Do you remember the halcyon days of 1997? What were you up to 20 (yes, 20) years ago?
If there's one thing that you're sure to remember, it's the music of 1997. Back in those days, there was (what felt like) memorable hit after memorable hit, and if you wanted to make sure you had those hits ready to play, you probably made a mixtape. I mean, you can't just roll up to a house party and not have the latest jams from Backstreet Boys or Sugar Ray ready to blast on the boombox, right?
Looking to the past, it's easy to see that 1997 was a big year for music with lots of songs worthy of being put on a summer playlist. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the hits that are not only celebrating a milestone anniversary but have also kept us grooving along in the years since they were released.
1. Aqua, "Barbie Girl"
'97 Playlist Feature Aqua
'97 Playlist Feature Aqua
Nothing says "1997" quite like the inane and totally amazing "Barbie Girl."
2. Hanson, "MMMBop"
'97 Playlist Feature Hanson
'97 Playlist Feature Hanson
Twenty years later, the meaning of "MMMBop" is still as elusive yet profound as it was when it first hit the airwaves.
If you had told me as a child that someday I could eat raw cookie dough shame-free and without my long-standing fear of salmonella getting in the way, I would have thought, "Yes, after I have died and gone to heaven."
But luckily, we live in a world where eating raw cookie dough without leaving this mortal plane isn't just possible, it's safe, gourmet and encouraged. I'm talking The Cookie Dough Café, there's a paradise-on-Earth of uncooked desserts that you can freely consume as often as you like without getting food poisoning or having to awkwardly squeeze it out of a tube.
But even more exciting? Their latest flavor. The Cookie Dough Café has come out with an official Oreo dough, and I'm just about losing it.
Oreo cookie dough
Oreo cookie dough
Now, in appearance, the dough is much closer to a cookies-and-cream sort of Oreo flavor than you might think from the name alone (I mean, the fact that it's not a jet-black dough gives that away pretty quickly). In fact, some think it's just a rebranding of their original cookies and cream flavor, now with the official Oreo seal of approval. But semantics aside, it looks creamy and sweet and is loaded with Oreo chunks. You really can't go wrong!
Currently, The Cookie Dough Café sells its products online and in select stores around the country. The Oreo flavor was spotted at Mariano's, but you can always call your local store and ask if they have it in yet.
In the meantime, no one will judge me if I dunk my Oreos into chocolate chip cookie dough instead of milk, right?
Season 1 was all about telling the stories of former church members with the theme of disconnection, telling about how and why the church forced them to be separated from friends and family who remained Scientologists.
Season 2 is going to delve deeper, Remini revealed in a new interview withThe Hollywood Reporter. According to Remini, this new season will explore the abuses she accuses the church of carrying out, especially on children who may be members of the church because of their parents' involvement. As a former member of the church since she herself was a child, the allegations Remini makes are unsettling, with the implication her personal experiences with the church can act as a support to her claims.
"Scientology policy dictates that children are grown men and women in little bodies. They believe a 7-year-old girl should not shudder at being passionately kissed. That's in Dianetics," Remini said, referencing Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's 1950 book about the core values of the church.
She continued, "And if a child is molested, that child and/or parent cannot go to the police because it's against policy. They handle it in Scientology. They will usually bring the molester in and give them spiritual 'auditing,' or counseling."
Remini claims that victims within the church "get punished for 'pulling it in,' which is a Scientology term that means you did something that you're not telling the church about — and that's why you received the abuse. The child is usually made to do some kind of amends, to make up for what happened to them."
She wants to do more than just tell stories this time around and wants to compile actual evidence of the church's criminal wrongdoing — enough of it to spark an investigation into Scientology. "I'm talking about the FBI, the police, the Department of Justice, the IRS," she said.
Remini has been an outspoken critic of the church ever since she left its ranks in 2013. Somehow, though, she's avoided the kind of backlash she says often affects those who speak out against the secretive organization.
That's what a source close to them is saying, and if true, it would be a very interesting development for the pair. "The divorce is off," an insider told Us Weekly in this week's issue. "They haven’t done anything to move it forward in several months and no one thinks they are ever going to."
That's honestly shocking considering Jolie and Pitt have been separated for months now and have made it appear as if they are going to co-parent even if they aren't together. Additionally, while Pitt has stirred up rumors around his dating again, many reports indicated Jolie was keeping to herself. For months now, it's appeared that these two were moving on and away from each other.
But allegedly she has changed her tune about Pitt entirely. "She’s still so in love with him," the source alleged to Us.
Of course, Jolie isn't the only one having a change of heart here. Pitt, who admitted in an interview with GQ that he was having some pretty serious alcohol problems around the time of the split, has reportedly quit booze cold turkey. "He got sober to try and win her back," the source said. "He knew he had a problem that he had to take care of. And that’s all she ever wanted."
All we're waiting for now is the announcement from the allegedly reconciled couple; the insider added, "Everyone thinks they are going to get back together. It wouldn’t be surprising if they announced that they’re calling it off and trying to work things out."
This week, with the end of Chris Pratt and Anna Faris' marriage as well as Amber Heard and Elon Musk's blossoming romance, we needed this news. Bless Brangelina.
Comedian Andy Samberg and his pianist-harpist wife, Joanna Newsom, are super-sneaky. The pair secretly welcomed a baby girl recently. The news was confirmed by Samberg's rep to Us Weekly.
We're amazed that the couple, who married in 2016, was able to keep Newsom's pregnancy a total secret — even after their daughter arrived.
However, the couple has declined to give further details — name, birth date — at this time.
Newsom hinted that she and Samberg had babies on their minds back in a 2015 interview with Larry King when she joked about a possible "little harpist Samberg" on the horizon.
