Let's be real, kids love slime. It's pretty much an accepted fact of life at this point — and, if we're really being honest, Nickelodeon even had us in on the slime love back in our day, too.

Although slime is pretty disgusting, it is also an excellent way to spark imagination — and a little imagination is definitely needed during the long, lazy days of summer. Sure, you can buy a tiny canister of slime at the toy store, but it's super-easy, a lot cheaper, and so much more fun to make it at home. Just set up shop in the backyard (or put down a tarp inside), gather a few ingredients, and get ready to get slimed!

1. Borax-based slime

Found at your favorite craft store or the laundry detergent aisle of your grocery store, Borax powder not only helps you make your own slime for your kids, but offers a fun way to sneak in some science lessons too.

More: Forget Fidget Spinners: Balloons Are the Cool Parent’s Best Life Hack

What you'll need:

• white glue
• 2 5-ounce paper cups
• food coloring (optional)
• water
• Borax powder
• popsicle stick
• measuring spoons

How to make:

1. Fill 1 paper cup with water and add one tablespoon of Borax powder and mix well. Set aside.
2. Take the other paper cup and add glue until the cup is filled about an inch high.
3. Add 3 tablespoons of water to the glue and stir.
4. Add food coloring to the glue concoction in the hue of your choice and mix.
5. Take your Borax solution and add 1 tablespoon of the liquid to your glue mixture and combine well.

2. Glowing PVA-based slime

Make your own slime glow with a secret ingredient that will surprise your kids when the lights go down.

What you'll need:

• polyvinyl alcohol
• water
• disposable cups
• glow-in-the-dark paint
• Borax powder
• zip-close sandwich bag
• measuring cup
• measuring spoons

How to make:

1. Mix 3/4 teaspoon of polyvinyl alcohol and 1/2 cup of water in a disposable cup to create a PVA solution; set aside.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of PVA solution to a sandwich bag and mix in 1/8 teaspoon of glow paint. Zip closed and squish around to combine well.
3. In a separate bag, combine 3/4 teaspoon of Borax powder with 1/2 cup of warm water, zip closed and mix by squishing until the powder won't dissolve any further.
4. In a new sandwich bag, combine two tablespoons of PVA solution with 2 teaspoons of Borax solution, zip closed and knead with fingers to combine.
5. To make your goo glow, hold the bag up to the light, let it charge up and when the lights go off you'll watch your DIY slime light up the night.

Next Up: Moldable slime

Originally published March 2013. Updated June 2017.

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3. Moldable slime

Similar to Nickelodeon's Floam, this shapeable DIY slime is the perfect way for your kids to get their slime on while crafting a Nickelodeon award or any creation.

What you'll need:

• disposable cups
• water
• Borax powder
• white glue
• food coloring (optional)
• 1 cup polystyrene beads (or Styrofoam block and a cheese grater)
• zip-close gallon bags
• measuring spoons

How to make:

1. Combine 1/4 cup white glue and 1/4 cup water in a cup.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring into the glue mixture and stir. Set aside.
3. In a separate cup, mix 2 teaspoons of Borax powder with 1/2 cup of water. Set aside.
4. In the plastic bag, pour the glue solution and polystyrene beads, and 3 tablespoons of the Borax solution, zip closed and squish to combine thoroughly.
5. Now that your formable slime is ready to play, you can let your creations air dry for a keepsake or return to an airtight bag and store in the refrigerator for next time.

4. Cornstarch-based slime

One of the easiest ways to make your own slime at home, this DIY slime recipe uses materials you probably have in your cupboard.

What you'll need:

• water
• cornstarch
• bowl
• food coloring
• measuring spoons

How to make:

1. In a bowl, combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup of cornstarch and mix with fingers until you reach a slimy, smooth consistency.
2. Add in a few drops of food coloring and your DIY slime is ready for fun.

Sophia Coppola may have practically made history with her Best Director win at this year's Cannes Film Festival for The Beguiled; she was the second woman ever to win the award, and the first since 1961, when Russian director Yuliya Solnteva landed it for Chronicle of Flaming Years. But don't make you think this was a year for women to prevail at the festival — at least, according to Jessica Chastain, one of this year's festival's judges.

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"This is the first time I’ve watched 20 films in 10 days," Chastain said at a press conference earlier this week. "I love movies, and the one thing I really took away from this experience is how the world views women from the female characters that I saw represented."

She continued, "It was quite disturbing, to be honest. There are some exceptions, I will say. But for the most part, I was surprised with the representation of female characters on screen in these films."

More: Jessica Chastain delivers serious speech about Hollywood's diversity problem (VIDEO)

As for which films Chastain was calling out? Well, she didn't specify. But other critics who were at Cannes are now weighing in on this, and Kyle Buchanan's analysis for Vulture has some good ideas. Of everything Buchanan saw at Cannes, he thinks the most likely suspects for having drawn Chastain's ire (and the ire of the other women on the jury panel for the fest, TBH), were Redoubtable, L’Amant Double and Rodin, a trio of French films that treat their female leads as little more than sex objects there to satiate the men in the real leading roles, Buchanan wrote.

Another contender, according to Buchanan, was Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Loveless, a kidnapping film in which the men search for a missing child, and the women take selfies and complain about their love lives. Oh boy.

Chastain, who has been a vocal supporter of equal pay in Hollywood for herself and other women in the industry, went on to call for "more female storytellers" who can include stories about "the women that I recognize in my day-to-day life – ones that are proactive, have their own agencies, don’t just react to the men around them — they have their own point of view."

More: Why Jessica Chastain's avoiding relationships with Hollywood bachelors

Chastaine's viewpoint isn't new, but it's as important now as it was the first time it was said. Equal representation in film — and that extends to not only women, but also different races, gender identities and so much more — will only make the world a better place by exposing us to all of the beautiful diversity it contains.

On Friday morning, Kathy Griffin held a press conference to address the backlash that's hit since her "artistic" photo holding a fake decapitated Donald Trump head went viral. Suffice it to say, the press conference was wild.

More: Ellen DeGeneres is Hollywood's secret mean girl according to Kathy Griffin

In her conference, Griffin, who lost her job at CNN over the photo, claimed she's been bullied by Trump and his family since the scandal broke. "It’s quite clear to me that they’re trying to use me as a distraction," she said at the conference. "I’m not going to be collateral damage for this fool [Trump]. I think he’s a fool. I’m going to say Trump is a fool."

Griffin, who considers herself an "out-there" and "in-your-face" comedian as she stated during the conference, has actually apologized since news hit that Trump's young son, Barron, took the graphic photograph hard. For those who don't know, part of the fallout from this shocking photo was that Trump's son believed the photo was real.

More: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen have a fight over Kathy Griffin (VIDEO)

When asked if she has fear for her career after this storm died down, she replied "Absolutely. I don’t think I will have a career after this. I think he — I’m gonna be honest — I think he broke me. He broke me, he broke me." It was at this point Griffin appeared visibly choked up and distressed. She continued, "And then I was like, ‘No, this isn’t right. It’s just not right.’ I apologized because that was the right thing to do and I meant it. And then I saw the tide turning and I saw what they were doing and I thought, ‘Oh, okay. They’re trying to spin this. They’re making it about Barron.' Obviously that was never my intent. I would never want to hurt anyone, much less a child. I started to see what was really happening and then it was a mob mentality pile-on."

As far as Griffin is concerned, the apology she made after releasing the photos should be enough to get the Trump family off her back.

