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Ah, JT. Yes, we fondly remember all of Justin Timberlake's incarnations: his Mouseketeer days, his boy band days, his Britney Spears days, his "SexyBack" days and his on-and-off Jessica Biel days (before he wised up, realized she was a keeper and married her). Our favorite Timberlake chapter, though? It's got to be #DadLife.
In his latest, Timberlake is sporting "glasses" we're thinking Silas assembled for his dad. The caption: "When you’re the only Dad at the mid-morning play-class, if you stay any longer than 20 minutes… THIS IS YOUR FATE. #dadlife."
Our second thought (after our first thought of "awwww") was, "How come Timberlake was the only dad there?" And our third thought was, "How many very happy moms made it to mid-morning play class with Timberlake?"
Timberlake's Father's Day post on Instagram was equally sweet.
jt father's day
jt father's day
The caption pretty much did us in. "These 2 angels... The greatest gift I've ever known. And, the reason I won't EVER STOP! Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads out there! Hope you are enjoying! #Howearlyistooearlyforafathersdaybeer"
Biel is obviously loving family life just as much as her husband. Her Father's Day post echoed Timberlake's.
biel father's day
biel father's day
That caption, though: "To all the dads out there, including mine, who selflessly give their time and love to their families, I appreciate and salute you. And to my beloved husband, my adventure companion, my road dog, who works tirelessly for THIS family and gives of himself energetically and spiritually every day, I am eternally grateful for you and your love. As Silas likes to say, 'you are so much cool.' I love you to the moon and back. Your adoring wife, Me"
Yeah, Timberlake and Biel seem to have this parenting thing down. Silas, you are one lucky kid to have parents who are willing to hang out at school — or, you know, dress up like trolls with you.
The best thing about iced coffee is that it goes down so smooth and easy. The worst thing about iced coffee is that it goes down so smooth and easy that our monthly Starbucks expenditure rivals that of the electric bill with the AC cranked on high all day every day. Oops.
Homemade iced coffee to the rescue! These recipes are just as good as anything we'd get at a coffee shop, but they cost a fraction of the price to make. The added bonus is that we don't even have to get out of our PJs to sip one on a lazy Sunday.
1. Cinnamon dolce frozen coffee recipe
This blended coffee drink has the cozy cinnamon sugar flavor of a snickerdoodle but the easy drink-ability of iced coffee.
Let’s be real here. Coming home from the hospital with a new baby in your arms is overwhelming. Whether it’s your first or fifth child, there are always things we can do to make our lives easier and save our sanity as we learn to navigate the landscape of being a new parent.
It doesn’t matter if you are planning to nurse or not, your body just went through the ringer and needs to hydrate to help repair itself and help you get your strength back. I made sure that before my due date, I had cases of water, Gatorade and coconut water on hand for easy access. Proper nutrition is of course important as well, but during the first weeks home from the hospital, drinking my nutrients was just easier (think smoothies, protein drinks and vitamin juices).
2. Plan ahead
Get a plan in action, mamas! Whether you have older children or pets to take care of, reminders and to-do lists are a must when your head's in a fog. I used those bursts of energy during the very end of my pregnancy to make sure everything was in order at home for the first month or so that I would be home from the hospital because I wanted to be able to relax and enjoy that time instead of worrying.
3. Have pain relief spray and Tucks waiting in the refrigerator
It’s going to burn like crazy every single time you go to the bathroom for a few weeks. Do yourself a favor and make sure you’re stocked up with pain relief spray and Tucks pads (get both at your local drugstore). Tip: Keep the Tucks pads in the refrigerator — the cooling sensation will honestly be something you look forward to. Padsicles (pads frozen with witch hazel applied to them) and frozen condoms filled with water are also gaining popularity.
4. Have a great food delivery service on speed dial
I didn’t have family nearby when I had my recent baby and meal planning was a little bit overwhelming to me with everything else going on, so I planned meals for my first few weeks postpartum using a mixture of premade meals from the grocery store, meal kits and ordering in. It worked out perfectly for us.
5. Get out of the house, for real
Give yourself a few weeks to stay at home and heal, but when you’re feeling up to, don’t hesitate to get outside and move a little bit. When my daughter was born in August, my family came to visit us about three weeks postpartum, and we were out and about in our city for three days straight. It was so good for my soul and happened right around the time I was starting to go stir-crazy.
6. Have a small postpartum wardrobe waiting for you
I can’t recommend this enough. The last thing you want to be doing postpartum is trying to find clothes that fit. Make sure your maternity clothes are still handy and buy a few staple items that will help ease you back into your old wardrobe. Believe me, as soon as you pop that baby out, you’re going to want to feel some sense of self again, and a huge part of that is your wardrobe. I gave birth in August, so I had some cropped yoga pants, boyfriend tees and a forgiving cotton romper at the front of my closet. All were comfortable and easy to dress up if I wanted to leave the house.
7. Limit your visitors
Everyone wants to pop over and meet the new baby, but they also need to understand how important it is for you to have downtime and family-bonding time — alone. Make sure everyone knows ahead of time that they need to schedule a visit that works for your routine and that just showing up will be a big no-no.
I remember how good it felt when my older son was young and I had that "me too" moment with another mom. Finding out that I wasn’t alone and going through daily struggles with babies and young children is normal and having someone you can text any time who is going through similar struggles is so empowering.
9. Give yourself a break
Finding a self-care balance in new motherhood is crucial. You can’t take care of an infant without taking care of yourself first, so make sure you’re doing that. Take a break to get a manicure, run to Starbucks or read a book. Whatever it is to help you feel good about yourself and be emotionally sound will help you be the best mom you can be.
