It's one of those unimaginably horrible things that we like to ignore exist, but dog cancer is very real and can strike any family at any time. However, if we keep our eyes open for the signs of dog cancer, we can catch it early, take our dog to the vet for treatment and greatly increase their chances of survival.

The key is knowing what those signs and symptoms are.

1. An enlarging lump

Just as on yourself, if your dog has a lump that's getting bigger or changing in shape or texture (especially if there are multiple lumps), you should see your vet. He or she will probably want to take a biopsy.

More: Here's How Much It Really Costs to Put a Dog Down

2. Swollen lymph nodes

Lymphoma is a kind of cancer that can cause lymph nodes (located throughout the body but most easily detected behind the jaw or knees) to swell. While other illnesses commonly cause this as well, if you notice swollen lymph nodes, you should always take your dog to the vet. Anything that causes swollen lymph nodes needs to be treated. If your vet suspects cancer, however, he or she will likely recommend a biopsy or cytology of the enlarged gland.

3. Chronic weight loss

Unless your vet has your pup on a diet, weight loss isn't a good sign. The good news is that loads of things can cause your precious pooch to loose weight, but many cancer patients (human and otherwise) do experience weight loss.

4. Abdominal distension

If your dog's belly rapidly becomes enlarged, it's possible there's some sort of mass (i.e., tumor) in the abdomen, or it could be a sign of bleeding in the area. Don't confuse this with slow swelling of the abdomen, which likely indicates you've been overfeeding Fido. Your vet will probably order a radiograph or ultrasound.

5. Unexplained bleeding or discharge

If you see any unexplained bleeding from the mouth, nose, vagina, penis or gums, you should have your dog examined by a vet. It's possible this could be due to some sort of trauma, so think about what you and your dog have been up to that could lead to an injury like that. It's also possible that if your animal is still a puppy or very young, it's a bleeding disorder of some kind. If you see any discharge you can't explain, that could also be a sign of trouble. In any case, a vet needs to make the determination, especially if your dog is older.

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

6. Cough

There are a lot of reasons dogs cough (just like there are a lot of reasons we cough), but if your dog suddenly develops a dry, non-productive cough it just can't shake, you should have it checked out as that's a possible sign of lung cancer. The vet may need to do chest radiographs.

7. Chronic vomiting or diarrhea

Tumors in the gastrointestinal tract can cause chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea. As with all the other symptoms listed here, other things can also cause this, but you should always have the symptoms checked out because nothing causing them is good. A vet may order a radiograph, endoscopy or ultrasound to check for any tumors.

8. Straining to urinate

Generally, straining to urinate or blood in the urine indicates nothing more than a common urinary tract infection. That said, if it can't be controlled with antibiotics or if it keeps coming back, it's time to make sure your dog is checked for bladder cancer. There are several tests your vet may do, one of which is a cystoscopy that allows the doctor to do a proper biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.

9. Oral odor or other issues

Oral tumors may cause oral odor, cause your dog to begin preferring softer foods or even change its chewing habits (of course, so can poor dental hygiene or just getting old). Either way, if you notice strange food habits or a foul odor (especially in a dog that's not that old) in a dog whose teeth you've taken care of, you should take your dog to the vet. The doctor may do several different types of tests, some of which may require sedation.

10. Lameness or evidence of pain

In older dogs, it's not uncommon for them to develop joint issues, but if your dog develops sudden or unexplained lameness or seems to be in constant pain, you need to have it checked out. It could be a sign of bone or some other cancer. A vet will do radiographs if necessary to determine the cause of the issue.

11. Lethargy or depression

This doesn't necessarily mean your dog has cancer, but sudden behavioral changes are always a cause for concern.

Sources: Pet Cancer Awareness, PetMD

Originally published May 2015. Updated July 2017.

A kid's lemonade stand has to be one of the last unspoiled bastions of perennial childhood. I mean, nobody in their right mind would mess with a sweet kid and her summer entrepreneurship. Surely some things are sacred, right?

Mwahahahahaha. You fail the quiz! This is quite literally the end of humanity!

The world is now so grim, 13-year-old Jasmine LaRoche was harassed by a complete jackass (and coward — he would not give his name) who demanded her "business license" for her lemonade stand and threatened to call the police when she couldn't produce one.

More: 9 fun outdoor activities to do with your kids

Jasmine was set up across from the main entrance of her family's gated community in Discovery Bay, California — the safest place her parents could think of besides their own driveway, which wouldn't have seen many drive-by customers.

Jasmine's dad, Richard, was so incensed by the bully, he wrote an open letter and posted it on Facebook. The story was scooped up by local KTVU broadcaster Frank Somerville and shared to a wider Oakland, California, news community.

“Whoever the man (I wouldn’t call you that if I didn’t have to) was who threatened to call the police on my daughter for her lemonade stand, you are seriously pathetic,” LaRoche said on Facebook. “…She is trying to do something constructive with her time and you hassled her for no good reason. Sorry if her ambition threatened you… I understand that you are upholding the ‘law’ but really, dude? You’re the reason kids lack ambition nowadays — fear caused by schmucks like you… She said you picked up your phone and said you were calling the police. We all know you did that to intimidate her. Just sad and pathetic.”

More: Kylie Jenner gives kids selling lemonade a seriously generous tip

Truly, this guy deserves to be waterboarded with fresh lemonade squeezed by the small, ambitious fists of a thousand lemonade-stand kids. Who the hell asks a kid for a license and bullies her with a fake cop call?

Jasmine was terrified and arrived back home "crying and sobbing and said she didn't want to go to jail," according to an interview her dad did with The San Francisco Gate.

More: Serena Williams seeks pregnancy advice — from Twitter

After LaRoche posted the incident on Facebook, the community rallied around Jasmine with love and support. So the whole family got back out there again, this time in front of their family home. If the guy tried anything, Papa and Mama LaRoche could beat the crap out of him for trespassing. (OK, so we're just fantasizing about that. No one beat up anyone.)

Jasmine's business was a hot success... she had customers for three straight hours the second time around. And get this: Her last two customers of the day? A few police officers happy to be accomplices to a lemonade-stand crime.

We love it. Take that, Lemonade Stand Bully.

We've learned by now that all of the most interesting celebs are the ones who don't flaunt every minute of their lives on Instagram. You know, they're the ones out contributing to society and doing super amazing things instead of posting up on social media. Case in point? Pharrell Williams and his wife, Helen Lasichanh.

Williams likes to keep his life on the down low, and Lasichanh is even more private than her husband — but what we do know about Lasichanh is that she's a super interesting woman.

1. She marches to the beat of her own drum

When the couple stepped out for the Met Gala this year, Lasichanh rocked a puffy that looked like a giant red cloud. In a sea of teeny-tiny — and majorly uncomfortable — dresses, Lasichanh dared to be different. Can we get a "hell ya"?

2. She cares about giving back

For the past two years in a row, Lasichanh and Williams have been spotted serving food to the less fortunate at the Los Angeles Mission Christmas Celebration.

