1. Rescue Remedy

Rescue Remedy is homeopathic tincture made from flower essences developed by Dr. Edward Bach. The product is particularly helpful for stress. Whether your animal suffers from separation anxiety, stress from a recent move or even the death of another pet or an owner, Rescue Remedy can help.

Rescue Remedy comes in drops or spray, and is available at most natural food stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts. You can also purchase online here.

2. Aloe vera

Just like with humans, the aloe vera plant is helpful for skin issues in animals. Aloe vera is great for soothing your pet's skin if they have hot spots or an allergic reaction, according to The American Animal Hospital Association via The Nest.

However, ingesting aloe vera can be harmful for dogs and cats and might result in nasty case of diarrhea. To be safe, be sure to bandage the area you apply aloe vera to your pet, and provide adequate supervision to ensure they don't lick it off. You also want to be careful to only apply the gel part of the plant. The white sap around the edges contain latex, which can also be harmful.

Aloe can be purchased by the bottle at many stores, but it's best — and more cost effective — to just get a plant and break open the leaves yourself.

More: My Dog's Dry Skin Turned Out to Be a Serious Medical Condition

3. Calendula

Calendula oil's antimicrobial and wound-healing properties make it a must-have for treating minor cuts, insect bites, abrasions, eczema and poison ivy, according to natural-dog-health-remedies.com. It can also be used on sprains and bruises, as an eye wash for conjunctivitis, or for the treatment of inflammation or ulceration of the digestive or urinary tracts.

You can purchase calendula extract formulated especially for pets on Amazon here.

4. Hypericum (St. John’s wort)

According to VCA Animal Hospitals, St. John's wort helps to reduce anxiety, depression and psychological stress in cats and dogs — so it comes in real handy during thunderstorms and visits to the groomer or vet.

VCA also says that scientists have identified a chemical basis for the herb's ability to relieve pain in a way similar to opiates, so St. John's wort is very useful for pain management in dogs and cats. In addition, "topical application of the essential oil prepared from St. John's Wort may help with mild contusions, muscle aches, and minor skin irritations."

St. John's wort should not be used in conjunction with any other medications, so be sure to check with your vet before giving any to your pet.

5. Echinacea

According to Dogs Naturally magazine, echinacea can work wonders in helping to support your pet's immune system. However, it can be harmful for dogs who suffer from immune mediated diseases, so check with your vet.

You can buy echinacea formulated for dogs and cats on Amazon here.

6. Arnica

Arnica is sometimes referred to as "homeopathic aspirin." It can be used after any injury, trauma or overexertion. It has been used to reduce pain and can promote healing after surgery. It's also said to work wonders in dogs with arthritis, says thisolddog.com.

Check out thisolddog.com for great tips on how to treat your pet with arnica.

More: Our Favorite Superfood Spice Should Be Added to Your Dog's Diet

Always be sure to talk with your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your pet’s health. Some herbs and natural remedies that are completely safe for humans can be toxic to dogs and cats, so do your research before giving your pet something new. Just like with medications, allergic reactions can occur even if some herbs or remedies are technically considered safe.

Originally published April 2012. Updated September 2017.

If you think waiting two years for the final season of Game of Thrones to air is a killer, then just wait until you hear how HBO is going to handle the series finale. According to a recent interview with HBO's head of programming, Casey Bloys, GoT will film multiple endings and it will be done in an attempt to prevent hackers from getting the information and leaking it to the internet. This makes sense considering GoT was plagued with hacks and leaks this summer while Season 7 was on the air, but it's a little annoying nonetheless because we want to know how this thing wraps up, gosh darn it!

More: What to Watch Until the Game of Thrones Finale Season Returns in 2019

Entertainment Weekly first reported on Bloys' comments, which were given during a talk at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, school Moravian College recently. While there, Bloys commented on how GoT would be handling the series finale. "I know in Game of Thrones, the ending, they’re going to shoot multiple versions so that nobody really knows what happens. You have to do that on a long show. Because when you’re shooting something, people know. So they’re going to shoot multiple versions so that there’s no real definitive answer until the end.” 

EW also made it a point to note that HBO didn't confirm or deny Bloys' observation, but it does stand to reason that the show would take this course of action. Over the summer of 2017, hackers made their way into the HBO mainframe and released a bevy of private emails and actual footage of multiple GoT Season 7 episodes on the internet ahead of their planned air dates.

More: Kit Harington & Emilia Clarke's Cutest Moments Together

It's certainly understandable that HBO would want to prevent any further embarrassment by hanging all of their hopes on the one, true series finale not being leaked to the world. But surely this plan will only cause more exasperation where production is concerned, right? Filming multiple endings will be no mean feat, depending on how long an ending they're hoping to film.

More: Ranking All the Worst Wigs in Game of Thrones History

If they do go through with it, let's just hope those multiple endings make their way onto the internet, because without a doubt, the GoT fandom will want to know all the ways the creative minds of this show see things wrapping up in Westeros.

Big Little Lies was a hit for HBO no matter how you look at it. It brought in millions of viewers and sparked all kinds of buzz. It was nominated for nine Emmy awards (and won one of them already), but unfortunately for fans, that doesn't necessarily mean anything for the show's future. It's always been questionable whether the show would get a second season, since the series was based on one book and covered the whole storyline in that single season. Now, star Reese Witherspoon is preparing fans to be let down easy.