10. Put down the phone and focus on the present
We all want to capture those sweet moments of new motherhood and announce our new babe’s arrival on Facebook, but you'll be frustrated looking back if you didn’t allow yourself to soak in those moments too. I had a conversation with my husband about pictures ahead of time and made sure that he knew to capture some important ones so that I could relax and not feel like I needed to add this to my to-do list.
For a woman who has lived most of her life in the spotlight, Britney Spears can be extremely private. It’s part of what draws us to her: the fact that she can post a photo of herself in a bikini on Instagram while at the same time avoiding discussing the ups and downs of her nearly two decadeslong career.
That’s why it’s so surprising that she opened up in a recent interview in Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot about her struggles with mental health and fame. (The original interview is in Hebrew, but here is a translated version.) Here are some of her biggest reveals as she nears the end of her Asian tour.
1. She has in fact struggled with her mental health
There’s a reason people have mugs that say, “If Britney can survive 2007, you can survive today.” A very public episode — including her infamous head-shaving incident — were viewed as a cry for help.
“I think I had to give myself more breaks through my career and take responsibility for my mental health,” she said.
2. She agrees that she was overprotected & not in control of her own life
Though it’s something we’ve suspected for years, Spears confirmed that in her 20s, there were a lot of decisions made for her that she wouldn’t have necessarily made for herself.
The Israeli journalist who conducted the interview used the word “overprotected” to describe her former situation, and the pop singer agreed.
“My life was controlled by too many people and that doesn’t really let you be yourself,” she explained. "In that situation, when you’re not in control, you become less excited, and there’s less passion when it comes to music. I wrote back then that I was lost and didn’t know what to do with myself. I was trying to please everyone around me because that's who I am deep inside. There are moments where I look back and think: 'What the hell was I thinking?'"
3. Sometimes, she’s in denial about her fame
On top of Spears’ mental health challenges, she said that she’s also a very private person, and being so publicly visible didn’t help matters.
“Deep inside I wish to be very private, which I believe I am,” she told the Israeli publication. “All this fame is way too much for me, as it’s really hard to grasp its magnitude. When you’re young and in the beginning of your career it’s understandable that you've just stepped into this world.”
4. She thinks a lot about wanting to blend in
After being hounded by photographers for so longer, Spears wishes she could go somewhere and not be recognized.
“I have these moments where I just want to dress up like a normal person and walk in the street. It goes through my mind quite a lot," she said.
After bursting onto the pop music scene in her teens, by the time Spears hit her 20s, she was already a veteran performer. But that didn’t mean things were easy.
“I think I had fun when I was younger," she said. "I was a pretty normal girl, a tomboy. But my 20s were awful. My 30s are much better for me. I've learned to get to know myself better.”
6. Ultimately, it was secluding herself that helped control the paparazzi
After Spears was photographed driving around with her son Sean on her lap in the car, she blamed the paparazzi for having to do it, saying that she was very stressed. The only thing that helped? Not making public appearances for two years.
“Those were the toughest years,” she explained. “I think the paparazzi took off the pressure after I didn’t leave my house for two years.”
Whether or not you were a pop star at 16, this advice makes sense. “Enjoy the moment,” she said. “That’s something that’s really hard to understand when you’ve started young in this business.”
Technically, the rest are less about mental health, but interesting nonetheless.
8. She feels empowered by other female singers
When asked if it is harder for her in the pop industry with powerhouses like Beyoncé, Rihanna and Taylor Swift around, she said, “I think we need to support each other from a place of women empowerment.”
9. Her last Google search is pretty typical for a mom during summer
When asked what she would do and where she would go if she could be unknown for a day, she said that if she answered honestly, people would know where to find her. But she did disclose her last Google search, which was “cool beaches to take kids to.”
10. She was not a fan of that big yellow snake she performed with at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards
One of the most iconic moments in a career filled with them came at the 2001 VMAs when Spears performed her song “I’m A Slave 4 U” onstage with a 7-foot albino Burmese python draped over her shoulders. Turns out, she was just as scared of it as the rest of us.
“That was pretty scary,” she said. “Stupid even. I wouldn’t do that again.”
We hear ya, Brit. Mostly though, we're glad you're feeling better.
Ah, summertime! Can you smell the Kardashian party fever in the air? We can. It's the scent of tropical drinks, Jimmy Choo flip-flops, $400 sunscreen and the sweat of 100 ripped bodyguards. And that's just for the Kardashian offspring's birthday parties.
First cousins North West and Penelope Disick just turned 4 and 5 respectively, and their family spared no expense on their combined summer birthday bash. The theme? Moana.
When we turned 5, our parents got really crazy and went all out on matching Winnie the Pooh paper party hats, napkins and a vinyl tablecloth. North and Penelope scored with a Moana bash that rivaled the actual movie's budget.
There were dancing characters! Wigs! Polynesian costumes! An inflatable "surf" house! A pig petting zoo! (Really. We swear.) Birthday girl/fashionista North was rocking a two-piece outfit and serious flower action: leis and a tropical blossom crown.
North Moana
North Moana
(We would ask how the Kardashian posse expects to top this next summer when the cousins' next June and July birthdays roll around except we know they will totally top this next summer.)
Auntie Khloé Kardashian was on hand with the girls' moms, Kim Kardashian West and Kourtney Kardashian. Other guests included Larsa Pippen and her daughter Sophia and Daphne Joy and her son (wait for it) Sire.
Because a Kardashian party would not be complete without a guest named Sire. You know it and we know it. (Note to self: Find local child named Sire and invite to kid's birthday party. "Stallion" would work too.)
What did everybody chow down on? Oh, it was good: mac and cheese, ribs, a pair of cakes, flavored ice treats and the thick, chewy envy of all who were not invited.
