Less than a month after Starbucks launched their 2017 holiday cups, they have decided to launch a new one, and this one is a more familiar-looking red cup meant to celebrate the good in each other.
Starting today for a limited time, Starbucks will be using this red holiday cup, which hopes to inspire customers to think of those who “fill their heart and embody goodness” this holiday season by writing that person’s name in the heart of the cup.
Image: Starbucks
There’s a social media element as well: Customers are encouraged to share their self-designed dedication cup on social media with the hashtag #GiveGood.
The new cups are not the only new Starbucks news this week. Yesterday, Starbucks and Spotify announced three limited-edition Starbucks cards featuring Chance the Rapper, Lady Gaga and Metallica that will be available in company-operated Starbucks stores starting Nov. 28.
These gift cards are part of the same Give Good campaign as the new cups. Starbucks and Spotify are donating $1 million dollars divided among the artists' charities — Chance the Rapper’s SocialWorks Chicago, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation — to benefit youth empowerment, education and veterans.
So, maybe while heading out today to get that red cup to Instagram, you should pick up one of these gift cards. They’ll make great stocking stuffers this holiday too.
For some of us, baking is something you only do on special occasions or when you have a craving and a box of brownie mix. But really, baking can be something extraordinary, meditative and surprising. That's what these bloggers have cultivated in their kitchens, and they've made it accessible to the rest of us, whether we've ever sifted flour before or not.
You might not get it Pinterest-perfect the first time around (and their photography skills are a whole other matter), but these bloggers provide step-by-step guidance for some of the most decadent baked goods available to us. We might as well say thank you and give them a shot.
Blahnik Baker blogger Zainab is the queen of killer flavor combinations. The ginger-cranberry-pear pie above is just one example. She's also made incredible treats like sweet potato cupcakes with marshmallow frosting, strawberry lemonade pound cake and even grapefruit soufflé. She only started baking in 2012, but her blog is a testament to her incredible talent and sense of taste.
I love the catchy name of her blog — Bakerella — and all the delicious treats and recipes she shares. Blog author Angie is actually the creator of cupcake pops. She provides dozens of recipes and variations to the bite-size snack and also has recipes for everything from cakes and pies to brownies and cheesecakes. Her blog is full of fantastic photos showcasing her sweet treats and superb creativity. She even has a book — Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Treats — featuring all things cake pop. Take a look — you'll be glad you did.
Heather, author of SprinkleBakes, comes from a background of fine arts and painting, and you can tell she lets her creativity shine throughout all of her recipes. Here, she shares her own unique original recipes, family recipes and adaptations of her favorite recipes. Basically she's got it all — from coconut cappuccino muffins to pecan pie taffy to blue velvet cupcakes (who says they have to be red?). She released a book — SprinkleBakes: Dessert Recipes to Inspire Your Inner Artist — showcasing her best, most creative recipes. If you're looking for creative inspiration, SprinkleBakes is the blog for you.
Vianney Rodriguez is the woman behind Sweet Life, which started as a baking blog and soon developed into all-recipe powerhouse. Self-described foodie, Rodriguez likes to feature her favorite South Texas-inspired recipes, with particular focus on Latin recipes like the chocolate churro muffins above, to-die-for Texas lemon sheet cake and dulce de leche pepita bars. She also coauthored a book of Latin cocktails.
Joy the Baker has been blogging for many years now, so her recipe index is full. She's got everything from brown butter brûléed doughnut holes (pictured above) and chai-spiced cinnamon rolls to gluten-free chocolate-peanut butter pudding and vegan dark chocolate-dipped sugar cones. Her blog truly meets every type of eater's needs, and she has a book — Joy the Baker Cookbook. And any blogger that has a specific section designated for recipes containing booze is fine by me.
Michelle of Brown Eyed Baker says it's perfectly acceptable to eat dessert first, and I couldn't agree more. Her most popular recipes include homemade Snickers (yum!), Cherry Coke float cupcakes, grasshopper mint-chocolate bark and a layered red velvet cheesecake. In addition to her one-of-a-kind baked goods, she shares recipes for meals too, such as Cajun shrimp macaroni and cheese. Michelle is self-taught, making her recipes doable for both novice and expert bakers alike, so don't be afraid to tackle a recipe or two of hers.
"Rustic yet elegant" is the perfect way to describe Love, Cake's recipe roster. From the bronzed crust of a sour cherry-almond pie overflowing with juices to the liberal dusting of powdered sugar on an apricot custard cake, the baked goods on this blog would be at home in both a New England B&B and a SoCal bistro. Sam, the mastermind behind the recipes, is currently working on a cookbook, but she has also worked as a food editor for Good Housekeeping, Fine Cooking and Everyday Food; basically, she knows her stuff. Don't know where to start? Check out the cake recipes — after all, cake is the blog's namesake.
Focusing on classic and comforting recipes often inspired by her family's favorites, Sally of Sally's Baking Addiction definitely knows her way around the kitchen. The author of two cookbooks, Sally doesn't include just recipes on her blog, but also writes posts on mastering essential baking techniques and understanding ingredients. From seasonal recipes like caramel-apple cinnamon scones to tutorials on making the best buttery, flaky pie crust, Sally's Baking Addiction is not to be missed.
The flavor-packed recipes on Sarah Coates' blog The Sugar Hit are as fun to read as they are to make thanks to the punchy, comic book-inspired graphics and colorful food photography on her site. Sarah owns more than 250 cookbooks (and is an author herself), and her encyclopedic cooking knowledge is on full display on her blog, where fancy recipes like almond and apple tarte fine with rum caramel intermingle with cozy basics like homemade Pop-Tarts. If you love baking as much as Sarah does, her blog will not disappoint.
Seasonal, fruit-focused desserts are the star of Apt. 2B Baking Co. You won't believe how decadent produce can be until you see author and photographer Yossy Arefi's recipes for plum-macaroon cake, pretty little summer fruitcakes and blackberry-rhubarb pie. What sets Yossy's photography apart from other bloggers? She still shoots with film, using her trusty Pentax camera, and the results are absolutely gorgeous.
Additional reporting by Justina Huddleston
Originally published February 2013. Updated November 2017.
Updated Nov. 28, 2017, 8:38 a.m. PT: Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky initially met during preproduction for Mother!, but the film's postproduction (and promotional tour, specifically) may have caused their breakup.
Lawrence sat down with Adam Sandler for Variety's annual Actors on Actors interview series, and naturally, discussed her latest and most divisive film. But it wasn't the themes and underlying messages Lawrence dug into this time. Instead, she revealed how the reaction and mixed reviews affected her and her then-boyfriend, director Darren Aronofsky. Basically, he never wanted to stop talking about it and that's all she wanted to do.
