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Prince William Finally Decided to Say Goodbye to His Hair

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Prince William's hair has been slowly and noticeably receding for quite some time. We've watched his hairline disappear, his bald spot grow in circumference and all the time, we've all wondered (whether we admit it or not) when he would just bite the bullet and shave his head already.

More: Get Your Résumé Ready — Kate Middleton & Prince William Are Hiring

The answer is now. It is the new year, and Prince William has a new 'do. He finally shaved what little hair he had left on his head, and fam, I am into it.

I always kind of suspected William would look better if he just embraced the baldness. His patchy ring of remaining hair was starting to look a little desperate, and it was well past time to move on. Still, I wasn't quite ready for the internet to see it and become a big ol' thirst trap for who has always been the undeniably less attractive of the princes.

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 1

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 1

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 2

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 2

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 3

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 3

More: No Playing Favorites: Prince George Won't Be Permitted to Have a Best Friend at School

William, in typical royal fashion, was low-key about this much-needed change. He didn't even mention it; just casually debuted his new look when he went to meet kids who are being treated at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 4

Reactions to Prince William finally shaving his head 4

More: Queen Elizabeth II Has Personally Overseen Prince William's King Training

Now, we just want to know how his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, feels about the change. Considering she once joked that William would look better if he put an alpaca on his head, we get the feeling she's here for bald Will too.


Did Kim Kardashian West Just Drop the Highly Anticipated Baby Name?

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The newest addition to the Kardashian krew is finally here, and though she's only a few days old, she may be the most extra baby ever to grace this planet. Since parents Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West welcomed their little girl into the world via surrogate this week, everyone from our social media-obsessed aunts to Chrissy Teigen is dying to know what the couple will name her. Well, buckle up, because the mother of three may have teased a strong clue on her Instagram account.

More: "She's Here!" Kim Kardashian West & Kanye West Welcome 3rd Baby

On Wednesday, Kardashian West posted a close-up photo of a leather Louis Vuitton bag covered in the brand's signature logo. While yes, she could simply be showing off one piece of her undoubtedly large LV collection, HelloGiggles points out that fans think the photo could be much more significant — as in, it could be a hint about Baby No. 3's name. (If you're saying to yourself, "Wait... really? Come on," you're not alone.)

Kim Kardashian West Louis Vuitton

Kim Kardashian West Louis Vuitton

Let's put on our Sherlock Holmes caps and take a second to piece together the evidence. First of all, Kanye West has a documented love of Louis Vuitton dating back to at least 2004. Remember the song "Last Call" from College Dropout? No joke, West called himself "Kan, the Louis Vuitton Don." Urban Dictionary notes that the self-granted nickname persisted over the years, with West including it in "Stronger" and "Celebration." But as a few Twitter users have noted, a reference to the designer brand can also be found in "Gold Digger," in which West raps, "With a baby Louis Vuitton under her underarm."

More: Kim Kardashian West Talks About Losing Embryo & Choosing Surrogacy

West has also designed a collection of sneakers for the company in the past, so there's yet another reason he may want to pay homage to the brand. Fans, of course, have a lot to say.

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 1

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 1

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 2

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 2

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 3

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 3

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 4

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 4

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 5

Kim Kardashian West Baby Name Tweet 5

Now, the Kardashians are too unique to copy a brand name outright, but maybe they could riff off it and come up with something adorable? "Louise," "Louie" or "Elle Vee"? Who knows?

More: Kim Kardashian West Slams Shamers Who Accused Her of Partying When Saint Was in the Hospital

Of course, this Instagram post, along with one of the Kardashian-West family's Louis Vuitton-covered trash cans, could be — dare we say is likely to be? — about something else entirely. For example, on Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Kim Jones, an artistic designer tasked with leading menswear, would be exiting the company. Could these posts indicate West might be taking his career in fashion to a new level?

Guess we'll have to keep following the breadcrumbs to find out.

The Pope Married 2 Flight Attendants Mid-flight

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Ready for your daily dose of feel-good news today? Well, here it is: The pope officiated a wedding between two flight attendants 30,000 feet up in the air.

the pope married flight attendants

the pope married flight attendants

More: Pope Francis Says Public Breastfeeding Is "a Language of Love"

The two LATAM flight attendants, Carlos Ciuffardi and Paola Podest, found themselves on the same flight as Pope Francis (and his entourage), who happened to be on his tour of the South American nation. On a flight from Santiago, Chile, to the northern city of Iquique, the pope asked the couple if they were married. They told him they were, that they had joined through civil ceremony, but were not formally married in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

According to CBS News, Ciuffardi and Podest explained to the pope that they had planned a lavish church ceremony in February of 2010, but a massive earthquake struck in Chile, causing the church they were to wed in to collapse on their wedding day.

Leave it to the pope to ask them if they wanted him to conduct the ceremony right there on the plane, to which they said yes.

pope marries flight attendants 3

pope marries flight attendants 3

And that he did: Pope Francis blessed their rings, and the couple kissed to seal their union.

pope marries flight attendants 2

pope marries flight attendants 2

"We can't believe the pope married us," the groom said. "A pope has never married anyone on a plane. We have a Vatican document; it's all valid."

The chairman of LATAM served as the official witness to the wedding, and an accompanying Chilean cardinal drafted the legal document for the marriage by hand. The pope gave the bride and groom gifts as well: a white rosary for Podest and a black rosary to Ciuffardi.

"This is what's missing in the world," Pope Francis told the couple, "the sacrament of marriage. I hope this motivates couples to marry."

More: Insider Travel Tips From a Flight Attendant

Here's to the newly married couple, who plan to have a "tiny honeymoon" in Santiago, where they live with their two children.

Savannah Guthrie Sees the Bright Side of Matt Lauer's Termination From Today

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Matt Lauer's sudden firing from Today was shocking for viewers and his costars alike. But now, several months later, those who are still working at Today are seeing the positives in what was at first an extremely tumultuous time.

More: Katie Couric Opens Up About "Crushing" Aftermath of Matt Lauer Firing

Lauer's former coanchor, Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda Kotb, who took over Lauer's spot when he was fired, appeared this week on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where they talked about what it's been like to adjust to the new reality at Today. And honestly? It's not as bad as it could have been. Ratings actually went up after Lauer was fired, and now Guthrie and Kotb are making history as the first female team to anchor the show.

"It was hard, and like everyone saw, we went through it," Guthrie said during their Tonight Show appearance. "But something really lovely and positive has happened. And I think that’s where we’re focused."

More: Savannah Guthrie Chose Her Job Over Maternity Leave

Kotb added, "Savannah and I started anchoring together, and it was just weird. It was like if you’ve ever met a friend and had a great moment where you say to yourself, ‘Wow, that was so much fun.' It worked. I think we had an instant thing."

Viewers clearly agree. Guthrie and Kotb have great chemistry, and they're already leading Today into its new future.

"Hoda said it was like a first date, and I was like, ‘And I’m easy and desperate, so no problem!'" Guthrie joked. "It just clicked, and it felt so good. We’re so happy."