Samberg said his late hours during his years at Saturday Night Live have prepped him well for his new role. "I’ve been trained with Saturday Night Live," he said. "You don’t sleep there. When you work there, you don’t sleep."
Can't wait to see if Baby Girl Samberg takes after her dad or mom. Congrats to Newsom and Samberg on their very impressive stealth operation.
Women are constantly being bombarded with health and sex advice (including by us), but not all of it is helpful. But here are a few everyday habits that you might want to reconsider given their possible impact on your sexual and reproductive health. We talked to top OB-GYNs to get their take on the major key players preventing you from being healthy.
Binging on porn
Although you would think pornography would spice things up, Dr. Brandye Manigat, OB-GYN and libido coach, says it can actually cause more problems than it solves. “If you’re watching it alone, it’s often in secret, and that creates feelings of shame and isolation, which makes it hard to connect with your partner,” she adds. “If you’re watching together, your partner may feel intimidated by the actors on screen — how they look, what they’re doing — and feel pressured to look or act a certain way.”
A song by Nicki Minaj has caused a dangerous trend: anal intercourse immediately followed by vaginal intercourse to create "truffle butter." Manigat warns that this introducing bacteria from the intestines into the vagina is a surefire way to get an infection. If you engage in anal sex, she recommends you and your partner shower or at least rinse off your private areas before having vaginal intercourse. Bottom line: Be careful who and what you imitate because it could land you in the hospital.
Having sex without a condom
You’ve probably heard this enough times to be blue in the face, but OB-GYNs cannot express it enough. “I have a surprising number of older and younger women who do not use condoms when starting a new sexual relationship,” says Dr. Kameelah Phillips, an OB-GYN in New York City, adding that "if both of you aren’t tested for STDs prior to sex or are not monogamous, you’re gambling with your health.” She also points out that one episode of unprotected sex can lead to gonorrhea, chlamydia and pelvic inflammatory disease. Have a plan to discuss condom use or wait.
Ignoring your body’s alerts
“Pain is a universal signal that something is wrong in the body,” says Phillips. “Pain during or after sex is not normal, so you should see your health care provider as soon as possible to find out what is wrong.” It may be as simple as a yeast infection that’s easily treated with a prescription pill or cream, but it could be something more serious, such as endometriosis or uterine fibroids, which may require surgery to treat and should be caught early.
It’s no surprise that smoking is bad news for your health, teeth, breath and just about everything else. And it can also have an impact on your reproductive health. “Smoking causes wrinkles, discolors your teeth, and it can make it harder for the sperm and egg to get together and reach the uterus, leading to an ectopic pregnancy, a medical emergency,” says Manigat.
And the same goes for e-cigarettes. “The toxins in e-cigs accumulate in fluid around your precious eggs and sperm cells and can cause irreversible DNA damage to eggs,” adds Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, San Francisco-based fertility specialist.
Drinking too much caffeine
Your morning cup of joe might get you up and running in the morning, but be careful not to also indulge in too many afternoon cups. “We know that moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 milligrams a day) was thought to be a contributing factor in miscarriages and preterm labor,” explains Dr. Sherry Ross, an OB-GYN and women’s health expert in Santa Monica, California, and author of She-ology. “The good news for coffee drinkers is that studies currently do not show that moderate caffeine consumption will lead to an increased miscarriage rate or affect your chance of conceiving.” She suggests limiting your caffeine intake to one or two cups of coffee or tea a day and keeping tabs on how much caffeine is contained in the foods you eat as well.
Skipping out on exercising
“Many women believe that if they are trying to conceive they should stop exercising,” says Eyvazzadeh. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Both the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend at least 150 minutes of exercise per week in pregnancy. So don’t stop moving, but do remember not to overdo it either. “Exercising too much can cause an irreversible stop to your periods,” Eyvazzadeh adds. “Approximately 20 percent of extreme athletes (elite athletes included) may not have resumption of their periods after they slow down their exercise routine.”
Overloading on medication
Supplements can be great additions to your diet and fill the voids of any nutrients you might be missing. But there is such a thing as going overboard. “Certain medications you might be taking could be teratogenic, or harmful to the embryo during the early stages of conception,” says Ross. “Some include Rogaine (minoxidil), which is commonly used for hair loss and can affect the quality of sperm, and prescription acne drugs such as Accutane and tetracycline, which both pose potential harmful effects to the developing embryo.”
Surprisingly, substance abuse is one of the leading causes of complications during pregnancy. “These drugs contain chemicals that are harmful during the pre-planning period and pregnancy,” says Ross. “They have byproducts that are found in the vaginal fluids, affect the quality of sperm and ultimately the ability for the egg and sperm to fertilize.” And marijuana, though recreational and legal in some states, is no exception. “Marijuana-smoking makes the sperm hyperactive and less fertile and increases the risk of spontaneous miscarriage and possibly an ectopic pregnancy in women.”
A newborn baby in Brazil clung to her mother's face right after being born by C-section — and the video released on People's Instagram page is utterly remarkable.
Newborn and mom
Newborn and mom
Brenda Coelho de Souza gave birth to her daughter — named Agata Ribeiro Coelho — on April 5 at the Santa Monica Hospital in Brazil. Her daughter was placed next to her, and that's when baby Agata reached onto her mother's face, holding on tightly. Squeeee.
This amazing, pure mama-child love is astonishing people worldwide. No wonder — it's one of the most beautiful moments we've ever seen.
According to the Daily Mail, Coelho de Souza said of the meeting, "It was an incredible moment when my daughter hugged me for the first time...The medical team were great and were all really surprised that she acted this way, they couldn't believe how affectionate she was with me."
