If you get back the vibes you put out into the universe, it's a safe bet Jennifer Garner has a windfall of good karma headed her way. 'Cause while her ex-husband was "enjoying spending time" with his new girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, Garner was spotted running errands with Affleck's mom — and there are some seriously sweet pics to show for the QT with her former mother-in-law.
As Garner strolled down a Los Angeles street with Affleck's mom, Chris, the pair looked like they were soaking up every second of each other's company: smiling, laughing and putting their arms around each other as they walked (see the pictures here).
It the kind of affection you can't really force or fake, proving once again that Garner puts her family first... including those she's technically no longer related to. As anyone who has been through a tough split can attest, staying on friendly terms with the ex's family is often easier said than done.
However, there certainly doesn't seem to be any tension between Garner and Chris. In fact, from the outside looking in, it appears the duo is closer than ever.
Also making news for spending time together are Garner's ex and Chris' son, Affleck, and his new girlfriend, Shookus. According to reports, the couple just returned to Los Angeles following a vacation to Maine together.
Although some sources put Affleck and Shookus as having kicked off their courtship in the spring, other reports claim they began an affair as far back as three years ago — when both were still married.
Still, an alleged insider tells Entertainment Tonight that Garner isn't "embarrassed" that Affleck is now openly dating Shookus. Instead, says the source, "Jen is trying to move on with her life" and "her number one priority is her children and making sure they are OK during this."
Affleck's camp has echoed this sentiment regarding the former couple's three kids, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5. And while they've just begun their co-parenting journey, they seem to be on the right track. Bonus? Grandma Chris clearly has both their backs.
In case there was somehow a shadow of a doubt in your mind that Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green would have truly adorable children, Fox just shared a rare glimpse into their family life that should squash any lingering uncertainty.
It's officially official — the stunning human-beings-slash-parents produced equally beautiful offspring. And you know what else? It looks like they're doing a pretty badass job at the whole parenting endeavor, too.
Fox showed off her happy family on Monday, July 31, in a collage consisting of four separate Polaroid pictures. In one corner, the couple's son, Noah, flashes a contagious smile while rocking a Princess Elsa ensemble. Next to him, Fox looks predictably flawless in a selfie. In another corner, little Bodhi, 3, cheeses by holding a red mustache to his face. And rounding out the fun montage is Green, with cute baby Journey chilling on his chest in a baby carrier.
Megan Fox Family Photo
Megan Fox Family Photo
Of course, it didn't take long for some haters with apparently puritanical values to criticize Noah's wardrobe choice (and his parents for allowing it). It took even less time, though, for others to defend the boy — as well as Fox and Green for not forcing their son to live his life according to played-out stereotypes. Quick recap: a person's sex is biological, whereas gender is a social construct.
Regardless, it's ridiculous anyone would lash out at a child for engaging in any kind of harmless creative play. We should be encouraging kids to explore the things that inspire them, whether it's a little boy wearing a ball gown or a little girl dressing up as Batman.
It looks to us like Fox and Green are doing a damn fine job with their beautiful (and happy!) fam.
Each summer, my grandmother would sit outside — whether it was a rooftop in Brooklyn or a backyard in rural Ohio — and soak her feet in a basin of warm water, taking in the sun. As a young child, I wasn’t entirely sure what this was for other than the fact that she considered this therapeutic, but the idea of “taking the waters” always stuck with me, and I’ve since been fascinated by the idea of various forms of water-based treatments.
When I moved to New York City, I learned that Saratoga Springs was the place to take the waters and take a break from the city, starting in the 1830s — for those who could afford it. I also learned that there was a complex of several spa buildings and a historic hotel that were now located in the Saratoga Spa State Park and still in operation today. History, mineral baths, a park and being able to get there from the city without a car? I’m in. I’ve always wondered about my grandmother’s belief in healing waters, and there was no better place to investigate than a town that was known as the “Queen of Spas.”
I stayed at The Gideon Putnam — the charming historic hotel located within the park. Completed and opened in 1935, the hotel originally catered to those taking a rest cure, who typically stayed for around four weeks at a time, and features some of the original wall murals by James Reynolds with interior design done by Dorothy Tuckerman Draper.
gideon
gideon
The Gideon Putnam provides a map to all the natural springs on park property — as well as the mineral component of each type — allowing you to go on a wet scavenger hunt through the woods to taste the different waters. This water-based treasure hunt had it all: history, health, walking through the woods at your own pace and plenty of opportunities for hydration. Some tasted like the sweetest, purest water ever. Others (well, most) were more of an acquired taste, which reminded me of effervescent rotten eggs, but not in a bad way. (Really! I took some of the more pungent water back to my room to drink later.)