More: Big Little Lies Is Like Sex and the City but With Kids and a Beach

During her appearance on Watch What Happens Live this week, Witherspoon was asked by a fan calling in about how it was looking for a Big Little Lies season 2. Upon hearing the question, Witherspoon let out a big sigh.

"Oh! I can’t really… I don’t really have anything to say," she said. "We’re talking about it… We’re only going to do it if we feel like it’s as good as the first season. So we’re just thinking about ideas."

More: Big Little Lies Ends in Surprising Feminist Triumph

Host Andy Cohen touched on the issue of there only being one book for the show's source material, and Witherspoon responded, "Yeah, and it ended. That’s what it was."

One of the most compelling parts of the show (without giving too much away) was how the women didn't get along. But by the end of the show, they had banded together, and, Witherspoon said, that takes some of the fun out of their dynamics.

"A lot of the fun and the humor was about that we weren’t all friends," she said. "So we’d have to figure that out."

More: How Big Little Lies Affected Nicole Kidman Physically & Emotionally IRL

In the meantime, though, Witherspoon is staying busy. She'll star on another highly anticipated show alongside Jennifer Aniston. But even though she has other things in the works, we can't help but keep crossing our fingers for more Big Little Lies.

Lady Gaga recently discussed her struggle with chronic pain — specifically, with fibromyalgia. Aside from being hard to pronounce and popping up most frequently in vague TV commercials for pharmaceutical companies, fibromyalgia largely remains a mystery to many people.

Here’s everything you need to know about the condition, straight from doctors.

More: Lady Gaga Opens Up About Her Struggle With Fibromyalgia

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that causes people to feel pain and achiness in muscles throughout their body according to Dr. Anthony Wong, an internal medicine physician at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, and Dr. Lalita Komanapalli, an internal medicine physician at the Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

While the cause is unknown, it is thought to be related to genetic factors with possible environmental triggers like stress and trauma, Wong said, adding that it affects women twice as often as men.

“People who are at higher risk for fibromyalgia often have other rheumatologic diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis,” Komanapalli said.

More: Why Lady Gaga's Stigma-Busting PTSD Confession Hit Home for So Many

What are the symptoms?

Wong noted that patients with fibromyalgia typically mention nonspecific pain and achiness throughout their body, as well as tiredness, a lack of energy or motivation and chronic fatigue. Patients might also suffer from insomnia, bowel or bladder symptoms and chronic headaches.

In addition to muscle pain and fatigue, symptoms include headache, depression, anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues and difficulty thinking, Komanapalli added.

What are the treatments?

The bad news: There is no cure for fibromyalgia. The good news: There are treatments.

“I encourage my fibromyalgia patients to get more sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet,” Wong said. He also advises them to take a multivitamin.

To help alleviate the symptoms, certain medications may be prescribed, such as a tricyclic medication, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, gabapentin or pregabalin, Wong noted.

In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy can equip patients with tools to help cope with their symptoms, Komanapalli said.

More: The Truth About Fibromyalgia

What else do you need to know?

Because of the nature of the symptoms, fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose. Wong recommends that people who think they might have fibromyalgia see their primary care physician for a thorough evaluation, including a physical exam and possible laboratory blood tests.

Komanapalli wants patients with fibromyalgia to know that their condition is real and that their symptoms are not “in their head.” She also wants to empower fibromyalgia patients to know that through multimodal therapy, there is hope and they are not alone.

“Partnering with patients, we can work to find the best treatment combination — not only to help alleviate symptoms but to improve their quality of life,” she said. “New research is being done to further our understanding of this complex disease and hopefully find a cure in the near future.”

Updated September 14, 2017, 12:00 p.m. ET: Although the revamp of Kim Kardashian-West and Kanye West's $20 million mansion in Hidden Hills, California, won't be completed until next month, one very important item has been checked off the list, a source tells US Weekly: Baby Girl K-W's nursery. It's "already set up," says the source.

We can only imagine the $2,000 stuffed giraffes the nursery (one of the house's eight bedrooms) likely contains — and can't wait for the pics.

Original story:

Multiple sources are dishing some serious scoop on the Kardashian-West baby on the way: It's a girl.

We confess we're a little bit worried about Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West's 4-year-old daughter, North, who is already struggling with hard-core sibling rivalry with her brother, Saint, 21 months. How is she going to fare once East West or Apostle West arrives on the scene in January 2018? (Note: The baby's name has not been confirmed, but the Kardashian-Wests make it easy to guess.)

On Aug. 28, Kardashian West said during her stint as guest host on Live with Kelly & Ryan, "I don't know if it's because [North] is the older sister; I don't know what it is. I thought it was a phase. She does not like her brother, and it's so hard for me."

Kardashian West and West opted for surrogacy after Kardashian West experienced some terrifying complications with her first two pregnancies (Google "placenta accreta" if you have a tough stomach). Us Weekly revealed that a source — don't you love those mysterious creatures? — reported the surrogate is due to deliver the mega-power-couple's third child sometime in January 2018.

Another bonus to having a surrogate carry their child? No adult diapers for Kardashian West post-birth. (Because honestly, newborns are gross enough sometimes without having to worry about getting your period for eight weeks straight.) 

