Updated July 1, 9:40 a.m. PT: In the wake of the car crash that claimed the life of Jerome Barson, Venus Williams has released a statement. Williams was reportedly in one of the cars involved in the accident and has offered some words of sympathy to Barson's family.

On her Facebook, Williams wrote, "I am devasted [sic] and heartbroken by this accident. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Jerome Barson and I continue to keep them in my thoughts and prayers."

At this time, this is Williams' only official statement.

Original story: Venus Williams, professional tennis player and sister of Serena, was reported to be involved in a fatal car accident with an elderly couple on June 9 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jerome Barson, 78, died of head trauma from the accident two weeks later.

More: 25 Pics of Venus Williams in All Her Badass Glory

It was originally reported that the accident was Williams’ fault, then that it was simply an accident-inducing traffic jam that Williams happened to be involved in. Linda Barson, the victim's wife, told police in the original report that “she was approaching westbound... when Venus’ northbound SUV suddenly darted into the intersection,” as reported by TMZ. The swerve into the intersection apparently caused Linda to T-bone Williams’ car.

According to The New York Times, Williams’ lawyer Malcolm Cunningham released a statement about the incident: “Ms. Williams entered the intersection on a green light. The police report estimates that Ms. Williams was traveling at 5 mph when Mrs. Barson crashed into her. Authorities did not issue Ms. Williams with any citations or traffic violations.”

More: Venus Williams May Have Just Revealed the Sex of Serena's Baby

At the time of the accident, Williams reportedly told local police that a traffic backup caused her to slow down to 5 mph after attempting to cross the intersection. Police also reported that Williams was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to The Associated Press.

More: Chris Soules' Court Date for His Fatal Crash Is Already Set

It is important to note that with the facts reported thus far, using the terms “at fault” or “responsible” in a fatal situation like this are extreme, and it's likely that they have only been used in reports because of Williams’ high profile. “This is an unfortunate accident and Venus expresses her deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one," Williams’ lawyer said. It seems that is the only sure statement at this time.

Twenty-five years ago this month, A League of Their Own hit movie theaters and took the country by storm. Just as a women's professional baseball league had shocked and inspired during World War II, this female-directed female-filled movie was inspiring to women and girls across the country. Even today, Geena Davis says that women of all ages tell her that the movie inspired them to play sports and become athletes.

And that's just one movie. While most sports films are still sadly male-centric, there are more than a few sports-based movies that star women — women who break stereotypes, break barriers and win the gold against all odds. Let's pop some popcorn, put on our favorite jerseys and watch some of our favorite female-led sports movies.

More: 25 Years After A League of Their Own, Geena Davis Is Still Fighting for Gender Equality

National Velvet

Starring a young Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, National Velvet may be the first best female-led sports movie. This timeless classic was released way back in 1944 and begins when a little girl named Velvet wins a horse in a raffle and decides to train it to race in the Grand National Sweepstakes. Don't let the old-timey feel trick you: this movie has such a great storyline and such great acting that you won't notice the outdated bits. And many of the challenges faced by Velvet and her horse, Pie, are still barriers for girls and women today (unfortunately).

Blue Crush

If you love badass women and surfing, this movie is for you. Released in 2002, this fun, fast ride of a film follows three women who surf the huge waves of Hawaii's North Shore. But as protagonist Anne Marie Chadwick tries to put aside her fears to win a big surfing competition, she is distracted by a football player who threatens her passion and her focus. This movie wins points for its exhilarating surf sequences and for how deftly it navigates feminist issues in sports (while still including a steamy love story).

She's the Man

Here's the second movie on our list — after National Velvet — where a woman is forced to dress like a man just to play the sport she wants to play. In the 2006 teen flick She's the Man, star Amanda Bynes isn't sure what to do when her school's girls soccer team is cut and they won't let her play with the boys. The obvious solution? Cut your hair, pretend to be your twin brother, and start attending his private school across town. She makes the men's team, and everything is going as planned until she falls for a young Channing Tatum and her brother returns to town. This comedy gets extra points for taking on serious issues of gender discrimination while also bringing the (albeit corny) laughs.

Whip It

This totally underrated 2009 film stars Ellen Page as a Texas teen who doesn't fit in with the pageant life her family wants for her. When she discovers roller derby, everything in her life seems to fall into place. We love the all-girl cast, including Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis. Bonus points that this is directed by a woman, too: Drew Barrymore. Our favorite moment is when Page passionately confesses to her conservative family that she is in love with roller derby, not some stupid boy (although there is a tiny love interest subplot that we don't mind at all).

Wildcats

If there's one thing we love more than sports, it's Goldie Hawn. In this mostly forgotten '80s flick, we meet Molly McGrath, who applies to be the head football coach of an inner city high school team that can't seem to win. Although no one — including the team — thinks she can do it, she starts pulling off wins. The movie is funny and touching, and did we mention Goldie Hawn? We are also pretty sure it's the only movie on the planet about a female coach. We need more of those.

Love and Basketball

This movie follows Monica and Quincy through their lives, which are dominated by their love of basketball (and... wait for it... each other!). From childhood to college hoops to professional ball, the two butt heads, date, break up and make up, all in between three-pointers. We love this film because Monica never compromises on her love of the game and her goals with Quincy, which ends up being the thing he loves about her most. Aww, we want to watch this one again immediately.

More: Making Media Equitable: Why Women On Screen Matter

Bend It Like Beckham

For our next movie, we return to the common theme of girls who have to rebel against their families and society just to kick a ball around. In this 2002 comedy classic, the 18-year-old daughter of orthodox Sikh outside of London does all she can to keep her family happy while also joining a football (that's soccer, Americans) team. Will she pursue her dream of playing sports professionally, or will she learn to cook and get engaged like all the women who came before her? Cue this one up to find out.

Million Dollar Baby

Oh boy, this one's a tearjerker. Rough-around-the-edges Hillary Swank wants to become a champion boxer, but first she'll have convince trainers Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman that she's worth their time even though she's a girl. Eastwood finally relents, discovering that Swank is not only a fantastic athlete, she's also someone he needed in his life in order to heal and become a better person. And then... well, you just have to watch this one. We'll have the tissues ready.

Bring It On

If you don't think cheerleading is a sport, we invite you to stop reading this article right now. Actually, if you don't like Bring It On, we also invite you to stop reading this article. This is a major classic from the year 2000, where a young and gratingly peppy Kirsten Dunst takes charge of her high school cheerleading team only to find out the squad has been cheating for years. It isn't the deepest movie that's ever been made, but it is amazing.

Personal Best

Let us now travel to the '80s and the wonderful world of track and field. Personal Best came out in 1982 to critical acclaim, and it's easy to see why. A young track star is training for the Olympics but gets caught up in a love triangle between her mentor (actual track star Patrice Donnelly) and a swimmer. Can she work hard enough to make the team, or will she get distracted by her love life? This movie is more than a bit dated, but that makes it fun. And we really appreciate the appearance of a same-sex relationship in a sports movie (can we have more of that, please?). Worth the watch!

More: 21 Female Stereotypes in Movies That We Are So Over

Did we miss your favorite female-led sports flick? Sound off in the comments!

Sad news for Adele fans this week as she announces she's canceling the final leg of her world tour.

More: 20 Adele-Themed Gifts — Just in Time for Her Birthday

"On medical advice I simply am unable to perform over the weekend. To say I'm heart broken would be a complete understatement," she wrote on Twitter in a lengthy message to fans.

Rumor has it that damage to the singer's vocal cords led her to cancel the final two concerts.

It isn't just Adele's health that has her shying away from the concert spotlight, however. She has been open in the past about her stage fright.