"I’m not afraid of Donald Trump," she said. "He’s a bully. I’ve dealt with white guys trying to keep me down my whole life, my whole career. I’m a woman in a very male-dominated field. I love what I do. I love making people laugh more than anything in the world. I have learned over the years that sometimes when you do stand-up — and I’ve done it in a war zone, I’ve done it in a Wall Street hospital, I’ve done it at Carnegie Hall — sometimes people want a joke that’s out there and a little crazy. So, regarding the image that I participated in, the apology absolutely stands. I feel horrible. […] Trust me, if I could re-do the whole thing, I would have had a blow-up doll and no ketchup."

She added, “I make mistakes. [...] But I just wanted to say, if you don’t stand up, you get run over. What’s happening to me has never happened, ever, in the history of this great country, which is that a sitting President of the United States and his grown children and the First Lady are personally, I feel, trying to ruin my life forever."

This is a nuanced argument, for sure. Griffin's protest art was covered under the First Amendment, so the president shouldn't be personally involved in eviscerating her. However, the First Amendment doesn't apply to the reaction Griffin has gotten from non-government officials. As someone who's as anti-Trump as any blue-blooded liberal, even I can say Griffin crossed a line.

More: Melissa Rivers is wrong to scold Kathy Griffin the way she did

Does Kathy Griffin deserve the backlash? Let us know down in the comments.

There are many reasonable negative connotations tied to having sex and not getting off. But what if we let go of that focus for a moment?

So often it’s been assumed that leaving a hookup without having an orgasm implies that you’re unsatisfied, and of course, we all want to get off, but when and where do we draw the line that this is the end-all goal to a satisfying experience?

Sex, whether involves penetration or not, is a complicated moment where two or more bodies mesh together to create a bunch of good feelings. There is no rule book that checks off a moment of pleasure as successful or not. Only you and you alone know when you’re enjoying your ride with your partner. As for myself, I became the most liberated and free once I decided that orgasms were not my end goal with foreplay or sex.

More: What 7 Women Wish Their Partners Knew About Getting Them Off

While I preach about the inequity in the orgasm gap, I know that sex is also circumstantial. If my body isn’t feeling it this morning, my partner will do everything in their almighty sexual power to garner a response. It’s beautiful, really. But I’m also aware that sex is enjoyable and fulfilling without an orgasm and this goes for my partner too. To be with someone who also agrees that, obviously, orgasms are wonderful but if they don’t happen, then they don’t happen, is an imperative influence on my new outlook. Sometimes we trade off. I came last night during cunnilingus; tonight he will come with a blow job. We switch our focus on one another but sometimes, our bodies have their own sets of ideas.

Before, I would find myself frustrated and flustered, almost angry, if my partner didn’t come for me. I placed the blame on myself or questioned what I was doing wrong. I would apologize repeatedly or ask what I can do, disrupting the silence and the moaning to try and find some resolution to the problem. But is this an actual problem?

It’s not as if my partner can’t finish or that I can’t have an orgasm. On the contrary, I can have several blended orgasms throughout foreplay and intercourse. So, why do I assume that intercourse or sex should result in the all encompassing, body-arching orgasm?

More: Orgasms Are Most Elusive for Straight Women

“You took a little longer this time,” my partner says. And that’s OK. It’s just a statement, not a complaint. What they did yesterday to my body may feel differently to me today. The same goes for when I perform oral sex. Some days are better than others. Either in my performance or in their response. No one is to blame; no one is “broken.”

I think much of this change in approach also led to my confidence in bed with my partner. Mental health therapist and certified sex therapist Kristin Marie Bennion told Bustle, “When someone is sexually insecure, their minds tend to be taken out of the moment and over-focused on performance or approval — like what they may or may not be doing ‘right’ or what they don’t like about their body.”

Once I threw away my negative connotations tied to orgasms versus the success of the sexual experience, I abandoned all feelings of anxiety that were tied to my performance in bed.

Pure intimate pleasure took my anxiety’s place.

In fact, it has heightened my sexual experience and made it more liberating. It has lifted the stress of reaching a goal. We’ll get there if we get there.

As I said before, I am able to have multiple orgasms in one romp — I’m lucky and I know it. I have never struggled with climaxing or communicating to my partner how and when I want it. The revolution of the orgasm lives well in my body. I preach about its importance, the lack of effort put forth by men and the empowerment felt when it’s achieved. There is a large cultural imbalance between male and female orgasms.

I don’t want this to be a love letter on being content with your orgasm-less sex life. By all means, you need to come! This is a love letter to breaking that idea of the desirable goal. Working too hard to reach a climax reduces sex to a beginning and an end. Orgasms don’t cap off intercourse. You don’t wipe your hands, pat each other on the back and shout, “Good job!” after an orgasm. The inability to relax, the onslaught of overthinking, and becoming incredibly tired can build up and create an immense amount of pressure for you and your partner. Women have resorted to faking it because of the inflated male ego. "Did you come babe?" has become a punchline. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.

More: The pressure to act like a porn star in bed is ruining sex

What’s even better is that since communicating this idea to my partner, cunnilingus and foreplay in general have become an important component of my sex life. My partner’s dedication to focusing just on me for long amounts of time contributes to my multiple orgasms, my numbing toes and my gyrating legs. I’ve had more orgasms now than I have ever had in my life. To just let go and feel our bodies, our rhythm and our sensations has amounted to more pleasure since freeing my mind of any climactic goals.

By S. Nicole Lane

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Despite everything the Giudice family has been through in the last few years, there's still a sense of normalcy in their home.

More: So, Teresa Giudice doesn't believe Donald Trump's accusers

Former Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice posted photos to her Instagram this week showing her sending her oldest daughter, Gia, off to prom.

"My beautiful @_giagiudice Prom 2017," Teresa wrote on one photo, where she posed with Gia in the foyer of their home. In another photo, edited to show two mirror images of a beaming Gia, Teresa wrote, "My baby Gia is going to Prom with her Adorable handsome BF Nick! Love them to pieces! Here we go! #Prom2017 #mybabyisgrowingup."

More: In an unexpected turn of events, Teresa Giudice & Danielle Staub are friends

Even other Giudice kids got in on the action. One sweet pic showed Gia in her prom makeup posing with her younger sister, 7-year-old Audriana.

Gia looked gorgeous in a simple slip dress from Jacqueline Boutique in Livingston, New Jersey, featuring a plunging neckline and a high slit up one leg. Her makeup was done by stylist Priscilla DiStasio, Teresa revealed.

More: Joe Giudice still finds time to be romantic — from inside his prison cell

This event comes right in the middle of Joe Giudice's prison sentence — he's been behind bars since March 2016. Teresa finished her sentence shortly before the 2016 holiday season. Both were convicted of various charges of fraud and tax crimes.

The Royal Family continues to be an example to the world in how it's responding to the terrorist bombing that happened at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester earlier this month. Members of the family have released touching statements. The Queen visited victims and their families in the hospital. Now, Prince William has met with first responders who were at the scene of the tragic incident.

More: Meghan Markle Was Super Stealthy at Pippa Middleton's Wedding

One of those that Prince William met with was a police officer who was off-duty and picking up his daughter from the concert at the time of the attack. Michael Buckley's 15-year-old daughter Stephanie was okay after the bombing, but was treated for a concussion and some crush injuries. She and her father weren't able to unite until the morning after the bombing took place.

More: Meet Prince Sverre, Your New Favorite Royal

"When I walked into the foyer of the arena it was absolute devastation, there were people screaming, others crying and others making no sound at all," Michael Buckley told reporters. "I knew my daughter was in there somewhere."

Buckley also told reporters how much he appreciated meeting with Prince William, who asked first responders if they were getting enough support in the aftermath of the tragedy, because he is a literal angel, like wow — can you even imagine an American politician asking that question? No. You cannot. Because they would never.