More: NBC Was So Worried About Ratings, They Called Savannah Guthrie to Save the Day

Their happiness only makes the show better. We can't wait to see what this all-lady team accomplishes.

5 Reasons Your Child Is Hungry All the Time

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Anyone who's had a child knows that food — how much, what kind, how often — can be a complicated issue. Dealing with kids' appetites can be one of the most frustrating things about parenthood. There are those children who are super-finicky eaters who don't seem to be taking in enough food and others who are bottomless pits. And while it's true some kids do just have a healthy appetite, an insatiable hunger might be signaling something else is going on.

Here are five surprising reasons children say they are hungry — and easy fixes for the problem.

1. They are making food associations

If every time a child gets in the car, is upset or sits in front of the TV and claims to be hungry, it's likely he is learning to eat for other reasons than hunger. Kids say they are hungry because they know how that pushes parents’ buttons — and it's more likely to produce the food they want.

The fix: Parents are better off feeding kids on a flexible schedule in a designated place than feeding on demand. That means instead of eating in front of the tube or in the car, families eat together at the table at regular intervals. This helps children regulate food intake and will decrease the frequent requests for food.

More: What to Do When Your Kid Eats All the Time

2. They feel deprived

There's a phenomenon in the research world called "eating in the absence of hunger." It tends to occur in children at higher weights, who are more likely to be restricted at mealtime. For example, a child may not be allowed to have seconds or eat sweets, and this in turn makes him obsess about food, eating more when it's available.

The fix: In addition to a regular routine of eating at the table, allow children to decide when they are done eating. Kids feeling deprived may eat more at first, but eventually they'll settle down when they can get enough. Include balanced meals and sweets sensibly, while watching your own tendency to restrict followed by overeating, as studies show kids tend to model such eating habits.

3. A lack of filling foods

One mom came to me perplexed by how her young child could be hungry every hour. Once I saw what he was eating, I instantly knew he needed more fat. She was so focused on healthy foods like fruits and veggies that fat, a satisfying part of a diet and a macronutrient that kids need at higher levels, was missing. In other cases, too many processed foods fail to satisfy, keeping kids on the edge of hunger.

The fix: Providing a variety of food groups with carbohydrates, protein and fat are a great way to satisfy kids' appetites. At main meals, provide three to five servings of food groups, such as tacos with lean meat, whole wheat tortillas, beans, veggie toppings and guacamole. At snack time, provide at least two servings, which might be yogurt topped with nuts, cheese and fruit, or half a sandwich.

More: How ADHD Impacts Women & Why Support Communities Matter

4. The table is void of food they enjoy

Little Joey hated dinnertime because there was nothing there that appealed to him. He would take his required bites and say he was "full," only to come back an hour later asking for snacks.

The fix: Plan meals with the whole family in mind and make sure there is at least one (if not two) things a child is likely to eat. Better yet, serve meals family-style, in bowls passed around, letting little ones pick and choose. Unless it's a planned bedtime nosh, nix the snacking after dinner.

5. They are going through a growth spurt

Sometimes a hungry child is just that: hungry. Children grow in spurts, meaning they don't always eat the same amount each day. When they are growing, they will be hungrier than usual, asking for seconds and sometimes thirds, and waking up ready to eat.

The fix: The good news is that by feeding on a routine, letting children regulate their intake and providing filling foods with a mix of the familiar and unfamiliar, you will be able to tell it's a growth spurt. Simply feed your child nutritious food with love and watch him grow.

More: Dads Have a Biological Clock Too

Pin it! Reasons Your Child is Hungry All the Time
Image: Regina Ferrara/SheKnows

A version of this article was originally published in September 2013.

These Things Could Be Behind Your Low Libido

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Perhaps one of the most frustrating barriers to sexual satisfaction one can go through is a libido that seemingly vanishes into thin air. Whether it is health-related, work-related or there are issues lying dormant in your relationship with your sexual partner or partners, a lowered libido is an obstacle that can really knock you back. For those who are sexually active, finding the kind of sexual fulfillment we crave can be a key to happiness and satisfaction; when the ability to achieve that fulfillment goes *poof!* then it's time to step back and assess what's going on.

First off, you should know that more often than not, if you are currently experiencing issues with a lower-than-normal (for you) libido and you want to actively fix it, then there is frequently an identifiable cause and an identifiable solution. You are not alone!

More: Masturbation Comes With Some Serious Health Benefits

Now, let's look at what might be causing your lower libido. According to Dr. Prudence Hall, who has more than 30 years of medical experience as a practicing physician, low libido generally has both physical and emotional causes.

Among the physical causes is hormones and entering different stages of life. For example, women going through menopause and perimenopause have low estrogen and generally low testosterone levels, Hall tells SheKnows, adding, "[B]oth of these deficits can cause low sex drives or actual anger toward men."

Another part of menopause is the dreaded vaginal dryness. Hall says that after having a few painful experiences, women may be less likely to want to engage in sex. And it doesn't just have to be vaginal pain — any type of sex-related pain or discomfort can make sexual activity seem less important or urgent, she adds.

Hall also points toward weight gain as a cause for lower libido too. "When women gain weight due to low estrogen states and other reasons, they frequently avoid sex," she explains. "So many women tell me they simply feel unattractive and ashamed about their bodies that they won't show them to their partners — even with minimal weight gain."

And never underestimate the impact of stress on all aspects of our everyday lives — including our sex lives. "Women who are exhausted tend to be less sexual," Hall explains. "It's not just that we are too tired. It is that our adrenal glands become depleted with chronic stress, which lowers testosterone levels. Healthy testosterone levels are critical for a woman's sexuality."

Finally, Hall advises women to look at the medications they are taking and examining whether they could be contributing to a lowered libido. While it is not advisable to immediately go off any kind of medication without first consulting your primary care physician, it is important to be aware of possible side effects, like a lowered libido, where medication is involved.

"The birth control pill induces extremely low levels of sex hormones in most women, which reduces her sex drive. Coming off the pill generally increases the sex drive," Hall explains. "Many other medications, including antidepressants, statins and high-blood-pressure meds, can also definitely lower a woman's libido."

More: Is Your Partner, Ahem, Lacking When it Comes to Oral? Let Us Lead the Way

Research out of the Mayo Clinic also points to other potential physical causes of lowered libidos in women, including fatigue, recovering after surgery, alcohol and recreational drug use and certain medical conditions like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and neurological diseases.

But it's not just physical issues that impact your libido — there's a large emotional component as well.

"When a relationship is navigating troubled times, women feel less emotionally close," Hall says. "This can frequently leads to a decrease in sexual activity. If [women] are feeling criticized, accused, micromanaged or simply ignored, [we] tend to distance ourselves emotionally and sexually. A woman who discovers that her partner is lying usually experiences a huge sexual turn-off. The intimacy of sharing generally increases a woman's sexuality."

