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A Familiar Face Is Coming Back to Criminal Minds

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Longtime fans of Criminal Minds are about to get some really good news. A face they'll recognize from before the great casting shakeup of 2016 is returning to the show. No, it's not Thomas Gibson — after all his scandal, he's probably out for good. It's Shemar Moore, who is reprising his role as the BAU's Derek Morgan, but for just one episode.

More: Criminal Minds' Female Cast Members Hold Out for Salary Parity & Win

Moore currently stars on CBS's S.W.A.T., but he played Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds from 2005 to 2016. He surprised fans with his decision to leave the show after appearing in the Season 12 finale, his last episode. At the time, his character decided to leave the FBI after working on a particularly harrowing kidnapping case, saying he needed to focus on his family.

More: Thomas Gibson Who? Paget Brewster's Return Breathes New Life Into Criminal Minds

Moore's return is thanks to his onscreen BFF Penelope Garcia, played by Kirsten Vangsness, who will have a case she can't crack and will ask Derek to return and lend a hand during the Oct. 25 episode of the show. We can only hope the familiar face is received well enough for Moore to become a recurring character again.

Moore left Criminal Minds in the midst of a few major changes to the show. Very soon after he announced his departure, co-star Thomas Gibson was involved in a "physical altercation" on set and eventually resigned from his role. Both Moore and Gibson were fan favorites and audiences called for them both to return, but so far, Criminal Minds has carried on without either of them.

More: Bringing Back Shemar Moore Apparently Makes Criminal Minds Desperate

But longtime fans will no doubt be excited to see some of the old cast reunited, even if only for an episode. We love our TV with a side of nostalgia, after all.


Barack Obama & Prince Harry Are the New Dream Team

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The old band is getting back together! Prince Harry is about to reunite with Barack and Michelle Obama, and together, they're going to create the hope-and-change team of our dreams.

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

Kensington Palace announced Thursday that Harry will make his first-ever trip to Chicago on Halloween for the Obama Foundation's first annual summit, where he'll be speaking. According to People, Harry will talk about "the power of youth leadership to lead change at a local and global level. In particular, he’ll address his work with the Full Effect project, an initiative in Nottingham in the U.K. that aims to open up opportunities for young people."

This will also be a prime bromance opportunity for Harry and Barack Obama. The two have remained close friends for years since working together as world leaders during Barack's presidency. Harry's brother, William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, are also close pals with the Obamas.

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

"The three of them have built up a relationship with the [now former] president and first lady over the years," a source told People.

While Harry and Barack have hung out several times over the last few months — they sat together at an Invictus Games basketball game earlier this month, and Barack visited Harry at Kensington Palace in May — this will be the first reunion in a hot minute for Harry and Michelle. Since it's going to be Halloween, I'm just throwing it out there now that no one would object to a Prince Harry/Obamas group costume. Just saying.

More: Prince Harry-Shaped Gummies Now Exist

And since Harry will be on this side of the Atlantic, we have a feeling he'll make a trip up to Toronto to see his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, and anything that gets those two together is a win as far as we're concerned. Teamwork really does make the dream work.

5 Ways to Make Going Back to Work After Parental Leave Easier

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Before I had my baby, I was a workaholic. I loved to work, and I knew I didn’t want to be a stay-at-home mom. But the minute Baby was born, I immediately started to dread the day I had to return to my job. I knew I would miss the little guy like crazy — what I didn’t know was how I would cope.

Going back to work after parental leave is one of the hardest things many of us do. Here are the five most important tips I learned that will help ease the burden.

More: I Hated Co-Sleeping Even More Than I Thought I Would

  1. Transition slowly: If you’re able, rather than going back to work full time immediately, start working from home a few days or weeks before you have to actually physically leave the house to return to work or coordinate working half days rather than full days to start — so you don’t have to go from zero to 100. I worked from home for three weeks before returning to the office, and it was a huge help to be able to dig out of my email inbox and ease back in (while still getting to stare at my beautiful baby from across the room and hold him during breaks). It not only helped ease the emotional strain of separation anxiety, it also helped me transition in the mornings and slowly ramp up to having to get ready and out the door.

  1. Carve out dedicated bonding time: Sleep is hard to come by with a new baby, but I found that I didn’t mind getting up early with him on workdays because it meant we had more time together before I had to leave. I also forced myself to be more deliberate about putting my cellphone and email away in the evenings and spending undivided quality time with Baby. Those few precious hours each day helped alleviate the pain of having to leave him all day.

  1. Work from home sometimes: Of course, for some jobs this is just plain impossible. But if you have the flexibility of a job that allows you to work from home, try to do so one day a week. I work from home on Fridays when I can, and it makes a huge difference at the start of the week to think I will only be away from Baby for four days rather than five. If you have a job that is skeptical of the work-from-home model, be careful to only ask for what’s reasonable and won’t get you into trouble — but also prove to your employer that you can work remotely and still produce just as much. Sometimes, bosses need evidence that you’re still working hard (even if you’re not physically there) in order to overcome their skepticism and allow you the freedom of location.

  1. Plan your prep time: It may feel overwhelming to work all day, care for Baby all evening (and all night) and still figure out when to do everything else you need to do — housework, exercising, social life... let alone any downtime to catch up on your favorite TV show. And it’s easy to feel guilty if you’re taking me-time while the baby is awake to do things that take attention away from the baby — after all, haven't you been away from him all day? So try to prep things for the workweek or the next day in advance. Pick out your outfits for the week on Sunday night after the baby goes to bed; iron everything at once so you don’t have to skimp on that precious morning together-time to do it. Make a big tray of food for the week and prepackage a portion out for lunch the night before. And pro tip: Exercise with your baby (seriously, this can be fun, and a 15-pound living weight really adds to the entertainment).

  1. Arrange for updates: It’s hard to go the whole day at work without hearing from your baby or knowing how she is doing. And although my desk at work has become a not-so-subtle baby shrine, with pictures of him everywhere, that’s often not enough to satiate my ache. So I also get updates — including adorable pics — from my wife, who is home with him throughout the day, and we arrange to FaceTime when my schedule and theirs allow. This helps me feel a lot more connected, and it shrinks the gap when I miss him like crazy.

Whether you have two weeks, two months or two years off from work after having a baby, it’s never easy going back. These tips and other accommodations that work best for you can help ease that burden and make the transition as painless — and seamless — as possible.

How to go back to work after having a baby
Image: Getty Images/Design: Ashley Britton/SheKnows

My Best Career Decision? Choosing Trade School Over College — Here’s Why

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By Alex Wilson

After graduating from trade school in 1995, Melissa Smith became the administrative professional she’s always wanted to be.

“I always knew I wanted to be an admin,” Smith said. “My mom was an admin, so the decision to go [to trade school] was a no-brainer for me.”

Right from the get-go, Smith’s trade school experience was focused on the job she was training for. Everything Smith and her classmates did, learned and studied was directly relevant to administrative work.

“I wanted to do things I was actually going to do. I didn’t want to take a math class if I wasn’t going to be using math,” Smith said. “It was very much hands-on work. Trade school is pretty much a nine-to-five, and I felt very prepared to enter the workforce. I knew what it was like to be at the office all day long. I knew what it was like to sit in front of a desk, be on the computer, to wear heels. We had to dress as if we were going into the office every day.”

More: The 3-Step Process for Negotiating a Mental Health Day

An alternative to traditional undergraduate programs, trade schools (also known as vocational schools) are educational institutions that focus their curriculums on specific jobs. Courses of study can range from animal care, carpentry and auto repair.

In Melissa Smith’s case, the course of study was medical office administration. After graduating from trade school in 1995, Smith became the administrative professional she’s always wanted to be. She’s also become a virtual assistant staffer and remote work consultant and has even written a book, Hire the Right Virtual Assistant.

Despite training for a specific vocation in a specific industry, the skills Smith learned have been applicable in each stage of her career journey. Trade school trained Smith to use various computer programs, including Medical Office Manager and early versions of Microsoft Office, making her an asset to offices in multiple industries.