One of the best-tasting springs was very close to the ground. I crouched down on my hands and knees to sip the water, assuming that it must be extra good to be worth the extra effort to drink it. Turns out, it was positioned like that because it is for dogs. A member of the hotel staff later informed me that usually there is a stainless steel bowl around the fountain, making it much more obvious that it’s for canine hikers, not human ones.
water walk
water walk
But back to the baths.
This isn’t a swanky Manhattan day spa or a Zen den of relaxation in LA. The individual rooms' Roosevelt Baths look much more like an old hospital, but in the best way possible. The clinical atmosphere made the whole thing feel more legitimate, and given that it has actually been around since the 1930s — not just constructed to look old with fixtures from Restoration hardware — also feels authentic. The common areas and relaxation room, though, feel thoroughly modern, but just as effective.
While there used to be several large public baths located in the Saratoga Spa State Park, only the Roosevelt Baths remain. They are probably most suited to modern-day bath-goers because unlike some of the other buildings on the spa complex that featured large wardlike rooms full of many bathtubs, each tub in the Roosevelt Baths comes with its own private room with an attached bathroom.
The tubs, tiles and plumbing are all original to the 1935 structure, and the tubs are specially designed for therapeutic soaks, sitting several inches into the floor for added depth. You’re provided with a stool you can stick in the water because as you’ll quickly find out, the high levels of sodium make you particularly buoyant. Also, the water is effervescent — thanks to the carbon dioxide — and tickles your skin with tiny bubbles. It also contains trace amounts of iron, calcium and magnesium, which each come with their own potential health benefits, as well as lithium, which is thought to lift the bather’s mood.
After 45 minutes in the tub, an attendant knocks on the door to pull you back to reality and leaves you a hot towel to help coax you out of the bath. I left feeling extremely relaxed, bordering on sleepy, and noticed that my skin was very soft for the next few days following the baths.
Image: Roosevelt Baths and Spa
I should also clarify that over the course of the weekend, the two 45-minute mineral baths were the only form of bathing I did. Your first instinct may be to shower after sitting in a tub of murky water, but according to the staff members at the baths, showering is actually not recommended after taking a mineral bath to allow plenty of time for the minerals to sink in. Again, this isn’t something backed by years of empirical evidence, but it made sense and was a legitimate excuse to skip showering.
Despite people flocking to mineral waters and baths for centuries for healing purposes, the actual medical benefits of mineral baths in curing diseases or improving health are unclear, says Dr. Mimi Trinh, a family medicine physician at MemorialCare Medical Group of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California There is a field of science called balneology or balneotherapy, she explains, which is the treatment of disease by bathing, usually in waters containing minerals, but this field of medicine is not very well-known, and scientists who perform studies in this area are mostly in Europe or Japan.
Image: Getty Images/Design: Ashley Britton
“There is a suggestion that the act of soaking in water, whether there are minerals involved or not, helps to relax our bodies, and in doing so, relieves stress as well as achy joints or muscles,” Trinh says. “Therefore, those who are able to do this on a regular basis, may reap the benefits of this relaxation technique.”
That’s the thing with alternative therapies: As long as they’re not harming you in any way, it’s probably fine to utilize them if they make you feel better. Will sitting in in a tub of brown bubbly water for 45 minutes cure all your ailments? Probably not, but it was an enjoyable and relaxing experience that I hope to have again soon.
Being in college definitely has its perks (there's a reason so many people refer to it as "the best time of their life," right?), but it's also no walk in the park. College students are broke, they're slammed with a ton of schoolwork, and they're away from home for the first time. Did we mention they're broke?
The above reasons are a recipe for homesickness, but you can help ease your child's transition to living on their own by sending them a care package filled with all the comforts of home. Care packages should be the perfect blend of fun items and essentials — all the things your kid would love, but wouldn't think to purchase on their own.
Here are some ideas to get you started in crafting the perfect package to make your child smile. Don't be afraid to add a personal touch like a sweet note or family photo — and jazzing things up with seasonal holiday items is always a good idea. They may not always let you know, but your college student is missing the whole family back home like crazy.
As soon as your kid moves into a dorm situation, mini-fridges and hotplates rule supreme, so foods that require little preparation are always ideal. The idea is to send snack foods that are fun, tasty, nonperishable and satiating — because most on-campus cafeterias aren't open 24/7.
Homemade cookies keep well, and bring that little taste of home to your student. For an extra bonus, send a gift card to their favorite restaurant. It's not exactly the same as a home-cooked meal, but it beats the heck out of eating microwaved Cup O' Noodles with a plastic spork.
If you've never lived in a dorm or a college apartment yourself, just know that things can get nasty really quick. Students are more preoccupied with socializing and studying than cleaning, so hygiene and a clean living space play second fiddle in most cases.
