You want to accommodate your vegetarian friends without having to serve them nothing but sides or a boring salad at your cookout. But you also don't want to make a whole dish that only one person will eat. What's a party food maven to do?

Turns out, you just need some mad meat-swap skills to create a dish your omnivorous (and carnivorous) guests will mow down just as happily as your very appreciative cruelty-free friends. So, what are these vegetarian-friendly meat substitutes? We thought you'd never ask...

More: The complete guide to stocking a low-carb vegetarian kitchen

1. Instead of chicken or pork, use jackfruit

Yes, it's a fruit, but jackfruit holds up incredibly well in meat recipes. It can be sliced, diced or even fliced (OK, we meant shredded, but that didn't rhyme, so we decided to start a thing… #Fliced).

Because it's a fruit, it has a little sweetness, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you're going the barbecue route.

Try it pulled BBQ sandwiches or use it in stir-fries, where the sauce can counter some of the fruit's natural sweetness.

2. Instead of steak, use portobello mushrooms

The large meaty caps of the portobello mushroom have just the resistant bite you're looking for when subbing for steak on skewers or for fajitas or just cooking it up alone like a steak. They don't taste exactly like steak, but don't be surprised if some of your non-veggie friends actually prefer them to the steak (or even alongside it).

Just marinate the mushrooms in a large sealable plastic bag in olive oil, salt, pepper and any herbs and spices you want for about an hour (or use a vegetarian-friendly steak marinade). Then grill or sauté them on high for five to seven minutes. You can stack them on a burger (try this portobello burger with smoked provolone and caramelized onions) or slice them up for fajitas. For skewers, put them on raw and cook them until the other veggies are done (you can't really overcook them).

More: How to Use Powdered Peanut Butter — Your New High-Protein Vegan BFF

3. Instead of ground beef or sausage, try beans, legumes or lentils

Beans, legumes and lentils can be made into substitutes for ground beef or even sausage (by using traditional sausage seasonings). They also provide a good amount of protein and other good-for-you vitamins and minerals. Try a chickpea burger with coconut cabbage slaw or make black bean enchiladas or tacos for a casual get-together.

4. Instead of hot dogs, use carrots

Hear us out. I know it seems weird, but not only are they the perfect shape and texture, but with the right toppings, it's absolutely ah-may-zing. Does it taste exactly like a hot dog? Nope. Will you or your vegetarian pal give AF? Not one bit. We love this idea for using lettuce instead of buns for the health conscious among you. (Pro tip: This is also a good way to get your kids to eat their veggies.)

5. Instead of steak or poultry, use cauliflower

You're not alone if you feel like cauliflower subs are overdone, but we're super-excited about these cauliflower steaks. Your veggie-head friend will get her vegan option and there will inevitably be smaller "steaks" for your meat-friendly friends to have a taste too. And if you're hosting an event like Thanksgiving or Christmas (or just Sunday dinner), this spicy whole-roasted cauliflower acts as a main affair for your vegetarian BFF and a tasty side for everyone else.

More: 11 vegan lunchbox ideas for little people who love big flavor

6. Instead of chicken, use eggplant

Eggplant has a pretty meaty texture, and while it may not be quite as meaty as some other things on this list, there are tons of entrée recipes that will satisfy everyone on your guest list, so there's no need to make two main dishes. Better yet, it's typically really easy for someone just beginning to experiment with cooking for vegetarian and vegan friends to jump right into. Try eggplant Parmesan, use it in place of meat in a stir-fry and more. You can even make an appetizer of eggplant chips everyone will enjoy if you want extra vegetarian-accommodation bonus points.

7. Instead of fish or chicken, use tofu

Tofu is a soy-based meat substitute that usually comes in a block. You can find it in the refrigerated vegetarian or health food section at your supermarket or in a specialty vegetarian or health food store. For a meat substitute, avoid the silken variety and go for the extra-firm, which has a firmer texture.

You'll need to drain off the excess fluid, then wrap it in a clean, dry kitchen towel. Place it on a cutting board over the sink to drain, then place a heavy-ish object like a dinner plate or cookbook on top and let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes. Then cut it or crumble it as the recipes calls for, marinate it for 15 or so minutes and cook it up according to the recipe. Remember, tofu doesn't have much flavor on its own, so the marinade is key. If you need some inspo, check out these 23 tofu recipes.

8. Instead of bacon or beef, use tempeh

Tempeh is similar in many ways to tofu, but it's fermented, lending it more inherent flavor than its pale-colored counterpart. Its meatier texture makes it perfect to sub for ground beef in things like meatballs and burgers or DIY your own vegan bacon for burgers, BLTs, salads and more.

9. Instead of chicken, use seitan

Seitan — also called wheat meat, wheat protein or wheat gluten — is a wheat-based (rather than soy, like tempeh and tofu) meat substitute that has such a meaty texture, you could probably fool your most carnivorous friends. Yes, you can use it in stir-fries, curries and tacos and pho. But we strongly suggest you go for the seitan Buffalo wings.

One last thing…

Just remember that vegan and vegetarian aren't the same, so while a vegetarian will gladly toss back a vegan treat with abandon, your vegan friend might have more restrictions, including cheese and other dairy products, eggs and more. So if you're a vegan food rookie, make sure you check in with them on the ingredients you're using first.

It's sure true that life imitates art.

More: Naomi Watts Opens Up About the One Person Who Affected Her Career Path

Naomi Watts, who stars alongside Billy Crudup in her Netflix series Gypsy, plays Crudup's wife on screen. And now, multiple sources and reports reveal Watts and Crudup have quietly started dating in real life.