“Most notable was the doctor’s appointment scheduling,” Smith said. “It was such a small portion of our class, but the scheduling helped transform my career because managing schedules has only gotten harder, not easier.”

More: This CEO Says She Won’t Hire a Job Candidate Who Doesn’t Do These 4 Things

Smith used her organization and communication skills to move from the medical industry to higher education and eventually to virtual work. Realizing she didn’t have to be in one physical location to do her work, she took advantage of the timing to start her own business. Today, while she’s connecting virtual assistants with businesses in need, she’s also traveling the world (12 countries in 12 months!). Smith credits trade school with a lot of her success.

“I still think it was a great decision even though I didn’t stay in the medical field,” Smith said. “My skills have been transferrable to every position I have ever held.”

Does Smith’s story inspire you to consider trade school? Here are the three questions you should ask yourself before you enroll:

1. Is this exactly what you want to do?

Your entire day will revolve around the profession you’re studying for. If it’s something you’re not 100 percent invested in, you might want to reconsider. According to Smith, trade school takes commitment, dedication and passion. “It is the equivalent of someone who wants to be a teacher or astronaut or doctor when they grow up — they’re going to find a way, and they’re going to do it,” she said.

2. Am I ready for this workload?

Trade school programs range from one year to 18 months, much shorter than traditional two- or four-year college programs. Despite being shorter, trade school is rarely less work. “It’s a full-time job, going to trade school,” Smith said. “You have to commit to it now and know that you might be working two jobs if you have to work and go to trade school at the same time.”

More: Behavioral Interview Questions: How to Nail Them (& How to Fail Them)

3. Am I willing to update my perspective?

According to Smith, one of the biggest ways trade school influenced her was by opening her up to new opportunities. “We had so many amazing teachers at the school that I went to that came from all these different fields,” Smith said. “They didn’t grow up thinking that they were going to do that. They were taught there and used to be in the field that they were teaching in. It makes you think ‘OK, this is what I’m going to do forever, but it may not always look the same.’”

Even though your education has a singular focus, there are multiple benefits to attending trade school. When you’re considering your next career move, make sure you add it to your list of possibilities.

Originally published on Fairygodboss.

It's Seriously Time to Stop Body-Shaming Kate Middleton

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It takes a special kind of horrible to trash pregnant Kate Middleton for looking "too thin" (on the official Kensington Palace Instagram account, no less) after weeks of her terrible case of hyperemesis gravidarum — severe, debilitating morning sickness.

It's especially horrible considering the recent photos of the former Kate Middleton come from her appearance at a World Mental Health Day reception at Buckingham Palace on Oct. 10 — her public debut after weeks of bed rest (and the official announcement of her third pregnancy).

Kate

Kate

Never mind that Kate's got two other kids running her ragged (because we're sure even adorable tots like Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2, have trying days). Never mind that this is the third time the duchess has suffered from the condition. Never mind that Kate dragged her exhausted self out of bed to champion mental health advocacy. And never mind that she looked ridiculously fabulous in a demure blue lace Temperley London (one of her favorite designers) dress. Nope. The internet trolls pounced anyway.

"I can't believe she's prego, she looks too thin," wrote one commenter.

Another called her "emaciated" and "severely malnourished."

A third asked, "Is she pregnant?"

More: Kate Middleton Is Actually Being Shamed for Being Pregnant

For the love of all things good, people, just stop with the judgment. Don't make Pippa Middleton come after you; an insider told Us that the duchess's sister has been with her at the palace regularly. Kate is still not out of the hyperemesis woods yet, either, according to a royal aide who spoke with Hello! (can't imagine the palace would keep that particular royal aide if they knew said aide was chatting up tabloids). The aide said, "The Duchess’ condition is improving, but she is still suffering.”

And we're still suffering hearing about the incessant body-judging and -shaming that Kate (and plenty of other women) are receiving. Enough horribleness, humanity, OK? Enough.

More: Pregnant & Sick Kate Middleton Has One Regular Visitor to Keep Her Company

Our favorite comment on the Kensington Palace Instagram sums it up better than we can. "It is my sincere hope that EVERY SINGLE UNEDUCATED twit who is criticizing The Dutchess [sic] of Cambridge is stricken with intractable vomiting for a few days DO [sic] THEY CAN SEE what this precious young woman is experiencing and has been FOR MONTHS. it's quite hard to gain any weight when you are puking your toenails up all day. Not to mention she is very tiny all the time. She has two other children she is expending calories on every day. Mainly I want to say thank you Kate for caring enough to make Mental Health a priority and mustering the energy and strength to show support even going through a rough patch of several months. If you are one of the ass hats commenting on her size in a negative way shut the fuck up and educate yourself."

If we didn't know better, we might think Pippa wrote that herself.

The Kardashian Sisters Are Expecting at the Same Time, Because Science

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Dear Kendall Jenner: It may be time to cloister yourself in a cave in France until this baby-making virus that's making its way through your sisters burns itself out. Unconfirmed rumors are now swirling that Kourtney may also have a Kardashi-bun in the oven too. If that's true, it's some crazy math: Four sisters — Kim Kardashian West, Jenner, Khloé and Kourtney Kardashian — are all expecting babies around the same time? Are great forces at work here?

Apparently. According to a study in The American Sociological Review, more than just the urge to jack up reality TV ratings could be behind the sisters' simultaneous pregnancies. The study suggests that wanting kids can spread like wildfire through emotionally bonded, close groups of women. Well, then. You'd better watch out who you're hanging with.

More: Kylie Jenner Reportedly Pregnant With Travis Scott's Baby

The study discovered that "the contagion is particularly strong within a short window of time: it increases immediately after a high school friend gives birth, reaches a peak about two years later, and then decreases, becoming negligible in the long-run," according to co-author Nicoletta Balbo, a postdoctoral fellow in social dynamics at Bocconi University in Italy. "Overall, this research demonstrates that fertility decisions are not only influenced by individual characteristics and preferences, but also by the social network in which individuals are embedded."

But wait. I watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians pretty damn often. Does that mean I'm embedded in the preggo network by proxy? Excuse me while I go check my birth control.

According to Vogue, Dr. Danielle Keenan-Miller (the UCLA psychology clinic director) says this all might amount to basic survival instincts kicking in. “Evolutionarily, our survival depended on being part of a group,” she said. “Fear of being excluded and lonely or unsupported can also play a role.”

More: Kris & Kylie Jenner Might Be Starting a Maternity Wear Line?

Keenan-Miller added that “friends tend to be around the same age and reach milestones like jobs and marriage at nearly the same time... It can be as simple as realizing, ‘I love my cousin’s child or my best friend’s child, so maybe I can be a parent, too.’”

So, instant support group and that whole strength-in-numbers thing. Plus babysitting swaps. Don't forget the awesome babysitting swaps. And group baby showers! Suddenly this all sounds fantastic, and I can't even remember the lack of sleep and having baby spittle caked in my hair for days on end. Forgive me. It's sociology; I can't help it.

The True Dark Story Behind Winnie the Pooh

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Pooh Bear, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo are all lovable characters most of us know well from our childhoods. What many people don't know is that the adorable books are based on author A. A. Milne's real son Christopher Robin and his stuffed animals. While the trailer of the new film Goodbye Christopher Robin teases a warm and cuddly film, it actually tells the true story of a little boy who felt betrayed by those who should have loved him the most: his parents.

Christopher Robin
Image: 20th Century Fox

Playwright A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) returned from World War I "shell shocked." Today, we call the psychological condition post-traumatic stress disorder, but that term didn't exist at the beginning of the last century. His wife Daphne (Margot Robbie) is a beautiful but shallow socialite who loves fashion, parties and dancing. Though reluctant, she agrees to have a baby to please her husband.

The couple names their son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston), but they prefer to call him Billy. Daphne doesn't seem to enjoy motherhood and eagerly hands the boy over to his governess, Olive (Kelly Macdonald), who luckily adores the child.