That doesn't man your student has to live in a pigsty. Send along some things that can keep them clean, healthy and living in a space that doesn't scream "squalor." And we swear every child appreciates a pair of warm fuzzy socks much more the second they move out of your home.
Framed photo of family pet/pets
An extra set of sheets
A new pillow
Fun smelling candles
Antibacterial spray
Clorox disinfecting wipes
A hairbrush or comb
Towels and wash cloths
New underwear
Shampoo
Mesh pouf bath sponge on a rope
Makeup essentials (like mascara and lip gloss)
Flip flops to wear in the shower
Body wash
Deodorant
Contact solution
Lip balm
Yummy smelling lotions or body spray
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Mini first aid kit with bandages, antibiotic ointment, etc.
Air freshener
And no dorm room would be complete without a little party time, so don't forget fun items, too.
Rihanna is once again showing the world that she's thinking globally and charitably with her latest act of altruism. Teen Vogue shared the news that Rihanna has partnered with a bike-sharing program, ofo, that will donate some of their bikes to young girls in Malawi. Those young girls can then use them to get to school safely, quickly and hopefully, return to them a little bit of control in their lives. Honestly? This idea is so inspiring and we should all do something just as charitable to try and match it.
The partnership was struck through Rihanna's foundation, The Clara Lionel Foundation, and the Beijing-based bike-sharing company recently. Rihanna released a statement about this initiative earlier in the week. "I'm so happy about the Clara Lionel Foundation's new partnership with ofo because it will help so many young people around the world receive a quality education, and also help the young girls of Malawi get to school safely, cutting down those very long walks they make to and from school all alone," the pop star said.
The project, called "1 KM Action," will go for five years and will aim to help girls not only by giving them bikes to get to school but will also fund scholarships for these young minds. According to The Clara Lionel Foundation's press release, they will provide funding through their Global Scholarship Program to the girls in question and ofo will also help fund those scholarships as well for girls attending secondary school in Malawi. The initiative has a clear focus on making sure that these young girls will not have to worry about their education in any way, which can only mean that their chances of success in school will increase. Teen Vogue additionally reports that "The Clara Lionel Foundation and ofo have previously joined forces to provide scholarship funding to students from China, Brazil, Barbados, Cuba, Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, and Jamaica planning to attend college in the United States," which shows how committed these two groups are to making the lives of others better.
Rihanna has a long history of working with various underserved communities across the world and her connection to Malawi was created in this charitable spirit. As an ambassador with the Global Partnership for Education, she recently visited the African nation to "'spend time with educators, government officials, and students to identify ways to collaborate to build a better educational future for Malawians.'"
Rihanna Malawi Video
Rihanna Malawi Video
It's good to see that her heart is in the right place (yet again) and that even more lives will get changed for the better.
In honor of International Friendship Day, Starbucks has a really cool BOGO macchiato deal. Starting on Aug. 3, anyone who buys a macchiato — that’d be a delicious shot (or two... go wild!) — of espresso poured over a steamed gets another macchiato drink for free.
Hot summer day? You can also get it chilled. No catch. Just free coffee!
The Starbucks promotion will be from Aug. 3 through 7 during the afternoon (from 2 to 5 p.m.) only at participating Starbucks stores and is good for any hot or cold macchiato from their menu. You may want to call first to make sure your location is participating, but once there, you have lots of options to choose from, such as the always popular iced caramel macchiato.
Of course, we’re all busy. So if your friend doesn’t want to meet up with you, there’s no rule that says you can’t BOGO with your own fine self.
Family vacations are these amazing nuggets of time when we get to relax and make memories with our families. But just like you see on those memes that show up in your Facebook feed at this time of year, it’s really not a break for moms. We’re still on parenting duty (and may have become packing and organizing aficionados). However, those chill vibes still run through us, to be released during magical moments when we least expect it. Because of this, we all tend to morph into these "vacation mom" categories where our true mom selves get blended with some vacation vibes.
Warning: You can spot these vacation moms almost anywhere.
"Don’t forget to let your food digest before getting back into the water."
"Don’t forget to put another layer of sunscreen on in 10 minutes."
You get the picture. They mean well. In fact, I am this person sometimes. Kids start playing and are extra excited on vacation and tend to forget about the basics — that's where the reminder mom comes in. She keeps everyone in check, no questions asked.
2. The super-chill mom
This is the mom who has needed this vacation so bad, she's decided not to care about anything as soon as she gets the key to the hotel room in her hands. She’s ready to unwind, and who can blame her? You might find her family ordering room service, see her kids running in the hallway and her embracing every adventure that comes her way because, hey, it’s vacation! (I dream of being this mom.)
3. The "I just need a drink" mom
This mom needs to relax, but can’t. Until she's lying by the pool, cocktail in hand, ready to unwind and drift into full-on vacation mode. I have a bit of this mom in me too. I suspect my husband would agree.