The Mayo Clinic research also shows other potential psychological factors associated with lower libido, including mental health problems (such as anxiety or depression), poor body image, low self-esteem, a history of physical or sexual abuse and previous negative sexual experiences.

More: How to Spice Up Your Relationship With Porn

And so, while it may feel like resolving issues around your lowered libido is an unwinnable war, it is likely not the case in reality. If any of these factors in a lowered libido hit home for you and you want to take steps to resolve it, know that there are solutions because these are fixable problems. Be it consulting with your primary care physician, seeking out the help of a mental health specialist or safely and sanely taking your own steps toward resolving the issue, a lowered libido does not have to be a permanent roadblock in your life.

Toddler With Down Syndrome Sings Duet With Sister, World Melts

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Let's face it. Navigating this world can be stressful and draining. But every so often, something grabs our attention and reminds us that life can honestly be as simple and beautiful as we make it. Take, for example, this darling video of a toddler with Down syndrome singing "You Are My Sunshine" with his older sister, Lydia. His name is Bo Gray.

More: 11 People Who Crushed Stereotypes About Down Syndrome

According to Us Weekly, the kids' mom, Amanda Bowman Gray, posted the now-viral heartwarming sing-along video on her Facebook page on Monday with an inspiring message about the benefits of music therapy.

Toddler Sings

Toddler Sings

"My daughter Lydia was watching Bo while I was in the shower. Came out to this," she wrote. "If she didn't have a guitar I don't know if she would know how to babysit him. This is her go to. It's proof that music therapy works. Bo is 25 months old and has a 12-word vocabulary. Every word he has learned has been through music and singing."

We're not crying, you're crying.

Aside from being straight-up adorable, Bowman Gray's video is also an inspiration — and a testament to the power of music. A study conducted for the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that listening to music can have a profound impact on children with delayed speech development by introducing them to words, patterns and repetition. Additionally, listening to music can help reduce stress and calm children's nerves while also improving social and communication skills. Though there are many music therapy centers across the country, Gray's Facebook post is a reminder that there are plenty of ways families can introduce the benefits of music, singing and dance at home.

More: This Boy With Down Syndrome Singing Whitney Houston Will Melt Your Heart

Plus, music is an excellent way for children of all ages to bond. Just look at how lovingly Lydia and 3-year-old Hunter interact with littlest brother Bo in the above video.

As Us Weekly notes, Bowman Gray recently shared a 2016 video of her and her husband singing "You Are My Sunshine" to infant Bo when he was hospitalized following intensive heart surgery. The song, she wrote in a Facebook post, became a way for Bowman Gray and her husband, Caleb, to bond with their son and was soon dubbed his "theme song."

More: Mom of Kid With Special Needs Fights to Change Perceptions of Beauty

If little Bo grows up to be anything like his parents and big sister, he's going to be quite musically talented.

Here's to more uplifting, tear-jerking viral videos in 2018. We need it, OK?

Meghan Markle Isn't Having a Traditional Bachelorette Party

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Considering she's marrying into the British royal family, it makes sense there are some rules Meghan Markle has to follow when it comes to planning her wedding and the other festivities that will surround it. One of those that's pretty obvious and understandable? She definitely won't be having a crazy, American bachelorette party. Can you imagine? Obviously the royal family is not on board with that.

More: 45 Meghan Markle Outfits That Prove She Was Destined to Be Fashion Royalty

A source close to Markle and Harry spilled some of the details to Us Weekly ahead of wedding events really kicking off, as Markle is still working hard to plan things like her bachelorette.

"Meghan will be having a party but won’t be calling it her ‘bachelorette,'" the insider dished. "Think low-key, think somewhere out of London, good food and drink, a little music. It won’t be wild."

More: A Definitive Timeline of Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Relationship in 2017

Apparently Markle's party won't just be for her girlfriends — men will be welcome at the celebration, but we don't know whether that means Harry and his friends will attend or if he'll have a separate stag party, like tradition dictates. Ahead of tying the knot with Harry on May 19 in Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel, Markle just "wants [her bachelorette party] to be a celebration of friendship and love," the source revealed.

"Expect to see the usual faces," the insider continued, "with [her] best friends Markus Anderson, Lindsay Jill Roth and Jessica Mulroney taking top seats at the table."

More: Meghan Markle's New Year's Resolutions Are Inspiring

It sounds like it'll be a perfect way for Markle to get into the spirit of love and celebration before her big day. And as for the royal wedding itself? We can't wait to see how she'll add her personal touched to the planning.


Is There Really a ‘Right Time’ to Have a Baby?

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Our 20s and 30s can feel like a trail run — with lots of paths to take. At times, we reach spots where the routes aren’t so clearly marked. We have decisions to make about our careers, relationships and one of the biggest doozies: whether to have kids and if so, when?

Some women know without a doubt they want children; others are just as convinced they don't. Either way, it’s a definitive choice most women make at some stage in their lives. And if you're on the fence about the decision and/or wrestling with the timing of it, that can drag you into a whole new cave of choices about whether to test your fertility, freeze your eggs or just go for it and try. Either way, the decision-making process can be rife with anxiety and confusion. So we asked a slew of fertility experts for their takes on all the ifs and whens.

More:  PSA: Women Don't Need a Reason Not to Have Kids

Making the decision

Although you might have a partner involved in the actual baby-making and/or raising, the decision whether to embark on the parenthood journey should be an individual one before it becomes part of coupledom, if that's even relevant.

“It is easy to allow a partner to influence your decision,” says Dr. Denise Howard, senior attending physician and assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. But first and foremost, you need to be "honest with yourself about your own desires," she explains.

This next piece of advice might sound strange, but hear us out: Try to boil your desires down to what you’re willing to sacrifice for them. So, are you willing to give up your current sense of spontaneity and control (at least in part) in order to become a parent? Or are you willing to sacrifice the reported joys of parenthood in order to achieve different life goals? “No matter what path you choose, there is going to be a loss that you will need to grieve,” says Sarah Kowalski, a fertility doula and author of Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned. “Recognizing that either path will involve a loss helps women process what they actually want.” 

Kowalski also suggests putting aside logistical concerns like finances or career implications until you have clarity. Yes, those considerations hold great importance — but she recommends tackling them, if necessary, after figuring out your own gut pull. But if you don’t feel a clear or loud internal message, don’t let that be a source of stress. “The truth is that many women feel ambivalence,” Kowalski adds. “As more and more women speak about their mixed feelings, it normalizes it for others.”

Set aside any perceived societal, parental or other pressures to have kids as well. The decision should come from you. Whatever choice you arrive at is valid, and it shouldn’t be weighted with guilt, shame or other people’s wants.

More:  Hey, Siri, Should I Have a Baby With My Boyfriend & His Wife?

Figuring out the timing

Of course, when it comes to having babies, age is a fertility factor. The earlier you can make the kid decision, the better, especially if you’re leaning toward having children, are unsure or have any fertility concerns. If you aren’t in the right place in life to start trying to conceive after making a decision to become a mom, you can take measures to explore and potentially preserve your fertility.