More: 5 Highest-Grossing Concert Tours of All Time

"I don't know if I will ever tour again," Adele said during a New Zealand concert earlier this year. "The only reason I tour is you.

"Touring is a peculiar thing, it doesn't suit me particularly well. I'm a real homebody and I get so much joy in the small things," Adele explained in a recent letter to fans. "Plus I'm dramatic and have a terrible history of touring ... I only ever did this tour for you and to hopefully have an impact on you the way that some of my favourite artists have had on me live. And I wanted my final shows to be in London because I don't know if I'll ever tour again and so I want my last time to be at home."

Despite her fear, Adele is clearly devastated at the canceled tour dates, one of which was scheduled at Wembley Stadium, a performance Adele clearly considered a milestone for her career.

More: Adele Just Pulled Off a Secret Wedding — & These 15 Other Celeb Couples Did Too

"Who the fuck cancels a show at Wembley Stadium?!" Adele lamented on Twitter.

Adele does, that's who. Cue the mic drop. Maybe for the final time.

If you thought Real Housewives was just a reality show and not really reality, well, Donald Trump is probably making you realize right about now that there are actually people in this world who are rich, entitled, ready to jump at drama and just downright mean.

More: No One Should Shame Women for Having Plastic Surgery — Including the President

Just in case you didn't make the connection before between the president and your trashy television obsession, Andy Cohen is here to help you fill in the blanks.

In case you missed it, Trump had this to say about journalist Mika Brzezinski this week on Twitter.

It all started when Brzezinski, co-host of the show Morning Joe, accused the White House of using a National Enquirer hit piece to attempt to coerce the hosts of the show into covering Trump more favorably.

More: Women Let Donald Trump In on a Secret: "Periods Are Not an Insult"

Instead of responding with dignity like a respectable human being, the president decided to go low and comment on Brzezinski's looks. Because, as we've learned with this president, he loves a good shock tactic to deflect from the real issue at hand: His office tried to coerce the free press to influence its coverage. This from the man who calls the New York Times "fake news" every chance he gets. Seems just a little hypocritical, no? And by a little, I mean a lot. Like, the epitome of hypocritical.

This isn't the first time Cohen has drawn parallels between Trump and the Housewives. In fact, it's one of his favorite topics as of late. He even offered Kellyanne Conway a spot on the show if she got tired of doling out her "alternative facts" crap to the masses. I think she'd be a perfect addition.

More: 11 Things Women Should Brace Themselves For Now That Trump is President

As for Trump, it would be really nice if he focused on something other than a woman's looks. If he put this much energy into actually trying to do some good, like, I dunno, improving American lives, he would probably make a real difference. Wouldn't that be nice.

If you are a person who menstruates, you probably have experienced one or more of the following on a monthly basis: mood swings, bloating, fatigue, cramps and food cravings to name a few. But for some, there are also things that happen before or during your period that seem odd. For me, that includes clumsiness, specifically dropping things for no reason, and at least one day when my concentration is razor-sharp and I’m super-productive.

More: What's happening to your body each day of your menstrual cycle

Other folks reported poor circulation, obsessive behavior and even strange dreams.  “While I have my period, I consistently, like, since I was 16 — and way before I was having sex — have dreams that I am pregnant,” Vanessa told me. “These dreams go all different ways. Usually, it turns out that I am not actually pregnant in the end. I have never actually been pregnant. These dreams really don’t occur at any other time.”

Of course, if the symptoms of PMS are severe, it can indicate premenstrual dysphoric disorder, but what could the explanation be for behaviors that feel totally ancillary to menstruation? Here are four symptoms menstruating people report and why they happen.

Constipation

While some of us can’t stop pooping during our periods, other folks report the exact opposite problem. The culprit in both of these situations is prostaglandins, hormonelike substances that cause contractions in muscles that are otherwise smooth. If you don’t have enough of them, as is often the case before your period, you’ll get constipated (too much, and it’s the exact opposite result). Stephanie Dunne, a registered dietitian and integrative and functional nutrition-certified practitioner in private practice in New York City, recommends getting enough water and fiber before your period to reduce the severity and likelihood of this.

More: Periods don't stop women from becoming leaders — negative stereotypes do

Nesting

If you’ve ever been seized with the urge to clean and organize your life (and maybe other people’s) before your period, you’re not alone. Nicole Harlow, founder of the Center for Menstrual and Sexual Health, reports noticing this desire in both herself and her clients.

“I like to think of this as the same biological ‘nesting urge’ that many pregnant women get in those last few days or weeks before they give birth,” said Harlow. “I think that this urge comes from our body’s desire to create a sanctuary and safe space for us to relax into once we’ve started to bleed.”

Some scientific research about nesting has been done, mostly in regard to the psychology of pregnant people. Harlow agreed, saying, “What makes this kind of cleaning and organizing unique to this time of the month is there always seems to be a somewhat obsessive quality to it because it’s typically combined with the energetic signature of PMS.” That energy, along with the feeling that all of our emotions are askew, is caused by an imbalance in the progesterone to estrogen ratio.

Allergies

Are you sneezing a lot around a certain time of the month yet not actually allergic to anything? It could be your period. One of the many things estrogen does is cause the immune system to make more histamines, but also inhibit the enzyme that breaks them down, which means when your estrogen levels are fluctuating, you have more histamines in your body, and you’re probably experiencing itchy eyes, headaches and sneezing. Instead of reaching for the antihistamines, Dunne suggests avoiding fermented foods such as vinegar, aged cheeses, wine and kombucha and making sure you get enough vitamin B6, which is part of the enzyme that breaks down histamines. You can find vitamin B6 in sunflower seeds, pistachios, chicken breast and chickpeas.

More: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder May Be Linked to How Cells Process Sex Hormones

Clumsiness

As weird as it may seem, there is a connection between falling down and dropping things and your impending period. A 2007 study at London’s Portland Hospital found that midway through your menstrual cycle, levels of the hormone estrogen drop, which results in sudden weakness and making you more likely to trip or injure your back.

Another theory is that high estrogen levels interfere with the hormones that impact the fluid retention in your brain, which upsets your balance. Hormonal birth control can help alleviate this, but if you’re not into that, try eating foods that boost your estrogen levels, like broccoli, dried fruit and beans, as well as getting more sleep.

By Chanel Dubofsky

Originally published on HelloFlo.

My daughter's fourth-grade year bought a slew of firsts. There was her first trip to the orthodontist and her first miserable meal of soup after the braces went on. She got her first pimple, went on her first solo bike trip to a friend's house and fell hard for her first crush (a boy with a British accent — can you blame her?). She was a preadolescent pioneer, hacking her way through the thick underbrush of awkward changes to discover the really cool stuff: tight friendships and a knack for the guitar. She also figured out the hard way that not every "first" is one you'll want to tuck into a scrapbook. Her other big first, for instance: her first real experience with an unrelenting bully.

More: How to create a book club for kids

I knew exactly what my child would catch hell for, if you'll excuse the terrible pun. Yet anticipating what was coming didn't make it any easier to overhear her conversation with a soccer teammate after practice one day when my 10-year-old locked her eyes with her cleats and mumbled about a little girl in class who hated her. "It's 'cause we don't go to church," my daughter admitted. "Her mom says she's not allowed to talk to me, but she does anyway when the teacher isn't looking."

Later I got the whole story. The bully was a friend. Or she was once, which is why my kid felt comfortable enough to tell her what she usually keeps to herself: We're atheists.

First, the girl stopped talking to her. Then she wouldn't leave her alone, and her taunts escalated. It came to a head that day before soccer practice when my daughter was unceremoniously outed to her entire class when the teacher stepped out. Now everyone knew what my daughter disclosed only cautiously to trusted friends. Even the cute boy with the accent.

