Leah Remini has already seen plenty of success taking on Scientology on her A&E show, Scientology and the Aftermath. The show has raised countless questions, given voices to many and netted Remini an Emmy win. And now, Remini is expanding her horizons and using her platform and the show to target more than just Scientology — on the upcoming season of Scientology and the Aftermath, a source says she will investigate other "cult-like religions."
The source dished some of the details to Us Weekly, saying the first episode of the new season will be about Jehovah's Witnesses and a later episode will tackle NXIVM, a self-empowerment group that's been accused of brainwashing and other controversial activities.
Remini hasn't commented on this herself, but in a previous interview, she dropped some hints about the new direction Scientology and the Aftermath will take.
"I’m open to doing a season 3 in a different way," she told Entertainment Weekly in September. "We’ve been getting an overwhelming amount of emails and people contacting us through [social media] about other cults that are similar [to Scientology], so I’m looking into that."
It's probably just an added bonus for Remini that taking the show in a slightly different direction might relieve some of the pressure put on her by the Church of Scientology, which has threatened legal action against her for the claims she's made on her show, in her book and in interviews — not that Remini has ever backed down from her message, regardless of the threats she's received from the church.
Shopping for men can be rough. On the one hand, you don't want to stereotype and assume they want a bunch of manly gifts. On the other hand, they can be darn hard to get any gift ideas from, especially if they're not willing to just hand over a list of what they'd like for the holidays (and where's the fun in that, anyway?)
Knowing everybody is different, we did our best to think of cool holiday gifts that guys would be happy to unwrap, even if they didn't exactly tell you they wanted it.
Toxic shock syndrome is something most people who menstruate know about and fear thanks to warnings on the sides of tampon boxes and some very convincing elementary school health teachers. But for model Lauren Wasser, that fear became a reality.
Back in 2012, when Wasser was 24, she contracted TSS, she told Style Like U. She had her period and was using tampons and didn't think twice when she started feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, including headache, nausea and a fever. She went to bed, thinking she just needed some rest, but awoke to her dog barking and police officers knocking at her door. Though she sent them away, saying she simply needed more rest, the police returned again hours later and found her collapsed on her floor.
“I had a 107°F fever; my kidneys were failing; I had a heart attack,” Wasser told Style Like U. “Thank God there was an infectious disease doctor there [at the hospital] because as soon as they found me, I was plummeting so bad they couldn’t understand why a healthy, young 24-year-old like me was dying.”
Wasser started responding to treatment in the hospital as soon as doctors removed her tampon. After that, she was put in a medically induced coma, put on antibiotics and given fluids to help flush the bacteria out of her system.
According to the Mayo Clinic, TSS is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication of a bacterial infection, often resulting from toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria or by group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria.
Wasser's bacterial infection spread to her legs, which turned gangrenous. Initially, doctors wanted to amputate both of her legs below the knee, but Wasser refused and only had one leg removed instead.
“I saw it as a 50-50 chance,” Wasser told Vice. “We did two baby foreskin grafts, which — miraculously, thank God — were the only thing that saved my foot. Today, my toes are gone. My heel finally closed up, but it’s super sensitive, and I have no fat pad there.”
Wasser and her family are in the process of suing Kimberly-Clark Corporation, which manufactures the Kotex Natural Balance tampons she was using when she contracted TSS, as well as Kroger and Ralph’s grocery store chain, where she purchased the tampons.
What you should know about TSS
First of all, TSS is not limited to people who menstruate. Although most closely associated with leaving a tampon in too long, only about half the cases of TSS occur in people with periods. Yes, as Wasser's case proves, super-absorbent tampons could be the cause of TSS, but it is also associated with cuts and burns on your skin, recent surgery and having a viral infection (like the flu or chickenpox). In addition to tampons, using contraceptive sponges and diaphragms can also be behind TSS.
What's tricky about TSS is that most of the symptoms look like you have the flu, so it can be hard to detect. These include a sudden high fever; low blood pressure; vomiting or diarrhea; a rash that looks like a sunburn (especially on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet); confusion; muscle aches; redness of the eyes, mouth and throat; seizures; and headaches. If you have a skin injury and/or have recently used tampons and experience these symptoms, it's a good idea to see your doctor.
Also, TSS is not like chickenpox and can definitely recur. So just because you had it once doesn't mean you're done with it. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, if you've previously had TSS or a serious staph or strep infection, you shouldn't really use tampons after that just to be on the safe side. For everyone else who wants to use tampons, using low-absorbency tampons is recommended along with changing them every four to eight hours. There are also many other options for period products, including pads (both reusable and disposable), menstrual cups and menstrual discs. In fact, the rest of the world favors these options. The U.S. is the only country in the world where tampons are the most popular period product.
Things are getting slightly better. Some of the materials and designs used for tampons that are known to cause TSS are no longer being used by some manufacturers in the United States.
But we still have a long way to go. The Food & Drug Administration classifies some period products as cosmetics, while others are classified as medical devices. You'd think the medical devices categorization would be more beneficial, but in fact, the opposite is true because the FDA requires cosmetics to list all their ingredients — the same is not true for medical devices. As counterintuitive as this sounds, the medical devices classification is hurting us because we have no idea what we're literally sticking inside ourselves.
Is it too early to start a campaign for Time's 2018 Person of the Year? Because it's time for Beyoncé's elusive newborn twins, Sir and Rumi Carter, to have their time in the limelight, and I think they're the perfect candidates for the honor.