3. She's a model and designer

In fact, Lasichanh regularly makes Huffington Post best-dressed lists and has garnered some serious love from them along with other news outlets.

More: Chanel and Pharrell Are Bringing Back the Murse

4. Pharrell had to be super patient to win her over

When Williams and Lasichanh met, she had a boyfriend and wouldn't look twice at the handsome musician. He had to settle with just being friends with her for two and a half years, until she became single again, and even then he had to work hard. According to an interview with Oprah, she played hard to get, not even responding to half his texts! Looks like her ploy worked, though, because Pharrell doubled down on his determination until she fell for him.

5. She was his longtime girlfriend before they got hitched

Once they started dating, neither Williams nor Lasichanh were that eager to walk down the aisle until they were good and ready. The couple dated for years before confirming their engagement in July 2013 and were married just a few months later in October.

6. She wore plaid at her wedding

What else would you expect from an avant-garde fashionista at her wedding? On their big day, the trendsetting bride and groom reportedly wore plaid from head-to-toe, and many other guests dressed in tartans.

7. They look amazing together

Pharrell has always kept his fashion — and his music — out-of-the-box, and for that reason, we believe he chose the perfect mate. At awards shows, like the Grammys, and at Fashion Week, Lasichanh and her beau are known for showing up in complementary, cutting-edge styles, dressed to the nines.

Next Up: She and Pharrell made the most adorable mini-Pharrell

Originally published August 2015. Updated June 2017.

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8. She and Pharrell made the most adorable mini-Pharrell

Lasichanh and Williams have a son named Rocket Ayer, who will probably be the most fashionable young man in his kindergarten class. Seriously, look at that face!

Williams wrote a song for Rocket that you can hear on the soundtrack to Despicable Me. It's called "Rocket’s Theme" and is all about how happy Rocket makes his parents.

9. She was a volleyball player

Lasichanh was a star volleyball player at St. Thomas University in Miami. Can't you just imagine her model face fiercely staring down opponents on the courts? Talk about intimidating!

More: The Sex of Beyoncé & Jay Z's Twins May Have Been Uncovered

10. She and Pharrell are besties

Williams has said that everyone should marry their best friend, and he told Today that "every night is like a sleepover" when it comes to his marriage to Lasichanh.

11. She just had baby No. 2 babies No. 2, 3 and 4

Lasichanh and Williams confirmed in September that they are expecting their second child, and the couple were spotted out and about over the holidays, with Lasichanh's cute baby bump on full display. Then, in late January, Williams' rep announced that they had welcomed triplets. Five months later, and details have yet been released on the names or sexes of the babies.

Even though he has a history of run-ins with the law, Justin Bieber has kept a fairly low profile these last few years; he's arguably been on his best behavior. But it seems that China just can't let his history of bad behavior slide. Recently, China's Culture Bureau has seen fit to ban Bieber from China entirely.

More: Justin Bieber's Alleged Tour Rider Has Leaked, and There's Just So Much to Say

The Culture Bureau released a statement on Friday that detailed its reasons for permanently banning the Canadian pop star from the country. According to The Hollywood Reporter's review of the decision,  the Culture Bureau's statement is as follows: "Justin Bieber is a gifted singer, but he is also a controversial young foreign idol," the response began. It was posted on the Chinese government's website in response to one Chinese fan's inquiry about why Bieber did not have any Chinese tour dates listed. "As far as we are concerned, he has engaged in a series of bad behaviors, both in his social life and during a previous performance in China, which caused discontent among the public."

More: The Boy Drama Between Justin Bieber & The Weeknd Is So Real

The Culture Bureau did not clarify what particular behavior was cause for Bieber's ban. Bieber himself has not released a statement at this time, and it is unknown if he is even aware that he is banned from the country. There is a good chance that previous run-ins with the law, including the protracted legal issues around bringing his pet monkey into Germany or, as The Guardian notes, his drunken drag racing, were determining factors in the ban.

More: Justin Bieber Needs a Hug After Having the Loneliest Valentine's Day

Bieber is certainly not the first celebrity to be banned from China permanently, so it's not exactly a surprise that the Chinese government would do this to a celebrity. Then again, a celebrity getting banned is always a big deal. Other celebs that China has banned include Bob Dylan, Maroon 5 and Oasis, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Culture Bureau did offer one glimmer of hope for Bieber, in case he did ever want to return to China: "We hope Justin Bieber is able to improve his conduct as he grows up and will once again find public favour." Did you hear that, Biebs?

Updated July 21, 8:50 a.m. PT: We finally know the title of the upcoming season of American Horror Story, and we have to say, it's not what we expected.

At a packed event at San Diego Comic-Con, showrunner Ryan Murphy announced that Season 7 will be called American Horror Story: Cult, which is definitely creepy, but not the election-themed show so many people were speculating about based on the hints Murphy has been giving us for months.

The reveal event gave some new insight into the season, though. Attendees reported a projected series of images of sinister-looking clowns on a red, white and blue background. Meanwhile, performers dressed as those clowns moved through the crowd, handing out AHS7 pins and asking people to "Join us."

With all the red, white and blue imagery, it's hard to imagine that the upcoming season won't have some sort of political theme. Maybe Murphy plans to liken political parties to cults? We have so many questions that we fear won't be answered until the show premieres.

You can also peep more of the creepy title reveal in a video posted to the American Horror Story website.

Check it out: 

Original story:

Even though you can get a daily dose of horror just by keeping up with the news, American Horror Story is coming back, and it looks just as terrifying.

More: Is Sarah Paulson Playing Hillary Clinton in American Horror Story Season 7?

In a new leaked mini teaser, as well as theories from fans all across the web, the theme for the horror series’ seventh season builds on the previously confirmed theme around the 2016 election. The 15-second trailer shows a sea of white balloons, one after the other disappearing below, and eventually revealing a lone red balloon. The balloon pops, and in a flash a horrific man appears. He has a sack for a head, which is painted with a faint American flag and clown makeup, and he wears a black tuxedo with a bow tie.

Umm… No thanks.

More: American Horror Story Should Be Renamed American Slaughter Story

There has been talk that the teaser could be a fake, but AHS aficionados and Ryan Murphy, creator and director of the show, have long been posting clues about the upcoming season and what the title and theme could be. For those die-hard fans who have been keeping up, Murphy has posted a few shots on his Instagram that indicate the election theme could play out: lots of clown masks painted with red, white and blue, a sketch for an Elephant Man mask and this weird-ass picture of a person covered in bees (also posted on the AHS News Feed on Twitter).

I’m not sure how it fits in with the political theme, but maybe some metaphorical reasoning will be revealed when the official season title comes out July 20.

More: Tamron Hall Is Returning to Television With Her Own Talk Show

So until the official season title is released, we can keep looking at this scary-as-all-hell teaser poster of the clown man…

...Or we can just keep watching the news every day. Either one forces me to sleep with the lights on.

