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Property Brothers' Jonathan Scott Talks Future Plans With GF Jacinta Kuznetsov

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Property Brothers' Drew Scott is hard at work planning his extravagant wedding to philanthropist Linda Phan. But what about his brother/reality TV other half? Is Jonathan Scott feeling some of the wedding fever now that his twin brother and Phan are about to tie the knot? After all, he and his girlfriend, Jacinta Kuznetsov, have been together for nearly three years.

More: The Property Brothers Make Their Latest HGTV Series a Family Affair

It turns out, no. Jonathan and Kuznetsov are in no hurry to get hitched and are just taking their relationship one day at a time for now.

"Not right now," Jonathan told Us Weekly when pressed for info about when he plans to propose. "My girlfriend and I have been dating for two years and just having a blast... It’s been great."

Despite the fact that they aren't actively planning to take that next step yet, Jonathan and Kuznetsov seem like the perfect couple. They're super-sweet and supportive of each other — you can tell by the story Jonathan told about how Kuznetsov makes him feel special even when their busy schedules keep them apart.

"She will buy a greeting card and tuck it into my pocket or put it into my suitcase," he explained. "I’ll be at a hotel and pull out my toiletry bag and find a little note from her. She’s my No. 1 supporter."

Seriously, how cute is that?

More: Drew Scott & Linda Phan Reveal the Requirements for Their Italian Wedding

But if any couple gives Jonathan and Kuznetsov a run for their money in cuteness, it's Drew and Phan. They're planning a gorgeous-sounding destination wedding in Italy in May, and we seriously can't wait to see how it all comes together.

"We’re coming up with some handcrafted fun stuff for everybody, designing the cake and designing different aspects of what we want the ceremony to look like," Drew told Us Weekly. "There are a lot of elements going into it, but the main thing for us is we want to spend time with our family and friends and celebrate."

More: Property Brothers' Drew Scott Is Losing Sleep Over Wedding Planning

Too bad Jonathan isn't ready to propose in time for the brothers to have a joint wedding. That would clearly be too good to be true.


Are People in Open Relationships Happier?

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Maybe being surrounded by polyamorous and other consensually non-monogamous relationships makes me biased, but I find that my non-monogamous partners and friends are generally happier than everyone else. Sure, polyamory is difficult and complicated, but the challenges have their rewards, at least in my experience.

I've found that people in polyamorous relationships are better communicators, better at identifying and expressing their feelings and excellent conflict managers. Although no one is perfect in relationships, non-monogamists are, in my experience, better than monogamists at dealing with the challenges of relating to others in all sorts of contexts, including sexual, friendship and long-term partnerships.

But that’s all it is: personal experience. As scientists often say, the plural of anecdote is not data. Is my perception of polyamory happiness accurate? Or is it just a matter of chance, of my falling into a particularly positive community of well-practiced non-monogamists who know what they’re doing? To find out, I’ve looked at the research psychologists have published about non-monogamy, which is, thankfully, booming, along with public awareness.

More: How to Tell Your Partner That You'd Like an Open Relationship

Are non-monogamists happier?

Happiness is an especially slippery concept in psychology. The idea of subjective well-being is only one facet of happiness; other scientists talk about meaning, flourishing, gratitude, character strengths, self-regulation and a host of other factors.

So discussing happiness differences between groups can get really complicated. However, an excellent review by Alicia Rubel and Anthony Bogaert suggests that on the whole, non-monogamous people are just as happy as monogamous people. Apparently, swingers score a little higher on some elements, like excitement and novelty, as well as a feeling of social connection and closeness.

According to the same review, consensual non-monogamists drink less, are less likely to use drugs and are more likely to report higher happiness levels.

What about their relationships?

One of the myths about consensual non-monogamy is that it’s a way for people to deal with an unhappy relationship; similarly, some people think that polyamory, by itself, is asking for trouble and leads to separation and divorce, even if it was started under happy circumstances.

When looking at relationship satisfaction, psychologists have four major components: general relationship satisfaction, jealousy, sexual satisfaction and relationship longevity and divorce. Rubel and Bogaert suggest that non-monogamists have relationships that are just as happy, or happier, than monogamous relationships. More recent field research on a large Canadian sample also found that those in open or polyamorous relationships were just as happy as those in monogamous relationships.