For now, though, Beyoncé is keeping all twins-related news to herself, and she's making sure they stay far out of the public eye. As such, all our updates on the most famous twins of all time have to come from their doting grandma, Tina Knowles-Lawson. Luckily, she loves those babies so much she's more than happy to talk about them.
In a new interview withUs Weekly, Knowles-Lawson gushed about being a grandma to three babies instead of just one.
"It’s amazing. It’s one of the best blessings. Being a grandmother, it’s not like being a mom because you don’t have to have all the responsibility all the time, but they are amazing," she said. "This is my first experience around twins, and they’re so different, and their personalities, and they are wonderful."
And with, we're sure, a little begging from whomever conducted this interview, she divulged a little bit about those precious babes' personalities, which is actually what we're all here for.
"The boy has a stare, like a mean mug, like Jay sometimes, which is so cute, and the girl, she’s just so happy all the time and so sweet," she said. "They are just adorable."
Oh, my goodness. I'm swooning forever for this news!
Thank God for this loose-lipped grandparent, who has made it her mission to spill all the best deets about the family since the twins arrived and everything went into media lockdown. But it's not just Knowles-Lawson who is spilling the tea — it's her husband too. In fact, it was her husband, Richard Lawson, who dished on how Blue Ivy is doing after going from only child to big sis of two to Entertainment Tonight back in October.
"She’s only five, but you can see the transition in terms of her being a little more calm," he said. "Because she’s the diva, but she’s sharing her diva-dom."
OK, this is great and all, but someone needs to convince this family to do a reality show or something, because these little bits of grandma intel are just not enough.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas — especially across the pond, because unto us is born this day in the city of London... the royal family Christmas card. Vanity Fair reports Kensington Palace released an image of the family card of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly known as Kate Middleton, on Twitter, giving the entire world a peek at some very royal holiday cheer.
The magazine notes that this year's card is a step up from last year's in terms of formality. Previously, Kate and William used a candid shot taken from a royal trip to Canada, but it looks like Prince George and little Princess Charlotte had to — at least were old enough to — pose for a formal portrait this year. At ages 4 and 2, respectively, it looks like they're both past the squirmy, fussy stages and are ready for their close-ups.
E! News adds that the royals are feeling a bit blue this holiday season, perhaps in an homage to another king: Elvis Presley. Chris Jackson, the photographer, shared the photo on his own Twitter timeline, saying, "Delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen to use this family portrait I shot as their Christmas Card this year."
This will be the last time the royals send out a Christmas card with just a party of four. Next year, the photo will most likely include Kate and William's new addition, who is expected to arrive this coming April.
2018 is shaping up to be a big year for the family in more ways than one. In addition to a new sibling, Princess Charlotte is about to start her studies at Willcocks Nursery School, and George enrolled in Thomas’s Battersea back in September. And without even considering a certain royal wedding that's in the works, it looks like the family has plenty to celebrate.
When the first Jumanji movie hit theaters in 1995, it didn't get high marks from critics. It did rake in over $200 million at the box office, though, making it the 10th highest grossing movie of 1995. And, thanks to the spectacularly memorable performances from '90s icons Robin Williams, Bonnie Hunt, Kirsten Dunst and David Alan Grier, Jumanji managed to imprint itself deeply into the millennial consciousness to the point that if you're a '90s kid, you likely have fond memories of the movie.
Jumanji came out right before Christmas that year, and it featured Robin Williams as Alan Parrish, a boy who'd been trapped inside the Jumanji board game for 26 years. Then, when Judy and Peter rediscover the game in 1995, Alan comes back from the jungles of Jumanji to help save the day when all manner of wildlife, perilous plants and one angry poacher come to hunt them down. The thrills are nonstop, and you'd be hard-pressed to name a dull moment in this film. Go on, try and do it. I'll wait.
Now, with Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in theaters — complete with a new cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Nick Jonas — we're revisiting the original and giving you some fun tidbits about the original film.
1. Jumanji was based on a 1981 picture book that contrasted chaos with a well-kept home
Jumanji - Quicksand
Jumanji - Quicksand
Author Chris Van Allsburg wrote Jumanji to combat his frustrations with Monopoly. He told Scholastic in 2004, “When I was a little boy and I would play games like Monopoly, they seemed kind of exciting, but when I was done with the game, all I had was fake money. So I thought that it would be fun and exciting if there were such a thing as a game board where whenever you landed on a square and it said something was going to happen, then it would really happen.”
2. The Jumanji author also wrote The Polar Express
Polar Express Theatrical Trailer
Polar Express Theatrical Trailer
Van Allsburg wrote the books just four years apart, and both featured a child who was taken from their home and forced to face great danger and peril for a very long time.
3. All of the animals in Jumanji were CGI
Jumanji - Stampede
Jumanji - Stampede
The Jumanji budget was estimated at $50 million, and most of that went to special effects. Despite rumors that an elephant was killed during a stampede scene, none of the animals used in the film were real.
4. The word "Jumanji" means "many effects" in Zulu
Jumanji Trailer (1995)
Jumanji Trailer (1995)
Makes sense. In the Jumanji board game, every time a player lands on a space, the effect listed takes place in real life. It also applies to the budget allocation for special effects in the film.
5. Even though Robin Williams knew the true meaning, he still liked to mess with fans when they asked
Jumanji - What year is it?
