than the disaster that is abstinence-only education — it most likely was limited to penetrative sex between an able-bodied man and woman.

This leaves most people with disabilities without any sort of formal sexual health instruction — let alone the fact that large parts of society refuse to even acknowledge that they’re capable of having sex at all.

Kaleigh Trace — a writer and sex educator who identifies as queer, disabled and femme — is trying to change that. She answered a few questions on making sex ed more inclusive and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

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SheKnows: Are there any books, websites or other materials that you find helpful regarding sex ed & disability? In the disability sex ed that does exist, are there any inclusive materials/resources for LGBTQ individuals?

Kaleigh Trace: The great thing about a lot of sex education that takes into account disability is that if someone has made that step, they've also probably made the step to consider things like other genders and orientations rather than just perpetrating the same old boring story that white, straight, able-bodied, cisgender people are the only ones who get to have sex.

Some disability-inclusive sex education resources worth checking out are Scarleteen (don't be fooled by the name — this website has great sex ed for people of all ages and includes some good articles about disability), The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability by Kauffman, Odette and Silverberg and Andrew Gurza's podcast Disability After Dark.

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

I also really appreciate reading work about disability identity more generally as a way of feeling more comfortable with my own sexuality as a disabled woman. Some awesome disabled writers/activists to check out are Carrie Wade (who's work can be found on Autostraddle), Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Lyric Seal, aka Neve Be (who's writing is at Harlot), Eli Clare and Mia Mingus.

SK: Do you work exclusively with physically disabled individuals or also those with intellectual disabilities? Is there specific sex ed for people with intellectual disabilities?

KT: This is such an important issue to raise.

I intentionally focus my work on folks who experience physical disabilities and not cognitive/intellectual disabilities. It is crucial that all of us who fall somewhere on the disability spectrum have access to inclusive and accessible sex education, but I don't have the experience/knowledge yet to work with people who are intellectually disabled and I do not want to lump all disabilities together.

The barriers that physically disabled people and folks with intellectual disabilities encounter to accessing our sexuality do sometimes intersect, but there are some very different experiences of structural oppression at play here that must be acknowledged.

For instance, people who are intellectually disabled are often taught to consent to all sorts of physical touching (clothes changing, bathroom duties, etc.) without necessarily being taught when touching is appropriate and who is appropriate to touch/be touched by. The sexuality of intellectually disabled people is so often completely ignored because individuals are being characterized as perpetually childlike.

This is a huge problem, and it means that smart sex education for folks with intellectual disabilities needs to begin with more nuanced conversations of consent and bodily autonomy. And yes, sometimes folks with physical disabilities need access to this information too, but not always.

I don't know of much in terms of sex education work being done specifically for people with intellectual disabilities. I believe some workshops are being led by the Alberta Society for the Promotion of Sexual Health on Canada's West Coast, but the world definitely needs more of this work!

SK: Do you have any advice for a nondisabled person in a relationship with someone with a disability? Any suggestions on how to approach the subject of sex or any special needs or aids that might be required?

KT: This is a great question. All people are different, and I certainly can't speak for all of us who have disabilities. But in my experience, I really appreciate it when my nondisabled partners have asked me if there are any parts of my body that don't like to be touched/do like to be touched or just asking the more general question "Is there anything I should know about your body?"

When it comes to broaching these sorts of sex-related questions, there are a few different viable strategies. I find it easier to have such intimate conversations when you're already in an intimate moment — talking about sex mid-steamy make-out or when you're all cuddled up together. But others find it easier to bring it outside of the bedroom where the ego is less on the table.

More: How to Tell Your Partner You'd Like an Open Relationship

For instance, talking about sex over a messy dinner can feel lighter or less vulnerable. Ultimately, no matter what situation feels best for you, I do think that it is a generous and important thing for the nondisabled partner to raise the issue. It can be so nerve-wracking and scary to be disabled person and be hooking up with someone with a more normative body than yours.

You can spend a lot of time worrying [about] what the other person is thinking or trying to figure out how to tell them your needs. When the nondisabled person mitigates this anxiety by acknowledging your body/disability, it can be a huge relief.

Kaleigh Trace is the author of Hot, Wet & Shaking: How I Learned to Talk About Sex.

In an age when political activism is experiencing a major revival, from women's rights marches to tax protests, we're all in need of a little guidance when it comes to how to make a real difference. And if you're feeling a tad fatigued from it all, as many people are, what better way to re-up on confidence and motivation than to watch a movie about a woman who accomplished plenty through her own activism decades ago?

That's why you should see Citizen Jane: Battle For the City, a new documentary by director Matt Tyrnauer that spotlights spunky journalist Jane Jacobs, who fought against the larger-than-life forces of urban development in New York City in the '60s — helping to preserve the city's beloved and iconic Washington Square Park, among other places.

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The film focuses on how Jacobs took on urban planner Robert Moses — a money-driven real estate titan some have compared to Trump — and helping to thwart his efforts to bulldoze much of Manhattan and cover it with concrete housing projects and superhighways. And while Jacobs succeeded in many tangible, triumphant ways, what might hit viewers the hardest is just how relevant the movie and its themes feel right now, in 2017, amid a different kind of political upheaval.

Citizen Jane opens, fittingly, in New York City theaters on April 21 followed by a dozen other theaters around the U.S. (find the full list of locations here). If you don't get a chance to catch the film on the big screen, stay tuned for an update here on where you can stream it once it becomes available online.

