The 51st Country Music Awards was an emotional night for various country music artists, but perhaps the most emotional night came when the awards show's cohost, Carrie Underwood, took to the stage to perform her tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. Underwood chose to sing "Softly and Tenderly" for her tribute. As she sang, it was clear this song was hitting her on a very real and emotional level.
During the performance, you can hear Underwood singing as a video collage of the victims is shown on a big projection screen. There's one moment early in the video when Underwood's breath catches a bit. You can hear her getting caught up in the moment, and trust me when I say it's very, very tough not to get a little misty-eyed as well.
2017 CMAs Carrie Underwood Las Vegas
2017 CMAs Carrie Underwood Las Vegas
Underwood's performance was not the only one to honor of the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. In fact, earlier in the evening, country music singer Eric Church took to the stage to sing "Amazing Grace" — just as gut-wrenching and beautiful to listen to — and Darius Rucker brought out all of country's finest to sing "Hold My Hand," the hit song of his early '90s band, Hootie & the Blowfish.
Underwood and her 2017 CMAs cohost Brad Paisley also addressed the various tragedies that have struck our nation and the world over the course of recent months.
"Las Vegas, Charlottesville, New York, Sutherland Springs, historic storms in Texas, Puerto Rico and Florida and the list goes on and on. This has been a year marked by tragedy impacting countless lives, including so many in our country music family," Underwood told the crowd. "So tonight, we’re going to do what families do: come together, pray together, cry together and sing together too.”
Paisley finishes, "The way we see it, the best way to honor our fans is to play our music, loud and proud. Our music lifts people up and that’s what we’re here to do tonight. So this year’s show is dedicated to all those we lost and those who are still healing. We love you and we will never forget you."
A damn fine sentiment indeed. At a time when we could use a little healing and unity, it seems like the country music community heard us and delivered tenfold. The tributes on Wednesday evening were both necessary and deeply meaningful; it's truly a balm for the soul.
After five years of infertility, Leanna and Jeff Landry’s lives were changed in 30 minutes. In that short time, the wife and husband found out they were candidates for embryo adoption and were in possession of six embryos.
For people unable to conceive naturally but who want to become parents, we tend to think there are two options: going through fertility treatments or adopting a child. But there’s also embryo adoption — a lesser-known but increasingly popular way of starting a family.
Embryo adoption isn’t for everyone, though: Some infertility stems from the fact that someone with a uterus isn’t able to carry a pregnancy to term, in which case embryo adoption wouldn’t work either. But for someone like Leanna, who had complications with endometriosis (initially misdiagnosed as polycystic ovarian syndrome) leaving her unable to conceive but able to become pregnant, embryo adoption seemed like the perfect solution.
Here’s how it works:
When people create embryos via in vitro fertilization, sometimes there are leftover embryos that are not implanted in a uterus. Traditionally, the options for those embryos are paying for storage to continue to freeze them indefinitely, donating them for research purposes or destroying them. But there’s another route: putting the leftover embryos up for adoption.
Once an individual or couple has been approved for embryo adoption, the process that follows is the same as after traditional IVF. The embryos are implanted in the person with a uterus, who then gestates and gives birth. The resulting baby is not genetically related, but the mother does have the experience of pregnancy and childbirth.
After five years of looking into options, Leanna came across a video on embryo adoption and knew right away this would be the right choice for them.
“It just fell into our laps, which was amazing,” Jeff says. “It all unfolded from there — an amazing cascade of fortune that led us to it.”
The first donor profile Leanna and Jeff reviewed had biracial embryos (white male/black female), matching their own family dynamic. The couple left the meeting having adopted six embryos.
“In that moment, we considered ourselves parents,” Leanna says.
Leanna and Jeff’s story is featured in an episode of Family Portrait on PeopleTV – Time Inc.’s free streaming network. Each installment of the show provides a glimpse into the lives of diverse families across the country, putting the stereotype of the “typical American family” to rest.
“I was born on this Earth to be a mother,” Leanna says in the video. “And I was really ready for us to start a family, but after a year of it not happening, that’s when we started to talk to doctors.”
Leanna is adopted, and adoption was always on the table for her and Jeff. But as Jeff points out in the video, adopting a baby is easier said than done, with many hoops to jump through, not to mention costs ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. So when they learned of embryo adoption, Leanna says for them, it was “the best of both worlds” — getting to adopt and go through the process of gestating and delivering their child.
Also, the costs were significantly less. The Landrys paid around $5,000 for embryo adoption. Part of the reason for the reduced price is that all the costs surrounding IVF have already been paid.
Despite the promise of embryo adoption for those facing infertility, the Landrys found that many people — including medical professionals — were not familiar with it.
“The biggest thing I found is that honestly, I don’t think people understand what we’re talking about initially,” Leanna explains. “Over time, they’ve asked more questions. I think that they didn’t really wrap their heads around it and assume it’s close to IVF so most people have a puzzled look on their face but don’t always initially ask questions.”
Like a traditional adoption, embryo adoptions can be open or closed. Leanna and Jeff do not have any information on the identities of the donors aside from their medical history.
After a successful pregnancy, Leanna gave birth to their daughter Olivia three years ago — an energetic child who loves to dance.
The Landrys have taken their story public because they want other people to know about embryo adoption.
“I think it’s a really great opportunity to still feel like you’re getting to actively participate by carrying the child,” Leanna says. “I don’t think it’s as emotionally draining as some of the other options — even traditional adoption. It gave me satisfaction knowing that once we had those embryos, they were ours. There was no waiting period or someone taking their child back. It was more final and straight to the point.”
It's no secret that picking out thoughtful gifts for friends and family members is... tricky. Even when we're shopping for the people who are closest to us, it takes a lot of thought to figure out the perfect present. Though, not gonna lie, we're pretty damn good gifters.