“Taking the time to get educated, to complete a fertility assessment and look for potential present or future issues is almost always a good, productive thing to do,” says Dr. Joshua U. Klein, chief medical officer of Extend Fertility Medical Practice in New York City and assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

So what should you know about this egg-freezing business, anyway? First of all, a low egg supply can impact the results achieved with egg freezing, Klein cautions. If you are a candidate and want to freeze your eggs, you should do so before age 35 or as early as your late 20s to yield more eggs, he says. And although freezing your eggs might buy you a bit more time, making a decision and taking action is still important as we climb through that pivotal fourth decade of our lives. “There is a significant decline in fertility in the late 30s,” Klein says, “and a dramatic decline in fertility, even with treatments like IVF, for women 40 and older.”

And as if we didn’t have enough on our plates already, we’re also tasked with deciding just how many kiddos we’re hoping to crowd into the mom van. It may go without saying, but if you’re set on building a larger family, you should aim to start trying to conceive earlier in life.

A recent study published in the journal Human Reproduction shows that for a 90 percent chance of conceiving three children (without IVF), a woman should start trying as early as age 23; for two children, age 27; and for one child, age 32. The chance drops to 50 percent if a woman aims for three children starting at 35; two children at 38; and one child at 41.

Women who have fertility issues such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome should also pursue children (if they want to) as soon as it makes sense in their lives. “All fertility issues are only exacerbated by the effects of reproductive aging,” Klein explains. “Some of these are typically known, and some are impossible to know about unless specific testing is done."

If you’ve got a male partner in the equation, he can test his fertility too. “We really want men to check their sperm sooner rather than later,” says Kenan Omurtag, MD, assistant professor in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Washington University St. Louis School of Medicine’s department of obstetrics and gynecology. Omurtag recommends the Yo Home Sperm Test Kit. He says men who want children should try to conceive before 40 and freeze and bank sperm before undergoing any chemotherapy, radiation or radical pelvic surgery.

More: I Placed My Son for Adoption — It's OK If I Die Without Another Kid

Fertility factors, preservation options, the timing of when to conceive and deciding whether to have kids — it’s a lot to tackle. That’s because these are major life decision with huge impact, and we don’t always achieve the outcomes we want. “There is a ton of research documenting the psychological and emotional toll of infertility,” Klein says. “It has been demonstrated to be similar to the stress caused by a diagnosis of cancer or a heart attack.” Women who decide not to have children face stressors too, especially when others put them down for or challenge their choice.

As you hoof life’s trails, stepping in rhythm to the tick of your biological clock, remember there’s no right or wrong answer here. “This is a deeply personal and individual decision,” Klein says. “The only mistake women can really make is to not get the appropriate information to help them make an educated choice about egg-freezing and preserving their options or to allow options for the future to close when they might want those options.”

Amber Rose Is Being Shamed for Getting Breast Reduction Surgery

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After months of research and sifting through feedback from fans, Amber Rose confirmed her decision to undergo a breast reduction surgery on Tuesday. And though the 34-year-old model received an outpouring of support from fans, she also saw intense backlash from primarily men who criticized her and shamed her for altering her body.

The backlash came after Rose revealed that she was going under the knife on Wednesday. She expressed her excitement and nervousness on her Instagram story, and posted a video with her plastic surgeon, Dr. Garth Fisher, where the two talked about her eagerness to wear clothes with spaghetti straps again, something she hasn’t worn since she was 10 years old. In August 2017, Rose revealed that one of main factors pushing her towards a breast reduction would be her ability to wear “cute lil shirts without a grandma bra.”

More: Why Amber Rose Is Considering Breast Reduction Surgery

Amber Rose Discussing Breast Reduction Surgery

Amber Rose Discussing Breast Reduction Surgery

Though Dr. Fisher made clear that Rose’s breasts are beautiful pre- and post-surgery (something we concur with), some ignorant internet users couldn’t wrap their minds around why Rose would want to make her 36H-size breasts smaller.

After announcing her decision, Rose was bombarded with comments from critics who protested her decision. Several claimed that her current breasts “looked good” on her, while others argued that she was changing the way she was naturally born. Unsurprisingly, most of the comments were from men. “Ur slapping god in the face,” one user commented. Another added, “PLEASE DON’T THEY LOOK GOOD ON YOU.”

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 1

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 1

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 2

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 2

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 3

Amber Rose Breast Reduction feedback tweet 3

More: People Are Attacking Amber Rose for Getting Botox

Rose hasn’t posted on social media since going into surgery, but we’re behind her 100 percent. Like she said in November, her bigger breasts have led her to back pain and restricted fashion choices. It’s also her body and her choice. Trolls should get that and move on.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

What Justin Timberlake Will & Will Not Do This Time at the Super Bowl

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All eyes are going to be on Justin Timberlake when he takes the stage on February 4 for the halftime show for Super Bowl LII. It will be his third time performing at the Super Bowl (a rare honor indeed) and from the looks of a new preview video dropped onto the ol' internet by Pepsi, the sponsors of the halftime show, it looks like Timberlake really wants to do something next level to make this halftime show one of the best yet. And probably also to ensure that his third time performing at the Super Bowl is better than his previous performances.

More: The Internet Is Majorly Divided Over Justin Timberlake's New Song

The video posted to Pepsi's Twitter on Wednesday evening is pretty darn good when it comes to teasing the heck out of Timberlake's plans for Super Bowl LII. After giving us a montage of clips from his previous music videos, we see Timberlake take to the football field with his team as they strategize.

"I am getting an opportunity to have to stage [to] myself," Timberlake remarks, referencing his previous Super Bowl performances where he performed with *NSYNC and JanetJackson, respectively. "I really am looking at it as my first time."

Timberlake Super Bowl Sneak Peak Tweet

Timberlake Super Bowl Sneak Peak Tweet

And as the video rolls along, it begins to paint a picture of a man who is well and truly intent on making his mark as a solo performer at the Super Bowl. While talking to his team, Timberlake says, "We could go all out. We could arrange some beats where it's like 'Pow,' 'Pow,' 'Pow'."

More: 13 Very Real Thoughts I Had About Justin Timberlake's New Album Announcement

Ever the veteran performer, Timberlake also says at one point something that very well might hint that he knows exactly what he wants to do for the halftime show, especially where the crowd is concerned. "I believe it's also the place where there is nothing wrong with giving people what they want," Timberlake remarks, which (to me, anyway) sounds like he wants to turn the energy of his live performance up a couple notches as perform songs we haven't heard yet, as would be the case with music from his upcoming album, or songs we haven't heard in a while but still totally love.

More: All Men Should Strive to Be Justin Timberlake at THR's Women in Hollywood Event

What Timberlake won't do? Well, it's a safe bet that all precautions will be taken to avoid what happened the last time he performed at the Super Bowl. Expect to see zero risky wardrobe choices, likely little to no pyrotechnics and no surprise guest appearances from the members of *NSYNC, Britney Spears or previous Timberlake collaborator Jay-Z.