Anyway, let the girl-name frenzy begin! We're still holding out for a compass direction, but Apostle could work — or hey, how about Sinner? No? Not even if you spell it "Cynner"? Really, we don't know why more celebrities don't let us name their babies for them.

This story was originally published on September 7, 2017 and was updated on September 14, 2017.

A group of former employees at Jessica Biel's restaurant are making some serious allegations against her and her partners. They just filed a lawsuit claiming that the restaurant has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars in tips from its employees by charging customers a 22 percent gratuity and then failing to distribute that money to the staff.

More: Justin Timberlake Wins at Life — Again — With Birthday Post to Jessica Biel

Legal documents obtained by The Blast show that nine former employees have banded together to sue Biel and four other co-owners of Au Fudge, a West Hollywood spot that caters to kids. According to the lawsuit, the restaurant was often "bought out," or reserved for large private parties, for which clients were given invoices that included a 22 percent charge for "gratuity." The former employees involved in the lawsuit claim they were never given a cut of that money.

More: Jessica Biel & Justin Timberlake Waited a While to Share Their First Kiss

Several former employees at Au Fudge who are not involved with the lawsuit stated during depositions that they questioned the policy. Alexandra Desage, a former director of events at the restaurant, said "every private event customer" she worked with thought the gratuity was for the staff members who worked the event, and that she "cannot remember a time" when a client offered a tip in addition to the gratuity charge. Desage also said she brought her concerns to one of the co-owners, who told her, "I don’t think you understand. Don’t worry about it."

Jamie Aronson, another employee not involved in the suit, said she also went to management with concerns about the restaurant keeping employees' tips. She claims the general manager at the time told her, "It’s all good. The customers are far more likely to be OK with 20 plus percent if they think that amount is going to the employees."

More: Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel Are Not Loving the Terrible Twos

The nine former employees named in the lawsuit claim they lost out on $430,100 in tips, and they're seeking an extra $1 million in punitive damages.

Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has fallen deeply in love with her butt.

“I have a butt at 47 years old that I’ve never had [before], because of Pilates," Lakshmi told Health in its October issue. "It literally changed the structure of my body." We're pretty thrilled for her and her bottom, because not every woman has such a raging love affair — and unfortunately, neither does every Instagram commenter. Recently, Lakshmi received a less-than-pleasant response to her (gorgeous) body — specifically, to a casual vacation picture she shared with fans.

"I posted this picture this morning of me making pizza with the kids [while I was wearing a bikini], and somebody was like, 'Why are you doing this half naked? It’s really inappropriate for you to be in a bikini while you’re teaching children!'" Lakshmi told Health. "And I was like, 'We are in a beach house. We had just come in from the ocean, so what? Children don’t have the weird, dirty mind that you do!"

In other words? Fuck off, creepers.

More: Padma Lakshmi Has a Baby Girl — But Isn't Talking About Who the Father Is

For all who are wondering, Jennifer Lawrence's ovaries are totally content to chillax right now. The famously candid actor spoke with E! News and revealed she's A-OK with not being a mom — and might not ever want to be one.

The Hunger Games star told E! that she's feeling zero calling toward motherhood — absolutely no "pangs." In fact, she confessed that any potential inkling toward babies is "actually getting less and less as I get older, which is starting to worry me," she said. "I don't think that's how it's supposed to work."

Lawrence's new movie — the dark psychological thriller Mother! directed by her beau, Darren Aronofsky — left the actor with something of a bad impression about motherhood. "When I was 21 or 22 I was like, 'I can't wait to be a mother. Now I'm like...[horrified face]," she explained. Yeah, many of us can relate to that feeling — even after having kids. Or, you know, especially after having kids.

More: Jennifer Lawrence Is Worried Her Privacy Will Be Invaded

Lawrence also spoke about her new movie — and how she almost rejected it for being too dark.

"I believed in the metaphor and the message that Darren wanted to get across," she explained. "[But] I didn't even want the script in my house, and then I realized that's why he's a genius. That's why I have always wanted to work with him. He's unafraid. He's bold."

"Unafraid" and "bold" are adjectives we would definitely apply to Lawrence as well — with her direct, startlingly honest approach to both acting and life. When E! pointed out that Lawrence's candor often gets her into trouble in the public eye, she joked, "I don't really have the ability to be different. When it bites me in the ass, it just bites me in the ass."

Jennifer, we love you — kids or no kids. It's honestly refreshing to see a female celebrity who's not harping along the lines of "but my most important job is being a mom." And we can't wait to see Mother! — and probably never look at parenting the same way again either.

We have to hand it to Prince William. After a lifetime in the public eye, the heir to the throne of England has definitely mastered the British art of the stiff upper lip.

"It's been an interesting week," Prince William said in typically understated fashion when asked about Wednesday's break-in attempt at Thomas's Battersea, William and the former Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge's choice of school for little Prince George. George started school on Sept. 7, but was not on-site when the break-in occurred.

According to People, Prince William spoke about the incident on Thursday on a royal visit to the Aintree University Hospital of Liverpool. The Kensington Palace Instagram account released a photo of Prince William chatting with Aintree patients. He acknowledged that not every Thomas's Battersea parent took the break-in news well.

"Most of the parents were in floods of tears," he said to hospital patients. "The kids were all fine.” Kids — always amazing us with their levels of chill.