Over the weekend, an eyewitness spotted the pair holding hands as they exited a café after lunch in New York City. That source relayed the news to Page Six, who broke the story of the burgeoning relationship. Since it hit headlines, sources close to Watts and Crudup have come forward to confirm that the two are more than just co-stars or friends.

Watts and Crudup "looked happy and were laughing a lot, then left again holding hands," the first eyewitness said, which definitely sounds like there's a love story blossoming here.

More: Change Is Scary, & No One Knows It Better Than Newly Single Naomi Watts

It's pretty great in this instance to see two actors we love, who play spouses on screen, end up dating in real life. Even more than that, considering what Watts has been through in her personal life lately, she totally deserves a happy relationship. She just broke up with her partner of 11 years, Liev Schreiber, in 2016. They share two children together, so they've had to work hard at keeping their relationship amicable, which can't be easy after 11 years as a couple.

"There are good days and bad days and Liev and I are on great terms and we’re trying to do our absolute best for the sake of the children and we hope to keep moving forward in that way," Watts told Vogue Australia about the breakup and her life since.

More: The Trailer for Netflix's New Thriller Gypsy Has Arrived, & It's Creepy

Crudup on the other hand is a little bit of a bad boy — he was dating Mary-Louise Parker until 2003 when he left her, six months pregnant with their child, for Claire Danes. Suffice it to say we'll be watching him closely here. Crudup, don't you dare hurt her.

We have a new mom crush.

An Irish mom had a photo shoot with her twins — inspired by the recent first glimpse of Beyoncé's twins, Sir and Rumi. And she nailed it. (Watch out, Bey. That Instagram record might not hold.)

Sharon Kellaway's 6-year-old daughter shot the photo like a pro. The pic features Kellaway clutching her twins in her backyard and rocking a veil, sneakers and a floral blanket that matches Beyoncé's billowy dress.

More: Beyoncé finally shares pic of the twins!

Kellaway joked on Facebook, "I wonder how many photos Beyoncé had to get through to get the right one."

In case you've been sleeping under a rock for 500 years, here's the original Beyoncé and twins pic that is breaking the internet:

More: 54 celebrity baby names we wish we'd thought of first

Not bad, Bey, but we're also fond of Aussie comedian Celeste Barber, who recreated the iconic twins pic with her own twist.

Pretty sure that's a wine bottle there in the crook of her arm. Which would explain the caption, "There's no greater feeling than holding life's most precious gifts."

More: Beyoncé's Mom Confirms Reasons Behind the Name "Rumi"

Well played, ladies.

Think back to the last time you went to the doctor or even the dentist — chances are that stress came up at least once as a cause for some of your health issues. I never know how to respond when a medical professional blames stress for something and then instructs me to simply “be less stressed,” as if there’s some sort of magical potion or method that works for everyone. (Note: Yes, I’m aware of meditation and mindfulness. Very aware. It is not universally useful.) 

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But what if one aspect of stress had nothing to do with your job or your predisposal for being easily startled by everything from a bird flying overhead to your own shadow? What if where you lived could dictate — at least partially — the levels of stress you experience?

According to a report by WalletHub, it can. The site just released its 2017 lists of the most and least stressed cities in the United States, and the answers are somewhat surprising.

The most-stressed city in America is Newark, New Jersey, followed by Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Jackson, Mississippi and Miami, Florida. On the other end of the spectrum, the least-stressed cities are Fremont, California; Plano, Texas; Overland Park, Kansas; Scottsdale, Arizona and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

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New York City is the 49th most-stressed city, while Chicago ranks 24th and Los Angeles is 36th, proving that big-city living doesn’t necessarily come with the most stress.  (This is making me feel pretty smug, living in New York after growing up in the third-most-stressed city, Cleveland.)

More: Kelly Clarkson Has No Time for Twitter Body-Shamers

In order to complete the report, WalletHub analyzed four dimensions of life in the 150 most populated cities in the United States: work stress, financial stress, family stress and health and safety stress. In addition to stress, it also ranked median credit score (lowest is in Detroit, Michigan, and highest is in Fremont, California), divorce rate (highest is in Cleveland, Ohio, and lowest is in Fremont, California) and percentage of adults in fair/poor health (highest percentage is in Corpus Christi, Texas, while Lincoln, Nebraska has the lowest… followed, of course, by Fremont, California).

Now excuse me while I look up real estate in Fremont, California.

After watching Mariah's World as obsessively as we did, there's just one more thing we need: a TV series about this diva's rise to stardom. Ask the TV gods and ye shall receive, because it's totally happening, with Carey herself in an executive producer role. 2017, you're too good to us.

More: Will Ferrell Says Working With Mariah Carey Was "A S***storm"

Deadline reports that Starz, the network we know and love for shows like Outlander and American Gods, is taking on the project, which will be a scripted series set in New York City in the mid-1980s. It'll be a drama (of course, because what else) that follows then-16-year-old Carey as an unknown songwriter trying to overcome her rough childhood to make it big in the music industry. Obviously, we already know how it ends. Carey goes on to become the highest-selling female artist of all time. But we cannot wait to see all the drama unfold while she's getting there.

More: Mariah Carey's Single Didn't Do Too Hot, & Her Label Isn't Happy

The show is still untitled, so we'd like to offer some suggestions:

• Diva Rising
• I Don't Know Her: An Origin Story
• The Original Ariana Grande
• B.C. (Before Cannon)
• From Zero to "Hero"

OK, OK, we're definitely reaching here.

Anyway, the showrunner for this project will be Nina Colman, the writer/producer behind Date My Dad, which was one underrated gem of a show. We don't know yet how involved Carey will be, but with an executive producer title and her divatude, we can only imagine she's going to get heavy handed and do this thing right.