But if you think choosing stuff for your nearest and dearest is rough, just wait until you start browsing for your boss. You want to pick something for a superior that is classy and cool, but you don't want to get them something so over-the-top your coworkers will think you're a brownnoser. And if you get something too personal, things could get real weird real quickly.
C'mon, you know how it is in Hollywood. Two famous people can't step out in public without romance rumors running rampant, even if they're far from the truth. Not to mention the fact that celebrity love affairs can tend to be fleeting, and if aforementioned romance rumors turn out to be fact, the celebs spotted cozying up are usually done before paparazzi pics even hit the internet.
But both these scenarios appear to be untrue in the case of Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus. Their romance rumors are completely based in reality, and their relationship totally seems like it's more than just a rebound fling.
They went public back in July 2017, but they've reportedly been together a lot longer than that. And while we still haven't quite made peace with the fact that Affleck and Jennifer Garner are done for good, we have to admit we kinda like Shookus.
Shookus shares a daughter with her ex-husband, Kevin Miller, whom she met when they worked together on Saturday Night Live in 2002. At the time, she was an assistant producer and Miller was a writers' assistant. Shookus has stayed on at SNL, while Miller now works on Late Night with Seth Myers.
2. She's a veteran at SNL
Shookus has risen through the ranks in the 15 years she's worked on the show, and she's now the producer who oversees casting, meaning she has a heavy hand in how the show changes and develops.
She's still not Jennifer Garner, but if this is our reality now, we'll do our best to accept it. We're just digging the fact that Affleck isn't looking as puffy and sad lately as he did after he and Garner announced their split. If he's happy, we're happy.
Originally published July 2017. Updated November 2017.
“You’re the best cousin ever,” my young niece announced during one of my trips home to Texas.
“I’m your aunt, not your cousin,” I corrected, trying to keep my smugness in check. “But go on. Why?”
“Because you’re always buying us so much stuff.” Oh.
It’s true: My suitcase is always heaving with treats from my travels abroad, and I’m a sucker on Target shopping trips. Also, one of my greatest joys is taking my niece and nephew on movie dates to the Alamo Drafthouse, where I let them order as much root beer and cheese pizza as they like. When the new Cinderella came out, I sent Sloane a princess dress and a formal invitation to a ball. Then, I flew in from London for a surprise visit, plonked a tiara on my head and played the part of fairy godmother as we watched the film, rode in a carriage and made princess crafts. I'm a seriously cool aunt.
Since I live abroad, I can’t be the aunt who comes to every soccer game and dance recital. But thanks to my career as an entertainment journalist, I can be the aunt who goes to Harry Potter fan conventions — who interviews Wonder Woman, Mary Poppins, Olaf and Newt Scamander, and who writes the kids into children’s stories to boot.
Is it guilt or showmanship that compelled me to pose in front of Big Ben and Westminster Abbey with my nephew’s Flat Stanley school project dangling from one hand? Probably both. Am I shamelessly trying to curry favor by agreeing to have my face painted like Hello Kitty or letting a grade-schooler give me the most Jackson Pollack of manicures? Absolutely. Do I enjoy watching my niece occasionally torment her mother, aka the person who used my arm as a chew toy and stole my clothes when we were growing up? Sometimes.
Being an aunt — cool or otherwise — has been the greatest pleasure of my life. But I’m now at the age at which I must determine whether I too want to be somebody's (biological) mother. The answer is yes; I would love to have children of my own. My concern is this: Am I better aunt material than mom material?
Being an independent single woman with a fair amount of disposable income and a well-worn passport has arguably made me a fun aunt. But if a baby enters the picture, those "fun" things fall away. I’ll be a single mother with no disposable income, and I doubt I’ll be hopping on a last-minute budget flight to Rome or Amsterdam with a kid in tow. It will be stressful, and nobody else will be around to handle the homework and time-outs and 3 a.m. feedings and explosive diapers. It won’t be round-the-clock dance parties and movie dates and presents. It’ll mean trading that sweet Uncle Jesse life for buzzkill Danny Tanner responsibility.
The truth is, I like my space. A lot. I’m an introvert with bursts of social activity, which often translates to inviting people over, and then resenting them for accepting. After just a few hours of company, I begin to feel physically drained; the higher-maintenance a guest is, the more impatient and irritated I become. I once agreed to live with a boyfriend on the condition that we kept separate bedrooms.
There’s a precedent for this type of character in my family, too: my own cool aunt. I see her as more than a relative; she’s a mentor. She’s driven, independent and blisteringly brilliant. She’s never had her own children, but she’s played a crucial part in shaping the lives of seven devoted nieces and nephews. She was the first person to take me to New York City. She arranged my first internship. She convinced my father to let me study abroad in England, which is why I now live there. During her last visit, she invited me to join her on a trip to India. My cousin calls her Auntie Mame.
Looking at her, I know that if my lot in life is to simply be the aunt to my niece and nephew that my cool aunt has been to us, I’ll be lucky. Or maybe I’ll end up a mom after all — maybe one who is too sleep-deprived, snippy and stressed to be fun and extra all the time. And that would be OK too.
I don’t have to be a cool mom as long as I’m a loving one. Just please, oh, please, let me be one epic grandma.
People sometimes joke that learning about Medicare is like learning a new language, and, hey, it can certainly feel that way, right? But there is a bit of truth to it too. Just as you learn English as a child, understanding Medicare starts with the same four letters: A, B, C and D.
These letters are the building blocks of Medicare, according to UnitedHealthcare. So what do these letters mean in terms of coverage?
Medicare Part A helps with costs associated with inpatient care, such as when you're admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility. Costs may not be covered by Part A if you are in the hospital for observation. Part A covers charges from the inpatient facility as well as most of the services you receive while there. It does not cover the fees doctors charge for participating in your care or if you’re treated in the hospital under observation status. This brings us to Part B.