More: Prince George Won't Be Allowed a Best Friend at His New School

Metropolitan Police of London revealed in a release that a 40-year-old woman was indeed arrested for breaking into the school.

“The woman was arrested in the vicinity of the school and has been taken to a south London police station where she remains in custody,” the police stated. “We are working with the school, which is attended by His Royal Highness Prince George, to review its security arrangements after the incident.”

But Prince William remained unfazed about the breach of security, choosing to chat with patients instead about George's good attitude about starting his education.

“We are all seeing how long that lasts before he doesn’t want to go! George has been really easy," William told patients. "He hasn’t said, ‘Have I got to do this for the rest of my life?’”

The hospital patients were clearly delighted to speak with the prince about his children according to People's account. One patient, Teresa Jones, took the opportunity to compliment William on George and Charlotte. The prince was quick to joke, “George rules the roost but Charlotte isn’t far behind!” and remarked to another patient that Charlotte will be "trouble when she's older."

More: Prince George Looks Very Chill About Starting His First Day of School

We pledge allegiance to Prince William, the coolest — and most laid-back — royal dad ever. And we're hoping Thomas's Battersea will tighten security at the school so nothing like this will happen again.

In case you didn't know, Harrison Ford is pretty tough. Like, have you even seen Star Wars? How about Indiana Jones? All I know is I wouldn't want to be on that guy's bad side, like, at all. But that didn't save Ryan Gosling. The poor guy had no beef with Ford. All he did was put his head in the wrong place while Ford was filming a punching sequence for Blade Runner 2049, and before he knew it, his face got acquainted with the business end of Ford's fist.

More: Documents Revealing Ryan Gosling's "Dark Family Secrets" Are a Little Too Much

That moment has already gone viral since Gosling opened up about it a few months ago. But now, Ford is telling his side of the story, and it turns out he's not sorry for that punch, like, at all. "I punched Ryan Gosling in the face," Ford matter-of-factly told GQ in a new interview, adding, "Ryan Gosling's face was where it should not have been."

Ford continued, "His job was to be out of the range of the punch. My job was also to make sure that I pulled the punch. But we were moving, and the camera was moving, so I had to be aware of the angle to the camera to make the punch look good. You know, I threw about a hundred punches in the shooting of it, and I only hit him once."

More: No One Give Emma Stone or Ryan Gosling an Oscar Until They Sing Onstage

Completely unapologetic, Ford added that the punch was "90 percent" Gosling's fault, and that only punching him in the face once throughout the course of filming the entire movie was "generous of me," as Ford put it.

He also addressed the Gosling interview, where he told the world about the punch and then said that Ford had apologized by pouring him one glass of scotch, and then taking the bottle and walking away.

"Yeah? What — did he fucking expect the whole bottle?" Ford said. "You know, I figured one drink would fix it. That was enough."

More: So, Do Ryan Gosling & Justin Timberlake Actually Hate Each Other or Something?

There you have it. If you're ever punched by Harrison Ford, definitely don't expect a verbal apology.

All right, I can’t be the only one who drained their bank account on cream- and gel-based makeup primers that promise to smooth and perfect but actually just leave a shiny, greasy mess. In fact, my traumatic experiences with the treachery that is creamy, gooey primer has led me to swear off the stuff for good. But after the little beauty guru with angel wings on my shoulder begged me to try something else, I combed through the massive selection of priming sprays to give it once last chance. And let me tell you: I regret nothing.

More: 7 Amazing Oil-Free Moisturizers — Because, Yes, Even Oily Skin Needs Hydration

I know that most makeup obsessives have a tried-and-true primer they use every day, but I sampled seven spray-on primers that were so lightweight and effective, I’m convinced you’ll ditch your creams for good. Seriously, these bad boys immediately melt into your skin — just a few spritzes and you’re ready for foundation. Best of all, the oil control is so incredible, I haven’t carried setting powder in my purse for touch-ups all season. Scroll through to shop the seven best priming sprays, and get ready to thank the heavens for a seriously grease-free face.

Catrice Prime & Fine Multitalent Fixing Spray

Catrice Prime & Fine Multitalent Fixing Spray (Ulta, $7.99)

Etude House Lock'n Summer Face Conditioning Fixer

Etude House Lock'n Summer Face Conditioning Fixer (Etude House, $12)

Milani Make It Last Setting Spray Prime + Correct + Set

Milani Make It Last Setting Spray Prime + Correct + Set (Milani, $10)

Milk Blur Spray

Milk Blur Spray (Milk, $38)

NYX First Base Primer Spray

NYX First Base Primer Spray (NYX, $8)

Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray

Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray (Too Faced, $32)

Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydra-Charged Complexion Prep Priming Spray

Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydra-Charged Complexion Prep Priming Spray (Urban Decay, $32)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Even celebrities need a break sometimes. Right on the heels of Lady Gaga's announcement that she's taking a break from music, Jennifer Lawrence has announced that she's taking a break from acting. And can you blame her? She's been working almost continuously for the better part of a decade. Get off the girl's back. She earned this.

More: Emma Stone Has Dethroned Jennifer Lawrence as Hollywood's Highest Paid Actress

Lawrence announced the news while talking with Savannah Guthrie on the Today show.

"I’m taking one [a break]. I don’t have anything set for two years," she said. "I don’t know [what I’m going to do]. I don’t know, start making pots? I think I’m just taking a little break. I’ll see you in six months."