The Royal Family has been such a stand up bunch all the way through all of the horror of the attack. Their super classy statement about the events, released by Prince William, read, "Like everyone, Catherine, Harry and I are left shocked and saddened by the tragedy that unfolded in Manchester overnight. Hundreds of friends, parents, children and partners are confronting unimaginable grief today, and we send our thoughts to them all. We also send our thanks to the people of Manchester for their display of strength, decency and community that is an example to the world."

More: The Queen Reportedly Grants Prince Harry Permission to Wed

That's what it looks like to have a leader with class, in case any of y'all Americans wondered.

For many of us, the list of questions we generate for our kid's doctor can sometimes take on a life of its own. Every possible ailment, behavior problem and rash our kids present has its own special place on the back of our grocery list. And when the answers on Dr. Google leave us even more confused than when we started surfing the web, having a good pediatrician you trust is sometimes the only way to calm the anxiety.

Well-child visits come around only once a year, and many parents use this as the golden opportunity to ask their doctor everything under the sun. And when you consider that most visits are around 15 to 30 minutes, coming to the appointment prepared is essential. We asked Washington-based pediatrician Dr. Niran Al-Agba the five questions she wishes parents would ask when they come to their child's appointment.

1. What counts as a fever?

Have you ever gotten a call from your child’s school asking you to come pick them up because they have a temperature of 99.9? Guess what — that's not a fever. Al-Agba says that in kids under 3 months of age, a temperature of 100.4 and above is what constitutes a fever. And after 3 months of age, the number rises to 101 and above. When the temps hit this level, she recommends calling the doctor up until 1 year of age. As kids get older, their appearance (lethargic, poor color, etc), combined with decreased appetite, mood, etc., and a fever over 101 factors in greatly when deciding whether to call the office or not. However, she advises moms to trust their gut, and if something doesn't seem right, always call and ask.

More: 10 cute ways to protect your baby from the sun

2. What do I give to rehydrate my child?

If you suspect your child is dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea, knowing how to rehydrate them is critical. Al-Agba recommends oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte when hydrating ill kids. Other acceptable options are juice and ice pops, but Al-Agba notes that these should not be used as the sole source of hydration. And water or sports drinks aren't the best options for rehydration. “Water should never be used and sports drinks do not have the full spectrum of electrolytes necessary in the face of vomiting and diarrhea,” she explains. Remember, avoid milk products after vomiting.

3. What is a good OTC remedy for the most common upper-respiratory illnesses?

Al-Agba says the best remedy for mild upper-respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, etc.) is honey. She recommends 1 teaspoon, three times a day taken straight out of the jar or mixed with warm tea and lemon. However, honey shouldn't be used in kids under 12 months old. For older kids, most illnesses should be turning the corner on symptoms by Day 5 to 7, but if you are past that time frame or develop a fever mid-illness, call your doctor.

4. What are the symptoms of constipation?

Al-Agba treats hundreds of kids for constipation and says many parents are not aware of the signs and symptoms. Pooping infrequently and stool that looks like hard, round balls are the first signs of constipation. If your child is going to the bathroom infrequently, straining when they are in there and has hard stools and belly pain after eating, it may be time to ask the doctor about constipation remedies. She tells parents to pay particular attention to what their child's stool looks like, keep a note of the last time they went to the toilet and record the frequency of abdominal pain.

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5. What is a worrisome rash or dots on skin?

Rashes are one of the most common ailments for kids and reasons for doctor’s visits. “A rash or red dots that don’t blanch when you push on it is considered worrisome — this is almost always something medically important,” says Al-Agba. Petechiae are round pinpoint spots that appear on the skin as a result of bleeding. The bleeding causes the petechiae to appear red, brown or purple. They commonly appear in clusters and may look like a rash. Usually flat to the touch, petechiae don’t lose color when you press on them. According to Al-Agba, this can be a sign of a serious infection, autoimmune disease or allergy.

Developing a trusting relationship with your child’s doctor can help you feel more comfortable asking all sorts of questions regarding your son's or daughter’s health. And for parents who aren't sure where to start (or stop) on their list, sometimes asking one simple question such as, “What questions haven't I asked that I should have?” can begin to create a relationship of support and trust.

If you've seen any of the recent videos documenting drama on board flights — including a family with two babies getting kicked off a United flight and a mom of two in tears when an American Airlines crew member took her stroller away — you're well aware that it's not easy to be a parent traveling with kids.

And while, yes, flying introduces some particularly stressful situations, it's not just air travel that's challenging. Long drives, hotel stays and taking your kids away from home for any length of time can be a real undertaking (and even more so if you have young kids).

"Being a new parent traveling with your baby or toddler for the first time can feel daunting and stress-inducing," says Luisa Gangemi, service training specialist at Emirates airline and a mom of 1-year-old twins. "From figuring out what to pack to being concerned that your child will have a meltdown and be inconsolable on a flight, these are real parental fears."

Luckily, we asked experts for the most common mistakes they see parents make when they're traveling so you'll know what to avoid next time you go out of your town with your kids.

More: Score Major Flight Deals on These 4 Airlines Before They Disappear

Overpacking

No, it's not smart to under-pack when you're traveling with kids — but you also don't want to overpack, which is the more common tendency. In your desire not to forget anything your kids might need, you risk bringing way too much, which only adds to stress. "Many people are over-prepared and bring more than one or two people can handle on top of carrying their child and managing their own luggage," says Gangemi. "If you're flying, I always suggest contacting the airline before you start packing to find out what's offered both on board and on the ground to help lighten your load. On board Emirates, for instance, we provide a range of baby and toddler-friendly items such as diapers, formula, baby wipes and bassinets." Save the space for stuff you really need.

Limiting screen time

At home, you might have a policy about how much time your kids can spend playing games or watching movies on devices, and normally, that's wise. But when you're traveling, you might have to bend the rules a little to get by. "Make sure any device you're bringing is fully loaded with mom-approved videos and apps," says Juicy Juice’s 100 percent family time expert Meredith Sinclair, author of Well Played: The Ultimate Guide to Awakening Your Family's Playful Spirit. "My rules on limiting screen time goes out the window at 30,000 feet. Basically, that means if it will help you arrive sane, power up!"

More: 6 Foolproof Ways to Keep Kids Entertained on Long Flights

Overplanning

Of course you have ideas about what museums, beaches or restaurants you want to visit during your trip, but remember that when you have kids, flexibility is everything. "Learn from my mistakes as a traveling mom and don’t overdo it," says Melanie Fish, family travel expert for HomeAway. "Kids will create better memories swimming in a vacation home pool and eating vacation food than they will trekking to the third tourist highlight of the day. I still make my kids, now teenagers, cry with the words, 'It’s just a couple more blocks away!'"

Sinclair echoes this sentiment, adding that the ability to deviate from plans is part of the joy of being on vacation. "Leave room for unexpected adventures and the opportunity for spontaneity," says Sinclair. "In fact, on any road trip, start by putting some ideas for what you each would like to do in an empty juice bottle. Pull one idea out each day and see if you can make time for it."

Choosing the wrong time of day to travel

You might not have your kid's sleep cycle top of mind when you're trying to book an affordable flight, but if you have the flexibility to book based on your kid's energy, sleep and food needs, it can be a huge help. "Where possible, I would always choose a flight departure that is closest to my child’s bedtime and avoid day flights that mean my little one will be awake and wanting to explore," says Gangemi.