Jumanji - What year is it?
Williams often said "Jumanji" was an island in the Caribbean, although he told Entertainment Weekly that was just for laughs. Reportedly, Williams was also a big joker on set.
6. The mayor of Keene, New Hampshire, presented Robin Williams with keys to the city during filming in 1994
Parrish Shoes - Robin Williams Memorial
Parrish Shoes - Robin Williams Memorial
According to an article in the Keene Sentinel, residents of the small New Hampshire town were enamored with Williams when he was there filming Jumanji. They loved him so much that the mayor presented him with keys to the city, which prompted Williams to go into a series of one-liners about becoming "the mayor of Munchkinland."
After his passing in 2014, the city set up a small memorial beneath the Parrish Shoes sign, which is still on display.
7. Scarlett Johansson auditioned for the role of Judy Shepherd
Scarlett Johansson Jumanji audition
Scarlett Johansson Jumanji audition
It's hard to imagine anyone but Kirsten Dunst in Jumanji, but of course, many actors audition for parts. Among the other potentials for the role of Judy was Scarlett Johansson. We wonder how both of these actresses' careers would have gone had the decision been reversed.
8. Robin Williams wasn't the first choice to play Alan Parrish
Jumanji - Sarah's Turn
Jumanji - Sarah's Turn
Like the role of Judy, several actors were considered for the starring role of Alan Parrish. Apparently, Tom Hanks was at the top of the list. He would go on to voice the part of the conductor in 2004's The Polar Express, so he did eventually play a role in a Chris Van Allsburg story.
9. The actor who played Peter Shepherd also voiced Chip in Beauty and the Beast
Belle Meeting Chip and Mrs. Potts
Belle Meeting Chip and Mrs. Potts
Imagine if Chip had to play Jumanji with the other servants in the Beast's castle...
10. Milton Bradley produced its Jumanji board game after the film came out
Jumanji - Poacher
Jumanji - Poacher
The toy company was quick to jump on the success of Jumanji with its version of the game. It included every plot point from the movie and threw players headfirst into the adventure. You can still find it online, as long as you're willing to pay $100+ for it.
11. The Jumanji board used in the movie sold on eBay
Jumanji Clip 1
Jumanji Clip 1
It sold for $60,800 and came with a certificate of authenticity signed by director Joe Johnston.
12. Robin Williams thought the movie was too scary for his young kids to watch
Robin Williams Interview - Jumanji
Robin Williams Interview - Jumanji
Williams' children were all under the age of 7 when Jumanji first hit theaters. He said he enjoyed working on this type of action film, though, because it was less violent than those aimed at adults.
13. Roger Ebert said Jumanji was "likely to send younger children fleeing from the theater"
Jumanji - Earthquake
Jumanji - Earthquake
He also thought the plot was weak and that the CGI took all the focus: "Whoever thought this was a family movie (the MPAA rates it PG — not even PG-13!) must think kids are made of stern stuff. The film is a gloomy special-effects extravaganza filled with grotesque images, generating fear and despair." You can read his full review here.
14. Jumanji filmed the last scene first
Jumanji - Christmas
Jumanji - Christmas
Since the house had to be tidy for the final Christmas scene, they filmed that first. Then they slowly destroyed the house during filming.
15. After the 1995 film, Jumanji had an animated series
Jumanji animated title sequence
Jumanji animated title sequence
It lasted just three seasons, from 1996 to 1999. You can buy the entire series on DVD for less than $10 on Amazon.
16. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a sequel, not a reboot
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Trailer
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Trailer
Although the original trailer makes the new Jumanji seem like a reboot, it actually takes place in the same universe as the 1995 film. The extended trailer clarifies that.
Even though she doesn't have Brad Pitt to be her date to red carpet events, Angelina Jolie isn't sweating it because she may actually have the best dates ever: her kids. She's been taking them in pairs and small groups to premieres and award shows for months, and on Friday, Dec. 15, she did it again.
Jolie was honored as the 2017 UNCA Global Citizen of the Year at Friday's United Nations Correspondents Association Awards at restaurant Cipriani Wall Street, and she was accompanied to the event by four of her six kids: 14-year-old Pax, 12-year-old Zahara, 11-year-old Shiloh and 9-year-old Knox.
Angelina Jolie brings her kids to a red carpet event 1
Angelina Jolie brings her kids to a red carpet event 1
Only two children in the Jolie-Pitt brood were left out of the evening's fun:16-year-old Maddox and 9-year-old Vivienne. But according to a source who spoke to People magazine, there was a good reason for those two to miss the event. "Vivienne had an upset tummy and big brother Maddox stayed with her," the insider said. Hopefully, Vivienne is feeling better by now, and also, can someone give Maddox props for looking after his sister? What a sweet brotherly move.
During her speech at the event, Jolie mentioned that she's very proud of her children, who seem to be accompanying her more and more as she works as a humanitarian. Maddox actually has an executive producer credit on Jolie's acclaimed film First They Killed My Father, which has shed light on recent genocide in Cambodia.
"However hard it is to live up to the ideals of the U.N. charter and however distant we are from their realization, we have a responsibility not to break faith and to hold together when people want to divide us," Jolie said during her speech.
Whether you have plans to go to a party New Year's Eve or are celebrating right at home, chances are cocktails will be involved.