I’m going to go ahead and put out a disclaimer — if you ever find yourself in the company of my dog, you’re very likely going to get a nose in the crotch. If you happen to be on your period, this is practically a certainty. I know, I know… it’s uncouth. I’m trying to teach my dog boundaries, but in the meantime, you should probably master your deflection skills.

Of course, the fact that this is even a conversation we have to have is curious, indeed. Why is it that dogs are more inclined to sniff our crotches when we’re on our periods? And — yes, while we’re going there — why in the hell do they raid the trash can and eat used tampons?

Dear dogs, ICYMI, this behavior is unbecoming. And, you know, disgusting.

More: How Intelligent Is Your Dog? Here's How to Find Out

Following some research that made me want to lose my lunch a little, I unearthed some actual scientific reasoning for this behavior, though. When it comes to dogs quite literally putting their nose where it doesn’t belong when a woman is on her period, it’s all about the pheromones.

So, we all know that dogs greet each other by sniffing butts, right? The reason behind this is that dogs’ dominant sense is smell. Reading scents is the way they glean information, and there is a certain sweat gland in particular that relays a lot of social information.

Called the apocrine glands, they produce the chemicals we know as pheromones. While most mammals (including dogs) have apocrine glands in various locations on their bodies, these glands are particularly concentrated in genital and anal regions.

Here’s a fun fact for you: Dogs have a unique scent-detection system called the vomeronasal organ that “reads” these info-loaded pheromones.

What does this have to do with a dog sniffing my crotch when I’m surfing the crimson wave, you ask? Well, humans have apocrine glands too — and ours are concentrated in the armpits and groin areas. Since most dogs can’t jump up and stick their sniffer in your armpit at any given moment, they rely on your crotch to do the talking.

More: Why Does My Dog Act So Crazy After a Bath?

Realizing that dogs seem to be sniff-happier around women who are ovulating, researchers ran an experiment with Australian shepherd dogs. The dogs were trained to sniff out cows that had just ovulated. Amazingly, the dogs were able to accurately determine which cows had just ovulated.

This suggests that women may produce more pheromones or experience a shift in pheromones during ovulation that makes their crotches more enticing to a dog.

Now, onto the more cringe-worthy offense of eating used tampons. While the same idea could still apply — that pheromones in menstrual blood are particularly appealing to pups — there could be another explanation: Dogs are just kind of gross sometimes.

Very technical, I know.

According to veterinarian Dr. Jeff Nichol, this kind of behavior is pretty par for the course with dogs… but should definitely be discouraged. “When [dogs] find a disgusting treasure in the trash, they assume it’s their birthday,” Dr. Nichol explains on his website. “The raunchier the better. Your job is to prevent access to anything with bodily discharges, including underwear.”

And, obviously, tampons too, which are dangerous because they can get stuck in the intestines and cause a life-threatening blockage that requires surgical removal.

The bottom line is dogs are omnivores and often opportunistic ones at that. If they happen upon a wastebasket with a fresh tampon full of pheromones wafting in their direction, they’re probably going to devour it.

Other possible reasons for your dog’s predilection for eating tampons (or anything they shouldn’t) include boredom and anxiety, so you may want to rule those out if the problem persists.

If you take your pooch to the vet, though, and he is given a clean bill of health, just remember your dog doesn’t know he or she is invading your personal space when they get “nosey” when you’re on your period. In fact, in a weird way, it’s kind of a compliment if they try to sneak a sniff.

While that may be one of the weirdest things I’ve ever written, I’m standing by it. Although, to be clear, I’ll still be swatting my dog away when my period rolls around. For, like, the next 12 years or so.

Originally published September 2016. Updated July 2017.

Someday, we'll tell our kids the horror stories about having to make it to McDonald's before 10:30 a.m. if we wanted to get our hands on some hash browns and a bacon, egg and cheese McMuffin. And maybe, if things go according to plan, they'll also hear about a time when there were no afternoon snacks sold at the golden arches.

Who doesn't get that 3 p.m. slump where suddenly all you want is a nap and some comfort food? Looks like McDonald's wants to capitalize on that feeling and will be luring in the hungriest among us with muffin tops, croissants and a sundae topping bar, all during that sweet spot for snack time, 2 to 5 p.m.

More: Don't Miss the Huge Whole Foods Wine Sale This Weekend

Currently being tested as part of its Experience of the Future overhaul, select McDonald's locations are getting pastry cases, while around 700 will have a topping station featuring items that can be put on ice cream sundaes and on other dessert items and drinks.

Of course, McDonald's will keep selling its regular menu items in the afternoon too. But if I ate a cheeseburger after lunch, I guarantee I'd have to crawl under my desk for a snooze. Something a little smaller — like a pastry or a small ice cream — is the sort of pick-me-up I crave at that hour.

More: The Disturbing Reason Millions of Hot Dogs Have Been Recalled

This strategy been successful in other countries. In Canada and Europe, the McCafé brand has really taken off, with a focus not just on coffee beverages, but snackable baked goods too.

I'm already totally pathetic when it comes to resisting the siren call of McDonald's hash browns; if they get muffin tops, I'll be literally helpless before them. Only time will tell if snack time is the solution to getting more customers into McDonald's during the afternoon lull. But if ice cream sundaes appeal to you like they do to me, then I have a feeling they've got something good on their hands.

The worst thing to happen to most U.S. tourists visiting Mexico is a bit of dysentery from drinking the water.

In Michaela Smith's case, her dream trip to Mexico resulted in the premature birth of her son — 12 weeks early — and a nightmare of bureaucratic red tape that threatened to hold her baby hostage in a foreign country.

Fortunately, the whole family is back in their home state of Indiana. But their Mexico vacation will be one they will never forget.

Michaela Smith and Larry Ralph Jr. were thrilled to embark on their dream vacation to Mexico — until Smith, 28 weeks pregnant, went into premature labor in the unfamiliar country.

More: 6 things I wish I'd known about having a premature baby

Smith had been given the go-ahead by her doctor to travel at 28 weeks, but she gave birth to a tiny son, Beckham, on Tuesday — 12 very scary weeks early — at an unnamed Mexican hospital.

Beckham weighed only 2 pounds, 8 ounces

After his birth, the bureaucratic nightmare began, with the hospital refusing to release the baby to an air ambulance until the hospital bill was paid in full.

The problem? The bill kept changing sums. And going up, up, up.

“Our daughter is stuck in Cancun, with our first grandchild and we can’t get him here,” Smith's mom, Elaine Smith, first told Fox 59.

More: Mom pits preemie baby against household objects in epic battle of cuteness

“Literally they’re being held hostage down there,” said Larry Ralph Sr., Beckham's paternal grandfather. “We just want to get him somewhere and get him stable. We need to get him in America.”

Smith and Ralph Sr. forked over $9,000 to the hospital for the first day of care alone, along with $4,000 more for dubious "fees."

To make matters worse, the baby's father, Larry Ralph Jr., was reportedly not allowed to see the baby until he paid an additional $4,000.