If you take nothing else away from the movie, simply be inspired by Jacobs's fight against a real estate magnate with far more money and power than she. It's a much-needed reminder that our voices, while small on their own, become much louder and more effective when we unite.

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Oh boy band, have you heard the big news? Total Request Live is coming back, hopefully in all of its glory. MTV President Chris McCarthy recently told AdWeek that the iconic unscripted music show would return to screens this summer, almost a decade after it was cancelled due to changing ratings and changing times and almost two decades it premiered in the magical year of 1998. The reboot is part of a powerful drive by McCarthy to bring the youth back to MTV after too many years of the brand relying on reality television and straying further and further away from music.

“That ability to be live, in culture—not responding to it but driving it—is where we belong,” he told AdWeek.

McCarthy has been experimenting with live TV and throwbacks already–he's the one who started broadcasting Friends reruns on MTV during primetime–and it's been working so far. Turning the channel's show Ridiculousness into a two-hour live block doubled its ratings.

But will the new TRL (which will tentatively be called MTV Live) be successful, and what will it even be like? Details are slim, and our imaginations have run wild. We know a few things for sure: there are a few things that have to go down if we're going to sit down with bated breath and our after-school snacks like we did in 1998. Here's our list.

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It's got to be in the Time Square studio

TRL fans knew every square inch of the New York studio where the show was filmed, and the really big fans can brag that they went to Time Square and hung around long enough to gaze up into the window during an episode–maybe even waving a sign. And good news: the studio is getting a huge makeover. According to AdWeek, the space will be twice as big, and it's designed to accomodate all sorts of different set-ups, from intimate shots to big events.

It's got to have a great host

It's like the chicken or the egg: did TRL make Carson Daly great, or did Carson Daly make TRL great? It's tough to know for sure, but we do know that the show definitely went down hill when Daly left in 2003 and was replaced by a forgettable string of hosts that we can't really clearly recall–at least not like we can recall Daly's every expression and zip-up jacket. While we know Daly is busy now as a the host of The Voice and an anchor on The Today Show (and also he's like 43), we also know that we are going to need a very special person to head up MTV Live. Don't mess this up for us.

More: TRL and 9 other shows we never thought would end

One word: Britney

If there was one person besides Carson Daly who defined TRL, it was Britney Spears. We can see her on the show now, when we close our eyes, her tan abs peeking out from a half-shirt and her legs clad in some majorly 90s-style denim. She was so important to the show that they played ...Baby One More Time as the final credits rolled on the final episode. We fully understand that times have changed, and the Spears has gone through a lot in the last ten years. But she is still out there making music and being awesome, so make room on your premiere. Toss in Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Pink and we will get TRL tattoos on our foreheads.

OK, two words: Britney and Justin

If you're going to have Britney back, why don't you just go the whole way and invite Justin Timberlake back? the MTV Live studio is supposed to broadcast 3-4 hours of live television in a day, surely you have a little time to make this happen. There are already rumors on the internet that they've recorded a song together. What better time and place to debut it than on the first episode on June 12?

It's got to have weird cameos

So much of the beauty of TRL was that anything could happen: the format was pretty open and celebrities of all types loved to stop by, especially if they were promoting their newest movie/album/television show. Is (then-named) P. Diddy going to be running on a treadmill in the background, for very little reason? Is Mariah Carey going to show up with popsicles and strip? Who knows? If you want people, especially young people, to turn on a television instead of other choice screens, you better make it exciting and unpredictable.

It's got to have requested music videos... or does it?

So, Total Request Live was ostensibly about fans requesting music videos – it was literally the name of the show. And yet all of our best memories of the show were about the segments in between the videos: the live performances, the interviews, the weirdness, Carson Daly looking uncomfortable. With a new name like MTV Live, and with music videos getting less and less play on TV with every passing year since 1992 or so, we aren't holding out too much hope that VJs are going to be spinning too many reels. And we really don't mind. As long as their are popsicles and pop princesses.

More: Behind the Scenes on TRL

What one thing do you demand to see on the reboot of TRL?

A 3-year-old named Caleb got to play guru of all the things, and he didn't do half bad, either.

Caleb's dad, Matthew Clark, wandered into the casualiama subreddit and noticed a series of AMAs (Ask Me Anything).

He immediately decided his son should take a crack at it, so long as the questions were 3-year-old-appropriate. Because this is what parents do when they are tired of Caillou and Thomas the Tank Engine. So Clark created an AMA where Caleb would answer people's random questions.

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"I'm pretty simple, but I knew Caleb would have some fun answers," Clark said. "Since he acts like he knows it all already, I figured a few people would get a kick out of his answers. Caleb doesn't know what an AMA is, but I told him some people had questions they needed help getting answers to."

The answers are pretty priceless.

Turns out Caleb is a very practical kid at heart:

KissesWithSaliva: What would you do if you could do anything?

Caleb: Get some juice

He's also a little bit mysterious:

LacsiraxAriscal: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Caleb: 4

Caleb's approach to science is especially charming:

DoNotIngest: How does the sun work?

Caleb: It takes a nap

And his take on the really, really big question weighing heavily on everyone's collective mind is the deepest answer of all time:

RogerTheAlienSmith: What's the meaning of life?

Caleb: You are.

Whaaaaaat (insert sound of mind blowing up).

And when asked what the biggest thing in the whole world was, Caleb answered simply, "Bear."

Bear, or Reddit fame maybe. Nice job, Caleb.

A study at the University of North Texas Arlington looked at women experiencing homelessness during June 2014 and July 2015. The 25 to 61 year olds in North Central Texas served as a concentrated focus group for the plights that exist for women who are homeless.