What bothered my daughter the most was how trust could be weaponized. How could someone you like promise to keep a secret and then tell everyone? She was having nightmares about being burned alive. She just wanted to be left alone.

More: Homework-Burning Parties: Yay or Nay?

For a kid being raised without religion, my daughter has been exposed to an awful lot of it. We don't see the need to surround ourselves with people who think and feel just like we do, and it's made our lives pretty awesome. She's been to the Holi festival, midnight mass, a Seder... we go where we're welcome. The last thing we want is an "us vs. them" dynamic.

None of this made her feel better on the playground. Being cornered in the twirly-slide and told that your entirely family is going to be tortured forever in a pit of fire is a far cry from live and let live.

The first thing she had to do was tell her teacher, her dad told her. She thought it would make it worse, and we told her there was a chance it would. But he still needed to know. After that, we would make a plan.

When I picked her up from school the next day, she was eager to talk. She had been so embarrassed the day before that it came as a surprise to find that not much had changed after her outing. Her friends still wanted to plan sleepovers and play at recess. There were a few curious classmates who asked perfunctory questions and shrugged off her answers. One or two kids told her that they didn't go to church either. The really cool thing, my daughter said, was that some of the other religious kids went out of their way to reassure her. "Have you ever heard of 'love your neighbor?'" She asked me. I told her I had, and she chattered on about the concept. I urged her to tell me more about her former friend.

My daughter laid it out: the girl was creative and could be funny, but she ran pretty hot and cold. You were either in her good graces or way, way out of them. "She can't focus sometimes, like me," she told me. "She gets mad when that happens, but she yells and hits instead of crying. She gets in trouble." I told her that her friend sounded like a cool kid even though the bullying was profoundly uncool. If religion was important to this little girl, maybe that was the way to reach out to her.

So when we got home, we looked it up, and I had her read the Bible verse out loud. In the verse, a scholar asks Jesus what the most important religious commandment is, and he answers that it is to love and obey God. Then he goes on. "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." My daughter liked the sound of that and conceded that she could still be friends with the girl if she would just stop being mean to her.

I proposed an experiment. We were going to go biblical on this little girl. But you know — New Testament biblical. None of this Leviticus stuff. It was one part Sun Tzu, one part Sunday school. You don't need a holy book to get the message that we should all be awesome to each other, but if you personally consider one sacred, maybe it will convince you.

My daughter knew that being atheist didn't make her bad. But maybe this little girl genuinely didn't. I found the verse I was looking for and read it to my daughter: "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also."

More: Is it ever OK to read your kids' texts?

Instead of "resisting" her bully, maybe it was time to welcome her in. The next time my daughter's bully caught up with her on the twirly-slide, the plan was to hear her out, ask her to stop and then invite her to play.

It didn't work. At least, not on the first day. Or the second. Or even the third despite a conference with the teacher where we were assured that they wouldn't tolerate bullying of any kind. They would keep an eye on the situation, they said, but our daughter seemed to have bounced back OK. If the bullying was still happening, she appeared to be handling it with about as much aplomb as a 10-year-old reasonably could.

By the fourth day, my daughter's bully seemed exhausted, and gradually, she started to lay off. One day, it was just over. My kid was glad for that, but she wasn't sure they'd ever be friends again. She'd had a bad experience with a religious person, but I urged her not to let that color her experience with other religious people. After all, I reminded her, she now had firsthand experience with that kind of prejudice.

She took that in, looking deeply thoughtful, and I congratulated myself for nailing this parenting thing so hard. Finally, she asked if it would be OK if she checked a Bible out at the library, and I told her that of course she could. My little budding biblical scholar.

"Good," she said, settling back in her seat. "Emily said that the word 'jackass' is in there a bunch of times, and we're going to find all of them."

Oh, Lord.

We all love Tom Cruise. His movies keep us on the edge of our seat and help us believe that good will win out in the end. But Cruise isn't so much of an actor as he is a movie star. That means he doesn't really play characters (OK, there was that one time in Tropic Thunder); instead, he plays different versions of himself. And we would include his performance as the vampire Lestat as just an undead, fancier version of himself.

If Tom Cruise were a car brand, he'd be Land Rover: powerful yet stylish. If he were a beverage, he'd be a Coke: bubbly and all-American. Like cars and beverages, actors, too, have brands. Cruise knows his brand is sexy action hero, and he always delivers. And all of these things are on brand for every Tom Cruise movie.

1. He takes off his clothes

In The Mummy, Cruise emerges from a body bag — naked, of course.

In Risky Business, he sings pants-less.

Then there's that famous volleyball match in Top Gun where he's all greased up.

2. He runs breathlessly through the city with mad panic

Crash, bam, boom! Now that's an explosion.

No! Don't look back!

3. He loves to jump

This jump is from Edge of Tomorrow. Didn't see it? No need. This is literally the most exciting part.

In this Mission: Impossible jump, he's like a human spider (not to be confused with Spider-Man).

And of course, we had to include jumping on Oprah's couch.

4. He has a "need for speed"

Love the way he blips the throttle and spikes revs on his steel horse.

We're absolutely, 100 percent sure Cruise is in that beige car. The one in the middle. We promise.

It's a bird, it's a plane... it's Tom Cruise!

 5. He clings to things

No rock is too high for Cruise.

For this one, Cruise hired a fitness trainer just to work out his hands.

In Rock of Ages, he even clung to a stripper pole.

6. He protects his women

He protects Annabelle Wallace from a raven strike in The Mummy.

He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee to protect Nicole Kidman in Far and Away.

He creepily protects Kirsten Dunst in Interview with a Vampire.

 7. And, of course, he's always in shades

The Ray-Bans in Risky Business signal that he's the cool guy who likes to have fun.

The aviators in Top Gun say he's cocky.

Pushing his shades down, but not taking them off, says he sees something intriguing but can't commit to it.

I am totally guilty of thinking my German shepherd is smarter than most other dogs — and people, if I am being honest with myself, that maybe says more about me than her, but what if there were a way for us to measure our dog’s intelligence once and for all?

Well, thanks to the internet, it turns out there is.

I tried this test adapted from psychologist Stanley Coren’s book, The Intelligence of Dogs, and while I am not saying that it is the definitive measure of canine IQ, I put a little more faith in it than I put in some of those other online quizzes. You know, the ones that tell you what Hogwarts house you should be in, what your sleeping position means about your love life, what kind of doughnut you are…

1. The first test is simple. At a time when you would not normally take your dog for a walk, grab your keys, leash or whatever you normally snatch on your way out for a stroll. Make sure your dog is watching, and take note of her reaction. If she gets excited, give her three points. If it takes her until you get to the door, give her two points. If she ignores you, looks confused or goes back to sleep, give her one point — or tell yourself that she is too independent to care. Your dog gets two bonus points if she tells you when to go for a walk.

More: German Shepherds Have Unique Needs — Consider These 10 Facts Before You Adopt One

Wondering how my dog scored? Of course you’re not. You’re too busy trying it with yours. I’ll tell you anyway. She sniffed me suspiciously when I put on my sneakers, cocked her head when she saw me grab a poop bag and went to sit by her leash and harness.

2. The second test gets trickier. Put your dog in a different room and rearrange the furniture. If she goes right to her favorite spot, she scores three points. If she investigates and finds her spot in under 20 seconds, two points. If she settles for a new spot with a huff, one measly point.

I was not able to try this test, as moving furniture is against my doctor’s orders.

3. This test is fun, and you might want to have your camera ready. Grab a large towel or blanket and gently throw it over your dog’s head. If she gets out of this predicament in one to 15 seconds, give her three points. If it takes 15 to 30 seconds, two points. If she is still sitting there hours later wandering around with a cape, you either have a dog with the patience of a saint or she gets one lousy point.