This is a change from past interviews Lawrence has done, where she's said she doesn't like to take time off. But now, she admits, that outlook "was ridiculous. I was crazy. This [not working] is great."

More: Are These Hollywood Couples Going to Get Engaged Soon?

Anyone who's been working that much for that long would be entitled to some time off, but Lawrence has the added burden of being super famous. She spoke about that, too, and the double-edged sword that fame can be.

"[People] feel so entitled to everything. You know, like when I’m getting photographed just like walking to Starbucks, I’m like why does anybody feel—why do you feel entitled to this?" she said. "[At first,] I was angry and resentful because I thought that I deserved the right to do what I love and to do my job, and then still have privacy. And then after a few years you’re like, but that’s not the way it is, it’s just not. But it’s important to just keep a separation and know that the people screaming outside of a premiere, they’re screaming because of a job and because of a character. I don’t go home like, ‘Oh my god! Did you hear that, how much they love me?’ So I don’t put any stock in it. I’m grateful to them ‘cause without fans and people going to see my movie, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love."

More: 11 Celebs Who Aren't Afraid to Talk About Their Vaginas & All Their Glory

Here's hoping this break is the rest that Lawrence needs so she can get back to doing what she loves.

OK, seriously though, fall TV needs to get here fast, because we seriously can't wait for the Season 2 premiere of This Is Us (the new season premieres on Sept. 26, BTW). NBC's 2016 breakout series is obsessionworthy, and Chrissy Metz — who plays Kate on the roller-coaster ride of a show — is one of the biggest reasons why.

Obviously, we're in love with the entire cast (I mean, who can resist Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore?!), but Metz just has that je ne sais quoi that we are totally drawn to. Randall's gut-wrenching struggle to get to know his dying biological father and Jack's impending death definitely had us reaching for the tissues on the regular last season, but Kate's plight keeps us tuning in every week — and it's all because of Metz.

More: This Is Us' Sterling K. Brown & Justin Hartley Made a Chrissy Metz Sandwich, & We're Jelly

She's got brains, beauty and is talented AF — seriously, what's not to love about her? Here's why we've got a serious girl-crush on Metz.

1. She loves herself

Everyone struggles with self-acceptance, and Metz is undoubtedly no different, but she's talked about wanting to lose weight for herself. Not for Hollywood or anyone else.

"[I want to lose weight] not for anybody but myself," she told People in February. "I want to have a fit, healthy body and not have to be put in a box. I don’t want to be limited by anything."

We think it's that kind of attitude that makes Metz's spirit shine through on screen.

2. She's keeping it real

She's a huge star now, but when Metz booked This Is Us, she was broke as a joke. In fact, when she found out she got cast in the now-hit-show, she had 81 cents in the bank. 81 freakin' cents!

She clearly has a bit more than pocket change in her account now, but she's not letting fame go to her head.

"I could cry right now just thinking about it," Metz told Glamour of her pre-fame life. "Getting the role of Kate has changed everything. It’s crazy to go from not having enough money to buy food to getting free dinners. Why is it that when you really need something, you don’t have it? And when you can afford it, you have a surplus of it? You may think, 'Ooh, you’re on TV, you’re a millionaire!' No. It’s definitely a lot more than I was making, but I still live with my roommate — though I pay my proper share of the rent now. Meeting my car payment on time? That’s new. I paid my friends and my stepdad back. And three months ago I finally paid my credit cards off!"

3. She earned her success

While Hollywood certainly has its fair share of overnight success stories — as evidenced by her previously empty bank account — Metz is not one of them. No, she had to claw her way to the big-time through hard work and determination, and it makes us admire her that much more.

Metz chatted with SheKnows about how difficult it was to balance acting with trying to pay the bills early on in her career.

"It’s just about trying to find your footing," Metz told us of striking a balance between working a day job, studying the craft and going out on auditions. "But I also felt like, 'What am I doing? I’m gonna get stuck in a vortex.'"

But Metz persevered and ended up on a hit NBC show. It doesn't get much better than that.

More: EXCLUSIVE: Chrissy Metz Addresses Backlash to Those Fat Stereotypes On This Is Us

4. She has a healthy outlook on life

Metz may have struggled while coming up, but the experience hasn't made her hardened or bitter. In fact, it's made her appreciate everything that's happening now that much more.

"Success is about happiness and what makes you happy and not necessarily how many shows you booked that year or how much money you have in your bank account," Metz told us. "Because all those things are fleeting. But it was so important for me to go on this journey the way I did — because I believe everything happens for a reason. So while it was really difficult, there's a lot of humility and I’m really grateful for the whole scope of what happened."

5. The girl can sang

We got a little taste of Metz's voice in the third episode of This Is Us, but her performance in the old-folks home was really just the tip of the iceberg.

6. She knows life is all about love

"The stories we are made to believe — that if we look this way, drive this car, live in that zip code, we will ultimately be happy. We constantly compare and compete with one another — and for what?" she said in an interview with Chubstr. "We all want the same thing. We all just want to be respected and admired. That all boils down to love. We end up sacrificing who we truly are just to get back to the place that we originated from, which is love."

7. She was on frickin' American Horror Story

AHS has been our obsession for years, and Metz was amazing as Ima Wiggles in the Freak Show season. But what's even more impressive than her performance in Freak Show is her feeling about her character.