The reality, though, is that our New Year's plans often end up being pretty expensive, and those drinks are a big part of it. At a time when we’re looking to save money anywhere we can, Aldi just released a trio pack of sparkling wine for $7.99, and we’re getting ready to stock up.
The Cuvée No. 5 Brut Sparkling Tri-Pack would also be a great gift idea if you are going to someone else’s house party or traveling for the holidays, but we’re very much OK with keeping it for ourselves and enjoying it while watching the ball drop from our couch. It's said to have “flavorful notes of dry crunchy fruit, apple, cinnamon, and peach,” so keep that in mind when planning your bar snacks, which for us screams cheese and crusty breads. Aldi recommends trying this tri-pack with soft cheeses or as an aperitif, but don't let that limit you. We can't think of a situation in which it won't be delicious.
Those aren’t the only great wine deals you’ll find this week at Aldi, right down to an $8 bottle of rosé and a bunch of other wine options for under $10. You may even want to stock up for Bellinis the morning after.
Updated Dec.18, 2017, 11:00 a.m. PT: Rose McGowan is not here for the women attending the Golden Globes wearing black in solidarity with those who have come forward with stories of sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood. She's taking aim at them, but especially Meryl Streep, who reportedly championed the idea and plans to participate.
"Actresses, like Meryl Streep, who happily worked for The Pig Monster, are wearing black @GoldenGlobes in a silent protest," McGowan wrote in a now-deleted tweet. "YOUR SILENCE is THE problem. You’ll accept a fake award breathlessly & affect no real change. I despise your hypocrisy. Maybe you should all wear Marchesa."
For those who may not know, Marchesa is the clothing brand run and designed by Weinstein's estranged wife, Georgina Chapman, who left him very soon after the allegations surfaced. It's a little low of McGowan to drag Chapman into this considering Chapman herself clearly doesn't condone or support Weinstein. That said, it's truly tough to take sides because while McGowan's criticism is valid, there's also no shame in supporting sexual assault victims in any way you can, even if that includes wearing black on a red carpet.
Original story, published Dec.14, 2017: The 2018 Golden Globes are officially going to be the best Golden Globes to have ever aired on television, and I have the only solid piece of evidence to prove this seemingly hyperbolic statement is true. On the popular internet morning show The Morning Breath, hosts Jackie Oshry and Claudia Oshry were able to reveal (thanks to the noted approval of their publicist) that a large number of women attending the 2018 Golden Globes are opting to wear black to protest sexual assault.
At around the seven-minute mark in Morning Breath's broadcast, Jackie and Claudia reveal that "all of the female actresses and attendees, or most of them at least, are standing in solidarity together in a form of protest. They're all going to be wearing black, obviously to protest the injustices that have been taking place in Hollywood since forever."
Morning Breath Golden Globes Show
Morning Breath Golden Globes Show
Both Jackie and Claudia seem to be quite excited by the news — and why wouldn't they be? This coordinated sartorial initiative is certainly not unprecedented, but it's hard to ignore the striking choice of black to send a political message about the gravity of the issue — sexual assault, harassment and abuse of power — in combination with the black being worn for the entire outfit, not just a ribbon. While it's been heartachingly powerful to see many, many women and some men come forward with their stories of surviving sexual assault, this choice to wear black subtly sends the message that change must come and this insidious behavior needs to end.
According to Us Weekly, it's still unclear which women specifically are confirmed to be wearing black as part of the protest, although it does sound like the initiative is gaining momentum with 30 women reportedly on board. An inside source tells Us Weekly that "this movement is spreading rampantly and pretty much all the nominated women and others attending are participating. All the stylists who already did fittings are now changing out their clients’ original picks for Globes (potentially shifting those dresses to the SAG Awards or other carpets)."
The Golden Globes frequently set the tone for awards season every year, and there's no doubt in my mind that with this female-led initiative, the 2018 awards season will truly be unforgettable.
Serena Williams isn't afraid to crowdsource when it comes to parenting help. Over the weekend, the athlete, record-breaker and first-time mom asked her Instagram followers for a bit of advice in the teething department. Apparently, the Grand Slam champ's wee tot, Alexis Olympia, has been teething up a storm — and everything that her mom has tried just isn't doing the trick.
"Teething — aka the devil — is so hard. Poor Alexis Olympia has been so uncomfortable. She cried so much (she never cries) I had to hold her until she fell asleep. I've tried amber beads... cold towels... chew on mommies fingers.... homeopathic water (lol on that one) but nothing is working," Williams captioned the photo. "It's breaking my heart. I almost need my mom to come and hold me to sleep cause I'm so stressed. Help? Anyone??" Williams said in her Instagram post, which showcases little Alexis wearing a super-glam Versace bib.
Plenty of parents can probably relate to the teething-related frustrations Williams is dealing with right now with 3-month-old Alexis Olympia. And with so much teething advice swirling around the internet, including old family remedies and all-natural approaches, there's just... a lot of information to take in, not all of which is helpful.
Thankfully, Williams' fans rallied to her assistance, offering tips and tricks of all kinds. Williams hasn't followed up yet to say whether she's tried any of these, but here's hoping. Still, anyone who's gone through the teething process as a parent knows there's no quick or easy fix.
Last time Williams crowdsourced some parenting advice, some pretty big names offered up some help: After Williams posted an image to Twitter asking about breastfeeding, Broadway superstar Audra McDonald chimed in, sharing her own experiences.