More: 6 self-defense tips I learned from my German shepherd

My wee beastie tossed it off in three seconds, so I gave her a three.

4. Ready to test your dog’s problem-solving abilities? Harden your heart against those puppy dog eyes and get ready to be the cruelest dog owner ever. Grab a treat, call your dog, and put the treat under a chair or piece of furniture low enough so that your dog can only fit a paw but not her head. If she snatches it with her paw in under a minute, give her three points. If she resorts to using her muzzle and paw, give her two points (although I would personally give her a three for ingenuity). If she only uses her muzzle and gives up, it’s one point. On the other hand, if your dog makes no effort to get the treat and stares at you, then at the treat, then back at you with an expression of disdain, give her five points and get that treat out for her.

More: German shepherd works out with owner, puts us all to shame [VIDEO]

I had to give my dog a zero for this one because I put the treat too close to the edge. Her nose went in and her freakishly long tongue snagged it within seconds. When I put it farther back, she tried with her nose again, then sat and stared at me, scoring one point. I am going to take some blame for that.

5. This last test requires some cardboard (or mad MacGyver skills). You are essentially going to build a barrier with a hole in it, channeling your inner child and harkening back to the days of refrigerator box time machines and castles. Using cardboard, make a barrier that is higher than your dog when she is standing on two legs (if you have a big dog, this could be a challenge, so feel free to lower your standards). The barrier should be about 5 feet wide, and in the middle, cut a hole. The original instructions said to make an aperture 3 inches wide that runs 4 inches from the top to the bottom, but I somehow managed to skip that part and got ahead of myself with the scissors. I didn't have cardboard, either, as you can see.

My dog was a little confused about the construction process, but she scored a three when it came time to get around the barrier for a cookie.

So what do all of these numbers mean?

More: Here are 10 of the smartest dogs in the world - does your pup make the list?

16-plus points: Put a freeze on your credit cards and change the locks, because your dog is probably way smarter than you are. Who knows? Maybe this whole test was her idea.

13 to 16: I’m not saying your dog is a genius, but she is way above average.

9 to 12: Brains aren’t everything. After all, smart dogs require a lot more mental stimulation and tend to get into more trouble without regular training and exercise, so consider yourself lucky. Average is good.

5 to 8: Love can’t be measured by numbers or intelligence. Being below average is just fine, and besides, the test was probably rigged anyway, right?

1 to 4: Your pup isn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, but who cares? You love her and she loves you.

As for my pooch? Let's just say she's smart enough to be fed up with these tests.

After days of preoccupation about Jay-Z referencing those cheating rumors on his new album, which Beyoncé levied against him on Lemonade, we're now learning that Beyoncé had more control of the narrative than we've been led to believe. Jay-Z didn't simply blindside Beyoncé with his response to the cheating rumors by making a response album. Oh no, my friends. The plot thickens. Instead, reports are now surfacing that Beyoncé was heavily involved in 4:44's production and thus, no wool was getting pulled over her eyes.

More: Beyoncé & the Twins Finally Left the Hospital, but They Didn't Go Home

That's not to say that she was her husband's babysitter or she was out to cramp his creative style. No, these reports make it seem as if Jay-Z relied on his wife's opinion and taste to the point that she profoundly shaped 4:44. And why wouldn't he want to seek out her opinion? Why wouldn't he want to get the full thumbs-up from Bey? A universally recognized queen and top-notch picture of success, Beyoncé's final word is arguably the only one that matters.

Through Us Weekly, Jay-Z's producer on 4:44, No I.D. (real name: Dion Wilson) went on record to The New York Times in a recent interview to say that "I always call Bey our de facto A&R." In the music industry, A&R stands for "artists and repertoire," and among the duties of an A&R, they typically groom and shape the musician they are in charge of. No I.D.'s implication here is that Beyoncé had a profound influence over her husband's work despite the fact that Jay-Z has been in the music business for the same amount of time (if not longer) than Beyoncé; it's a total power move, and I'm totally here for it.

More: Beyoncé & Jay Z May Have Accidentally Revealed the Twins' Names

He continued: "Pillow talk is the strongest conversation on the planet. Every song has to get past her ears, in my eyes. She came by [the recording studio] a lot and played a good part in helping us get over hurdles on certain records. Of course she's genius-level with that."

No I.D. went on to confirm that 4:44 is not a direct response to Lemonade in regard to the cheating rumors per se — despite the fact that Jay-Z's own lyrics heavily imply acknowledgement and possibly confirmation of cheating — which makes it all the more interesting that Bey was so heavily involved in 4:44. Being consulted about the record is not only a total power move on her part; it's a show of respect and deference to her opinion on the part of Jay-Z.

More: Jay Z Raps About Cheating on Beyoncé & "Becky With the Good Hair"

All in all, what becomes clear from this new information is that while Jay-Z deserves praise and excitement about his new album, once again we all need to stand in praise of Beyoncé. She's nobody's fool, and even better, she's the one who will always be in a position of power, be it in her marriage or in the public eye.

Reign on, queen. Reign on.

Work hard? Check. Play hard? Check. But what about sleep hard? Getting adequate sleep is crucial to our health, and it's important to treat your bedroom as a sanctuary in order to do so. Here are three dreamworthy bedroom essentials we're snatching up just in time for summer.

1. Premium Collection 1,800 thread-count sheet set

Sleeping on these sheets is the ultimate nightly indulgence. The soft, durable fabric drapes perfectly over beds, never losing its sleek style no matter how many times it’s washed.

Buy now: $41.99, retail $299.99

2. Bibb Home down-alternative microfiber comforter

Comfort matters when it comes to sleep, and temperature is a major factor during the summer. The Bibb Home down-alternative microfiber comforter is a great seasonal choice — light enough for summertime and durable enough to last you through the winter. Plus, the bright look adds a freshness to your bedroom and sleep routine, which is always a welcome bonus!

Buy now: $39.99, retail $59.99

3. Kyra blackout grommet panel curtains

The Kyra blackout grommet panel curtains are the final piece of your sleep puzzle, giving you rest worthy of vacation in your own home. You earn your late mornings and extra zzz's, so treat yourself with true darkening curtains that keep the light and the heat out. Easy to slide and ready to hang, these are a total game-changer.

Buy now: $36, retail $120

Take advantage of the deal on the high thread-count sheet set, get 33 percent off the down comforter and save a whopping 70 percent on the Kyra curtains today.

This post is brought to you by StackCommerce.

Don’t get me wrong — there’s nothing I love more than hitting up Target or Walmart and buying a shopping cart’s worth of seriously good makeup and skin care products without utterly depleting my bank account. But at the same time, I truly smile every morning when I slather on my $98 heavenly scented AmorePacific face cream that leaves my skin looking like a glowing dew drop, which leaves me in a weird guilty limbo pulled between cheap and high-end. And based on a recent viral thread on Reddit’s Makeup Addiction, I realized I’m not alone in my plight, because the same makeup wizards who swear by drugstore dupes recently opened up about the “luxury” beauty products that they swear are actually worth the splurge.