More: 31 Family-Friendly TV Shows & Movies That May be Getting Revived

After the Milnes move to the country for a quieter life, Daphne, missing her glamorous social life, gets fed up and takes off to London for two weeks. At the same time, Olive has to leave to attend to her dying mother. Little Billy is left alone with his emotionally distant dad.

Goodbye Christopher Robin
Image: 20th Century Fox

The result is surprisingly wonderful — for both father and son. They spend their days playing in the woods. Billy brings his stuffed animals and he and his dad make up stories about their adventures.

Milne is so inspired after spending time with his son, he writes the Pooh books based on his son and his stuffed animals. While it sounds like a decision made out of love, it didn't exactly end up feeling that way to Billy.

Once the book was published, it became a huge success. As it flew off store shelves around the world, an unexpected dynamic took place.

Readers everywhere wanted to meet the real Christopher Robin, the boy at the center of this seemingly magical world. Thrust into the spotlight by his parents and publishers, Billy was paraded around for the media, not understanding why everyone kept calling him Christopher.

More: 17 Movies We're Excited for This October

Goodbye Christopher Robin
Image: 20th Century Fox

But all the little boy wanted to do was play a game of Poohsticks in the woods with his father.

With the media attention all around the world focused on his son, Milne grew jealous. He was the writer, after all, and he began to resent his son. When he started avoiding Billy, the young child became confused and hurt. The two weeks of bliss he spent playing and bonding with his father now seemed like just dream. His life became about spending long days meeting unfamiliar children and adults surrounded by cameras, forced to wear the outfit depicted in the book.

Olive finally stood up to his parents, saying the boy needed to be protected, not treated like a show pony. But his parents didn't appreciate her uppity attitude, and a rift is formed. When Olive's boyfriend asked her to marry him, she had no choice but to leave the family. Billy was heartbroken.

Milne wrote four Winnie the Pooh books, but agreed to stop writing them at the request of Billy, who was constantly bullied and beat up throughout his schooling. The other boys didn't appreciate the media darling and wanted to put him in his place. Billy was forced to learn how to box to protect himself.

More: Rosie O'Donnell Slams Estranged Daughter for Using Her Pregnancy for Fame

Goodbye Christopher Robin
Image: 20th Century Fox

What's so surprising about this story is that the Winnie the Pooh books still continue to bring joy to children almost 100 years after they were written. Surely, it seems, only a kind and loving soul could have written them. But looking through a modern parenting lens, the Milnes were rotten parents. At the time, however, it was normal for wealthy British children to be kept at arm's length. It seems the success of the books created a situation neither parent expected or knew how to handle. Could they have done better? Yes. Were they self-absorbed? Yes. But it seems unlikely they set out to purposefully hurt their son.

In 1974, Billy published the first of three autobiographical books. The Enchanted Places details what his life was like as a child. He never took any money associated with the Pooh franchise and eventually gave his treasured stuffed animals to the books' editor. They are now on display at the New York Public Library.

The real stuffed animals from Winnie the Pooh
Image: Public Domain, By Spictacular, via Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Robin "Billy" Milne died in his sleep in 1996. He was 75.

Goodbye Christopher Robin is an unflinching look at a dysfunctional family that will have you in tears. Newcomer Will Tilston as Billy will steal your heart and make you want to pull out those Pooh books to read again to your kids.

Goodbye Christopher Robin

Goodbye Christopher Robin

Goodbye Christopher Robin opens in limited release on Oct. 13.

Looking to Get a Handle on Your Reproductive Health? These 4 Apps Can Help

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It would be nice if buying birth control or even menstrual products from a human at a store was just an errand instead of a sometimes-lecture-filled experience. There are lots of websites dedicated to making sure folks can obtain free condoms through the mail in discreet packaging, but what about the pill? If you don’t have a license or access to public transportation in some areas, how do you even get your pill refill? Fortunately, there are options for obtaining what you need to maintain your sexual health. Here are four online services to help you out.

Nurx

Nurx is a dream for anyone who can’t see a doctor in person and/or doesn't have insurance. (If you have insurance, your prescription might be free, and if not, Nurx prescriptions start as low as $15.) You can consult with a medical provider (for free) about what birth control might be best for you, and the doctor will also be available for follow-up questions. Three to five days after placing your order, you get your prescription in the mail. You need to supply picture identification, but it can be a school ID or anything with a clear photo. Nurx asks that you also be able to provide the results of a blood-pressure check taken in the last six months, which you can get at some drugstores with in-house pharmacies. Nurx will supply you with birth control for up to three months at a time, and you can get automatic refills for a year from the time you began the prescription.

Nurx isn’t available everywhere, but it does ship to states like Texas, Indiana and Pennsylvania, which have large rural areas that might make travel without a car or license challenging.

More: This Group Has Created a Reproductive Health Guide for Women With Disabilities

GoPuff

With the GoPuff app, you can get ice cream, toothpaste, swabs and chips delivered to your house along with tamponspregnancy tests, condoms, lube and Plan B. It’s not available in every city, but you don’t need to be in a place like Boston or New York to use it, either. It delivers in Phoenix, Tucson, Syracuse and Bloomington. GoPuff promises to deliver within 30 minutes, and they’re open all night, which is great if you run out of essentials before or during sexy time or you can’t sleep because you’re wondering if you’re pregnant.

Maven

Maven won’t exactly send products to your door, but it’s on this list because, like the delivery services, it’s removing a barrier to health care in the form of giving women access to answers from medical professionals online. Maven doesn’t just respond to your questions about birth control (although it does do that), but to all kinds of issues regarding the health of people with uteruses. You can choose a provider to make an appointment with, including mental health care practitioners, midwiveslactation consultants and more, or you can visit forums where professionals will address your question. If you do opt for an appointment, you’ll get notes from your doctor when it’s over, which is a total game-changer for people who are anxious in medical situations or anyone who just wants to see information or instructions in writing.

Maven’s appointments start at $18, with the goal being that they cost less than the price of an insurance copay.

More: We Can't Keep Ignoring Native American Women's Health & Human Rights

The Pill Club

The Pill Club is all birth control, all the time. Their goal is to make getting your birth control — the pill, the patch and the ring as well as emergency contraception (and free samples!) simple and quick. You can get your questions about your birth control answered on the site or via a telemedicine provider. The Pill Club doesn’t require insurance, and if you don’t have it, the fee for a yearlong prescription is $15. If you’re not using insurance, you just need to send a photo of your credit or debit card.

Here’s the catch — The Pill Club doesn’t accept public insurance plans or non-California health plans, and you can only get a prescription for birth control issued to you by The Pill Club’s doctors if you live in California. But you can transfer your out-of-state prescription to The Pill Club, and, like Nurx, it delivers to states where access to health care providers could be complicated for some folks, like Montana and Ohio. Plus, The Pill Club gets that not everyone wants their parents or spouse to know they’re on birth control (they include a question about that in their FAQs), so they direct you to Keep It Confidential, a website about how to take action around keeping your health information private.

By Chanel Dubofsky


17 Things You Never Knew About Lucille Ball

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It only seems appropriate that for National I Love Lucy Day (Oct. 15, the same day the comedy first premiered in 1951), we should celebrate Lucille Ball. There would be no I Love Lucy without her.

More: 11 Empowering Quotes From Classic Movie Stars

Ball was revolutionary in more ways than one, especially when it came to transforming the entertainment industry for women. As she once said, "I am not funny... What I am is brave." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.

She showed that women can be funny. She showed that women can be the lead of their own show and their own lives. She showed that goofiness is attractive. She showed that one woman can do wonders for other women. Ball absolutely deserves all of the recognition.

Obviously, fans of the show know the Lucy Ricardo they've seen and continue to watch on the small screen, but do they know the real Lucille Ball? If not, it's time to get to know her even better.

1. She was the first woman to run a major production company

According to the New York Daily News, after Ball and Desi Arnaz divorced in 1960, she bought out Arnaz's shares of Desilu for $2.5 million, making her the first female CEO of a major production company. Per the outlet, she later sold her Desilu shares to Paramount Studios for $17 million. Then, in 1967, Ball founded Lucille Ball Productions, according to Turner Classic Movie network.