4. The itinerary mom
This mom goes into vacation mode with a plan. Every day is planned out, activities are prebooked, and you can even find the task of "relaxing by the beach" given a non-negotiable time slot. She knows she has a lot of ground to cover and wants to make sure the whole family is able to experience all of it (whether they want to or not). This mom's time-management skills are unparalleled, and everyone at the resort knows her by name. I’m this mom too. *Gulp*
This was my mom (and her mom). This is the mom who wants to sit poolside and catch a few rays without her kids in her face asking a million questions. So what does she do to get a few glorious moments of alone-time? She encourages the hell out of her kids to find a playmate. You might overhear this mom saying things like, "Honey, what about that group of kids over there? They look about your age," several times a day.
6. The involved mom
This mom wants to experience it all with her family and is involved in every element of vacation time. She’s splashing in the pool, jumping in the waves, planning the excursion, tasting the fine cuisine the resort has to offer. She can also be called the tired mom, to be found slipping away to bed by 8 p.m. every night (because being fun can be completely exhausting).
The hills are alive with sunrise feedings and Spanx for new mom, reality TV alum and designer Lauren Conrad.
Conrad and her husband, William Tell, said hello to their firstborn — a son named Liam James — on July 5. Conrad shared the first photos of Liam with People and dished about how her life has changed in one short month.
LC
LC
“I feel so spoiled. Liam is such a good baby," Conrad said. "I’m sleeping three to four hours at a time. This morning I was up at 4 a.m. and I wasn’t even tired, so I cleaned the kitchen and did some cooking. William was like, ‘You’re crazy!’“ (He might be right, Lauren. Get some extra sleep, girl.)
But Conrad's energy isn't lagging, and she says she's loving every moment of the newborn days.
“His last nighttime feeding is right around when the sun comes up, so I sit and feed him and watch the sun rise,” she said. “He’s funny to watch — he makes really funny little expressions. I’m already stressing out because I want him to stay this tiny and I know he won’t. So I’m just trying to enjoy how itty-bitty he is.”
Though Conrad has yet to post pics of Liam on social media, she did share a very sweet birth announcement on her Instagram feed featuring a ridiculously adorable embroidered sampler of the whole family.
LC Insta
LC Insta
As for that pregnancy weight gain? Meh. Conrad remains unfazed. She said she's not feeling any pressure to drop baby pounds because "Spanx exist for a reason."
Amen to that.
Conrad likened the prep for labor to "getting ready for a blind date" — awwwww. She said she and Tell pondered getting a 4-D ultrasound but ultimately decided to be surprised. And they were — Conrad had convinced herself she was going to have a massive baby, but Liam was just under 7 pounds at birth.
"I just remember thinking he was so cute — and I was surprised by how tiny he was," she said. "In my head he was nine pounds." (That's a pretty good surprise by childbirth standards if you ask us.)
Conrad told People she wasn't always set on being a mom, though.
“In my early 20s I was open to having them or not having them," she said. "But after meeting William, I changed my mind. I knew I wanted to have a family with him. But I didn’t want to do it right away.”
She and Tell were in no rush to procreate.
“I’m crazy about Liam, but I never really got baby fever. We wanted to enjoy being married and to really be in the right space," Conrad said. "We took our time, so it was something to look forward to.”
Conrad has also noted that she is thrilled to have a son.
“I always hoped I would have a boy,” she told People in a previous interview. “Boys are so fun. I was a tomboy, and I always play best with boys.”
Who does Liam take after? Conrad can't quite figure it out. She says Liam is a "combo of both of us," adding, "He definitely looks like William. But he's still so tiny it's hard to tell!'
Conrad has a clear sense of the direction she wants to go in as a new mom.
“I want to be strong and teach him to respect women. The mother-son relationship is so important,” she explained. “And I’m just excited to play again! I can’t wait to break out the finger paints. And I’m such a Disney nerd, so I get to watch those movies with someone who is seeing them for the first time.” Same.
“I worked hard to get here....it makes me appreciate my life now and value the peacefulness," she added. "I’m really lucky. And I know that.”
For the record, we think Liam James is pretty lucky too.
Can y'all believe it's really been 10 years since Will & Grace was last on the air? All that's about to change with a limited run, 10-episode revival season of the hit sit-com is set to debut next month. Luckily for you, we have a few spoilers. Get your martinis ready, fam, because this exclusive revival information requires a stiff drink.
This week's Entertainment Weekly is all about Will & Grace, detailing how the original cast reunited to do a revival season. It all started way back in the pre-Trump days, when series creator Max Mutchnick called the cast together for their 10-minute "Get Out the Vote" YouTube short. It was a hit, getting more than 7 million views. What's more was that it showed how willing the cast was to reunite — when Mutchnick emailed Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes about the possibility, they all responded that they were in within 40 minutes.
