When we heard that Melissa McCarthy would be hosting one of the last Saturday Night Live episodes of the season, we knew two things: it would involve her impression of Sean Spicer, and it would be really, really funny. And we were right.

McCarthy returned last night for her fifth appearance as host of SNL. Her first four appearances have earned her four consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and she did not disappoint this time, either.

More: 17 Melissa McCarthy One-liners That'll Have You Spitting Out Your Drink

Spicy's back!

Let's start where we all want to start: McCarthy's delightful impression of White House press secretary Sean Spicer. And it couldn't have come at a better time. Rumors are flying that Spicer might be fired and replaced with Fox News' Kimberly Guilfoyle, not to mention that Spicer was caught hiding in the bushes last week during the media storm surrounding the firing of FBI director James Comey.

For this skit, McCarthy can be seen, of course, in the bushes as Sarah Huckabee Sanders fills Spicer's role as press secretary. But it isn't long before Spicer bounds into the room, fire extinguisher in hand, ready to cause another ruckus. After some of his classic attempts to answer questions (one involving Russian nesting dolls), he drives his podium to New York to find President Trump and confront him about his possible firing.

"Have you ever told me to lie?" he asks, to which Trump responds, "Only since you started working here."

Trump then goes in for a kiss, only to have Spicer protest that he is married. "Don't worry," replies Trump, "I'm famous."

More: A Singing, Dancing Chris Pine Leads a Lighthearted SNL

Just Desserts game show

Next, the SNL writers took full advantage of McCarthy's comedic talents in a silly game show sketch called "Just Desserts." The humor of the sketch is very, very simple and extremely classic: It's funny when people get hit in the face with pies. But McCarthy makes it work wonderfully by using her amazing talents as a physical comedian. Even while you are laughing at one of the oldest jokes in the book, you understand that McCarthy has elevated it, from her facial expressions to her meek protests as the pies and cakes keep coming.

The state of women in film

Perhaps searching for some more serious commentary after the pie-in-the-face sketch, McCarthy joined comic powerhouses Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Sasheer Zamata in a parody of a film panel discussion called "The State of Women in Film." Strong and Zamata play young, polished actresses, while McCarthy and McKinnon play the older generation who broke through the glass ceiling.

While the skit has some big, jokey laughs, much of the humor comes from jokes about equal rights in the film industry and how far feminism has (and has not) taken us over the past few decades. For example, McCarthy and McKinnon explain, straight-faced, how they had to have ribs removed in order to make it in Hollywood: "Back then, to be a star, you had to lose a couple bones," McKinnon quips.

Steve Martin says congratulations

Before the credits rolled, Steve Martin surprised everyone, including McCarthy, by hopping on stage to present her with a five-timers' club smoking jacket. We hope there's a sixth time down the road.

More: The Women of SNL Are Killing It This Season, and These Sketches Prove It

Does Melissa McCarthy deserve yet another Primtime Emmy nomination for her guest spot on SNL this week?

More royals need to be like Sverre Magnus, the 11-year-old prince of Norway.

First of all, his name is Sverre Magnus, which is just epic in and of itself and begs the question: Why did it take a dab for us to hear of his awesomeness?

More: The Queen Looks Cooler Behind the Wheel of a Jaguar Than You Do

But, of course, now that we have heard of this kid and seen his awesome royal moves, we expect him to receive much more attention in the future.

Prince William and Prince Harry officially have some stiff competition — or, should I say, some more relaxed and with-the-times competition, which is exactly what the world needs in the wake of Meghan Markle shutting down her blog to become all proper and whatnot.

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

Sure, we love a good Kate Middleton sleeved dress, but the fact that Prince Sverre's video became so quickly beloved is just a testament to the world's love of simple real-life moments. Preteens aren't meant to be placed on a pedestal and asked to be still for hours on end. Kids have gotta move, and Prince Sverre's got some sweet ones.

I wonder if his parents told him he had to behave, so he was doing the typical 11-year-old thing and messing it all up, or if he had too much candy before the ceremony. Either way, we want more dabbing in royal ceremonies.

More: Pippa Middleton Says Yes to Her Own Prince Charming

Prince Harry and Prince William should take note. We wouldn't even be mad if Queen Elizabeth decided to get in on this peace sign fun.

Do you think it's high time the royals loosened up a bit?

This has been a crazy, crazy week in politics, so naturally, John Oliver should be discussing President Trump's firing of James Comey and the ensuing circus we've all watched play out these last few days. True to form, he tackled this essential message, but it was by no means the most compelling segment of this week's episode of Last Week Tonight.

More: John Oliver Once Again Breaks the Internet in His Quest for Net Neutrality

Rather than frustrate us even more with half an hour of musings about Trump, Oliver addressed an issue that deserves far more attention than it currently receives: kidney dialysis. Turns out, President Nixon, of all people, prioritized treatment for kidney disease, signing a bill guaranteeing that anybody with chronic renal disease or in need of a kidney transplant would automatically qualify for Medicare, whether or not they met the age requirements.

Unfortunately, while patients with kidney disease enjoy greater federal protection than those with other chronic illnesses and conditions, their situation is far from perfect. The for-profit kidney dialysis industry engages in some truly disturbing practices that put patients at risk. Examples include purposefully running dialysis providers like they're fast food joints (something DaVita CEO Kent Thiry oddly admitted to in 2009) and not using full vials of dialysis drug Venofer in hopes of extracting additional government funding.

More: Last Week Tonight Shines a Much-Needed Light on Gerrymandering

Most disturbing however, is dialysis companies' reluctance to properly inform patients of their full range of treatment options, including, most importantly, kidney transplant.

More: John Oliver Destroys America's Faith in Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Always one to offer suggestions for the future,Oliver let those with hearts of gold, and the less generous among us, know what we can do to help. Kidney donation is a great option, but as Oliver acknowledged, one that most of us will probably not pursue. Instead, we can make it abundantly clear that we want to be kidney donors after we die.

Oliver recommends telling loved ones about your intention to be a kidney donor, but he's also taken the effort a step further with (what else?) a brand new hashtag: #WhenIDiePleaseTakeMyKidneys.

Thank you, John Oliver, for advocating on behalf of kidney disease patients and reminding the rest of us that we can help!

What do you think of John Oliver's message about the for-profit kidney dialysis industry? Comment and share your opinion below.