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“Women experiencing homelessness report higher rates of reproductive health-related traumas, including unplanned pregnancy, miscarriage, and abortion than their non-homeless peers,” explains the study.

In addition to lack of preventative reproductive health options, like birth control options, homeless women are also more susceptible to be forgotten in the fight for reproductive health rights.

More: Taking micronutrient supplements during pregnancy may lead to smarter kids

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 50,000 women are homeless nationwide. A Bustle special project found that in many cases, these women and the shelters they seek asylum in are ill equipped with sanitary options for menstrual cycles or other woman-specific reproductive needs.

The study emphasizes not only the need to implement systems that would assist those who are homeless, but to also partner those same systems with education and empowerment programs. Breaking the cycle of homelessness is oftentimes not achieved alone. Instead, it’s a community effort led through education and empathy.

More: Is veganism harmful during pregnancy?

By Sanah Jivani

Originally published on HelloFlo.

As much as we love Meghan Markle, we can't help our sighs of sadness as a proposal grows more and more imminent. This is probably it; Prince Harry is off the market for good.

More: Why Prince Harry Opening Up About His Mental Health Struggles Is so Important

Things have been getting clearly more and more serious since the day Markle and Prince Harry met. They've gone on vacations together, arranged secret rendezvous and attended weddings as a couple. If anyone has their eye on the prize, it's Markle, and that prize is being the newest royal.

Right now, she practically lives at Kensington Palace, insiders say. While most nonfamily members have to go through strict security clearance, showing two forms of ID and a written invitation to enter the grounds, Markle "is waved right through," a source told Us Weekly. "Harry has made it clear she’s to be treated like everyone else who lives there."

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If that weren't indication enough that the family is going to start planning another royal wedding any day now, Markle is taking other steps to make sure she's royal fam-ready, including talking to some of Harry's closest advisers on the reg. "There have been many times where Meghan’s been unsure of protocol," an insider said, "and having access to Harry’s aides has been a godsend."

Those aides include Prince Harry's private secretary and his communications secretary. From the sound of things, Markle has the both of them practically on speed dial. It's a good thing too, because it takes a lot of work to impress literal royalty like Harry's family. So far, Markle has reportedly been nailing it.

"She’s very much been accepted into the family," a source said. "They are so happy to see Harry happy."

More: What Meghan Markle's Royal Training Probably Includes

I mean, obviously, we're all very happy for Prince Harry. Then again, couldn't he be happy being our single thirst-trap forever?

Update, 4:00 PM EST: A few minutes after posting it, Serena Williams pulled her photo from Snapchat. There's no official word on what any of this means, but people on social media are still losing their minds about it.

Serena Williams revealed on Snapchat that she's 20 weeks pregnant! That likely explains why the tennis goddess pulled out of the Miami Open last month (a move her fans were not happy about).

It may have been a decade since the last time Brad Pitt was single, but that obviously doesn't mean he's going to stay that way forever. Of course Pitt's going to start dating again at some point, so why not now?

More: Brad Pitt Can't Catch a Break From Constant Relationship Rumors

It's been a little more than six months since his split from Angelina Jolie. Maybe that's a little quick to be moving on, but hey, everyone adjusts to a new way of life at their own pace. Plus, it's not like he's rushing down the aisle with a new girl or anything.

According to an insider's tip-off at People magazine, Pitt "has been dating a bit," adding, "[i]t’s not anything serious. He doesn’t have a girlfriend. It’s more of a way to get out and be social." So he's living a perfectly normal life for a single guy. Why should this come as any shock?

More: Brad Pitt Is Trying Something New to Move On From Angelina Jolie

Pitt's friends, who know him best, have been encouraging this, because they "don’t want him to sit at home alone." The way they describe it, it sounds like dipping his toe back into the dating pool involves double dates. "He seems more comfortable double-dating and friends are helping out," the source explained.

He's definitely not getting serious with anyone, even though rumors have linked him to Kate Hudson and Sienna Miller since his split with Jolie. Miller addressed those rumors recently at a screening of The Lost City of Z (they met on the set of the film, which Pitt is producing), saying, "I’m not going to even dignify it with a response. It’s predictable and silly."

More: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Aren't About the Bitter Divorce Life... Anymore

What’s also predictable is that Pitt isn’t going to stay hung up on Jolie forever, and now women everywhere can resume fantasizing about becoming Mrs. Pitt again.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

OK, so our feelings about KFC are, admittedly, mixed. The company recently vowed to rid all of its meat from antibiotics by the end of 2018 — a noble idea, but a little late in its execution. Still, we can't deny that the crunchy fried chicken and salty, delicious mashed potatoes are a little addictive.

Now, the Southern fast-food chain is dropping a new menu item: The Zinger, a fried chicken sandwich that promises to pack major heat. Marinated in cayenne pepper before being breaded and fried in KFC’s famous combo of 11 flavorful herbs and spices, the sandwich is supposedly spicy, but not overwhelming.

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There's even more reason for spicy chicken lovers to be excited about this particular sandwich right now. Last month, Wendy’s yanked their spicy chicken nuggets from the menu, leaving an opportunity for other fast-food purveyors to fill the spicy chicken hole.

More: KFC's new Zinger Double Down King is a ridiculous calorie monster

“We've been actually working on this for two years, we spent $80 million upgrading our back house equipment and we spent the last six months re-training all of our staff on how to make a fried chicken sandwich fast, because ultimately at lunch, we have to win on speed,” Kevin Hochman, president and chief concept officer for KFC U.S., told Fox Business’ Stuart Varney.