More: Mariah Carey Might Have Some More Big Relationship News

And if you're still not excited, this should help: Think of the soundtrack this show will have. Yep. Can't wait for this one.

With heavy hearts, the cast of AMC's hit series The Walking Dead has returned to work following an unexpected death on set. Although production halted last week following the tragic death of stuntman John Bernecker on July 13, AMC confirmed to Variety on Monday that filming has resumed.

Bernecker was reportedly shooting a scene last Wednesday with series regular Austin Amelio, who plays Dwight, when the accident that led to Bernecker's death occurred.

More: TWD's Josh McDermitt Quits Social Media After Receiving Death Threats

Per the scene, the stuntman was supposed to fall roughly 20 feet off a balcony at Raleigh Studio in Atlanta and onto a safety cushion below. Unfortunately, Bernecker didn't get "a good separation" from the balcony, assistant director Matthew Goodwin told the Coweta County Sheriff's Office.

There are a million things to love about having a dog in your life — but there's nothing more awful than having to decide when it's time to let them go. Putting your dog down is one of the hardest things in life that you'll ever have to do, but when you have the financials figured out before the time comes, it gives you at least one less thing to worry about.

If you're a pet owner, you probably already know that vet care isn't cheap. Depending on the options you choose, euthanization can cost anywhere between $50 and $300 (or more).

More: Dog Years to Human Years: How Do They Actually Work?

We've gathered a little more info about the transition so you can be prepared. You'll want to focus on saying goodbye rather than worrying about the money aspects of the situation when you're faced with this heartbreaking time.

Cost No. 1: Putting the dog to sleep

Similar to humans, the passing of a dog has a number of price variables — like performing the procedure in-office, at-home or through cremation.

Kenneth Cohn, DVM, is a veterinarian who provides at-home euthanasia services. Cohn explains, "I will travel to someone's home to put their pet to sleep for between $85 and $125, depending on how far their home is." Cohn lists hidden costs that may factor into his total fee. "[The] DEA license for the controlled drug is $250 per year. Record keeping — accounting for the usage of the controlled substance. A less common hidden cost can be an aggressive pet that tries to bite."

According to the Maryland SPCA, in-office owner-requested dog euthanasia could start as low as $50 per dog for low-income pet owners. The regular charge for owner-requested euthanasia is $150 per dog.

Cost No. 2: Cremation

Cremation is another viable and affordable option for dog owners who may want to preserve their pets' memory with ashes in an urn. The Maryland SPCA estimates pet cremation fees by weight — starting at $80 for dogs up to 30 pounds and ranging up to $165 for dogs 101 pounds and heavier.

The Riverside Pet Crematory of Oregon also charges by weight, explaining that larger dogs may cost more as they require more energy to cremate. However, Riverside Pet Crematory makes an important distinction — providing the option to choose between private and communal dog cremation. Private cremation allows the pet owner to keep the dog's ashes, costing an estimated $135 for an 80-pound dog. While communal cremation is cheaper, estimated at $80 for an 80-pound dog, the pet's ashes are disposed of by the crematory with other animals that have been cremated.

Cost No. 3: Possible extra costs

For both dog euthanasia and cremation, additional fees can quickly add up. Cathy Alinovi, DVM, America's Favorite Holistic Vet, says that while price is a tough topic to tackle, it is "one that needs to be addressed" so that extra charges on a final bill don't surprise you.

Dr. Cathy urges pet owners to consider these important questions before scheduling a dog to be euthanized. "Here are the questions that people aren't always expecting when they call for prices: If they or their pet have never been seen by the veterinarian they are asking to perform the service, most veterinarians will charge an exam fee. The exam is because veterinarians are legally required to have a veterinarian client/patient relationship, and this is the exam. If an at-home euthanasia is requested, then there will be a trip charge."

Then there are the in-office extras for routine euthanasia. "Some veterinarians charge additional fees for IV catheters and disposal of the needles," adds Dr. Cathy.

And that's not all — there are plenty of add-ons available to ensure that your dog's passing is a memorable and beautiful experience. Dr. Cathy concludes, "Additional services to ask for include a paw print, private cremation where the ashes are returned in a pretty box or in an urn. In some cases, the urn is an extra fee."

The exact cost of these extras is hard to estimate since it can vary by service and provider. For example, a high-quality marble urn to hold your dog's ashes could cost up to $100. Other pet crematories will allow you to bring your own ash receptacle at no charge. Many pet cremation services will provide a certificate of death and a keepsake, like an actual paw-print key chain. Commemorative paw-print picture frame kits may start at $50.

More: If Dogs Don’t Sweat, How Do They Cool Down?

Talking about money seems downright insensitive at a time like this, but these figures are important for all dog owners to know. The better you can plan for the financial repercussions of putting a dog down, the easier it will be to stay in the moment and say good-bye.

Originally published June 2015. Updated July 2017.

Nashville-style hot chicken has been having a moment of late, with varieties popping up everywhere from KFC to Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A. But the latest incarnation is one we’re very, very excited to try.

Shake Shack is about to launch Hot Chick’n, a spicy cousin to their traditional Chik’n Shack. The Hot Chick’n is the same crispy chicken as in the traditional sandwich, which is buttermilk-marinated and fried, but the hot version is also marinated in a blend of peppers (guajillo and cayenne seasonings — have mercy) and then topped with Louisiana hot sauce slaw and dill pickles.

More: Burger King says new Fiery Chicken Fries are "offensively spicy"

The new Hot Chick’n sandwich debuts in August in select Shake Shack locations nationwide, and while we haven’t been lucky enough to try it yet, there is a sneak preview available.