Wearing sunscreen is skin care law. We know this. However, we tend to lean on the SPF in our foundations, creams and cover-ups and skip out on wearing what we lovingly refer to as "the goopy stuff." The problem with that is (buzzkill alert), you have to apply a lot of makeup to receive the benefits.

Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, founder and director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and associate clinical professor of dermatology at the George Washington University Medical Center, explains that most women don’t apply enough makeup to get the SPF indicated on the label. “If you are applying a lot of makeup, then yes [it’s OK],” she says. Otherwise, wearing a layer of actual sunscreen is probably still the safest bet.

That said, it can be oily and it can feel heavy. I get it, but there are so many lightweight and matte sunscreens on the market now that those excuses are drying up quickly. I talked to Tanzi as well as professional makeup artist Ivy Boyd about the best way to layer sunscreen under makeup. It turns out there are some secrets to help you smooth out the sunscreen process.

More: The Best Illuminating Moisturizers for Glowing, Dewy Skin

First and foremost, know there are two different types of sunscreen — chemical and physical — and the type you have makes a big difference in the layering process.

Chemical sunscreens have to absorb into your skin to work, so it's best to apply chemical sunscreens before your regular moisturizer. That way, it doesn't block the SPF from absorbing to the max.

Physical sunscreens sit on top of your skin and protect outward. In that case, it’s better to apply your moisturizer before your sunscreen. Then, after you apply makeup, set everything with a mineral sunscreen powder. "Colorescience SPF powders are the absolute purest form of powder sunscreen," Tanzi says. You can snag them at Sephora for about 60 bucks, depending on the level of SPF you choose.

Boyd recommends also checking the label to see if your sunscreen and makeup are water-based or silicone-based (dimethicone) because if you mix silicone-based products with water-based products, your makeup may not adhere properly. "If your sunscreen is water-based, water-based primer and foundation will be best," explains Boyd. Her final pointer is to make sure sunscreen fully absorbs before applying any makeup. "If you don’t, it could cause makeup to pill up or slide around," she says.

More: I Finally Microbladed My Eyebrows and It Kinda Changed My Life

And just like that, with a few tips from pros, wearing sunscreen under your makeup isn't so bad. Not to mention, the results should be healthier, more protected skin.

This post was Sponsored by Olay.

On one of the most loving holidays on the American calendar, Mother's Day offers the biggest opportunity for people to show their tributes and kind words to mothers and maternal figures in their lives. Naturally, we expected to see plenty of celebrities doling out healthy portions of kind words and photos on social media as part of celebrating Mother's Day. In my opinion, it was Billie Lourd's Mother's Day tribute to Carrie Fisher that was perhaps the most perfect.

More: Lucasfilm Reveals Princess Leia's Future Following Carrie Fisher's Death

One can only imagine how difficult the last few months have been for Lourd. After losing her mother, Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, mere hours apart from one another in December 2016, Lourd's been pushing forward. On Lourd's Instagram, we've gotten to peek into her life in this new phase of it on her terms. She'll frequently post sweet photos with her boyfriend, actor Taylor Lautner, photos of herself goofing around and sometimes we get to see throwback photos of Lourd with Fisher.

This is precisely what Lourd did to celebrate Fisher as a mother on Sunday for Mother's Day. Simply captioning her photo tribute with a heart emoji, she posted a photo of her sitting on Fisher's lap on what appears to be a train. Lourd is mugging for the camera as Fisher embraces her. It looks like the photo is from the early '90s.

More: Billie Lourd's Still Trying to Come to Terms With Carrie Fisher's Death

It was simple, sweet and to the point — a move one might expect to come from Fisher's progeny on a day so loaded with love and emotion for mothers and children everywhere and of all kinds. It's not only touching to get this intimate look into Lourd's relationship with her mother, but there's something so great about the fact that she let's the photo really speak for itself. It looks as though their bond is loving and real and nothing could ever change that.

More: Carrie Fisher Revealed More Than Her Affair in The Princess Diarist

Lourd's Mother's Day tribute to Fisher is pitch-perfect, and in my opinion, trumped all other celebrity Mother's Day tributes.

Who doesn't have that one friend who's always gushing about meditation? She finds time for it, doesn’t have a problem sitting still and claims it's changed her life. Admit it: You kind of want to know her secret.

Since May is National Meditation Month, we thought it was the right moment to ask women about the real ways it's impacted them. All of the studies already laud meditation for things like lowering risk of heart disease and cancer, improving calm and focus and overcoming fears and anxiety. But aside from avoiding a super-scary diagnosis and feeling better overall, which are obviously great benefits, what does that actually mean in day-to-day life?

For me, it began in the last few moments of yoga class during Savasana. At first, it was hard to lay there and hear the silence around me, but I soon embraced the downtime. Before long, I found myself taking Savasana breaks at home for a few minutes at a time. Ultimately, I think meditation is most helpful at helping us focus on our actions so they align with what we really want. For instance, I may not react as quickly to something that upsets me, which helps my body avoid harmful cortisol or adrenaline surges that come with being an anxious person.

Meditation can happen in many ways, and once you practice it, you'll find that it works itself into your day seemingly without even having to try. To me, that’s the biggest benefit of all. Here's how other real women use meditation in everyday life.

Loosen up, literally

“By sitting still for five to 30 minutes a day, I've learned I shouldn’t believe everything I think, and that's made such a difference in my ability to lead and parent. As an author, I spend quite a bit of time at the computer, and thus, my neck and shoulders can be tight. I realized after about a month of meditation how much more relaxed I was physically. Now, while I write, I take breaks and meditate for five minutes to increase my stamina and ability to think creatively." — Christina Harbridge, author of Swayed: How to Communicate for Impact, San Francisco, California

Press pause on reactions

“I had a global marketing career, steadily climbing the corporate ladder for 18 years. Then I developed a rare, aggressive and advanced breast cancer. I discovered that it's not stress that's the problem — it's our physiological response to it. Mindfulness helped me wake up from a life of autopilot action and reactivity. It gives me space between emotions and reactions, allowing time, however brief, to reflect and respond more skillfully. After many months of intense daily practice, I realized if you want to make changes in the world, you have to start with changes in yourself. My schedule now includes intention and goal-setting in the morning, a formal meditation practice before breakfast or at lunch and mindful moments during the day.” — Kate Kerr, 42, mindfulness consultant, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Dial down stress

“The word ‘overwhelmed’ has started to disappear from my vocabulary. I wear many hats in an emerging technology field and at fast-paced growing company. There will never be a day where I'm not faced with challenges. Meditation has changed the way I respond to that stress. Since I started practicing regularly, my mental response to stressors is no longer panicked and I don't have the same physical response either. I find myself naturally reverting to breathing and other meditation techniques without thinking about it. The cool, calm, balanced demeanor is a win, not only in my personal and professional life, but a win for the company and my colleagues who are looking to me for an example and support.” — Brittiany Broadwater, 29, director of operations at Phone2Action, Washington, D.C.