Extortion and hostage-taking: not generally something you hear about with the happy arrival of a newborn.

The total sum demanded by the Mexican hospital was last tallied at $30,000 — and that total does not include a dime of the money Beckham's four grandparents spent on the air ambulance.

The Indiana family had been in constant touch with Congressman Trey Hollingsworth and his staff to find a U.S. hospital in Florida that would take Beckham ASAP to stabilize him — despite the fact that the family only had Indiana-based health insurance.

Hollingworth's office released a statement. “Indiana’s 9th Congressional District office has been working with the family throughout the day seeking a solution to get this newborn home, to the United States, for necessary medical care. Representative Hollingsworth continues to assist and looks forward to greeting this new Hoosier as soon as he is home and healthy.”

More: Adult male threatens to call cops on little girl and her lemonade stand

Ralph Sr. was devastated to find that — despite the medivac from Cancun to St. Petersburg Hospital being paid off ($18,000) — no Florida hospital would accept baby Beckham as a patient because of his mother's Hoosier Healthwise insurance.

Elaine Smith, the maternal grandmother of Beckham, said, “I would’ve never thought that we would’ve had a problem getting him in a hospital here. We would’ve thought Florida would’ve been our best chance.”

The cost of Beckham's care in Mexico was exorbitant and has devastated the family financially. The family started a GoFundMe page to get baby Beckham to safety and pay off some of the horrendous medical bills.

Fortunately, Beckham was taken by medical jet to Riley Hospital at IU Health in his home state.

But that was a private medical jet — another $30,000 the family had to pay up front.

We know babies are expensive, but this saga was utterly unbelievable. We're just glad baby Beckham is home in friendly Hoosier territory.

There are so many delightful things about Queen Elizabeth II, it's hard to pick what our favorite thing about her might be. But that may have changed today, when the internet learned what her favorite song actually is — prepare yourselves, because it's amazing and, luckily, it's not "Despacito."

More: Queen Elizabeth II Has Hired an Equerry, & It's a Milestone Hire

No, someone as dignified as the queen has impeccable taste, obviously. And that's why she has a favorite song from the true golden era of music, the '70s. The song, it turns out, is "Dancing Queen" by Swedish superstar disco group ABBA.

More: Queen Elizabeth II Scolding a Pony Is Officially the Cutest Thing Ever

BBC DJ Chris Evans was the one who spilled the beans. He was at a private banquet at Windsor Castle at the same time as the queen, and he got to actually witness her busting a move to her favorite jam, "Dancing Queen." Just imagine that. Has the cuteness destroyed you yet? Because we've all been destroyed by the mental image of the queen getting down on the dance floor to some cheesy disco. It's too good.

Also, she is not apologizing for loving that song. Allegedly, when the DJ put it on, witnesses say she smiled and then told her guests at the banquet, "I always try to dance when this song comes on, because I am the queen, and I like to dance." Then she proceeded to dance because she is the queen and she'll do what she likes, people.

More: Kate Middleton Shares Prince George's Adorable Nickname for the Queen

For those of us who can only dream of witnessing something like the queen busting a disco move at a formal banquet, her 91-year-old cousin, Lady Elizabeth Anson, has claimed that the queen is a "fantastic dancer." If someone could please try to record a video of the queen dancing, that'd be just perfect.

When any normal human realized it was July, they probably started thinking about their barbecue plans or took a quick inventory of their red, white and blue clothing. But for us, there was only one thing we could think about: Sephora’s. New. Arrivals.

More: The 7 Best Sunscreens Real Moms Swear By

Yup, at the beginning of each and every month, Sephora unloads a massive selection of beauty products to its new arrivals section — and despite the fact that it happens every four weeks, we’re still pumped about it every single time. And Sephora’s brand-spanking-new products, like a super-hydrating sheet mask and a rose-gold lip gloss, are so freaking good that we think they deserve a day in their honor. But since your plans for the week probably didn’t include spending $8 billion on new makeup and skin care products, we decided to do you a solid and narrow down the entire section to seven under-$20 products you absolutely need. Shop all seven ahead, and be sure to check back next month for our August picks.

Klorane Nourishing Conditioner with Mango Butter

Klorane Nourishing Conditioner with Mango Butter (Sephora, $20)

Huda Beauty Lip Strobe in Boujee

Huda Beauty Lip Strobe in Boujee (Sephora, $18)

Laneige Water Pocket Sheet Mask Sleeping Mask

Laneige Water Pocket Sheet Mask Sleeping Mask (Sephora, $6)

Sephora Collection Blush to Go Blush Stick

Sephora Collection Blush to Go Blush Stick (Sephora, $8)

St. Tropez Tanning Essentials One Night Only Wash Off Body Bronzing Mist

St. Tropez Tanning Essentials One Night Only Wash Off Body Bronzing Mist (Sephora, $20)

Too Cool For School Coconut Milky Body Scrub

Too Cool For School Coconut Milky Body Scrub (Sephora, $20)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Pudendal neuralgia affects the nerve that runs from your lower back, along your pelvic floor muscles, out to your perineum (or the skin between your pubic bone and your tailbone).

According to the Health Organization for Pudendal Neuralgia, common symptoms can range from burning and numbness to feeling a lump or foreign body in the vagina or rectum.

To better understand the pelvic disorder, I talked to Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, who is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician based in New York City.

“You can have pain with bowel movements,” she explains. “You can have pain with intercourse. The big [side effect] is sitting.”

More: Julianne Hough Talks About Her Struggle With Endometriosis

Similarly to endometriosis and the like, the causes of pudendal neuralgia are up in the air. The Women’s Health & Research Institute of Australia says the chronic pain disorder could be related to a combination of issues including childbirth trauma, cycling, gynecological or colorectal surgery, injury, straining, past pelvic or perineal trauma, excessive physical exercise, musculoskeletal issues, posture and even stress.

Unlike endometriosis and disorders that deeply affect the uterus, men can also experience pudendal neuralgia. Nonetheless, the disorder does affect women in larger numbers.

“[Pudendal neuralgia] can affect the pudendal nerves during vaginal delivery and pregnancy,” Shrikhande explains. “Gynecological issues such as endometriosis or fibroids can irritate the pudendal nerve as well.”

On average, it takes about six months to diagnose a patient with pudendal neuralgia, she says. Luckily, the disorder can be treated using a variety of different methods.

More: Physical Therapy Could Help With Your Unbearable Pelvic Pain

Physical therapy is a significant one that many physicians will first direct patients to. For instance, as a physical therapist, Shrikhande helps patients sit on different kinds of cushions to help train them to sit without sitting directly on their pudendal nerves.

If physical therapy isn’t effective, medication is the second option patients can pursue. Muscle relaxers and nerve pain medications can help alleviate symptoms, but they can’t heal and cure the symptoms on their own.