The Zinger is already available at multiple KFC locations around the world (including a custom food truck in New York City's Union Square) and will be available nationwide starting Monday, April 24. Only a few more days until spicy chicken sandwich lovers will have their new go-to drive-thru favorite.

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Just when you think your favorite soap is going to make it, another obstacle gets in the way. While we don’t want to be all doom and gloom when it comes to our favorite daytime shows, fans should be prepared if another writers strike happens.

More: A Familiar Face Is Returning to DOOL, and It Can Only Mean Trouble

A vote has already gone out to the Writers Guild of America members to approve the strike. If a new agreement with producers isn’t reached by May 1, a strike will occur beginning on May 2. It will affect all daytime and primetime TV as well as feature films.

Do you remember the last time this happened? The soaps weathered the first part of strike, which began in November 2007, well, but the second half of the strike was a bit bumpy until it ended on Feb.12, 2008.

At the time, there were eight soaps on the air: All My Children, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. The shows didn’t have to rely on reruns, according to The New York Times, because the writers scrambled to write as far ahead as they could before the left their post.

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Most of the shows made it until January 2008 before they ran out of new material. Guiding Light was lucky enough to have scripts written through February 2008, but other shows, like Y&R and As the World Turns, used non-union or financial core guild members who are allowed to avoid the strike.

Like last time, producers will do all they can to make sure their shows do not go into reruns for one good reason: declining ratings. Every time a soap misses its original air date with fresh material, the ratings see a dip. This happened when the soaps were preempted by the O.J. Simpson trial, and even the Sean Spicer daily briefings in President Trump’s administration have challenged daytime television.

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Days of Our Lives will be in the best position if the strike hits since they work six months ahead of schedule, but you can bet GH, B&B and Y&R are working their writers hard should the inevitable happen. Let’s hope the writers come to an agreement because each blow delivered to our favorite soaps gets them one step closer to cancellation.

All right, let’s face it: Unless you’re Benjamin Button or have access to a Back to the Future time machine, you’re going to age — not that that’s a bad thing (it sure beats the alternative). But thanks to the advanced formulas crafted from and perfected by the dermatologist and scientist gods, beauty products like retinols and chemical peels can help combat the fine lines, rough texture and discoloration that comes with, well, being a living, breathing human. And while you’ve probably already flirted with a few retinol creams, oils and serums by now (because there are currently, like, thousands flooding the market), have you ever considered taking matters into your own hands — or rather, your kitchen? Yes, we’re talking antiaging DIYs, and yes, they actually work.

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Hey, as much as we love the laboratory-made products in our medicine cabinets, we’d also be cool with ditching the monthly expense and making some shockingly effective anti-aging DIYs in the comfort of our homes. And though nothing can truly be as effective as retinol, a lot of the products in your fridge and pantry are actually incredibly effective at softening dry skin, plumping fine lines, and exfoliating blah, dull complexions as long as you know what to use — and what to avoid.

Which is where Dr. Ava Shamban, dermatologist and DIY aficionado, comes in. “DIYs have been used for centuries, most notably by Cleopatra,” Shamban says of the original beauty guru. “She didn’t have a chemist; she had a kitchen.” Of course, it’s 2017, not 50 B.C., and Cleopatra didn’t have to contend with pages and pages of dangerous, poorly formulated Pinterest DIYs that are filled with skin-irritating ingredients.

So we got Shamban to tell us her four favorite antiaging DIYs that actually work without harming your skin, and, spoiler alert, all of the ingredients you need are probably already in your pantry. So embrace your inner Cleopatra and give ’em a try — you might just swear off your store-bought products for good. Well, maybe.

This fruit does so much more than just tasting ridiculously good on toast — it’s also “an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and a moisturizer,” says Shamban. And when combined with fine-line smoothing coconut oil, a dab of Greek yogurt (a core ingredient in almost all of Shamban’s DIYs thanks to its skin-softening and collagen-boosting alpha-hydroxy acids) and a bit of honey (which is packed with damage-fighting antioxidants), you’ve got an antiaging all-star.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 tablespoon unflavored, sugar-free Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl using a fork to evenly mash up and mix in the avocado, then smooth a thick layer of the mask over your clean, dry skin.
2. Leave on for 20 minutes, or as Shamban suggests, “long enough for you to look through your Facebook feed.”

Papaya cleanser recipe

This DIY doesn’t just clean your face — it gently exfoliates to subtly brighten skin over time. “It’s like a smoothie for your skin,” says Shamban. Not only do papaya enzymes act as a fruit acid peel, naturally removing dead skin cells for brighter skin, but the antioxidant-packed grape seeds help protect your face from wrinkle-causing free radicals. And if your skin is acne-prone or extra oily, Shamban suggests adding a bit of witch hazel to the cleanser for a dose of blackhead-reducing antiseptic.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 papaya, peeled and de-seeded
• 3 tablespoons witch hazel (found at most drugstores)
• 15 dark grapes with seeds
• 2 tablespoons unflavored, sugar-free Greek yogurt

Directions: 

1. After removing all seeds and skin from the papaya, scoop it into a blender and add in the rest of the ingredients, blending until totally smooth.
2. Remove your makeup, then pour a quarter-size drop of the cleanser onto a damp wash cloth. Gently massage the cleanser into your skin for 30 seconds, then rinse with warm water.
3. Follow with your usual moisturizer.