Medicare Part B helps with costs associated with outpatient care, such as doctor visits. It also covers most doctor services you receive while you're an inpatient at the hospital or other care facility. Part B covers some preventive care, like flu shots, along with outpatient clinical laboratory services, like blood and urine tests.
Together, Medicare Parts A and B make up Original Medicare — coverage administered by the federal government. You can bolster Original Medicare coverage with Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap. These add-on private insurance plans help offset costs Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as deductibles and coinsurance.
In order to offer more choices to beneficiaries, though, Congress added Parts C and D to the Medicare program.
Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. In order to join a Medicare Advantage plan, which are offered by private insurance companies, you must be enrolled in Part A and Part B. Accordingly, Medicare Advantage plans provide everything you get with Original Medicare and may offer additional benefits. These benefits may include coverage for dental, vision, hearing care and even prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Also offered by private insurance companies, Part D coverage can be secured through a standalone plan added to Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage, allowing people to get all of their coverage – Parts A, B and D – wrapped into one plan.
Although Part D plans are required to cover certain types of drugs, each plan chooses which specific drugs to cover. Therefore it is important to carefully review a plan's list of covereddrugs, or formulary, to ensure any prescription drugs you take regularly are included.
If that seems like a lot of alphabet soup to digest, remember that there's always a learning curve when mastering a new "language." And also keep in mind that you’re not permanently locked into a plan. You can change your coverage choices during Medicare Open Enrollment, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, so if you’re not totally satisfied with your current coverage, you’ll have the chance to switch to a plan that better fits your needs.
This post is sponsored by UnitedHealthcare. For more information, explore MedicareMadeClear.com or contact the Medicare helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.
Halo Top has been in the news a lot lately between the much-awaited release of dairy-free flavors and the opening of their new scoop shop. However, the latest news is taking our Christmas cheer to implosion levels.
Halo Top’s new seasonal flavor, Gingerbread House is going to be available for a limited time this December. It’ll contain ginger cookie bites and rich swirls of icing and will replace fall’s seasonal flavor, Pumpkin Pie.
Gingerbread House will appear on shelves in late November, and one package contains 360 calories and 20 grams of protein. For those who can’t wait, you can purchase it online beginning today.
“Gingerbread House was a really fun flavor to make,” said Justin Woolverton, founder and CEO of Halo Top, in a statement to SheKnows. “Not only is it delicious, we think it’s a great follow-up to our first seasonal flavor, Pumpkin Pie. We hope our fans enjoy this seasonal flavor as much as we do!”
So, the CMAs were last night, and you may have heard of the new song Keith Urban dropped and then performed on the show. It's got the whole internet talking.
I get what Urban is going for here. He's a dad, and he's married to Nicole Kidman, who has been lauded in the last year for her role in the unflinchingly feminist HBO miniseries Big Little Lies. But Urban's ties to Kidman are part of the problem here. He's married to a Hollywood A-lister, making it hard to believe he was unaware of the pervasive culture of sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry before recent weeks, when hundreds of allegations piled up and brought down a few men's careers. The time for Urban to speak up would have been before everyone was doing it, before he had nothing to lose by standing up for women.
There's also the fact that, while Urban's song is impactful, it's just another case of a man speaking for women. Country music is full of strong female stars who could have sung this song. Instead, we have a man singing about an issue he does not — cannot — understand.
I'm glad so many people, especially men who have been silent and complicit for so long, are sitting up and speaking out about sexual misconduct. But why haven't women been heard like this when we've spoken about it? For all of history, we've spoken out, and we've been ridiculed, silenced and ignored for our efforts. Had Urban used his fame and his privilege to amplify a female voice singing these words, that would have been one thing. To sing them himself — it feels an awful lot like all the other times men have spoken over us until we've given up and fallen back into silence.
While allegations of sexual assault and harassment seem to have effectively ended the careers of some of Hollywood's powerful men, including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, other allegations continue to fly under the radar. Corey Feldman has been alleging for years that he and his childhood friend, Corey Haim, were molested by multiple powerful men when they were child stars together, but Feldman's accusations have never gained much traction, possibly because, until recently, he refused to name any of his alleged abusers.
Now, another close friend of theirs, Dominick Brascia, is naming names. In an interview with The National Inquirer, Brascia claimed Haim was raped by Charlie Sheen on the set of their 1986 film, Lucas. Haim was 13 at the time, while Sheen was 19.
"Haim told me he had sex with Sheen when they filmed Lucas," Brascia said in his interview. "He told me they smoked pot and had sex. He said they had anal sex. Haim said after it happened Sheen became very cold and rejected him. When Corey wanted to fool around again, Charlie was not interested."
Haim died in 2010. Sheen told People magazine through a spokesperson that he "absolutely denies the claim."
This allegation comes after Feldman ramped up his efforts to expose what he says is a pedophilia ring among high-ranking Hollywood execs that he claims victimized both him and Haim when they were children.
"There are people that did this to me and Corey that are still working, they’re still out there, and they’re some of the most rich and powerful people in this business," Feldman said in 2010, soon after going public with his accusations. "And they do not want what I’m saying right now. They want me dead."
Updated Nov. 9, 2017, 10:00 a.m. PT: By the looks of things, Kevin Spacey's career is over. His future on House of Cards is in question as production on the sixth and final season is still shut down. And now, it's been announced that Spacey has been cut out of his upcoming movie, All The Money in the World, which had already completely finished filming.
According to Entertainment Tonight, director Ridley Scott and executive producers Dan Friedkin and Bradley Thomas have decided to reshoot all Spacey's scenes with actor Christopher Plummer instead. Reshoots will begin ASAP, and Scott wants to stick to the planned release date of Dec. 22. Whether that's even possible after replacing the lead actor during post remains to be seen.