The family shared photos on social media (naturally!) of the festivities. Kourtney Kardashian posted a shot of herself and two friends on the surfboard in the bounce house captioned, “The only three grown-ups (sort of) to go on."
kourtney surf
kourtney surf
She also posted a pic of baby Dream Kardashian (daughter of her brother Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna). Dream, unlike the rest of the crowd, was not feeling the Moana love.
Dream Moana
Dream Moana
Still. We'd like to come back as Kardashian babies in our next lives, please.
There's a lot of things that are horrible about having allergies. The sneezing, the sniffles and the burning all suck big time — but the cherry on top of our red little noses is the fact that it's hard to let pets into our lives. The good news is, though it's hard, it's not impossible.
Around 50 million Americans suffer from nasal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. That's 50 million of us who have to cut out some of life's luxuries to keep our health in check — but that doesn't mean we all have to avoid adopting a dog. There are so many breeds that are low-dander, making them the perfect companion for allergy sufferers.
Please note: These dogs are known to be allergy-friendly, but that doesn't mean they still can't trigger a reaction.
1. Bichon frise
Image: AL_HikesAZ/Flickr
Don't let the puffy coat fool you. These little marshmallows are jolly, easy to train and don't shed. The bichon frise is great for a family wanting a small, cheerful dog as an easygoing companion.
Perfect for apartments, they tend to max out at a petite 12 inches tall and weigh only 7 to 12 pounds but can generally get plenty of exercise indoors. They also live a very long life, at 15 or more years.
Originally published March 2016. Updated June 2017.
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2. Schnauzer
Image: _Bunn_/Flickr
These shed-less pups are great for the owner who loves to be the center of attention — or the kid who loves playing follow-the-leader. The schnauzer loves his owners so much that he won't let them out of his sight, so expect to have a buddy by your side at all times. He does need a firm hand, though, to balance his stubborn, energetic and protective temper. Schnauzers come in three sizes: standard, giant and miniature.
While you can pick your size, do know that the giant model, as a larger dog, may not live quite as long as smaller ones (though not by much).
Don't have a big yard? Then a Yorkie is perfect for you! They are content playing and cuddling with you indoors. This pup doesn't shed or have a lot of dander. She does require heavy grooming, however, so keep the brush in hand when she paws at your lap.
Most people love this breed for its adorably tiny size — at just about 7 pounds and 6 or 7 inches tall, she's for sure a purse-size pup.
Although at first glance he looks more like a lamb than a dog, the Bedlington terrier could be the perfect canine addition to a laid-back family. These do not shed and are very mild-mannered.
Maxing out at 17 inches and 23 pounds (with males and females being far closer in size than many other breeds), they do very well in apartments as long as there's plenty of room to play.
Despite those long, silky locks, this breed sheds very lightly. Although they need a lot of grooming, they are affectionate, kind and easygoing. But be wary: Shih tzus tend to become jealous of babies and toddlers, so protect your other little loved ones from their insecurity. Even though they're only up to 11 inches and 16 pounds, they may not be the best fit for families with small kids who don't know how to act around dogs (or if your dog isn't properly obedience-trained).
These pups are also prone to a host of health problems that can add to the amount of maintenance they require (especially as they get older), but if you're like many dog lovers, showering your baby with affection is your favorite hobby anyway, right?
Like the schnauzer, the poodle comes in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. They do not shed, but they do require a lot of grooming and care. They're easy to train, but the smaller ones can get a little yappy. That said, poodles of any size are remarkably intelligent and typically very strong at any size.
Poodles too prissy for your liking? Try a labradoodle. They have the hypoallergenic coat of a poodle, but on a Labrador's body.
Perfecto! This little Italian has a thin coat, so he barely sheds, and it's easy to keep him clean of allergens. The breed is very playful and loyal and does not need a big yard. They're extremely sensitive to cold, though, so this isn't a good breed for a family living in a chilly climate. In many climates, they're the perfect dog if you need justification to dress your pet in cute sweaters.
Much smaller than the greyhounds that usually come to mind, this little cutie maxes out at about 15 inches high and 10 pounds.
No, not Benji from the movies, but even better. These pups don't shed or bark, they have very little dander, and they're darling, so they're a great choice. They do sometimes make an odd yodeling noise, and they can be hard to train (like most hounds). But this stubborn demeanor comes packed with a lot of lovable personality.
I don't recommend getting a basenji if you live in tight quarters, as he's pretty active indoors, but it's great if you have a large apartment conducive to activity or a backyard. He may be only as big as 17 inches and 26 pounds, but it's not a good idea to trust him around non-canine animals or kids who aren't well versed in showing dogs they're the alpha.
The most efficient way to avoid dog-induced allergies is to get a dog without any, or with very little, hair. You can't go wrong with the Chinese crested; they barely shed at all. They do produce dander and can be a little clingy, but they're very good with children.
When you're searching for one, be advised that there's actually a powderpuff variety that does have hair, but they're almost equally allergy-friendly. They're just harder to care for because their fur can mat if you don't brush it properly. Both varieties need to wear sweaters in cold weather, but they're excellent apartment dogs, at 12 inches high and about 10 pounds on average, and need only frequent exercise rather than a backyard to frolic in.
The Samoyed is a sneezing owner's dream come true. This breed does shed, but you'll find no doggy odor or dander, making these dogs the perfect option for people with allergies. They're known for being laid-back, gentle and "smiley," so they're great around kids.
They're usually around 21 inches tall and about 40 pounds, and they're very active indoors. Apartment life is OK as long as they get plenty of exercise, but make note that unlike many of the other dogs on this list, Samoyeds have a nice, thick coat of fur, so they love cold weather (and cuddling... in fact, they're bred to do it!).