Maybe it's pointless, but we still can't help speculating about Chris Pratt and Anna Faris' split earlier this week. Can you blame us? They were one of the most loved Hollywood couples there is. We need to know what went wrong. We need answers.
Luckily, TMZ understands our plight and has done a pretty solid investigation into what caused love to die in August 2017.
According to the site, there was no cheating involved (thank goodness) nor was there any huge fight or unforgivable transgression or really any drama at all. The reason for the breakup was simple: Faris and Pratt have both changed since they got married in 2009, and now they have different ideas for what they want for their family and their futures.
Faris wants a family "that is pretty much together most of the time," according to TMZ. "She wants a base... which for her has been Los Angeles. We're told she wants more kids."
Meanwhile, Pratt "has had some life-changing experiences that has required him to adjust the balance between family and career. When he married Anna back in 2009, she was much bigger than him. He's now at the top of the Hollywood food chain, and with that comes opportunities that take him all over the world, shooting movies that take him away from home for months at a time."
The site also reports that Pratt doesn't want more kids right now since it's already hard enough juggling his A-list career with his one son, Jack.
Even though they're reportedly prepping to file for divorce, Faris and Pratt are still close, and their legal split will be "as amicable as it gets."
Reed said that she and Somerhalder plan to cocoon with their new arrival and shun the pressure to share health updates and photos.
“We’ll take the baby’s first month for ourselves,” Reed said. “After the baby arrives, we’re doing one month of silence. Just the three of us, no visitors, and we’re turning off our phones too, so there’s no expectation for us to communicate.”
They are unplugged, granola-parenting perfection, these two, and the baby hasn't even arrived.
We love their wise thinking about the newborn days. "You don’t get those first 30 days back, and we want to be fully present," Reed said.
Fair enough. But we hope the couple is not too hard on themselves if their baby proves too darn cute to resist sharing pics. Hey, it happens to the best of us.
The couple has been pretty private about the pregnancy — in fact, Reed revealed it was months before she and Somerhalder even told family and friends about the baby on the way.
Reed said it was "this really cool thing, a secret with just each other."
So we're betting you won't be surprised that the couple is also waiting to find out the sex of their child. “It’s the greatest and only true surprise of your life.”
Wellllll, we're not sure it's the only true surprise in a lifetime, but yeah, it is pretty great, we have to agree.
The couple is not eager for any surprises when it comes to the delivery itself, and so Reed plans to have a doctor, doula and massage chiropractor on hand to keep her "comfortable and informed."
Bless her. "Comfortable" is not a word we usually associate with childbirth no matter how smooth, but we've got fingers crossed that Reed's birth plan goes... well, as planned.
“I used to want a home birth, unmedicated and with a midwife. But now I know people who’ve had great experiences at birthing centers and hospitals,” Reed said.
“My doctor says, ‘Midwives always think nothing will go wrong. Doctors always think something will. Let’s find a place in the middle,’” Reed said. “So Ian and I are looking at all options.”
Somerhalder, for his part, is loving the effect Reed's pregnancy is having on her. “Ian jokes that he wants to keep me pregnant forever,” she said. “Pregnant, I’m a better version of myself. I’m really chill and relaxed, which I think is the greatest blessing.”
Reed is also completely loving pregnancy, “Being pregnant has given me this new and powerful appreciation for my body...I want to write my pregnant body love letters, it’s so f***ing cool!”
A lot of pregnant women want to send their pregnant body hate mail ("Hey, thanks for the hemorrhoids!"; "Nah, I didn't need that nine months of sleep anyway!") so we kind of wonder if Reed conceived their baby in the shadow of a glittering unicorn while kittens bounced on fluffy clouds overhead. Next time? We'll have what she's having.
Seriously, though, we love the pure positivity of these two about the road to parenthood — and when the baby throws them some unexpected curveballs (which you know it totally will), we're betting they'll be able to handle it just fine. After the initial shock wears off.
Welcome to Survivor, in which author Catherine Newman tries to answer your questions about adolescents and why they’re like that — and how to love them despite everything.
We suspect our 17-year-old son and his girlfriend are having sex, though we haven’t talked to him about it directly. We make them keep the door open when she’s over [and] don’t let her spend the night. What else can we do to stop them or, at the very least, not seem permissive?
Answer:
Bear with me, please, while I detour around answering your question. Because I want to back up first and work through what seems to be your fundamental assumption — which is that 17-year-olds shouldn’t be having sex.
I know that there’s an invisible script we’re inclined to follow as parents — I think it’s the one we’ve lifted from our own childhoods, even if it reflects parts of those childhoods that weren’t so valuable. We reflexively speak some of the ideas and expectations our own parents had: that teenagers are lazy, they’re difficult, they can’t be trusted, they’re too young to have sex. But I don’t think this last is true (or the rest of it, for that matter). Or at least, I don’t think it’s true for all teenagers.
Not to be all TMI, but my own teenage sexual experiences were beautiful and set me up for a lifetime of high expectations and good sex. Partly this is because my high school boyfriend was a passionate and sensitive person. And partly this is because his mother (very radically for the time) gave us plenty of time and space for exploration. We were allowed to keep his bedroom door closed for hours on end, and she never interrupted us or made us feel awkward or strange when we emerged for dinner, though she must have laughed inside about our rug burns and matted hair and the way we shoveled pasta carbonara into our flushed faces like we were starving.