Updated Nov. 3, 2017, 9:30 a.m. PT: At least eight current and former staffers on House of Cards have come forward to anonymously accuse Kevin Spacey of years of sexual assault and harassment. Several of them were young, just beginning their entertainment careers, and described Spacey's behavior as "predatory."
One account came from a production assistant, who says he was tasked with driving Spacey to set. He alleges that while he was driving, Spacey reached over and put his hands down his pants.
"I was in a state of shock," the PA told CNN. "He was a man in a very powerful position on the show and I was someone very low on the totem pole and on the food chain there."
The same PA also alleges that when he delivered Spacey's bags to his trailer, Spacey blocked the door and assaulted him again. This was after the PA claims he told his supervisor about being sexually harassed by Spacey.
"I have no doubt that this type of predatory behavior was routine for him and that my experience was one of many and that Kevin had few if any qualms about exploiting his status and position," he added. "It was a toxic environment for young men who had to interact with him at all in the crew, cast, background actors."
Another crew member, who worked on House of Cards for all six seasons, told CNN that Spacey habitually harassed him and touched him inappropriately without consent.
House of Cards' production company has halted filming on the sixth season for now and told CNN it put in place "an anonymous complaint hotline, crisis counselors, and sexual harassment legal advisor for the crew."
Updated Nov. 1, 2017, 8:35 a.m. PT: We already knew that Netflix was ending House of Cards after its upcoming season following accusations of sexual assault made against Kevin Spacey. But now, the streaming service has gone a step further and halted production on the sixth season of the hit political drama.
"MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew," the company said in a statement.
How Netflix will proceed with this remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we'll just keep living for that Claire Underwood spinoff that's reportedly in the works.
Original story:
In light of alarming sexual assault allegations made against its star, Kevin Spacey, House of Cards is officially folding — Netflix made the announcement Monday that the popular series' upcoming sixth season will be its last. However, a House of Cards spinoff will take its place.
The spinoff is reportedly in the early stages of development according to Variety. Although no specific characters or storyline are attached so far, Variety confirms that the new show will take place in the same universe as the original House of Cards.
Since Netflix and Media Rights Capital decided to end House of Cards after its sixth season, possibly due to the troubling nature of Spacey's alleged actions, it's only logical that Frank Underwood will not have a role in the spinoff. That doesn't mean that his wife, Claire, would be out of the picture, though.
Spokespeople for both Netflix and Media Rights Capital declined to comment, but the internet is here for a spinoff with Robin Wright (aka Claire Underwood) at the helm.
HOC Claire 1
HOC Claire 1
HOC Claire 2
HOC Claire 2
HOC Claire 3
HOC Claire 3
HOC Claire 4
HOC Claire 4
HOC Claire 5
HOC Claire 5
HOC Claire 6
HOC Claire 6
HOC Claire 7
HOC Claire 7
Clearly, House of Cards fans feel the phenomenally talented Wright deserves to take over as Madam President.
Alas, there is reportedly another potential focus brewing for the spinoff — one which would revolve around Doug Stamper, the political aide who did much of Frank's dirty work in the first five seasons. Eli Roth is reportedly in talks to write the series from this particular slant.
Since the spinoff is rumored to be in such an early stage of development, it's impossible to know at this point which path producers will choose. What is certain, though, is that Spacey (and hence Frank) will not figure into the new series.
Pink came to the CMAs last night with a nomination to her name (her song with Kenny Chesney, "Setting the World on Fire" was up for Musical Event of the Year) and a performance on the lineup, but her red carpet arrival garnered plenty of attention too. The singer stepped out with her daughter, 6-year-old Willow Hart.
Willow's latest appearance may surprise fans since Pink has spoken about her daughter's struggles being comfortable in her own skin. In fact, Refinery29 reported that Willow once told her mom she thought she was "the ugliest girl I know." When Pink recounted that incident back in August at the MTV VMAs, she added that she let Willow know there are many different kinds of beautiful — and it seems Willow took that sweet message to heart.
After their stunning strut on the red carpet, Willow changed into a more casual outfit (as did her mom) for the rest of the show, proving to everyone that there really are many, many kinds of beautiful.
While her glittering headpiece and studded tulle skirt were certainly attention-stealing — Pink even helped her daughter adjust her headwear on the carpet, according to PopSugar — Willow's mom certainly stole the spotlight when she performed her new single, "Barbies" during the telecast. In true Pink style, the performance was stellar, emotional and even acrobatic, proving to the CMA audience and viewers at home that Pink definitely belongs on that country stage, even with her pop pedigree. And while she and Chesney lost out to Willie Nelson and Glen Campbell, Pink and Willow may well have made the biggest splash in Nashville.
The cast of Full House really do treat each other like a family. And while a lot of people wondered if there was any shade in Mary-Kate's and Ashley Olsen's decisions not to come back for the Netflix-produced revival, Fuller House, they have the support of their family regardless.
On the red carpet at the Stand Up for Pits benefit in Hollywood on Sunday, Entertainment Tonight asked Full House patriarch Bob Saget how he really feels about the new show getting straight up ghosted by the Olsen twins, who have refused to even consider a return.
"People should do what they want with their lives, and when they're 9 months old and they get a job," they have a right to stop doing it, he said. "I love them very, very much, Ashley and Mary-Kate, and they love what they do and acting is not what they want to do. People should do what they want to do."
Well, if that isn't just the sweetest. Though fans would love to see the Olsen twins make their return to their roots, you really do have to respect the fact that they've built the heck out of their careers, and they have nothing to do with acting anymore. If that's not what they're into, it's not what they're into. You can't force these things.
And anyway, pretty much the entire rest of the cast chose to participate in Fuller House, so no one's childhood is being crushed by the Olsen twins' absence, even though fans definitely do feel it. We'll just all have to get our throwback fix from the other Tanner girls — and Kimmy Gibbler, of course.