"Fellow moms: How long did you breastfeed?" Williams asked. "Is it weird that I get emotional when I even just think about when it's time to stop?"
“I nursed my older daughter until she was almost 2. Still going with my 1 year old right now,” McDonald tweeted in response. “You’ll know when it’s time to stop. Enjoy! She is beautiful!”
Don't you love when beautiful, fabulous, talented celeb moms hang out and support each other on social media? Internet, you're not all bad after all.
John Stamos is taking care of some business before he welcomes his first child — like hosting a mini-reunion of his old coworkers. He already sees his Full House castmates on a regular basis while they're filming Fuller House, but what about his old costars from ER, the soap that gave him his start?
It turns out they all decided to pay Stamos a little catch-up visit over the weekend, and Stamos, of course, captured the photographic evidence so we could all revel in the nostalgia a little bit. Goran Visnjic, Maura Tierney, Scott Grimes and Linda Cardellini all stopped by, and they got together with Stamos to snap a group pic behind the County General doors, a prop from the set that Stamos has apparently kept for all these years. Who knew he was such a sap?
John Stamos and the cast of ER reunite for a photo sesh
John Stamos and the cast of ER reunite for a photo sesh
"My #ER cast came to my house for a visit," he wrote in the photo's caption. "We took a pic behind our old County General doors. (I keep everything)."
The old gang looks like they're having a blast being back together again, and it's great that Stamos is getting in face time with his old friends before the baby comes and his life gets way more hectic. Stamos and his fiancée, Caitlin McHugh, are expecting their first child together sometime this spring, realizing a lifelong dream of Stamos'.
“I hope [to have kids],” Stamos told Entertainment Tonight in November. “That's always been my plan. It's just taken me a lot longer than I anticipated. It would be a tragedy if I didn't have children and I finally found the right woman — the perfect woman.”
Normally there's a lid on Bachelor spoilers so tight, we go into the season having no idea what to expect. This season, it's the leading man himself who's spilling the deets ahead of time. Arie Luyendyk Jr., who, TBH, needs to build some hype because he hasn't been on a Bachelor franchise show in years, sat down with Entertainment Tonight and told them about how he's following in Ben Higgins' footsteps in the worst possible way: by telling two women, "I love you." Oof.
"I really had strong feelings for more than one person," Luyendyk said. "I'm very happy but it wasn't without hard times."
Clearly, this is going to be (say it with me in your best Chris Harrison voice now) the most dramatic season of The Bachelor yet.
In addition to that big spoiler, Luyendyk spoke about how tough it's been getting back into the groove of The Bachelor after five years away from the show.
"The first couple of days were pretty hard, because I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' I kind of forgot about the pressures of all of it, and it was interesting transitioning back," he explained. "It's hard, because you don't get much sleep, and you're going on all these dates and there were such amazing women. It was hard to narrow it down."
He added that it's tough not to give things away before the show starts airing Jan. 1.
"I'm a very honest person, and it's hard to hold that back," he said.
For now, he's not telling us how the season ends, but it sounds like his search for love was successful.
While it may sound odd at first, BDSM and yoga really aren’t that different in terms of mindfulness, an altered state of consciousness and similar flow states. Dr. Brad Sagarin, a researcher and author from Northern Illinois University found that “flow is an enjoyable and pleasurable state that people get into when they are performing an activity that requires a high level of skill.” He continues, “It’s a state in which the rest of the world kind of fades away and somebody is concentrating very intensely only on what they are doing.”
We’ve looked at subspace and top space before, but as a refresher, it’s the euphoric sensations that a top and bottom feel during kinky sex. Testosterone levels, cortisol levels, mood and feelings of “flow” are all influenced during BDSM encounters. BDSM is also known to be a state of therapeutic recovery for many trauma and abuse survivors. HelloFlo writer, Sebastian Zulch writes, “While some people go to the gym, have a run, or write out their angry feelings, I get choked and flogged in my bed.” Mindfulness plays a key role here, as it’s applied even more so during BDSM scenes because of deeper levels of trust, which then influence closeness during these particular interactions.
A “flow-state” is a nine-dimensional altered state. It is said to make the ego fall away. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi poetically explained to Wire Magazine, “Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.” In short, it’s an exercise of the mind and body.
When centering yourself on a yoga mat, intentions are typically set for practitioners. Whether it’s your own or a general intention influenced by the instructor, it helps guide the student into a state of mindfulness.
Kink yoga should not be confused with tantric yoga, which aims to improve your sex life through similar ways, centering on your own body and energy. Tantric yoga focuses on energies in the body. While kink yoga does focus on similar characteristics, it can include props and outfits.
Madeline White was first introduced to kink yoga at Kreuzberg Yoga in Germany. The trend of kink yoga is fresh and very new — as recent as three months ago, people began to discuss and comment on the new practice. White explains that kink yoga’s main goal is to “prepare you for Shibari Japanese bondage ropes. Kink yoga focuses on relaxation...”
Shibari translates in English to “to tie,” and its origins rest in the martial arts training of restraining people or captives from 1400 to 1700. In the late 1800s and 1900s, kinbaku, the art of erotic bondage, came to light. It is still practiced today as erotic spirituality and is called "shibari." The Independent talked to two shibari enthusiasts, one of whom explained, “Some people say it has a meditative effect. It silences the chatter of the everyday.”