Things you never knew about Lucille Ball
Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

2. She didn't win that many awards

Even though she scored 13 Emmy nominations between I Love Lucy and The Lucy Show, she only took home a total of four Emmys. As for the Golden Globes, she was nominated six times, but never for I Love Lucy. Rather, she was recognized for The Facts of Life, The Lucy Show, Yours, Mine and Ours, Here's Lucy and Mame. In 1979, she was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

3. She did win this award

In 1977, with Nancy Malone, Eleanor Perry and Norma Zarky, Ball was one of the first recipients of the Women in Film Crystal Award. According to the official website, Women in Film is all about "promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media."

4. Her father died from typhoid fever

According to an excerpt from Stefan Kanfer's 2003 book titled Ball of Fire (via The New York Times), Ball's father died from typhoid fever in 1915 at only 28 — and it rightfully stayed with her the rest of her life. "Lucille retained only fleeting memories of that day, all of them traumatic," Kanfer writes. "A picture fell from the wall; a bird flew in the window and became trapped inside the house. From that time forward she suffered from a bird phobia. Even as an adult, she refused to stay in any hotel room that displayed framed pictures of birds or had wallpaper with an avian theme."

More: 7 Times Aaron Sorkin's Female Characters Were Weak and Lustful

Things you don't know about Lucille Ball
Image: Gene Lester/Archive Photos/Getty Images

5. Her life completely changed at 16

As revealed in her memoir, Love Lucy (via Huffington Post), in 1927, her grandfather bought her brother, Freddy, a gun for his birthday. While her grandfather was teaching Freddy and his "little girlfriend" Johanna how to use the gun, Ball said, it went off and hit their 8-year-old next door neighbor, Warner Erickson. The bullet severed his spinal cord. The Erickson family filed a lawsuit, and as Ball wrote, "They took our house, the furnishings that [Ball’s mother] DeDe had bought so laboriously on time, week after week, the insurance — everything. My grandfather never worked again. The heart went out of him. It ruined Celoron for us; it destroyed our life together there.”

6. She wasn't always "Lucille Ball"

Remember how Lucy Ricardo sometimes went by Lucille McGillicuddy (her maiden name)? Well, Ball once used the name Diane Belmont, according to The Los Angeles Times. "I always loved the name Diane and I was driving past the Belmont race track, and the names seemed to fit together," she said.

7. She's connected to the Salem Witchcraft Trials

According to NPR, Ball was a descendant of those accused as witches during the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. "A lot of celebrated Americans, it has been determined, were descended from the accused witches, including Walt Disney, Clara Barton and Lucille Ball," the outlet reports.

8. She defied ageism

When I Love Lucy first began in 1951, Ball was 40. As it unfortunately still is, that was a big deal back in the day, especially since it's known that a woman over 40 in Hollywood has a harder time finding work compared to younger women and also men.

More: Lucie Arnaz: Christmas Memories With Lucy & Desi

Things you don't know about Lucille Ball
Image: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

9. She fought for TV's first interracial couple

Did you know that Ball and Arnaz made TV history as the first interracial couple? Ball also had to fight to keep Arnaz as her TV husband.

Kathleen Brady, author of Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball, told NPR in February 2014 that CBS didn't want Arnaz, especially since the network was unsure about his accent and Cuban heritage. "CBS and its sponsor, Philip Morris cigarettes, were adamantly opposed to this," Brady said. "They said that the American public would not accept Desi as the husband of a red-blooded American girl." However, Ball defended Arnaz, and according to Brady, she told CBS that they'd have to either cast them both or neither of them.

10. She wasn't a natural redhead

Believe it or not, but Ball wasn't always a redhead. According to Good Housekeeping, her natural hair color was brown and she dyed her hair for her role in Du Barry Was a Lady.

As revealed by I Love Lucy's hairstylist, Irma Kusely, it wasn't easy finding the right tint of red, either. "A lot of people think of it as red — it's not red at all," she said in an interview for EmmyTVLegends.org. "She met a very wealthy sheikh and he had heard about her problem [getting the right coloring]. He said he would send her a lifetime supply of henna, which he did! [We kept it] in my garage, locked away in a safe."

11. She almost drowned stomping grapes

The I Love Lucy episode, titled "Lucy's Italian Movie," is one of the most popular and favorite episodes ever. Well, according to a 2004 letter to the editor at The New York Times, the grape-stomping scene didn't go as planned. "That was a real-life Italian grape stomper who was Lucy's vat partner and who almost drowned the real-life Lucille Ball by pushing her down into the grapes and grape juice and fighting with her during the filming of that episode," reads the letter, signed by Dennis Sprick.

Things you don't know about Lucille Ball
Image: Tumblr

12. Her pregnancy made history

It's known that I Love Lucy wasn't allowed to use the word "pregnant" after both Ball and her character got pregnant. As reported by The Hollywood Reportershe also made headlines by becoming the first pregnant woman to play a pregnant woman on TV.

More: Wah! 10 Best I Love Lucy Episodes Ever

13. She's basically responsible for Star Trek

It's hard to imagine television without Star Trek, but that almost became a reality before Ball stepped in, according to Entertainment Weekly. "If it were not for Lucy, there would be no Star Trek today,” former studio executive Ed Holly told Desilu historian Coyne Steven Sanders (via EW).

CBS passed on Star Trek, but Ball apparently overruled the board of directors to make sure the pilot was produced, even after it was taken to NBC. The network ended up rejecting the first pilot. However, the Peacock network ordered a second pilot, with William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and this particular pilot was funded by Lucy, as she once again ignored her board. Star Trek ended up making the 1966 fall TV schedule.

14. She was registered with the Communist Party

As reported by The Los Angeles Times in 1953, Ball was once connected to the Communist Party. Apparently, it was a "short association" in 1936, but her family was investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Ball explained her connection by saying the only reason she registered as a Communist was to please her grandfather, Fred Hunt, a Socialist.

15. She never needed a TV husband

Starring in The Lucy Show made Ball one of the first women to play a woman without a husband. She could easily lead a show without any men by her side.

Things you don't know about Lucille Ball
Image: Giphy

16. She lied about her age after marrying Desi

For those unaware, Ball was six years older than Arnaz, which was reportedly frowned upon back in the day. According to Us Weekly, they decided to handle the situation by lying about their ages. "When Desi Arnaz and Ball (who was almost six years his senior) tied the knot in 1940, it was socially unacceptable for an older woman to marry a younger man," the outlet reported in August 2011. "To avoid controversy, they both listed 1914 as their birthdate."

17. She wasn't afraid to take risks

In a 1980 interview with People, Ball showed just how fearless she was when it came to her career. "I guess after about six months out here in the '30s I realized there was a place for me," she said of Hollywood. "Eddie Cantor and Sam Goldwyn found that a lot of the really beautiful girls didn’t want to do some of the things I did — put on mud packs and scream and run around and fall into pools. I said I’d love to do the scene with the crocodile. He didn’t have teeth, but he could sure gum you to death. I didn’t mind getting messed up. That’s how I got into physical comedy."

More: Lucille Ball Is Being Honored With a Statue That Looks Nothing Like Her (PHOTO)

We're all in agreement that Lucille Ball will forever be iconic, right?

Things you don't know about Lucille Ball
Image: Giphy

George Clooney Accused of Misconduct By Former ER Co-Star

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Following the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal which broke at the beginning of this month, multiple men in Hollywood have also been accused of misconduct in their work, including Matt Damon and Russell Crowe.

More: Harvey Weinstein Was Fired From His Own Company

George Clooney was quick to speak up and call Weinstein's actions "indefensible," despite the fact that Weinstein is credited with kickstarting Clooney's career. But Clooney's former ER co-star Vanessa Marquez said he isn't without blame.

Marquez said Clooney's comments against Weinstein earlier this week are "B.S" in a tweet. She said it was because of Clooney that she was blacklisted from the show after appearing as a regular for three seasons.

vanessa marquez er tweet 1

vanessa marquez er tweet 1

She added in the comments that she experienced, "sexual (p---y grabbing) & racial. Mexican jokes EVERY day. Happened to all the women. They chose 2b victims. I fought!" She accused Eriq La Salle and Terence Nightingall in the sexual assault and Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle and Julianna Margulies of making racially-fueled comments.