"We'd be on the tour together, I'd come back to the hotel and the last thing I want to talk about or think about is the movie, and he comes back and that's all he wants to talk about," Lawrence told Sandler. "I was doing double duty of trying to be a supportive partner while also being like, 'Can I please, for the love of God, not think about Mother!' for one second?"
Fair. Totally fair. And it sounds like the two even disagreed on how people should see the film. Aronofsky wanted audiences to go watch Mother! without any knowledge beforehand, while Lawrence believed moviegoers should have some kind of idea about what they we're about to watch.
"I feel like it's better to know and understand the metaphor and allegories because then you know what you are looking at... I've been spilling the themes and metaphors all over town!"
So there you have it. It was an unexpected couple in the first place, and it sounds like it just didn't work.
Original story:
Well, it looks like it's time to say adios to another celebrity couple.
On Wednesday, it was first reported by People magazine that Jennifer Lawrence and Darren Aronofsky split up. The couple was together for about a year and kept their relationship relatively quiet during that time.
They met during preproduction for Aronofsky's latest film, Mother! It wasn't until September, with the film finished, that the two began to stir up rumors they were more than just coworkers. People reported back in autumn 2016 that the couple was quietly dating, and it seems the established pattern of staying super-chill about publicizing their relationship became the norm for the duration of their relationship.
While they were spotted together as early as August 2016, it wasn't until after People's report that the two were seen together more often (although that's probably a coincidence). In October, they were reportedly spotted in Los Angeles together. In November, they went out "together" (Lawrence was on Aronofsky's phone on a FaceTime call) on the Duke University campus to get students to vote.
An inside source confirmed the breakup to Entertainment Tonight, apparently saying that while they are broken up, they remain friendly with one another. I guess that means we can keep our fingers crossed for Lawrence's return in case Mother! Part 2 happens? Just kidding; that's highly unlikely.
At the height of their relationship, Lawrence and Aronofsky were very complimentary of one another's talents — which is about as close as we ever got to hearing romantic sentiments from them. In ET's breakup report, they recall that Lawrence said Aronofsky is "just brilliant. Incredibly instinctual," while he said of her that she is a "once-in-a-generation talent."
Previous to this relationship, Lawrence was involved in a long-term and long-distance relationship with her X-Men costar Nicholas Hoult. Additionally, Aronofsky was in a long-term relationship with actor Rachel Weisz, with whom he shares a son.
It's that special time of year once again when we wait with bated breath the reveal of the next batch of Grammy nominees. There were some big leaders among the nominees for the 2018 Grammys, including Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga. Of course, previous winner Taylor Swift might have been expected to scoop up some nominations for the Grammys because of her recently released album Reputation (her first in three years).
However, Swift is excluded from the nominations for her work on Reputation solely because of those silly little qualifying rules from The Recording Academy, which presides over the Grammys. According to the rules for eligibility, a song or album can be considered eligible if released from October of the preceding year to September of the following year. As such, the bracket for qualification for the 2018 Grammys would be from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017. This means Reputation, which was released on Nov. 10, darn near misses the mark by just a tiny bit.
But fear not! There's hope for Swift to get her 2018 Grammy after all.
Swift is nominated for two 2018 Grammys. The first is for Best Country Song for Little Big Town's "Better Man." She actually wrote the song and she won the Country Music Award for Song of the Year just a few weeks ago. She is also nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for her duet with Zayn Malik, the song "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," which was featured in the movie Fifty Shades Darker.
Swift has yet to react to her two nominations in the hours after the announcement of the 2018 Grammy nominees, but there's no doubt she's beyond excited her hard work is paying off in some way.
Fights happen in relationships. We get set off; we blame our spouses; we nitpick or we disappoint. Whatever the reason, conflict is natural in the best partnerships. We cool off, say we’re sorry and move on.
Except for when we don't. The reality is that many of us are terrible at apologizing. We make excuses or sometimes we don’t apologize at all. And this kind of behavior could be harming our partnerships.
We’re not alone in finding it difficult to apologize. “Humans are wired for defensiveness, and none of us is immune from sliding into vague, slippery language that obscures exactly what it is that we are sorry for,” psychologist Harriet Lerner, author of Why Won’t You Apologize?: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts, tells me. But an effective apology is good for a relationship. According to Lerner, it “makes the hurt party feel safe and soothed in the relationship and restores connection and trust.” A bad apology does the opposite.
Are bad apologies hurting your relationship? Here are some examples of the most damaging kinds.
1. I’m sorry you feel that way
This apology avoids all responsibility. “There is no accountability here,” Lerner says. “You’re saying in effect, 'I’m sorry you reacted the way you did to my perfectly reasonable behavior.'
A genuine apology focuses only on the wrongdoer’s behavior (what you said or did or failed to say or do) and not on the other person’s response.”
2. I’m sorry for ____, but…
This apology pretends to take responsibility, but ultimately blames the other person for the hurt that occurred for whatever reasons follow the “but.” “The word 'but' always implies a rationalization, criticism or excuse,” Lerner says. “It doesn't matter if what you say after the 'but' is true. The 'but' makes your apology false.”
3. I'm sorry for whatever I did
“This apology is empty,” Lerner says. It doesn’t acknowledge what you did; it dismisses your responsibility to make it better, and it tries to hurry the other person’s forgiveness. “Hold your apology until after you have made the effort to clarify specifically what you are sorry for.”
4. I’m sorry for what I did, & you should be sorry for what you did
“A good apology focuses only on expressing responsibility and remorse for your part, even if you secretly believe that you are only 17 percent to blame,” Lerner says. “Save your complaints for later.”
5. I’m sorry; I’m so sorry; can you ever forgive me? I’m such an idiot; I’m so sorry; please, it’ll never happen again…
Lerner calls this over-apologizing and says that beyond being irritating, it also forces the person to whom you’re apologizing to stop and reassure you — taking the focus away from their hurt and your apology and effectively making it about your feelings instead.
6. I’m sorry for what I did; I’m such a disappointment
Lerner says apologies like this can be worse than no apology at all. “It's a confusing communication,” she says. You’re saying sorry, but you’re also forcing the other person to disagree or comfort you, seemingly negating their original hurt.
What does a good apology look like? According to Lerner, it “takes clear and direct responsibility for what we have said or done (or not said or done) without criticizing the other person or bringing up their crime sheet.” It doesn’t have any ifs or buts. It includes the words, “I’m sorry,” and offers to change in the future and not repeat the same mistake.
Another important note: For the big apologies, don’t expect one to be enough. “A serious hurt or betrayal requires many conversations over time where we listen without defensiveness to what the hurt party wants to tell us and that we carry some of the pain that we have caused,” Lerner says. Try to let go of the desire to say, “I already apologized!” For real hurt, you may need to humbly do it more than once. “No apology has meaning if we haven’t listened carefully to the hurt party’s anger and pain.”