More: Easy Pulled Chicken Fajita Sandwiches Made in the Slow Cooker? Yes, Please!

"The signature Shake Shack bread was consistently Good with a capital 'G' because it's [sic] bread and carbs are life. It was also a potato roll, truly hard to screw up," Sarah Solomon wrote on TheStreet. "They didn't skimp on the meat, and the overall spiciness of the chicken piqued my interest without sending me stumbling for water. The coleslaw and pickles were a nice touch. I enjoy copious amounts of both on any given occasion, but they complemented the spiciness of the fried chicken, dulling the heat and adding texture."

Definitely counting down to the minute when we're able to verify that Solomon's assessment is true.

Here's some surprise news: Cristiano Ronaldo has another baby on the way! He confirmed it to El Mundo, telling reporters he is very happy about his growing family.

More: Jessica Alba Expecting Third Child With Cash Warren

And if you're thinking this news came awfully close to the birth of his twins, you're right — he just debuted the newborns on Instagram earlier this month.

This time, it's Ronaldo's girlfriend, Georgina Rodríguez, who is pregnant. She made waves on Instagram when she appeared in a family photo with Ronaldo, seemingly hiding what looked an awful lot like a baby bump behind another family member. It wasn't hidden well enough, and fans started speculating pretty much right away.

More: Beyoncé's Push Party Was Just as Exclusive as You Imagine

In another recent photo, she wore baggy overalls to hide the baby bump we now know is there.

The identities of the mothers of the soccer star's other three kids remain a mystery, though it's been widely speculated that the twins are Rodríguez's babies and that they were born via a surrogate. When Ronaldo announced the birth of his oldest son, Cristiano, in 2010, he kept the identity of the boy's mother secret per her wishes.

"With the agreement of the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, I will have exclusive custody of my son," he said at the time. He's made no similar remarks about the mother of the twins, but hasn't denied the surrogacy rumors. His only public statement about them came on Instagram, when he wrote, "So happy to be able to hold the two new loves of my life," alongside a photo of himself holding little Mateo and Eva.

More: Serena Williams May Not Return to Tennis as Soon as You Think

Congratulations to this rapidly growing family!

Celebrities can seem so unattainable.

But sometimes, they do work to make themselves more accessible, especially when their fans really need it. Think celebs visiting hospitals or sending personalized gifts to fans in need. Ryan Reynolds is in the middle of filming the Deadpool sequel, so he couldn't get away. But technology came to the rescue and allowed him to FaceTime with a fan who really needed a boost: a little boy in the U.K. named Daniel who's battling cancer.

More: Ryan Reynolds Approves of One Canadian Teen Girl's Clever Photo Edit

Daniel Downing has a rare, aggressive form of cancer called pontine glioma, and at only 5 years old, he's fighting for his life. But getting to chat with his hero was a visible bright spot for him; just check out the video to see how excited he was.

More: WTF Was Ryan Reynolds Thinking With His Birth Playlist for Blake Lively?

"Daniel picked up the phone and Ryan asked if he knew who he was," Daniel's mom, Stephanie Downing, told reporters. "As soon as Daniel realized, he asked if he could FaceTime him and then he was very, very hyper."

Hyper is an understatement. If you watched the video above, you saw that that kid was stoked.

Stephanie Downing continued, "I’m so happy for Daniel ― it’s something he wouldn’t normally have been able to do and he was so excited. He told all his friends and his teachers. It’s nice to see him so excited because he has been a bit down lately."

She also said Reynolds' decision to call was "absolutely fantastic."

Um, yeah, that's a little bit of an understatement.

More: Ryan Reynolds Gushes About Blake Lively, the World Reaches Peak Jealousy

Thanks, Ryan Reynolds, for taking time to care for the people who need it most.

The day is almost here, and Days of Our Lives fans are so ready for this. Ron Carlivati’s storylines finally debut on NBC on Wednesday, July 19. He’s been in charge almost six months, but the show shoots months ahead of time, so the time has finally come and the long wait is finally over.

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Some viewers have appeared to be disappointed with the storylines and the loss of some legacy characters, but Carlivati's new storylines promise big changes to that. We’ve been discussing the return of Alison Sweeney, Eileen Davidson and Chandler Massey nonstop, but now we finally get to see their stories play out, and we are all losing our minds.

The person who understands the importance of legacy characters the most is Carlivati. He knows they are vital to keeping the heart of the series thriving. He’s hoping to bring fan faves like John (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena (Deidre Hall) as well as Patch (Stephen Nichols) and Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) back to the forefront.

“There are big payoffs for the stories that have been set up,” he explained to Soap Opera Digest. “There’s a lot of exciting stuff that I’m bringing into it.” If that doesn’t rile up the fans, the twist on who killed Deimos (Vincent Irizarry) is about to get a bit juicier. Appearances are deceiving in Salem right now.

More: DOOL's Alison Sweeney Has Been Granted a Temporary Restraining Order

“When I came in, he had already been murdered, so I took that as a point of inspiration,” Carlivati said. “It had wrapped up fairly fast with a killer that made sense, but I proposed a different killer that prolonged the story, and pulled more people in and impacted the love stories on the canvas a little more.”

Even with all of Carlivati’s great ideas for righting the DOOL ship, some fans are making lots of suggestions on storylines. They all have an opinion.

So the pressure is on Carlivati to deliver the goods big-time when it comes to ratings and storylines. Everyone is watching — fans and, of course, NBC.