One of my own mantras is this: Teenagers cannot have good sex if they don’t have the space for it. They need room and time to consent and explore, to be naked together and (for straight kids) use birth control properly, to experiment and ask questions. If you don’t allow them that, they won’t not have sex. They’ll have hurried, bad sex in the car with their jeans on. And look, one or two breathless behind-the-bleachers quickies isn’t going to kill anyone, but frantic, furtive sex means that straight girls are more likely to get pregnant and less likely to have orgasms. Who comes when they’ve got five minutes and an unlocked door? Guess.
Now, all that said, 14 introduced an important caveat when we were talking about this issue, which was that maybe your child doesn’t want to be having sex and not being allowed to have it in the house protects him. (To be honest, this idea made 17 laugh out loud, but it’s still a really important point.) Her solution is, as always, full transparency. “You need to ask your son, 'Do you want the house to be a place you can’t have sex? Or do you want boundaries you can count on?' You could even ask bigger questions. 'What rules do you wish I did or didn’t make when your girlfriend is here? What would make you feel safe and happy in the ways you want?' Then if it makes him feel safer to keep sex out of the house, you can help with that. And if they both want to have sex in the house, then make sure your kid understands about consent and good sex, and let them.” #BoddhiSatva
I agree completely. And the last part means talking to your child about pleasure, respect, consent and female anatomy and physiology among other things. Or getting a really good book — a feminist one that presumes that sex is good and girls should come too.
Fourteen’s other concern: “If you send a message that they’re not having sex, they shouldn’t be having sex, then if they need advice — like about birth control — they’re not going to talk to you because they won’t think they can or should. Instead of stopping them from having sex — and they’ll find a way if they really want to — what you can do is foster a good environment where they can have good, safe sex.
Seventeen agreed with this. “It makes sense to keep more transparency for the benefit of, if nothing else, just for safety. Change your attitude and stretch yourself to try to be more open. And think about not being a hypocrite. What were you like when you were younger? Lots of people have policies that don’t match what they were doing when they were teenagers.” This is a great point, I think. If you wanted to be having sex, then why don’t you want your teenager to? Or if sex was bad for you at that time, are there ways you can help them have a more positive experience than you did?
Fourteen’s concluding advice: “You might want to think a little bit more to get at the root of why you don’t want your kids to have sex. Do you want to try to talk with them more clearly about safe sex? Good sex? Are there problems you could solve? A lot of it seems like peer pressure — 'I don’t want to be permissive. I don’t want other moms to judge me.'” It’s weird to think about, but I think it might be strangely true — that we’re in a culture that pressures parents to say no to teenage desires. And maybe we could say yes more than we think to.
The New York Times best-selling self-help book is set to hit the big screen, and Katie Holmes will star.
According to Deadline, "This new movie will center on a hard-working young widow (Holmes) with three children who hires a handyman to fix her house during a terrible storm. As the handyman grows closer to the family, he shares his philosophy of believing in the power of the universe to deliver what we want, but the widow soon realizes he carries a secret connection to her past."
So it's not exactly a movie version of the book, but a movie with a plot that embraces the tenants of the book.
The Secret was on The New York Times bestsellers list for three and a half years, so there's definitely a fan base that will be ready for the film. It's been in the works since the book's release in 2006, but it's tricky adapting a self-help book for the big screen, obviously.
"Our filmmakers have created a compelling family love story that embodies the principles of The Secret," producer Robert Cort said in a statement. "We intend to make a film as funny, emotional and endearing as its message is hopeful."
And the author of The Secret, Rhonda Byrne, is fully on board.
"I am so excited that the film version of The Secret is finally here," she said. "This movie will not only be a great thrill for The Secret fans across the planet, it’s also certain to ripple out and touch millions more people."
Take a look at your newest soon-to-be King and Queen of England! Today, Queen Elizabeth officially announced that she will be passing down her crown to her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. This, of course, means that the Queen has skipped over her own son, Prince Charles, in the British monarchy’s line of succession. Bummer.
While the drama surrounding the royal family has taken most of the attention away from their policies and image of regal stature, the Queen believes implementing a younger generation than her son is vital for the House of Windsor to thrive in the future.
“Her Majesty realized that William and Kate are the future,” said a palace insider. “She has spent 65 years making sure that the House of Windsor survives, and she sees William and Kate as having the energy and star quality to do the job in a modern world. Queen Elizabeth will always do what is best for the long-term health of the monarchy.”
Her Majesty has also said that she truly does not believe the monarchy has the “respect and power it once had.” The source continued, “In her eyes, William and Kate are the two people who can turn that around.”
So how does the King-to-be and forever-Prince feel about the decision? Unfortunately, the decision has caused a rift between William and his father Charles. According to the same insider, their relationship has been strained, but they will get used to it eventually. Just like classic Brits, they’ll push their feelings as deep down as possible!
And, of course, what does this mean for the world’s most popular couple and their young family? Since Prince George and Princess Charlotte are only 4 and 2 years old, respectively, Kate is mostly concerned about her role as a mother. “She’s desperate to remain a hands-on mom and worries about being in the spotlight more,” says the palace insider.
So while the rest of the world is excited for the change and step forward, it’s important to remember that they are, in fact, still trying to be a normal family.
Not to say that every summer hasn’t been someone’s Summer of Rihanna, but it’s absolutely safe to say that this summer is everyone’s Summer of Rihanna. The star is living her best life these days, making headlines for every little wonderful thing she does. Like when she was seen doing some heavy kissing in a hot tub with her very hot new boo, or when she rocked that look at the Met Gala (yeah, that one), and even this weekend when she participated in the Barbados Crop Over Festival and dressed in her truly breathtaking native costume.