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Get perspective

“Meditation helps me shut out the anxious voices or external and literal sounds. Today, I'm in southern Maine, and meditation means concentrating on the crashing waves. When I'm home, it can be the rustling trees, blue skies or clouds. It's quite literally looking at the beauty of the bigger picture and being able to focus on that instead of the stress of life.” — Rachel Weingarten, author of Ancient Prayer: Channeling Your Faith 365 Days of the Year, New York City

Be more efficient

“Meditation gives me a crucial mental focus and clarity that allows me to be more efficient at work. My partner and I meditate together and it’s given us some great quality-time together, offering us a new depth of intimacy in the interactions between actual meditation sessions. I also make more conscious decisions in everything from my eating habits to life-altering decisions, rather than moving through life triggered by my past and reactions." — Tiffany Cruikshank, 37 founder of Yoga Medicine and author of Meditate Your Weight, Seattle, Washington

Let inspiration in

“Meditation helps me surrender more to what is instead of worrying what should be happening. My sense of touch, taste and smell is heightened. It’s amazing what good ideas come when I let my thoughts be and allow pure inspiration in. I am not trying to control my thoughts, but just allowing what needs to filter in come.” — Steffi Black, 50, life and career coach, Toronto

Ease anxiety

“I used to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, but by meditating, I've found that I can avoid getting too anxious, which means I avoid spiraling into panic. I'm always surprised at the difference I feel when I don't meditate compared when I do. I have more clarity about what I want and am much more productive during the day. I feel more sure about the decisions I make and know that I'm more present in all aspects of my life. It's really rewarding.” — Amanda Leigh Doueihi, 31 lawyer/writer, New York City

Enhance empathy

“When I practice, I feel more clear, conscious and able to flow with the changing nature of life and myself. It's an adventure every time too — exploring the great mystery that is my own mind. It's better than any vacation I've ever taken! A body scan allows me to witness whether or not I have emotional discomfort that I need to deal with. This sets me free from looping fear, anxiety, anger and sadness. It allows me a moment where I transcend my mind, which sets me free, if only for a moment, from the insanity that makes up my relentless thoughts. It allows me brief access to a bigger experience than my own limited personal view of the world. Every chance I get to connect to all things offers me greater compassion and empathy.” — Kristen Ulmer, 50, author of The Art of Fear: Why Conquering Fear Won’t Work and What to do Instead, Salt Lake City, Utah

Press reset

“Some people resist starting a meditation practice because they believe, erroneously, that it requires long, boring stretches of trying to sit still, doing nothing for 20 minutes or more. It doesn't have to be like that. Meditation can be as simple and easy as pausing to clear your mind for three minutes, two or three times a day. Mini-meditations give me pleasant, healthy little rewards throughout the day, providing an opportunity to press the reset button whenever needed.” — Dr. Liisa Kyle, creative life coach, Washington state

More: How to Get Away With Not Showering After a Workout

We’ve all had painful, unattractive bruises at some stage — those black and blue marks that show up after a particularly hard bump or fall. But why do they make our skin turn purple? And is there any way to speed up the healing process?

More: Flying Is Terrible Now, but These Mini Horses at the Airport Can Help

Bruising is a discoloration of the skin caused by blood leaking from tiny blood vessels under the skin's surface, Dr. Marc Taub, an emergency physician at the Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, tells SheKnows. Contusions — as health care providers call them — are most commonly caused by a direct injury to that part of your body, like bumping into something.

But why that distinctive purplish color?

“When the soft tissue in your body is injured, the small blood vessels can break, which causes red blood cells to leak into the soft tissue,” Dr. Mimi Trinh, a family physician at MemorialCare Medical Group in San Juan Capistrano, California tells SheKnows. “When this happens beneath the skin, the red blood cells can have a blue, purple, red or black hue.”

More: Top Wilderness Survival Tips From an Indoor Kid

Typically, bruises take one to two weeks to heal. During this time, it is completely normal for the bruise to change colors — including a lovely shade of yellow — along with some spreading or swelling.

Aging, blood-thinning medications and certain diseases all can make certain people more likely to bruise than others.

If you see a bruise forming, Trinh suggests stopping the activity you’re doing to prevent further injury and avoiding overusing the affected muscles.

To promote healing, both doctors recommend that patients rest the area, elevate, apply intermittent ice (but not directly on your skin, Trinh warns) and use a light compression bandage, especially if there is swelling. Trinh suggests wrapping ice cubes in a washcloth and applying it to the injury for 10 to 15 minutes every hour until the swelling comes down.

More: Working Out Is Hard AF — but Swearing Can Make You Stronger

Additionally, many drugstores now offer nonprescription remedies like Arnica to possibly aid in bruise healing, Taub says. Arnica is a homeopathic, herbal treatment that is generally safe when used on the skin as a gel, cream or ointment, but should not be used on broken skin. And like home remedies for bruises, he adds, there is limited scientific evidence of its effectiveness.

So what can you do to make a bruise heal faster? Unfortunately, not much.

While there’s no quick fix, Trinh says that 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight can help break down bilirubin, which is the substance that causes the yellow color in bruises, possibly shortening the healing time. She also suggests applying heat or gently massaging the bruise a few days after it forms to improve circulation to the area, which may speed up the process as well.

OK, we all have to start somewhere when it comes to doing makeup — and by somewhere, we mean today — with a well-stocked makeup kit that includes literally all of the necessary products, instructions and diagrams as if you’re doing a second-grade science project rather than contouring your face or doing your brows. Because why should have to spend 13 hours watching YouTube tutorials or buy a zillion products you’re not sure if you really even need just to learn some basic makeup skills? Exactly. That's why we’re so obsessed with how-to makeup kits — beginner-level face and eye palettes with easy-to-follow instructions that tell you exactly how to apply each shade and product.