"I would like to think talent 'weighs' out, but plus-size actresses are still typically the butt of the joke in the storyline," she told Chubstr. "What was especially wonderful in Freak Show was that, not only was Ima accepted into the freak family, but she accepted herself, first. It was also really refreshing to see a big girl who was attractive, and dare I say, sought after. Hair/makeup and costumes really made me feel pretty, no matter what size I was. Can I get an Amen?"

Amen.

More: Mandy Moore’s This Is Us Family Is Beyond Excited About Her Engagement

8. She's honestly touched by the This Is Us response

Metz was open with SheKnows about being grateful regarding the amazing reaction audiences have had to This Is Us, and for her, it has made all her earlier struggles worth it.

"I’ve had these responses from men and women who’ve been so kind and loving and wonderful and gracious and it’s overwhelming," she told us. "It's really overwhelming, but I feel truly in my heart that we're here to commune, and we're a community, and to be close as human beings and to make — we're all here to help each other and if I can do that while pursuing my dreams, it's unreal."

9. She's a hopeless romantic

Metz is a sucker for love poems, and counts R.M. Drake as one of her faves.

"I'm a hopeless romantic. I romanticize everything," she wrote on Instagram. "I love poems. I love poems about love. That's just the way it is."

10. Her Snapchat game is strong

"I don't eat trash." Metz's alter ego Elenore is priceless.

11. And her Old English accent is nothing short of amazing

Seriously, follow her on Snapchat tout de suite (username: themids929).

12. She's fierce

Metz is a self-proclaimed lipstick enthusiast, according to her Twitter bio. This reason, coupled with everything mentioned above is exactly why we want her to be our best friend forever.

Are you as in love with Chrissy Metz as we are?

If you don't look at Ina Garten and see a fierce businessperson, you're being fooled. Sure, she has a cheery disposition, throws the coziest dinner parties and day-drinking brunches in her Hampton's home and loves talking about her beloved husband Jeffrey, but she's built an incredible empire over the past 40 or so years.

That's why it's no surprise that on a recent episode of Michael Ian Black's How to Be Amazing podcast, she revealed that her favorite book of all time is Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

More: The Real Reason Ina Garten Never Had Kids

She told Black, "In my own little world, I'm a little in [Steve Job's] direction. I admire that kind of passion and insistence on quality"

And those are two qualities Garten definitely possesses herself. In the '70s, she had a successful job as a budget analyst at the White House before giving it all up to work in the food industry. She started off with a gourmet store in the Hampton's (which she bought with money earned from flipping houses in Washington, D.C.), then slowly built her empire, including her seminal show The Barefoot Contessa, several TV specials and 10 published cookbooks. She also has an MBA and a pilot's license in case you weren't already convinced she's a total BAMF.

More: Some (Genius) Ideas for Ina Garten's Next 5 Cookbooks

So that's why her admiration of Jobs, rather than some other culinary culture hero, makes so much sense. She (rightly) sees herself as a successful businessperson and entrepreneur who has chosen food and entertaining as her market rather than as a chef who happened to find success. She has focused on producing high quality in everything she does, and honestly, I think because of that a lot of us love and admire her as much as Jobs' fans do him.

More: Ina Garten's Selling Her Apartment, & It Will Give You Serious Kitchen Envy

You can listen to the inspiring episode of How to Be Amazing here. I know I could benefit from learning how to be even just a little bit more like Ina!

In most cases, seeing blood is distressing, and bleeding after sex is no exception. So how do you know what’s normal and when it might be time to see the doctor? We checked in with a few OB-GYNs to find out.

To start with, bleeding that’s unrelated to menstruation and occurs during or after sexual intercourse is called post-coital bleeding, Dr. Gerardo Bustillo, an OB-GYN at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, says. It’s more common than you probably think. He added that it can occur in up to 10 percent of women, and in about 50 percent of cases, the symptoms resolve spontaneously.

More: Do You Really Need to Pee Before Sex?

But if the bleeding doesn’t go away on its own, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor. This will involve sorting out the possible causes and offering effective treatment based on a careful history and physical examination with appropriate laboratory testing, Bustillo says.

While in the majority of cases there is no serious underlying condition, it is important to consult a physician to try to pinpoint the cause because while it could be nothing, it could also range from a minor infection to cervical cancer.

According to Bustillo and Dr. Linda Chung, an OB-GYN at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, some of the possible reasons you bleed after sex include:

• Cervical infection, both sexually transmitted and not
• Cervical polyp (benign growth from cervix)
• Uterine polyp or fibroids
• Cervical ectropion (benign surface tissue on cervix that can bleed with touch or pressure)
• Vaginal fissure or tear, especially in postmenopausal women who have vaginal atrophy (thinned skin)
• Genital prolapse (when the pelvic organs have dropped)
• Benign blood vessel tumors in the genital tract
• Cancer of cervix or vagina (which is rare) 

The risk of cervical cancer in women with post-coital bleeding rises with age, with a risk of 1 in 44,000 women aged 20 to 24 years, increasing to as high as 1 in 2,400 women aged 45 to 54 years, Bustillo says.

More: What You Need to Know About Cervical Cancer

Both Bustillo and Chung note that in order to prevent recurrent bleeding after sex, it’s important to diagnose and treat the underlying condition.