But honestly, nothing comes close to when Rihanna compared Diplo’s music to “a reggae song at an airport” on Tuesday.
rihanna insta
rihanna insta
What makes this so great is that Rihanna hasn’t apologized for saying it. She and Diplo, a house music DJ, have attempted to collaborate before, but RiRi has refused, once saying, “I don’t do house music,” according to a GQ interview with the DJ. And in her Instagram post of the Paper Magazine article, headlined “Rihanna Told Diplo His Music Reminded Her of a ‘Reggae Song at an Airport,’” Rihanna simply captioned, “#DutyFree My bad @diplo”.
Besides this hilarious reaction, the pop star has been known to never take too much too seriously. Her Instagram is full of memes and pictures aligning with current events. Like Trump’s presidential inauguration, or when she photoshopped Queen Elizabeth’s head on some of her most popular outfits.
rihanna insta
rihanna insta
rihanna insta
rihanna insta
So if we can learn anything from Rihanna, it’s that taking yourself too seriously when you’re one of the world’s biggest celebrities is unnecessary, and just being yourself can be super cool. She’s also taught us that wearing sunglasses from the 1980s and 1990s CAN and SHOULD be a Red Carpet look.
The TCA Tour, or the Television Critics Association tour, featured FX on Wednesday in their network panels, specifically for American Horror Story. The panel seats included Sarah Paulson, Alison Pill, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Leslie Grossman, Alexis Martin Woodall, Lou Eyrich, and Eryn Krueger Mekash. No specifics were given on the upcoming season, but definitely enough details were told to get fans excited for Cult.
According to entertainment writer for CBS Watch magazine Jim Colucci tweeted from the tour, “@AHSFX is keeping such a tight lid on this season they won’t tell us why they had more advance scripts this year before shooting.”
So while the cast wasn’t opening up about process during production, only a few pre-production secrets were given, like Billie Lourd’s inclusion this season. “I was a big fan and made that known,” said Lourd. “But I did not lobby, per se.” Her move comes from the Fox TV show Scream Queens, where the breakout actress, and daughter of Carrie Fisher, played Chanel #3. Speaking on that role compared to this AHS role, “My character is more of a human this time.”
Probably the biggest reveal of the whole panel was definitely that Alison Pill’s character and Sarah Paulson’s are a couple. There are two couples who are married in the house this season, one of them being Pill’s and Paulson’s. Pill mentioned some time she spent with Paulson before Cult started production. “Sarah Paulson and I went to dinner to talk #AHSCult - we had scripts in advance. We’ve known each other a long time.” Pill also admitted that she has developed a “someone is waiting to murder me in my shower” fear because of being a part of this season.
And finally, some pretty big plot information about this upcoming season from Woodall: “[American Horror Story is about] what’s going on in our world around us... It’s not what what you think it is.”
That’s all the information I need to be insanely excited about this new season.
Whether you’re curious about natural childbirth, looking for another tool to use during labor and/or interested in dispelling the idea that birth has to be painful and scary via your own birth experience, mindfulness childbirth classes might be right for you. A June 2017 article in Reutersreported that those who attended childbirth classes that place an emphasis on mindfulness practice reported lower rates of postpartum depression and avoided pain medication in early labor.
Mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting was developed by certified nurse midwife Nancy Bardacke, who after working for 30 years with women during childbirth, realized there was immense power in learning to be in the moment, even if in that moment, there is pain.
Rachelle Oseran studied with Bardacke and now teaches mindfulness childbirth classes in Israel, although she has also been a Lamaze instructor for more than two decades. “They are two very different paradigms, and I acknowledge the need to meet the different learning styles of expectant couples,” Oseran says. “Lamaze classes are more oriented to information as a tool for empowerment, while MBCP classes develop a ‘mode of being.'”
What happens during a mindfulness childbirth class? Amy (who had her second child six months ago) recognized some of the techniques from a college mindfulness meditation class. “The best thing we did was to hold an ice cube in our hands for about a minute,” she says. “We had to either focus on the ice cube or distance ourselves from it, trying to figure out what worked best for us. The ice cube pain represented the contraction pain. We went through the timing and breathed through contractions with that experience as a guide. I practiced at night when I couldn’t sleep. When I got to the birth, the whole contraction process was about what I expected.”
According to Ashlee Neuman, senior editor at The Bump, the aim of mindfulness childbirth classes is to help women be fully present during labor and delivery. The classes can include information about birthing positions, as well as yoga and meditation.
Lauren, who’s expecting her son in August, reported that in her mindfulness birth class, “we lay down on yoga mats in the natural class, and there was a recording of a man slowly talking about going to our relaxed, calm place. The idea is to find a calm center, that when the pain is bad you can drop into that happy place or during contractions when you need to recharge. We get into hard positions, are urged to be mindful of our breathing and breathe through the discomfort.”
“The goal is to cultivate awareness of both your body and your emotions,” says Neuman. “Most people take classes at the end of the pregnancy, but some people start sooner — which could be a good idea if you’re especially stressed about childbirth or have a high-risk pregnancy.”
The practice of mindfulness can also change your relationship with pain and help you to deal with contractions during labor.
Mindfulness can help to decrease pain and depression when practiced regularly, and for folks who deal with pain as the result of chronic illness, over time it can actually alter the pain you do and don’t feel over time. “You can relieve pain by focusing on your breath and not on thoughts of pain. The same areas of the brain are activated during mindfulness meditation as are activated when subjects were given other methods of coping with pain,” says Dr. Leah Weiss, a Stanford University professor and licensed social worker whose focus is mindfulness and compassion in the workplace.