What do Britney Spears, Halle Berry, Eva Longoria and Elizabeth Taylor all have in common? These mega-celebs have all owned at least one adorable Maltese in their lives.
The Maltese may be small in stature, but don't let their size fool you — these pups come with a whole lot of lovable personality. Known to have a calm and gentle nature, Maltese pups make excellent family dogs. They have long, silky hair that does require a bit of extra attention, but running a brush through their luxurious locks once a day will prevent any grooming issues.
If space is an issue, this breed may be for you. Maltese generally weigh about seven pounds and don't require a huge yard to run around in. They do need a few brisk, daily walks, but they prefer to spend the rest of their time cuddled up next to their favorite human.
The AKC describes the Coton de Tulear (pronounced "cotawn day two-lee are") as "bright, happy-go-lucky, endlessly charming; born to love and to be loved." They're a fairly new breed (the AKC just recognized them in 2014), but quickly gaining popularity.
Despite their long, thick white coats, Coton de Tulears are allergy friendly for the most part.
Don't let the crazy name fool you, the Xoloitzcuintli (sometimes referred to as "Xolo") is often described as loyal, alert, calm and trainable. Because they are wary of strangers, they make for excellent watchdogs. Xolos do enjoy long walks and upbeat play, but they're also known to be super calm indoors. Many Xolos are hairless, while others have a short, flat coat.
Allergies are different for everyone, so do your research. Check out WebMD for details on the causes of dog allergies. Also check out the official AKC-approved list of hypoallergenic breeds, or visit the Breeder Retriever for tons of breed information and puppy-parenting tips.
Is there anything better on a sweltering afternoon than a brain freeze-inducingly cold milkshake or ice cream cone? Of course there is. In our culinary world rife with mashups, there’s now a sundae milkshake courtesy of Baskin-Robbins.
Because let's be real. Life is even better when you don’t have to choose between sundaes and milkshakes but can have both at the same time — which is, of course, why Baskin-Robbins is testing this new glorious dessert mashup.
How does the sundae milkshake work? Exactly how it sounds. Just choose a milkshake flavor, then choose an ice cream flavor to throw on top in addition to whatever sundae toppings you like. There are countless possibilities. Of course, keep in mind that a sundae milkshake is a delicious treat but still shouldn't be a daily pursuit of new flavor combinations. Your summer swimsuit will thank you.
This concoction is currently only available at Baskin-Robbins locations in Detroit and New Orleans, but will likely be rolled out nationwide if it does well. And, really, how can it not do well? So take one for the team and give it a try if you happen to come across a store offering this new menu item.
It sounds like a joke, right? But according to a report from The Mirror, the group of up to 15 kids, mostly boys, has been assaulting and intimidating neighbors, and the abuse has been so bad that some of the victims have gone to the police. Why that hasn't stopped the kids from continuing to harass adults is beyond us, because the things they're doing sound horrible.
"We were inside the bus and they were throwing stones, screaming and shouting things," one neighbor told The Mirror. She added she witnessed the kids approach Boyle as she was leaving a local shopping center and hurl profanity at her. "It's horrendous," the woman said.
A report also details an incident during which the gang surrounded Boyle, lit a piece of paper on fire and threw it at her face.
Other victims have had racist remarks shouted at them or been physically attacked by the kids.
"While I was waiting at the bus they lobbed a glass bottle at my head," Boyle's neighbor told The Mirror. "Luckily, it missed — it would have been painful if it had hit me. I've called the police 15 times. I've had to speak to victim support. I've had to call helplines because I've felt suicidal."
She continued, "They're known to the community. They set the children's park on fire, they put fireworks through someone's door, they threw eggs at a girl's window. They pick on the most vulnerable people. If there is more than one person they wont do it, because they are too scared. It's old people, children, mentally ill people. It's really disgusting."
Updated June 26, 9:30 a.m. PT: Those of us who were hoping to catch a paparazzi shot of the world's most famous twins exiting the hospital are out of luck — reports say Beyoncé and Jay-Z have taken their two new babies to a luxury Malibu rental house to rest and recover for the summer.
The $400,000-a-month home sits on 6.3 acres and features a rose garden, tennis court, pool house and viewing deck. Tina Knowles has already been spotted visiting.
While we're still waiting with bated breath for an actual glimpse of the twins, a source told E! News that the babies look healthy and that Bey "looked amazing and was glowing." Of course she's glowing — she's Beyoncé.
Original story:
It was the longest, most grueling baby watch ever, and now we're all expected to wait some more while Beyoncé and Jay-Z's twins recover from their premature birth?
Ain't nobody got time for that, especially nobody on Twitter. What ever happened to immediate gratification? We need confirmed names. We need a date and time. We need a drink, Bey, if you keep stringing us along like this.
Yep, it's only been a week or so (we think!) since Beyoncé gave birth to her twins, but fans are tweeting hilarious GIFs and one-liners expressing their eagerness and impatience.
bey 1
bey 1
mtv bey
mtv bey
Many fans hoped against all odds that Sunday night's BET Awards would feature a peek of the most anticipated twins on the planet. (No go.)
But others were pretty damn sure Beyoncé was sending them a special message via her protégés Chloe x Halle — who are twins. During the award show, Chloe x Halle read a thank-you speech from Queen Bey herself after she was awarded the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award for "Sorry."
This had the BeyHive on Twitter majorly buzzing.
bet bey twins
bet bey twins
time warp bey
time warp bey
twins grew up
twins grew up
The sleuthiest fans are sure the BET Award twins mean we know the sex of the babies for sure now despite rumors of a boy and a girl.
bey twin girls
bey twin girls
Some fans, like this one, are simply resigned to their fate of continued waiting and torment.