OK, Cards Against Humanity. What gives? We think maybe now you're making Snack Foods Against Humanity with your latest offering: Prongles. No, really. Snack aficionados are losing their minds online, asking WTF?
prongles ig
prongles ig
To be clear, these are not Pringles, nor are the former creators of the raunchy card game partnering with Pringles as far as we can tell. Here is what we know:
1. There's an official Prongles website with the words, "[F]rom the company formerly known as Cards Against Humanity." We reviewed the website with a mix of amusement and terrible, unspeakable dread. The site is rocking a brightly colored, vaguely sinister early '90s vibe and is peppered with cheerful children and images of the terrifying pink Prongles mascot, Brayden the Hog (we can't make this stuff up). Brayden's best friend is listed as Justin Bieber. Bieber has yet to confirm the relationship.
2. There's also an official Prongles Twitter account, where "options" for the official Prongles motto were trotted out in a poll.
Um, we see what you did there, Cards Against Humanity — sorry, people formerly known as Cards Against Humanity. Not surprisingly, the motto that "won" was the bizarre — and inexplicably hilarious— "Once you pop, that's great!" Yes. We're laughing in a kind of nervous tittering way, but we don't know why we're laughing. We're pretty sure the world is ending and we're all going to hell in a Prongles tube. But we're paranoid like that.
3. Prongles are sold at Target... in the toys and sporting goods aisle. Mmmmm'kay. Not sketchy at all.
4. They're also on eBay. Righty-O. We found a set of two cans listed as "RARE" and costing a cool $21.99 (plus $6.95 shipping). We think you know what to get your mother-in-law this Christmas. She was tired of socks anyway.
5. They come in two flavors right now: salt and potato and onions and cream. Yup. You read that right. "Cream," not "sour cream." Makes you feel a little shaky, a little unsettled, right? But you can't say why. It's all very disturbing.
6. They're made in Malaysia according to the website. But the website also says the next Prongles flavor — voted on by America — is set to be "whole fish." We cannot. Even our cannots cannot. So we don't really know what's going on here. It feels like some kind of Upside Down snack world, and we're thinking we'd better get out fast before the snacks eat us instead of the other way around.
We're dying to know what Pringles makes of Prongles, but Pringles makes no mention of the suspiciously similar new snack. We're guessing they're just as confused as we are. But Pringles might have reason to worry, as apparently word is spreading like wildfire — helped along by the sleuths and conspiracy theorists at Reddit — about this bizarre, oddly subversive new snack food. What it's subverting, we're not quite sure, but we're thinking we're all about to find out soon. Come on, Cards Against Humanity people — we liked it better when we were in on the joke. This is getting a little disquieting. We like our snack foods simple and dull, thank you very much. What do you want from us? [Insert sound of existential howls and very loud crunching.]
Around this time each year, many of us get an itch to binge Christmas-themed movies. There's plenty to choose from, and it feels like darn-near every single one of them is able to put us in a merry mood. As it happens, Miracle on 34th Street is one of those Christmas movies that captures our hearts year after year during the holidays and seemingly manages to put us in the right mood.
But there's more to this movie than meets the eye. With the original film premiering in 1947 and the reboot released in 1994, we've gotten to know this Christmas tale pretty well across the generations, but you'd be forgiven for not knowing some of the hidden history and behind-the-scenes facts about the original version's production. So with that in mind, why not keep reading a roundup of the little-known facts about the film that will breath new life into the movie for your 2017 viewing experience? Check out our favorite fun facts about the original 1947 film below and then watch the movie; it wouldn't Christmas without a requisite viewing of Miracle on 34th Street.
1. Eight-year-old Natalie Wood thought actor Edmund Gwenn was actually Santa Claus according to her biography written by Suzanne Finstad. It wasn't until the wrap party she realized he wasn't because Gwenn had shaved off his Claus-like beard.
2. Gwenn actually played Santa in the 1946 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Fox set up cameras along the parade route to capture the actor as he waved to the crowds.
3. According to Hedda Hopper's 1947 column, "Looking at Hollywood," Macy's closed early so its 12,000 workers could see the film when it opened.
4. A kind neighbor saved the final shot of the film. Apparently, the scene where Susan runs to her dream house was shot on a day that was so cold the camera equipment was freezing up and failing. A neighbor invited the crew into her home to warm up and fix the issues. As a thank you, Maureen O'Hara took the woman and her husband to the high-end restaurant 21 Club.
5. There could have been a Miracle on 34th Street sequel. Apparently, actor John Payne was so in love with the film that he wanted to make a follow-up. He reportedly even penned a sequel that he planned to send to O'Hara, but he died before ever sending it. O'Hara said in her biography she "often wondered what happened to it."
6. The movie was originally titled The Big Heart. According to Turner Classic Movies, director George Seaton loved the title but it didn't resonate with U.K. audiences, where the movie was first released. “I am crazy about the title The Big Heart. If we can clear it, it is a natural,” wrote Seaton in a memo to producer William Perlberg. “It is the kind of title like Sentimental Journey [1946] that made such a hit previously with [John Payne and Maureen O’Hara]."
7. The Catholic Legion of Decency rated the film as “morally objectionable” because O’Hara’s character was a divorcée. But the progressive nature of the film resonated with audiences. "Maureen O’Hara’s character is a wonderful role model,” said Natasha Wagner, whose mom, Natalie Wood, played Susan. "Because the movie’s a classic, [its feminism] gets overlooked."
9. O'Hara, who was under a contract with RKO that involved her doing one 20th Century Fox movie per year, initially begrudged the film because she had just returned to Ireland but was then called back to America for the feature. However, she fell in love with the story after reading the script.
10. Writer Valentine Davies got the idea for the story while standing in line during the holiday season. He reportedly pondered what Santa would have thought about the commercialization of Christmas and turned the idea into a script.
11. The movie wasn't released during the holiday. Strangely, it was actually released during the summer. “[Darryl] Zanuck wasn’t sure it would be a success, so he had it released in June, when movie attendance is highest, rather than wait for Christmas,” wrote O’Hara in her autobiography ‘Tis Herself. “In fact, the publicity campaign barely talked about Christmas at all." Despite this, the film was still a huge success.
12. The cast was very close. O'Hara explained in her biography that they would often spend evenings off together. "Each evening, when we were not working, Edmund Gwenn, John, and I went for a walk up Fifth Avenue. Natalie had to go to bed, but we didn’t. We stopped and window-shopped at all the stores, which were beautifully decorated for the holidays,” wrote O’Hara. “Edmund especially loved those nights and acted more like the kid who might be getting the presents instead of the Santa who would be giving them. I got such a big kick out of seeing the expressions of windows dressers when they saw Edmund peering in at them—I knew then that he was going to make a big splash as Santa Claus ... Everyone felt the magic on the set and we all knew we were creating something special."
Serena Williams and her new husband, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, are winning the honeymoon game.