Another method of natural childbirth involving meditation is hypnobirthing, but there is a difference between that and mindfulness practice. While both focus on altering your perception of pain, hypnobirthing is explicitly for labor and delivery and is predicated on the idea that your body knows what to do while you’re giving birth, and you don’t need any intervention, because it’s natural. You focus on positive thinking and serious relaxation. Mindfulness is a life skill that can be applied outside the birthing suite.
“If things don’t exactly go according to the mom’s original birth plan, mindfulness training can also help a woman still own the experience and be accepting of the situation,” says Neuman. She adds that mindfulness is a strategy that can be used long-term when things get tough in parenting and that partners, who are urged to take classes as well, can utilize mindfulness practices during stressful situations that come about in pregnancy, labor and after.
There was a time not that long ago when people didn't travel everywhere with a cellphone. It wasn't even until the '90s when accessing our email on our cellphones became a possibility. I'm no doctor or anything, but I'm pretty sure constantly being connected is the new cancer. It's stressing us the heck out, leading to burnout, and it definitely can't be good for that whole anxiety thing.
But let's remember that while it may be hard to unwind and detach on vacation these days, it's not impossible and it's 100 percent necessary. Here are few pointers to help you tune out the noise and actually relax.
1. Escape cell service
Ever wish there were a magic button to fight stress? Well, there is. It's on your phone, and it's called "airplane mode," or better yet, "off." Give people alternative numbers to where you're staying for emergencies — like the good ol' days before we all turned into cyborgs.
And if you're going somewhere international, don't go out of your way to upgrade your plan or pay for roaming charges. Don't even call to ask about it. Just put that sucker in airplane mode (so you can still use the camera) and don't think twice about it until you get home.
Thanks to social media, we all seem to have a fear of missing out. Who cares if Barbara gets engaged, Tara just made tacos or Sandra loves her #MostRomanticSpouseEver. Live in your moment instead and stop worrying about what's waiting for you on your Facebook feed. Every time you reach for your phone, ask yourself, "Do I really need to check that?" Or better yet, "Do I really need to post that?" Your vacation photos will still give your friends vacation envy when you get home.
3. Chuck the itinerary or let someone else figure it out
Don't dot all of your i's and cross all of your t's. Just don't. Sometimes, it's better to travel with no more than a basic idea of what you're doing and what you want to see and just let the rest fall into place. Don't underschedule, but don't overschedule. And consider trips that don't actually require a lot of detailed plans to begin with, like a cruise. You can book an entire cruise on Princess Cruises using one of their vacation planners — easy-peasy — and once your vacation starts, they'll get you everywhere you need to go.
If you're going somewhere that does require detailed coordinating, enlist a travel agent to help you out. There's no rule that says you have to do it all yourself. This is about kicking up your feet, letting your hair down and kissing (some) responsibility goodbye for a while.
It will be hard to relax if you're living in a toxic bubble of "I can't afford this" stress. So, travel within your means. At the same time, recognize that it's OK to treat yourself. There's a difference between "I can't afford this" and "I'm spending more than usual." Make peace with the fact that you'll see some hard-earned cash leave your fingertips, and know that it's for a good reason.
5. Set expectations with co-workers before you leave
None of this "here's how you can reach me on vacation" nonsense. Sure, there will be fires that need putting out, but if you prepare your co-workers to help you pick up the slack and map out a few emergency exits for them, you'll have a better shot at truly unplugging on your vacation. Say it with me: Someone else can handle it. And when they go on vacation, you can return the favor. It's a circle of love.
6. Might as well try meditating (or some other routine you've been meaning to try)
Vacations are a great time to establish a new habit that you've been too frazzled to think about back home. For example, journaling or meditating — when you're in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, who has time? But if you have seven days away from home, why not give it a try? If you enjoy it and find that it really helps you, you'll find a way to make it stick in your normal routine.
There's what you do, and there's why you do it. So when work frantically calls you on vacation (if you just couldn't manage to turn your phone off), try to remember that's only what you do for a living. At the end of the day, our jobs give us benefits that help us support our families and spend time with friends and do things for ourselves. If you don't actually have the time to do any of those things, what's the point? Take the time you're given and go all in. Deal with the rest when you get home.
We're now in mid-August and back-to-school time is in the air. The freedom of summer is coming to a close and teachers are prepping for students to hit the classroom — and all the delightful chaos that comes with our beloved little tornadoes whipping through the halls. We love our kids, but let's be real, teachers deserve medals for taking on that many children at one time. But since we can't really bestow an official honor of any sort, a thoughtful gift will have to do.
Here are almost three dozen budget-friendly gifts that any teacher will actually appreciate and use.
It is hard to go wrong with getting your child's teacher a gift card; however, I love this idea of a gift card bouquet from The Cul-De-Sac blog. This would be perfect if you are doing a gift from the entire class or if several of you are going in on this together. Pick up gift cards from your teacher's favorite stores and restaurants and glue them onto a paper flower attached to a stick. Insert the sticks into floral foam that is placed in a colorful pail. Paint the words, "Thank you for helping us grow," for a great finishing touch.
If the gift card bouquet would be too expensive, you can never go wrong with a gift card to her favorite restaurant, Target, grocery store or Amazon. For middle school kids who have multiple teachers, buying $5 Starbucks gift cards with a thank-you note attached would also be appreciated.
Teachers are always sending notes home for parents… often saying what a model student your child is (wink, wink). She will undoubtedly appreciate having this cute personalized notepad to deliver her notes in style. Pick up this Apple A Day Notepad for around $15 at Shutterfly. (Shutterfly, $15)
Both male and female teachers will appreciate a gift certificate to the local movie theater. You can slip the movie gift cards into a thank-you note — or you can get creative with this idea from Skip to My Lou and put the movie gift cards into this cute striped fry box (she includes a free printable template) as well as a tag that says, "Thanks for making me feel like a Star." Then fill the box with some of his or her favorite goodies to take to the movies.