More: Millions of Women Have This Condition and Don't Even Know It

So can pudendal neuralgia be cured completely? Shrikhande says it all depends on the cause. However, there is a strong chance a cure could be far-fetched or at least take years to work toward. In any case, chronic pain management is an important factor in patients' everyday lives. In addition to physical therapy, patients may have to make lifestyle and work adjustments such as dietary shifts and finding unique ways to sit to accommodate their own needs.

By Danielle Corcione

Originally published on HelloFlo.

There's someone out there who has lived through our most terrible yoga fear — and she's happy to tell us all about it to great comedic effect.

Mum on the Run blogger Laura Mazza has never shied away from discussing motherhood's most absurd and appalling moments, like pooping during childbirth (oh, come on, like you didn't).

This latest cringe-until-you-get-a-whole-body-cramp event happened in her yoga class... and her 40,000 Facebook followers cannot get enough of the hilarious details.

We'll just drop this here. We highly recommend reading the whole gory tale. We also recommend peeing before you do.

This fart heard 'round the world occurred on July 19, and the story has garnered almost 10,000 comments and has been shared more than 10,000 times.

More: 16 supplies to make back-to-school fun for your kid

In summary: Mazza — mom to Luca, 3, and Sofia, 16 months — has been trying to get in some semblance of postpartum shape after pregnancy-related abdominal wall separation.

"My stomach kinda points out like a cone," she said. "[I]t was suggested by a [doctor] to try yoga."

At first, the candlelit yoga class was going well for Mazza. But then her stomach decided it was not on board with Downward Dog.

More: How to teach your kid to be body-neutral

“For the past few weeks I have had IBS symptoms like something crazy,’” Mazza said. “My farts stink like something mixed between a rotten egg and an incineration plant. And somewhere between the dolphin position and the three legged dog, two of those burning garbage eggs slip out and I fart. I farted. I farted at yoga. I’m a walking cliche. My pelvic floor has failed me," she recounted in the Facebook post.

Mazza did what all of us would do: She bolted from the class, not even bothering to roll up her yoga mat.

“I’m never ever ever EVER, doing yoga again,” she wrote. “Fuck the muscle separation.”

We. Are. Crying.

When news broke Friday morning that White House press secretary Sean Spicer was leaving the job, the shockwaves could be felt across the internet.

More: Kathy Griffin May Have Been Questioned by the Secret Service

Spicer's resignation came after President Donald Trump appointed New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as his communications director, something Spicer allegedly vehemently opposed. Spicer also cited chaos in the White House when he announced his decision to leave. It's just the latest in a string of bad news for the White House, which has been riddled with dissension since Trump took office six months ago.

A lot of us weren't sure what to even say to that news. Good thing we have celebs to say everything for us. Their reactions truly ran the gamut, covering all our thoughts and more about this major development in the Trump presidency.

Some were on the serious side, like Jimmy Kimmel, who made this plea:

Others had jokes, like Zach Braff, who can already see Spicer transitioning into a career as a reality star.

Stephen Colbert had another serious note about what a huge moment this is:

More: Andy Cohen Thinks President Trump Is Acting Like a Real Housewife

But for the most part, celebs just had a lot of jokes.

Some said what we were really thinking, which is that we're not ready to give up Melissa McCarthy's genius impressions of Spicer on Saturday Night Live:

And somehow, Chris Harrison turned this into another plug for the embattled upcoming season of Bachelor in Paradise:

Kate Walsh had a great idea for a replacement:

And Samantha Ronson and Judd Apatow are already asking the important questions:

More: Lindsay Lohan Takes a Bold Stance by Showing Support for President Trump

What comes next is anyone's guess, but one thing is for sure: This much turmoil only months into the presidency doesn't seem like it bodes well for Trump.

My son Shane is going to be 2 years old in September, and my husband and I have yet to take a family trip somewhere just the three of us. (*Gasp!*) My husband works a lot and has limited vacation time, but that’s pretty much an excuse that I feel comfortable using to justify the fact that I’m scared shitless to go traveling with my son.

More: 10 tips for traveling with baby from moms who've been there

It turns out I'm not the only mom who feels like this. Here are 20 reasons moms are scared to travel with their toddlers.

1. Side-eye

"The comments and side-eyes from other travelers. I try not to let judgments bother me, but being so confined in an airplane only allows me to do so much to help calm my child and the comments and side-eyes always make me feel pretty incompetent as a mother." — Abby Dobomeier, 29

2. Track star toddler

"I am scared to travel with my toddler because he runs faster than me. I am pretty sure he will be a track star. Also, I am currently pregnant and slow, so there’s that." — Aimee Lankford, 37

3. Amtrak bathrooms

"My toddler once shoved a tiny little Elsa doll down the arm rest on the plane where the tray comes out just as we were starting to land. 'Tray tables to the upright position, please!' Uh, no. The flight attendant ended up sticking her skinny hand down there to get it out. The horror of what was in that crevice makes me never want to travel again, let alone with a toddler. Oh, and Amtrak bathrooms. Enough said." — Trisha Danze, 44

More: 14 kids' shoes trends for summer

4. Diaper blow-outs

"The smell, changing a twisting toddler in a tiny airplane bathroom, realizing you forgot a spare pair of pants…"  — Annalisa Lavoie, 32

5. Car sickness

"My daughter gets super-carsick sometimes. I never know when it will be, but when it happens, it will continue happening until I stop driving. So long car rides are really risky and scary for me, especially if I'm by myself and have to pull over suddenly. I'm hoping it will stop once she's forward-facing." — Emily Boehmer, 33

6. Double trouble

"I have twins, so the potential that both of them start screaming in a confined space with no way out is something that terrifies me! Also, I’m that mom, so possible delays that would totally screw up any kind of schedule I have for them is a deal-breaker." — Wendy Pravda Rosen, 39

7. Fussy eaters

"Because how do you tell the hotel room service that you would like to order three bites of mac and cheese (but only the minion-shaped kind), half of a hot dog, only the cheese off a slice of pizza and strawberry milk (but the kind with the red cap)?" — Arlene Murray, 34

8. Constant chasing

"Scared?!! How about that I have no desire? It’s too much work, and vacation is not relaxing in my mind when you have to chase a little one the entire time." — Renee Carlisle Abbott, 42

9. Screaming all the time

"I am flying alone with my toddler in a few weeks and she just entered a screaming phase. Screaming all the time. When she's happy, when she's mad and any other time she decides to test out her vocal chords. I'm terrified she's going to scream and everyone is going to judge me for not being able to control her." — Amy Anderson, 30

10. Packing fails

"What if you [don't] pack the one thing they cannot arbitrarily live without?" — Courtney Ettel, 29

Next Up: More reasons moms are scared to travel with toddlers

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11. No comfort zone

"My fear (although we travel a ton with our daughter Charlotte) is leaving our safety bubble. Our house is child-proofed, so if she leaves my sight for a few minutes, it will be OK. (I mean, she might be eating cat food, but she's not hurting herself.) When we are away and it's a not a toddler-friendly home, we have to watch her like a hawk. She always goes for the heavy, breakable things on the shelves that she can break and hurt herself with." — Mindy Polk, 34