Pro tip: Shamban suggests following with a quick, DIY chamomile and rosewater toner to rehydrate skin and plump up fine lines. Using a full blossom of chamomile — or two chamomile tea bags if you aren’t near your own personal botanical garden — brew a quarter cup and add in two tablespoons of rosewater. Pour the liquid into a mister and lightly spray over face post-cleansing. Keep refrigerated for one week, max.

Oatmeal and sunflower seed face scrub recipe

This oatmeal-based face scrub sounds intense, but it’s actually gentle enough to use on face, neck and even your lips (you still need to avoid the eye area, though). “Sunflower seeds are packed with super-hydrating oils that moisturize the skin while literally scrubbing away all the dead skin that dulls complexions,” says Shamban. Mix that with zit-fighting honey (which has natural antibiotic properties) and antioxidant-rich honey, and some gentle oats, and your blah, crepey skin will look crazy hydrated and plump.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon oats
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
• 2 tablespoons unflavored, sugar-free Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon warm honey

Directions:

1. In a blender, grind the oats and the sunflower seeds until finely milled — you don’t want any harsh edges scratching your skin.
2. Dump the mixture into a small bowl, then add in the remaining ingredients, mixing until relatively thick and scrub-like.
3. Gently (promise us you’ll be gentle!) massage the scrub into wet, cleansed skin, moving in concentric circles, then wash off and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Calendula and green tea moisturizer recipe

Yes, you’re pretty much making your own moisturizer here, but don’t worry — the recipe calls for a base cream to start you off, so you won’t need to build a lab in your kitchen first. Shamban recommends using the ultra-gentle cult-favorite Vanicream as a base, then mixing in redness-reducing green tea, anti-inflammatory calendula oil, the very hydrating olive oil to moisturize skin while also infusing it with wrinkle-fighting polyphenols. For an extra dose of vitamins C and K — which over time reduce fine lines and age spots — you can mix blueberries into the moisturizer (though only use blueberries if you’re applying this cream at night, since it’ll leave your skin with a faint blue hue until you wash it off). And keep this sucker in the refrigerator between uses, says Shamban, since it’s basically food.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Vanicream or your favorite gentle moisturizer
• 2 teaspoons concentrated, overly-steeped green tea
• 5 drops pure calendula oil (found at most grocery stores or health food stores)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 12 blueberries (optional)

Directions:

1. Steep a cup of green tea for 10 minutes, then, once it cools off, transfer the liquid into a small bowl, adding in the calendula oil, olive oil and your base moisturizer and stirring until completely mixed. If you’re adding blueberries, put the mixture in a blender instead and blend in the blueberries until the cream is thoroughly mixed.
2. Pour the cream into a small jar or lidded container and massage into your skin after removing your makeup and using your face wash.

More: 10 Crucial Things No One Ever Tells You About How to Use Concealer

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Nobody loves even the flimsiest hint of a new celebrity relationship in the works more than I do. What kind of monster doesn't jump at the opportunity to celebrate new and budding love? That said, there's one incredibly weird thing happening right now that has me so confused, and it involves a guy, a girl and a ton of people that want to make them happen as a couple (like Gretchen Weiners and "fetch" in Mean Girls).

More: Bradley Cooper Squashes All Hope of a BCoop-JLaw Romance IRL

Photos from the set of the A Star Is Born have surfaced that involve leads Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper passionately kissing. Now, mind you, this passionate kiss is not a real kiss; it's for the movie. In the plot for A Star Is Born, Ally (played by Lady Gaga) and Jackson Maine (played by Cooper) are two musicians who fall in love but may get broken up when Ally's musical career takes off and Jackson's stalls.

For some weird reason, people are hooked on perpetrating this kiss like it's real and indicative of an actual budding romance. The chemistry between Lady Gaga and Cooper is definitely palpable, so it's easy to get confused. But, like, making this out to be a real thing? You guys need to get a grip, please and thank you. Oh, and there's one crucial very hilarious catch to this hubbub: Lady Gaga and Cooper are involved... with other people.

Cooper just welcomed a baby girl with his current girlfriend, Victoria's Secret model Irina Shayk. On the flip side, Lady Gaga has reportedly been dating her agent, Christian Carino, for the last few months, although Lady Gaga hasn't officially announced the relationship. They were, however, spotted together at the Super Bowl this year and attended a Grammy's 2017 after-party together.

More: Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney Aren't Getting Their Happily Ever After

So, let's review — Cooper is definitely dating...

... Irina Shayk, not Lady Gaga

I mean, look at how cute Cooper and Shayk were at the Met Ball last year:

She also loves biting Cooper's shoulder like she's marking her territory, which totally implies that she's not sharing her actor boyfriend with anybody:

Also, Lady Gaga is actually, for real, most likely dating...

... Carino — look at how cute these two are while chit-chatting at that Grammys after-party

Then again, Gaga hasn't posted any couples pics in months. If that relationship has gone kaput, then she's living her best single life, as well she should be.

More: It's a Girl for Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk

So, have we officially put that nonsense rumor to bed? Good.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

By Georgene Huang

Working moms do a lot, so it’s natural that we also feel a lot of guilt…. about, well, a lot of things. At work, at home and in society at large, a lot is demanded and expected of working mothers. Sometimes all that pressure simply builds up and creates these urges to say, “I’m sorry.”

The urge to apologize does not, of course, mean you did something wrong. But words do matter. Many of us, for example, use words that can make us sound less confident and capable — even if we don’t feel an ounce lesser in any way.

Here are 13 things you should never have to apologize for.

1. Leaving at the end of the workday

It’s called “the end” of the day for a reason. You’re going home because it’s the end of the workday. If you didn’t do it before you had kids, there’s certainly no reason you need to start apologizing for going home now.