Paderson agrees: "For small babies and children that may sleep in the car, I would leave in the middle of the night, and that way, they can sleep much of the way to their destination," she says.

Trying too hard to avoid tantrums

The more you try and try to avoid meltdowns with young kids in public or in transit, the likelier they are to happen — so try not to stress so much and realize that it's a part of life with little ones, especially when you're traveling. "If possible, if you're in public, remove the child from the area but if you can’t, just breathe and agree with the tantrum-thrower that life is awful at the moment," says Fish.

And even with older kids who are in a foul mood on the day when you were most excited to do a certain activity, try to go with the flow. "Avoid the temptation to get angry that your child is whining about being tired and hungry when they should be appreciating the amazing vacation you’ve planned," says Fish. "Miss your next scheduled activity and stop for ice cream and a rest." It's not worth trying to force things to work out if all signs are pointing to your kids' need for a nap, a snack or a movie.

Not bringing entertainment or toys

This might seem like an obvious one, but it bears repeating — it's worth taking up space in your luggage to bring a few items that help entertain and soothe your kids. "Pack your child's favorite toy, pacifier, stuffed animal or blanket so they can feel comfortable and at home wherever you are," says Gangemi. "Another little trick I use is bringing a new toy or book my children haven’t seen before, as these often work as a nice little treat when they’re upset. I find little distractions are helpful."

For older kids, bring portable games, activities or books that can help pass time when you're in transit. "Pack a batch of small and easily doable boredom busters for those long lines, delays and layovers," says Paderson. "Playing on a phone or iPad is fine for a little while, but it's nice to offer your kids the option to be creatively entertained without constant digital distraction."

Skipping explanations about different cultures

If your kids are older and you're headed somewhere international or where the culture and language are new to them, have a little chat about what they should expect to get them excited about the upcoming experience and also to prepare them. "Children are naturally curious and I believe this should always be encouraged," says Gangemi. "I strive to be the best role model possible for my children and celebrating different cultures is one of the best ways to ensure your child is ready for the world."

She offers an example: "For instance, a cultural norm that some American kids might not expect is when people in the United Arab Emirates greet by touching noses, rather than shaking hands or hugging," she says. "Your little one may not have seen something like this before, and it's important to take the time to praise their observation and explain that in different parts of the world, people say hello in different ways. Then I would encourage them to greet me by touching noses showing that there is no wrong or right in culture — just a wonderful variety.”

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The weather is warming up, and if you have kids you know that means it’s pool season — that happy time of year when a body of water will occupy your children for hours on end, tiring them out and giving you a break. But summer pool time can also harbor water-related dangers.

More: Georgia Sheriff's Deputy demonstrates dangers of sitting in a sweltering car

We spoke with Jojo Pope, director of association aquatics at YMCA of San Diego County about water safety, and got the Y’s tips for a stress-free summer in the pool.

1. Get swim lessons

The first thing you may want to consider when getting your kids pool-ready is swim lessons. (Drowning is a concern; it’s the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 3 to 6 years old.) Water safety is important, and there are options when it comes to swim lessons: local parks and rec centers, the USA Swimming Foundation and private sessions are a few choices. The YMCA offers group swim lessons as well as the free Safety Around the Water program. In this program, kids learn skills like safely reaching a pool’s edge and exiting a body of water. "These skills are vital to help prevent drowning rather than stroke development," says Pope.

2. Supervise at all times

When the little ones head to the pool, be sure to apply sunscreen and remind them not to run. The most important pool safety factor is supervision. "One of the easiest things parents can remember in the pool is to always have adult supervision," says Pope, "and have 'reach supervision' for younger children — particularly those who cannot swim." Pope says if there's no lifeguard, at least one adult should be the designated "water watcher," who keeps an eye on children. Someone with CPR/first-aid knowledge is also important in case of emergencies. Training can be obtained via classes at your local hospital, YMCA or through the Red Cross, to name a few options. A Red Cross CPR class can be done online for only $25. For a hands-on experience, in-person first-aid/CPR class options can be found online at a cost of around $70 to $110. To find out about getting first-aid/CPR certified through Red Cross, call 1-800-REDCROSS.

More: 20 super-cute baby swimsuits

3. Ramp up pool party security

When it comes to pool parties, YMCA of San Diego County’s Courtney Pendleton says that hiring a lifeguard can add a layer of safety. "Many children know how to swim, which tends to make parents not watch as closely as they should," she notes. "Pool emergencies can happen in the blink of an eye," says Pope. "Close supervision is key, but swim lessons and water safety should begin at a young age." A lifeguard can make up for that reduced caution. To find one for hire, inquire at your local community pool or call a private lifeguard company like Happy Swimmers.

4. Know the facts about flotation devices

Flotation devices can help kids mobility in the pool and give parents peace of mind, but they don’t ensure safety, so be sure to remain watchful. Some swim experts even discourage the use of "floaties," noting that they may give children false confidence. Water wings and other floatation devices can be dangerous, writes Water Safety Magazine’s Jenelle Lockard. "Because water wings are used on the upper arms, they prevent a child from using the correct swimming stroke or motion to move themselves through the water," she explains in her column, Just Add Water. "Plus, if a child raises their arms above their head, their head can sink down below the water’s surface causing panic and again drowning if not watched."

5. Be aware of dry/secondary drowning

Lately, there’s been a push in awareness of dry drowning and secondary drowning. Dry drowning happens when water a child has breathed in causes their vocal cords to spasm and close up. Secondary drowning occurs after swimming or bathing from water inhaled into the lungs, causing trouble breathing. Again, prevention comes down to awareness, says Pope. While both dry drowning and secondary drowning are fairly uncommon, parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms. The symptoms for both are the same, according to WebMD: coughing, chest pain, trouble breathing and feeling extremely tired. Get medical help if your child experiences these symptoms and/or suddenly has a drop in energy or a change in behavior. But again, these conditions are extremely rare so there’s no cause for alarm. If your child has taken swim lessons and there’s an adult supervision the pool, they’re ready for some fun in the sun!

More: Best sunscreens for kids

Walter Cronkite may have made history when he infamously shed a tear at the news of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. Anderson Cooper, meanwhile, has made a name for himself for shedding a tear to two as well — except Cooper sheds his while laughing uncontrollably at the ridiculousness that is life.

More: Anderson Cooper Was Adorably Giddy Sitting Across From Scott Speedman on Live

Cooper's adorable little giggle is just the icing on his reporting cake.

I think most of us will admit that we tune in to The RidicuList just to see if Cooper will crack... and crack he has. So, it only felt right to compile the best laugh attacks for Cooper's birthday today.

More: Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen Have a Fight Over Kathy Griffin (VIDEO)

We dare you not to giggle right along with Cooper.

1. When he just couldn't talk about Dyngus Day

2. When Wolf Blitzer tries to steal our Cooper giggles

3. When Gerard Depardieu peed on a plane, because bodily functions are hilarious

4. When a 12-inch sandwich became a sexual innuendo

5. When Cooper added himself to The RidicuList

6. When he pinned Kelly Ripa to her desk

7. When he couldn't use a shake weight

8. When Cooper talked about Stephen Colbert's nuts... and more

9. When Cooper and Colbert geeked out about Dungeons & Dragons

More: You May Love Him, but There's No Way Anderson Cooper Will Be the Live Co-host

What is your favorite giggling Anderson Cooper moment?

If asked to name one “fact” about sex that I managed to extract from late-'90s pop culture (specifically American Pie), it would be that all women yearn for oral sex, and men are clueless, intimidated and often disgusted by it. They would never go down on someone unless they were sure it would lead to penetrative sex, and there’s definitely no such thing as a person with a vulva and clitoris who’s not into it.