More: Why the Brain Is Our Most Important Sex Organ

The Rubel and Bogaert review reports that most non-monogamous people are just as or more sexually satisfied than monogamists. Interestingly, many non-monogamists say that engaging in extra-dyadic (“outside the couple) sex has improved their primary couple sex life as well.

The Canadian study also confirmed previous research about non-monogamy and sexual orientation: People in the LGBTQ community were more likely to be non-monogamous. However, it did report that a significant portion of heterosexuals also had non-monogamous relationships. People in consensually non-monogamous relationships are also more likely to test for HIV and other STIs and report better general health according to research by James Fleckenstein and Derrell Cox II.

Bt what about jealousy? The evidence suggests that non-monogamous people are just as likely to get jealous, at least early in the relationship. A possible explanation, according to Rubel and Bogaert, is that non-monogamists interpret jealousy differently and are more likely to believe that jealousy can be overcome or even used as a way to make the relationship stronger.

As far as longevity goes, the evidence is difficult to interpret. Some studies show that non-monogamists are just as committed as monogamists; others say the opposite. Because studying relationship longevity is more complex than a “snapshot in time,” the information is less conclusive. However, most studies show that there is no significant difference between monogamy and consensual non-monogamy when it comes to longevity, commitment, separation and divorce.

Are there any benefits to monogamy that are missing in polyamory & vice versa?

Ask a polyamorist what they get out of their relationships, and you’ll often hear things like “personal growth and development,” “variety of partners and experiences” and “getting all my needs fulfilled by different people.”

On the other side, monogamists will say they get benefits like more frequent sex, safety from sexually transmitted infections, more durable commitment and a better environment for children. However, an article by Terri Conley, Ali Ziegler, Amy Moors, Jes Matsick and Brandon Valentine suggests that all these things are not exclusive to monogamy. The only perceived benefit of monogamy is that of moral superiority: In a mono-normative culture, engaging in open relationships, swinging or polyamory carries the risk of being seen as immoral. In other words, the only benefit of monogamy, at least with the evidence we currently have, is that it’s the default relationship style, which means you don’t risk social ostracism, especially in more conservative or religious communities.

MoreSexual Health in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s & Beyond

Do what works for you

So what does all this evidence say? That whatever you prefer you will be happiest in. No relationship type is inherently superior to the other. The only issue with monogamy is that we often engage in it without thinking about what it means because it’s the default. The benefits that consensually non-monogamous people get are often just derived from their ability to talk about it and to work things through together. In fact, this is where monogamists have the most to learn: how to stop making assumptions and to engage in conscious, deliberate relationships.

What Your Favorite Love Story Says About You

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What's the first romantic comedy you remember seeing? Mine was Grease. As a kid, I fast-forwarded to the songs, which were my favorite part. But I loved the push and pull that came with Danny and Sandy's relationship, and I found it funny how they both tried to change for each other but couldn't find the bravery to say how they really felt. Communication: it's harder than it looks.

Movies have become fundamental in how we see ourselves. They're our cultural myths, our stories of the world. They help us understand other people and ourselves, and maybe that's why we love romantic movies so much. They can help us understand what we value in another person and the kind of story we see ourselves in. Do we believe more in destiny or friendship? Would we prefer someone who banters with us or someone who makes grand romantic gestures? Do we seek out "types," or do we leave ourselves open to the soul of a person — no matter what they look like?

Not sure? Here are five romantic movies. Pick your favorite and see what it might mean about you.

This post was sponsored by Every Day.

The Only Pregnancy Workout Tips You Need

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If you're reading this, chances are you're expecting — and you want to do everything you can to keep yourself and your soon-to-be baby healthy during your pregnancy. Good nutrition is a no-brainer, but the topic of fitness during pregnancy is a little more complicated. Is there such a thing as too much prenatal exercise? Too little?

These days, debates rage on across the internet (big shocker there) about images of pregnant women simply working out. Even different countries can't seem to agree on what pregnant women should be doing to stay healthy. The American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine studied the exercise guidelines of nine countries and found some very interesting discrepancies in advice. Japan recommends pregnant women exercise only between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (hey, Japan, that's the hottest time of the day — what gives?). Norway, on the other hand, wants pregnant women to understand the importance of wearing light clothing. (No, we're not sure whether they're referring to weight or color either. To be safe, exercise in pastel lingerie when traveling in Scandinavia?)