Not only are the two basking in their love on a private island that costs $35,000 per week, but the newlyweds are seemingly doing it at a discounted rate thanks to some clever social media promotion.
According to her Instagram page, Williams booked the island on Booking.com. But let's go ahead here and assume she's not going to be name-dropping the business like that without some island bonuses. Williams' 7.1 million followers are a powerful draw for advertisers.
serena williams instagram honeymoon vid
serena williams instagram honeymoon vid
"A week in paradise. Thanks @bookingcom for helping us find the perfect honeymoon villa. #BookingYeah," Williams captioned the photo.
TMZ reports a drone was even sanctioned to fly over the island and take some photos of the couple enjoying their stay at the remote location in the Bahamas called Kamalame Cay. Page Six reports the island has three miles of deserted beach.
A source told the outlet, "They stayed in a four-bedroom villa called Magnolia, located 100 feet from the beach."
It apparently boasts a 1,500-square-foot terrace, 20-foot peak ceilings and an "open concept, living-dining space."
It's so exclusive, in fact, that the only way to access the island is by boat or plane.
The sanctioned drone may have been controlled by Ohanian himself, who posted a photo on the island holding his Phantom.
alexis ohanian bahamas instagram pic 1
alexis ohanian bahamas instagram pic 1
No word yet whether the couple traveled with their newborn baby Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., but either way, this definitely seems like a trip to remember.
It seems like there's a new Christmas tree trend every year, whether it's flocking your millennial pink tree or replacing the star on top with a framed photo of Beyoncé (or is that just me?). But the latest trend turns all of these on their heads — literally!
The newest fad? Displaying trees upside down. It's a structurally terrifying prospect (mine have enough trouble staying straight in their stand as it is), but the visuals are striking. Installing your tree upside down means all of your ornaments are on full display instead of getting buried in the branches below. It's a stunning way to display cascading tinsel too.
If you aren't sure how to rig one up yourself, you can buy a fake upside down tree online. Or, if a traditional tree stand is too tricky to figure out, you can always hang your existing tree from the ceiling (this method is also best for fake trees — watering is quite tricky when your tree is upside down!).
Good thing Kate Hudson is known for her sense of humor. Her ever-creative 6-year-old son Bingham Hawn Bellamy (with rocker Matt Bellamy) got his hands on some scissors and used the opportunity to give himself a fab new haircut. Celeb kids: They're just like ours!
Hudson quickly discovered Bingham's new look and did what any mom would do — she posted a slo-mo video of her son modeling his new rock-and-roll vibe.
Kate Hudson son
Kate Hudson son
Hudson captioned the cute video clip, “My little man decided to give himself a haircut and I must say… I’m digging it #LittleRodStewart #BingMan.” "Little Rod Stewart" is a pretty perfect description — and luckily for Bingham, his mom has a sweet spot for rockers, including his dad, Matt Bellamy of Muse and big brother Ryder's dad, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes.
Hudson has been rocking her own new look since July — a buzz cut she revealed was for a role in Aussie songwriter and singer Sia's upcoming film, Sister. The film also stars Sia's muse, dancer Maddie Ziegler — who wowed fans in Sia's "Chandelier" video — as well as Stranger Things breakout star Millie Bobby Brown (yas!) and Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr.
Hudson even posted a shot of her buzzed head in a mother-son pic with Ryder — who had a matching haircut. The resemblance was pretty uncanny.
Kate and Ryder
Kate and Ryder
She posted another look-alike pic with Ryder on Nov. 4 at an event for mom Goldie Hawn's charity foundation initiative, MindUp. Hudson captioned the sweet photo, "Rocking the left to right side part with my big boy for MindUp."
Kate and Ryder 2
Kate and Ryder 2
Hudson has made no secret of the fact that she's loving the change from her usual long blond locks. She told Cosmopolitan this October that her best beauty tip for looking excellent after hitting the gym was pretty simple: "Shaving your head. Cuts down on time spent post-sweat."
We love the way Hudson takes everything in stride and stays completely unfazed. The star is the epitome of California cool, so it's no surprise her sons seem to have inherited the same awesome laid-back personality. May they stay... forever young.
The show, which is based on the book by Caroline Kepnes, tells the story of a bookstore owner named Joe, played by Gossip Girl's Penn Badgley, who becomes obsessed with an aspiring writer named Beck, played by Once Upon a Time's Elizabeth Lail. Joe uses social media to find out every intimate detail about Beck and remove any obstacles between the two of them on their path to love.
Stamos joins the cast as Dr. Nicky, an important man in Beck's life and maybe someone Joe will see as an obstacle.
Liz Gateley, EVP and head of programming for Lifetime, said of the series, "You is the most twisted love story ever. A romantic thriller centered around a relationship between two people that gets taken too far, the series explores the line between passion and obsession. In the amazingly talented hands of [executive producers] Greg [Berlanti] and Sera [Gamble], we know this project will be special.”
The show is slated to premiere in 2018, but Stamos is already sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits.
john stamos twitter you 1
john stamos twitter you 1
john stamos as dr nicky you 1
john stamos as dr nicky you 1
"First #BTS shot of Dr. Nicky on the set of #You #fakeweed," Stamos captioned the photo.
The last half of 2017 has been good to Stamos. Not only did he nab this new role, but he also got engaged to his girlfriend Caitlin McHugh at Disneyland, and the two already have family plans. Just think — 2018 might bring more than a new Stamos TV show. It might also bring little Stamos babies.
If you're tired of endlessly pinning DIY ideas only to let them collect dust on your home improvement board, you should watch The Weekender— Lowe's original digital DIY series that shows people how to transform spaces in a weekend. DIY queen Monica Mangin's real-life makeover series will give you the confidence you need to finally tackle a few projects of your own.
As you begin your journey toward DIY mastery, you're sure to pick up a few new-to-you pointers while watching The Weekender. Case in point? The following super-clever (not to mention crafty) home improvement tips we've already learned from Season 3.
1. Power tools are your friend
Despite the fact that husband-and-wife team Rob Czar and Corinne Leigh have created an entire career out of DIY'ing everything under the sun on their YouTube channel, Threadbanger, even Rob was hesitant to use a chop saw in Episode 1. Yes, power tools are intimidating — but as it becomes readily apparent from the moment Rob learns to wield that chop saw, they are a useful resource for the home DIY'er. Mastering a few of Mangin's favorite power tools could help you reach weekend warrior status sooner rather than later.
2. A little color can go a long way
It can be tricky to find a good compromise between bright white paint that opens up a room and the intense color so many of us crave. Threadbanger's Rob and Corinne wanted a trendy minimalist aesthetic in the master bedroom of their new home while incorporating an interesting hue or two. Mangin came up with a clever solution by using white for the majority of the bedroom walls but by painting a rectangle of jewel-tone green on one wall as an accent-slash-art-feature.