With Game of Thrones season upon us, my husband and I are excited about having our Sunday night dates back with HBO, as it’s pretty much our favorite show to watch together. We turn the TV on and drift away to the mythical lands, taking a little break from parent life for a while. But I realized that my actual life isn’t much different than what Daenerys Targaryen deals with on a daily basis with her dragons. In fact, we could probably swap stories and be BFFs. (Maybe she’ll even teach me how to braid my hair perfectly like hers.)

More: Game of Thrones baby names true fans need to add to their list

1. I helped my dragons "hatch"

While my dragons weren’t born of fire and didn’t technically hatch, I played a pretty big role with carrying them in my womb for nine months and then pushing them out of me. Yup, I would say that though Khaleesi and I (and all moms, because it doesn’t really matter what role you played in the birthing process, to be honest) have very different birthing stories, they're equally important.

2. I’m often breaking up fights

These kids of mine are 8 years old and 10 months old, and even though it might not seem possible, they fight. In fact, they fight a lot. The little one gets into all of her big brother's things and even figured out how to turn the Xbox on and off. And loves to do it while he’s in the middle of a game, of course. So where am I in this equation? I get to be the mediator, always breaking up the fights.

3. Sometimes, I struggle to maintain control

Just like my girl Daenerys, I often can’t keep my kids under control. Yes, it happens to the best of us, even a princess who somehow managed to have three dragons claim her as their mom. At least mine can’t fly away, because then life would really be interesting.

4. Mealtime drama

Now, I can only imagine what goes down during mealtime in the Targaryen household, but I picture it to be an awful lot of complaining that the meat the dragons are being fed is either over- or undercooked -— because we’re always being reminded how we did not get it just right. In our house, it’s messy and filled with drama. No one can ever make a decision about what they want to eat, yet they’re very opinionated about the options that are laid before them. And after a decision finally gets made, half of the meal always winds up on the floor. Every. Single. Time.

More: 16 places your kids really want to stay this summer

5. They often have attitudes

Those dragons that belong to Ms. Targaryen have some major ‘tudes, which my children can definitely match. I’m not sure if these children just aren’t sleeping enough or what the deal is, but the eye-rolling and fire-breathing is out of control!

6. Things can get chaotic

Life is chaotic every day. The end.

7. My oldest dragon is often sent to his room

Due to the aggressive nature of Khaleesi’s dragons, they were sent to live in a dungeon, only seeing the light of day whenever someone walks down there and approaches them. My son might be able to relate to this. Whenever the going gets tough, to his room he goes and he's not allowed to open the door until he’s approached by us first.

8. Sometimes, people get hurt

It happens. Most times it’s an accident or perhaps my son playing too hard with his little sister, but much like getting caught in the path of Khaleesi’s dragons, my kids can wreak some havoc.

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9. I swear they breathe fire

Either that or they have the amazing ability to completely demolish every toy they've ever begged for. Though I’ve never seen the evidence, they sure possess some destructive abilities.

10. My "dragons" are protective of me

Khaleesi loves her dragons and I love mine. And with so much love floating around, lots of protective values form, and they are strong. Just like I wouldn’t ever let anything happen to my little dragons, they keep their eyes on me too. They always know where I am and what I’m up to, and no one is allowed to mess with me. Besides them, of course.

You guys, Miranda Lambert might be the happiest she's ever been.

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She celebrated her BF's birthday this week with a photo collage on Instagram showing the two of them together, and the happiness just radiates from both of them. Like, this is what a pair of soul mates looks like, y'all.

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"Rock & Roll Sundays and No Makeup Mondays. My favorite Bama boy turned 30 today. He owns the stage and he owns my heart," she wrote alongside the sweet photo tribute. "Thanks @andersoneast for inspiring me in so many ways. You are a light that could outshine the sun. I love making memories with you."

If anyone deserves this level of happiness, it's Lambert. It was revealed back in December of 2015 that she and East were officially a couple after she fought her way through an absolutely brutal divorce from her husband of four years, Blake Shelton. The end of that marriage was dragged through the headlines, and it was clear to anyone who was watching that it was a rough split.

But clearly it was meant to be, because Lambert looks happier with East than she has ever looked before.

More: The Rumor About Miranda Lambert & Anderson East's Breakup Is Laughable

Meanwhile, her ex, Shelton, is still coupled up with his fellow The Voice coach Gwen Stefani, though they've taken a big step back from the media spotlight in recent months. We were expecting to hear about their wedding literally any second, but it still hasn't happened. Maybe we should shift our wedding hopes to Lambert and East to satisfy our need for a big country wedding.

If you're a committed Chick-fil-A fan, you might love everything about the chain except its limited menu that rarely changes. In that case, you'll probably be excited by some exciting new developments the chicken giant just announced.

For starters, Chick-fil-A is at last launching macaroni and cheese (about time!) as well as bacon baked beans at select locations in Greensboro, North Carolina, Phoenix, Arizona, and San Antonio, Texas through Nov. 18. The mac and cheese side is a classic recipe featuring a blend of cheeses including cheddar, Parmesan and Romano, and the bacon baked beans are kettle-cooked with bacon and brown sugar. We're on board.

More: Ed Helms and fellow foodies flock away from Chick-fil-A

These new sides are being launched as part of new family-style meals that Chick-fil-A is testing. The meals start at $30 and include a choice of one entrée, two sides and eight mini rolls with four servings per meal. Entrée options include Chick-n-Strips (12), Original Chick-fil-A chicken breasts (four), Chick-fil-A nuggets (30), grilled chicken breasts (four) and a choice of sides, including bacon baked beans, a fruit cup, mac and cheese, a side salad and a super-food side. You also can order the sides solo if you're just craving mac and cheese.