More: 9 So-Pretty Colorful Hair Ideas to Try This Summer

The thread started when one curious user, after regretfully spending money on a high-end mascara that came up short, asked the beauty community for the last item they splurged on and why. One zillion comments later, and the thread is currently loaded with mini reviews and stories about each user’s go-to expensive products that they promise beat anything they’ve ever bought at the drugstore. And because the recommendations were so good, we rounded up the seven top products, including a cult-favorite serum from Drunk Elephant and a Tom Ford bronzer brush along with each user’s review. See the products ahead and get ready to set aside some extra cash for these bad boys guilt-free.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

“I just ordered the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, because it’s the only primer that I feel has drastically improved the way my foundation looks on my face. [It makes my skin] as close to smooth as [it’s] ever been. So I bought it. Fuck it.” — Wolf_Craft

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (Sephora, $54)

Tarte Tartelette in Bloom clay palette

“I love [this palette] so much, and wish I would’ve bought it months ago. [It’s] so pigmented and blendable, and the case is perfect.” — HermionesBook

Tarte Tartelette in Bloom clay palette (Tarte, $46)

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

“My last splurge was [on] Drunk Elephant’s TLC Framboos Glycolic Serum. I ran out of it and was putting off repurchasing it because of the price, but my skin is definitely reflecting the fact that I haven’t been using it. [It] literally changed my skin, so I can’t say enough good things about it!” — Dnttouchmypizzabely

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (Drunk Elephant, $90)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette

“I hate that [Anastasia Beverly Hill’s] Modern Renaissance [is] a cult-favorite, [but] after a year of debating, I finally bought it. I was worried that it would be an overhyped palette, but I absolutely love it. The shadows blend like a dream.” — Ohemgeeme

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette (Anastasia Beverly Hills, $42)

Tom Ford bronzer brush

“I caved and bought the Tom Ford Bronzer Brush, and I don’t regret it at all. It’s hands down the best brush I own.” — Valpal890

Tom Ford bronzer brush (Tom Ford, $115)

Smashbox Spotlight palette

“I [just] got the Smashbox [and] Casey Holmes [collaboration] highlighter palette in Pearl, because I needed a new highlighter … I love the 'glow from within' look it gives me.” — Tired_duck

Smashbox Spotlight palette (Smashbox, $35)

Nars Narsissist loaded eye shadow palette

“There wasn’t any reason for buying [the Nars Loaded Palette] other than that I wanted to, [but] I don’t regret it. The colors all work well for me, and it’s the perfect size for traveling.” — Rainbow_city

Nars Narsissist loaded eye shadow palette (Nars, $59)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

It's summer, which means the sun is shining and beckoning you to emerge from that winter coma into the glory that is nature. It's time to gather the troops and stretch your adventure-loving muscles.

Everybody loves a good hike; however, you can only hit up your local trails so many times before things start to get predictable. But, y'all, it's 2017, and there are so many trendy outdoor adventures going on all over the United States. Spice up your summer with these new and unique excursions that are sure to check off some items on your bucket list.

We've provided some general ideas, but all you gotta do is hit up Google to find something near you.

1. Whitewater rafting

Not only is whitewater rafting a great workout and a sure adrenaline rush, but it's also the perfect team-building adventure for your family or friend group. Rafting has been around forever, but there are so many guided tours now that can take you on super-wild rides. This is not your parents' river float.

More: These Are the Top 10 Most Instagrammed Places in the World

2. Hot-air ballooning

Typical hot-air balloon rides will bring you 2,000 feet above ground, floating leisurely across the land. If you find yourself in Albuquerque in October, then you can join them for their infamous International Balloon Fiesta, but the city offers balloon rides all year long. You can also find noteworthy sky tours in Quechee, Vermont, Castile, New York, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

3. Bouldering

Oh, the joy that is bouldering. Discover your inner child as you leap between rocks and clamber to the top of a rocky outcropping. No matter where you live, there is sure to be a satisfying rock to tackle. Some noteworthy scenic places include Joy's Valley in Utah, Hueco Tanks in Texas and Horse Pens 40 in Alabama.

More: How to Take a Family-Friendly Vacation

4. Zip-lining tours

Experience the world in a completely unique way with zip-lining tours. Don't think of this as "weeeeeeee" and you're done. We're talking interactive excursions that will take you through four zips, a cargo net, a Charlie Chaplin bridge, a rope vine traverse and a railroad bridge, like the Spring Mountain tour in Pennsylvania. Also worth noting are the Treetop Canopy Tour in New Hampshire and Dollywood's SkyZip in Tennessee.

5. Wing walking

Only serious daredevils allowed for this one. Wing walking involves being strapped to, yes, the wing of a plane as you experience flying more like birds than humans. As you can imagine, wing walking takes some training before you vault up in the air, but if you're serious about taking to the skies, Washington state is the trip for you.

6. Zorbing

What is zorbing, you ask? Well, it's basically this sport in which you climb inside a transparent inflatable ball and roll yourself down a hill. Yes, I know. Awesome. Locations for this activity are cropping up all over the country in states like Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

7. Mud running

The popularity of mud runs and adventure obstacle courses has only grown over the past few years, making it the perfect day activity for friends and family. Get down and dirty, but prepare to have mud in some unmentionable places for days. Trust me; it's worth it.

8. Kayaking

If there's a lake near you, then there's kayaking potential. Not only is it a great workout, but you'll get to experience a place in a whole new intimate way. It's also an ideal partner activity if you're looking for some good team-building opportunities.

More: Why Kayaking is Perfect for Both Weekend Getaways and Exotic Locales

9. Sandboarding

Now that summer is upon us, ditch the snow skiing and give sandboarding a go. Described as a blend between snowboarding and surfing, sandboarding offers that adrenaline rush all year long. Though it's a relatively new craze to hit the United States, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area not only provides 40 private acres for your sandboarding pleasure, but also equipment rentals and instruction all in one place.

This post is sponsored by Land Rover.

As she continues to valiantly battle a brain tumor, Maria Menounos has announced she will step down as an anchor at E! News. The announcement came early Monday morning, with Menounos issuing a statement that largely thanked her team and co-workers at E! rather that specifically commenting on the state of her health.

More: Maria Menounos Reveals the Oscar Speech That Turned Her Into a Feminist (EXCLUSIVE)

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Menounos began her statement by saying, "I am so grateful for the past three years at E!, I had such an amazing time co-hosting with Jason Kennedy and working everyday with the wonderful roster of talent on the show including producers, staff and crew."

She continued, "It was such a special, good-hearted group and one I'll always consider family. A special thank you to Frances Berwick and Adam Stotsky for all the support they have shown me through the years especially during these tough times. I will truly miss everyone and looking forward to this next chapter in my life."

As indicated by Menounos' account, it sounds like she had and continues to have a very supportive team behind her at E!. In fact, this is confirmed by the statement released by E! on the heels of the announcement of Menounos' departure.

More: Maria Menounos Is Leaving Extra, Going to E!

E! president Adam Stotsky, whom Menounos' personally named in thanks in her statement, said, "[O]ur thoughts and support go out to Maria and her family and we wish them all the best knowing that Maria will tackle this with the same fierce dedication she is known for. We are grateful for Maria’s many contributions to E! over the past three years." Menounos came aboard E! in 2014 after exiting Extra. She officially became an anchor in 2015 and has frequently worked alongside co-anchor Jason Kennedy, becoming of the most recognizable E! faces.

More: Giuliana Rancic's Leaving E! News to Focus on Three Other Projects

The news of her step away from E! comes swiftly on the heels of her revelation to People in May that she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Back then, Menounos told the magazine that her diagnosis came as her own mother was battling a brain tumor; the news, it seemed, didn't shake or surprise her. "I didn’t cry. I actually laughed. It’s so surreal and crazy and unbelievable that my mom has a brain tumor — and now I have one too?" Now, Menounos appears just as ready to fight this as ever before if her statement and previous statements on her state of mind about this tumor are indicators.

With her E! team sending her support, luck appears to be in her favor. Here's to hoping Menounos wins this battle and recovers to good health quickly.

Sophie Turner grew up on the set of Game of Thrones, and that includes getting her sex ed from the script. Getting through your awkward teenage years is hard enough, let alone doing it in front of millions of viewers on an extremely graphic show.