12. Disease

"I'm scared of tropical diseases. During our trip to Costa Rica, the place where we stayed had some mosquitoes with something called the dengue virus. I was mad about it! We used a ton of protection. We don’t have anything like that in Paris!" — Chloé Laizeau-Scialom, 31

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

13. Safety

"Safety. Especially with what's going on in the world right now. Or if they get away from you in a crowded place." — Anonymous Mommy, 33

14. Tantrums

"My toddler’s tantrums are unbearable at times. I'm doing the wait-it-out method (is that really a method?), but strangers give her attention and even try to give her toys. It's a nightmare. After being in a car seat all day, she can melt down in an instant if she's not getting her way." — Jennifer Capps, 32

15. Penis chat

"They say embarrassing things. I was potty-training my oldest when he was a toddler, and he loudly said 'Mom, where is your penis?' in a busy bathroom. That was… fun." — Ashley Daugherty, 31

16. What if...?

"Maybe I'm the crazy lady coming through, but I'm terrified of all the what-ifs. I always feel like something bad will happen while we are gone and if we were home we will be safe. Actually just typing that made me feel much crazier." — Natalie Jean, 35

17. Pooping on the hour

"My kid decides to not poop for three days leading up to whatever trip we might be taking. Usually about 20 minutes after we are in the car and on the highway he has a massive poop. And then continues to poop every hour until we finally reach the destination. He then resumes his pooping strike while while we're on vacation and starts again when we're on our way home. This has also happened on three separate flights. On any normal day he goes one or two times and usually around the same time during the day." — Anonymous Mommy, 32

18. Other people

"Honestly, my biggest fear is other people. I'm terrified of someone trying to grab a child and run with them, people who try to speak to children and have no business interacting with them, people watching our children. As a mom of two young babies, it's nonstop with who wants to go where and look at everything. My eyes and hands are always on them, but I'm human. It's such a fear of mine, traveling, that my kids are safe." — Shannon Maroldo, 33

19. Screwed-up bedtimes

"I'm terrified of a plane or traffic delay that will screw up bedtime. A strict bedtime for our toddler keeps this whole family sane." — Emily Farris, 35

20. All of the above

"This is an easy one. How’s this for a summary? While in transit — carsick, tantrum on an airplane (was once on a red-eye flight when someone else's kid threw a tantrum screaming they want to get off the plane at the top of their lungs), wanting to walk up and down the aisles on an airplane or train, poop blow-outs, all binkies thrown on the floor or under seats. While at destination — not having access the food they eat, messing up their sleeping habits. And that is why after every time we travel (which is minimal), I ask myself why I bothered." — Anna B., 35

In at least one way, Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge the former Kate Middleton are just like the rest of us.

More: Prince George & Princess Charlotte Steal the Show on Royal Trip to Poland

And that one way is that they binge watch all of the best shows, like Game of Thrones and Homeland. And like anyone who binge watches great TV, they're dying to know what happens next all. The. Damn. Time.

Unlike the rest of us, though, they have certain connections that one would think would be helpful in getting some inside information. After all, they are literally royal. In most cases, they probably get what they want, you know?

More: Princes William & Harry Plan Private Ceremony to Honor Princess Diana's Memory

So, when Will and Kate went on a royal tour of Germany and met Game of Thrones actor Tom Wlaschiha, who plays Jaqen H'ghar on the award-winning HBO series, obviously they did what any one of us would do: They asked for insider info like the thirsty fans they are. This time, however, being royals did them no favors.

"They said they really liked Game of Thrones and have watched every series," Wlaschiha told Mashable about the encounter. "They wanted spoilers, but I said I couldn't tell them. I'm surprised they have time to watch such a long-running series."

It was a good try, and we're legit a little bit surprised that even a literal prince couldn't score a sneak peek of an upcoming episode or something. They really keep things locked down on that show.

More: Prince George & Princess Charlotte Are Going on Tour With Their Parents

Luckily for Will and Kate (and the rest of us), spoilers hit the web pretty regularly, so all it takes is a Google to find out what may be coming next. Granted, that's not as good as getting info straight from one of the stars, but we'll take what we can get.

There’s no such thing as being a third wheel when you’re in a triad relationship. What is a triad — aka thruple, throuple or troika? It’s pretty much three people in a romantic relationship. It’s not just about sex (i.e., a threesome), but a union among three people.

To find out more about this modern-day relationship, we spoke with three women in separate triads about how they got into their relationships, how they make it work and some of the pros and cons about having two serious partners at the same time. Here’s what they had to say.

Two grieving couples form one loving triad

Lisa, 55, Orlando

“I married Roger 33 years ago, and together we married John 22 years ago. We've raised two children and now have grandson. After Roger and I married, John — a close friend who I went to college with — and his first husband, Mark, used to visit us. But sadly, Mark died very young and unexpectedly, and we worried about John. From there, it just made sense.” 

On how they make the relationship work

“All relationships have rules and terms. One difference is that we make sure each pair has time alone as well as all three of us spending time together. One of the positives about this kind of relationship is financial. We do not all have to work full time. When the kids were little, I was a stay-at-home mom. Now John and I work full time and Roger does a variety of paying and nonpaying things. Also, when the kids were little, it was nice to have more parents than kids and to live with multiple friends. If Roger has something going in the evening, I have John for company and such. Also, we don't have to be interested in everything our partner likes. For example, John and Roger are engineers, and I let them discuss something in that realm and be my history-major self.” 

Advice to others considering a triad

“First, if you thought getting one spouse to agree on something was hard, try three people. But all kidding aside, what's made it work for us is that we were friends first. I think that's important in any marriage. What I've learned through the years is that we have not gotten the grief from others that we sort of expected.” 

More: 6 Triggers That Can Lead to an Emotional Affair

From an open marriage to a triad

Marcy, 32, Denver

“My triad relationship is only about three weeks old, but I've been married for two and a half years. My husband and I opened our marriage last year, and over the last couple months, he's been seeing another man. I could tell they were getting close, and I said that I'd be happy for the new boyfriend to spend time at our house. Well, on the day this guy came to our house for the first time, he confessed to my husband that he was attracted to me as well. I shared the attraction, but was unsure about pursuing anything because I didn't want to tread on their existing relationship. My husband insisted that he had no problem with 'sharing,' so our new throuple formed. I never anticipated this dynamic before, and it just sort of happened, but I was never against it."

On how they make the relationship work

“We're still ironing out the details. We've agreed to practice safe sex until everyone has been tested, and that it's vital for each smaller couple within the triad to have ample time and space to grow meaningful individual relationships. One positive is that there are always more hands on deck, whether it's in caring for our daughter or accomplishing chores around the house. Having a new person thrown into the mix means more excitement as we all get to know each other and go through that typical honeymoon phase together — and it definitely spices up any physical encounters! We also face less pressure in some ways — if my husband is in the mood for sex but I'm not, he has the option to turn to someone else for that need. And when one of us feels sad or down for some reason, there is a larger built-in support system.”