The technique of pranayama is central to kink yoga as a way to better control your anxiety in high-stress situations. Prana is a Sanskrit word for “life force,” and ayama, means “extending” or “stretching.” The term pranayama, then, is the extension of breath or controlling your breath. Breathing properly and controlling your oxygen decreases stress and increases overall mood and physical health.
Kink yoga blends normal kinks with yoga practices. In these classes, participants can come dressed up, dressed down, include accessories or be in the nude while practicing typical poses.
Classes involving kink yoga are said to release stress and tension and increase focus. Downward Dog and ball gags probably don’t appear together in your everyday vocabulary all too often, but dominatrices and instructors around the globe are gaining steam with the new mindful practice.
Mistress Anna from Sydney, Australia, teaches a yoga class that includes spanking, whipping, straight jackets and leather. For most practitioners in the class, it’s a way to blend two of their passions: yoga and kink. She explains, “People are being flogged, whipped and tied up. They hold a pose while their kink stuff is played out.” Most classes are a small group of 10 people. Individuals can come into the classroom and explain their kinks and have those played out. Mistress Anna says, “Any kink gets played out during the yoga class,” from sploshing to puppy play — no kink is ignored with proper consent.
While you may be imagining a dungeon-eseque atmosphere, it’s really quite similar to a typical yoga class. There are yoga mats and meditations begin the class, where Anna begins with a Prayer pose. Just as yoga instructors walk around the room, Mistress Anna is adorned in a latex bodysuit and carries a riding crop.
People participating in kink yoga not only have a way to release tension and live out their kinks, they are able to gain flexibility and core strength while also incorporating bondage.
The crossover between trained yoga instructors and practicing dominatrices results in a new form of meditation.
On her website, Mistress Anna explains, “Kinky Yoga is Yoga without judgement. It’s Yoga that concentrates on the process of creating, moving and releasing energy. Essentially, it’s Yoga that hurts good.”
Wait, some celeb parents don't want their kids to follow in their footsteps and become actors? Dax Shepard doesn't understand.
In an exclusive interview with SheKnows, Shepard explained that he thinks "a lot of parents seem hesitant about that, and I can't fully understand why — because I've had a lot of 'real' jobs." By that, he means, you know, jobs that pay minimum wage and don't come with stylists and craft services. This is a guy who remembers what it's like to wash cars for a living — and other jobs that demand hard, grueling, glamour-free work.
"By my estimation, this is a very nice job," Shepard said of his career as an actor.
Shepard has two young daughters, 4-year-old Lincoln and 2-year-old Delta Bell, with wife Kristen Bell. And though he's all for it if his kids decide they want to become actors, he's not ready for them to jump into the spotlight quite yet.
"I'm of the opinion they should wait a while," Shepard told us. "Because I personally — and this is just a personal statement — I feel like I enjoy actors who I feel have actually lived a real life for some period of time, so that they're not living entirely in imagination. I think it's relevant to have a job you hate for a while. I think it's important to have a job that hurts your body and makes you miserable. I think those things are relevant in playing other people. So I do think it's important that young actors experience real life before they transition into entirely pretend."
Not that Shepard and Bell live entirely pretend, glossy, Hollywood lives either. The couple has been open and honest with the public about the hard work they put into their marriage. Shepard says he and his wife were compelled to be so forthcoming about their personal lives because they didn't want people to get the wrong idea — you know, the idea that it's easy.
Why be so honest? "Well, I think because we both think it's dangerous for people who might look at our relationship and think it's perfect or fairy tale-esque," Shepard told us. "We wanted to be honest about the fact that it's not a fairy tale. It takes a tremendous amount of work, communication and compromise. So we don't want to inadvertently perpetuate this myth of you just find the perfect person and then all your work is done, put it in neutral and enjoy."
Well, it seems like "put it in neutral and enjoy" may be exactly what happens when you find the perfect career — if that career is acting, that is. And if you're as chill, cute and talented as Dax Shepard.
At this point, it may be quicker to list the things Joanna Gaines can't do. She's the star of the successful HGTV show Fixer Upper, owner of a bakery, has her own home decor line at Target and most recently, she announced she would be writing a cookbook. And because everything Joanna does/creates is literal perfection, all signs indicate this cookbook will be filled with the most delicious foods we've ever tasted.
Today, Gaines gave us a little sneak peek at her new cookbook, titled Magnolia Table, by posting a picture of the cover on her Instagram account.
joanna gaines cookbook
joanna gaines cookbook
In true Joanna Gaines fashion, she's sitting in front of a wall of shiplap with a table of farm-fresh veggies strategically placed on a farmhouse-style table. Honestly, did you expect anything else from the founder of the farmhouse style?
Gaines drew inspiration for the book from her personal life with husband and costar Chip Gaines and their four adorable children. The cookbook will feature 125 recipes that will cover everything from breakfast to lunch to dinner, snacks and dessert. Actually, some of the recipes come straight from the Gaines' bakery, Silos Baking Co., and their restaurant, also named Magnolia Table, that is set to open in 2018.
“Chip has always wanted to open a restaurant. And now that it’s finally underway, we wrote this cookbook as a way to share some of our favorite family recipes, including a few that we’ll be serving at the restaurant,” Gaines told People.
Magnolia Table will be available to purchase April 24.