More: Why you shouldn't try the Chick-fil-A "cleanse"

“Our customers told us that they wanted an even more convenient way to share meals at home or on the go, so we worked directly with a group of parents to design every part of Family Style Meals — down to the cutlery caddy that features five unique conversation starter questions to help customers connect over mealtime,” says Matt Abercrombie, manager of menu development at Chick-fil-A, in a statement. “Mealtime should be an enjoyable experience that brings family and friends together, not an extra stress in the day.” 

These menu additions are only available in select locations during a limited test run, but if all goes well, they’ll likely be seen in more locations soon. Start getting psyched for nationwide baked beans and mac and cheese, Chick-fil-A fans!

By Jennifer Mayer

Emotional intelligence is becoming an increasingly desirable trait in the workplace. As work environments are drastically shifting, communication is fast paced, and markets are more global than ever. It’s crucial for employees and their company to have high levels of emotional intelligence. While it’s understandable that emotional intelligence is helpful when dealing with customers and business partners, working with co-workers in the office is just as important. The World Economic Forum projects that emotional intelligence will be one of the top 10 needed skills for employment in 2020.

First, what is emotional intelligence? Emotional intelligence is the skill to identify and manage your own emotions as well as the emotions of others. These skills include a series of five key tenets: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.

Being able to read and respond to your co-workers' emotional intelligence can greatly improve both communication and productivity. If you have control and stability over your own emotions, that will greatly aid communication and resolution, especially during conflict. Although you’ll likely have a good sense of your own emotional intelligence, since self-awareness is key, you can also take the EI quiz by Harvey Deutschendorf. He is an emotional intelligence expert, internationally published author and speaker.

How can you read your co-workers' emotional intelligence? Being able to see your co-workers for who they are and what they are capable of as far as emotional intelligence will help you manage your own expectations of them. A good way to tell where your co-workers are on the EI scale is to watch how they respond to different situations.

More: How to Handle an Insanely Competitive Boss

1. Are they transparent?

Does your co-worker speak from a place of their true self, or do they put up walls? Being transparent means you’re able to communicate from your heart, you have integrity, are emotionally honest and have self-awareness of your emotions and how you fit into a situation.

2. Are they emotional?

Is your co-worker able to manage their emotions, stay focused on the goal and away from drama? People with high levels of emotional intelligence are able to self-regulate, meaning they are able to manage their emotions and behavior for a productive outcome. The ability to maintain control over one’s emotions is a huge asset to a highly-productive environment. Being able to receive feedback, grow from criticism and manage expectations all help the common goal of the project to move forward.

3. Are they flexible?

Is your co-worker able to easily adapt when projects change and pivot on a dime? How do they handle uncertainty and unpredictable situations? Co-workers with high levels of emotional intelligence will have the skills to productively adapt and change when project directions shift and will have the stability to remain focused and secure when situations are unsteady. The ability to skillfully navigate the choppy waters of uncertainty, especially in the workplace, is essential for any leadership position.

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4. Are they motivated?

Individuals with high emotional intelligence are also motivated to do the right thing. Is your co-worker open to feedback or do they even seek it out? If so, they likely possess high EI. Being motivated to improve, refine and perform at a high level are some of the benefits of having a work environment enhanced by EI employees.

5. Are they empathetic?

Is your co-worker able to think about other team members' points of view, challenges and circumstance? If so, they likely have a high level of EI. Self-awareness and empathy go hand in hand when it comes to emotional intelligence. Co-workers with high EI are able to see things from others' perspectives and consider those perspectives in a productive way, all the while having their own self-awareness of how they contribute to a situation.

Emotional intelligence is certainly an employable skill of the future. This is a trait employers are going to be identifying and looking for at an increasing rate. Beyond being hirable, EI is a benefit for workplace culture, especially in industries where high performance and low drama are key.

Originally published on Fairygodboss.

In 1997, the boy band 98 Degrees first arrived on the music scene. It only seems appropriate to celebrate the band's 20-year anniversary by looking back on what the guys were doing at that exact moment in their lives. Really, it's the perfect nostalgia.

It's hard to believe it's been two decades since Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre and brothers Nick and Drew Lachey began serenading fans — and stealing their hearts in the process. When the single "Invisible Man" hit the radio, well, 98 Degrees had made it big time. It was a catchy song that put the band on the map. From that point, the singers' lives were changed drastically. They became extremely famous, were considered heartthrobs and found themselves competing against the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC.

98 Degrees will always be one of the best '90s boy bands, so let's honor them by walking down memory lane with Nick, Drew, Jeff and Justin and looking at what they were doing in '97.

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1. Dressing really badly

Like every other boy band to have ever existed, 98 Degrees will never not be made fun of for their poor wardrobe choices.

2. Making their fans swoon

They immediately garnered a slew of fans, who of course couldn't help but scream with excitement in their presence. Yes, these really are 98 Degrees fans.

3. Releasing unforgettable music

Justin really did know how to do an intro.

4. Making their first video

So cheesy, yet so wonderful.

5. Dating former Real Housewives stars

For those unaware, Nick used to date Real Housewives of Orange County's Lizzie Rovsek. It's unclear if they dated in 1997, but Rovsek told Andy Cohen in July 2014 that she dated the singer before and after Jessica Simpson. Seeing as Nick and Simpson began dating around 1999, there's probably a good chance Nick and Rovsek were an item between 1997 and 1998.

More: Jessica Simpson Whips Out a Chicken of the Sea Joke for Whole Foods

6. Finding their manager, thanks to Montell Jordan

That's right. While backstage at a Montell Jordan concert, the band found a manager through the "This Is How We Do It" artist. Later on, they ended up performing a few times with Jordan, and one of Jordan's dancers passed 98 Degrees' demo to the Motown label, who they eventually signed with.