So, let's cut through the confusion about working out during pregnancy, shall we? We've spoken with experts to determine the latest guidelines and recommendations for which (and how much) prenatal exercises are best — and which you'll definitely want to avoid.

More: Top 10 Pregnancy Workout DVDs of 2017

First, the big boss of all things pregnancy-related: the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ACOG released its latest pregnancy fitness recommendations in July 2017, and we'll be keeping an eye on the site to be sure we keep up with any updates.

In a hugely helpful, packed-like-a-third-trimester-belly FAQ, ACOG ticked off all the ways regular exercise benefits Mama and Baby (in case you need additional motivation to wriggle your growing body into spandex workout gear).

Prenatal exercise:

  • Reduces back pain
  • Eases constipation (we've been there)
  • May decrease your risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and C-sections
  • Promotes healthy weight gain
  • Improves your overall general fitness and cardiovascular strength
  • Helps you to lose "baby weight" after birth

Damn it. OK, fine. We'll get off the couch. But the dog has to move too.

As for just how much exercise is optimal during pregnancy, ACOG deferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (yes, we know, pregnancy is not a disease, but we're rolling with it). The CDC's recommendation won't thrill those puking their guts out every morning and having trouble fitting their feet into their sneakers, but here it is: Pregnant women should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. Don't shoot us; we're just the messengers.

And if you're asking what "moderate intensity" means, simply managing to get your socks and shoes on over your pregnant toes and ankles doesn't count. "Moderate intensity" means your heart rate's up and there is sweat involved. "You can talk normally, but you cannot sing," writes ACOG. So no musical theater numbers necessary, but you do need to break a sweat. Sorry. Examples ACOG gives include "brisk walking" and "general gardening," such as raking or digging. If you're surprised that gardening was mentioned before, say, yoga, maybe you've never sowed nine rows of garlic, eh?

More: Do Pregnancy "Rules" Really Matter?

For the math-challenged, the CDC recommends dividing that scary-looking 150 minutes of exercise into five 30-minute workouts in a week. And if exercise is a brave new world for you, start slowly with as little as five minutes a day until you hit that magic 150 a week and can do 30 minutes of uninterrupted exercise a day.

So, which exercises get the thumbs-up from ACOG for pregnancy?

  • Walking: "Brisk walking gives a total-body workout and is easy on the joints and muscles."
  • Swimming and water workouts: "Water workouts use many of the body’s muscles. The water supports your weight so you avoid injury and muscle strain. If you find brisk walking difficult because of low back pain, water exercise is a good way to stay active."
  • Stationary bicycling: "Because your growing belly can affect your balance and make you more prone to falls, riding a standard bicycle during pregnancy can be risky. Cycling on a stationary bike is a better choice."
  • Modified yoga and modified Pilates: "Yoga reduces stress, improves flexibility, and encourages stretching and focused breathing. There are even prenatal yoga and Pilates classes designed for pregnant women. These classes often teach modified poses that accommodate a pregnant woman’s shifting balance. You also should avoid poses that require you to be still or lie on your back for long periods."

It's worth noting that some exercises aren't quite a yes and aren't quite a no, either. Consider any of the following to be maybes and worth a discussion with your doctor or midwife.

  • Running (if you're already experienced)
  • Jogging (same deal)
  • Racquetball, squash or tennis

And then there are the big, definite no-way, don't-even-think-about-them exercises, courtesy of ACOG:

  • Contact sports and sports that put you at risk of getting hit in the abdomen, including ice hockey, boxing, soccer and basketball
  • Skydiving
  • Activities that may result in a fall, such as downhill snow skiing, waterskiing, surfing, off-road cycling, gymnastics and horseback riding
  • Hot yoga or hot Pilates, which may cause you to become overheated
  • Scuba diving
  • Activities performed above 6,000 feet (if you do not already live at a high altitude)

So, basically, nix the mixed martial arts and bungee jumping for a while. You must chill.

SheKnows also spoke with several experts in the fields of prenatal, postnatal and fitness health to get their takes on the pregnancy workout question. (Basically, these are people who care about your pelvic floor almost as much as you do.) Not unexpectedly, they echoed many of the ACOG's suggestions as well as offering their own favorite nuggets of pregnancy exercise wisdom.