Advice to others considering this kind of relationship

“There's always some element of jealousy, and it takes practice not to let that turn into the unhealthy kind of jealousy. You have to absolutely be willing to give voice to your feelings or concerns, because otherwise it festers. Above all, the biggest negative for me so far has been the fear of social stigma. I'm terrified of anyone in my family or broader circle finding out what my marriage dynamic is like because I worry about what others think of me. Also, sometimes you're the one who's waiting at home for the other two people to get back from their one-on-one date, and you get annoyed more easily than you might expect. But you have to accept those fears, those annoyances, all those negative feelings and just realize that much of the negativity stems from societal constructs more than anything else.”

More: What It's Like to Be Decades Older or Younger Than Your S.O.

Two happily married women become three

Gina, 39, New York

“My wife, Joanne, and I opened up our five-year marriage to a mutual girlfriend, Sarah — who actually married us originally, ironically — about two years ago. Sarah lost her father at a young age, and when her mother died, Joanne and I wanted to make her a part of our family permanently. Sarah didn’t have many others. Between the three of us, we have a 2-year-old son and couldn’t be happier.” 

On how they make the relationship work

“At first, defining boundaries was difficult. We didn’t allow sexual contact with Sarah for a few months, but then it sort of morphed into Joanne and I each having our own personal relationship with our new wife. Making sure the time is split evenly and adequately between the three of us is crucial. It’s important that all three of us get the same amount of time with each other, as well as spending time with our son, doing household chores and paying bills. And speaking of bills, it’s really nice have three paychecks coming in to pay the mortgage and other expenses. We also try to look at our relationship as one consisting of three people and not two couples meshed into one.” 

Advice to others considering this kind of relationship

“All people involved in a triad have to have a strong bond or else jealousy is imminent. At times, you can feel lonely or bitter if your two spouses are out together and you’re home by yourself. There may also be some awkwardness or feelings of insult if they desire getting intimate without you, which is why communication and being open is so important. Also, it may be hard for family and friends to understand this type of relationship you are entering into, so be prepared to face some tough questioning. On the other hand, also be prepared for lots of love and fun, because you’re adding another person you love into your relationship, which is a rare and special thing.”

In our increasingly digital age, it's getting harder and harder to keep our information private.

That goes double for celebs, who are specifically targeted by hackers on the regular. We don't know if a hacker was to blame for this, but a video of Blue Ivy Carter dancing is taking the internet by storm, and it appears to have been posted without the permission of her parents, Beyoncé and Jay-Z.

More: Blue Ivy Wore a Dress That Costs More Than My Rent

The video, which shows 5-year-old Blue dancing to “Just Do It” by The Execs while mom Beyoncé looks on, has a watermark that reads "@tarajiXone." This is the handle of a private Instagram account that promises "Candid + Retro Pictures/Videos of Taraji P. Henson!" in its bio. The video is very intimate — Bey can be seen off to the side watching and smiling while Blue dances. And the Carter family is notorious for keeping this kind of thing private and under wraps, so the likelihood that they authorized its release is slim at best.

People on Twitter are already realizing that and starting to point it out, even though the video is still spreading through shares.

More: Blue Ivy Is Definitely In the Illuminati & There's Proof

More: Beyoncé Is Fighting for the Blue Ivy Carter Trademark

The bottom line is that Blue Ivy is a child, and even though her parents are famous, she deserves some privacy in her life. Sharing this video without the permission of anyone in the Carter family is not OK.

If you’re 5 foot 4 or under, you know by now that finding the best petite clothes is not easy. Between too-long pant hems, too-big armholes and skirts and jackets that make you look like you’re a kid playing dress-up in your mom’s clothes, being petite can certainly present some challenges on the fashion front — which is why we’re shocked that more retailers haven’t jumped on the issue and hustled to create clothing to suit small women.

“I’m 4 foot 9, so shopping has always been this total nightmare for me,” said Caroline Misan Alvo, a petite fashionista and founder of Alvo Wellness. “I grew up thinking it was only because I’m exceptionally short that I had these issues, but I was having enough conversations with my petite friends who were a little taller than me — but still under 5 feet 4 inches — and they were all complaining about the same thing.”

More: 26 Petite Fashion Bloggers With Truly Amazing Style

Misan Alvo said she’s done her homework and has worked hard to figure out exactly how to dress as a petite woman.

“Petite women can pull of anything as long as they pay attention to proportion and fit. You can definitely wear a loose-fitting blouse as long as it’s, like, tailored in the right way.”

That said, Misan Alvo offered up eight petite shopping tips — and we made a Pinterest-ready checklist to make sure you’re always buying pieces that suit your small frame. Read on, and be sure to pin the chart below.

More: 6 Petite Clothing Brands You Have to Check Out Now

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

“Ew, why would you talk about that in front of us?”

“OK, I don’t need to know about that.”

Sound familiar? It’s thoroughly unfortunate that men make such negative associations with something that is a) out of our own control and b) more important, literally the mechanism by which human life itself comes about.

More: 6 Reasons to love your period (yes, seriously)

Even more unfortunate is that as a result of hearing these negative connotations from men, women become ashamed of their own bodily mechanisms and biological makeup. A survey conducted by Clue revealed that most women, regardless of what country they lived in, felt uncomfortable talking to a male peer or family member about periods. This can come as a result of hearing these jabs in passing. It can be even more detrimental to a woman’s sexual confidence when it comes from someone she cares about.

Hearing it from your own boyfriend

I’ve dealt with this quite a few times in my own experience. The one that comes to mind right away is the time my own boyfriend told me that “periods are gross.”

We were spending the weekend in New York City and while we were getting ready at the hotel, things somehow turned sexual at some point and he was making advances toward the big S-E-X word.

I hadn’t seen him in a week, and I was right on the end of my monthly at the time. I totally respect that many people, male and female, don’t necessarily feel comfortable with the idea of having sex during that time of the month. So, I kindly let him know that I was on the tail-end of my period just out of respect.

His demeanor changed, and he got up and started changing, appearing to be somewhat agitated. I don’t really remember what I said after that to be honest. I was confused by his attitude; I hadn’t been dating him for too long and this was our first big trip staying together. I guess I had to find out he was a jerk eventually.

At some point during the whole exchange, he ended up saying to me, “I wouldn’t ever want to do that [sex] while you’re… like that [on my period?]. Periods are gross.”

It kind of floored me because up until that point, I had thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. I didn’t really say much at the time, and we moved along and saw our show. Might I add that he requested oral sex when we got back to the hotel later, but had no interest whatsoever in touching me anymore.

More: Heroic stranger confronts period shame with a fanny pack full of tampons

This might seem like no big deal to many, but to me it was everything. I did unfortunately continue to date him for a little bit after that, and it really affected me. Every time I got my period, I suddenly felt like I didn’t even want to be around him, knowing how he felt about something that was out of my control.