Apparently, it was Mullally who first brought up the idea of a real revival. "I was sitting on the couch in my house reading the script, and then I emailed Max and I said, 'Why can’t we do this show again?' And he emailed right back saying, 'We can!'" she said.
Thank goodness for Mullally's suggestion because here we are, ready to enjoy this wonderful revival. Ahead of the show's September 28 air date, we also have a minor Will & Grace spoiler. Stop reading now to avoid this spoiler.
The new season is going to pretty much rewrite the ending of the OG series. If you recall, that ending involved Will and Grace drifting apart as friends and no longer living together, only to run into each other again 20 years later when they were dropping their kids off for college. As far as the revival is concerned, that never happened. Instead, they're still living together in the familiar apartment from the series, with Jack living next door and Karen popping in on the reg, drink in hand.
"I think everyone responded to the election video because it looked the same, and the apartment’s a big part of that," McCormack explained. "Why not say these two people are still living together? They’ve had heartbreaks and they’re still together. And rather than making that something to be frowned on, let’s celebrate that. What if our best friends from youth really become our rocks in our middle age?"
Everything Kanye West does, he does in peak Kanye fashion; his current legal battle is no exception. Earlier this week, new reports came out that West is suing the insurance company in charge of his canceled Saint Pablo tour for a reported failure to pay out for said cancellation.
Here's how it reportedly happened. When West canceled his tour last year in the wake of his wife, Kim Kardashian, becoming the victim of a robbery during Paris Fashion Week, there was speculation his ensuing alleged mental breakdown played a role. At any rate, he was reportedly counting on his tour insurance to cover him for the missed revenue from the shows that didn't happen. Almost eight months later, West allegedly hasn't seen a penny, so he and his touring company, Very Good, are now suing Lloyd's of London, the insurance company in question, for $10 million.
West's team says that it filed an insurance claim just two days after West was admitted to UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital, but that Lloyd's of London has been stalling on paying the claim.
The insurance company has not "provided anything approaching a coherent explanation about why they have not paid, or any indication if they will ever pay or even make a coverage decision, implying that Kanye's use of marijuana may provide them with a basis to deny the claim and retain the hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by Very Good," a lawsuit statement issued by West's legal team reads. "The stalling is emblematic of a broader modus operandi of the insurers of never-ending post-claim underwriting where the insurers hunt for some contrived excuse not to pay."
Very Good is also saying Lloyd's of London is in "breach of contract and breach of good faith and fair dealing." It also alleges that shady insurance companies routinely take advantage of artists who are just looking for peace of mind.
"Their business model thrives on conducting unending 'investigations,' of bona fide coverage requests, stalling interminably, running up their insured's costs, and avoiding coverage decisions based on flimsy excuses," the lawsuit says.
It's a Krispy Kreme Reese's doughnut, the ultimate mashup of breakfast pastry and chocolate-peanut butter candy. A fluffy raised doughnut is stuffed with a light and airy Reese's Peanut Butter cream, then glazed with chocolate, drizzled with peanut butter and chocolate and topped with a sprinkle of Reese's Mini Peanut Butter chips and peanuts, just in case everything else wasn't enough to keep you interested bite after bite.
BRB; wiping the drool off my keyboard. I mean, has a drop of peanut butter ever looked that enticing? It's making me feel like my kale and banana smoothie was the wrong choice for breakfast this morning.
The new doughnuts (which have been previously sold in Australia, #jealous) will be available in the U.S. starting on Aug. 4 for a limited time only. I feel like now's a good time to mention that doughnuts freeze beautifully, should you care to stock up.
When you're living an experience like being the Bachelorette and finding your spouse on a TV show, it's important to live that life without any regrets. But current Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay has one and we really can't blame her for it.
On Monday's "Men Tell All" special, host Chris Harrison asked Lindsay if she has any regrets. Now that filming is over, she's reportedly still engaged and the finale for her season is only a week away from airing. However, in light of all the excitement, she hardly hesitated before bringing up a name that surprised basically no one: Lee Garrett.
"If I'm just honest, I'm going to be 100% honest, I'm just going to say one word: Lee," Lindsay admitted. "I would have sent him home sooner."
Garrett was, shall we say, not a fan favorite this season. He ruffled a lot of feathers online at the very start of the season — before he really even got any significant air time — by tweeting some aracist and misogynistic remarks on Twitter. As is often the case, those comments were quickly screencapped by the general public before going viral.
Lee Garrett The Bachelorette racist tweets revealed 1
Lee Garrett The Bachelorette racist tweets revealed 1
Lee Garrett The Bachelorette racist tweets revealed 2
Lee Garrett The Bachelorette racist tweets revealed 2
Then, on the show, he said things like he was a "meninist," dismissed white privilege and claimed he would never date a woman who used a dating site or app, even though he admitted to being a "trigger happy left-swiping" Tinder user.