"I think yoga is great. Staying fit, strong and flexible is so important in pregnancy," says Kristi L. Smith, a former obstetrics nurse in Duluth, Minnesota. "'No pain, no gain' has never been very wise to me. If it hurts, don’t do it! Common sense and 'do no harm' is best."

Smith's caveat, however, is that "bed rest or lying around too much is the worst." She adds that "in nursing school, we called it 'the hazards of bed rest,' [as] our bodies decondition really fast. I've cared for many women in their labors, and they need endurance for delivery, recovery and having energy to turn calories into milk production."

Georgia OB-GYN Dr. Allan Joseph says he encourages patients "to exercise at least three hours a week — they can break it up in 15-minute walks twice daily or do three one-hour sessions. The goal is to do what they can," Joseph said. "Great exercises in pregnancy include walking, stationary biking, swimming and yoga. The last two are particularly good for the last two trimesters. The pool just feels great and negates weight concerns, and yoga is super for balance, breathing and flexibility."

Joseph adds that keeping up fitness in all three trimesters is so important. "The goal of exercising in pregnancy is to help boost energy, improve sleep, relieve stress, improve flexibility, increase cardiorespiratory fitness [and] decrease risks for diabetes, excessive weight gain and hypertensive disease. Plus it helps with preparing one for the rigors of labor. One is not trying to get ripped abs," he joked. Got it. File "ripped abs" away with the mixed martial arts and bungee jumping.

Joseph also encourages his patients to enjoy the benefits of exercise but to steer clear of any excessive activities. Contact sports, he says, are one thing to avoid as well as anything that leaves you feeling overheated or short of breath. (No rugby, pregnant friends.) Joseph adds that women with high-risk pregnancies of any kind should consult their OB-GYNs before starting any fitness regimen.

Joseph's favorite pregnancy-fitness wisdom? "Stay well hydrated before, during and after activities," he urges. "Consider wearing a good sports bra and/or a belly-support band to help reduce discomfort. Listen to your body, and stop if you're too winded or uncomfortable."

Paula Nixon, a certified Pilates instructor in Chicago, echoes Joseph and Smith's advice of heeding your body's wishes — unless, that is, your body is only wishing for pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. (We feel you. We really do.)

"Pregnancy is a time to modify or adapt your exercise program. Be gentle on yourself," Nixon says. "Always listen to your body. Whether you're working on strength, flexibility, balance or relaxation, let your body be your guide."

Specifically, Nixon recommends low-impact exercise for pregnant women. "Prenatal yoga, gentle stretching, pelvic-floor conditioning and walking are all good during pregnancy," she says. "[And] be sure to get your midwife or doctor's consent before beginning any exercise program."

More: Crazy Gender Reveals for Extreme Parents

So, there you have it. Keep moving. Do what feels good. Get sweaty (sex is on the yes list, FYI). Drink plenty of water. Skip the tackle football and skydiving. And stay in touch with your doctor or midwife with any concerns. Your baby may not ever express their gratitude for all this, but your pelvic floor just might.

the only pregnancy workout tips you need

Jack's Death Isn't the Only Mystery on This Is Us

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For almost the entire time This Is Us has been on the air, there has been one big mystery fans have been waiting to solve: how Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) died. It was revealed early in the series that he died 20 years before the show's present-day events, but until this week, it wasn't revealed how.

More: You Need to See Sterling K. Brown's Historic Golden Globes Win & Speech

Finally, viewers have their answer (Warning: Spoilers ahead!). On Tuesday's episode, it was revealed that Jack died in a house fire sparked by the faulty slow cooker Rebecca (Mandy Moore) used to cook her Super Bowl chili. Cue the ugly crying, because it was seriously tough to sit through (as if we don't ugly cry through every episode of This Is Us).

Now that the big question has been answered, though, where is the series going to go? Will This Is Us still be as interesting without that mystery to wonder and speculate about? According to creator Dan Fogelman, fans have nothing to worry about — This Is Us is only just getting started.