More: Reminder: Vagina Is Not a Dirty World

In an interview with The Times, Turner — who was 12 when she auditioned for the show, 15 when it started and 21 now — got candid about where she learned about oral sex.

“I’d be doing a read-through and we’d be talking about very graphic stuff,” she told The Times. “The first time I ever found out about oral sex was from reading the script. I was like … ‘Wow! People do that? That’s fascinating!’” She chuckles. “I guess that was my sex education. Being on Game of Thrones.”

More: Semen Allergies Are Real & Can Make it Harder to Conceive

Turner also said that she still struggles with nasty comments from online trolls "all because of someone’s shitty comment on a picture" when she was 16. This included contacting her via social media and telling her she was fat or ugly and had bad skin.

More: Can Mindfulness Benefit Your Sex Life?

"For every ten wonderful comments, there’d be one comment that was like, you’ve gained 10 pounds," she said. "And I would torture myself over it.”

Is IBS more socially stigmatized than STIs? Glamour reports yes — that people would rather talk about sexually transmitted infections than irritable bowel syndrome.

It’s a shocking statistic that shed lights on just how embarrassing an issue IBS is viewed as. In fact, many of the repercussions of dealing with the condition are psychological rather than physical. Though IBS does make menstruation more difficult, the most common side effect that pairs with the diagnosis is anxiety.

More: Diet tips to manage irritable bowel syndrome

“Going out to eat can be a high-anxiety event because I have to research what foods on the menu I can eat and weigh the potential risks of initiating an IBS flare-up,” Katie F. said. “Using the restroom or having gas is a significant cause of worry at times, particularly during flare-ups. I am very conscientious of my figure due to bloating and gas, especially working in a high school where kids are constantly watching.”

Physical symptoms of IBS include constipation, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and cramps. People affected by IBS — which amounts to 35 million people in the U.S., mostly women — often find themselves running to the bathroom at unexpected times. Because one can never predict the colon’s actions (as the colon itself is irritated and may either contract and cause constipation or relax abruptly and cause diarrhea), it can lead to increased levels of anxiety regarding accidents.

“Bar crawls are the worst,” Katie F. continued. “Bars in general are hard because people usually drink beer and there are not always gluten-free beer options. The social stress caused by having to either drink water or higher alcohol content drinks (i.e., wine or mixed drinks) can sometimes outweigh the benefits and fun of meeting up with friends at bars.”

“At the very least, it limits my choices of bars,” Katie F. added. “All of my friends are great and accommodate my IBS, but meeting new people or dating can be challenging within the bar scene.”

Kids ages 10 to 18 are largely affected by IBS with approximately 8 percent of middle school students and 17 percent of female high schoolers reporting irritable colon complications. Since middle school and high school are the prime times that young females begin menstruating for the first time, an IBS diagnosis that coincides with puberty can be exceedingly frustrating.

“IBS has affected my life dramatically, especially when I was younger,” Christy I., who has suffered with her diagnosis for six years, said. “I was home-schooled my junior year of high school because my anxiety about leaving class and running to the bathroom was so intense.”

More: Why the type of psychotherapy matters when treating IBS

And yes, IBS affects a person’s sex life. Just think about it — if you have IBS, you’re suffering from symptoms like constipation, diarrhea and bloating. Plus, you’re aware of the unpredictability of your colon’s contractions and you’re used to running to the bathroom with little notice. Why would that make anyone feel comfortable when getting intimate?

“There are times when I have canceled or even refused sex because of an IBS flare-up. It can be very challenging to feel confident and sexy when [that’s happening],” Katie F. said.

IBS often causes anxiety in the people it touches. In sexual situations, people afflicted with IBS often find themselves freaking out that they might have an accident during sex and could even go as far as to avoid intimacy.

“It affects my anxiety levels when I’m in a new situation and I don’t have access to a bathroom,” Christy I. added. “Once, when I was on vacation in Las Vegas, I opted out of a really cool opportunity to film a television show because I was so overwrought with worry about not being able to leave to go to the bathroom if I had to. I ended up walking off set.”

But while the effects IBS has on a person’s sex life are mostly emotional (though equally frustrating), it’s a woman’s period that really suffers the brunt of IBS’s physical implications… hence the harsh effects teenagers and preteens experience.

“My stomach bothers me more than ever around that time,” Christy I. lamented. “I have to really watch what I’m eating when I’m on my period.”

During the menstrual cycle, it’s common that gastrointestinal pain related to IBS spikes. Especially on the first two days of the cycle, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, abdominal pain and diarrhea are at their worst. Comparatively, bloating and constipation usually accompany the post-ovulation phase, around Day 14 of the cycle.

“I have a few instances of missed periods, but I can’t be sure any one of them was caused solely by IBS. They were definitely caused by stress though, which IBS contributes to, so it is fair to say that it was a negative influence,” Katie F. added.

More: The Stigma Around IBS Is Making It Difficult for Women to Be Treated

In general, the menstrual cycle and its negative symptoms are amplified for women with IBS. Women with IBS report higher levels of and more frequent pain, such as fatigue, backache and even insomnia. Hypersensitivity to certain foods, particularly those that cause gas, can also occur during menstruation in a woman with IBS.

By Stephanie Osmanski

Originally published on HelloFlo.

My husband and I were living in Germany when I became pregnant for the first time. I had no idea back then how our daughter's birth overseas would be the beginning of a family narrative that would shape my children’s lives so distinctly.

More: 20 essentials for camping with baby

I received my doctor’s hearty approval — kein problem! — to vacation in Tuscany two months before my due date. With great expectations, we joined our old German friends and transported to Florence in their sleek black Mercedes. Perhaps my doctor would have felt regret a few days later had he witnessed my husband and me standing in the wrong queue at the spectacular Il Duomo. We believed we were in line to see the cathedral, not climb to the top of the dome.

So it was at seven months pregnant I found myself climbing the notoriously winding, narrow stairwell of the Il Duomo. Four-hundred sixty-three steps with baby inside. It was claustrophobic. The air was stale. The thickness of other sweaty human beings clambering to the top pressed unforgivingly into my personal space: my rounded belly. Back on solid earth, I thought of what would have happened had I gone into labor then and there in that tight, dank, ancient stairwell. I’d taken a risk, but since everything had turned out well, I was overjoyed to have that glorious view over Florence forever printed in my mind.

The mysterious relationship between a pregnant woman and her unborn child is elusive. I was going on with my unorthodox life, carting my little unborn daughter along, unmindful of injecting a spirit of adventure in her.

We grew to be a family of four and lived for a short time in Dubai. Arabic music delighted us and we acclimated to the call of worship punctuating the air throughout the day. During the season of Ramadan, even with highs reaching 120 degrees, it was forbidden to drink anything in public. It felt so wrong to deny my children gulps of water at the grocery or in the car. Never before had I refused them water, but now they had to wait until we arrived home. This fact spurred conversation about the meaning and practice of Ramadan. Better than reading about Ramadan, our children were experiencing it.

More: 7 tips for vacationing with other families

“We’re guests. We need to respect the culture and traditions of our host country.” For myself, that meant wearing dresses that covered my elbows and knees in a show of solidarity with the local women clothed in traditional, modest attire.

Life was teaching my kids to step into the unfamiliar and not be critical or afraid.

Visa requirements forced us to leave and then re-enter the United Arab Emirates. We chose as our weekend destination a desolate region of Oman called Musandam, the tiny mountainous tip jutting out into the Strait of Hormuz. On a dhow excursion into the Arabian Sea, we anchored, and using gestures and broken English, our guide communicated that we were free to swim.