Hollywood leading man Mark Wahlberg may not realize it, but he casts an intimidating figure. Blame those broad shoulders and chiseled muscles, but he's not exactly... huggable. He may deny that assertion, but his daughter's beau would probably back us up here. In a recent visit to Live with Kelly and Ryan, Wahlberg explained that his 14-year-old daughter has started dating — and the boyfriends aren't exactly warming up to dear-old dad.
People reports that Wahlberg's oldest daughter, Ella Rae, brought home a boyfriend once, but the poor guy must have gotten skittish, because Wahlberg says he never saw him again. (Apparently BF's mom came along for that dinner too, because who wouldn't turn down some face-time with Marky Mark?)
"It was one of those things where I was like, 'Oh, this boy is really nice,' and now he’s not around anymore — I don't know what happened," Wahlberg said. "But I was not trying to intimidate him. It had nothing to do with me. I guess the relationship just didn't work out, and somehow I got blamed."
Wahlberg insists he had nothing to do with Ella Rae's relationship's downward trajectory, but I mean, wouldn't yoube scared off by your date's dad if he had that intimidating presence, bravado and Boston accent? Wahlberg feigned ignorance with Ripa and Seacrest, but viewers suspected he had a hand in the kid's quick retreat.
Ella Rae's maybe-dating life has gotten quite a few mentions lately. According to Entertainment Tonight, Wahlberg said she's been communicating with his costar Will Ferrell's son Magnus (Ferrell is starring with Wahlberg in Daddy's Home 2). Could it be a new relationship developing among the spawn of comedy kings?
"Those things happen. As long as I know who they are, where they come from, and know their parents, in this case, of course I know a lot," Wahlberg said of the budding friendship between Ella Rae and Magnus. "So, I'm good. I know Will and [his wife] Viv [Paulin], and they're very, very nice and they're raising very young, fine boys. So, he's all good."
Of course, this could just be a ploy to embarrass Wahlberg's kids — or Ferrell's kids for that matter. In the past, Wahlberg's admitted he revels in the fact that he can make his daughters blush. Famous or not, there are some things dads just can't help doing.
While many things improve with age — like sex, alcohol and Jennifer Aniston — there’s at least one thing that doesn’t, and for me it’s my period blood clots. And I know I’m not alone in wondering why my periods seem to have gotten worse over time, including the pretty horrific addition of heavy blood clotting on the second or third day of my period.
While heavy bleeding during menstruation is a problem most women have had to manage at some point, clotting is a lesser-talked-about symptom that can be very distressing. Excuse the TMI, but imagine a heavy discharge, but instead of the usually creamy or translucent consistency, it consists of dark red blood. Needless to say, the unfamiliar, jelly-like sight can be anxiety-inducing.
Obviously, it’s always best to consult a medical practitioner to ensure there is nothing more serious going on with your body, but what if your periods have merely gotten worse with age, like mine seem to have?
Dr. Jessica Shepherd an OB-GYN of KnowYourBirthControl.com, explains, “Heavy bleeding is a common problem for women. While you should always speak to your doctor about how to manage, there are birth control options out there used for pregnancy prevention that, for some women, may also result in short, lighter periods.”
Personally, I’ve struggled to find a hormonal contraceptive that works for me and doesn’t create side effects like depression and a loss of libido, but the thought of potentially shorter and lighter periods is enticing.
My periods have always been slightly irregular, and my cycle often runs longer than the average, with 34-plus days not being unusual for me. But now that I’m in my 30s, getting my period is a less regular affair. While I don’t experience heavy clotting every month, every two or three periods is heavier, more awkward and involves blood clots. As I’m a little out of shape right now, the irregularity and severity is undoubtedly due in part to the lack of exercise in my life (I gave up on a lot when my mother died last year, and I’m slowly clawing back some semblance of self).
According to Shepherd, “The risk of blood clots with the use of hormonal birth control is relatively low and decreases with duration of use and decreasing estrogen dose. That said, I also recommend that women do not smoke, as smoking increases the risk of cardiovascular side effects.”
While hormonal contraception is a means of moderating periods that feature heavy blood clotting, it’s not necessarily the right method for everyone.
“Hormonal birth control use isn’t necessarily needed for long-term use; however, the decrease in bleeding is often helpful, and studies have shown that it can improve women’s quality of life and work double duty by providing contraception,” Shepherd explains.
If you and your doctor think it might help and you’re experiencing heavy blood clotting on a regular basis, then birth control may be the way forward.
Experts at Women’s Health explain why blood clots don’t happen during every period. They write, “anti-coagulants released by the body during menstruation fend off period clots. But sometimes, especially if you have a heavy flow, not all of your uterine tissue is able to be broken down, which leads to clots forming and being released during menstruation.”
Basically, just having a heavy flow can lead to the body producing period blood clots, so the sight of them shouldn’t be so alarming.
While I might never get used to seeing big blood clots during my period, it’s helpful to know what to look out for. As RubyCup says, “Blood Clots in your period are generally bright or darker red and can sometimes make your menstrual flow seem dense and thick.”
And Women’s Health concurs, saying, “These clots are typically red or dark in color and appear during the heaviest days of a woman’s period.”
The older I get, the more I learn about my body. Blood clots are a newer addition to the symptoms I experience during menstruation, but it’s reassuring to know that many people experience them on a regular basis.
Remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? How each event would present you, the reader, with choices about how to proceed, and you'd flip to a certain page to see how your choice would impact the story? HBO is bringing that kind of immersive experience to TV. Seriously, this is the coolest.