More: Justin Hartley Got Married, & I Need a Minute

"It goes to a lot of places. We're not even at our halfway mark with the series and this was always the plan. There's a big plan for the series, and you'll see how that relates to Jack and this family in the Super Bowl episode," Fogelman told The Hollywood Reporter. "[W]e're going to new places where people don't even know quite yet exactly where the show is going and what it's about and that's going to start revealing itself as we move forward."

More: Chrissy Metz Is In a New Play That Focuses a Lot on Her Weight

So what will the next big mystery be? Will Jack's estranged brother make another appearance? Will the show go further back in time and dig into Jack's relationship with his abusive father? Guess we'll have to keep dedicating our Tuesday nights to This Is Us (and all the tears that come with it).

8 Ways to Get Over a Breakup Fast

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There's no way around it — breaking up straight-up blows. Even if you didn't love the relationship, splitting up with someone you've spent any significant amount of time around can be painful and twisted and confusing.

At different times in my life, I have been the dumper and the dumpee. Being the dumper is never fun because of the anxiety, awkwardness and conflict that is sure to follow. If you're the dumper in a serious relationship, it's not like you don't have a heart: It hurts to see someone you love in pain, even if you believe the relationship has run its course.

More: After a Breakup, Doing Literally Anything Is Better Than Doing Nothing

But being the dumpee — well, that's a whole new level of suck. The majority of us have had the "pleasure" of experiencing the ultimate heartbreak, being dumped out of the blue by someone you are head over heels in love with. And when that happens, what are you to do?

An ice cream and crying and TV marathon will only get you through a handful of days. If you really want to grow, heal and move forward after a bad breakup, here's where to begin.

1. Accept the empty feeling

That moment when you realize you've been dumped by the love of your life feels like death. And as actor and comedian Jim Dailakis points out, it should. The key is to allow yourself to embrace the grief if you ever want to move past it. Dailakis tells SheKnows, "Breaking up is very similar to a death because it is in fact the death of a relationship. For at least a couple of days, remember the good times and allow yourself to cry like mad. An exorcism if you will."

2. Cut off all contact for real

In this case, absence does not make the heart grow fonder. Absence is exactly what you need to cool off, process your feelings and change your perspective at the end of a relationship. Laura Yates, a UK-based relationship and dating coach who specializes in heartbreak, explains, "Something I recommend is a period of no contact. No texts, emails or social media messages because you need time and distance to get emotional clarity. When you just break up with someone, your emotions are all over the place — you will likely miss them desperately and overlook all the reasons why the breakup happened in the first place just to have them there with you again."

3. Feel your feelings

I'm a big believer in feeling your feelings until you are done feeling them. But sometimes raw feelings, especially after a breakup, can get overwhelming, and that's where cognitive behavioral therapy fits in. According to Dr. Simon Rego, Director of Psychology Training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is your best bet to manage intense and possibly destructive feelings after a relationship ends.

He explains, "Often when people are going through a breakup, they experience certain feelings (sad, anxious, angry, hurt, betrayed, etc.) that influence the way they think (e.g., It's all my fault! I'll never find someone else! I can trust people anymore! etc.) — and vice versa. So, in order to move past a breakup, CBT would have people allow themselves to experience their feelings fully. Don't try to avoid or suppress feeling what you feel — emotions have a function and are there for a reason, even if unpleasant!"

4. Challenge your negative thoughts

If I've done it once, I've done it a thousand times. I start to allow myself to feel my saddest feelings after being dumped, and then my thoughts take a sordid turn into Crazytown, population: me. Dr. Rego says that this type of post-breakup thought pattern is to be expected. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help challenge thoughts that are spinning out of control.

Dr. Rego recommends, "Don't buy into the thoughts that emerge (e.g., challenge predictions about the future, correct distortions in beliefs, etc.) and slowly but steadily reengage the world (i.e., reach out to social supports, make plans that get you out of the house, exercise and eat well, return to healthy sleeping habits, take risks again when it comes to dating)."

5. Be brutally honest with yourself

The only effective way to challenge your thoughts is with brutal honesty. This is the portion of post-breakup recovery that I like to lovingly call "ripping off the Band-Aid." It hurts. It sucks. It's the only way out of this funk you've been living in. April Masini of AskApril.com explains, "To process the breakup more quickly, be brutally honest about why it occurred. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you're compatible or that you have a future together. Chances are, this breakup happened for a good reason, and if it didn't happen now, it would have happened down the line."