More: A Timeline of Harvey Weinstein's Life in Hollywood

"Wells was the boss & I 1st reported it to him. His 1st question: Did George do something to u?" she wrote.

Clooney was quick to respond to the accusations.

"I had no idea Vanessa was blacklisted," Clooney told E! News. "I take her at her word. I was not a writer or a producer or a director on that show. I had nothing to do with casting. I was an actor and only an actor."

He added, "If she was told I was involved in any decision about her career then she was lied to. The fact that I couldn't affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that I wouldn't."

More: Harvey Weinstein's Wife Georgina Chapman Announces She's Leaving Him

Clooney's part on ER is considered to be his breakout role. He appeared in the series from 1994 all the way up to a recent appearance in 2009.

Has 13 Years of Working Together Put a Strain on Jared Padalecki & Jensen Ackles Friendship?

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Jared Padalecki appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and touched on his friendship with his Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles. Don't worry. Breath a sigh of relief. The two actors are as closer as ever.

More: Why Supernatural's Claire and Alex Are the Next Sam and Dean

"We do get along, we get along really well," Padalecki said. "Jensen Ackles and I are the two brothers in the show and we’re both Texas boys. He was born and raised in Texas, Dallas and I was born and raised in San Antonio. We both actually live in Austin and we’re both married to actresses."

jared padalecki jimmy kimmel interview

jared padalecki jimmy kimmel interview

Aside from being good friends outside of the show, the two both goof around on set together. In fact, it turns out they're quite the pranksters.

More: Supernatural: 8 Badass Elements Wayward Daughters Would Bring to Television

They recently told TV Guide about pranking show newbie Alexander Calvert, who plays nephilim Jack.

"Alexander has really been a specific, special joy of ours," Padalecki joked. "I think we have like 10 minutes of footage of Ackles and I just messing with him."

Padalecki added, "It's like masterful torture these days. And poor Alex, now, is getting a lot of it. We had a scene — Misha [Collins] was on set and Alex was on set — and Misha was so thrilled to not be the whipping boy. He's kind of just like sitting there smiling [and clapping]. He'll miss it soon. [It's like] Stockholm Syndrome."

More: Supernatural Kills [SPOILER] & the Timing Couldn't Be Worse

In other words, the blooper reel for Season 13 is going to be hilarious.

Dealing With Your Period When You’re Trans or Nonbinary

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When I express to my cisgender female friends how much I hate getting my period, many of them will brush it off because “nobody likes getting their period.” But for me, it's more than that.

Maybe it’s because discussing real issues I face as a nonbinary person is a bit hard-hitting, or maybe it’s because they truly don’t see why I might hate getting that red reminder even more so than the average person — but I do.

The point is menstruating as a nonbinary or trans person can be really rough. So, I’ve compiled a list of five things that I find useful (or am considering) as a nonbinary person who gets periods.

Try to use period products that come from considerate companies

There are quite a few companies that now take trans/nonbinary people into consideration when it comes to packaging, marketing and describing their products. Using sanitary products that come from companies you know have your best interests at heart really makes using those products feel less awful. Because you feel valid as a trans person using that product and because they’re made for people who get periods rather than being labeled as "feminine products."

Support from loved ones

I’m very fortunate that my girlfriend is super-supportive of me and my gender identity. She knows that when I get my period, I’m going to be feeling particularly low and (I’ll admit) kind of sorry for myself. During this time, she’ll make extra effort to call me "handsome" instead of "pretty."

A support network can come in all shapes and sizes. It could be cis friends who have your back, trans/nonbinary friends who can empathize, a partner who knows exactly what you need or an online community that makes you feel a little less alone. There are tons of groups online for trans/nonbinary folks, and heck, if you don’t want to trawl through the internet to find one, you’re welcome to tweet me if you’ve got your period and you’re feeling low. I’ll send you a GIF to cheer you up.

More: What You Should Know About Period Suppression

Consider suppressing your period altogether

For a lot of trans guys and nonbinary people, taking testosterone is a key step in helping them feel like themselves. It also helps to naturally stop menstruation from occurring once you’re taking enough regularly. Personally, I don’t think T is for me. At least not right now. So what can people do if they aren’t interested in testosterone or are unable to take T for whatever reason?

There are a number of ways you can suppress your period. There are a variety of birth-control methods you can explore; the pill, the coil and the implant are just the main ones. Personally, I’m considering the implant. I already take enough daily medication and it prevents you from getting periods for three to five years. But if you’re considering period suppression, you should explore the method that’s right for you.

Try & joke about it

If you can find it in yourself to laugh about your period, it gives menstruating less power over you and is less likely to cause you as much upset. I know some trans guys who refer to menstruating as their “man period,” and I have a nonbinary friend who would cheer me up by saying I was a Viking with a battle wound when I’d get my period. Laughing about it isn’t always easy, but it helps.

More: You complain about your period, but trans women would give anything for your pain

Talk about it

There are so few trans/nonbinary people who feel comfortable talking about their periods because we’re ashamed we get them in the first place. But if we start the conversation, we can all pitch in to help each other feel less alone, and we can even help to normalize the idea that it isn’t just women who get periods. We aren’t helping anyone by suffering in silence.

By Toni Wiltshire

7 Things That Are Actually Great About Being Pregnant

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Pregnancy can be tough — really tough. From morning sickness (aka all-day sickness, aka hell on Earth) to sleepless nights, with a generous dose of heartburn, bladder weakness and swollen ankles thrown in for good measure, it can definitely take its toll on your physical health. And then there's the emotional side of things: Worrying about your baby's movements, worrying about giving birth, worrying about the aftermath of giving birth, worrying that you'll never sleep or have sex again.

But hey — all those things are normal, and apparently, they don't stop us from having babies (and then sometimes more babies despite it all). Still, let's take some time to look on the sunny side of pregnancy because lot of it is pretty damn awesome. Here are seven things that are actually nice — even fun — about being pregnant.

More: 9 Natural Morning Sickness Fixes That Moms Swear By

1. The kindness of strangers

Pregnant people (and later, babies) have been known to melt even the iciest of hearts — even in the human hellhole that is public transportation. Often, people are actually nicer to you when you're pregnant, and they may even let you cut the line at the airport bathroom if you're lucky. Perhaps people are in awe of how amazing you are to be growing an actual human inside your womb — or maybe they're just worried that if they get on the wrong side of you, those pregnancy hormones they've heard so much about will make you punch them in the face. Who cares? Enjoy a few months of total strangers holding doors open for you, giving you the best parking spot, helping to carry heavy packages and smiling at you in the street. Who knows? Maybe you'll even get a subway seat out of it. (Unless you commute on the A train in NYC, in which case everyone will still be mean and you'll be doomed to stand for all 40 weeks.)

2. Stronger hair & nails

Pregnancy hormones are frustrating. On the one hand, they can wreak havoc on your skin and send your emotions on a roller coaster ride. On the other hand: hair and nails. Pregnancy hormones can make them look extra... extra. So if you notice your nails are growing faster and getting stronger — and your hair is getting thicker and oh so flipworthy — enjoy it. Paint your nails (and your toenails, while you can still reach them) and flip your hair to your heart's content.

3. A reason to rest

Plenty of rest during pregnancy is essential, even if you're the kind of person who races through life at breakneck speed ticking every last item off your to-do list before most of us have had breakfast. Now's the time to listen to your body and never, ever feel guilty about resting more. Pregnancy is exhausting! When you're pregnant, the amount of water in your body increases by 50 percent and your blood volume increases by 40 percent. That's a lot of extra fluid to be carrying. There's also the inevitable additional weight gain. Of course, if you're the kind of person who feels no guilt about resting whatsoever, you're probably already in your pajamas working your way through your Netflix watch list. Keep at it.