Anything can happen at Super Bowl LII and that includes Timberlake's halftime performance. Are you ready for it?

Paris Hilton's Wedding Is Turning Into a Bidding War

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Updated Jan. 18, 2018, 9 a.m. PT: In today's edition of "Celebrities Must Have It So Hard," we're discussing Paris Hilton's very difficult problem: She has to choose just three of the many exotic world-class locales that are reportedly begging to host her multiple weddings to Chris Zylka. Yes, this is someone's real life.

An insider told Page Six that since news got out that Hilton is planning to have multiple weddings, venues are clamoring for a chance to host one of them.

"She has so many friends around the world and doesn’t think they can fit all into one wedding," the source said. "She is getting calls from tons of wedding planners and resorts in the Maldives, Bora Bora, Fiji, Tulum [Mexico], Ibiza [Spain] and Hawaii."

We already suspected Hilton would have the most extra nuptials of 2018 (yes, the same year that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to tie the knot just for perspective), and it looks like that prediction is fully set to come true.

Original story, published Jan. 11, 2018: The internet still hasn't fully come down from its frenzy over Paris Hilton's engagement. The proposal itself was so incredibly extra, and then there was that ring. Did you guys see that thing? It's roughly the same size of the small country that has an annual GDP that matches its price tag.

Paris Hilton's bananas giant engagement ring 1

Paris Hilton's bananas giant engagement ring 1

Ya know, just Paris Hilton things.

More: Why Paris Hilton’s Comments on Women & Sexual Assault Were So Dangerous

Here's the thing: Paris Hilton has always been incredibly extra. Even before we used the word "extra" to describe people like Paris Hilton, Paris Hilton was the most extra. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that Hilton's wedding will be (all together now) so extra.

Hilton's aunt, Real Housewife Kyle Richards, has already confirmed this.

"[It will be] over the top, just like her ring!" Richards told Us Weekly. But, like, no duh.

It's details we're after here, and we may finally have them. Hilton is about to host the most over-the-top nuptials of all time... by having three weddings in different places around the world. If it's the most important day of your life, why not make it three days?

More: 20 Celebs Who Were Rumored to have Died — but Didn't

Speaking to Extra (LOL, of course) at the Golden Globes, Hilton revealed her master plan.

"For my 21st birthday, I had five parties," she said, "So maybe for the wedding, I’ll have a European one, an American one, one for everyone around the world."

Bless her heart for disguising her desire for multiple giant parties celebrating herself as wanting the whole world to be able to take part.

Even though this is all a little bit ridiculous, Hilton and her fiancé, Chris Zylka, are super-adorable together. During the same interview, he gushed, "She’s my best friend, she’s the most gorgeous thing on the planet, as you can see, and she’s one of the strongest women that I know."

More: Paris Hilton and Chris Zylka Are Doing More Than Just Moving In Together

Just save some of that for the wedding vows, buddy. You're gonna need three sets of them, after all.

Get Ready for Possibly the Craziest Bachelor Wedding You've Ever Seen

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It's still very early in the process but the producers behind The Bachelor and The Bachelorette might be cooking up one of the most extravagant and romantic events ever seen in the history of the franchise. Buckle up because this one has the potential to knock you out — it's that good. The idea currently marinating in Bachelor Nation is the idea of a mass wedding which would bring Kaitlyn Bristowe, Rachel Lindsay and JoJo Fletcher and their respective fiancés together to likely all be married at once.

More: The First Promo for Bachelor: Winter Games Is Emotional & Messy

This sounds almost too good to be true, right?

Well, according to Us Weekly and the Bachelor producers they spoke to, this idea is still in its infancy. While ABC "is hoping to do a mass Bachelor wedding" the fact remains that "nothing is set" and that "this is just an idea being bounced around." But that being said, it would make total sense to bring these three women and their honeys together for one epic Bachelor Nation wedding.

More: A Bachelorette Producer Makes New Claims of Sexual Harassment

As far as we can tell, while Bristowe, Lindsay and Fletcher are all very happy right now with their engaged-to-be-married status, each of them has admitted that they're starting to get the itch to get hitched. Lindsay might be the most ready to do so, with her recently commenting that she could elope with fiancé Bryan Abasolo tomorrow.

"I keep saying winter wedding but honestly I could elope with Bryan tomorrow," Lindsay told Us Weekly back in November 2017. "And it’s so funny because my mom texted me the other day and she goes, ‘Secretly I would love for you to just elope.’"

More: The Drama of Bachelor Arie Luyendyk Jr.'s Season Has Already Begun

There's no doubt that there would be an audience for watching these three beloved Bachelor Nation alums tie the knot and there quite literally and an endless possibility of ways on how ABC and Bachelor producers could pull this off. It's kinda perfect if you think about it.

Basically, all I'm saying is that Bachelor producers should make this mass wedding happen and then let me know when it all comes together because I would love to attend and cry at all the love on display. Cool?

What Is Munchausen by Proxy?

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If you’ve heard of Munchausen by proxy, it’s probably because you’ve seen it featured in an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit or in the HBO true-crime documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest. But the condition is more than a pop-culture plot twist: It’s abuse.

MBP, also called “factitious disorder imposed on another,” is a condition in which a person (typically a parent, usually a mother) either makes up or causes a person in their care to be seriously ill or injured. While most cases involve a mother and young child, MBP can also occur in situations in which someone is caring for an elderly or disabled person, Dr. Gail Saltz, psychiatrist and author of The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius, tells SheKnows. And around 7 percent of MBP cases involve fathers, she adds.

What is it actually called?

First of all, let’s address the name — or rather, the multiple terms used to describe this condition. It was given the name Munchausen in 1951, which refers to German nobleman Karl Friedrich Hieronymus, Baron Münchhausen (1720 – 1797), who was famous for exaggerating his adventures and exploits. Some argue that “factitious disorder imposed on another” is more precise and should be favored moving forward.

However, Dr. Marc D. Feldman, a psychiatrist who has researched the condition for more than 25 years and was featured throughout the documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, tells SheKnows that he finds the term “factitious disorder imposed on another” term to be “unduly complex and unclear.”

“It makes it sound like a child is being forced to have factitious disorder, which is obviously not the case,” Feldman, whose book Dying to Be Ill: True Stories of Medical Deception will be published in May, explains, “The child generally isn't colluding — the child is manipulated.” 

More: Are the Health Benefits of Gummy Vitamins Worth the Sugar?

And although it is not outdated to use the term “Munchausen syndrome by proxy,” Feldman says if you're committed to the term, he prefers “Munchausen by proxy” because it’s “not simply some kind of ‘syndrome.’” Overall, though, Feldman prefers the term "medical child abuse." He explains, “The MCA term is much more descriptive and, despite a couple of potential limitations, is much clearer to judges, juries and the general public.”