The network's new show, Mosaic, isn't set to air until January 2018. But in the meantime, you can download the Mosaic app that just launched today on iOS (Android is coming soon) and start shaping the show for yourself. On the app, you get to watch the 25-minute introductory episode, and then choose the show's direction from there. You pick the character from whose perspective you want to see events unfold. You collect clues that will help you piece together the story. You truly get to make decisions that will affect how you view Mosaic.
The app has two different endings for the show, but when it actually begins airing, you'll want to tune in on HBO, because as Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, the show's director, puts it, "Mosaic isn’t complete until all the pieces are viewed in their proper perspective."
Building a show like this was a serious undertaking for HBO, and it's easy to see why. It took three years and tons of filming time to shoot all the different twists and turns from all the possible perspectives. The way the show is presented required HBO to file 14 new patents. They're really doing something groundbreaking, and we kind of can't wait to start watching.
It's also a pretty genius marketing move. You can create your Mosaic plotline on the app for free, but once you get hooked, you'll need an HBO subscription to watch the actual show. If that won't get new subscribers, I don't know what will.
Part of the fun of raising and caring for a child is the opportunity to introduce that kid to the wonders of the world — the world of food, that is. As a baby’s taste buds transform into a toddler’s picky palate and then the (often sugar-loving) cravings of a full-size kiddo, it becomes even more important to ensure healthy choices are readily available. And thanks to ever-rotating seasonal crops, each month presents a new slew of vegetables, fruits and grains to sneak into recipes, lunchboxes and snacks alike. It's not a competition, but if it were, fall would definitely be the seasonal produce winner here.
Plus, nutritionists say you have a better chance at getting kids on board with fruits and vegetables if you shop in season for freshness. “Food generally tastes better when it’s in season — even better if you can get locally grown produce for an even fresher taste that is better for the planet,” family nutrition expert and registered dietitian Bridget Swinney says. “Plus, it’s fun to take your little one to the store or farmers market and let them help pick out seasonal produce.”
So consider this your and kiddo's end-of-fall shopping list, broken down by age.
For babies
When brainstorming the best dishes for babies who are still learning the (intricate) ropes of how to chew solid foods, registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo says to be mindful of the shapes, textures and preparations of your recipes. When in doubt, she says, opt for mashed or soft foods that don’t risk a choking hazard.
Pumpkin, sweet potato & cauliflower baby food
Some of the superstars of the autumn season — pumpkin, sweet potato and cauliflower — are ideal for a warm, hearty baby food mix that will be both sweet and savory on baby’s impressionable taste buds. “The orange fruits and veggies are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are vital for a child’s eyesight development,” Rizzo explains. As an added bonus, Rizzo says these veggies are packed with fiber, helping to alleviate the frequent constipation symptoms that many babies battle.
Butternut squash soup
This is another easy-to-slurp-and-digest favorite. Swinney suggests whipping it up as a meal for the whole family. Because this soup is filled with vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6 and magnesium, it benefits growing minds as well as bodies. For flavor, Swinney says to “just add sautéed onion or shallot, applesauce and some chicken broth and milk." But if you’re serving a mini portion for baby, make sure to set that bit aside before you add the salt and milk to ensure it's easy on his or her stomach, Swinney notes.
Remember the last time your sweet (and finicky) toddler cleaned their plate? I can’t either. Rizzo says during this stage of development, you’ll have better luck fixing up on-the-go bites, since toddlers gravitate toward finger foods — and are hard-pressed to sit down for a whole meal.
Apple & pear slices or sweet potato cubes
Not only does roasting various flavors together make your home smell delicious, but these soft and warm nibbles might also be the easiest way to get your toddler to try the healthy staples of fall. “Apple and pear slices and roasted sweet potato cubes work well for kids of this age. Sweet potatoes have vitamin A for developing eyes, and apples and pears are full of fiber and phytochemicals,” Rizzo says. For protein and calcium that promote muscle growth and bone health, try sneaking in a few spoonfuls of yogurt too.
Acorn squash for dessert
Though your tot probably loves ice cream, for a healthier fall treat, Swinney suggests a slightly sweetened squash of the season. “Acorn squash is a fun treat for toddlers because they can eat it right out of the skin. Just microwave it and top it with a little butter and cinnamon-sugar. Or you can slice it and roast in the oven; they might even enjoy eating a slice with their hands, like an apple,” she shares.
Pomegranate juice
With its short life cycle, the pomegranate might send you on a scavenger hunt for a ripe one. If you succeed, make fizzy pomegranate juice for a healthy take on soda that will please plenty of sweet-toothed toddlers, Swinney suggests. Just juice the pomegranate seeds and add club soda for a delicious beverage in less than a minute — or use the seeds as a topping over brown rice for an unusual side dish.
Are you witnessing the fascinating transformation of your children turning into mini-adults? Complete with personalities and preferences galore, older kids can be tricky to entice toward healthy eating; after all, they can think for themselves. This just means you’ll need to get craftier.
Apple chips
Move aside, potato chips. With apple harvest in full swing, slice and top the fruits with coconut oil and the tiniest bit of sugar for an afternoon snack kids will run from the school bus to sample.
Swiss chard
If you’ve skimmed over Swiss chard in the produce section thinking, "There's no way they'll eat that," you’re not the only one. Swinney says many people don’t take advantage of this fall food, which is a cousin of spinach and beets. But give it a chance: Swiss chard is super-nutritious and ideal for smoothie or soup fans. “Even kids will enjoy a green smoothie with Swiss chard, pineapple and berries. Or since fall is soup time, Swiss chard makes a wonderful blended soup when combined with potatoes, spices and a bit of cheese,” Swinney says.
No matter the ages of the children in your life, there's a fall fruit, vegetable or flavor combination that will satisfy their developing — and sometimes picky — taste buds... or at least give them a welcome break from leftover Halloween candy.