More: The SheKnows Guide to Giving Birth

4. Better sex

OK, so you may not be feeling your best, and maybe you'd prefer a foot rub to foreplay, but it's worth giving pregnancy sex a chance. Sex can be more relaxed during pregnancy because you aren't worrying about avoiding — or trying for — pregnancy. Plus, lots of women have testosterone surges during the second trimester that boost libido and make them feel more desirable. (And if you've always wanted bigger boobs, they may well have delivered by now. A-cup darlings, this is your chance to see how the other half lives without going under the knife.) But more important, we're reliably informed by La Leche League leader Leigh Anne O'Connor, board-certified lactation consultant, that pregnant women often report "better and more intense orgasms." Sold.

5. Freedom around food

Pregnancy is not a good time to be obsessing over calories and worrying about your macros — actually, there's never a good time for that. A healthy, balanced diet is important, of course, but you can also embrace a freedom around food that you may not have experienced since you were too young to make your own eating decisions. The American Pregnancy Association recommends that average-weight women gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy — which may sound like a lot or a little to you (depending on how much your mom, for example, gained). Just remember: The most important thing is the overall wellness of you and your baby. Also remember that maternity pants have expandable waistbands for a reason. Yes, you may eat an entire pint of Ben & Jerry's and be proud of your preggo self (just maybe don't do it every day).

6. Amazing dreams

Science says pregnant women dream more vividly and remember their dreams more often than nonpregnant women. It's because fetal movements and/or constantly having to pee causes you to wake frequently through the night, meaning you remember every dream and not just the last one before you wake up in the morning. Who'd have thought there would be an upside to those 2 a.m. bathroom trips? Oh, and don't panic if you dream about giving birth to a litter of kittens or a cyborg or that your baby turns out to be a potted plant. This is actually a long-standing trend in pregnancy dreams dating back to 1899 when Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams and described a woman who dreamed of giving birth to a seal.

More: I'm Glad I Went to an Orgy While Pregnant

7. You have the best secret

You know that feeling you get before the world knows you're pregnant? The feeling that you're walking around with the biggest, best secret in the world? You don't look pregnant yet, but you know there's a little mass of cells growing inside you that is going to be a whole person. It's the kind of secret that can make you break into a grin in line at the drugstore or maybe even stop in the street and do a little happy jig. Hey, you're allowed to look weird — you're pregnant.

Another Game of Thrones Actor Is Engaged

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Another day, another Game of Thrones star getting hitched — well, getting engaged, at least. Mere weeks after news broke that GoT's Rose Leslie and Kit Harington will soon be headed down the aisle, Sophie Turner said yes to DNCE's lead singer, Joe Jonas.

More: Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner Maybe, Probably Spent Thanksgiving Together

Jonas shared the happy development on Instagram, posting a picture of the couple's stacked hands with the caption, "She said yes." And, hello, check out that rock! Ya done good, Jonas.

Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner 1

Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner 1

Turner shared the same photo on her own Insta feed, aptly swapping Jonas' caption for one saying, "I said yes." (Ironically, she featured an ad for Wellaplex hair color on Instagram in September with those same three words.)

Jonas' brother Nick also shared the snapshot, weighing in to express his congratulations to the happy couple. "Ahh! Congratulations to my brother... and sister in law to be on your engagement. I love you both so much," he gushed.

More: Sophie Turner & Maisie Williams Are Non-Blood Sisters IRL

Third Jonas brother Kevin is clearly also pumped for the newly engaged couple, as he responded to Joe's original post with an emphatic, "Yeah!!!!!!!"

Turner, who plays Sansa Stark on GoT, has been linked to Jonas since November of 2016. According to People, Jonas knew the couple's chemistry was special early in the relationship.

"He was such a dater before her but their relationship was much different from the start. She was just the one for him," an inside source reportedly told People.

More: After Some Research, We May Know What Nick & Joe Jonas' Tattoos Mean

At 21, Turner is considerably younger than Jonas, who is 28. However, the source claims Turner's age has never been an issue for the pair. "She's young but is beyond her years and is crazy, crazy mature," the source said. "He's never been like this with a girl."

Hey, when you know, you know, right? Congrats to Turner and Jonas on this joyful milestone.

Mayim Bialik Responds to Victim-Shaming Backlash Over Harvey Weinstein Op-Ed

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On Friday, the New York Times published an op-ed by The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialik titled "Being Feminist in Harvey Weinstein's World." Although Bialik is an open advocate for women's rights, many accused the actress of shaming victims in the piece. Now, Bialik has responded to the "vicious" backslash.

In the original op-ed, Bialik described herself as an outsider by many standards in Hollywood. She admitted to feeling pressure to conform but maintains that she stayed true to herself and made the kind of "conservative choices" that her first-generation American parents taught her were important.

More: All the Celebrities Who Have Accused Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Misconduct — So Far

However, in making her point, Bialik ruffled feathers by seeming to imply that the clothes women wear and even the actions of the men around them are contributing factors in harassment and abuse and that women themselves are responsible for controlling those factors.

Bialik's mom "encouraged me to be myself in audition rooms, and I followed my mother's strong example to not put up with anyone calling me 'baby' or demanding hugs on set," she wrote. "I was always aware that I was out of step with the expected norm for girls and women in Hollywood."

She went on to reference her extended absence from Hollywood, followed by her comeback playing "androgynous, awkward" Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory. But again, in elucidating the significance of portraying such a relatable woman on-screen and being one in real life, Bialik made points that proved polarizing to readers.

More: A Timeline of Harvey Weinstein's Life in Hollywood

"As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms. Those of us in Hollywood who don't represent an impossible standard of beauty have the 'luxury' of being overlooked and, in many cases, ignored by men in power unless we can make them money," she penned.

"I still make choices every day as a 41-year old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise," she continued. "I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I don't act flirtatiously with men as a policy."

Female readers quickly put Bialik on blast for this perceived victim shaming — among them actress Patricia Arquette, who wrote on Twitter, "I have to say I was dressed non provocatively as a 12 year old when men on the street masturbated at me. It's not clothing."

Mayim Bialik Backlash 1

Mayim Bialik Backlash 1

On Sunday night, Bialik also took to Twitter to address the now-controversial Times op-ed.

Mayim Bialik Backlash 2

Mayim Bialik Backlash 2

"I'm being told the N.Y. Times piece resonated with so many and I am beyond grateful for all of the feedback," she wrote. "I also see a bunch of people have taken my words out of the context of the Hollywood machine and twisted them to imply that God forbid I would blame a woman for her assault based on her clothing or behavior. Anyone who knows me and my feminism knows that's absurd and not at all what this piece was about. It's so sad how vicious people are being when I basically live to make things better for women."

More: Matt Damon Denies Having Any Knowledge of Harvey Weinstein's Misconduct

At this point, many women appear to still find fault with Bialik's original sentiments and with her response. Comments to the latter accuse Bialik of hypocrisy, faux feminism, internalized misogyny and more.

However, Bialik further noted in her response tweet that she will be participating in a Facebook Live segment with the Times on Monday morning to discuss the backlash further. "Let's discuss then," she signed off, inviting women who don't agree with or understand her commentary to engage in conversation.


Zac Efron Had a Run-In with a Grizzly Bear & Lived to Tell the Tale

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Judging by his latest interview with People, Zac Efron just narrowly avoided being featured on an upcoming installment of "When Animals Attack!"

More: Zac Efron's Next Acting Role Could Actually Change His Career Forever

The wild story all started when Efron road-tripped to Montana with his younger brother Dylan. Although the siblings are admittedly outdoorsy, they weren't there just for the scenery — rather, the epic adventure was part of a partnership with Columbia Sportswear to test the popular outdoor brand's products.

The Efron brothers' challenge was twofold: to document the ruggedness and durability of their Columbia gear whilst working their way up to the top of the Continental Divide.

"Literally, we climbed up the mountain. We were the last ones out there," Zac says in the resulting video testimonial. "That's the cool thing about traveling. Every journey... you might find something incredibly special out there."

Zac Efron Montana

Zac Efron Montana

And, for the Efron brothers, you can apparently file "cantankerous grizzly bear" under "something special."