3. The right painter’s tape can make life much easier
Take it from someone who has made this messy mistake before — just "winging it" when it comes to painting trim or alternating paint colors in a space is a bad idea. And in Episode 1, Mangin reveals there's a new painter's tape in town: 3M Platinum Painters Tape. Unlike typical paper-y painters tapes, this "plastic-y" version (in Mangin's words) tears cleanly every time and prevents unsightly bleeding.
4. Camera film can be used to create faux stained glass
File this under insanely clever things we never would have thought of otherwise. By cutting privacy window films and colored camera "films" to size, Mangin creates a cool faux stained-glass feature in the panes of a closet door. Yes, please!
5. Closet organizers are just begging to be used as office supply storage
If your mail is threatening to take over your house and hold you hostage, look no further than a few closet organizers. You can repurpose everything from hanging shoe holders to clothing separators by turning them into smart, clutter-free office storage. Need deets? See Episode 2.
6. You can paint wood paneling… & shouldn't be afraid to, either
It can be daunting when you purchase a home that has circa '70s wood paneling. Can you even paint that stuff? Mangin proves that you not only can, but also that doing so can make a dramatic difference in your space. The key is completing the bulk of the painting with a roller and then going back over the grooves with a brush.
7. A simple sawhorse can make a killer desk
Let's be real. Desks can be exorbitantly expensive. And the ones that aren't, well, you're lucky if they can support the weight of your laptop without buckling. So what's a person in need of a desk to do? Think like Mangin and grab a wooden sawhorse. Pop that sucker underneath a wood slab for a top, and — voila! — you've got a sturdy desk.
8. Doormats can be used to create a cat-scratch-friendly headboard
This may be the most genius thing we’ve ever seen. While creating a guest room typically inhabited by cats, Mangin builds a headboard frame to hold three artful doormats. The playful print of the doormats keeps the headboard aesthetically appealing, while the texture gives kitties an ideal spot to extend their claws. The whole setup is so gosh-darn cute, guests would never suspect the headboard was crafted as a casual cat-scratching zone.
9. Old suitcases serve as purr-fect cat beds
Seriously, if you have cats, you'd be remiss not to watch Episode 4. In addition to underscoring the point that you can never make too many cat puns, Mangin takes a thrifted suitcase and turns it into cat "bunks." Bonus? She also transforms an old steamer trunk into an incognito litter box.
10. It’s OK to make mistakes!
Don't let fear of messing up keep you from tackling home projects. As Mangin so wonderfully puts it, "In DIY, it kind of comes with the territory. You try, fail, learn from your failures and then succeed… hopefully." After all, part of the fun of DIY'ing is building up your home blooper reel.
Sometimes condoms break and slip off during intercourse. Tampons and menstrual cups have also been known to be stubborn. And if you've ever had the unpleasant experience of getting something stuck in your vagina, rest assured, you are not alone. It is probably more common than you realize.
We all know there are certain objects that must go in there. There’s no way around it. We have periods, and we want to protect ourselves during sex, but when these objects become stuck and we aren't able to remove them on our own, it can be incredibly scary.
SheKnows spoke with a few experts who can tell you exactly what to do (and what not to do) if this happens to you. Dr. Jennifer Wilder, who specializes in women's health, says if you get something such as a tampon or condom stuck, you can try to get it out on your own.
"Squatting often helps, but do not insert any object into the vagina to try to retrieve it. It can do more harm than good. You can end up injuring yourself and/or causing an infection," she adds.
Dr. Laura Hagopian is an emergency room physician who has seen her share of vaginal foreign bodies. First, she wants to assure you the object can’t get very far and says, "The vagina ends at the cervix (bottom of the uterus), so foreign bodies generally have nowhere to go but stay in the vaginal canal." So, don’t worry — it can’t make its way through your body never to be found again. It will come out one way or another.
Hagopian says she usually sees women who come in because a condom has come off during intercourse and the patient can’t remove it. But she's also seen small children who have put toys in their vagina or women who have inserted garlic cloves to try and fight off an infection.
"I've also seen patients who have multiple tampons in their vaginas," she says. "Sometimes, they forget to take them out and add more in."
What's OK to put in your vagina? Fingers, penises, sex toys, tampons or "medications that are given intravaginally," Hagopian says.
But Hagopian cautions that you should never try to remove a big broken object on your own because it could break and make the situation worse — let the experts handle it.
You should also know vaginal foreign bodies should never stay inside you longer than they have to, as they can cause infection, irritation and vaginal odor.
Most important, Wilder and Hagopian want you to remember that if something does happen to get stuck and you can't remove it on your own, these doctors have seen it all. There is no need to delay a visit because you are embarrassed. Your health is much more important. Medical professionals will not judge you or ask too many questions, but they will be able to remove it and give you any additional care you need without judgment.
As soon as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement, the questions were immediate: What does the ring look like? When will they tie the knot? Is she too old to have kids? Wait, what? Yup, apparently there is some concern that Markle's 36-year-old uterus may not be up for bearing royal babies. But how concerned should we be about "advanced maternal age" anyway?
For me, the question came up when I was eight months pregnant with my son and I got a frantic call from a nurse at my OB-GYN’s office. “We need you to come in for an ultrasound immediately, and for every week from now on,” she said. Naturally, I panicked and assumed something was wrong with the baby. When I asked why, she told me this: “It’s because you’re 35.”
It’s worth pointing out that I had been 35 for a day. During all of my other doctor’s appointments when I was 34 — including one just two days before the call — everything was great. But suddenly at 35, I was considered a high-risk pregnancy. Turning another year older had shifted me into what’s known as “advanced maternal age,” a term doctors use to describe pregnant women who are 35 or older. I later found out that it’s recommended that women who hit advanced maternal age get additional screenings and testing done than younger moms… even those who are a day under 35.
So I had to go my doctor’s office for weekly ultrasounds from then until I gave birth. Sure, it was fun to see my baby progressing, but it was also kind of a pain to take time off from work each week for testing and doctor’s office visits that really didn’t seem necessary.
I’m not the only woman who has been through this, and I definitely won’t be the last. First birth rates for women in the U.S. who are 35 to 39 years old have dramatically increased since the 1970s according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they continue to go up. That increase is even higher for women who fall into the 40 to 44 group — their first birth rates have jumped up fourfold from the mid-'80s to 2012. It makes sense: Women are putting off having babies in order to focus on their careers, build a stable lifestyle and find the right partner first.
But know this: You shouldn’t freak out over the idea of having babies past your 35th birthday.
“Many women are having children at age 35 and over, and a pregnancy in your mid- to late-30s shouldn't be a cause for panic,” says Dr. Jennifer Haythe, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center.