7. Giving interviews with tiny sunglasses

Nick, what are those sunglasses? Can you even see out of them?

8. Saying things like this

In this interview reportedly from 1997, Justin says around the 1:54 mark, "We are all very, very single — and looking for love." Yeah, that happened.

9. Living the jersey life

You know a boy band made it when they all were spotted wearing athletic jerseys.

10. Appearing on Jenny Jones

Early on in their career, they even performed on the classic Jenny Jones Show. Let's give them a round of applause for that huge accomplishment.

More: 11 Reasons '90s Boy Bands Are Infinitely Better Than Today's Boy Bands

11. Being super dramatic

This GIF from "Invisible Man" is proof that there is nothing more over-the-top than a music video from a '90s boy band.

12. Making single covers like this

The matching leather jackets! The matching outfits! The sepia tones! There is so much goodness in this one photo.

13. Making their album and single covers the same

Why not use the same exact image for both your single and album covers, but make the small change of sepia vs. blue tones? Also, be sure to take note of Jeff's mustache.

14. Cruising around in this

This is not what you drive around in if you're trying to avoid mobs.

15. Quickly learning how to coordinate outfits

Who knows if this picture is from 1997, but matching outfits quickly became 98 Degrees' thing — just like every other boy band.

16. Recording songs that sound like bad pickup lines

On the band's first self-titled album, they had songs titled "You Are Everything," "Heaven's Missing an Angel" and "Come and Get It," which sound like lines they might say to hit on someone at a bar.

More: Even the Biggest Backstreet Boys Fans Probably Never Knew These 15 Facts

17. Entering the spotlight even more

So much so, they ended up taking pictures like this — and getting tattoos they possibly regret.

18. Becoming even bigger heartthrobs

This image may or may not be from 1997, but as they became more famous, 98 Degrees became even hotter in the eyes of their biggest fans. Raise your hand if you enjoyed seeing the guys shirtless every now and again.

19. Slowly becoming this

This particular Instagram photo shows exactly how far they've come in 20 years.

20. And growing into an unforgettable boy band

98 Degrees, thank you for the memories.

Today, in things I never thought I'd have to say, Taylor Swift was not — I repeat, was not — transported out of her Tribeca apartment in a gigantic suitcase, despite such being implied in a viral photo caption currently making the rounds.

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The hullabaloo started when the photo-sharing site Splash News released a photo of two men hauling a super-sized suitcase out of Swift's home. No big, right? Well, it wouldn't have been, had the site not added a particularly peculiar caption.

"Taylor Swift being transported in a huge suitcase from her Tribecca [sic] apartment into her truck, in the trunk. A fleet of cars including two large cadillacs and three suv's arrive at Tailor [sic] Swift's apartment in Tribecca [sic] to move a large suitcase from apartment to truck. Almost a dozen of Taylor Swift security guards were present to move this package carefully as Taylor Swift remains to be unseen for a long time," read the caption.

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Aside from their obvious need for a solid copy editor, Splash News could clearly benefit from a fact-checker, too. One must wonder if this was either a joke that slipped through the cracks before it was vetted properly, or some eager college intern had one too many PBRs before their shift.

Rest assured, though, that the country-turned-pop superstar was not, in fact, hitching a ride outside in her luggage. "I literally just put the phone down from someone on Taylor's camp. We're having to actually retract that," a Splash rep told SPIN.

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Can you imagine being a fly on the wall for that conversation?

Of course, before Splash could take the photo and corresponding caption down, the good people of the internet sprang to action to respond as only the internet can.

Oh, internet... you truly never disappoint.

When you're as big of a celebrity as Leonardo DiCaprio, a certain level of public intrigue is to be expected. Who is he dating? Is he filming anything right now? What does he have in that purple plastic bag? Wait, uh... what?

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That's right — DiCaprio took a stroll through New York City on Saturday sporting casual wear, and the internet lost its collective shit. It wasn't his cargo shorts, simple gray shirt or even the sweater tied around his waist. Rather, it was a purple plastic bag dangling from DiCaprio's belt that got the internet all in a tizzy.

Speculation about the contents of the bag quickly spread across the internet. Because, the internet.

Refinery29 considered DiCaprio must be carrying around a bunch of condoms. The Cut offered up several suggestions, including "five to seven newsboy caps," "various vaping accessories" and "his Oscar." Meanwhile, across the pond, Elle Australia speculated the Revenant star could be carting a "Victoria's Secret catalogue with his next conquests circled."

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One serious sidebar to make is that several sites have pointed out the small circle protruding from beneath his shirt could be a mobile heart monitor. Given that DiCaprio would probably prefer to keep such a device on the DL if he was wearing one, it's possible he picked the purple bag to carry the monitoring apparatus.

If he thought that would make it less conspicuous, he clearly miscalculated. While this rumor hasn't been totally confirmed, a source reportedly did tell Entertainment Tonight that the actor was using the monitor as part of a "routine checkup" and not for any serious health condition.

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And while the contents of the purple bag are more likely than not totally innocuous and probably pretty mundane (like, for example, a souvenir t-shirt for a loved one or a beer from a street bodega), it's much more fun to wonder imaginatively.

Our bet? DiCaprio got his hands on a box of Thin Mints, and he simply wants them all for himself.

Someone should tell Josh Duggar that he should quit while he's behind — in a lawsuit filed on July 7, the disgraced 19 Kids and Counting star claims that In Touch Weekly violated his privacy and caused him emotional injury when they broke the news he'd been investigated for repeated sexual assault.