More: How to Be Photogenic: 25 Tricks That Make You Instantly More Gorgeous in Pictures

And no, these instructions aren’t the confusing, gibberish-filled kind that will make you lose your mind after three minutes (ahem, Ikea), but gorgeously drawn images and diagrams with simple explanations breaking down whatever look you’re aiming for, whether that’s getting an all-over glow with iridescent highlighter, coral blushes and sheer bronzers; shaping and filling in your eyebrows with pomades, powders and tints; or mastering a soft smoky eye with warm, earthy shadows. No matter your skill level — or lack thereof — your beauty routine is about to look really, really good. So click through to see all of our favorite top-rated, tutorial-filled makeup kits, and be prepared to finally lose your beginner status.

More: The $6 Secret to Getting Rid of Brassy Hair: Food Coloring and Vinegar

To get glowing, bronzed skin...

To get fuller, more-defined brows...

To contour...

To master the smoky eye...

To get plumper, fuller-looking lips...

To get perfectly layered eye shadow...

For clean, precise eyeliner...

By Marisa Petrarca

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

"Will Ferrell? Why Will Ferrell?"

Ferrell may play dopes in his movies but in real life, you better believe that he has some serious life know-how.

More: Daddy's Home: Watch Will Ferrell Try to Out-Dad Mark Wahlberg in Hilarious Clip

Ferrell gave USC's graduation commencement speech this weekend and, well, he crushed it. Not only was he hilarious, as one would expect him to be, he also had some great words of wisdom for the modern day young adult.

As one of the millions of family members who attended the graduation ceremonies of a loved one this weekend (Oh, yes, I went to two) I can confidently tell you: Graduations are freaking boring. Which is why I am so immensely jealous USC had the right idea and brought in Ferrell to spice things up.

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"To me, my definition of success is my 16-1/2-year marriage to my beautiful and talented wife, Viveca. Success are my three amazing sons, Magnus, 13, Mattias, 10, and Axel, age 7," Ferrell said in one of the most poignant moments of his speech.

He added, "No matter how cliché it may sound, you will never truly be successful until you learn to get beyond yourself. Empathy and kindness are the true signs of emotional intelligence."

More: Zoolander 2: 13 Most Bizarre and Unexpected Cameos

The entire speech is 25 minutes, and just like you asked yourself, "Why Will Ferrell?" you're probably asking yourself, "Why the heck should I spend 25 minutes watching this speech?" To that I would respond, because you're a moron if you don't. Oh, and for that airline joke. (You'll know what I mean when you get there.) Go in for the laughs. You'll stay for the wisdom.

You'll have a better chance of getting your kids away from screens this summer if you have a bunch of fun outdoor activities up your sleeve. Here are nine to inspire you.

More: 5 Productivity Hacks for Working Moms With Long Commutes

1. Gardening

Basically, gardening with your kids is a win-win. They have fun pulling weeds and using a cute watering can to sprinkle the flowers, and, well, you get your weeds pulled and your flowers watered. (Just make sure they pull the weeds and sprinkle the flowers, and not the other way round.) It’s probably not a great idea to let your kid loose with a full-size lawn mower, so treat them to a bubble-blowing version to keep injuries to a minimum.

2. Car-washing

Another outdoor chore you can easily disguise as fun is washing the car. Kids just love being in control of the garden hose, right? Arm them with a sponge, show them how to put some elbow grease into it and dangle the promise of an ice pop in front of them if they do a good job.

3. Chalking

With chalk, the opportunities are endless. For starters, mom and Chalk on the Wild Side author Lorie King Kaehler has an awesome chalk-bomb idea. Use a clean soap dispenser pump to fill water balloons with a washable chalk-paint mixture (1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and a few drops of food coloring.) Show your child how to draw targets on the ground with chalk or just give them free reign to use their imagination. Another idea is to make chalk spray by mixing paint, water, cornstarch and soap and help your kid create pictures and messages on the driveway and sidewalk.

4. Lemonade stand

Cultivate young entrepreneurs by helping them set up a lemonade stand on the driveway. Stir up some pitchers, help them create a sign and get selling! Check out Bethany G's YouTube video for tips on how to create a lemonade stand — and make delicious lemonade people will want to buy.

More: This Mom Told Teachers Her Daughter Is Done With Homework — Forever

5. Take a nature walk

You don’t need to travel to a zoo to have a day appreciating nature with your kids. Go on your very own bug safari in your garden or local park. Dig for worms; search for frogs, tadpoles and lizards; and see how much food an ant can carry on its back. If you do want to venture further afield, check out the National Wildlife Refuge System to find a refuge near you (there are 550 spread across 150 million acres nationwide.) Don't forget walking boots, a bottle of bug spray, a packed lunch and a pair of binoculars.

6. Family games

Host an outdoor game night for your neighbors. Create an obstacle course in your backyard — think hula-hoops, jump ropes and sack races — and time the kids. Kickball, softball and capture the flag make great multifamily competitions, and get creative with teams, such as dads and daughters vs. moms and sons. You can get rules for lots of sports at gameskidsplay.net.

7. Outdoor crafts

When you can set up a craft table outdoors, you don’t need to worry about the mess. Upcycle old clothes with tie-dyeing, make designs on your face and body with body paint and glitter or attempt a bubble paint project. Embrace your inner child and get messy. Your kid will love to see you being so relaxed about messes, and you might even create something wonderful together.

8. Water fights

Get into your bathing suits and gather together anything you can find that is designed to blast water out: sprinklers, the garden hose, water guns. A water fight is the ideal activity on a hot day — perfect if you don't have a pool nearby or just don't want to leave your backyard.

9. Put on a show

If your kids love to be the centers of attention, spend a day putting together a show to entertain friends and neighbors. A large blanket in the backyard doubles as a curtain, with lawn chairs as the audience seating. Kids of all ages can be involved. Preschoolers can make and collect tickets to the show, escort people to their seats and hand out drinks and snacks during the intermission. After the performance, toast s'mores on the BBQ or fire pit and celebrate your little stars.

More: How to Raise Grateful Kids  — Not Entitled Ones

Updated May 15, 2017, 8:30 a.m. PT: Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews is only one week away, so obviously, we can hardly contain our excitement. Good thing there's plenty of new info about the event hitting the headlines to keep our obsession fed until the big day actually arrives.