Ghost pepper. Cayenne. Thai hot. Most of us are familiar with the idea of unpalatably spicy food. And whether it's painful internet challenges to handle the spiciest food possible or that one friend who is always trying a new hot sauce, spicy food has a masochistic following.
Not to mention most of us have had to question whether the pepper we were buying at the store was a mild or intense variety. Where does a serrano fall compared to an Anaheim? Or we've had to do a cautious taste test of a jalapeño or other spicy pepper before deciding how much to throw into a soup or salsa, wondering if it would be a mouth-scalder or a dud. It can be hard to figure out which peppers will send you running for a glass of milk and which are relatively harmless.
Since it's impossible to tell how spicy a pepper is just by looking at it, we've created a guide that'll let you know exactly how hot a pepper is judging by the Scoville heat index. Invented by Wilbur Scoville, the Scoville heat index ranks peppers in order from mildest to hottest. It starts with 0 being the mildest and goes over 1,000,000 to indicate the hottest peppers.
There are too many different kinds of peppers for us to include them all, but here's the 411 on some of the most common types.
Bell pepper
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Bell peppers, which can be red, yellow, green or orange, aren't hot peppers. They are very common sweet peppers. Since this type of pepper has no heat, its Scoville heat index is 0. You can cook bell peppers in a variety of ways, however don't expect this type of pepper to add spice to your food.
Also known as pimento peppers, cherry peppers are heart-shaped and about 4 inches long and 4 inches wide. These peppers are actually very mild, scoring about a 500 on the Scoville heat index. Cherry peppers are perhaps best known to be the red filling that can typically be found inside olives.
Anaheim pepper
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Another mild type of pepper is the Anaheim pepper. This pepper is usually maroon in color and has a long, skinny body. While the Anaheim pepper usually has a Scoville heat index of around 1,000, some varieties can have a rating as high as 5,000. Relative to the rest of this list, this pepper is not very hot.
Jalapeño pepper
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The jalapeño is one of the most common types of peppers in the U.S. Many people like it because it's spicy yet not overwhelming. Jalapeños are usually either red or green and about 2 to 3 inches long. Their Scoville heat index is around 5,000, however they can range anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000. When used sparingly, they add just the right amount of spicy flavor to most Mexican dishes. Many people also deep-fry jalapeños stuffed with cheese for a tasty appetizer.
Serrano pepper
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The serrano pepper is similar to the jalapeño in its look, but this pepper is much hotter. On the Scoville heat index, the serrano pepper can be between 10,000 and 25,000. This pepper is usually small (around 2 inches) and green in color. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the serrano pepper, the hotter it will taste.
A version of this article was originally published in August 2008.
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Cayenne pepper
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The cayenne pepper is another hot pepper (between 25,000 and 50,000 on the Scoville heat index) that is popular with those looking to add heat to food. Red in color, the cayenne pepper is generally dried and used in powder form. Additionally, this pepper has been used in natural medicines for hundreds of years due to reported healing attributes.
As you may have guessed, the tabasco pepper is used to make Tabasco sauce. If you've ever tasted how hot Tabasco sauce is, you won't be surprised to learn that the tabasco pepper has a Scoville heat index of between 30,000 and 60,000. The actual pepper is less than 2 inches long and can be green, red, yellow or orange in color.
Thai pepper
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Grown in Thailand and neighboring countries, the Thai pepper can be classified as "very hot." With a Scoville heat index of between 50,000 and 100,000, these peppers are sure to leave your taste buds wanting relief. The Thai pepper is one of the smallest peppers, measuring in at less than an inch. It's used in many spicy Thai dishes at restaurants in the U.S.
Rocoto pepper
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While rocoto peppers look somewhat like bell peppers, it can be dangerous to get the two mixed up. While bell peppers aren't hot at all, the rocoto pepper is extremely hot. Between 100,000 and 250,000 on the Scoville heat index, this pepper is about the size of a bell pepper but is rounder and is typically only red or green. Some people use this pepper to make very spicy sauces.
Habanero chili pepper
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Of hot peppers that are commonly used, the habanero chili is recognized as the hottest. This pepper, which can be any color from green to yellow to pink, is usually only around 3 centimeters in length. However, do not let the small size fool you — the habanero chili can pack a punch! The Scoville heat index for the habanero chili can range from 150,000 to 350,000.
Ghost pepper
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Also known as Naga Jolokia, this pepper is close to being the hottest pepper in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized the ghost pepper in 2006 after reports surfaced that this pepper has a Scoville heat index of over 1,000,000. If you get your hands on a ghost pepper, be sure to be extremely careful, because one seed from this pepper will have your mouth burning for up to 30 minutes.
And here's the big gun we've all been waiting for: Smokin Ed's 'Carolina Reaper', grown by The PuckerButt Pepper Company (USA), has been recognized as the hottest pepper in all the world by The Guinness Book of World Records. With a Scoville heat index of 1,569,300 recorded in 2012, all we can say is -- watch out.
Image: SheKnowsPeople may wax nostalgic about the good old days when living was slow and easy, but I myself am a modern-day multitasker through and through. And though I'm pretty good at juggling things on my own, from making breakfast while putting on makeup to checking work emails while catching up on the news via podcast, I wouldn't be able to do any of it as well without a few key items.
If you have a chronic multitasker in your life, check out the gifts below. They'll make managing a busy life that much easier — and maybe allow you to spend time with your loved ones every now and then!