It’s not like your fertility falls of a cliff at 35 while your risk of having a baby with birth defects skyrockets. That magic number is based on data that found that 35 was the age when a woman’s risk of having a baby with Down syndrome — 1 in 200 — was equal to her risk of having a miscarriage from amniocentesis, a diagnostic test that takes fluid from the amniotic sac that surrounds and protects the baby to test for chromosomal abnormalities including Down syndrome.
But Dr. Pari Ghodsi, an OB-GYN, says that the data is old. “This isn’t really true anymore,” she notes. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, a 35-year-old woman’s risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is 1 in 350, and Ghodsi points out that the miscarriage risk with amniocentesis ranges from about 1 in 300 to 1 in 500. (Amniocentesis is also not used as much now as it was in the past since technological advancements now allow doctors to detect Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities with a blood test and ultrasound.)
It’s no secret that fertility declines as you age, but again, it doesn’t magically torpedo once you hit 35. “This decline is directly linked to increasing age in women, and as a result, fertility gradually declines as we get older,” says women’s health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider. All women who fall into the “advanced maternal age” group don’t have the same risk of birth defects, either, she says — the risk slowly goes up as you get older. So a woman who is 40 has a greater risk of having a child with a birth defect than one who is 35. The same is true for miscarriages, Ghodsi says.
If you’re planning to have a child later in life, don’t stress out and assume that your pregnancy and future child is in trouble. While the risk of miscarriage and birth defects does increase with age, every woman and every pregnancy is different. And to maximize your fertility in your 30s, Haythe recommends eating a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding smoking and taking prenatal vitamins.
Just don’t let the “advanced maternal age” label scare you. Yes, it’s kind of insulting and can make you feel older than you are, but ultimately, it means you’ll have more screening and ultrasounds covered by your insurance.
My husband and I are mulling over the idea of having another baby, and I’m already a little wary of the possibility of being treated like a geriatric patient for nine months. Still, if a healthy baby is the end result, it will be worth it.
A version of this article was originally published in December 2013.
The only thing that can make finding the perfect gift even better is finding a way to wrap it that is thoughtful, impressive and a little creative. For those of us who weren't born with the perfect gift-wrapping gene, the bows, the wrapping paper and the corners that never seem to fold flat can downright be a mystery.
We're trying to clear up the mythos one step at a time by teaching you how to tie the perfect bow. These are the bows you see on gifts in the movies: pretty, polished, something you might buy for half the price of the original gift in the store. Not this year. This year, sisters are doing it for themselves. And "it" is making those fancy-as-heck bows.
Tie this quick and easy bow on any one of your gifts this year. It is perfect for when you are crunched for time or if you don't want to make an individualized bow for every single present you are giving.
This is the perfect topper for any girly gifts you might be giving this year. Attach a bobby pin by gluing it to the bottom of the bow and let them know that after they open their gift, they can put the bow into their hair.
This bow is a little trickier than the rest, but the end product is worth it. This pretty pom-pom bow can be attached to any present. Group about three or four of them together to make a super pom-pom bow.
Barbie — despite her permanently lipsticked pleasant smile — has been a controversial character for years as she's struggled to keep up with the times and branch out of her heteronormative, all-pink-everything life of leisure. And Barbie maker Mattel has often been criticized for Barbie's beyond unrealistic body proportions — something many have argued have a detrimental effect on young girls' self-images.
In recent years, though, Mattel has given Barbie numerous makeovers — and no, not the "mani-pedi and a blowout" kind. The latest fashion-forward and forward-thinking edition? Two dolls — Barbie and "friend" (more about that later) blogger Aimee Song sporting boxy tees with "Love Wins" emblazoned across them in bright rainbow letters.
The real-life Song, whose Barbie version hit shelves earlier this year, designed the "Love Wins" shirts for Pride Month, and fully half of the proceeds of the shirt are donated to the Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ youth. Song joins the ranks of Misty Copeland and Ibtihaj Muhammad — modern role models who also welcomed their own Barbie replicas this year.
But OK, the lady dolls in "love wins" shirts: Are these (finally) gay Barbies or what?
Barbie IG
Barbie IG
The pair appeared on the official Barbie Instagram (of course Barbie has an Instagram account) and fans cheered the development.
"My girlfriend's daughter and this proud step mom are both OBSESSED with Barbie — thank you for showing us how to win with love and acceptance," one commenter enthused.
"I grew up playing with Barbie dolls and as a member of the LGBT+ community my heart is full with this amazing step towards equality in the media," another said.
A third wrote, "The next step for Barbie is to expand its available skin tones and hair types! Let’s make sure every girl and boy and can get a Barbie doll that represents them!"
The two Barbies in the Instagram pic led some commenters to ask if they're a couple — if this was a suggestion that Barbie might be (*gasp!*) queer herself.
"Barbie has a gf and i don't? fake news," wrote one.
"Barbie is BIcon, lol Call it Bar-BI," joked another.
"Such an inspiration! This goes to show that even femmes are bi!" said another. Mattel hasn't officially weighed in on Barbie's sexuality, but many fans are pleased that Barbie is now at least an official ally of the LGBTQ community.
Even if these are the lesbian Barbies we've been waiting for, though, they aren't the first. In 2016, Mattel first delighted, then sorely disappointed, fans by announcing the first lesbian Barbie — in the form of U.S. soccer star and gold medalist Abby Wambach — and then breaking the news that the Abby doll was a one-off for Wambach herself and would not be available for purchase. This was a truly bummer move, especially since Mattel released the Abby doll to great fanfare as part of its Shero line.
At least Wambach loved the doll she got (I mean, we all did). She said, "All the cool kids are going to want this." And so they did — and do. Can we give kids the opportunity to own one of these dolls yet, Mattel?
Mattel tweet
Mattel tweet
We'd love some answers, but Mattel has remained pretty quiet on the subject. So has Ken, for that matter. Hmm.
True to form, even Christmas at the White House under the Trump administration looks likes it's going to be straight-up unnerving as all get out. The first photos covering how the White House was decorated for Christmas 2017 have hit the internet and boy, oh boy, we are definitely living in a new world order. Some photos from the interior of the White House show that the Trumps vision for the Christmas season is equal parts frosty, steely, stark white and sparse. It's certainly a strong aesthetic but by Jove, they're really sticking to it.
One of the most haunting pictures, however, was a photo posted by Melania Trump's social media manager. The photo depicts one of the hallways in the White House with the caption, "The holidays are upon us!! Right now: FLOTUS is seeing to every last detail here at the @WhiteHouse."
The hallway looks darkly lit, with spindly white tree branches bunched together and stuffed into vases and put in rows flanking the hallway. The effect is certainly next-level, but cozy? Warm? Festive? I'm not too sure that's the words I would use. Nor would I use those exclamation marks that Stephanie Grisham, the aforementioned social media manager, would use in quite the same way.