More: Outrageous real estate flyer slams working moms

2. Leaving to pick up a child

You don’t have to apologize for leaving or because you have to meet your nanny or pick up your kid from day care (because it’s the end of those people’s workdays). You are a parent and you have responsibilities outside of work. So go and attend to them. Apologizing is not necessary and actually perpetuates the idea that being a mom is somehow a compromise to your job. It’s not!

3. Pumping

Pumping at work can feel awkward, for sure. But do you apologize for using the restroom? What if you choose to drink a lot of coffee and have to go more often than the average person? That may seem like an absurd question, but deciding to nurse is your absolute right as a mom, and needing to pump is a biological need once you’ve committed yourself to breastfeeding while also working.

4. Going to the bathroom a lot when you have morning sickness

Apologies are best reserved for acts of volition that result in harm — and we’re pretty sure that feeling nauseated is something you would have never chosen to do. Moreover, you’re actually doing everyone a favor by not retching on your desk (or anyone else’s for that matter).

5. Asking for a promotion

Whether the answer you get is a yay or nay, you don’t need to apologize for having ambition and the desire to advance. If anything, your manager should be thanking you for having the gumption and taking the initiative to shoulder more responsibility. Ask yourself this: Would a man in your position apologize for wanting a bigger, more important job?

More: This new research will completely dissolve your working mom guilt

6. Telling your boss you’re pregnant

We hope this needs no explanation. You may feel guilty about the work that now needs to be redistributed among your colleagues or a freelance temp. And you won’t leave everyone high-and-dry. But this is a special time in your life, and it’s a disservice to yourself and your colleagues to think you should apologize. No matter how you feel, try to reframe things if guilt is pushing you to apologize.

7. Telling your clients you’re pregnant

Again, we applaud your devotion to your work and customers. But relationships with your clients weren’t built overnight, and having a baby doesn’t mean you’re incapable of working for several months of your pregnancy, nor does it mean you’re never coming back. They will survive and manage — and you should expect them to.

8. Asking for flexible work schedules

If you want to negotiate for flexibility at work, treat it like any other nonnegotiable feature of your job. For some people, that’s their title or salary. For others, it’s the location where they work and their hours. If you want something, ask for it. You don’t have to apologize for wanting (or needing) it. If you don’t get it, that’s finally a good time to say, “I’m sorry...” as in, “I’m sorry you don’t appreciate that I can be productive in a more flexible work environment.”

9. That you want to work

It’s not just at workplaces where apologies can slip out of our mouths. At home, working moms can also feel guilty about the time and meaning that work provides, especially if our partners or children are upset about our business travel or just being away for much of the day. But remember that dads can feel guilty too and that apologizing sends you and your family the message that you’re doing something “bad.”

More: What working moms have that stay-at-home moms want

10. That you love your job

Most of us have to work for financial reasons. But that doesn’t mean we can’t also love our jobs. And if we love our jobs and spend a decent amount of time and energy on our careers, we can feel guilty for feeling “too” interested in our work. If that’s how you feel (both the guilt and the love parts), that’s how you feel. No need to apologize!

11. That you can’t always make every soccer game or dinner or bedtime

If you work outside the home, chances are there will be times you cannot make every piano recital, hockey game or be there for bath and bedtime. But you don’t have to apologize. If you choose to, that’s fine, but remember that apologizing sets a tone for your children and partner and implies a level of expectation-setting that may not be realistic or sustainable.

12. That you have to sometimes work at night or on weekends

Similarly, sometimes you have to bring home work. Most children have homework, which takes them away from their families in the evening or projects that require them to dedicate weekend time. Adults do too! So in our view, there’s no need to apologize for this.

13. That you are taking a maternity leave

Maternity leave is a legal right for many women (though sadly, not all), and if you qualify for FMLA or unpaid time off through a state law, or even better, paid leave benefits offered by your employer, you should not apologize for exercising your rights or benefits. You are having a baby and need physical and emotional recovery, not to mention bonding time. Your work will be there when you return, and taking maternity leave does not mean you don’t care about your job or your career.

Bottom line: If you find yourself apologizing for any of these 13 things, bite your tongue and check yourself. Do you really feel sorry about this? If the answer is no, you know what (not to) say.

Originally published on FairyGodBoss.

Backstreet's back, all right!

More: Let's Be Real: Backstreets Boys Elevated the ACMs With Their Boy Band Magic

Just because sometimes the world isn't all Donald Trump and crisis in Syria and ISIS, the Backstreet Boys are here to bring you a solid shot of joy in this otherwise dark, dark existence. That's right — the Backstreet Boys Cruise is letting us pack up all our '90s nostalgia and take it on a boat for a sixth trip from Miami to Grand Turk.

For the sixth glorious time, fans can get tickets to go on a baller vacation with Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Howie D., Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell in the flesh, and since you're all on a boat together, we can only imagine there's gotta be some solid hang time. I mean, it's not like they can get away.

Tickets include a bunch of mid-ocean theme parties, two special BSB performances per day and meet-and-greet times with the whole band, because obviously. The only downside to the whole experience is that it's still so far in the future — Backstreet Boys Cruise No. 6 doesn't depart until May 4, 2018. Oh, well; plenty of time to get that vacation request in at work.

More: Did Someone Say Road Trip? The Backstreet Boys Are Taking on Vegas, Baby

Even though the Backstreet Boys have been performing for 24 years (!!!), don't even think they can't still hang.