Sure, not all people want to have sex during that time of the month. But that doesn’t mean that it’s “gross.” Messy, perhaps? Messy might have been a better word choice at the time… definitely a less offensive one.

I did end up breaking up with him eventually, as his early signs of piggishness turned into full-fledged terrible-boyfriend mode. However, I never forgot that experience, and it took me quite a bit of time to fully convince myself that he was wrong about my own body.

Why it matters & what we can do

The dangerous thing that happens when our society encourages this kind of discussion or lets it slide, even in a light or humorous way, is that young girls and women alike become less sexually confident. Seeing themselves as gross or “other” to men, as separate or knocked down a peg by this one biological trait, women can overtime begin to see themselves as less sexual, less beautiful and less clean, on or off their periods.

Periods are a natural part of life, and they need to start being discussed as such. Men need to respect their menstruating partners enough to stop characterizing this biological process as some kind of voodoo subject.

From this experience, I learned that I need to start sticking up for myself. Shutting those negative associations down when I hear them is important. I learned my lesson, and I can say from experience that since I’ve started to accept my female form, speak up about women’s sexual health and confidence and respect myself enough to only date and befriend decent gentlemen, I’ve become infinitely more liberated.

It’s great to see that the discussion around this subject is beginning to open up more. Women are starting to become more comfortable discussing it — there’s even an app that tracks women’s moods, sex drives, energy levels, and physical symptoms during their monthly cycle. The goal of the app is to help women become more comfortable with thinking about and discussing their periods, while also giving them a clear overview of their health.

Looking through the male side of these online discussions can be both pleasantly surprising and predictably disappointing. While there are clearly still some dudes out there who need a reality check, the amount of men who actually sympathize with and respect women on the subject of menstruation actually seems to be higher than you’d expect.

More: This hilarious video debunks the myths surrounding your period

Many men today even say that they are comfortable enough in their masculinity (what a thoroughly unusual concept!) to go pick up feminine products for their ladies, even if the results can be humorous. Maybe chivalry isn’t dead, but even if it is, keep standing up for yourselves and your bodies, ladies. Your sexual confidence and health doesn’t have to be determined by anyone besides you.

By Kate Harveston

Originally published on HelloFlo.

For those of us who've been fiending for the return of The Walking Dead since Season 7 ended, summer can seem like a barren wasteland of entertainment. But, hey-oh, AMC just delivered something to help sustain us until our favorite zombpocalyptic drama picks back up in the fall.

More: Did a Walking Dead Star Just Spoil the Season 8 Premiere?

It's a new, five-minute trailer for Season 8 — revealed during San Diego Comic-Con — and gosh damn, it's good.

It kind of makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, the way you did the first time Daryl fired an arrow through an unsuspecting walker or when Michonne and Rick met. You just get the sense that you're on the precipice of something great.

But first, questions. Because AMC has mastered the art of splicing footage together in a way that leaves us wanting so much more, we need answers. Watch the vid, then join us below to discuss.

Here's what we're dying to know following the five-minute glimpse into TWD's future.

1. Is Father Gabriel about to get Lucilled?

The trailer starts with Negan and Father Gabriel trapped somewhere together. In the most Negan-y way possible, the villain says, "I hope you’ve got your shittin’ pants on... 'cause you are about to shit yer pants." Is Gabriel about to become Lucille's latest victim? After all, there's a puzzling scene later of a walker in the woods trying to reach a plastic bag. If you squint, that walker kinda looks like ol' Gabriel.

2. What does Michonne look so pissed about?

Aside from the obvious dystopian times she's living in, Michonne looks particularly rattled about something as she and Rosita head somewhere in a car. Later, she appears to be fighting with a fellow sword-wielder. What are these two badass ladies doing on the road together?

3. What's the deal with the note Dwight reads?

At one point, Dwight opens a handwritten note reading "Tomorrow." Could this be from his estranged/long-lost wife? (She could still be alive, right?) Or is he officially working with the good guys now, and this is a message from Rick's crew that shit is about to go down?

4. Who is that peeping out from that doorway in the hospital?

Or lab, or whatever that very sterile-looking building was. Someone who seems to still have a legit pulse peers out into the hallway from the relative security of a doorway. Is this someone we know? Hospitals are harbingers of doom in the TWD world — that scene alone is giving us major Beth flashbacks.

5. What is Daryl keeping count of?

The top of Daryl's gun seems to show tick marks keeping track of... what? Maybe he's marking how many Saviors he kills. Maybe he's marking how many walkers. In the early seasons of the series, the big question asked of people was how many people they'd killed vs. how many walkers. It was a measure of their humanity. Perhaps Daryl is trying to get back to that?

More: Which Major Character on The Walking Dead Will Die Next in the Negan Battle?

6. Do the arm bands signify different colonies?

If you look closely, you can see colored armbands being worn by the survivors in various scenes. Could these indicate what colony the people claim? If so, it would seem that white signifies Alexandria, green signifies Hilltop and red signifies the Kingdom — which is interesting, since both Morgan and Carol appear to be sporting red.

7. Why is Aaron so distraught?

Again, outside of their generally shitty circumstances, did something tragic happen in Aaron's life? He seems sullen, his knuckles are bloody and Eric is nowhere to be seen. Is this the season Aaron loses his great love?

8. Who’s tied up?

Based on the tattered flannel shirt, we're thinking the person with their hands bound could either be Carl or that random long-haired Savior shown in the trailer. In fact, the shirt seems to match the latter most, and he is later seen rubbing his wrists. So why are they showing us this? Why should we care about him?

9. Does Rick get captured?

It sure looks like Rick is trapped in what appears to be a shipping container. And that shipping container looks like it is being guarded by the Scavengers. Ugh, can we be done with them already?

10. Why is Morgan trying to beat Jesus to death with his bo?

I suppose they could be training, but Morgan looks like he wants to split some skull and Jesus looks to be genuinely defending himself. Is Morgan losing his mind a little again? Or did Jesus do something Morgan interpreted as traitorous?

11. Is Shiva in danger?

It's clear in at least one scene that King Ezekiel and Jerry are in imminent danger. Close to that sequence, we see Shiva in what looks like a pit of walkers. We hate to even utter the words, but... does Shiva sacrifice herself to save her King?

12. Where the hell is Eugene?

Like, seriously, where the hell is he? We're currently pissed at him, but we also admittedly miss the mullet-haired fool — and he is nowhere to be seen in the trailer.

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

13. WTF is up with old man Rick?

This probably wins as the biggest head-scratcher of 'em all. Since the showrunners have assured fans in the past that the entire show wasn't just a coma dream, we can rule out Rick just waking up. In the comics, there is a time jump that shows Rick visibly aged. We're hoping for that alternative. Either way, the entire glowing scene is chock full of imagery symbolic of first-episode Rick.

The Walking Dead Season 8 premieres Sunday, Oct. 22, at 9 p.m. ET.