Since it was "Men Tell All," Garrett was there to defend himself, and bless his heart, he tried. "I make jokes when I'm uncomfortable in inappropriate times," he said. "It doesn't always come off right, and I definitely learned that about myself."
Despite his apologies and attempts to close this chapter, it was Lindsay who had the last word. "You can meet me backstage and I'd be more than happy to give you a Black history lesson and a lesson on women's rights," she told him.
What do we believe about sex and women in their 60s, 70s and 80s? Do we shudder to think of it, or do we not think about it at all? Whether or not we want to admit it, we have ideas about sex when it comes to women of a certain age, and those ideas can actually prove super-harmful to their health and well-being. Here are four myths about older women and sex that need to hit the road, like, yesterday.
1. Women who are 60 & older aren’t interested in sex anymore
Women are seen as having a sexual expiration date, only being attractive and available up until a certain point. According to a 2015 study done by Indiana University, 46 percent of men and 33 percent of women over 70 are masturbating, and 43 percent of men and 22 percent of women in this age bracket are having sexual intercourse and oral sex is also happening among the 70-plus set.
Carla Rosinski, a Boston area mental health counselor, points out that part of the origin of the myth that older women aren’t into sex stems from the fact that menopause reduces the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries, resulting in the thinning and dryness of the vaginal walls. This is called vaginal atrophy, and it can make intercourse painful. Regular intercourse can actually help atrophy, as it brings more blood flow and circulation to the vaginal walls. “It is worth saying that having sex does not just mean vaginal penetration,” says Rosinski. “There are many different ways to have a healthy sex life.”
“Many women falsely believe that after menopause, things dry up, orgasms become impossible, and they just lie back and think of England to appease their partner,” said Irene Stronczak-Hogan, a natural medicine and antiaging specialist in the U.K. “I have had women patients told by their primary care physicians that at their age, it’s natural for their libido to wane. A woman prescribed the right hormones or vaginal moisturizers along with adequate foreplay can have a fulfilling sex life with mind-blowing orgasms.”
MaryJo Rapini, a sex therapist and love and relationships expert for the Houston Chronicle, says that she meets many older folks in her practice who are the opposite of embarrassed when it comes to sex talk. “Their granddaughters aren’t talking about sex with their parents because their parents don’t want to discuss it with them,” says Rapini. “But these grandmothers do want to, they’re glad to share what they’ve learned about sex and relationships and bodies in their lives.”
The stigma about older women not talking about sex is not only untrue, it’s dangerous, and the onus may fall on physicians who don’t think their patients are having sex. Rapini explains, “Some doctors are not good at understanding what they need. They miss a lot. Women aren’t necessarily only not sleeping with just one partner just because they’re older, and they have to be honest and open with their doctors about sex.”
3. They don’t need to get tested for STIs
As we’ve established, older women are having sex, and so inevitably, older women are getting sexually transmitted infections. According to a 2012 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of syphilis and chlamydia in 45 to 64 year olds increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2005, 15 percent of HIV diagnoses were in people over 50. (This 2005 data is the most recent research on the topic.)
Why are STIs on the rise? The vaginal dryness that comes with menopause makes women more vulnerable to contracting STIs, and there’s a knowledge gap between older and younger women when it comes to contracting infections. In 2010, an Indiana University study found that condom use was super-low among folks over 45. There’s also the fact that physicians may assume that older women have only one sexual partner, and therefore don’t require regular STI testing (wrong). STIs in older adults are often misdiagnosed and/or diagnosed too late, making them less likely to respond to treatment.
There are approximately 1 million jokes about older and elderly folks being too old and fragile for sex. We know that sex is important for those with chronic conditions like arthritis, and the same is true for those in later life.
“If people stay sexually active older,” says Rapini, “their immune systems are stronger. It reduces depression and memory loss. There’s no supplement you can take to mimic its health benefits. Older women want to enjoy their lives, and that means enjoying sex. ”
With the new iteration of American Idol comes a whole new panel of judges, and we're sure they could all use some sage wisdom from judges past. Unless those judges past only made it through one season of Idol. And famously called it "the worst experience of [their] life." And are prone to being a little on the diva side.
In case you haven't caught on yet, we're talking about Mariah Carey, who was a judge for one ill-fated season and has bashed the show ever since, even going so far as to say Idol producers were sabotaging her by offering her the gig.
Carey's current tour mate Lionel Richie is one of the names being kicked around for potential judge spots for the upcoming revival season, and in an interview withEntertainment Tonight, Carey shared the best advice she has for him if he's really being considered for the job.