Mandy Moore is coming out with a strong This Is Us opinion, so buckle up. Actually, it's a pretty logical and reasonable opinion, so it matters that we pay attention to it even more. Earlier this week, Moore defended This Is Us' use of the N-word on its most recent episode, "The Most Disappointed Man."
There's a moment in the episode when Rebecca and Jack go to see the black male judge presiding over their adoption case for Randall. What should have been a quick and easy confirmation that Randall was legally their child becomes a subtle teaching moment about racial dynamics in the nuclear family.
After the judge delayed their case, Rebecca and Jack request a meeting; they need to know why. In said meeting, the judge proceeds to explain to this young white couple that he believes Randall needs to be raised by black parents, parents who can teach him what it means to be a black man and prepare him for critical moments in his life, like when a white person will inevitably call him the N-word. In this moment, the judge says the actual N-word — a highly unusual (but not unprecedented, especially for NBC) narrative choice for a primetime network show.
While it's easy to see how initial reactions to the use of the full, harsh N-word might have initially shocked viewers, Moore took the time to explain why it was necessary to include the word and why it matters on This Is Us.
"You're talking about 1980 — that was more, unfortunately, part of the vernacular then," she told Extra. "It wasn't scripted. That was something he chose as an actor to say and the first time he said it I think Milo and I were both like… we didn't know it was going there.” It's interesting to note that both her reaction and costar Milo Ventimiglia's reaction to hearing guest star Delroy Lindo (who plays the judge) seemed to be genuine. Moore confirming this moment was ad-libbed somehow deepens the impact of the moment even further.
Fans appeared to feel similarly to Moore when "The Most Disappointed Man" aired on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Many immediately took to Twitter to discuss their feelings about the use of the N-word, with some remarking just how important it was that this loaded word was said.
It's understandable that Moore would defend the use of the N-word on This Is Us for myriad reasons. Her explanation scans with the themes and direction of the show, and furthermore, this show has proven it's not afraid to tackle tough topics like racial politics. That the show and the network responsible, NBC, kept the word in the final cut of the episode means there's a desire to continue that kind of conversation with the fans.
When it comes to Jessica Johnston, she admits that sticking with Cole Medders and his abs were a big mistake on Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers. Despite her family warning her not to align with an attractive guy, Jessica found herself in a bubbly beach showmance that bit her in the butt. In our interview with Jessica, she explains why she thinks Cole is the worst player this season and reveals why Jeff Probst is wrong about the way she played. Plus, she dishes the dirt on her current relationship with Cole. Are there fireworks?
SheKnows: Did you have any idea your elimination was coming?
Jessica Johnston: It's the worst. I'm so stupid [laughs] for not even being remotely aware that my name was out there. It was absolutely a blindside. I had no idea. Bravo to everyone. It was awful and great at the same time.
Image: CBS
SK: What did you think was going to happen?
JJ: It's embarrassing. I was overly confident in my relationships with Ben and Lauren. I was 100 percent confident in the Healers alliance. We were such a powerhouse. I assumed the majority of votes were going toward Chrissy. I had spent the day of the merge — instead of protecting myself, doing damage control — I was trying to make Cole and Ben be friends. I told Cole to apologize for stealing food from other people. Going in, I thought I had those votes. If Chrissy goes, great, that's what we want. If Chrissy doesn't go, then Cole is gone. I was fine with it. I can do this game without Cole. I had done enough damage control going into the merge vote. During the merge, utter chaos happened as Joe was throwing his Idol around like a maniac. Even in that moment, it should have dawned on me something was going down. But it didn't. I thought they would start targeting Cole. My whole experience with Ben and Lauren was they wanted Cole gone so bad. In my head, I was like, "There's no way they would put my name down." It really wasn't until Jeff showed my name on the first ballot I realized, "Oh, God. I have totally screwed my game."
SK: Jeff Probst told Entertainment Weekly that you essentially blew it and didn't play a great game because you were distracted by Cole. Do you agree with him?
JJ: I totally disagree with that. Love you, Jeff, but I totally disagree. Advice I got going into the game from a family member was not to align with a good-looking guy. I was like, "Are you kidding me? I would never. Duh!" Then, what did I do? If I could go back and change that moment with Cole and myself, I would. But what do you do when you're on a winning tribe and everybody is getting along? We never had to test or try anything. I felt like I was doing my best protecting Cole, yet telling Ben and Lauren, "I get it. He's stealing. He's a liar. He has to go when the time comes." I don't know what else I was supposed to do. I certainly didn't want to come across like I was backstabbing Cole on the tribe when we weren't even going to Tribal Council, and I feel like there was a lot of strategy that wasn't shown. I want to reject the fact that I was in a showmance, but I have to own it. I was. It happened, and it screwed me. If I had it to do over again, I would not follow an eight-pack. Maybe a 12-pack, but not an eight-pack [laughs].
Image: CBS
SK: So where did it go wrong for you?
JJ: At the beginning, I think maybe I was a little too hopeful I could potentially find love and win $1 million at the same time. I think maybe my head was in the clouds a little too early in the game, but it was quickly identified that this was not love. People who love each other don't steal peanut butter [laughs]. I was just too far in to get out. I was unaware of how much I was doing damage control. It was my inability to separate who I am in real life from the game. Shame on me. In my real life I'm selfless. I give and give and give. The game of Survivor is selfish, and I couldn't wait to play a selfish game. I basically didn't play a selfish game. I was consumed with protecting Cole, Mike and Joe. It just ate me alive, and I didn't even realize it until honestly last night watching the show.
Image: CBS
SK: Who do you blame for your elimination?
JJ: I want to point the finger at Cole, obviously. That would be really easy for me to do, but it was my fault. I'm not joking when I tell you I spent that day convincing Ben that Cole should not be the vote. Then I spent the other half of the day convincing Ben that Joe should not be the vote. I wasted my whole day on getting back with Joe and trying to keep Cole quiet. I was also working to keep Mike from being paranoid. In reality, I should've said, "Screw all of you guys! You're ruining my game!" I should've been the one flipping on the Healers alliance [laughs].