Feldman also points out that “Munchausen syndrome” is a completely different condition itself in which people feign, exaggerate or induce medical or psychiatric symptoms in themselves, rather than in other (that’s the “by proxy” part). And typically, when the single word “Munchausen” is used, it is referring to MBP or MCA.

“It is rather a shame that so many different terms have been used because it has confused the public as to just what we're really talking about,” Feldman says. “It is first and foremost a form of abuse.”

What does MBP entail?

In situations of MBP, the caretakers either make up symptoms that actually have not happened or actively cause the person in their care to become ill or injured, Saltz explains.

“The purpose, as far as we can tell, is mostly to gain attention and sympathy and interest from medical staff, from people in the community, from other people, but it is considered a form of child abuse,” she says.

In fact, MBP is one of the more dangerous forms of child abuse, Saltz points out, because it is premeditated and more often results in death of the child from repeatedly inflicting something on the child. According to Feldman, 9 percent of published cases of MBP results in the child’s death because of the behavior.

A common way MBP manifests is through the caretaker repeatedly suffocating a child to the brink of death, Saltz says, adding that when she was a medical student, she learned that MBP can be present when there’s a repeated symptom that doctors can’t figure out despite extensive medical tests. And even if the child receives proper medical care, the symptom does not go away.

More: The Impact of Sexual Harassment on Mental Health

As far as the type of parent typically observed in MBP situations, Saltz says they “seem to be most jovial and relieved when the child is ill,” and are “incredibly dedicated and ever-present.” She gives the example of a child she treated who came in with progressive muscle wasting, which looked like muscular dystrophy.

“No one could figure out why the child was extremely ill and often vomiting,” Saltz says. Eventually, she started to become suspicious and ultimately figured out the mother was giving the child ipecac (a medication administered to induce vomiting). The toxic levels of ipecac found in the child’s blood was the cause of their muscle disintegration.

Dean Tong, a forensic trial expert who specializes in cases of false or unfounded child abuse who consults on a few cases of MBP each year, points out that although parents, of course, are allowed to challenge doctors' findings and opinions, they cannot force providers to administer prescriptions or perform surgeries or other medical procedures. Parents do have the ability, however — like in Saltz’s example — to actively harm their child through administering widely available medications incorrectly or causing them to suffer from malnutrition.

What can be done about it?

According to Saltz, the most important thing is discovery and removing the victim from the caregiver. She says that if the victim is not removed, the caregiver will likely turn back to the abusive behavior, even if they are discovered. Unfortunately, sometimes, when the child is removed, the perpetrator moves on to another child or person, Saltz adds.

Taking action is so important if you suspect someone you know is a victim of MBP, Saltz says, because children who grow up under those conditions typically either grow up to develop it themselves or develop post-traumatic stress disorder to the point where they aren’t able to seek medical treatment regardless of the severity of the condition because of their lingering fear of doctors.

Unfortunately, there are no great treatments for MBP, Saltz explains. Although mental health professionals can treat underlying disorders like anxiety, it doesn’t really treat the MBP. Psychotherapy can also be useful, she says, but most perpetrators are not insightful and don’t see what they’re doing as harmful, “and with no insight, it’s pretty difficult to make change.”

“The public has to understand that this is a form of child abuse and just as you would with any form of child abuse, you would report it,” she says.

MoreOur Narrow View of Sexual Assault Is Letting People Get Away With It

If you suspect someone you know is affected by MBP, Saltz suggests reporting it anonymously to a child welfare agency or to your own doctor or pediatrician. What you shouldn’t do is to confront the caregiver in question about their behavior, as they will likely deny it and then “go further underground” and continue their harmful actions, she adds.

Jordana Brewster's Main Focus in 2018 Isn't Her Career or Even Her Family

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Celebrities are just like us when it comes to figuring out how to handle resolutions in the new year. Jordana Brewster knows that as a woman, it isn’t easy putting herself first. She has a busy acting career along with a full life with her husband, film producer Andrew From, and their two sons, Julian, 4, and Rowan, 19 months.

More: 14 Parenting Moments That Defined 2017

She's weathered the California fires and a mandatory evacuation in late 2017, and Brewster is ready to take a breath after that scary situation.

“We recently evacuated because of the fires, so I realized I'm pretty cool under pressure. I was very happy with that,” she said proudly. “It’s a good feature that I have because ordinarily I'm not that cool-headed. I think I really sweat the little things, and the big things I think, OK, I can, I can do this.”

For 2018, Brewster is choosing a little self-care to kick off the year.

“I’d love to stop stressing so much about the small stuff,” Brewster told SheKnows at an Autotrader event last December. “I’d love to inject a little more self-care. As a working mom, I’m juggling everything. It’s all about do, do, do.”

And Brewster already knows how she’s going to tackle investing in a little more time for herself.

“It’s about the appreciating the value of meditation and taking breaks,” she explained. “If I don’t take it easy and take care of myself, I’m going to burn out.”

Her inspiration for taking a time-out for herself came from one of the busiest and most powerful women in Hollywood, who also happens to be a mom, too.

More: Shonda Rhimes Launches Website, Continues to Take Over the World

“I want to stop guilt-tripping myself. That’s what I loved about hearing Shonda Rhimes speak,” said Brewster. “It’s nice to hear other women talk about it because we’re all similar — the guilt-tripping we do to ourselves. Men don’t do that to themselves. My husband doesn’t feel guilty when he’s on a work trip and missing the kids.”

Jordana Brewster Autotrader
Image: Autotrader

Even though Brewster is making herself a priority in 2018, she was taking care of herself long before she became a mother. After graduating from Professional Children’s School in New York City, she put her successful young adult acting career on hold to prioritize her education by attending Yale University.

“For my emotional well-being, I think it was really good [to go to college] — in the same way that having a family is really good because it's so important to balance it,” she shared. “Your career is not your end-all, be-all because otherwise, you are going to go nuts.”

More: 46 Overachieving Stars With Ph.Ds or Degrees From Ivy League Schools

It also turned out to be the right decision for her, career-wise, because her four years at Yale didn’t hamper her Hollywood prospects — it only enhanced them.

“I love that my sense of self wasn't always completely tied to how I was doing work-wise,” Brewster explained. “To be perfectly honest, I didn't realize that putting my career on the back burner would have a negative effect on my career. I was kind of naive at the time.”

Brewster is looking forward to stepping back into the exciting role of Mia Loretto for Fast & Furious 9 and 10, which will premiere in 2020 and 2021. She is also seeking a return to television with “something like The Handmaid’s Tale,” she said.

“That's why I am so excited about what's happening with women now in the industry. We're getting to see our perspective, not just how males perceive us. That’s really exciting. So, if I can help in any way, I am ready to be a part of that.”