Except that’s not true. Many women don’t like having oral sex performed on them for different reasons — from the fact that we’re socialized to be ashamed of our bodies to the stigma surrounding women’s pleasure to just not being into it.

More: Yes, Your Partner Can Go Down on You During Your Period — & It Can Help With Cramps

“I don’t find it as interesting as penetrative sex,” a 31-year-old woman who asked to remain anonymous told me. “I can have orgasms from oral sex, but I prefer other things, like body-on-body contact.”

For Audra, a digital strategist in the Northeast, it’s about how the act of oral sex can hinder the communication she likes to have. “I feel like when someone is going down on me, I’m not getting any data. I want to be able to see my partner’s face and talk to him or her. It’s important to me to know that the person is present and secure.”

“I simply can’t deal with the sound,” said J. “It seems so magnified in the moment. Additionally, the pressure of knowing that someone is doing something they don’t necessarily want to be doing really stresses me out and almost gives me so much anxiety that I couldn’t orgasm even if I liked oral sex.”

If oral sex isn’t something you enjoy, you might have avoided conversations about the subject, especially if you know people who love to talk about how much they love giving or receiving it.

“I feel like I have to play along when women are all talking about how not enough guys wanna do it and all women love it,” said Audra.

It’s awful feeling like you should like something that you don’t or vice versa. Eventually, you might start to wonder if you’re normal or if you should be trying harder to like the thing you don’t like, particularly an act like oral sex, which is depicted as the key to pleasure for people with a clitoris.

More: 6 oral sex techniques that deserve some kind of medal

Tara Struyk, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Kinkly, says she often hears from women who don’t like oral sex and are interested in “fixing the issue.”

“I think the problem isn’t so much whether women enjoy or don’t enjoy oral sex, it’s that we often make assumptions about what’s ‘normal.’ There is no ‘normal.’ Everyone has their own unique body, tastes and desires. Oral sex is just one of many things people can do for pleasure. If it isn’t ‘it,’ move on to something else,” she said.

Like it or not, we’ve internalized messages about our bodies and what’s “wrong” with how they look and smell and feel, and that’s especially relevant to our vulvas, vaginas and clitorises, which are more often than not, associated with ugliness and shame. These messages can impact our ability to allow ourselves to feel pleasure and inhibit asking for what we want, but that doesn’t mean we should be pressured into doing things we don’t want to do.

Kenna Cook is a sexual health educator with O.school, an online space (coming this fall) where folks can access individualized information about sex and pleasure. “We’re taught that you have to run the ‘bases’ — kissing, manual penetration, oral sex, etc. — but you don’t have to do anything,” said Cook. “There’s nothing wrong with you if you don’t like something.”

More: 6 Oral sex tips for women who feel awkward receiving it

Regardless of what you’re into (or not into), communication is always the answer to getting the best sexual experience we can possibly have. “Once I realized it was OK to have likes and dislikes,” said Kate, who lives in the Midwest, “I was able to talk about it with partners.”

By Chanel Dubofsky

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Look, since you want your wedding to be the best day in the history of time, it’s obvious there’s a ton of pressure — but that doesn’t mean it has to be super-stressful. With the right hacks and wedding-planning tips, your day will be smooth sailing.

Instead of spending your day worrying if the guests are happy, if your caterer got there on time or if your heels are going to sink into the ground and make you trip on your walk down the aisle, you should be thinking about how happy your life will be and that you’ll get to spend the entire night eating great food, dancing and toasting with family and friends — and with our roundup of useful little tidbits, this dream can totally become a reality.

To make your life easier, we’ve gathered some of the most useful and practical wedding hacks that every bride should take into consideration.

1. Having an outdoor wedding? Use perfume that doubles as insect repellant (it exists!) such as Aromaflage. The bugs will stay away, and you’ll smell amazing throughout the event.

More: This Couple Had Their Wedding on Mount Everest, and the Pics Are Insane

2. Instead of licking envelopes, use a glue stick — no paper cuts or gross aftertaste.

3. Use high heel attachments to keep you from sinking into grass during an outdoor wedding. There’s nothing worse than a wobbly walk down the aisle. While you’re at it, put a basket out for your guests.

4. For an outdoor summer wedding, use ice pop sticks to make programs that double as fans so guests can keep cool while you’re saying your vows.

5. Use glass cloches to keep bugs out of food.

More: 50 Genius Wedding Ideas From Pinterest

6. Most wedding shoes are brand new, so rub the bottom with sandpaper before wearing to de-slick the soles.

7. Have guests write their addresses on postcards. You’ll save money on postage and time writing addresses for thank you notes. Win-win!

8. Stash your lipstick under your napkin at your table — that way, you can apply without having to go back to the bridal suite.

9. Stay away from dairy — a natural inflammatory — for three days leading up to wedding to de-bloat naturally.

10. Keep your veil in place with magnetic veil weights — especially if you’re having an outdoor wedding on a windy day.

11. Need to provide your own ceremony seating? Call local businesses with seating (like a funeral home) to see if they’d lend out their chairs before calling rental companies.

12. Consider using your venue’s sound system to play music from an iPod or your computer for the ceremony and cocktail hour — it’ll save tons of cash. Why not spend on the music during the reception instead, when people will actually be dancing, rather than listening or mingling?

13. When it comes to table arrangements, check out flea markets for vintage vases instead of spending extra cash on floral arrangement vases from the florist.

14. For a modern touch, opt for food trucks at your wedding to save money on catering.

15. Have your bridesmaids rent their dresses from an online retailer like Rent the Runway since they’ll more than likely only be wearing the dress once.

16. Invest in a personalized stamp with your and your hubby-to-be’s names and address on it — a thank you note time-saver!

17. Have your photographer only photograph the ceremony to save cash and rely on friends’ photos for the reception (extra points if you create a hashtag, which will function as a real-time wedding album).

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Just because the United States is lacking in decent political leadership these days doesn't mean those political heroes aren't out there.

Meet newly-elected French president Emmanuel Macron, who is quickly becoming one of Donald Trump's most outspoken critics.

More: Here Are President Trump's Plans for Your Free Birth Control

After Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement on climate change, President Macron quickly stepped up to welcome any American citizens with the desire to "make our planet great again" a spot in France to be innovative, rather than taking a step back.

"I do respect this decision, but I do think it is an actual mistake both for the U.S. and for our planet" President Macron explained in his speech with regards to Trump's decision. He added, "To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, responsible citizens who were disappointed by the decision of the president of the United States, I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland."

I greatly respect and admire President Macron's words to the citizens of the United States but, while I do consider myself one of those "responsible citizens," I don't plan to move to France. I'm a big believer that we shouldn't abandon our country in its time of need. Rather, I plan on fighting here, to correct Trump's dangerous and dated mindset on the environment. As a responsible citizen, I hope to see change happen in spite of Trump's decisions.

More: Kit Harington Says What We're All Thinking About Donald Trump

That being said, it is because of great leaders stepping up to the plate like President Macron, that we citizens affected by the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement feel empowered to continue making a difference, and I hope this is the first of many great speeches we will hear from President Macron in the coming months.

He may have just assumed office on May 14, 2017, but he is already becoming a voice — not just for France — but for all opponents of Trump's policies. Not only has President Macron criticized Trump's opinions on environmental issues, but he also took issue with Trump's plans to build a wall on the Mexico-United States border during his campaign.

President Macron is drawing comparisons to Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau, who has also been an outspoken Trump critic. Prime Minister Trudeau spoke out on Trump's immigration ban decision and countered it by saying refugees were welcome in Canada.