Additionally, Chung recommends using lubricant or vaginal estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women to help prevent bleeding.

So unless you’re having sex on your period (which is another topic for another day), blood after intercourse isn’t something to ignore.

Updated Sept. 14, 2017, at 3:15 p.m. ET: Lady Gaga just posted on Twitter that she has been taken to the hospital, clarifying that "its [sic] not simply hip pain or wear & tear from tour" but that she's in severe pain. As of now, it is unclear if this hospital visit is related to her fibromyalgia.

Original story:

Throughout her rise to fame, Lady Gaga has never been shy about discussing very personal matters, including mental illness and sexuality. She has also spoken about living with chronic pain, and yesterday, she told us more: She has fibromyalgia.

In a tweet referring to her new documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two, which will be available on Netflix starting Sept. 22, the singer confirmed that fibromyalgia is the cause of her chronic pain, and wrote, “I wish to help raise awareness and connect people who have it.” She followed up by tweeting: “I am praying that more and more people come forward and we can all share what helps/hurts so we can help each other.”

More: Why Lady Gaga's Stigma-Busting PTSD Confession Hit Home for So Many

Fibromyalgia is a complicated illness characterized by constant fatigue and widespread muscle and joint pain. But, like other hard-to-diagnose conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, the symptoms are frequently overlooked by medical professionals and dismissed.

More: The Truth About Fibromyalgia

Acknowledging the difficulty that can come with living with and treating a chronic illness, Gaga explained at a press conference before the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last week that although it was “hard, but liberating” to show her struggle with pain in such a public way, she views her pain as a “microphone.”

“My pain does me no good unless I transform it into something that is. So I hope people watching it who do struggle with chronic pain know that they’re not alone. It’s freeing for me… and I want people that struggle with it to hear me,” Gaga said at the press conference.

She said that there is a “degree of self-deprecation and shame with feeling in a lot of pain,” and wants people who watch it and think that there’s no way someone in such pain could sing, dance and perform to know that she “struggle[s] with things like them.”

Five months ago, when a 5-year-old died in a tragic accident inside a rotating restaurant in Atlanta, droves of internet commenters implied that the parents should have been on top of the child at all times — although the parents had been at a table a few feet away and the incident had happened terribly quickly.

One commenter wrote on the Huffington Post, “Parents are much more casual these days about their children wandering away from the table in restaurants.” (Really? They are?) Several readers asked accusatory questions: Were the parents staring at their phones? Drinking wine? How long was the boy away? Why was he not sitting down?

They all insisted: Parents should not let their kids out of their sight for a fraction of a second.

More: Anti-Helicopter Parent Playground Comes With a Large Dose of Slur & Sexism

A couple of months later, I read an essay entitled, “No, your kid can’t have my subway seat.” The piece received hundreds of comments from readers who eagerly dove into a new chance to scold all modern parents for what the author termed their "coddling impulse." The piece specifically argued that tired commuters should not have to forfeit their seat to a child of 6 or so who could instead stand up and grasp the germy pole herself. One commenter argued that today's parents need to “learn to let go” — and another said they should stop “put[ting] their child on a pedestal.” 

It's baffling how widely the internet hive mind swings back and forth in its conflicting opinions about what, exactly, is wrong with modern parents. Are they far too coddling and “helicoptering," as the subway article commenters suggested? Or exactly the opposite: Is their self-involvement and neglect putting their kids in danger? The parent-shamers just can't decide.

Another example from a year ago: Internet commenters similarly rushed to judgment when a 2-year-old boy on vacation at a Disney resort was tragically dragged into a lagoon by an alligator. Commenters demanded to know: How far were the parents from the child? Why was the family outdoors at 9 p.m.? (Jet lag? Who cares?) Did the father try to fight the alligator? (He did.) 

Let's get this straight: Even a “helicopter” parent can't prevent tragic accidents — and playing the blame game only does further damage to families who have experienced an awful loss.

More: How to Talk to Your Kids About Scary Things

Why do people judge the victims of tragedy? A 2016 Atlantic article called "The Psychology of Victim Blaming" offers some insight, suggesting that folks who search for scapegoats in this way do so because they want to believe a similar accident could never happen to them. They would never be so distant/selfish/hands-off as to allow something terrible to occur. (On the flip side, they would never be so smothering/overprotective as to allow something so supremely inconvenient as asking for a subway seat for their child. It's illogical, but it does work both ways.)

So commenters blame other parents in an attempt to differentiate themselves from them. But why the two extreme and diverging views? Well, even the parent-critics with opposing viewpoints tend to agree on one thing: Things were much different — and better — when they were kids.

Some fans of Stranger Things have waxed nostalgic about its setting: a simpler time when kids roamed unsupervised — before media coverage of the 1980s Adam Walsh abduction supposedly scared parents into becoming overprotective. But weren't parents also scared after Etan Patz’s 1979 disappearance in New York? And what about the 1932 Lindbergh baby kidnapping about which we still hear references in pop culture? It’s true that we hear more about tragedies today due to expanded technology and media, but other things have changed since generations ago: We've become a more diverse, varied and variable human society.

Yes, it’s possible that some of our miscellaneous numbers are "too" overprotective or "too" hands-off, but most of us are probably doing our best just to figure it all out.