Trump WH Xmas Hall Original
Trump WH Xmas Hall Original
In reaction to this very grim look into the White House, one user posted a photo of the White House from last year, with Barack Obama strolling around in the foreground. Ah, the good old days.
And, of course, the internet could not merely absorb the photo through their eyes, into their noggins and let it chill there. Instead, the photo of the most solemn, severe and frankly haunting Christmas-themed hallway in America has inspired a ton of snarky memes and comments on Twitter. Check out some of the hottest reactions below.
Updated, Nov. 29, 2017, 3:20 a.m. PT: The picture becomes clearer around the fallout of the news of former Glee star Naya Rivera's holiday time arrest for domestic abuse. In the wake of her arrest, Rivera's family have voiced their concerns about her and her husband, Ryan Dorsey (the person who she allegedly abused), is offering his thoughts on the matter and his feelings about Rivera.
"This is a difficult time for everyone in the family especially for Naya and I," Dorsey tweeted out on November 28. "This isn’t some reality show, this is our life, and I ask that everyone especially ‘the media’ please respect our privacy and treat us/this situation how you would want a loved one to be treated. Perhaps with kindness, respect, without judgment, and as negative a situation like this is, with positivity and love. Thanks."
Rivera's family is also worried about her, according to a source who spoke to E! News. "Naya’s friends and family are very concerned for her well-being," the source said. They also hinted that this was allegedly not the first time an abusive incident happened between Rivera and Dorsey. "This is not the first time that their relationship has been violent, and the fact that she hit her husband and lashed out like that, is very scary to everyone around her," adding that "many people close to Naya are urging her to seek immediate help for the sake of her son and herself."
Rivera was arraigned shortly after her arrest and then was released on bond and picked up from the court by her father-in-law. She has not released a statement at this time about her arrest.
Original story: Sadly, the holidays do not appear to be the happiest time of the year for Naya Rivera. The Glee star was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery on Saturday around 9:30 p.m.
According to WSAZ News Channel 3, the first outlet to report the arrest, Rivera was in the Chesapeake area of Kanawha County in West Virginia when deputies were called over a domestic situation. When they arrived, deputies reportedly learned from Rivera's husband, Ryan Dorsey, that Rivera had hit him in the head and the bottom lip. Dorsey's injuries were minor and did not require medical attention.
The altercation apparently occurred as the couple were taking their 2-year-old son, Josey, for a walk down the street. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office told WSAZ that Rivera and Dorsey began to argue over the child at some point, which led to the physical violence. Deputies also relayed that Rivera was drunk at the time of the incident.
To corroborate his version of events, Dorsey provided police with a cell phone video allegedly showing Rivera striking him. After being taken into custody, Rivera was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond and picked up by her father-in-law.
It's possible that 911 calls pertaining to the altercation could be released later in the week, after investigators speak with the attorneys involved, per WSAZ.
Rivera and Dorsey only reconciled last month after announcing their intention to divorce in November 2016. The couple, who wed in July 2014, emphasized at the time of their split that their son was and would remain their top priority.
A version of this article was originally published in December 2013.
Anybody who has even walked past a craft night gathering probably has a box of felt stashed away in the closet. They might even have a glitter stick or two. Good news: That's pretty much all you need for this simple DIY.
If you're celebrating Christmas this year, make good use of your hidden craft box and have a great time with your favorite kids by making a felt tree with its own glitter ornaments. It'll keep little hands interested and occupied — and you'll be able to say you decorated for the holidays.
Stick the felt Christmas tree to the wall, and then apply the ornaments and the star. The felt ornaments will stick to the felt tree without any kind of adhesive.
A version of this article was originally published in November 2012.
So you love Elf on the Shelf. The kids love him. The internet loves him. He's basically the best thing to happen to the holidays since "All I Want for Christmas Is You," right? But although it can be fun to come up with your own creative ideas for where to place the beloved elf (and we encourage you to do so) it can also be a little... exhausting. So here are more than two dozen ideas to inspire you (read: that you can totally copycat) to get you through the holidays when your creative juices have been sapped by shopping.
The premise behind the Elf on the Shelf is that Santa sends a special elf to your house to keep an eye on your children throughout the holiday season — you know, to make sure they are behaving. At night, when everyone is asleep, the elf — what with his magic powers and all — goes back to the North Pole to report to Santa on who was naughty and who was nice.
The fun part is that before sunrise the next morning, your elf comes back from his nightly report to the big guy and appears in a totally different location in your house —whether he's found simply sitting in the Christmas tree or making “snow” angels on the kitchen table. There is one simple rule — no touching! If you touch your elf, his magic will disappear, and he will no longer be able to travel back to the North Pole. This bit of magic has been a great way to keep little hands off of my family's elf, which the children lovingly named Elfie Rojo. (Rojo is the Spanish word for red. Do you think they’ve watched too much Dora the Explorer?)
Elfie's antics are definitely the highlight of our holiday season, and with each Christmas Eve (the day Elfie goes back to the North Pole to stay until next year), the kids tell him goodbye and talk about all the fun memories we’ve had with him over the past weeks.
Idea 1: Elfie Rojo has good hygiene
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Our sneaky li'l Elfie Rojo was found in the children’s shower up on the towel rack this morning. Elfie looked like he had just finished taking a bath and flossing his teeth. For this setup, I took an old rag and fashioned it around Elfie’s head — and then slipped in a flossing stick for good measure. Of course, upon finding him, I commented on how it looked like Elfie was trying to remind the children to take baths at night and to keep their teeth brushed so they won’t get cavities. Not all of Elfie’s pranks have to be silly; why not throw in a life lesson or two?
Idea 2: Elfie rides a butterfly
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie was found in my daughter’s room riding one of her butterfly decorations that hangs from the ceiling. Our family had just recently watched the movie Avatar, so the kids thought Elfie looked just like Jake Sully, the main character in the movie, riding one of the mountain banshees.
Idea 3: Elfie makes snow angels
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
In this Elf on the Shelf idea, the kids found Elfie making “snow” angels on the kitchen table and didn’t know whether to laugh or worry Elfie would be in trouble. I pretended to be scolding Elfie for making such a mess, but the kids defended him and happily agreed to clean up the "snow" (aka flour) so that he wouldn’t get in trouble. Here’s a little tip: Double-sided tape helps to get your elf’s hands to stay where you need them. Or you can always try this bendy-elf DIY.
Idea 4: Stocking exchange
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Once again, Elfie Rojo was quite the prankster on this day. He decided to take down all our Christmas stockings and switch them out for each family member’s underwear. Maybe he wanted to start a new trend? The kids thought this was quite hilarious. I was, however, a bit mortified when my neighbor decided to pay us a surprise visit and my undies were out for the world to see.
Idea 5: Elfie reads a book
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
I have a little doll bed that I use for my newborn photography sessions, but Elfie thought it made for the perfect snuggle spot for him to read a book in front of our Christmas tree. I think we bought this extra-tiny Christmas board book from the dollar store; it was the perfect size for Elfie to read. This elf setup can also be a good reminder for children to practice their own reading.