SK: Did you have a plan in your mind of who you wanted to go to the end of the game with?
JJ: That's another downfall. I wish I would've thought about that more. My tribe never lost, and although we were strategizing amongst each other, it's really hard to envision who you're gonna go to the end with when you're never tested. I never had that opportunity to really dig down in my thoughts. The closer I got to the merge, I realized that Cole was an enormous liability and he had evolved into this person no one liked. He would've been someone I wanted to go to the end with because nobody liked him. Then there's Joe. He had evolved into a villain, and I think he was playing a game that no one liked. I think I could've argued my case for the $1 million against those two and won [laughs].
Image: CBS
SK: Did Cole have any idea how bad a social game he was playing?
JJ: He is 100 percent unaware of what he does. In the game, everything you see is real. Nothing is made up. He really was catching huge fish and not sharing. In my head, I was like, "Oh, you're so stupid. Everyone hates you." Then I had to do damage control. It was constantly back and forth in my head with how to handle these situations. He's totally unaware. After the game, he became aware once he got food and back in his normal life. He was like, "Oh man, I messed up big." I said, "Yes! Absolutely you messed up big and you took me with you!" But I take full ownership. I'm an adult and could've broken it off. My bad. Shame on me.
Image: CBS
SK: Is there anything between you and Cole today?
JJ: We have seen each other. We think very highly of each other, but we are in the friend zone at this point. He's a great guy, but just friends.
SK: Most of the previous interviews we've done this season have resulted in other contestants telling us that J.P. is the worst player in the game. Do you agree with that or do you think Cole gets that title?
JJ: One hundred percent that goes to Cole. J.P. doesn't have a personality. Cole has a personality, but he's just stupid. That's the difference [laughs].
Image: CBS
SK: On the flip side, who do you think is playing the strongest game. If the vote was held right now, who do you believe is most deserving to win?
JJ: Ben. There's so much that's untold. I'm excited to see how the rest of the season plays out. I am strong in my personality, and we butted heads a lot. Ben would tell me what he thought, and I was like, "Don't tell me what to do, Ben. I will make the decision." Ben had the ability to make me believe that I was his. Chrissy and I were very similar with Ben, although she's a little dirtier in the game than I was. Ben, from what I saw in the game, he works hard. He knows how to build an army, which matches him perfectly.
JJ: It's such a long story, but I love it. I started applying to Amazing Race in 2009 with one of my girlfriends, and I just don't quit until something happens. I kept applying, and two years ago and we made it to finals. That put us in front of producers and casting. They didn't pick us because we didn't match their theme, but they put us on a casting list. A year later I got a call asking if I would apply to Survivor, and of course I jumped at the chance.
Image: CBS
SK: Probst also told EW that you would be a good pick to return for another season. Would you play again?
JJ: My whole body just smiled, literally. It would be a dream to finish a game that I feel like was cut short. I don't think anybody saw what I'm capable of. I'm capable of a lot. Given a second chance, I would do everything different, like not following an eight-pack [laughs]
Image: CBS
Do you think Jessica should play the game again? Join the conversation by leaving a comment in the section below.
I can only empathize with those who are currently battling their way uphill on their respective fights against cancer, but what I can safely guess is that, if anything, it's important to have a good support system in place while one fights. This is most definitely the case with Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who recently posted a video her costars, Sam Richardson and Matt Walsh, sent her to get her pumped up for her third round of chemo. It is, in a word, badass.
Louis-Dreyfus posted the video to her Twitter on Nov. 9, and it looks like her costars decided to get her pumped up for her third round of chemo the best way they knew how: with a little comedy. I don't know about you, but I'd most certainly choose the comedy route, especially in moments like that.
You can almost feel Louis-Dreyfus beaming from the other side of the screen and imagine her huge smile as she inevitably watched Richardson and Walsh run their silly but super-sweet sketch for her. The video naturally got her psyched and she wasn't afraid to share it, as well as the video, with us. "2 of my darling Bozos (love them so much) psyche me up for 3rd chemo today," she wrote. "And guess what? It worked! I’m psyched AF."
JLD 3rd Chemo Round Video
JLD 3rd Chemo Round Video
In it, Richardson and Walsh get together to find inspirational quotes to give to Louis-Dreyfus before her chemo treatment. Unfortunately, the quotes they really zero in on are from super-problematic dudes like Josef Stalin and Harvey Weinstein. Yeah, not exactly inspiring. Then, they just say, "Screw it" and they start singing to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger" in order to get her pumped up. It is, in a second word, brilliant.
This isn't the first time Louis-Dreyfus' Veep costars have circled the wagons and chosen to go the funny route in order to lift her spirits. In late October, around the time she revealed her cancer diagnosis, Veep stars Timothy Simons and Tony Hale put together their own funny video in which they sang Katy Perry's "Roar" while Hale, acting like Louis-Dreyfus, faux-beat up Simons, who was playing the role of cancer. It is, in a third word, delightful.
Let’s face it. Leo DiCaprio is one of the most talented, sexy and versatile actors in Hollywood. He’s been around since he was a kid, but his baby face has transformed into a tested, talented, masculine actor. He can do anything from foreign accents to Shakespeare to steamy sex scenes. But if we had to pick just one of DiCaprio’s characters as our soul mate to love for all of eternity, we’re not sure we could. Of course, Jack Dawson from Titanic satisfies our romantic nature, but the cool perfection of Jay Gatsby is sexy as hell.
Luckily, we’ve created an in-depth quiz that examines your personal values and needs to connect you with the most compatible version of DiCaprio that exists. Finally, you can match your sense of style, your living environment and even your favorite film with the many faces of Leo. Let’s get started.