Bey wait
Bey wait
bey lament
bey lament
Same.
Until we get some seriously solid Beyoncé twins news, Twitter, you're our bae.
Every single time we walk into a Sephora — which, let’s be honest, is on a weekly basis — we’re somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer number of new and excellent products. Like, great, we see an entire display of concealers in the corner, but which one is the best concealer? Which one are we actually going to love and not want to return? Which fragrance is the fragrance that will make us smell like a combination of heaven and happiness and love? Tell us, Sephora.
Well, Sephora has answered… kind of. Mainly, Sephora has very nicely given us a list of their current best-selling cult-favorite products that are flying off the imaginary internet shelves right at this very moment, and we have very nicely rounded up the top seven of them for your easy viewing (and buying) pleasure. All of them will make your beauty life way, way easier. Scroll through to see the top-rated products.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eye shadow palette
If you're Kelly Osbourne, you just pee in your pants in the street during the New York City Pride Parade and then shame Starbucks for it on Twitter.
Kelly Osbourne peed in her shoe in NYC outside starbuck
Kelly Osbourne peed in her shoe in NYC outside starbuck
"SHAME on U @Starbucks #PissedMyOwnPants in this location because UR shameful employees refused to let me use the [toilet emoji]," Osbourne wrote alongside of a photo of the offending Starbucks where she allegedly asked to use the restroom and was turned away.
She added, "I have piss in my shoe."
The internet is rallying around Osbourne in the replies to her tweet, using her hashtag to share their own public potty accident stories, because apparently peeing their pants is something adults do more regularly than any of us could have imagined. "[Y]asss i love this hash tag i #PissedMyOwnPants outside a Starbucks yesterday! one Twitter user wrote.
The plot twist in this situation is that the particular Starbucks Osbourne went to is so small it doesn't even have a restroom, and the company is claiming Starbucks employees directed Osbourne to try another location.
"We are working to follow up with Ms. Osbourne to clarify any confusion," a Starbucks spokesperson wrote Marie Claire in a statement. "There simply is no restroom in this store, and inquiring customers are typically directed to a store a few blocks away. We sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding and hope to welcome Ms. Osbourne back for a beverage on us very soon!"
Clearly there just wasn't time to get to that other Starbucks. But if you're going to pee your pants in public, the best-case scenario is probably getting a free coffee out of it.
Ruma Bose, entrepreneur, humanitarian leader and former CEO of Chobani invited four innovators to the stage at the #BlogHer17 conference in Orlando, Florida, for SheKnows Media's The Pitch contest. The Pitch is a program that profiles some of the biggest female visionaries of our time and hands the winner of the contest a hefty $50,000 check. Not too shabby, right?
The women were each given two minutes to pitch their business idea to the audience and a panel of judges. The judges asked each contestant some hard-hitting questions, and at the end of all of the pitches, the audience was asked to vote to choose the winner.
The four women pitched app ideas, safety devices and a platform for influencers to generate revenue, but it was Lynn Johnson, co-founder and CEO of Spotlight:Girls who took home the prize.
Spotlight: Girls produces the Go Girls! Camp and celebrates and activates girls and women through multimedia learning experiences, products and events. The company was founded because as a woman of color, Johnson is all too familiar with the discrimination young girls face.
“When I was 6 years old, I auditioned for the lead role in my first play. I was amazing. Everyone knew that I was the Meryl Streep of my first-grade class, but I didn’t get the part. I was the little black girl. I got the supporting role. My friend Maureen, she got the lead part, and she looked nothing like me," says Johnson.
"At that moment, I learned what too many little girls learn — that how we look and what we can do is the most important factor in our success. That girls like me should feel lucky to get the supporting role. This is why Spotlight: Girls exists. We need every girl to take center stage in her life so she becomes the leader we’ve all been looking for."
When asked by a judge how she gauges the success of her Go Girls! Camp, Johnson replied, "First of all, our camps are just two weeks long and we have found that after just two weeks, 56 percent of parents say that their girls have great confidence after just two weeks and so we hope that girls come back again for another two weeks, and so on. Some of our girls have been with us for a long time," she says.
"The girls who were in the very first Go Girls! camp are graduating high school and the success story of one really stands out. She’s about to go to college for engineering and robotics. At the same time, she’s a singer, songwriter, actor and identifies as genderqueer. She’s so confident in herself in all parts of her life and to me, that’s the kind of success story we’re looking for — girls who are like, ‘Come at me world!’"
Lynn Johnson and the Go Girls! camp are creating a foundation for young women to feel empowered, valued and strong. And honestly, I don't think there is anything the world needs more of right now than strong, confident young women.
It’s a scenario played out in bedrooms across the globe: One person makes a move, and the other bats them away, saying, “Not tonight.” But what do you do when your partner’s rarely — if ever — in the mood? How do you handle being the partner with the amped-up libido?
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to resign yourself to a life of sexual frustration. There are solutions — if you’re willing to work at it.
What affects a person’s sex drive?
Sex drive is fluid and individual and can go up and down due to stress, energy levels, body image, well-being and the state of the relationship. It can also reflect medical issues, like sleep disorders and hormonal imbalance.
While everyone’s sex drive is unique, there is a sexual scale. For some people, sex is paramount; others crave it much less. Australian sexologist Dr. Nikki Goldstein explains, “We’re all different people with different desires.”
New York sex therapist Dr. Stephen Snyder agrees and links desire to libido. “Drives are things like hunger and thirst that we’d die of if we didn’t satisfy. Nobody dies from lack of sex. Rather, [sex therapists] tend to think of libido as a capacity to respond to something you find sexy with desire or arousal,” he tells SheKnows.