"It is three to four days of debauchery in the middle of the ocean," McLean told Refinery29. "When I tell you it is crazy — it truly is."

Also, the Boys keep coming back for more cruises because they really, truly love their fans and it's so freakin' sweet.

"The best part about these cruises is we get to be more hands on and more accessible to our fans and that is something we really pride ourselves on," he said. "We love our fans to the utmost. And without our fans we wouldn’t be here for over 24 years."

More: AJ McLean Reportedly Celebrated His Daughter's Birth With Women, but Not His Wife

BRB, buying tickets right now.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Sex toys are made for enjoyment, period. So instead of "couples vibrators," I call them “hands-free vibrators.” This isn’t to say they’re better than vibes that require handling to operate, just that they don’t require (much) handling. Of course, some hands-free vibes are better than some manually operated ones.

My previous experiences with this style of toy (We-Vibe generations 2 and 4 Plus, Dame’s Eva and a twisty thing called an Ogee, to name the standouts) have been pretty much on the negative side, and truth be told, I’m not a fan of using them in their most touted fashion: wearing them during P-in-V sex. It just doesn’t do it for me!

Through trial and error, I think I’ve found the best hands-free vibe on the market (for my own purposes, that is) and I’ve found some great ways to use it. Out of all the hands-free toys out there, the We-Vibe Sync has actually impressed me with its power, quiet motor and features — I don’t get paid to talk about them. I (along with about a gazillion other sex writers) just love their quality. These tips can definitely be used with more vibrator styles than the Sync, but for scientific research and analysis, I’ve included my vibe-du-jour as a baseline. Adjust directions as necessary.

More: Yes, Your Partner Can Go Down On You During Your Period –– and It Can Help With Cramps

Here’s how I’ve innovated my vibrator usage so far and how I plan to in the future.

1. Make oral O-worthy, even when it’s not your turn

The 69 position is, in my opinion, overrated. This is a personal statement, to be sure. Not only does it require utilizing serious skill, focus on airflow is integral (no matter the bits involved, performing oral sex can mean mastering the art of breath control!) and piling on concern for your partner’s comfort, your positioning and whether or not an orgasm will leave you too weak in the knees to, know you, stay on your knees — it’s just too much for me.

What do I prefer? Wearing a hands-free vibrator while going downtown. Hand your heartthrob the remote control (or your phone if you’re using an app like the Sync and a lot of vibes are employing) and focus on nothing more than enjoying absolutely everything you’re doing.

2. Turn your shower into something steamier

Like many young folks, the removable showerhead in my adolescent bathroom became a best friend of sorts. These days, I’ve upgraded. I thought that wearing the Sync in the shower might be boring, so-so at best, but I was surprised that halfway through soaping up my hair, I completely lost interest in getting clean. Yep, standing in the shower with a half-lathered head of hair and streaky mascara cheeks, I totally got off without any effort exerted. Way to go, waterproofing technology! Though a shower is my own standard, the Sync can also be worn in a bath — even hot tubs! It’s not the only toy that can do this, but make sure to check out your own toy’s specifications before submerging it.

More: 6 Oral Sex Techniques That Deserve Some Kind of Medal

3. Going to the movies? Bring the buzz

Whether you’re with someone or enjoying some solo self-care time, wearing something extra saucy is an easy way to amp up the heat any day of the week. Keep the remote in your pocket and get in some extra thrills while you catch up on the latest award winning films at the multiplex. This would also be a great time to break out an audio-sensitive toy like the OhMiBod Club Vibe 2.Oh, which responds to different levels of sound with a matching vibration level.

4. Put some rumble in your road trip

A trip to places near and far is always fun with a great playlist, snacks and good company, but even the best road trip can get a little tiresome. Between point A and B, something sexy can really liven up the ride. Since it would be wildly irresponsible to recommend anyone ever use a vibrator while driving, I’m going to solely recommend that this tip be used in the passenger and backseat only. Rest stops, however, offer a whole different set of opportunities!

More: The Truth About Using Condoms During Oral Sex

5. Take a long-distance lover

One of the coolest things about the era of teledildonics (yup, that’s a real thing) is that it’s making it easier than ever to have long-distance orgasms. So even if the person you love, like or lust for isn’t nearby, they can still help you get off online — and it’s better than the cybersex of yore.

The We-Connect app lets partners share the controls of their vibe while on text, audio or video chat. The hot person who liked your comment on a friend’s social media page but they live just a few too many hundreds of miles away? No reason you can’t still have a sensational hookup over smartphone. Welcome to the future of sex.

6. Use it how it feels good

Something sex educators get asked all the time is, “How do I use this?” And the only truly universal answer is, "Use it how it feels good!"

Just because something is designed to be used a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way to use it. If you don’t like wearing a vibrator internally, try holding it against your favorite spots. Try wearing it in your hand and using it for manual sex on yourself or a partner.

Try wearing it while you just make out with your favorite date mate. Dry humping can be significantly improved with the help of a vibrator. Some nipples love vibration. Get experimental! Do what feels good.

The only restrictions you should keep in mind are: never use silicone lube with a silicone toy; never put anything without a flared base in your butt; and never go from the booty to another hole without cleaning up thoroughly first.

What are some ways you can innovate upon the hands-free vibrator? Tell us in the comments.

If you ever needed proof that even if a stint on The Bachelorette doesn't result in lasting love, there's still a best life to be lived, boy do we have it.