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In 2015, the magazine exclusively revealed that Duggar was named as the "alleged offender" in a 2007 probe regarding the repeated sexual abuse of his underage siblings.

According to the police report published by In Touch, Duggar's father, Jim Bob, brought him into the Arkansas State Police after catching his son leaving a bedroom of a young Duggar girl. Upon this discovery, Jim Bob had "learned something inappropriate happened," according to one source.

At the time, Duggar was 15.

The news rocked the until-then squeaky-clean super-Christian TLC television family, who apparently was aware of Duggar's behavior for over a year before alerting police or taking any decisive action. Not surprisingly, TLC canceled the series shortly after the scandal broke.

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Although In Touch obtained their information via a Freedom of Information Act request, Duggar has filed his lawsuit centered on an Arkansas law [the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Act] that apparently stipulates cases of child abuse should be excluded from FOIA requests.

Duggar also alleges that the police officers initially involved in the investigations assured the family the records would not be made public. In fact, he's suing them too, claiming they redacted the records so poorly that the victims were too easy to identify.

[Because now he's worried about the mental health of the victims.]

"PLAINTIFF and his siblings were subjected to spiteful and harsh comments and harassment on the Internet and in their daily lives," the lawsuit states, adding that many people on social media "disparaged" Duggar and "used the opportunity to provide unwarranted commentary on all aspects of the family members' lives."

Lawyers for the city continue to seek a dismissal, citing the "unclear" nature of the Child Maltreatment Act" and pointing out that the "redacting and releasing of the police report, as alleged, are clearly consistent with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act."

More: Another Duggar Faces a Serious Lawsuit, But This Time It Isn't Josh

To bring the focus back to where it really belongs, the city drove home their point by saying, "The truly egregious conduct at issue was that of Josh Duggar and not the Springdale Defendants."

There was a lot to love about Mad Men: the gorgeous vintage clothing and hairstyles, the nuanced characters... the opportunity to gaze upon Jon Hamm’s handsomely symmetrical face for an extended period of time without looking too creepy.

The show also dealt with — or at least acknowledged — some of the civil and women’s rights events that took place throughout the 1960s. In a lot of the episodes, the differences between life in the Mad Men era vs. now served as obvious benchmarks showing how far we’ve come since then. (Health benefits of smoking? That’s rich! A cheap apartment on the Upper East Side? Surely you jest!)

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But one area that unfortunately has not made as much progress as we would have hoped since the 1960s, is attitudes toward women’s health.

This all started in the pilot episode, which aired 10 years ago today. In it, we meet Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), a young woman from Brooklyn starting a new job as an advertising executive’s secretary at the New York City firm of Sterling Cooper. On her first day on the job, office manager Joan Harris (Christina Hendricks) makes an appointment for Peggy with an OB-GYN. Even though that doesn’t happen much anymore, it’s the conversation that takes place at the doctor’s office that sounds so familiar to women in 2017.

The scene opens with Peggy sitting on the examination table in the OB-GYN’s office reading a pamphlet entitled “It’s Your Wedding Night: What a [sic] Every Bride Should Know, How to Be a Good Wife.” Dr. Emerson walks in and the examination, along with the judgment, begins.

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“I see from your chart and finger that you’re not married, and yet you’re interested in the contraceptive pills.” he says to a nervous-looking Peggy, as more of a statement than a question.

The doctor stands there smoking during the examination, while Peggy’s legs are in the stirrups.

“Joan sent you to me because I’m not here to judge you,” he says, very clearly judging her. “There’s nothing wrong with a woman being practical about the possibility of sexual activity, although as a doctor, I’d like to think that putting a woman in this situation is not going to turn her into some kind of strumpet. I’ll warn you now: I will take you off this medicine if you abuse it.”

Ah-ha — there it is: Essentially, the same sentiment toward access to birth control that women face today. Except that the calendar in the office is turned to March 1960. It is so expected that women in the workforce end up having sex — hence why Joan sent Peggy to Dr. Emerson in the first place — but at the same time, being perceived as being “easy” is unacceptable.

“It’s for your own good, really,” Dr. Emerson tells Peggy. “The fact is, even in our modern times, easy women don’t find husbands. I’m going to write you a prescription for Enovid. They’re $11 a month.”

Technically, Enovid wasn’t approved by the FDA until May of 1960 (you were close, Matthew Weiner) and wasn't made available to the public until June 23 of the same year. But the cost of Peggy’s prescription was accurate, with $11 being the equivalent to around $90 in 2017.

All of this took place around a decade before Our Bodies, Ourselves — what is basically the women’s health bible — was published by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. The landmark book clearly and accurately explained how women’s bodies worked, allowing those who read it to be empowered with knowledge.

Curious about the accuracy of this scene from Mad Men, I asked Judy Norsigian, one of the co-founders of Our Bodies Ourselves (which still operates as a nonprofit organization) if this was a common scene for women at the time.

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“In the early 1960s, most doctors wouldn’t prescribe the new contraceptive pill for any woman not already married... and this kind of paternalistic attitude was rampant in medicine, where about 98 percent of OB-GYNs were male and also trained to think of women as passive and appropriately subservient to men,” she tells SheKnows.

Norsigian also says that it’s “interesting to note that the doctor in this scene is also smoking — just one example of how an existing body of science was still completely neglected by most physicians (the same could be said about the neglect of good science about nutrition).”

“All of these gaps in medical training and awareness were an important reason for why Our Bodies, Ourselves became so popular over a very short period,” she adds.

Even though Peggy and Joan had to wait another 10 years before the book would come out, we’re fortunate enough to have it as a resource now, along with portrayals of birth control in pop culture.