More: Kathy Griffin Officially Got Herself Fired From CNN for Graphic Trump Photo

All in all, there is definitely a sense of relief knowing that the world is forging ahead despite Trump's decision to back out of the Paris Agreement. Responsible leaders around the world are stepping up to the fill the void and we, as responsible citizens, can do the same.

What are you doing to decrease your global impact?

It's easy to get in that trap mindset that "celebrities have it all." But, surprise! They have to work hard to maintain that balance between job and family, just like the rest of us.

During a Friday beach party for their Havaianas Mommy & Me flip-flop collection launch, Jessica Alba and Jenna Dewan-Tatum gave us a taste of their mommy guilt while speaking with E! News.

More: Chrissy Teigen Wants to Make Kim Kardashian's Baby No. 3 Dream Come True

"I think feeling like you're missing moments, like, well first off, you feel bad when you realize they are wearing shoes that hurt them because you're like, 'Oh, I didn't even realize that you've been wearing shoes that are too small for you for like 3-4 months, my bad,'" Alba said, referring to her two children Honor, 8, and Haven, 5. "Some of those milestones or moments, you want to be there for every single one and it's not realistic when you're working, but for me, that's what gets me. Even the everyday little things like picking them up from school are a big deal, so I drop them off at school most mornings and try to get home for bedtime. But the weekends is really when I get to spend the time with them."

Dewan-Tatum echoed Alba's statements when talking about her 4-year-old daughter Everly, "Yeah, for me it's always a balancing act and learning and perfecting the balancing act is the toughest part. For me, with work, it's interesting because it will be really, really busy and then I'll have a little bit of time where it isn't quite as busy, so you have a little bit of time where balancing that is easier. She's pretty good now because she understands that now."

Both ladies agreed the key is spending quality time with their families, even though it can be difficult.

More: How 19 of Hollywood's Favorite Moms Spent Mother's Day

"It's like a checks and balances kind of thing where you really put in good quality time so you feel a little bit better about working the next day," Dewan-Tatum said. "It's about finding that, and constantly sort of not making yourself feel guilty but trying to work that out for yourself, so that your family gets lots of time and quality time together. It's a balancing act always."

How do you deal with working mommy guilt?

While there are some definite struggle-bus moments of being a mom (we’re looking at you, third middle-of-the-night diaper change), there are also some wonders that are tough to describe unless you’ve been there. Like all of the first 'firsts': from smiling (nope, it wasn’t a gas bubble!) to rolling over and saying, "Mama," those memories will forever be stitched to your heart (and documented via Instagram). But there’s another first that’s a little more stressful to think about: traveling with your baby. From boarding and booking the flight to figuring out how you’ll get around a new city with all that baby gear, it can be overwhelming to plan a vacation with a tiny globetrotter.

But there are plenty of brave moms who have jet-setted with their tots in tow and figured out the best way to make it a fun experience for the whole family.

1. Change your mindset

Repeat after us: "Children change everything." You already know that — but traveling with a baby will really bring it home. You just have to make sure you monitor your expectations heading into the adventure. Travel editor Alice Dubin is mom to 2-year-old twins and says reframing her thinking toward travel experiences with kids was key to enjoying trips as a mom. In other words, you can either take them or not travel at all — so why not bite the bullet and go for it?

"I know — trust me, I know — that traveling with two toddlers can be daunting," she says. "But I also know that a few fussy hours on a plane is a small-picture issue. Compare that to a life without travel — which if travel is for you, like it is for me, a top priority and a deep yearning can make for an unsatisfied life in a big-picture way. I choose option A," she says.

2. Focus on teamwork

Even if you’ve backpacked your way through Europe or Southeast Asia all by your bad self (you go, Mama), once you have a baby, it's essential to ask for help. For mom of one Samantha Slaven, bringing her husband along on a cross-country business trip with her 7-week-old helped make traveling a reality. "We'd just both work together in the hotel room, then I'd run to my meetings, then rush back to take care of business. Not sure how I could have juggled my schedule without being able to leave my son for a few hours at a time and having someone there to care for him," she explains.

If no one is available to make the trek with you, mom of one Elizabeth Corey says to ask for a special pass at the airport where a trusted family member can at least help you get to your gate. "It can be hard to wrangle a toddler and all our stuff. Many airlines will issue a gate pass so that Grandma/friend/aunt, whomever we were visiting, can accompany us until we board," she explains. "They're able to help out while we get through security and then I'm able to run to the restroom before the flight without my toddler and our tons of stuff!"

3. Be strategic with nursing

You know how your mom used to pack pieces of gum in your backpack when you were traveling by air? The chomping is supposed to help your ears pop. For infants, nursing can also be a way to help alleviate pain for your baby according to mom of four Bryce Gruber. "Don't be afraid to breastfeed as the plane takes off and lands — the swallowing will help soothe your baby's ears and nursing in general is extremely calming. Don't feel awkward. People on the plane prefer your baby eating under a blanket to the sound of his/her screaming, guaranteed," she says.

If you’re formula-feeding, Gruber recommends doing the legwork before you print off your boarding pass to make traveling less chaotic. “Pre-portion your formula in little zipper baggies. You know if your baby takes one, two, three or four scoops at a time, so preportion and then just combine with room-temperature bottled water when you're on the plane. No fuss meal-making saves time and energy," she explains.

4. Don't stress about other passengers

In addition to hoping you didn’t forget anything (more on that later), one of your biggest sources of anxiety going into your first travel experience with your baby might be annoying fellow travelers. Slaven says to let go of the pressure and remember that nearly everyone has been there before. "You’re not the only one who’s struggled with a squirmy, noisy baby during a long flight, and try and keep the mindset that most of your fellow passengers are sympathetic and empathetic versus cursing you with every breath," she says. "It helps reduce your stress and anyway, who cares what a bunch of strangers think?"

5. Ship if you can

If you’re traveling domestically and know the address of your destination — say Grandma and Grandpa’s house — mom of one Meghan Ely says to save on packing in bulk and ship your must-haves instead. Not only will it save on cost, but it’ll be less for you to lug around when you’re already carrying your babe. Use Amazon Prime to get items like diapers and wipes to your vacay spot and leave more room for other travel goodies, like toys to keep baby busy, in your carry-on or checked bag.

Next up: More smart tips for traveling with a baby

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6. Don’t forget backup clothes (for yourself too)

After Baby had her very first diaper blowout that resulted in a mess that you can’t bring yourself to talk about (we feel ya), you've never left your home without a spare onesie. Ely says that while you’ll want to make sure you have an alternative outfit for Baby in your carry-on, it’s important to bring another set for yourself too. "For our first trip to Chicago, which is an easy two-hour flight, my son Oliver needed his diaper changed three times. I was so glad we thought to pack backup clothes for ourselves!" she says.

7. Don’t fear red-eyes

By now, you’re likely to be well-versed in functioning on little to no sleep, but it’s important to keep your baby on a sleep schedule so he’s not fussy post-breakfast. Ely says that red-eyes (overnight flights) are a good option for families with babies as long as you resign yourself to the fact that you’re probably going to be awake for the whole duration. "Make it a priority to focus on your kids sleeping and make sure that your first day at your destination is low-key so you can catch up a bit on rest," she advises. "For our trip to Barcelona, my husband and I got no sleep on the plane, but my son got about seven hours. When we got to our apartment, we turned on a movie for him and promptly took a two-hour nap to refresh."