Idea 6: Elfie plays the guitar
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
One day, Elfie Rojo was practicing the guitar when the kids found him. Nestled into my guitar strings and with my music book opened to — what else? — ”Jingle Bells,” Elfie was ready for some carols.
Idea 7: Zip lining through the boys’ room
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
This one was a bit difficult to do. I knew the boys had to be completely asleep, since I was going to be setting this up in their room. I hung ribbon from the ceiling to the other end of the wall and then taped Elfie’s hand to a candy cane creating a zip line. We had recently spent a weekend at the Longhorn River Ranch, where there's a zip line over the river; the kids really wanted to do it, but it was just too high for them. They thought it was neat that at least Elfie got to zip line.
Idea 8: Elfie Rojo loves ice cream — who knew?
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
After searching and searching that morning for Elfie Rojo, my daughter finally found him in the freezer — holding an ice cream cone. (The cone was one of the little food items that were a part of my daughter’s kitchen play set.)
Idea 9: Elfie impersonates the “Big Guy”
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
I hung the tail end of a Santa hat in the kitchen cabinet and then sat Elfie into the mouth cut out of the beard attachment. Not sure Elfie fooled any of us with his disguise, but the children thought it was funny. Of course, this made it difficult getting to our plates and bowls in the cabinet (since we aren’t supposed to touch or move Elfie, remember?) but we managed for one day.
Idea 10: Elfie Rojo plays Scrabble with friends
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie Rojo, along with Hulk, Raggedy Ann and T-Rex, were found playing an intense game of Scrabble this morning. All the words on the board had something to do with Christmas — deer, trees, Christmas, hat, Santa, snowman and of course, Elfie Rojo. Hulk was mad because he had all vowels and couldn’t play. Don’t you hate it when that happens?
Idea 11: Elfie writes a cautionary note to remind the kids to be good
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
The kids were particularly bad one day, so the next morning Elfie was found by the front door holding a pencil with which he wrote the kids a note reminding them that they needed to behave to be on Santa’s Nice List. (Yes, I wrote this letter with my left hand so my kids wouldn't recognize my handwriting.)
Idea 12: Elfie takes a siesta
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
All that traveling back and forth to the North Pole has made Elfie Rojo very tired, so he decided to relax and have a fruity umbrella drink. I hung a bandana between two poinsettias to make the hammock. The yellow game piece from our Trouble game became the glass, and a toothpick with a small round piece of decorative paper became the drink umbrella. I think at this point, Mommy was ready for a little R&R too.
Idea 13: Elfie plays with toilet paper
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie reminded the kids that there were only five more days until Christmas. He hung toilet paper from the top cabinet and used Momma’s lipstick to write his message.
Idea 14: Snowball fight!
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Using Lego blocks for barriers and marshmallows for snowballs, Elfie and Bumblebee set out to have a very fun time with a big snowball fight. Although, by the time I was able to get my camera out that morning to get a quick photo, half the snowballs had disappeared...
Idea 15: Elfie turns the kids into Rudolph
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
This Elf on the Shelf idea was so much fun, but a little tricky to pull off.
I woke up early one morning and painted red dots on the kids' noses about an hour before they typically wake up. I initially thought about using lipstick, but the thought of it smudging off during the night and getting on all the pillows was not pleasant. So I decided to use a washable craft paint instead. I set Elfie up on the counter so when the kids walked into the living room, they would see his note. The squeal of excitement from all three kids about this little red dot could be heard the next house over.
Idea 16: Elfie plays pirate
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie Rojo, or should I say pirate Rojo, was found hiding in the kitchen cabinets in the Treasure Island skull mug my husband bought during one of his trips to Las Vegas. His pirate eye patch is made from a tiny piece of black craft paper and tied with some elastic string.
Idea 17: Elfie impersonates the “Big Guy” again
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie brought his own red Santa bag with little gifts for everyone. Each child received small do-it-yourself Christmas ornaments to make that morning after breakfast. Note: These types of ornaments can be found fairly inexpensively at any craft store or dollar store. For Elfie’s Santa beard, I first cut a small paper beard. Next I pulled off tiny bits of cotton ball and rolled them into smaller balls to glue to the paper beard. And once again, a good-size piece of double-sided tape kept the beard on Elfie’s face.
Idea 18: Elfie plays hide & seek
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
I spy with my little eye... Elfie Rojo! This particular morning, it took the children forever to find Elfie because he was hiding so well and even disguised himself with a pink bow.
Idea 19: Elfie was naughty & doodled on a photo
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
The children found Elfie perched up on one of our framed photos and he had drawn a silly mustache and other doodles on my oldest son’s picture. The kids thought this was a riot and laughed hysterically. I actually used a Sharpie marker, which I tested beforehand to make sure it would come off. However, if I had a dry erase marker, it would have worked better and saved me a bit of scrubbing.
Idea 20: Elfie plays Twister
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie Rojo and his friends stayed up late playing Twister. He was actually in a sitting position when I went to bed that night, but by morning, he was slumped over. Fortunately, I think it made him look more genuine because it looked like he couldn’t stay on his color and fell over — which is fairly typical in the game of Twister.
Idea 21: Candy cane sled in the snow
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie was found riding a candy cane sled in some marshmallow snow. Once again, the “snow” did not last very long with three hungry munchkins in the house. What was once a large mound of snow was whittled down to just a few snowballs by the time I came back with my camera. The candy cane sled was easy to make: Just hot-glue a couple of candy canes together and set to dry.
Idea 22: Meet me under the mistletoe
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Elfie Rojo hung mistletoe in the middle of our hallway, which is the busiest area of our house because it connects our living room to the bedrooms. We found ourselves giving lots of hugs and kisses to one another that day — a perfect reminder of what Christmas is all about.
Idea 23: Elfie impersonates me
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
I am so flattered! The kids found Elfie in my office taking pictures with my old Iloca camera. His models were five McDonald's Happy Meal figurines.
Idea 24: Elfie loves chocolate chips
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Our crazy Elfie was found in the pantry this morning, head-down in a bag of half-eaten chocolate chips. This was actually a great cover for me. You see, I love chocolate too, and the night before, I found myself eating chocolate chips by the handful and watching a movie. Thanks for taking one for the team and covering for a fellow chocoholic, Elfie.
Idea 25: Elfie decorates the house with lights
Image: Racheal Pulver/SheKnows
Once again, Elfie Rojo proved very tough to find this particular morning. The kids searched and searched all over the house, not realizing he was outside. It looks like he was trying to hang Christmas lights on our house — and also trying to drop a subtle hint to us parents that it was time to get this done. But being the tiny elf that he is, he just couldn’t quite make it to the roof.