Help your amazing teacher remember all off those special field trips, performances and other special moments by creating a photo book. You can either print out the photos and put them into a photo album, or upload your photos online. Shutterfly allows you to upload photos and add text, as well as incorporate cool backgrounds and layouts. They have five sizes of photo books starting at aroung $15.
Make grading papers a little easier by gifting your teacher with grading stamps. You can pick up generic stamps that say things like, "Good job!" or "A+" or "Needs improvement," or you can personalize them with her name, such as this personalized self-inking stamper. (Personalization Mall, $20)
Does your teacher also have a green thumb? She will love this gift idea from Silly Pearl, in which she gifted her kids' teachers with tomato seedlings from her own garden. Print tags that say, "Thank You for helping me Grow!" Silly Pearl includes a free printable on her website. She simply placed the seedlings in Jiffy Pots and wrapped the pots with fabric. You can get all the details on her website.
An automatic pencil sharpener will get lots of use in the classroom, so why not give your teacher one with a little personality? Kids will love gifting this Walking Robot Pencil Sharpener to their favorite teacher. (Amazon, $11)
Monogrammed stationary is not only a thoughtful gift, it is practical as well. You can choose to just have their initials for a clean and simple look, or have their entire name monogrammed. You can pick up a set of classic monogrammed bordered note cards for $55 at Paper Style. (Paper Style, $55)
14. School supply basket
Image: SheKnows; Getty Images
Every teacher will appreciate school supplies, since many times they have to purchase these items out of their own paycheck. Some items that are frequently requested include glue sticks, markers, crayons, notepads, antiseptic wipes, tissues, paper clips, erasers and pencils. Fill these items in a colorful bin or basket (that can also be used in the classroom) so she will be ready for the next year of school.
From the stacks of papers to grade to planners and more, teachers have a lot of things to tote. Help your favorite teacher tote her stuff in style by gifting her with a personalized tote bag. One great option is the personalized tote bag from Lands' End where you can choose from various sizes, colors and designs.
If your teacher has a cause that is near and dear to her heart, perhaps you can consider making a donation to the charity in her honor. Your favorite science teacher may appreciate your child adopting a sea creature in her name, or perhaps the art teacher has a favorite charity that supports arts in the school. Find out what is important to your teacher. Give her the donation slip, letting her know a donation has been made in her name, along with a thank-you note.
20. Class thank-you notes
Image: SheKnows;Getty Images
This gift is sure to bring tears to every teacher’s eyes! Slip in during lunch or pick a day when there is a substitute teacher and pass out note cards to the entire class. Have them write a thank-you note that includes their favorite memory of the year or what they love about the teacher. Place the note cards in a photo album, along with a class picture, for a gift she is sure to treasure.
Frame the class picture in an autograph frame and have the entire class sign the photo for a thoughtful and memorable keepsake. Stores like Target, Walmart and Michaels all have autograph frames for a reasonable price. (Walmart, $22)
Your teacher already has a million coffee mugs, so gift her with something she can use throughout the day such as a water bottle. She will love the colorful sleeve of this Eco Vessel glass water bottle which is BPA-free — and the plastic taste that often goes along with having a plastic water bottle. (BackCountry, $14)
Teachers use clipboards a lot. Add a little pizazz to her boring run-of-the-mill clipboard by giving her one that has her name on it. We love this "Teachers Change the World" personalized clipboard from Script and Scribble. (Script and Scribble, $42)
Brighten up her classroom with these adorable flower pots, which you can have personalized with her name or add a sweet quote, such as "Where children bloom" or "A place to grow." Add her favorite flowers or plants for the gift that keeps on giving. (Personalization Mall, $30)
Your teacher will surely get lots of use out of this practical and sweet gift. This personalized key ring includes a charm with the teacher's name, as well as a stamped apple with the grade that he or she teaches. You can pick up a personalized key ring at Lilly Ellen Designs. (Lilly Ellen Designs, $20)
Is your teacher trying to build up his or her homeroom classroom? Ask the teacher for an idea of what kind of books are needed and have each person in the class buy one book. Place them all in a gift basket for a thoughtful gift that can be used for years to come.
Help your teacher keep track of his or her lesson plan with this cute and practical Personalized Red Tassel Apple Bookmark. This would be a great idea for your child's tutor or classroom helper as well! (Personalization Mall, $16)
This is the perfect teacher gift for your older child that has multiple teachers. This coffee/candy combo is a teacher's dream — and who doesn't love See's? This is a sweet and budget-friendly way to give thanks for their hard work. (See’s Candies, $11)
The holidays are the perfect time to up the ante and give your child's teacher a nice piece of jewelry that she or he will wear all year long. This handmade cuff bracelet from Etsy is simple and understated — but it gets the message across. (Etsy, $16)
OK, so we know it's not exactly in season, but this adorable #1 Teacher ornament will be a fun take-home for winter break — reminding her how much her students care and how they want "s'more" of her good teaching. Hokey puns aside, this ornament is pretty darn cute. (Amazon, $10)
Even though it happened in 2014, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence has opened up to Vogue and revealed that she is still nervous about her privacy being invaded and her personal photos or information being leaked to the public. Three years ago, Lawrence was among a handful of female celebrities who were involved in a massive hacking scandal — which Lawrence herself calls a "sex crime" — that resulted in private photos being put on the internet. It's sad to hear that the actor, as strong and independent as she appears in public, still seems quite shaken by the incident.