In today's news, we now know how Middleton is preparing for her I dos — she's in bridal boot camp. E! News reports that she has a customized three-month membership at Grace Belgravia, a super-swanky health club in London. According to the site, the bridal package offered by the club includes a personal trainer, skin care and leg toning treatments, plus yoga, Pilates, spinning, cardio training, dance and meditation classes and home delivery of personalized healthy meals.

"Pippa has met with her PT about five times a week and mostly sticks to cardio and Pilates," a source told E!. "She feels amazing. Her diet is the healthiest ever — she hasn't even had a glass of wine in months. She's had facial treatments sometimes once a week or once a fortnight."

Meanwhile, it's been revealed that Prince Harry's GF, Meghan Markle, finally scored a formal invitation to the wedding, which bucks the "no ring, no bring" royal tradition that says weddings are for married and engaged folks only. Our theory? She and Prince Harry are already engaged, but waiting to make their announcement because they don't want to steal Middleton's wedding thunder. We'll be watching them like hawks in case they slip up and give us some hard evidence that they're next to tie the knot.

Updated May 9, 2017, 9:11 a.m. PT: As if there weren't enough excitement surrounding this impending wedding, we are now learning some juicy details about the cost of Pippa Middleton's wedding to James Matthews.

It would appear that this wedding is set to break even the most well-endowed coffers. Thanks to the sleuthing skills of Marie Claire and the wedding-planning app Bridebook, we now know that Middleton's wedding costs are going to soar. To be fair, these are all estimates and official figures have yet to be confirmed from anyone associated with Middleton's wedding-planning group, but if these numbers are anywhere near the actual price, Marie Claire believes her wedding could cost up to 15 times the average cost: £246,949 or $318,888 USD. Whoa.

Her dress is reportedly estimated to cost around £10,000 (that's roughly $13,000 USD); the bridesmaids dresses, of which there are typically three in a U.K. ceremony, are estimated to cost around £2,250 (that's around $2,900 USD); the wedding rings for Middleton and Matthews are reportedly from Cartier and could collectively set the couple back £19,900 (or close to $26,000 USD). Those are just the essentials, though.

Never mind the costs associated with the venue and the logistics of the ceremony. The actual wedding venue, which will be the Middleton family home complete with dry- and wet-weather conditions, could cost up to £65,000 ($84,100 USD) to prepare. Combined, catering and floristry are estimated at £86,000 ($111,240 USD). For music, entertainers and videography, combined costs could hit the £12,250 ($15,850 USD) mark. This is merely a fraction of the cost, but if you tally up the figures I've just listed out, we're already looking at around £195,400, or $252,750 USD.

The kicker, though, is the estimated cost for Matthews to get transported to this dream wedding: nothing. Marie Claire seems to think that since Matthews is a former racecar driver, he'll have access to a sweet luxury car that can act as his transportation. Nice to see they're going to cut costs in some fashion.

Updated May 8, 2017, 9:43 a.m. PT: With wedding bells less than two months away for Pippa Middleton and banker James Matthews, the world waits with bated breath to see how the nuptials of Duchess Kate's adored sister will unfold. The latest news about Middleton's wedding is sure to pique public interest even more — Prince Harry's girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has reportedly snagged herself an official invitation to the full ceremony.

This is a big deal for the couple for a few reasons. For starters, the big day has long been rumored to be governed by a "no ring, no bring" rule. This unofficial rule states one must be engaged to or married to a person on the guest list to bring a plus one. However, the soon-to-be-wed couple did extend an invite to Markle to attend the evening party after the ceremony on May 20, suggesting she is quickly becoming an important part of Middleton's social circle. Now that Middleton has made an exception for Markle and is giving her the green light to attend the actual ceremony with Prince Harry, does that mean another royal wedding is in the near future?

A source allegedly close to the cute couple told Us Weekly that Prince Harry has every intention of marrying his Suits star girlfriend and even plans to propose by their first anniversary. "They will be engaged by the end of summer," the source claimed, adding that the two have "spoken candidly about their future" and "see a life together."

When royal duties beckon, after all, one must be available to answer the call.

Updated April 24, 2017, 9:00 a.m. PT: Over in the U.K., the Daily Mail is reporting that Pippa Middleton's wedding could be crashed by locals looking for some royal-tinged excitement. Middleton's upcoming nuptials to banker James Matthews will certainly offer locals the opportunity to attend and spot a famous face or two. Thanks to a rule from the Church of England, locals can attend celebrity weddings if the church is their actual local church. I mean, how cool is that?

OK, as cool as that is, here's the thing: This funny little detail opens up the floodgates on who can actually attend the Middleton-Matthews wedding, potentially paving the way for the most prim English turf war ever. There are conflicting opinions on whether locals will actually be allowed in. According to a local official, "It's a rather nice thought that they might be able to attend. I'm sure there will be interest."

However, those involved with planning the Middleton-Matthews wedding appear ready to ban local peeping Tom's should they threaten to derail the carefully planned ceremony with their average people nonsense. As reported by the Daily Mail, a spokesman for the Englefield Estate where the reception is being held has commented that "the church would be 'restricted for security reasons'. The wedding is a private family event. I can confirm that all pedestrian and vehicle routes to Englefield House will be closed on May 20th, and access to the church will be restricted for reasons of safety and security."

It looks like we should grab some popcorn and get ready to watch as the most prim and polite wedding crasher-prevention plan gets put into action.

Original story:

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

Princess Charlotte will be very involved

Multiple sites are reporting that Princess Charlotte, who turns two next month, will be one of Pippa's bridesmaids. Still no word on whether she took part in the booze-fueled hen party Kate and Pippa threw on the slopes of the French Alps.

Her gown will be very different from Kate's

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

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

Her venue is a bit smaller than Westminster Abbey

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

Kate won't be her matron of honor

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

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

More: Pippa Middleton Says Yes to Her Own Prince Charming

Bottles will be popped — lots of them

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

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

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

We wait for the annual Social Security Administration's list of most popular baby names with almost as much excitement as we await the coming of the teeny Bey-Jay twin demigods. The list for 2016 is finally out — see what you think. Any surprises?