“Peach! What will it be — cannonball or a flying egg?” My 10-year-old daughter stood poised. Squinting my eyes, I could barely make out Iran from our bobbing boat. I batted away fears about being an American family in a remote part of Oman with no cellphone coverage in a post-9/11 world.

“Cannonball.” Hugging her knees, she plunged into the sea and her younger brother followed, a metaphor of the spirit of adventure being woven into their fabric.

We moved to London and home schooling allowed us to travel freely. I admonished the children to only pack what they could carry. To this day, the kids are minimalists, more into experiences than stuff. With bags in tow, we walked out the door of our tiny flat toward the tube station, which then connected us to destinations including Stratford-upon-Avon, Cambridge and the shining white cliffs of Dover. Budget airlines took us to Rome, Athens and Mallorca. To rest our feet, we stopped at sidewalk cafés where our children sharpened their observation skills with an ice cream in front of them. My husband and I schooled them on the art of people-watching. More than any recommended activity found in tourist books, it’s the best way to get to know a place.

Our son confesses he never really knew what “global” meant until living in London. The environment was a lively and convincing teacher. He found it impossible not to notice the whole world was all around us. On our daily walk to the grocery from our flat, we heard multiple languages on the sidewalk. Instead of thinking it odd, he found it stimulating and grew to love it. London taught him it is possible for people from radically different cultures to live together in harmony.

There were plenty of challenges during this season, but one upside grew increasingly obvious to me: My kids’ ease with other cultures was developing. In general, they are outward-facing to the world. I find this posture encouraging given the growing American ethos rife with fear, distrust and suspicion toward those who are different.

More: Where to take kids on vacation — and on a budget

We often shared conversation about everyday London life and what it revealed about Londoners’ values. They prioritize parks, public transportation and walkability, my two observed, but "they are fine living in small places with not a lot of stuff.” My kids mirrored the normalcy of tight spaces, adoring the charming bedroom they shared, forgetful its size approximated that of a typical American walk-in closet. My daughter digested our environment to a degree we didn’t understand until the day we left London for the U.S. She wept all the way to the airport.

There would be more in the kids' college funds had we moved and traveled less, but the early exposure fostered a posture of curiosity and excitement with regard to other cultures more precious than a big bank account. Something started long ago when I was that pregnant American awkwardly climbing the dome in Florence. It continued, growing more muscular with every foreign experience, making my children better people.

Wanderlust is a family trait we’ve passed to the next generation. Today, my teenagers view the world as within reach, waiting for them to engage. As exciting as it is, it’s also bittersweet. My daughter has chosen to attend university overseas and she loves it. She says she’s finally home. It’s possible she’ll always live far away, pursuing her own adventures. Though I miss her every minute of every day, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Have you ever just kinda liked a celebrity until you found out they were a stone cold weirdo, and then start to totally love them? That's pretty much what just happened to us with Olivia Munn.

It's obvious Munn is gorgeous, but she's also full of amazing personality quirks and history that makes us swoon over how awesomely eccentric — yet totally relatable — she is.

In honor of her birthday on July 3, we're sharing some crazy things about her that make us wish she was our best friend.

1. She's kind of a ninja

In a telling interview for Good Housekeeping's August 2015 cover, Munn let her family's fierce secret slip. "I'm the fourth of five children. All of us started karate at around age 5 and studied it until we were about 16 — and we weren't allowed to stop practicing until we had achieved black belts." Mental note: Do not mess with Olivia Munn.

More: Olivia Munn's Quitting Aaron Rodgers Cold Turkey

2. She has a hypnotist to thank for her health

Image: Giphy

When we say a hypnotist made Munn start sweating, we mean it in the most literal sense — upon learning she didn't work out, the hypnotist who helps with her anxiety said Munn had to start. "So during one of our sessions, he hypnotized me. I'm not exaggerating: That was on a Friday, and by Monday I was working out every day at 6 a.m. If I missed a session, I'd double up and do it the next day. Now I feel so much stronger."

3. She suffers from severe anxiety disorders

You would never know by looking at Munn, who always seems so put together, but the actress suffers from both OCD and trichotillomania — a condition characterized by compulsive pulling of eyelashes and hair. "It's the same thing as people who bite their nails," Munn told People last year. In fact, they are largely the reason her hypnotist suggested she start working out, as exercise combats anxiety.

More: Olivia Munn Restricts Her Social Media Amid Aaron Rodgers Breakup

4. Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo gave her purpose

Image: Giphy

"About four years ago, I was almost in a plane crash. Everybody on the plan thought we were going to die... even the flight attendants were crying and screaming," she revealed to Good Housekeeping. "It made me question everything."

That's when she found solace in an unlikely source.

"Theresa helped me open up. Now I believe in God, or whatever you call it. I believe that our souls exist past this — and that as long as we're good to each other, that's all that really matters."

5. Her secret superpower is crotch-popping

When Munn and her X-Men: Apocalypse costars stopped by Conan a couple years ago, she divulged some, ahem, juicy intel about her Psylocke costume. "I did a whole latex fitting — they lubricate the costume and they lubricate me," Munn said of the tight fit. "The first day I put on the latex suit and I was out there, I was really excited to be with these guys and I'd met Michael and James and all of these guys and was just so excited, and then I went to stretch, like, 'I want to do a really good job,' and then I just popped the crotch. The latex just broke."

6. She's a junk food junkie

Image: Giphy

That workout hypnotism must really be paying off, because Munn is a major binge-eater. "Sometimes I wish I had more self-control. I'll give myself a bunch of excuses, like I'm tired, I'm shooting or I need this cookie. There was a tray of Rice Krispies Treats [at the shoot]. I've had two bags of sour-cream-and-onion chips. Last night, I had creamed corn and mac 'n' cheese and two and half pretzel breadsticks before my meal came!"

Ah, a woman after our own hearts.

7. She's known for saying "accurately horrible things" to her co-stars

During a sit-down at Comic-Con 2015 with her X-Men: Apocalypse costars Oscar Isaac and Michael Fassbender, Munn (a) totally geeked out and (b) got outed by the guys for her trademark bluntness. "I say accurately horrible things to Oscar and Michael," she said, admitting that she once said to Isaac, "You're losing your hair." Joking of the worst thing she'd say to Fassbender, "I said to Michael, 'If I could change one thing about you, it's that you're too awesome.' He didn't like that. He wanted to be a regular amount of awesome." Not surprisingly, it's clear they both still adore her.

More: Olivia Munn Boycotts Typical Superhero Roles, Becoming Our Superhero IRL

8. She's obsessed with meat

Munn is so stoked on beef jerky that she recently invested in Chef's Cut Real Jerky.

"I love jerky first of all, but then I looked and it was a lot less sugar and carbs and it was super high in protein," Munn told E! News. "It was a lot easier than carting around a Greek yogurt because that's what I was doing at the time... That's when I started leveling off my weight. I was able to maintain it because it's so delicious. It's like steak in a bag."

If that crazy weird beef jerky commercial above doesn't make you fall in love with Munn, we don't know what will.

9. And potatoes

Munn (who was born in Oklahoma) is obviously a mid-westerner at heart, because she's definitely a jerky and potatoes kind of girl. Japanese sweet potatoes, that is.

Rumors that Munn had plastic surgery began running amok last year, but she credited her youthful appearance to the Japanese sweet potato.

"I've talked about this before and I still stand by it: Japanese potatoes that are high in Hyaluronic Acid help keep wrinkles away," Munn wrote on Instagram. "Look up this video: "Connie Chung Yuzihara" to learn all about it. There are Hyaluronic Acid pills and vitamins but I think that the best way to get it in your system is by eating them in foods that naturally have them."

A Hollywood actress who loves to eat carby potatoes? Swoon.

What's your favorite thing about Olivia Munn?