8. Book kid-friendly Airbnbs

While you might lust after the idea of lounging around a super-plush hotel bed with an oversize white robe, luxury hotel rooms, or hotels in general, are second to kid-friendly Airbnbs once you become a parent according to mom of one Madeleine Novich, Ph.D. "You can you travel light — because they often supply the crib, highchair and other necessities — and the kids are often excited by all the awesome new toys to play with," she says. "More importantly, when they go to sleep in the bedroom, the parents have an awesome living space to hang out and relax in."

9. Capitalize on freebies

Novich has visited countless countries with her son and husband, and she partly credits her family’s frequent flying habit to being aware of the freebies involved with traveling and Baby. For starters, most airlines let kids under the age of 2 fly for zero cost. "You can mark them as a lap infant when you buy a ticket and they are either not charged or are only charged for a fraction of the cost of a ticket,” she says. Another cost-effective way to travel with babies is to consider your destination and what they offer as perks. As Novich says, "Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Finland, Sweden [and] Norway usually don’t charge 'stroller pushers' on public transit. When traveling there, you often only need to pay for one adult on the tram, trolley or buses."

10. Pack as light as you can

Unless you’re going to a remote island or heading deep into the safari or desert lands, anything that you need for your kiddo — from wipes and toys — you can usually find wherever you’re headed. Mom of two Janel Molton Hertz suggests keeping it light instead of stressing and overpacking. "There's nothing worse than lugging a gazillion devices and baby crap through the airport or to the hotel," she says. "You'll also discover awesome local hacks. Two summers ago, we brought our daughter to Italy when I was seven months pregnant at the time. Because of copious amounts of pizza, pasta and gelato, my daughter got constipated. I went to the local pharmacy, and she gave us this honey-based medicine that literally cleared her up in two minutes. I bought 10 for the road."

Moms, we're not saying traveling with a baby is easy. But if you're prepared — and open-minded — it can be a great experience for you and your little one.

If you’re deep into planning a wedding, there’s a 99.9 percent chance you’re feeling overwhelmed — but heading over to the magical world of virtual pin boards for some Pinterest wedding ideas will seriously help get you organized and totally inspire you too.

Whether you’re considering a traditional wedding or something a little out-of-the-box, Pinterest is teeming with gorgeous photos and links to tips, tutorials and ideas for where to shop to create the event of your dreams. It’s easier than ever to research cool, creative and unique wedding ideas that will truly set your night apart from the rest.

To get you thinking about ways to shake up your own wedding, we scoured Pinterest and gathered 50 ideas — some small, others slightly more thematic — to help you throw the most unique wedding ever.

1. Dip balloons in gold glitter for a glamorous, fun effect. If you’re having a sit-down dinner, tie one to the back of each chair. Otherwise, fill them with helium and let them fill the ceiling of your venue.

2. For gorgeous (and affordable) centerpieces, take cylindrical vases and submerge flowers in water.

More: 22 Alternative Wedding Dresses for the Non-Traditional Bride

3. During your bachelorette party, have each bridesmaid wear lipstick and kiss the same sheet of card stock. Have them sign their name underneath, and frame the print.

4. Make a sign with your wedding’s hashtag so that wedding guests can tag their photos taken at your wedding.

5. Give your guests personalized tote bags for their wedding favor.

6. It sucks when you get stuck sitting at the back at the wedding and can’t see a thing. Make sure all your guests have a good view by positioning the chairs in a circle.

7. For an inside or nighttime wedding, light up your ceremony with a backdrop filled with strands of lights.

8. Obviously, you and your bridesmaids will be having a fun night out at your bachelorette party. How cute would it be to make a print of fun morning-after mug shots?

9. Does your wedding venue have boring bathrooms? Spruce them up with these door dressings.

10. Grab a photo of you and your girls popping Champagne at your bachelorette party to remember the fun times you had.

Next: More Genius Wedding Ideas From Pinterest

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11. For dessert, let your guests choose from multiple cakes and desserts instead of just one wedding cake.

12. Give your engagement photos a fantasy theme.

13. Who wouldn’t love a wedding with a s’mores bar? It’s inexpensive and perfect for the outdoor wedding.

14. Pull a Kim and Kanye and have a floral backdrop at your wedding.

15. Opt for a simple wedding cake that coordinates with your wedding’s color palette.

16. Find a creative place to host your wedding, like a flower-filled greenhouse.

17. If you’re having a country wedding, use hay bails as benches for your ceremony — totally inexpensive and coordinated with the theme.

18. Incorporate your favorite trends into your wedding dress. A sucker for a crop top? Check this dress out.

19. For a rustic wedding, use a piece of wood to create a wedding sign to point your guests in the right direction. Prop it up with a pitchfork or garden shovel, and use watering cans as flower holders.

20. Have pets? Incorporate them into your bride and groom photo shoot since they’re part of the family.

Next: More Genius Wedding Ideas From Pinterest

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21. Use items that you can find at a flea market (e.g., these vintage wine barrels) to give your wedding a rustic and vintage vibe.

22. Instead of having your bridesmaids wear the same dress in the same color, let them have fun and look stylish in mismatched bridesmaids dresses. Trust us, they’ll thank you.

23. For some kids, weddings can be a drag. Keep them entertained with a kids' station.

24. Ask your maid of honor to join you in the wedding party with a special gift box filled with items she might need.

25. Send out save-the-date postcards instead of cards with envelopes. You’ll save on postage, plus it’s super-cool!

26. Since your bouquet won’t last forever, keep the dried petals in a Christmas ornament that you can use around the holidays.

27. Stray away from a boring guest book. Create a book with your engagement photos and have your guests sign that.

28. Incorporate cute, bright-colored tassel garlands to add a fun and girly touch.

29. Host a bridesmaid scavenger hunt at your bachelorette party.

30. Instead of sticking with just colors in your wedding’s palette, opt for a pattern that you can carry along throughout the event.

Next: More Genius Wedding Ideas From Pinterest

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31. Have a dinner where you can surprise your friends and ask them to be in your bridal party.

32. Make personalized popcorn bags for your guests to enjoy during the reception.

33. Don’t have anyone to be a flower girl? Let the two grandmothers take a walk down the aisle in their place.

34. Make a statement with some bright-colored shoes instead of traditional heels.

35. If you’re not a fan of pastel colors, go for soft neutrals with greenery in your wedding’s color palette.

36. During your bridal shower, have a perfume bar where your guests can create their own fragrance to take home.

37. Love Beyoncé? Grab this “Feyoncé” sweater to rock to your engagement party.

38. Let your guests know where they’ll be sitting with homemade watercolor escort cards.

39. Don’t want to wear a veil? How about a sparkly headpiece instead?

40. You don’t have to stick to a traditional wedding dress and tux. Try something that fits your style.

Next: More Genius Wedding Ideas From Pinterest

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41. As a wedding favor, have a dessert table with empty boxes where your guests can choose which desserts to take home to enjoy.

42. Show your guests your wedding menu on an old door painted with chalkboard paint. Perfect for a rustic wedding!

43. Take a creative photo booth picture to use around your wedding or even on your save-the-date cards or invitations.

More: You Don’t Need a Huge Budget to Plan an Amazing Wedding

44. Give your guests an idea of how the night will happen with a creative wedding program.

45. Let your passions shine through in your engagement photos. Both love art? Here’s the perfect idea.

46. Take some stress off yourself and let the guests choose their own seats!

47. Having a fall wedding? Grab some photos with your wedding party throwing leaves in the air.

48. Let your guest entertain themselves at a photo booth with fun felt props.

49. Having a summer wedding? Let your guests cool off with a frozen yogurt bar and get creative with toppings.

50. Have your guests take a Polaroid photo of themselves and replace their name card with the photo!

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

What do you think of when you hear the words "contraception" or "protection"? For most, including myself, up until I was 20, I thought of condoms. It should come as no surprise because up until then, in commercials or in drug stores, the only form of contraception I saw was always condoms. At school, sex ed was limited to straight-sex protection and the notion that there may be other forms of maintaining sexual health were unbeknownst to me.