Mismatched libidos
Both experts say it’s common for one partner to have a higher libido than the other, but according to Goldstein, “It doesn’t mean you’re incompatible, and it’s not something to be fearful of.” Though men are stereotyped as the pursuers, the reverse is also common. As Goldstein puts it, the myth is men are goal-oriented — “or hole-oriented, if you will!” — and women feel obligated. She believes for many couples, the issue isn’t libido, but rather boredom.
“Women have creative minds, and many want to explore their sexuality, but why would they keep doing something if they’re not getting satisfaction out of it?” she says.
Not only that, but women tend to lose desire unless someone is giving them something worth desiring, Snyder adds.
The same goes for men. Boredom as well as issues like erectile dysfunction, porn overuse, loss of confidence and relationship stress can all cause a man’s libido to cool.
Over time, those differences in desire can take an emotional toll on a relationship, as one partner feels constantly rejected and the other tired of fending off sexual advances. As a couple, Snyder says, it’s important to recognize the negative cycle you’re in so you can work on getting out of it.
Syncing up
If you’re feeling sexually unsatisfied in your relationship, communication is crucial — and Goldstein says to offer specific suggestions. Instead of just letting your partner know you’re not happy, “tell them what to do so there are no guessing games.”
Similarly, Snyder points out people want sex for a number of reasons: looking for an orgasm, attention, reassurance or to feel close to their partner. His advice is to figure out what your motivations are and then frame them in a positive way (rather than a complaint). He gives an example that’s as simple as saying, “I think if we had sex once a week, that would make me feel better about myself and us.” By solving emotional issues, you’ll be one step closer to a more synced-up sex life.
Communication aside, you could also try arousing each other in different ways, and redefining what sex means to you. In other words, experiment. This might involve introducing toys into the bedroom, mutually masturbating or drawing out foreplay via kissing, massaging or showering together. Sometimes, thinking outside the box is the trick.
“If A just wants an orgasm, and B doesn’t want sex, often the best solution is for A to give themselves an orgasm, while B holds them, kisses them or otherwise plays a supportive role,” Snyder explains.
Another idea is to explore having sex at unusual times or places to see if that sparks a change.
Along with enhancing the erotic connection, tackle the romantic side of the relationship. Long-term relationships can stale over time, so put some effort into reigniting the passion by planning date nights (like you would have when you first started dating) and even sex sessions. By doing so, you’ll be taking charge of your sex life, but just remember to communicate with your partner about what they want/need to feel sexually fulfilled.
Relieving the pressure
For Emma*, a woman in her 20s, learning not to taking her partner’s low libido personally was a challenge.
A few months into her long-term relationship, it “became obvious I needed more intimacy.” Since Emma had been conditioned to believe that “men always want it,” it was frustrating until she noticed her partner’s interest in sex only waned when he was stressed at work. He confirmed her suspicions, and they came to a compromise: When she was aroused and he wasn’t, she would masturbate and give him the option to join in. It was a success. Now, she has a sexual outlet, and he is happy the pressure is off him.
Bottom line: Having different sex drives isn't ideal, but there are definitely ways around it. With a little work and patience, you and your partner should be able to get through this in a way that works for both of you.
In all likelihood, Gal Gadot is still basking in the afterglow of Wonder Woman's success — and being a brand new mom to boot. Yeah, she has some good things going on these days.
She's also enjoying her hard-earned time off by catching up with an old friend: her Fast & Furious co-star, Vin Diesel. The two stars reunited over a playdate with Diesel's 9-year-old daughter, Hania, and Gadot's 3-month-old daughter, Maya.
"When we aren't playing superheroes... All love," Diesel wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of the foursome.
Vin Deisel and Gal Gadot had a play date w their girls
Vin Deisel and Gal Gadot had a play date w their girls
In the photo, Diesel is snuggled up to a sleeping Hania, while Gadot sits next to them feeding Maya a bottle. They're enjoying the June sunshine on a patio overlooking Southern California. The photo was liked by Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, interestingly enough. It also happens to be the first public photo of Maya, who was born shortly before Wonder Woman premiered.
Gadot was famously pregnant with Maya while she was doing reshoots for Wonder Woman. She and her husband, Yaron Versano, are also parents to a 5-year-old daughter named Alma. Diesel and his girlfriend, Paloma Jiminez, share a 6-year-old son, Vincent, and a 2-year-old daughter, Pauline, who is named after Diesel's good friend and co-star Paul Walker (who was tragically killed in 2013).
It's pretty sweet to see these two tough actions stars go all soft and sweet with their kids. There should definitely be more documented playdates like this in the future (hint, hint, you guys).
When you pay top dollar for a chicken that's labeled “100% natural,” you assume that means something — you know, like, that the chicken actually is natural. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. In fact, that chicken may contain substances that are so unnatural they actually get humans high.
A lawsuit recently filed by consumer advocacy groups against Sanderson Farms claimed that ketamine and several other pharmaceuticals were found in their so-called all-natural chicken during USDA tests. So much for truth in advertising!
Apparently, the three groups — Center for Food Safety, the Organic Consumers Association and Friends of the Earth — learned about the test results through a request sanctioned by the Freedom of Information Act and went on to file a complaint.
And it wasn’t even a scary fluke. Bloomberg reports that the USDA did 69 tests on this poultry over a yearlong period and the results came back decidedly “unnatural” a staggering third of the time. Ketamine wasn’t the only chemical found, either. They discovered various antibiotics, opiates, pesticides and synthetic hormones. Are you freaking kidding?!