"Out of nowhere, [we were like] 'Okay, that's a bear. Everybody stop. And we all stood still," Zac told People in a revealing new interview, adding then when the bear didn't leave, "somebody silently whispered, 'But it's charging at us.'"

More: Someone Tell Taylor Swift We Had Dibs on Zac Efron First

Yikes! Running away from a grizzly bear doesn't sound like a breed of cardio we want to try anytime soon. Happily, Zac and Dylan didn't have to flee.

"It took like two big canters at us," Zac explained, before it "disappeared behind some trees. It was the scariest part of the trip! But it was so cool to see a bear that close. It was maybe 15 or 20 feet away. It was charging at us!"

More: Zac Efron Explains That Hobo Fight & How AA Saved His Life

Cool isn't exactly the word we'd use to describe a close encounter of the grizzly kind, but kudos to Zac for seeing the silver lining in the terrifying scenario.

All the Reasons a Sea Vacation Can Be Better Than Anything on Land

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If you're currently planning your next vacay, you may be grappling with the classic internal struggle involved with choosing what type of vacation to go on: sea or land? And while both cruises and resort stays have their merits, let's be real. Trying to decide between the two is a good problem to have. But I'll be the first to sing the praises of a sea vacation every single time this conundrum comes up.

More: 20 tropical cocktails that will send you back on vacation

Whether you're a seasoned traveler or this is your first sojourn, sea vacations suit every stage of wanderlust. Why? Ask and you shall receive. Here are all the reasons sea travel can top a land-based vacation you may be considering.

1. The convenience

You can't beat having everything loaded onto the ship, ready and waiting for you in your stateroom when you arrive. No dragging your luggage around from destination to destination, either — all the logistics are taken care of upfront so you can get straight to enjoying your vacation.

2. The food

Yes, you should absolutely try the local cuisine when you pull into a port. But can we all just agree that having practically every type of delicious food at your fingertips while at sea is the stuff dreams are made of? If you're a mama traveling with a picky eater, this likely rings especially true.

3. The degree of selections

When you vacation by sea, you have so many choices — many of which can be made last-minute without having to worry about prior reservations. Where you are going to eat, how you are going to spend your day, what kinds of activities you are going to participate in... you have complete control over your agenda, and it couldn't be easier to map out the trip that suits you best.

4. The entertainment

Looking for something fun to do in your downtime? Well, how about dinner and a show? Or a game of bingo in which you could win enough cash to make up for what you're probably going to drop into the slot machines? Speaking of which, how much fun is a vacation with a built-in casino on board? Sea vacations offer high-class entertainment mere minutes from your stateroom door.

5. The efficiency

There's nothing worse than feeling like your vacation is slipping through your fingers, and that feeling can certainly be exacerbated when you're sitting around waiting for your next planned activity to begin. Sure, you could always use downtime for a little R&R, but it's nice to have options. With sea vacations, there doesn't have to be any lag time — not only does the ship keep traveling while you sleep so you can awake to a new destination, but there is quite literally always something to do when you find yourself with a free moment.

More: Don't forget to pack one of these 20 reads before you leave for vacation

6. The inclusivity

It sounds trite to say there's something for everyone on a sea vacation but, hey, it's true. I've traveled by sea with my nearly 90-year-old grandmother and my small children, and everyone found something to keep them content for the duration of the trip. That kind of inclusivity is priceless.

7. The people

If you love meeting new people, you're in luck — because cruise ships boast such large and diverse populations of passengers, there's never a shortage of fascinating new friends to make. Not only does being on a ship with so many people give you the opportunity to make acquaintances from many different walks of life, but it also gives you ample time and ways to get to cultivate your burgeoning connections with those new buddies.

8. The variety

Variety is the spice of life, as they say, in which case sea vacations are arguably the most diverse form of travel. In addition to the aforementioned food and entertainment, there are also seemingly endless options where onshore excursions are concerned. Taking in Machu Picchu in South America? Yes, please!

9. The ease of seguing

A vacation inherently includes times when doing nothing sounds like your idea of heaven and heading to your stateroom to hunker down for a bit is just the ticket. But what if you catch your second wind mid-siesta and decide you want to reallocate your hour of slumber? On a sea vacation, that simply requires walking out your door and choosing the direction of your ideal activity.

More: Manage your expectations for family vacations

10. The view

Last but not least, let's talk about that view. If at any point during your vacation you want to see the stunning blue waters of the sea, you don't have to hail a cab toward the coast or lug a ton of gear to the nearest beach access. You're already there — simply take a look out your stateroom window or head to the deck for the ultimate ocean view.

Image: Gabriela Arellano/SheKnows

This post was sponsored by Princess Cruises.

Don't Miss These Signs of Toxic Parenting

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The parenting gig is tough, and there's no one-size-fits all manual for how to do it; we all have to figure things out as we go along. So we do the best we can — and we all screw up at one point or another. That's totally normal. The problem? When our screw-ups turn into the status quo. It's surprisingly easy to fall into bad habits and patterns without even realizing our child-rearing style has taken a turn for the toxic.

Of course we'd never intentionally hurt our kids, but many of us may be projecting our own insecurities and issues onto them in a way that is damaging. The good news: Recognizing toxic parenting patterns is the first step to ditching them for good.

More: I Cried in Front of My Kid — & That's OK

We spoke to four mental health and relationship experts to find out which parental behaviors have the potential to damage the relationship parents have with their children.

First, it helps to have a definition of "toxicity" to work with since the term has come to encompass a whole slew of less-than-healthy relationship tactics. "Toxicity within this context would mean behaviors that are transmitted unto children that could potentially cause them direct or indirect harm," says licensed marriage and family specialist Kingsley Grant.

Modeling healthy relationship dynamics is absolutely vital. "[Our children] are a reflection of us," Grant notes. "Remember, their actions are learned, and they are mostly learned from those who are most influential in their lives — namely, parents."

So what kinds of actions could cause a child direct or indirect harm? "If you curse at your children or yell at them in a way that when you're done, you suddenly realize you lost your temper... this is a sign that you’re overwhelmed, out of control and don’t have an appropriate outlet for your feelings." says April Masini, relationship expert and author. Masini warns that extreme displays of emotion are one of the more obvious signs that a parent may have a toxic relationship with their child.

More: How to Help Your Anxious Kid — When You Have Anxiety Too

Even if you aren't flying off the handle at your children as a conflict-resolution technique, they're still learning from you. Translation: When parents have knock-down drag-outs, kids notice.

"These children will not know that there are alternative ways to manage conflicts because this is all they know and have learned," says Grant. "Their use of this approach in conflictual situations could lead to being hurt physically, emotionally or mentally. It could also lead to disciplinary issues in school."

Anger might seem like an obvious sign of toxicity, but it isn't just screaming that parents should avoid. Turning your kids into a shoulder to lean on is another problematic sign of toxic parenting.

"If you weep in front of your children, regularly, as a victim, you’re in a toxic relationship with them," Masini notes. "Learn to ask for help [from adults] so you don’t act out. You shouldn’t suppress your feelings, but you do need to find an appropriate outlet and support for them. Your kids should not be that."

In fact, recognizing what is and isn't part of a healthy parent-child relationship is key to eliminating toxic behavior. If you find yourself habitually confiding in your kids or hoping they'll alleviate your stress, that's not a good sign, says licensed marriage and family therapist Meredith Silversmith.

"For example, a parent has a fear of flying, and when their child talks about taking a trip on a plane, [a toxic parent will] share their concerns and anxieties because it's too uncomfortable to think about their child being on a plane," says Silversmith. "Over time, the child can take on these worries as their own and carry them for their parent."

Expecting a child to take on an adult role like that is unhealthy and will likely cause more problems down the road. So too will the common — and often well-meaning — mistake that parents make when they project their own aspirations and shortcomings onto kids instead of allowing them to be individuals.