Baby name trends are a fascinating study. Some names come and go — poof! — while others seem determined to stick around for decades. Then there's always what we like to refer to as the Code Jennifer situation. We poor Jennifers all seem to have had mothers who had never met another kid with the name and thought they were being super-original until we came home from school and told our parents we were one of seven Jennifers in our grade. How does that happen?

More: Baby boy names with serious swagger

This year's list held a few little surprises for us, but nothing too crazy. We weren't a bit shocked that Sophia, Olivia and Isabella are still reigning supreme, but we thought Emily might have exhausted her 15 minutes of fame (nope). And as for boys, well, we have met a lot of Noahs and Liams lately, but we didn't guess those two names were at the tippy-top of the list. Seems like the Kardashians and the British royals both have some serious baby name influence too (Mason, William, Charlotte).

Top 10 girls' names for 2016

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava
4. Sophia
5. Isabella
6. Mia
7. Charlotte
8. Abigail
9. Emily
10. Harper

Top 10 boys' names for 2016

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. William
4. Mason
5. James
6. Benjamin
7. Jacob
8. Michael
9. Elijah
10. Ethan

The most notable loser in 2016? Poor Caitlyn (and Caitlin, Katelynn and Kaitlynn.) All four variants of the name plummeted from the top 1,000 baby names in 2016.

More: Stumped on a name for baby? We've totally got your back

The most surprising rise? Kylo shot into the top 1,000 with an impressive rank of 901. Yes, that Kylo — as in Ren, the dude who killed his dad in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Seems an odd choice to name your kid after a patricidal maniac, but hey, to each their own.

The whole list from the Social Security Administration can be found here. You can even search the SSA site to see top baby names by state, decade or change in popularity. Pretty cool.

It's a fact of life that kids love snacks, so it isn't exactly surprising that they ask for them often. Hey, we get it — who doesn't love a little early afternoon tangelo? But the thing about kids that never seems to fail is the precision with which they ask for snacks at the most ridiculous moments.

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My kids like snacks so much that we joke they are part Hobbit. If they had their druthers, they'd enjoy first breakfast and second breakfast and... you get the picture.

Basically, fielding snack requests has become second nature in our household. If that rings true to you (which, let's be real, what mom can't relate?), the following craziest times kids ask their parents to cough up a snack will undoubtedly resonate.

1. First thing in the morning

If you're, ahem, blessed with an early riser, the refrain, "Can I have a snack?" pretty much serves as a secondary alarm clock. And no matter how many times you say, "No," "Just five more minutes" or "It's called breakfast, kid," there's little you can do to deter a perky morning kid seeking a sunrise snack.

2. When you're stuck in traffic with no snack in sight

If there's one thing you can count on, it's that if you get stuck in traffic with little ones without a snack on hand, they'll become irrationally hungry and demand sustenance in the form of snacks. Of course, since you weren't born with the ability to shoot pretzels out of your fingertips, you get the pleasure of chilling in gridlock while your kids serenade you with pleas.

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3. While they're in the bathtub

Hey, all that splishin' and splashin' is hard work — in kid logic, that requires refueling. But, uh, no. No, you cannot have your snack in the bathtub, where it is sure to get waterlogged or clog up the drain or wind up all over you like edible paper-mache. Just, no.

4. Or better yet, while they're using the bathroom

Oh, the things you say when you're a parent that you never thought you'd say. Like, for instance, "No, son, I will not bring you a snack while you poop." And while you'd like to think such utterances are few and far between, well, you'd be kidding yourself.

5. When they are filthy

Your kid comes in from an intense playtime session, and seemingly every inch of their little body is covered with dirt and grime. Their fingernails harbor so much dirt it looks as though they've tunneled to the core of the Earth. Not an inch of their face is free from smudges and smears. Do they want a wet wipe? No. Do they want to take a bath? Nope. Do they want a snack? You betcha.

6. Immediately after they brush their teeth

Don't you hate when you eat or drink something too soon after brushing your teeth and the residual toothpaste combines with whatever you just ingested to leave an awful taste in your mouth? Me too, but kids are clearly immune to that — immediately after teeth-brushing proves one of the most popular times to request some snackage. Understanding this predilection is futile, naturally.

7. Right after they have a snack

When it come to the most illogical moments kids ask for snacks, right after they've already eaten one has to be right up at the top of the list. There is no amount of reason or words in any language that will convince your child that it doesn't make sense to eat snacks concurrently. Thus, here we are.

More: The 8 Parents You'll Meet as a New Mom

This post was sponsored by Fruit Shoot®.

Skype gets all kinds of uses, from the mundane (job interviews) to the miserable (breakups, ooof) to the naughty (oh, use your imagination). But one long-distance couple put Skype to work for them in the sweetest, most novel way ever — to stay connected during the birth of their baby on Nov. 21.

Capt. Michael Lowe-Farmer chatted regularly by video with his wife, Brooke Lowe-Farmer, during her entire pregnancy. The captain was deployed, but he wasn't about to miss the birth of his daughter. So when the time came, Brooke's OB-GYN, Dr. Molly Uhing, had no problem helping Brooke set up a laptop so Michael could be present for the big event.

“I kind of tried to be a little bit of a girlfriend-slash-doctor for her so that she didn’t feel all alone,” Uhing said to Sioux Falls' KSFY. “We had him on Skype on a laptop. And so we had this table set up over her knee so he could kind of see her."

More: 8 sexy ways to keep that long-distance relationship alive

Uhing definitely went the extra mile to be sure Michael had a fantastic view — better than front-row Knicks tickets — of his daughter Emmalynn's birth:

“And so then we had our little resident doctor basically, like, scrubbed out essentially, and was holding the laptop on my shoulder," said Uhing. "As I was delivering the baby, the computer was around and all the angles and [Michael] got a great view. I think he even saw the baby before Brooke even did on Skype abroad.”

Brooke was deeply moved by all the support from the medical staff.

“He was right there,” Brooke stated to KSFY. “That’s just a very amazing thing for a military spouse to know that I had his support all the way overseas and the doctors allowed that to happen by letting him Skype in to see our child be born.”

The Skyped birth was an extension of the prenatal care Brooke had already received from her very tech-friendly doctors  — seriously, how awesome are they?

“[Doctors] actually let me take my iPad into every visit, every ultrasound, and talk to him like he was just right there in the room, ‘Hey Dad, how’s it going? How’s the weather over there,’" she said. "He just let him be a part of every visit and it was an amazing experience from that first ultrasound all the way through.” 