Sanderson Farms, who produced this chicken, has a history of being oddly in favor of antibiotics, saying removing them was just a “gimmick” to charge people more money. Well, that’s one way of looking at it… Or you could think of it as a valuable and necessary measure to help preserve people's health, not to mention a way of maintaining transparency in food labels — which would require actually keeping said antibiotics, drugs, hormones and other creep-tastic substances out of their chicken.
The vegetarian life is looking better and better, isn’t it?
When it comes to the ins and outs of IVF, the internet is home to countless articles and blogs on the subject. These range from doctors offering professional advice to first-time bloggers sharing their own personal experiences. Despite the wealth of knowledge available, details often manage to slip through the cracks. Here are five IVF surprises that your doctor (and favorite blogger) may have missed.
IVF involves a boatload of medications that are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. By developing multiple mature follicles and eggs, it increases the chances of creating an embryo when joined with sperm in a controlled environment. Translation? Your ovaries feel like they're the size of footballs (American and European. Both. Being kicked. With a watermelon or two in there). Maybe this is sly practice for the future resident.
When my doctor said no running, it was easy to brush aside this medical advice as a precaution. Sure, sure. No lifting heavy objects, no driving heavy machinery, no running, the usual. But it’s not that you shouldn’t. It’s that you can't. Expect anything more than a brisk trot to leave you grabbing for the heating pad and Tylenol (not Advil, another no-no no one mentions).
A few days before my egg retrieval (the process of removing those stimulated eggs), I could barely make it around the grocery store without clutching my stomach. The grocery store was actually the most exercise I could handle thanks to the socially acceptable slow pace and cart to lean on. Walking fast on the sidewalk? Forget it. Slow and steady or bending over to clutch my uterus were the only two options. It’s OK. We know who wins that race.
I didn’t tell anyone when I started IVF. I considered posting something about it on Facebook, but did the guy who sat next to me in high school algebra really need to know the state of my ovaries? Nah. In my “real” life, it was a little harder to hide when nightly hormone injections and the egg retrieval caused my torso to swell up like Violet Beauregarde Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-style.
It’s an asterisk of a side effect, and one that seems to get brushed aside when your doctor and your favorite blogs are stressing mood swings. (Not that anyone should walk into IVF unprepared for the mood swings. Hello, hormones! Let’s see which inanimate object gets yelled at today.)
Chances are someone’s going to think you’re already pregnant. Multiple doctor's appointments, a new stack of prenatal vitamins and midsection puffiness are telltale signs something’s happening. Your jeans won’t fit. You won’t want them to fit anyway since your midsection is swollen and tender to the touch and anything more than an elastic waistband is like trying to squeeze into your favorite jeans from middle school. (No way.)
The days following egg retrieval were my most swollen and blimpy. Luckily, I had a nurse friend who was able to provide practical advice to help the swelling go down before I stepped back out into the world: pillows, pillows, pillows. Sleeping nearly straight up or on my left side at an angle helped reduce the swelling. Family Beginnings IVF provides a scientific explanation for this. “In the 24-hour time period following the retrieval, it will be important for you to rest in a semi-upright position. When the ovaries are punctured to remove eggs, they ooze bloody fluid for a while until the puncture sites heal over. If this bloody fluid reaches the area of your diaphragm (as would happen if you laid flat), you may experience some chest and shoulder pain.” Another surprise!
Coming into IVF, I wanted to be prepared. Saltines for nausea? Check. Bucket in case saltines failed? Check. Approximately 500 pillows to stay upright post-egg retrieval? Check. Try to imagine my surprise post-egg retrieval when in the middle of one cold night my skin turned to lava. My husband and dog sleeping in the bed woke to find me frantically kicking the covers off my body (and theirs in the process), and my prepared mental checklist crumbled into a sweating, nauseated, fiery mess. I did what any woman would do in that situation: I called my mom.
Turns out I wasn’t experiencing the first stages of spontaneous combustion, but a hot flash. The changing hormones surging through my body were not unlike those that happen during pregnancy or menopause when hot flashes are more common. A cursory Google search of “IVF hot flashes” reveals message boards and blogs posting variations of “hot flashes?” “hot flash after transfer – is this ok!?!” “HOT FLASHES??” dating back a decade. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one feeling lit. You won’t be either.
4. Break out the hazmat suit
Surprise: Medical disposal 101
Do you like needles? You do now. Perhaps you are a better friend than I am and will refrain from texting your bestie pics of the needles you are about to shoot in your stomach with multiple expletives and details and all-caps shouting of LOOK AT MY NEEDLES. Those needles hold the medications that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs and are injected nightly leading up to the first egg retrieval.
Since some of those medications must be refrigerated, one of your crisper drawers will now be home to EpiPen needles, drug vials and syringes instead of lettuce and tomatoes. It’s time to make room in the fridge. Fun fact: I never knew how gross my seemingly clean crisper drawer actually was until I had to sterilize it to hold my shots.
Reconciling the idea of poking needles into yourself (or having your partner do it for you) is a whole separate issue.
The surprise comes when it’s all said and done; your bathroom counter is covered in alcohol swabs and used needles and will be for the next month or so. But what do you do with all this? Captain Planet never mentioned this kind of recycling. Some women have kept their needles as a testament to their process and used them for photo shoots like the new mom who shared a photo of her healthy baby girl inside a heart formed by hundreds of syringes and drug vials used in her treatments. My needles ended up in an empty tea canister waiting for a proper disposal. Your doctor’s office might offer to take the used syringes at your next visit to be thrown away there, but the easiest route is purchasing a small and proper needle waste disposal canister. They can be found online for a few bucks, saving you the hassle of turning your home into a biohazardous waste site.
Every single day you are in your doctor’s office, you are surrounded by Wonder Women. This was the most surprising of all — why didn’t anyone tell me about all these women who were doing the impossible every single day? Around 7 a.m. is the magic hour for my local fertility clinic. Women wait in the gray light of dawn for the doors to open.