This limited view of contraception is dangerously narrow because it excludes certain kinds of sex and identities. Sure, it’s a problem that I wasn’t learning how to use a condom properly or how to obtain alternate forms of birth control during my sex ed classes; but ultimately, the plight of condoms never ended up applying to me much anyway. I’m pansexual, and I’m primarily attracted to women.

More: Study shows couples who use contraception have more sex

It wasn’t until I met my current partner that I learned about using condoms for oral sex. All the years I had been giving blow jobs, I had never known I was exposing myself to sexually transmitted infections and that a condom could be helpful. Because of the way contraceptive talk is so centered around condoms and penises and straight penetrative sex, I was under the assumption that penetrative sex with a man was the only way I could get an STI.

Obviously, this isn’t true. Any contact with a person’s infected genitals or mouth can cause you to contract an infection, whether there was penis-in-vagina sex or not.

Thanks to such a lack of info for many of us, there is also this shared misconception among queer women and femmes that you can’t get an STI from sex with another woman; we also were confused into believing that penises were the only thing that can carry and successfully deliver an STI to our genitals.

Embarrassingly enough, only last year did I learn that being gay wasn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card — STIs don’t discriminate by gender. At age 21, I was given a live tutorial on how to use a dental dam. I was relieved to get to learn more about this because I now know there's an established method and products dedicated to protecting your mouth from an infected vagina and vice versa.

More: Yes, you can still get an STD while in a monogamous relationship

Luckily, I’ve never contracted an STI despite my many false scares, but many of my friends with the same sex education as me weren’t so lucky. It’s scary not to have all the information about our bodies and our sexuality.

Even if we’re not having vaginally penetrative sex, we need to know that we still have to protect ourselves and how to maintain any agency over our sex lives. Convincing our partners to use a dental dam or condom during oral sex could be kind of a drag — we all ultimately come from the same dysfunctional sex ed programs, after all. But at the very least, we have a right to know how to protect our bodies and that we, as queer people especially, are not immune to infection simply because of the method of sex we’re having.

More: Understanding What Herpes Is (and How to End the Stigma)

Let’s encourage more conversations about protection with oral sex; let’s have more live demonstrations on how to use dental dams. If we keep nonconventional contraception in the shadows, we rob ourselves of the power we’re entitled to as sexually diverse individuals.

By Sebastian Zulch

Originally published on HelloFlo.

Two weeks after the terrorist attack at Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, where 23 adults and children were killed and hundreds more were injured by a suicide bomber, the pop star's One Love Manchester benefit concert was heartfelt and pure. During the three-hour-long show, over $2.6 million was raised for the “We Love Manchester Emergency Fund,” adding to the already-donated $9 million.

More: During the Manchester attack, Ariana Grande's mother helped concertgoers

Sharing the stage with Grande was a star-studded lineup including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Black Eyed Peas, Pharrell, Coldplay, and Manchester-native and former member of Oasis, Liam Gallagher. While their performances are unforgettable, their words hold just as much power, especially following the London terrorist attack just 24 hours before.

Here are the most powerful speeches from the show.

More: Harry Styles addresses Manchester attack at his Mexico City concert

“It’s not easy to always choose love, is it? Especially in moments like these. It can be the most difficult thing to do. But love conquers fear and love conquers hate. And that love that you choose will give you strength.”
Katy Perry

“God is good in the midst of the darkness. God is good in the midst of the evil. God is in midst, and He loves you and He is here for you."
Justin Bieber

“When I saw you guys rallying together last week, it was a sight to behold and it was incredible… We love you, we’re with you, all of us are with you. The whole world is watching.”
Niall Horan

“The most important responsibility we have on this entire planet is to take care of one another, and look at what we’re doing today and how amazing that is.”
Miley Cyrus

“I’m bowing because despite all of the things that have been going on in this place, I don’t feel or smell or hear or see any fear in this building. All we feel tonight is love, resilience, and positivity.”
Pharrell

“Our thoughts are with everyone that has been affected by this, but right now we want to stand strong, look at the sky, and sing loud and proud.” 
Gary Barlow of Take That

“We are here and we are together and we are one.”
Will.I.Am performing “Where Is The Love?”

After one powerful performance after the other, Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, took the stage to make a moving speech of his own before bringing out Ariana.

“Last night, this nation was challenged, and all of you were challenged. And you had to make a decision about whether you were going to come tonight. And look at this, this is so beautiful. You looked fear in the face and said, ‘This is Manchester, the world is watching.’ Don’t go forward in anger. Love spreads. Hatred will never win, fear will never divide us because on this day we all stood with Manchester.”

It was only a matter of time before two superheroes got into a feud on social media, and it's between Thor and Wonder Woman.

During an interview with Katie Couric, Gal Gadot, star of the new blockbuster movie Wonder Woman, challenged Chris Hemsworth, star of the Thor films, by asking who would win in a fight: Wonder Woman or Thor?

More: Gal Gadot, aka Wonder Woman's, 'Whiteness' Is Being Called Into Question

In the video, Gadot says, “Now, they asked me who would win, Wonder Woman or Thor? And I think it’s Wonder Woman. Don’t you, Chris?”

More: Wonder Woman Is Endorsing a Diet Product — and We're Not OK With It

Hemsworth was quick to respond, because when Wonder Woman asks you a question, you answer promptly. He tweeted back:

I don’t blame Thor for not putting up a fight. I certainly wouldn’t want to get on the bad side of the Princess of the Amazon. But Gadot didn’t necessarily accept Hemsworth’s quick defeat, and she asked for more.

I’m not one to ask for or fetishize violence, but we need to see this fight! Make worlds collide, Hemsworth! We all know how it will end. Even you know. But your fans must see it. I get that it’s intimidating and you’ve already accepted defeat, but give it some thought. Directors, producers or writers in Hollywood, if you’re listening, make this happen.

More: Don Cheadle Tells Men Upset About 'Women-Only' Wonder Woman Screenings to Sit Down

Hopefully, the two will resolve their differences and this feud will end soon, but in the meantime, we can all imagine Thor and Wonder Woman fighting mercilessly in our dreams.

The queen of Queens is back!

Variety reported today that the CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait has brought actress Leah Remini onto the show as a permanent cast member, which means that she and Kevin James are back together. It was also confirmed by Remini herself on Instagram, saying, “Dreams do come true #blessed #grateful.”

Remini and James worked together as a married couple on King of Queens from 1998 to 2007, so the dynamic duo are sure to do great work once again. Remini has actually already had a small part on Kevin Can Wait as an undercover cop in this season’s finale, but she has been added as a series regular.

More: Leah Remini's Got a Lot Planned for the Second Season of Her Scientology Series

However, the same day that Remini announced her casting, actress Erinn Hayes, who plays James’ wife on the show, announced that she was let go after just one season. “True, I’ve been let go from the show,” she wrote on Twitter. “Very sad, I had a great experience season 1. Thank you for all the support from our wonderful fans.”

More: Scientology Is Starting a New Campaign to Smear Leah Remini

The reason for the switch in actresses and characters has not been specified, but the show has been signed on for a second season and is set to air on CBS on Monday, Sept. 25. Remini’s role as an undercover cop will be the same, as will her relationship with James’ character as his former partner on the force, so the show will continue to be as fun-loving as it was in its first season.