For Lawrence, the biggest indicator her life was irrevocably changed is her comment on how she fears she was portrayed; she felt nervous of being judged. "It’s scary when you feel the whole world judges you. I think people saw [the hacking] for what it was, which was a sex crime, but that feeling, I haven’t been able to get rid of it. Having your privacy violated constantly isn’t a problem if you’re perfect. But if you’re human, it’s terrifying. When my publicist calls me, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, what is it?’ Even when it’s nothing. I’m always waiting to get blindsided again."
J-Law Vogue Photos
J-Law Vogue Photos
It's understandable that the feeling of being violated has buried itself deep in Lawrence's psyche; going through that ordeal and trying to put your life back in working order is no easy feat.
It's especially not easy when you continue to have your privacy invaded and misleading photos or videos are posted of you, as was the case when a video was posted that allegedly showed her pole dancing at a friend's birthday party, which she commented about publicly on her Facebook. What should have been a happy occasion was soon marred by yet another invasion of privacy.
"My biggest fear from that whole thing was that people were going to think that I was trying to be sexy. Also, it looked like I had taken my shirt off. I was in a crop top. I did not take off my shirt. I’m on the phone with my lawyers, and everybody’s like, ‘Is there anything we need to know before it comes out?’ And I’m like, 'No, it’s all there.'"
While Lawrence is continuing with a thriving career (she has two films coming out in the upcoming months), it's unfortunate that she is being forced to deal with a violation of her privacy that still weighs heavily on her mind.
If we're being honest, the road to conceiving and then carrying a child is not always a smooth one. It can be downright emotionally and physically draining, in fact — but there's no denying that the birth of a baby is a total miracle.
Which is exactly why baby names that mean "miracle" are so appropriate for your new bundle of joy. When your baby's name has such a literal translation with that special meaning, you get a lovely reminder every single day of what a gift they truly are. And we all know there are going to be some rough days when you need to be reminded.
Image: Terese Condella/Sheknows
We've also found some wonderful spiritual and blessed names, like Hope and Grace — and if you love exotic sounding names, we listed cool names from other languages that translate to mean “miracle," too.
Many parents are in touch with their spiritual side more than ever after having a miracle baby. The following spiritual baby names are the perfect way to celebrate your beliefs. In fact, the baby girl name Nevaeh, which is heaven spelled backwards, is a popular choice among parents, ranking number 35 on the Social Security Administration’s popular baby name list! Jessica Alba gave her daughter a twist on the name Heaven, with the beautiful spiritual name Haven.
Old Testament baby boy names are popular choices — they're classic names that never go out of style. In fact, the name Jacob has been the most popular boy’s name for 13 years in a row! Celebrities are also embracing the biblical name trend, as Gwyneth Paltrow named her son Moses. Brooke Burke named her son Shaya, which means “God’s gift” in Hebrew.
Check out more favorite spiritual and biblical boy names:
The following baby names are not only unique, but they have special meanings perfect for your miracle baby.
The French baby girl names Mireille, Marvel and Marvella all mean “miracle,” while Mireya is a Spanish name that means “miracle.” Micaela and Mikelle are both English names that mean “gift from God,” while Mirabelle is a French name that means “of incredible beauty.” We also love the names Bea, Gwyneth, Annie, Sachi, and Atara which all mean “blessed.”
For boys, the names Asher, Benedict, Bennett, Zelig and Barke all mean “blessing.” The English name Aaron and the Italian name Loreto are both great boy names that mean “miraculous.” We also love the names Neo, Jesse, Darko, Matthew and Theodore, which mean “gift.”
Baby names that mean "miracle" in other languages
Another fun idea is to name your child a name that means “miracle” in another language. You will love these unique and exotic sounding names. Many of these names are unisex, meaning you could use it for either a girl or a boy.
Milagro: Spanish
Miracolo: Italian
Mirakel: Norwegian
Milagre: Portuguese
Harika: Turkish
Names that mean "blessing" in other languages:
Benediction: French
Bendiction: Spanish
Beneficio: Italian
Names that mean "love" in other languages:
Amare: Italian
Amour: French
Amor: Spanish
Cinta: Indonesian
Agapi: Greek
For more name ideas, check out our baby name search that allows you to search for names by meaning and origin.
Originally published November 2015. Updated August 2017.
Heather Leroux posted a picture of her son's toy car life hack on Today's Facebook page with the caption, "My son just found the ‘batteries’ in my makeup bag.”
Tampon toy car
Tampon toy car
Who knew Lightning McQueen just needed two tampons to get through a day in Radiator Springs?
Hmmm. Is there actually a hybrid product in this that no one has come up with yet? If they were laced with battery power, maybe we'd have more pep in our step during that time of the month. Just sayin'.
Leroux — featured in this Facebook profile pic with her very cute family — told The Sun she had been worried about replacing the actual batteries in the toy car, fearing Leo would pry them out and play with them.
“For a few weeks now I’ve had to tell him I can’t replace the batteries and we’ll have to get more,” she said.
But Leo is a take-charge kind of a kid, obviously.
“While I was cooking, he took it upon himself to go through my gym bag, empty my make-up bag and play with my foundation,” she explained. “All of a sudden he screams and says, ‘Mummy look I found the batteries!’”
Leroux talked to Daily Mail Australia about breaking the news to Leo that they might not get the job done as he had hoped.
"I had to explain to him that they weren't batteries and that they are for mummy," she said. "I told him how clever he was, although they weren't going to make the car turn on!"
That's OK, Leo. They don't do much for us either, the boring old things. Ho-hum. At the very least, you'd think they'd start putting collectible trading cards or bubble gum in each box of tampons just to liven things up for a change. Maybe this is an idea for Shark Tank, hmmm...