There will be a space of time in your cycle where you must go to the clinic for blood work and a transvaginal ultrasound multiple days in a row. Picture it. In every city and in every state that holds a fertility clinic, there are hundreds if not thousands of women waking up before dawn, dressing for work, shuffling children into sweaters and matching socks, making sure the dog is fed and the door is locked, and driving to a clinic to wait for their turn to be poked, prodded and scanned before the rest of the city is even joining rush hour traffic.
And after all that — the needles in the arm; the uncomfortable, cold and sticky sensation of an internal ultrasound; the waiting for the privilege to do these things and pay for them out of pocket — they head to work and “start” their day.
I can’t imagine the amount of strength it takes to do this more than once, but some women have several rounds of IVF. That’s weeks and months of some of the hardest days, physically and emotionally, that are piled on top of the usual stress of daily life. No one told me I’d be surrounded by these amazing women every morning in the waiting room and vestibules of the doctor’s office. If they can get up, start their day bleeding and poked and still manage not to strangle Todd from Accounting who waltzed into work 15 minutes late complaining about the rough morning he’s had, then I can too.
When you first start dating someone new, it’s natural to assume that your friends and family will love them as much as you do. After all, they care about you and want you to be happy, so it just makes sense that they’d get behind your new S.O.
Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work that way, and sometimes your friends and family can’t see what you do. Clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, author of Should I Stay or Should I Go?, says it’s “common-ish” for this to happen. “It’s not common for people to dislike someone else without cause, but there are sometimes reasons that many may think are ‘unfounded’ — like race, religion, social class, educational attainment, job — or lack thereof — and appearance,” she says. “Sadly, this likely occurs more often than we want to think.”
And, of course, this can be hard on you and your relationship. “For many, these kinds of struggles can create not only disruption of family relationships, but can also undermine the relationship itself,” says Manhattan-based licensed clinical psychologist Joseph Cilona. “It’s fair to speculate that more women than not will experience this issue to some degree — some to the extreme and others less so.”
While it’s frustrating when your loved ones can’t get behind your love life, there are a few things you can do to try to make the situation less painful.
Hear your friends and family out
Sure, you’re probably not going to agree with everything they say, but Cilona says it’s still a good idea to listen to their concerns and opinions. “It's an important place to start when attempting to cope strategically and effectively with the issue of your family’s attitude about them,” he explains. “Uncovering and understanding the reasons fueling their negative opinions can be very helpful in facilitating useful discussions about their concerns, and can serve as a foundation for correcting any false beliefs or misunderstandings.” Any responses you give should be limited to mirroring back what they’re saying — this makes them feel like they’re being heard — and clarifying any questions you may have to be sure you understand their perspective before moving on.
It’s possible that your friends and family just have the wrong impression of your S.O., so it’s important to state your case about why you're into them. Just don’t try to oversell your loved ones on your partner. “Be clear and firm about what you like about your partner, but don't turn it into an ad campaign,” says Durvasula. “If they aren't buying, nothing you say will change it, and it will feel even worse if you try and it doesn't work.” Instead, just be clear about why you're with your partner, and leave it at that.
Then, establish some serious boundaries
Ultimately, this is your relationship — not theirs — and it’s important to make that clear. “Boundaries should be clear and specific, and most importantly, consequences that will follow if boundaries are broken should be communicated with clarity and always backed up consistently,” says Cilona. It may be that you won’t sit and listen if your family bashes your S.O. in front of you or that you’ll leave if they’re rude to your partner. But Cilona says it’s important to think carefully about the boundaries and consequences you set and be sure that you’re willing and able to follow through with consequences every time.
Clue in your partner
It seems weird to tell the person you love that your friends and family don't feel the same way, but Durvasula says it’s unkind to leave them in the dark. That can leave them with self-doubt and make them wonder why they’re not getting a warm reception from your loved ones, she explains. Sure, your new partner may not want to deal with the drama, but Durvasula says you shouldn’t try to sugarcoat an un-sugarcoat-able situation.
That said, you should approach the conversation carefully. Cilona recommends leaving out unnecessary details or particularly harsh opinions and stick with generalities. For example, if your family thinks your partner is a liar and cheater, tell your S.O. that they have concerns about their trustworthiness when it comes to commitment.
While it’s easy to tell yourself that you don’t care if your loved ones don’t like your S.O., you do — what’s important is how much you care. That’s why Durvasula recommends asking yourself whether you’re being rebellious or if your family is being unreasonable. And it’s also important to think about whether you're honestly willing to make the sacrifices that might be needed for your relationship, like strained ties with your family and friends. Only you know the answer, but Durvasula offers up this advice: “Your best action is calm, serene clarity — and don't wait for any miracles.”
If you ever find yourself catching up on work at a Starbucks or ducking into one between appointments, you’ve probably wished there were better food options outside the cellophane-wrapped baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. Were there better food options, would you eat lunch at Starbucks?
If you're thinking, "Probably!" then we have good news. Starbucks is ready to expand their food program, which currently accounts for about 20 percent of their sales, and right now is testing a fresher lunch program in its Chicago stores. The program is called Mercado, and if it goes well, there are plans to roll it out in other cities this year.
"It's all about providing higher-quality, fresh food at lunch," Starbucks CFO Scott Maw told CNBC. To that end, this new program will not be about prepackaged sandwiches that are prepped and packaged offsite and then arrive frozen, but rather fresher food that is prepared in-store by employees that day.
We're hopeful this means good things for our future lunch options. Starbucks BLTs and fresh Cobb salads, anyone? We’re here for it!