Reese Witherspoon & Nicole Kidman Are Making So Much Money For Big Little Lies Season 2

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Before Big Little Lies became a huge, awards darling hit for HBO, there were no plans for a second season. Oh, how things change after a show rakes in a boatload of Emmys, Golden Globes and more. Now that Big Little Lies Season 2 is officially in the works, stars and producers Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are set for a fat pay raise.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Witherspoon and Kidman are looking at earning $1 million per episode for season 2, not including their executive producer fees. That's a big payday for a show they both seem to love — win-win. The site also reports that supporting stars Shailene Woodley and Zoe Kravitz will be getting big raises for the second season as well.

More: Am I the Only One Who Found Big Little Lies Boring & Weird?

We don't know the exact reasons for the big pay bumps, but Big Little Lies acclaim, ratings and awards probably all have something to do with it. There's also the fact that none of the stars had a second season in their contracts, which meant new contracts for Season 2, giving them the perfect opening to negotiate. Witherspoon is reportedly earning $1.25 million per episode for her upcoming drama series on Apple TV, which may also have impacted HBO's decision to bump up her pay. She and Kidman both reportedly made around $250,000 per episode for Big Little Lies Season 1.

Since Big Little Lies Season 1 was based on Liane Moriarty's novel of the same name, which doesn't have a sequel, we have no idea what to expect in terms of plot when the show returns to HBO. We do know, though, that with Witherspoon and Kidman still at the helm, it's likely to be just as powerfully female-driven and exciting as the first season was.

Nestlé Launches Millennial Pink KitKats, but There's a Catch

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Ah, millennial pink: the color that dominated 2017. From pink pineapples to home decor, the hue was ev-er-y-where last year, and it seems interest in the color isn't fading anytime soon. In fact, Nestlé has announced it's launching pink KitKats.

And they have the most incredible name: KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Ruby.

KITKAT Chocolatory Sublime Valentine's Assort 7bars
Image: Nestlé Japan

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These very on-trend millennial-pink KitKats are considered the world's first ruby chocolate according to Nestlé’s global head of confectionery, Sandra Martinez. They're made from carefully selected cacao beans found in Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Brazil called ruby cacao, which not only give the KitKat its pink hue, but also an intense berry flavor. To give a little more background, this new chocolate formula was produced by Barry Callebaut, a famous chocolatier, and debuted in September of last year at an event in Shanghai, China. And it was a huge deal. A totally new kind of chocolate hadn't been introduced to the market since white chocolate got its start 80 years ago.

ruby chocolate nestle
Image: Nestlé Japan

OK, I'm sure we have you drooling by now, but unfortunately, there's a catch. For those living in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Switzerland, the sour-yet-sweet treats are only available for sale online starting today for $3.60. To get them, you first need to register via email on Nestlé's website, and you'll then receive a link to purchase.

However, if you're located in Japan or South Korea, you're in luck. You can purchase them directly at KitKat Chocolatory boutique stores or at one of the 80 pop-up stores planned in Japan on Valentine's Day.

KitKat Chocolatory store
Image: Nestlé Japan

"Japan is the market that has made KitKat so iconic in terms of all the different flavors they’ve developed," Martinez tells Fortune. “This makes Japan the ideal market to go with this news, and KitKat is a brand that’s modern and connects well with millennials; so it’s the right brand to put the first ruby chocolate in the world."

More: Is Ben & Jerry's Launching 3 New Truffle Flavors?

If you want to get your hands on these treats, you better hurry: KitKat Chocolatory Sublime Ruby is only on sale through Jan. 25, and they're limited in quantity — just 5,000, according to Nestlé's press release.

This Prime Minister Is Pregnant — & Here's Why It Matters

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Guess what? Jacinda Ardern is pregnant, y'all!

What's your reaction to this news? Is it a) "That sounds familiar. She's a reality TV star, right?" or b) "The New Zealand Prime Minister is pregnant? Fantastic!"

If you went with the latter, well done. But it's OK if you were in the first camp. After all, women world leaders are sadly still few and far between — and politics is pretty much reality TV these days. Except that politics is way more shocking.

But this breaking news out of New Zealand is big stuff, and here's why. For one thing, Ardern just became New Zealand's youngest prime minister in over a century back in October. And today, Ardern announced that she and her partner, Clarke Gayford, are expecting their first baby in June.

More: How to Master Being a Working Mom

Though many are in an uproar over this plot twist — OMG, a pregnant lady leading a country — Ardern isn't having any of that nonsense. We completely adore her attitude. “I am not the first woman to multitask. I am not the first woman to work and have a baby,” Ardern said plainly during her Friday news conference. “We are going to make this work, and New Zealand is going to help us raise our first child.”

The pregnancy came as a shock to Ardern and Gayford, as they'd been told they "would need help for [conception] to happen." But she's taking it in happy stride.

Ardern tweet

Ardern tweet

In a recent tweet, Ardern reassured her country that she'll be “joining the many parents out there who wear two hats." She added, "I’ll be Prime Minister AND a mum, and Clarke will be ‘first man of fishing’ and stay at home dad. There will be lots of questions (I can assure you we have a plan all ready to go!) but for now bring on 2018!"

Interestingly, just hours after she was elected leader of New Zealand's Labour Party back in August, two TV hosts pressed Ardern on her family plans, going so far as to ask whether it was "acceptable" for a nation's leader to take maternity leave.

More: How Not to Tell Your Boss You're Pregnant

Ardern shot back, "It is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace. It is a woman’s decision about when they choose to have children, and it should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities.”

Boom. We hate that Ardern's happy news puts her squarely in the crossfire of archaic, misogynistic debates over what pregnant women and new moms can and cannot do — and perhaps worse, should and should not be doing. But she certainly has the confidence to navigate the debate and continue to lead without flinching — making her one incredible role model for women everywhere.

Ardern made it crystal clear she intends to keep her pregnancy the least interesting chapter of her time as prime minister. “I want us to be known for what we achieved for New Zealanders,” she said at the same news conference. “This will only be another addition to the history of this government.”

In fact, her plan is pretty run-of-the-mill and looks a lot like many (of the luckiest, that is) American women's maternity leaves. She'll be taking six weeks off after the baby is born, during which time New Zealand's deputy prime minister — Winston Peters — will cover her duties. After six weeks, though, she'll be back at work, with her partner serving as their baby's full-time caregiver.

But there's nothing run-of-the-mill about Ardern's place in history. According to The New York Times, Ardern is likely to become the only elected world leader to give birth in office in nearly 30 years. The only previous example is a tragic one: Pakistan's female PM Benazir Bhutto delivered a child in 1990 while in office; Bhutto was subsequently assassinated in 2007.

Ardern's surprise announcement — and commitment to continue working in her position of power — has sparked massive support from female leaders, women's rights groups and much of the internet in general.

Helen Clark, former New Zealand prime minister, tweeted, “Every #woman should have the choice of combining family & career."

Another bold statement came from Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland. “This is first and foremost a personal moment for her — but it also helps demonstrate to young women that holding leadership positions needn’t be a barrier to having children (if you want to)."

And said Esther Anatolitis, an Australian writer, on Twitter, “In fact I’m kind of speechless for what this will come to mean for women of all ages — but in particular, girls who will grow up seeing this as normal for working women in complex leadership roles."