More: Tips for nailing a job interview — by video

“We’re just excited to get our family started,” Brooke told station KXXV. “[Michael is] a great… soldier and dad. I think Avera [the medical network], every step of my pregnancy, every step of this journey, they have gone above and beyond. They just made us feel special and made us feel welcome and knew that Michael was going to be included in her birth,” Brooke explained.

We'll say it again: best use of Skype EVER.

Oh, Jessica Alba. Your heart is in the right place, but your Honest Company continues to flounder with recalls — this time, it's moldy baby wipes. Ew.

The Honest Company made an announcement that it is voluntarily recalling packages of Honest Wipes due to the possible presence of mold. Consumers of Honest Wipes should check immediately to see if their packages of the wipes are part of the lot numbers involved in the recall.

More: Jessica Alba blasted for yet another unsafe baby product

The Honest Company released a statement that the mold is likely not dangerous (um, but still) and the recall was decided upon due to an "abundance of caution."

So if you've got Honest Wipes in the house, go snag the package and see if yours are part of the recall.

Affected packages are:

10-count packages, UPC 0817810011276, 0816645024079, 0817810011276
72-count packages, UPC 0817810011863, 7000000011863, 0816645023584, 0816645023591
288-count packages, UPC 0817810014680
576-count packages, UPC 0817810028540

Lot numbers are located on the back of the packages of wipes, which were sold separately but also included in products such as Honest Diaper Cakes (we really hope someone comes up with a better name for "diaper cakes"), the Baby Arrival Gift Set and the Baby Basics Gift Set. Nothing like a little mold to say, "I love you," to a newborn... yikes.

More: Honest Company forced to recall baby powder

Consumers affected may return the products for a complete refund and will probably also want to hose down the baby. Or slather it in Purell.

Want more info about the recall? Here's everything you could ever want to know about moldy baby wipes. Good times!

Feud? What feud? Everyone calm down — Kelly Ripa and her brand new co-host Ryan Seacrest are obviously fine.

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Since Seacrest was announced as Ripa's permanent No. 2, rumors have been flying that the two are already feuding. Seacrest was also just reported as in talks to host Fox's revival of American Idol, and if the headlines are to be believed, Ripa isn't stoked about her brand new partner overshadowing her with all of his big career announcements lately.

Those rumors have only been further fueled by the announcement that Ripa plans to take some time off from Live!. A source told Radar Online, "Come this summer, Kelly is only going to be doing four shows a week on Live! — not even pre-taping Friday’s show. Ryan will be getting guest co-hosts and will have to be there on Fridays live instead of doing a pre-tape on Thursdays of Friday shows. He also will be doing a whole week of shows without Kelly."

More: Caitlyn Jenner Steamrolled Kelly Ripa During a 15-Minute Live! Interview

But come on...Those two couldn't be feuding so close to Seacrest's hiring because it just doesn't make sense. After all the time Ripa has put into trying out potential co-hosts, would she really have settled on one she immediately dislikes? Ripa is taking time off from the show because she finally has that option. With the revolving door of guest co-hosts she had before Seacrest became a permanent figure, a vacay was probably out of the question. If I were her, I'd be gunning for a break from work, too.

Further lending to the deniability of rumors that Ripa and Seacrest are having a rocky start to their partnership is the statement they released amid the scandal. They both deny a Live! feud, and we kind of believe them.

"They're thrilled to be working together, and it shows," a rep for the show said on their behalf. "Their chemistry is palpable."

More: Kelly Ripa Is, Like, So Embarrassing on Her Anniversary With Mark Consuelos

That seems a lot more likely than all the drama the rumors claim is happening. We're going to go with that.

If your childhood was like that of the average American kid's, you might remember successfully conning your mom, every once in awhile, into buying the fun box of Lucky Charms instead of the boring box of Cheerios. Then you probably proceeded to pick out the best part — the marshmallows, obviously.

Because we’re all still kids at heart (at least on our darkest days) General Mills is giving away 10,000 boxes of marshmallow-only Lucky Charms. There are no oats to get in the way — just sugar-laden, bizarrely crunchy, unnaturally colored marshmallows. What a time to be alive.

More: Magically delicious Lucky Charms crunch bark

Of course, this sweet promotion is not without controversy. Ad Week points out a sour truth. At a time when cereal sales are declining because people are worried about the sugar content in a normal box of cereal, will promoting an extra-super-sweet box really work? That remains to be seen.

The catch: You have to buy a box of normal Lucky Charms (of course) to get a code for the free box of the marshmallow ones, and this promotion is only available while supplies last. So if you do want that sugar fix, you'd better get moving fast.

More: Boozy Lucky Charms milkshake will start your St. Patrick's Day off right

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate the love story that The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons shares with his now-husband?

More: Why Sheldon knocks three times on The Big Bang Theory is actually heartbreaking

Parsons, who plays Sheldon Cooper on the hit CBS series, met Todd Spiewak nearly 15 years ago when they went on a blind date to a karaoke bar in 2002. Interestingly, this first date took place before Parsons was even famous. Spiewak sang Cher's "I Found Someone," which was a bold move for a first date. The two clearly hit it off because they've been together ever since.

Now, they're celebrating their biggest milestone to date: They just got married! Page Six reports they headed to Manhattan for an intimate ceremony at the Rainbow Room. Little is known about their actual wedding, but Parsons did post an adorable throwback shot on Instagram on their 14th anniversary last November, including a photo from that adorable-sounding karaoke date.

More: The Big Bang Theory ruins fans' dreams with ridiculous wedding drama

"I met this guy (the one with the mic) 14 years ago today and it was the best thing that ever happened to me, no contest," Parsons wrote in the pic's caption. "One of his greatest gifts to me is that he no longer takes me to sing karaoke. Also, I believe this was a selfie with an actual camera, as our phones couldn't do that back then hahaha!"

More: 8 Spoilers from The Big Bang Theory's Shamy coitus episode (PHOTOS)

We especially love this kind of rare display on social media because Spiewak is such a private guy — we hardly know anything about him! Someone tell them to stop being so dodgy about social media, because we need wedding pics, stat.

Even though Donald Trump no longer owns the Miss USA pageant, he is likely pleased with this year’s winner, who shares his views on health care and feminism.