"When a baby is born, parents have so many hopes and wishes for their future and for their life. As this child gets older, becomes more independent... it can be challenging for some parents to adapt," Silversmith explains. "In these situations, a parent may continually push a child to follow his or her (the parent's) dreams or a parent may speak and act as if his or her wishes and interests are the child's, even in the face of other information. Under these circumstances, the child may begin to feel their needs and desires are not important."

These are all great examples of broader toxic behaviors, but let's get even more specific. Since a lot of parents are only doing or saying what they think is best for their kids, it can be hard to check yourself — especially if nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Next up: Toxic behaviors that every parent should avoid

Originally published February 2016. Updated October 2017.

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Elaine Taylor-Klaus, a parent coach and co-founder at Impact ADHD, says the following phrases and behaviors are good indicators that all is not well:

  • If your kid says, “You never listen to me," you need to ask yourself if you’re really listening.
  • Your kids complain about the same thing repeatedly. Hearing this means you might want to ask yourself if you’re responding to their concerns.
  • If you find yourself constantly identifying the ways in which other people are responsible for the upsets in your home — or if you're convinced family drama is always someone else’s fault — you may be part of the problem.
  • If you’re screaming or yelling more than you’d like, you’re part of the problem.

More: 4 Ways Fighting in Front of Your Kids Is Actually Good for Them

Grant weighs in with an extremely succinct and surefire determinant of toxic parenting. "We can tell when we are being toxic when our children begin to behave in like manner... a parent will see similar patterns of behavior within their children and the place to begin correcting the behaviors is to correct it in ourselves as parents."

So if you suspect that you're exhibiting toxic behaviors as a parent, what can you do to rectify that? A great place to start, suggests Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, author of Discipline Without Damage: How to Get Your Kids to Behave Without Messing Them Up, is to determine whether or not you have a bonded or binding relationship with your child.

"Binding is created by nothing other than circumstance. For example, 'I am your mother and because you were born to me, we are bound together. And because in this binding I am the big person, you will do as I say.'" On the other hand, she continues, "Bonding is created by a relationship cultivated through enduring experience. In other words, 'I am your mother, and I adore you. I will always take care of you and have your best interests at heart."

Masini concludes that toxicity is "usually a sign that you’re passing on learned behavior and your toxicity in relationships is historical. Recognizing the patterns in your personal [life] is a way to see that you’re replicating bad behavior, and this is a step towards changing it."

The Mental Health Impact of Sarahah

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For those seeking to give unsolicited advice, the internet has, over the years, never failed to present ample opportunities. First there was Formspring.me. Then there was Yik Yak, which gained notoriety across American colleges for propelling gossip across campus at alarming rates. Now, there’s Sarahah, an app and website that claims to “help you in discovering your strengths and areas for improvement by receiving feedback from your employees and your friends in a private manner.”

Although Sarahah has found its (unsurprising) calling among the ranks of teenagers, the app’s developer claims to have launched the tool as a way for employees to give their managers and seniors upward feedback anonymously. Its ease of use on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat made it an instant magnet for a much younger audience.

Here’s how it works: Users can leave anonymous comments through a link that most embed on their Snapchat stories or Instagram profiles. Things usually snowball from there.

More: Monica Lewinsky's Anti-Bullying PSA Shows Consequences of Online Comments IRL

Mariel Makalintal, a 17-year old high school junior, is well aware of the negative impacts Sarahah had on her mental health immediately after a breakup –– but not because she was receiving anonymous hate.

How Sarahah Affects Mental Health
Image: Getty Images/Design: Ashley Britton/SheKnows

“Downloading it resulted mostly in me constantly checking the messages my ex-girlfriend posted on her Instagram for references to me or to our breakup or obsessing over the messages I was sent that complimented or apologized to me in the hopes that they were from her," she says. "Its existence kind of enabled me to emphasize the petty, obsessive, more self-damaging aspects of the breakup that I otherwise might not have focused on.”

Makalintal isn’t the only Sarahah user who has noticed themselves checking the app too often or relying on it too much for mental reassurance. Having dealt with similar cases, Dr. Kimberly Hershenson, a therapist based in New York City, tells her patients that instead of turning to the app, they should “enjoy doing something free from technology such as enjoying a nice meal, meditating or taking a warm bath. After taking the first step to disconnect, begin thinking about taking a longer break and getting back into real life.”

Dr. David Ezell, clinical director at Darien Wellness in Darien, Connecticut, summarizes the app’s mission as “a misguided excuse to be passive-aggressive and cruel. True friends can tell those close to them difficult truths without the supposed aid of technology.”

But on the contrary, Makalintal shares ways in which she and her peers use the app’s anonymity to find ways to support one another. “There have been times when I know people are sad or having a bad night but I'm not close enough with them to directly message them about it, so instead I'll send them something on Sarahah to offer support or try to make them feel a little bit better,” she says.

MoreWhy Having Fewer Friends in High School Has Major Benefits

Makalintal’s experience is a glimmer of hope that not all the users are high schoolers looking to bait one another into emotional tailspins through nasty comments. Maria Yagoda, a 27-year-old editor and writer based in New York City, created an account on the app because she was feeling “bored and depressed, and wanted to see if people would maybe say nice things.” As a regular columnist for Vice’s Broadly, she saw an opportunity for the app to serve as a space for people to ask her anonymous questions about sex, which she then shared in this article. Among the questions she received were those that were par for the course (“Have you ever tried anal?”) as well as the slightly more unexpected (“Strangest thing you’ve ever masturbated to or with?”).

Despite the app’s use as a source of information for her article, Yagoda is very realistic about Sarahah’s limitations. “You're never going to find fulfilling or lasting validation here, obviously.” 

MoreTalking About Mental Health Is Good — Investing in Mental Health Is Better

At the end of the day, Sarahah is really just a game of Russian roulette played with your self-confidence; you could be showered with praise from shy admirers or chewed out by angry commenters. In spite of the many instances of verbal abuse and bullying that have taken place on the app, Annie Wright, a psychotherapist based in Berkeley, California, says there is a teachable aspect here.

“Some of the benefits I've seen from those who have used Sarahah [are] an increased capacity for vulnerability and challenging of their social anxiety," she says. "Being in relationship and asking for feedback is, for most of us, vulnerable if not downright scary!”

Julia Roberts, Kerry Washington & Oprah Winfrey Are Officially Our #BrunchGoals

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If you, like me, have been dying to know just what it's like to relax casually with a mimosa in hand and chat with Oprah Winfrey for Sunday brunch, then you'll be delighted to know that it's actually just as pleasant and fun in real life as it is in your imagination. We finally got to see how Winfrey does brunch — and who she brunches with — when photos went up online from her Wisdom of Sundays Gospel Brunch at her home in Los Angeles.

More: Oprah Winfrey's Words Can Help Us Heal From What Happened in Las Vegas

Taking place outdoors in the sunny California air, the casual brunch setting drew a major crowd of celebrities, most notably actors Julia Roberts and Kerry Washington. Pictures show these celebs hobnobbing with others in attendance, and according to E! News, Roberts brought along her family, including 12-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and her 10-year-old son Henry, to enjoy the day's activities.

Julia Roberts Oprah Brunch Tweet

Julia Roberts Oprah Brunch Tweet

More: So People's Most Beautiful Woman Julia Roberts Is 49 Years Old — Get Over It

Washington was spotted hanging out with Angela Bassett at one point during the brunch festivities. Other celebrities in attendance included Common, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, singer Andra Day (who also performed during the event) and Winfrey's longtime partner, Stedman Graham.

Kerry Washington Oprah Sunday Brunch

Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Oprah Sunday Brunch Concert
Image: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The Wisdom of Sundays Gospel Brunch was held at Winfrey's home in Montecito, California, and it appears to be one of the first of its kind that the mogul has hosted. The event was planned to not only bring some of Winfrey's closest friends together but also to promote her new book, Wisdom of Sundays, her latest book on the spiritual lessons she wants to pass on to her readers and fan base.

More: Maybe Liberals & Conservatives Don't Have to Be at War, Says Kerry Washington

What's evident is that Winfrey was in the fellowship spirit on Sunday (and how could you not be with friends like Roberts and Washington in attendance?) and that she was having the best time doing it.

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