Ardern tweet 2

Ardern tweet 2

Some of the tweets regarding Ardern's pregnancy reveal were downright delicious; we cannot tell a lie.

bubs tweet

bubs tweet

Venn diagram

Venn diagram

Peters tweet

Peters tweet

But Ardern's final word on the topic — her response to naysayers doubting her ability to serve as prime minister throughout a pregnancy — is our favorite: “None of them detected I had pretty bad morning sickness for three months of establishing the government," she said wryly.

Reporters asked how she pulled that off. Ardern shrugged and replied, "It's what ladies do." Indeed it is.

The Women's March One Year Later: Where Do We Stand Now?

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In many ways, 2017 was worse than we could have anticipated. President Donald J. Trump failed to have even a semblance of a conscience, our government seems like it's in shocking disarray, we've gone backward on climate change, we're more divided across party lines than ever, every time we open our newsfeed we're faced with another person — usually a man — who has used his power and privilege to undermine or abuse women... I could go on.

But that doesn't mean we haven't seen some really incredible moments in 2017 too. On Jan. 21, 2017, the Women's March, a protest against President Trump's inauguration and misogyny, became the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. In many ways, it signaled the determination of women to resist the ugly changes that were sure to come.

Here are a just a few wonderful things women accomplished since the Women's March.

Jan. 28: Banning the ban

Just days after the Women's March, Trump issued an executive order that acted to immediately prevent people from seven Muslim-majority countries from coming into the U.S. — including green card holders. It was blocked by federal judge Ann Donnelly and several other female judges in the hours that followed.

Jan. 30: Sally Yates

Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates refuses to defend Trump’s executive order travel ban. She was fired later that day for her decision.

Feb. 7: She persisted

After silencing Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who was reading a letter written by Coretta Scott King criticizing now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell accidentally coined a new phrase for the resistance, saying, “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”

March 15: Fair pay

After their players were unable to secure fair pay from USA Hockey, the U.S. women’s national hockey team announced they would boycott the world championship. Shortly thereafter, they were able to negotiate increases and went on to win their eighth world title.

March 17: First black female neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins

Nancy Abu-Bonsrah accepts a position at Johns Hopkins Hospital and becomes their first black female neurosurgeon.

June 4: Wonder Woman crushes the box office

Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, earns more than $100 million its opening weekend, making it the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. It went on to earn over $821 million worldwide.

Aug. 16: Taking down Confederate statues

Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh makes a middle-of-the-night order for all the city’s Confederate statues to be removed after a white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, North Carolina, lead to the three deaths, including a young counterprotester, Heather Heyer.

Aug. 17: Black female-driven comedy gold

Comedy Girls Trip makes $100 million at the box office. It is the first film produced, directed, written by and starring black Americans to do so.

Sept. 2: Woman in space

Astronaut Peggy Whitson sets three records: most space walks by a woman at 10 space walks, cumulative time in space by an American at 665 days (and more time than any woman ever) and the first woman to command the International Space Station twice. But that's her second International Space Station first. She was the first woman ever to command the International Space Station back in 2008.

Sept. 17: Award-winning comedy

Lena Waithe becomes the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing for Netflix’s Master of None. “The things that make us different — those are our superpowers,” she said in her speech. “Every day when you walk out the door and put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world, because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren't in it.” 

Sept. 25: The Affordable Care Act lives

The Affordable Care Act avoids replacement after Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) confirms that she will vote no on the Graham-Cassidy bill.

Sept. 30: Stand for Puerto Rico

San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz becomes the face of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma when she criticized the U.S. government and President Trump for ineffective relief efforts. “If anyone is listening, we are dying,” she said.

Oct. 5: #MeToo

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey write an explosive story about years of abuse and sexual harassment at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, a major producer in Hollywood. The piece leads to Weinstein being fired from his company and sparks the hashtag #MeToo (originally started in 2007 by Tarana Burke), which women use to share their experiences with sexual misconduct, harassment and assault. Several other stories of misconduct in Hollywood and other industries come out, including accusations against actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Louis C.K. and journalists Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose.

Oct 9: Malala Yousafzai at Oxford

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban five years ago while attempting to go to school in Pakistan and became a vocal supporter of education for women, started classes at Oxford.

Nov. 7: Don’t boo — vote

Voters fight back with some telling choices across the country.

Voters in Virginia elected the first two Latinas, Elizabeth Guzmán and Hala Ayala; the first Asian woman, Kathy Tran; the first openly lesbian woman, Dawn Adams; the first Asian-American Pacific Islander, Kelly Fowler; and the first openly trans woman, Danica Roem to the House of Delegates.

Andrea Jenkins became the first openly transgender black woman to win public office when she was elected for city council in Minnesota.

Seattle elected Jenny Durkan, its first openly lesbian woman and the first woman to be mayor in almost a century.

Twenty-three-year-old Crystal Murillo beat a 79-year-old incumbent for a city council seat in Aurora, Colorado.

Vi Lyles became the first black woman mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sheila Oliver became New Jersey’s first black lieutenant governor.

Nov. 8: Women running for office

More women are running for office than ever before, with Emily’s List reporting more than 20,000 women having expressed their interest in running since the 2016 election.

Now — how are we going to make 2018 even better? We could start with organizing and volunteering to get people to vote.

Barack Obama Gave Michelle the Perfect Birthday Gift, Because Obviously

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Sometimes, the best gifts aren't the ones that cost the most or take the longest to plan. Sometimes, the most cherished gifts are the simple things. For the Obamas, that's clearly the case.

More: Live Like a President in the Obamas’ Old Seaside Escape

Michelle Obama turned 54 on Thursday, and like any phenomenal husband, Barack knew just what to give her. She loved her gift so much, she shared it with her more than 18 million followers on Instagram. Was it something fancy or extravagant? Nope. It was a bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note.

Michelle Obama posts bday flowers and note from Barack

Michelle Obama posts bday flowers and note from Barack

"Thank you @BarackObama for the beautiful flowers waiting for me in the office this morning," Michelle wrote alongside the photo she posted of her very personal gift. "You’re my best friend, biggest fan, and getting notes and flowers from you will never get old."

More: Prince Harry & Michelle Obama Gave a School of Kids the Best Halloween Surprise

It just goes to show, if there's enough love behind a gift (as there very clearly is with these two), it can be the simplest thing and still mean the world.

Michelle also posted a thank you to fans who reached out to wish her well on her big day.

"And to the many people from around the country who sent cards and posted on social media, you have no idea how much we love hearing from you," she continued in the caption on her Instagram post. "I know birthdays can sometimes be bittersweet (54!), but your messages of hope, generosity, and warmth have always reminded me how lucky and blessed we are."

More: Michelle Obama Shaded President Trump Without Even Saying His Name

Who's missing the Obamas right about now? That grace and love and utter respect for their fans and constituents — what we'd give to have that back.

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