Kara McCullough, a physical scientist at the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, was crowned Miss USA last night in Las Vegas on a platform with similarities to policies of the current administration.

For starters, she does not view access to health care as a basic human right.

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"I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege," the 25-year-old said during the question-and-answer portion of the beauty pageant. "As a government employee, I am granted health care and I see first-hand that for one to have health care, you have to have jobs."

In fairness, she did get one thing right: for many Americans to be able to afford health care, they need jobs (plural) in order be able to pay for coverage, especially if they are unable to get a job that comes with benefits. Maybe she has some ideas of how to make health care more accessible to all Americans?

She sure does!

“We need to continue to cultivate this environment that we're given the opportunity to have health care as well as jobs to all American citizens worldwide," she added.

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OK, but I’m not sure that continuing to cultivate the current environment is working for the 28 million uninsured Americans. Although, I have to admit, as an American citizen who used to live abroad, I’m intrigued by her policy for making sure those “worldwide” also get health care and jobs.

And if that wasn’t enough to make her a darling of the Republican party, she also demonstrated that she doesn’t understand what feminism means — basically a requirement for members of the GOP.

Allow her to explain:

"So as a woman scientist in the government, I'd like to lately transpose the word 'feminism' to 'equalism,'" the pageant winner said. "I don't really want to consider myself — try not to consider myself like this die-hard, you know, like, 'Oh, I don't really care about men.' But one thing I'm going to say, though, is women, we are just as equal as men when it comes to opportunity in the workplace."

More: Working Out is Hard AF — but Swearing Can Make You Stronger

Bad news, Miss USA: What you actually described was feminism. The “I don’t really care about men” position you described isn’t a thing.

And yes, it’s great to have a woman working in a STEM profession in a highly visible role, but in 2017 and today’s political climate, that’s not enough. I’ve heard the argument, “but she’s a nuclear scientist” — as if having a science background somehow excuses her ignorance. Nope, it does not.

This makes me nostalgic for the days when all the contestants wanted was world peace instead of increasing existing health disparities.

The conversation around female masturbation (otherwise known as masturbation) is changing. For instance, sex toys are being made with ladies who enjoy getting off in mind (finally!). But for all of the headway that’s been made, it’d be remiss to not acknowledge the silence that still exists.

“Male masturbation is everywhere,” says Tiffany Yelverton, a sex educator, sex coach and founder of the sexual wellness company, Entice Me. “There’s slang for it, moms know their sons do it in the shower, fathers tell their sons about it. But women are taught that sex has consequences, like pregnancy and shame, not pleasure.”

As a result, there are questions that even those of us who have embraced masturbation as part of our daily lives might have. Like, is there a wrong way to do it?

More: 6 Masturbation Positions That Prove You Don't Need a Partner to Have a Good Time

The good news is that while it’s hard to deprogram ourselves out of thinking we don’t deserve pleasure, the answer to the question of “can I do it wrong?” is a resounding “no.”

“The ‘right’ way to masturbate is whatever feels good to you,” says Jill Whitney, a marriage and family therapist in Connecticut.  “That may change from day-to-day, and that’s fine. We all have different moods, and different kinds of touch feel better at different times.” It might seem like every woman you know has a best friend in their vibrator, but if you prefer using your hand or a dildo or your brain, great!

There are some things to keep in mind, though, the next time you’re having some quality sexy time with yourself. These four things aren’t about masturbating "correctly," but rather how you can feel even better about self-love.

Keep it clean

“Your skin, especially your sensitive lady parts can absorb toxins,” says Maureen Pollack, an intimacy coach and the inventor of the WaterSlyde.

Before you get started, make sure everything you’re going to use — your hands, your sex toys, whatever — are clean, and if you’re going the sex toy route, follow the instructions for how to sanitize your favorite tool.

More: QUIZ: What kind of masturbator are you?

Don’t copy what you see in porn (unless you’re into it)

Experts, such as Dr. Jess O’Reilly, sexologist at Astroglide (yes, that Astroglide), are emphatic about women learning what works for them, not what we’re told is supposed to turn us on.

“There exists no universal sex education system that focuses on pleasure; accordingly, we sometimes emulate what we see in porn, which tends to be more male-centric and less focused on female pleasure,” says O’Reilly.

“I’ve worked with women who have tried masturbating using only insert-based techniques (they push a toy or finger in and out and in and out… as they’ve seen in porn) to no avail; many complain that they can’t seem to reach orgasm using these techniques, so they need a reminder that there are many other pathways to orgasm (e.g., rubbing, grinding, vibrating, humping, fantasizing, pulsing — to name a few). It’s not that they’re doing it 'wrong,' but simply that they need to experiment to find out what works specifically for them," she adds.

You don’t have to have an orgasm

While an orgasm might be the end game of masturbation for many, it doesn’t have to be (remember, you don’t have to do anything when masturbating but enjoy yourself).

“This time is a moment just for you to be free and experience pleasurable sensations however you see fit,” says Dr. Nikki Goldstein, a relationship expert & sexologist. “There is no right or wrong to this and it doesn’t even have to end in an orgasm to be considered finished or even masturbation. Self-pleasuring is about experiencing pleasure by your own hand no matter how, when or if the big O is there or not.”

In other words, don’t stress yourself out thinking that you have to come or thinking making yourself feel good was a waste of time. Just have fun, no strings attached.

More: Take your masturbation skill level up a notch tonight

Stop thinking that masturbation is only for desperate single people

Do whatever it takes to evict this notion from your mind immediately. Masturbation is for everyone, whether or not you’re in a relationship, and the idea that people who are having sex in the context of a partnership are somehow superior to you is just going to make you feel bad about masturbation, which is so not the point.

“A lot of times when we talk about sexuality, we do so in relational terms — like someone’s sex life with their partner — but each individual has their own sexuality that belongs to them,” says Shula Melamed, a relationship and wellness coach based in NYC. “Another person doesn’t hold the key to all of our pleasure. Of course partnered sex is an amazing way to explore one’s sexuality, but many people in relationship still masturbate. I think this stigma affects women more than men because women have been traditionally discouraged from exploring their sexuality.”

Don’t let stigma or shame take away your ability to get pleasure from your own body. You deserve it.

By Chanel Dubofsky

Originally published on HelloFlo.