More: To My Friends Who Don't Like Babies: I Was Once You

An individual tragedy in the news isn’t a sign that "all modern parents" are doing something wrong. It's an example of a story parents can take in, mourn and learn from — without judging. Although we can certainly try to teach our children every safety precaution — and even every subway etiquette lesson — individual circumstances and situations differ widely, and chances are we don't know the full details of someone else's experience.

Perhaps, then, instead of fueling an endless stream of negative comments on the internet, we can channel our energy toward teaching our children to have sympathy — and to think critically before judging others. In fact, this might be one of the best lessons they carry with them into adulthood.

To say it's been a big year for Christina El Moussa would be a huge understatement. Her split from her husband and co-star, Tarek, became public. They became constant headline and paparazzi fodder, which was a big change from their prior relative anonymity as hosts of a niche show.

More: Tarek & Christina El Moussa Team Up to Help Save a Friend

That's one thing El Moussa pointed out when giving an update on her life post-divorce to E! News. She said that is probably the biggest change. That and her new boyfriend, businessman Doug Spedding, who she met over a decade ago and reunited with after her split from Tarek.

"We get along really well, he's really fun, our kids get along," she said. "We mostly just hang out, we're both homebodies. [We] like to barbecue, swim, go to the fair, just normal, everyday kind of things."

More: Christina El Moussa Was Given a Scare After Her Son Fell Into the Pool

As for how Tarek is adjusting to their new lives apart?

"Well, Tarek and I don't really talk about our personal lives," she explained. "We focus on our kids primarily, and we work together, but as far as dating, that's not something we discuss with each other."

El Moussa also reiterated that her main concern, still, is doing what's best for the two kids she shares with Tarek.

"I think going through a public divorce, I always want to remain positive and look at the future," she said. "Especially remain positive for my children, and I feel like [the separation] has been the best possible decision for Tarek and I."

As of now, though, everything in El Moussa's family life is going great.

"My kids are doing great," she said. "They're happy, they're amazing, they're so much fun. Co-parenting is going really well... and we're both doing great as well."

More: Tarek & Christina El Moussa Get the Last Word in Bitter Lawsuit

Next up? The next season of Flip or Flop, which premieres in December. We can't wait to see how the El Moussas interact on screen now that they've put a little distance between themselves and their divorce.

It's another sad news day on the Hollywood love front. In a year that has already been rocked with some seriously heartbreaking splits, another seemingly solid celebrity couple is calling it quits — Josh Duhamel and Fergie just announced they have separated.

More: Josh Duhamel & Son Axl Have a Dance-Off for Axl's 4th Birthday

In a joint statement to People, the couple said, "With absolute love and respect, we decided to separate as a couple earlier this year. To give our family the best opportunity to adjust, we wanted to keep this a private matter before sharing it with the public. We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family."

Duhamel and Fergie — or "Fergs" as he affectionately called her — wed in January of 2009 and have a four-year-old son, Axl.

More: People Still Aren't Convinced Kim Kardashian Wasn't Altered in Fergie's Video

This January, the couple shared sweet posts to their respective Instagram accounts celebrating their eighth anniversary and expressing their love for each other.

But despite the beautiful life the couple clearly created with each other, they did have to weather their fair share of tabloid fodder. Only nine months into their marriage, a stripper came forward to claim she'd had a one-night stand with Duhamel in an Atlanta hotel.

Duhamel and Fergie both vehemently denied the allegations, with Duhamel's rep stating, "This is not the first nor will it be the last time that a stripper was paid a large amount of money to sell a false story about a celebrity. This story is absolutely ridiculous."

More: Josh Duhamel Meditates Naked, You Guys (PHOTO)

According to TMZ, Fergie was spotted in Brazil this week without her wedding band, while Duhamel has been photographed back in Los Angeles still wearing his.

Some women always seem to have it all together, and Jennifer Garner is a prime Hollywood example. But, adorable creature that she is, Garner just bestowed upon the world proof even she is a hot mess express every now and then: a video of herself high on laughing gas and crying about Hamilton.

More: Jennifer Garner Is the Hottest New Thing on Instagram

Yes, Garner is all of us.

The 45-year-old actress and mom-of-three shared the hilarious video via Instagram, captioning it, "Throwback Thursday. That time I had dental anesthesia... laughing gas + novocaine + Hamilton = you're welcome. #TBT @hamiltonmusical."

We've seen a lot of dental anesthesia gone wrong videos in our day, and this one tops 'em all. Garner gushing in slurred words over her favorite musical gives us life. Like, that song is seriously bweautiful, you guys. You've gotta go see Hamilton — it's SO bweautiful.

More: Jennifer Garner Addresses Unauthorized Divorce BS for the Record

Stoned Hamilton hysterics aside, Garner is killing the Instagram game. And that's saying something, since she only just officially joined IG on Sept. 1. Her first cheeky video asking for follows made us all laugh and only served to reinforce her likability, and she wasn't even high in that one.

In a 2014 interview with People, Garner revealed she had resisted social media due to the potential time-suckage and also because she wasn't convinced anyone would be interested.

More: Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck's Mom Spotted Together, Basically Just Being BFFs

"What would I Instagram that people would want to see?" she asked. "There is nothing I would put out that people would want to see. It's probably best to stay away."

Oh, Garner — we're so glad you finally decided to cave in and join the social media world. As for what you could Instagram that people would want to see? Well, it looks like you've found your answer.