"I would say, don't do it," she said. "No, I'm only kidding. If he wants to do it, that'll be great. I think he would be really good at it."
We're not really sure why Carey hated the gig so much, but in that interview, she also revealed that she thinks she was offered the job because American Idol wanted to hurt her career.
"Yeah, they just were trying to foil me when I went on there," she continued. "So, you know, that's the only reason why I say that [to Richie]."
Carey also alluded to sabotage after her disastrous New Years Eve performance in Times Square. Is it just us, or is her paranoia starting to look like a pattern when things aren't going just right with her career?
Now, they're reuniting to team up for James' new show, Kevin Can Wait. But Remini's entrance to the show isn't all smooth sailing — Erinn Hayes' character is being killed off to make room for Remini.
It's clear they really wanted Remini on board if they were willing to suddenly kill a character off between seasons. That kind of disruption could throw fans for a loop. But after Remini appeared as a guest star on the season 1 finale, her natural chemistry with James clearly made producers want her on the show full time.
Sherman also explained why it was necessary to have Hayes' character suddenly die before the start of season 2, rather than be written out of the show over the course of a new storyline.
"The discussions went on," he said. "We talked about other things. Ultimately this what was decided with the producers that this was the best way to move forward."
Remini officially announced in early June that she was going to be joining the cast of Kevin Can Wait full time. The same day, Hayes announced her sudden departure.
"True, I've been let go from the show," she tweeted on June 3. "Very sad, I had a great experience season 1. Thank you for all the support from our wonderful fans."
Let's be real. Even most of us adults aren't 100 percent sure what Labor Day is all about, so taking the time to teach our kids about it is super beneficial for everyone. Our children may be years away from their first jobs, but these Labor Day facts and trivia will teach them that this national holiday is more than just another day off from school — and the info will enlighten the grown-ups, too.
From when it is celebrated to why you (supposedly) can't wear white after the first Monday in September, uncover the fun and informative history of Labor Day.
Q: Why do we celebrate Labor Day?
A: This national holiday celebrates the achievements of the American worker as a result of the labor movement of the 19th century. During the 1800s, labor unions fought to free the American worker of 16-hour workdays and harmful work environments, establishing more rights for employees.
A: Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September every year. However, this celebration of the American worker wasn't always a designated day throughout the country.
Q: When was the first Labor Day observed?
A: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the first observance of Labor Day was recognized on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, when an estimated 10,000 workers gathered for a parade in New York City organized by the Central Labor Union. The organization urged similar labor organizations to celebrate their own "workingmen's holiday" event, an idea that caught on throughout more than half of the states in the country by 1894. That same year, congress passed an act on June 28, 1894 to designate the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
Q: Which state was the first to officially make Labor Day a state-recognized holiday?
A: In 1887, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday, seven years before the President declared the celebration a national holiday.
Q: Do other countries celebrate Labor Day?
A: While the United States is the birth place of this annual holiday, similar worker's days are also celebrated in other countries such as Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago in association with each country's labor movement.
Q: How have jobs changed in the last 100 years?
A: The farm owner and tenant industry accounted for the largest number of employees in 1910, but these days retail salespeople are the prime employee base with with more than 4 million Americans employed in retail (per the US Census).
Q: How many people work in the United States?
A: According to the latest Census figures, there are 158.5 million people age 16 years and older in the country's labor force.
A: While the United States Department of Labor states that rules vary depending upon state, job type and age of the minor, on average a person must be 14 years or older to enter the workforce. The number of hours minors under the age of 16 is also limited but varies by state. However, Forbes reports that children as young as 5 and 6 years old worked in factories and mines in the late 1800s.
Q: Why do people say not to wear white after Labor Day?
A: While much of the population has left this fashion faux pas in the past, the actual origin of the fashion decree of not wearing white after Labor Day is up for debate. Many people mark the end of summer with the Labor Day holiday, so some say that leaving the breezy, carefree linens and white clothing for hotter months was a symbolic way of waving bye-bye to summertime. Others say that the change in weather around this date doesn't permit white attire. Either way, it's now safe to wear your bright whites in public past the September marker in today's society.
Let's get one thing out of the way right now — this school year won't be a perfect one. Regardless of how many Pins you have in the obligatory "back-to-school lunches" Pinterest board and the fact that you've been planning your kids' homework station for the past two months, this school year you will: be late for pickup, forget to pack your kids' lunch or speed from drop-off to work and realize you're still wearing your slippers. And that's OK. It happens to the best of us.
But all those Pinterest searches weren't for nothing. I've realized that the easiest way to keep my household running semi-smoothly is my household management binder. And these super-cute back-to-school pages make it easy for me to update my binder when it's time for school to start (in two weeks. But who’s counting?). These sheets take it a step further for well-meaning moms like me who want to do all the things we see online but never get around to. (I still have "fill out years 3-5 in the baby book" on my to-do list). These pages track not only our kids' weekly schedules, homework assignments and activities, but also include a spot to document their first and last day of school.