If you're always on the go, you have to keep track of your stuff, whether that means your wallet, your keys or your purse. Attach the Tile Mate to your belonging, and when you can't find it, you can use your phone to make the item ring. And if you're really at a loss, you can check the Tile app to see where you last left your item.
This environmentally friendly smart notebook is perfect for taking notes on the go or at the office. Just jot down your thoughts using the included pen, scan the page with your phone and blast it to the cloud storage of your choice using a set of seven symbols on the pad. When you're done, wipe the page clean with a damp cloth.
The ultimate multitasker, this smartphone actually has two screens so you can keep track of multiple things at once. There are four different ways you can watch your screen, and a handy one-touch TV button brings up your entertainment without any hassle. Catch up on your email while streaming a TV show, keep tabs on social media while you pay your bills and more — the options are nearly endless.
When you're multitasking, sometimes you can't devote both hands to your smartphone. That's what PopSockets are for. Stick one on the back of your phone and easily grip your phone in one hand, keeping your other one free.
Never forget to feed your pet again. Download the Petnet app and use it to decide how much food is distributed to this smart bowl and when. The app will also keep track of which food is best for your pet's specific nutritional needs, and it can order and ship food to you when you're running low.
Whether you're constantly behind your desk or always on the go, tracking your fitness with a Fitbit is a fun way to see how much activity you're getting throughout the day. Watch your busy schedule rack up steps, or use the Fitbit as an excuse to get up from your desk every once in a while.
When you're busy, it's not exactly easy to keep up with the grocery shopping or to find recipes for healthy cooking each night. That's when a Hello Fresh subscription comes in handy. It will ship a certain number of healthy meals each week, with perfectly portioned ingredients and recipe cards that make cooking dinner as easy as 1-2-3.
Hello Fresh subscription, starting at $10/serving at Hello Fresh
In Monday's unofficial Most Bonkers News of the Day category, you might want to file away the following update to an ongoing story reported via The Hollywood Reporter that involves some mind-blowing information about the lawsuit over Judge Judy Sheindlin's salary and why the entertainment company responsible for the show's packaging and production, Rebel Entertainment Partners, is seeking more money by cutting her salary.
The lawsuit, first reported on in August 2017 by THR, was brought by Rebel against CBS (the network that Judge Judy airs on) and Big Ticket. In the lawsuit, Rebel alleges they have been cheated out of their fair share of the profits of Judge Judy — estimated to come in somewhere around $75 million a year — because of the way payment is structured. Because of the preexisting structure, a great portion of the show's profits go to Sheindlin herself in the amount of a $47 million salary per year.
Yeah, that's right. Judge Judy makes $47 million a year for the work she does on the show. Bonkers, right?
In the deposition taken back in August, Sheindlin defended her salary and made it clear she wouldn't be taking a pay cut anytime soon. "They pay me the money that they do because they have no choice. They can't find another one. They've tried to find another Judy. If they find another Judy, good for them. So far they haven't. ... And until they do, they have their local news on all their O&Os [owned-and-operated stations]. They have international, which were involved with the — the Judy program is all over the world, and even though they had to take a deep breath, they paid the money because they know otherwise," she testified.
Now, Rebel appears to want to restructure the way money is distributed and hopefully be compensated for its fair share of the profits from Judge Judy. It looks like Rebel is hoping to get Sheindlin's salary reduced slightly, but still in the exorbitant millions, which they argue is still well beyond the norms of a reasonable salary.
Who knows how this will shake out, but it's clear this dispute over the Judge Judy coffers isn't ending anytime soon.
When you're imagining a name for your little one, its meaning and how it sounds are hugely important. Looking for a name that's sweet and smart and strong? You've come to the right place.
We went through tons of badass boy names for tough kids — including rugged, strong classics inspired by everything from nature to rock 'n' roll. Just look below for our favorites.
In what may come as a shock to anyone who's ever seen the music video for Enrique Iglesias' 2001 tune, "Escape," the crooner and his longtime girlfriend, Anna Kournikova just welcomed a set of twins this weekend. People reports that the couple, who have been together since filming that same TRL favorite, aka about 1,000 years, have named their new additions Nicholas and Lucy.
The magazine notes that neither the singer nor the retired tennis star (nor their respective representatives) have confirmed the news or commented, though Kournikova told Women's Health back in 2011 when she replaced superstar trainer Jillian Michaels on NBC's The Biggest Loser that she did intend to start a family. Both Iglesias and Kournikova have kept their longtime relationship under the radar, usually deflecting questions about one another during interviews.
"[Marriage] isn’t important to me. I’m in a happy relationship — that’s all that matters," Kournikova told Women's Health. "I believe in commitment. I believe in being open and trusting each other and respecting each other completely."
In a rare mention back in 2007, Iglesias noted he thought Kournikova would be a great mother. During an interview with People en Español, he said even if they weren't together, he saw a lot of potential there.
"The only thing I can say is that, in my opinion, Anna, whether we are together or not, would be an ideal mother," Iglesias said. "I think she’d be the perfect mother and I say it regardless of whether I’d be with her or not."
Knowing how private the two are with their relationship, it wouldn't be surprising if fans don't get a peek at the new deliveries anytime soon. Until then, everyone can reminisce about the good ol' days with a little video rewind to when Iglesias recruited the latest PYTs for his music videos. Remember when Mischa Barton and Jennifer Love Hewitt starred with the sizzling singer in "Addicted" and "Hero"?