More: Bachelorette's Chad Johnson & Robby Hayes Trash-Talked Nick Viall So Hard

Jef Holm, aka Emily Maynard's ex-fiancé, just opened the doors of his Venice Beach bachelor pad to two other Bachelorette rejects: Chase McNary and Robby Hayes, who both competed for JoJo Fletcher. The three bros are all living together and partying together, and someone please find out how I can get an invite to one of their house parties, K thx.

The three of them met when they were all at the taping of Nick Viall's "Women Tell All" special.

"We ended up after partying at [Holm's] house," Hayes said. "He said his two roommates were moving out and gave us the opportunity to move in."

More: The Bachelorette's Robby Hayes Is Suspiciously Chill About Being Dumped

What great timing, because Hayes and McNary had just moved out of their shared pad in Denver, and with all the business opportunities they were eyeing in LA, "it’s like the stars were aligning," Hayes said. "You only live once, so why not go for it? We’re striking while the iron is hot."

Also, the house they're all sharing now sounds bomb as hell.

"You can literally see Venice Beach Pier from my window," Hayes said. "That’s how close we are to the beach. It’s incredible!"

But it may be a short-lived arrangement for Hayes, who's kind of maybe considering a stint on Bachelor In Paradise this summer (and if we have any say, YES, ROBBY, PLEASE GO).

"It’s something I’m interested in, but my family might not be," he explained. "They’re catching all the flak and dealing with rumors while I’m cut off from the world with no phone and internet. My mom stresses out. I don’t know how they would deal with me being back on TV. But it’s a bridge I’ll cross if and when producers ask me to go on."

More: Yes, The Bachelorette's Robby Did Get Work Done on his Pearly White Teeth

Ah, liquid eyeliner — the one corner of makeup that separates the beginners from the pros, the kids from the adults, the frustrated and angry from the calm and cool. Because for some reason, liquid liner has become a hallmark of confusion in the beauty world, inspiring memes, zillions of confusing YouTube tutorials and cries of defeat and surrender among beauty lovers — until now. (No, seriously! We’re going to make it so easy for you! Rejoice!)

More: 5 New Nail Polish Colors We’re Obsessed With Right Now

Because we believe that liquid liner, cat eyes, winged flicks and every other synonym for very kick-ass eyes deserve to be worn by ordinary people who are not professional makeup artists or 14-year-old YouTube stars. So we called up Ashleigh Ciucci, a straight-up beauty wizard and very cool person, to show us exactly how to apply liquid eyeliner in just three steps. And because we care about your mental health, we did it in the form of GIFs so you won’t need to pause a tiny video a billion times to figure out what the hell is going on. Scroll through the GIFs below and get ready to have your first set of raccoon-free eyes. We’ll be waiting here for the Instagram pics.

More: Miniskirts Are Trending for Spring — and We Are Here For It

Photographer: Tory Rust

Model: Rachel Besser

Makeup: Ashleigh Ciucci

Hair: Akihisa Yamaguchi

Step 1: Draw your wing

The goal of any winged liner is to accentuate and elongate your eye shape, which means the first line you draw should follow the natural slope of your lower lash line and extend up toward the tail of your brow. If you're nervous, hold the cap of your liner against your eye as a guide, positioning it from your lower lash line to the end of your eyebrow, and lightly dot the spot where you want your wing to end. Then drawn from the dot to the corner of your eye, imaging it's an extension of your lower lashes.

Products to try: 

1. Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise liquid eyeliner (Ulta, $8.49)
2. Bodyography On Point Liquid Liner Pen (Bodyography, $17)
3. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (Kat Von D, $20)

Step 2: Line the eyes

Starting at the inner corner of your eye, gently trace your lash lines with short, even strokes. If you have smaller eyelids (meaning they're barely visible when your eyes are open), keep the line skinny — too thick a line will give your eyes a tinier appearance. If you're worried about layering it on too thick, try using just the tippy tip of the pen to dot the liner between your lashes, then connect the dots.

Step 3: Connect the lines

Step 4: Check yourself out

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

With marriage equality finally ruled into federal law (and hopefully staying that way), it’s a beautiful thing to see couples of all shapes, sizes and genders having the ability to tie the knot. While the fight over gay marriage originally focused on civil rights and equality, new research shows that allowing gay couples to marry has more benefits than just love and happiness — it actually makes them healthier.

The study, published in The Gerontologist, involved researchers surveying over 1,800 LGBTQ adults (of all genders) over 50 in the U.S. They found that gay people in a relationship, whether married or in a long-term partnership, showed better health than single people. But people who were married did even better socially and financially than unmarried long-term couples.

More: Why Coming Out of the Closet Is a Privilege Some People Still Can't Afford

What could be at play here? If you're a gay person in a happy, committed relationship, why does it matter if you haven't put a ring on it? According to the University of Washington (where the research took place), "The legalization of gay marriage at the federal level opens up access to many benefits, such as tax exemptions and Social Security survivor benefits that married, straight couples have long enjoyed." Jayn Goldsen, lead study author and researcher at the UW School of Social Work, pointed out that single LGBTQ older adults don't benefit from other safeguards, such as anti-discrimination laws in employment, housing and public accommodations.

So basically, those marriage benefits that might not seem so important or romantic on paper can actually make a real difference in well-being — and gay couples who choose not to marry miss out on those. That doesn't mean anyone should tie the knot if it's not right for them, but if you see marriage in your future anyway, it's certainly a motivation to make it official when you're ready. In the meantime, with our current president, we have a lot of work to do to make sure LGBTQ people aren't the victims of baseless discrimination — married or not.

More: This Is Why Married Couples Sometimes Look Like Siblings