If you're anything like me — stop what you're doing (yes, now) and print these sheets and add them to your household binder. Don't have one yet? Get started with this one and add in the school sheets. Since I only have one school-age child, I have just one section marked off for him. But feel free to print off a few copies and have a section for each of the kiddos.
If you're reading this thinking — who needs all this? I dictate my kids' schedules into my iPhone while simultaneously washing dishes and preparing wholesome, organic and locally grown meals — pass it on to a friend who can use it. She'll be the one wearing slippers at the office.
In living proof that sometimes the best wedding presents are things you get yourself, one bride was lucky enough to receive a letter from former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama after inviting them to her wedding.
What do you do when you get a letter from a former president in the mail? I think the bride's daughter Brooke said it best. "MY MOM DEADASS SENT THE OBAMAS A WEDDING INVITATION BACK IN MARCH AND JUST RECEIVED THIS IN THE MAIL. IM HOLLERING."
The bride, Liz, sent the invitation to the Obamas on a whim, not expecting any response at all. So when the letter came in the mail with their kind message, both mother and daughter were totally freaking out.
Brooke posted the letter on Twitter, where it went viral. I mean, I think a lot of us miss the former first family, so this is sort of like a little "hello!" to remind us that somewhere out there, the Obamas are currently living their best lives. And considering how much we admire their strong marriage, it seems almost like a good luck charm to get their blessing for your nuptials.
But this isn't the only time the Obamas have responded to invitations and fan mail. One woman responded to Brooke's tweet with a letter she received on her graduation; another upon the birth of her baby.
Obamas respond to graduation announcment
Obamas respond to graduation announcment
Obamas respond to baby announcement
Obamas respond to baby announcement
The Obamas are obviously super-busy, so the fact that they would even take the time (or have their assistants take the time if we're being realistic) to respond to these personal queries says a lot.
And now that we know, I'm guessing I'm not the only one who'll be buying new stationary today. I sure hope the Obamas will be free for my Halloween party!
Actress Julia Stiles (of Dexter and 10 Things I Hate About You fame) just surprised us with a very unexpected baby bump shot on Instagram.
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles
The mom-to-be posted the adorable picture of her growing belly — Stars! They do mirror selfies just like us! — with the simple caption, "Alright, I couldn't resist."
To be honest, we can't resist you and that bump either, Julia.
Although a rep confirmed her pregnancy in June, this is Stiles' first public acknowledgment that her first child is in fact on the way. The look on her face makes us think Stiles has just hit that holy crap, is this really happening? moment of her pregnancy.
Stiles and her fiancé, Preston J. Cook, got engaged back in 2015 on Christmas Eve. The parents-to-be don't seem to be in a hurry to marry according to People.
“I’m not getting a ton of marital advice,” Stiles told the magazine in 2016. “We’re really slow on the wedding planning."
JS 2
JS 2
Cook — a camera assistant — and Stiles got engaged in Isla Grande, Colombia. (She posted a shot of the sparkler on Instagram. *Swoon*) The sweethearts met on the set of Go With Me, later renamed Blackway.
Stiles tends to be pretty reserved on social media, so it might be quite a while before we hear anything else about her pregnancy. Still, the expression on her face in her Instagram post says it all. This is one very cute and very excited almost-mom.
In a very 90s-era series of events, Gwen Stefani is coming out with a Christmas album this year. Like many of her fellow 90s and early 2000s pop singers - Hilary Duff, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey, of course - Gwen is finally catching up and putting out an album of her own. Well, not entirely her own.
It wouldn’t be a joyous and merry Christmas album without a little lovey-dovey cuteness from Gwen’s BF, Blake Shelton. Along with the catalogue of classic holiday tunes that are registered for the LP, Gwen and Blake have written their own duet too. It’s not the first time the two have collaborated, but it IS the first time they've collaborated on Stefani’s first Christmas album!
On a Gwen Stefani fan Twitter account, a full set list of the album was posted, including collaborations with other artists as well. The entire album is written mostly by the No Doubt singer and songwriting couple Justin Tranter and Busbee. And the song including Blake Shelton is the last on the list, and it’s called “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.”
The last time the couple did collaborate was on The Voice for the song “Go Ahead and Break My Heart.” Entertainment Tonight chatted with Stefani about her time and work on The Voice, and her other collaborations leading up to the new album. “Anytime I’ve ever collaborated with anyone, it’s always my favorite. But to do something with [Blake] - because he’s so talented and comes from such a different world - to make music together, it was just so shocking! So amazing to do it live and share it with everybody.”