Originally published July 2015. Updated July 2017.

Oops, she did it again: Britney Spears has caused a large commotion. Yesterday, after landing in Israel for her first-ever concert stop in the country, the pop princess tried to take a step outside but didn't get very far.

More: While Britney Spears Was Off Becoming the Pop Princess, This Is What I Was Up To

Speard tried to visit some of the iconic holy sites in Jerusalem over the weekend, including the Western Wall. However, throngs of local fans and tourists recognized Spears and they all wanted a closer glimpse. Sources close to the singer, plus some photographic evidence, show that Spears was practically mobbed despite her significant security outfit.

After the incident, Spears decided to cancel the rest of her events for the day, which included a possible meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu coordinated with a visit to pediatric cancer patients. There seemed to be some confusion as to whether the meeting was confirmed or not (before it was canceled), but Spears rescheduled the meet-and-greet with younger cancer patients for Monday and invited them to her show.

More: Britney Spears' Most Iconic Looks Through the Years — from Her Videos to the Red Carpet

"Hundreds of people jumped on her, and she decided to cancel it all," sources close to Spears told Israeli newspaper YNetNews. "It was a huge mess, with hundreds of fans and photographers gathered around her. It was a real 'Israeli celebration'; she didn't stop an excursion during any other part of her latest tour. This could only happen here."

More: Britney Spears' Emotional Letter to Her Sons Reminds Us of Her Darkest Days

Spears will be playing Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv on Monday night, a large outdoor concert venue that has recently been visited by artists like Justin Bieber and Radiohead. It's the last stop on her short world tour, Britney: Live in Concert. The tour, which also included dates in the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, was based on her Las Vegas residency show, Britney: Piece of Me. After visiting Israel, she'll return to Vegas to finish her residency, which ends on December 21, 2017.

Can’t just flip a switch and get instantly turned on? Yeah, we hear you — and it can be super-frustrating when your partner’s ready to go and you’re, well, not.

“There are so many different factors that can influence our desire,” sex therapist Vanessa Marin tells us.

But what exactly comes into play (er, foreplay?) when it comes to figuring out what works for you? Marin offers the low-down on your libido and nine ways to make sure you’re feeling DTF.

1. Don’t bother eating a ton of aphrodisiac foods

“In general, food doesn’t have a huge effect on your libido,” Marin says. Yes, really. In other words, a want-to-rip-their-clothes-off libido isn’t going to come from downing dozens of broccoli florets. Instead, Marin recommends focusing on foods that are pleasurable or sensual to eat, like figs or peaches (spaghetti is probably out). Chocolate and oysters, the two most famous aphrodisiacs, are still fair game depending on your own tastes. “If the act of eating oysters and chocolate feels sensuous, you’re naturally going to get a little revved up,” she says.

2. Exercise before sex

Working up a sweat is a guaranteed way to boost your sex drive, Marin says. “It helps you feel more in touch with your body and forces you to be more present in your own skin.” So whether you take a yoga or Pilates class, spin your way through an hour at SoulCycle or kick some ass in a boxing class, you’ll be connecting to your body. “That helps you feel more comfortable and confident in the bedroom too, so you can spend more time thinking about how much fun you’re having and less time worrying about what your thighs look like,” she adds.

3. Try some actual sexercise

As we’ve written about before, pelvic exercises are super-important for your sex life. “Your PC muscles form a hammock around your sexual organs and pelvis and contract spontaneously during orgasm,” she says. That means doing your Kegels religiously — and reaping the benefit. Read more about how to do them here.

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4. Pay attention to how your body reacts to birth control

Whether you’re on the pill, the patch or a LARC like an IUD or implant, when you’re putting hormones into your body, your sex drive can suffer. “Try tracking your arousal levels for a few months before starting the pill, then for a few months while you’re on the pill, and compare the two,” Marin says, stressing that every woman’s experience with BC is vastly different. If you’ve been a longtime disciple of the pill, try going off it and seeing if that changes things (but make sure to use another reliable method). And of course, talk to your doctor about additional concerns or look into a copper IUD, which is 99 percent effective and doesn’t use hormones.

5. Seriously, deal with your stress

“Stress and anxiety are the biggest sex drive killers that I see in my practice,” Marin says. “When you’re feeling stressed out, it’s extremely difficult to get aroused.” True, but that’s stressing us out more. Look at stress as a wakeup call for a lifestyle change. “If you want to have a happy and healthy sex life, you have to create the space in your life for it.” Marin says that looks different depending on the person, but recommends spending 20 minutes of uninterrupted, electronics-free quality time with your partner every day—no work emails, no Instagram distractions, just the two of you.

6. Try flying solo

Marin is a huge advocate for female masturbation (and so are we!). So much so that she has an online course teaching women how to get down and dirty with themselves. “Explore different masturbation techniques on your own to get a sense of what your body responds to best.” That way, when you’re with your partner, you know what doesn’t work and what does.

More: 5 Sex Positions That Prime Women for Orgasm

7. Up your sexiness with a confidence-boosting hobby

Want to not only look sexy, but feel it? “Try finding a type of exercise that makes you feel sexy while you’re doing it,” Marin says. She recommends trying out an activity like hip-hop, belly dancing, burlesque, a pole dancing workout or even yoga.

8. Make sex an honest-to-goodness priority

It’s so easy to get sucked into the daily minutiae and forget about carving out time with your S.O. “Try to have sex first thing when you’re both home,” Marin recommends. It may feel a little forced or even unromantic, but putting sex before your work emails or Netflix queue speaks volumes. And as they say, the more sex you have, the more you want sex.

9. Take a step back

Libido is a mysterious beast, and sometimes, the more you try to chase it, the more difficult it gets to track. “Your sex drive can be affected by your general level of health, the dynamics in your relationship, stress, your relationship with your body, your beliefs about sex and your medications, just to name a few.” If you’re still feeling anti-desire, Marin recommends talking to your doctor or an expert. Besides, you’ve only got everything to gain.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Raise your self-refilling butterbeer glasses up because Warner Bros. has announced new plot details for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel. The good news starts with the exciting info that protagonist Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) will be joined by Albus Dumbledore (played by Jude Law) to fight ultimate villain and Dumbledore's childhood friend, Gellert Grindelwald (with Johnny Depp returning to the role).

More: 15 Harry Potter references in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

As Entertainment Weekly reports on the plot, Grindelwald will escape capture and will be "gathering more followers to his cause — elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore. But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander. The adventure reunites Newt with Tina (Katherine Waterston), Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler), but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world.” 

Warner Brothers also stated that the series (which will eventually consist of five movies) will contain even more nods to the Harry Potter series and move it's location around from New York to London and Paris. On that second note, expect more exciting international brushes with the magical community.

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The cast for Fantastic Beasts now looks much more filled out, according to Entertainment Weekly. Along with most of the original cast, newcomers include: Ezra Miller returning to play Credence; Zoë Kravitz returning to play Leta Lestrange and Newt's former love interest; Callum Turner will play Theseus Scamander, a war hero; Claudia Kim will play a wizarding circus attraction; Ólafur Darri Ólafsson will play Skender, a circus boss; William Nadylam will play a wizard named Yusuf Kama; and Ingvar Sigurdsson will play Grimmson, a bounty hunter.

More: J.K. Rowling reveals big Fantastic Beasts news that made the actors speechless

The first movie takes place in 1926, while the sequel will pick up a few months later in 1927. Fans believe that the fifth and final movie will take place in 1945, when Dumbledore and Grindelwald are known to have fought their final duel. Fans are also excited to find out if Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a romantic relationship at some point, and if it will be covered in the movies, which take place before the Harry Potter storyline.

Are you ready for more Fantastic Beasts?