6. Do you

OK, by this point, you've been crying your eyes out for days, and you've forgotten to wash your hair. While it may seem like nothing could comfort you more than your tear-stained and snot-soaked pillow, Masini argues that this is the perfect time to get out of the house: Your mental health depends on it. She says, "Go get a great new haircut — completely different style! Put the focus on a new improvement, not a loss."

Dr. Jane Greer, New York-based relationship expert and author of What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship, adds, "Use the breakup as an opportunity to strike out on your own in the world, and you can discover new hobbies and interests that can make you feel better and more confident about yourself."

7. Get back out there

No, you don't have to sign up for a dating website with a quivering chin and tear tracks still fresh on your face, but you do have to make an effort to spend time with people you care about. This step is critically important to bring back a sense of normalcy to your life — and to remind you of all the people you have in your corner.

Sue Coleman, author of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, says, "Go out and have a good time even if you're not ready. Take a trip to do something entirely new. Go to new places and meet new people. Have fun. Be happy that you're alive and free. You will have good days and bad, but take each day and know it will get better as time goes by. Just don't wind up in another undesirable relationship to replace the old. Give yourself the time you need to heal."

8. Look toward the future, & don't look back

After an especially bad breakup, it may seem impossible to think that you will ever love again — trust me, I know. But Dr. Dain Heer, author of Being You, Changing the World, believes that this sense of loss can open the door to great possibility. When you find yourself at the end of a relationship, Heer urges you to ask yourself this compelling question: "What else is possible now that wasn't possible when we were together?"

More: How to Survive All Seven Stages of a Brutal Breakup

Heer points out that, even in the midst of heartbreak, the end may be just the beginning. He says, "Move forward to create your life, and if the relationship can be created again with that person you desire to be with, it will be created from a greater, deeper place and not the same old place that made you break up in the first place. In my point of view, a breakup, especially stemming from an unhealthy relationship or perhaps just one that wasn’t meant to be, always leads to something greater."

A version of this article was originally published in May 2015.

Chrissy Teigen on Her Permanent Houseguest — & Missing Toilet

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Chrissy Teigen has never been one for living a quiet, conventional life. The soon-to-be mother of two is a supermodel, a TV show host, a chef and cookbook author and a full-blown Twitter comedian. Oh yeah, she's also married to singing superstar John Legend. So it comes as no surprise that her home life is just as eccentric as she is.

More: Chrissy Teigen Posts Sexy Pregnancy Pic — & a Gender Reveal?!

Fans of Teigen's may be familiar with her full-time houseguest/superhero/mom, Vilailuck Teigen, who recently reached global fame for braving the congested freeways of Los Angeles to help her daughter acquire the perfect bananas for homemade banana bread. Vilailuck is just as fun-loving, gorgeous and independent as her daughter — no surprise there since they share DNA and also live together. What may shock you, however, is to learn Vilailuck is happily married. But where is her spouse?!

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Teigen explained that though her father, Ron, doesn't live with the rest of the family, he's still very much part of their lives.

"He comes by every day, and they're married," Teigen told Us about her father, who reportedly lives less than 15 minutes away. "It just works for them. It's a good family life. We're all very close, very tight-knit."

Chrissy Teigen's Parents

Chrissy Teigen's Parents

More: 12 Times Chrissy Teigen Was #MomGoals

That much is evident on Instagram, where Teigen has posted photos of her mom helping out in the kitchen as well as dinner dates with her dad. A recent photo of Teigen, her mom, Luna and Legend wearing matching pajamas is a fan favorite.

Teigen's parents' living arrangement isn't the only unusual thing about Teigen's household, though. On Wednesday night, Teigen tweeted that her toilet had mysteriously gone missing. You really can't make this stuff up, folks.

"I got home today and ran to go peepee and you know when you’re so close to the bathroom so you kind of release because you know you’re about to pee, well I did that and my toilet was gone," she shared with her 9.65 million Twitter followers.

Chrissy Teigen's Missing Toilet

Chrissy Teigen's Missing Toilet

More: Pregnant Chrissy Teigen Is Getting Body-Shamed

Billboard reports that Legend soon jumped in to clarify that the inconvenient problem was the fault of their contractors, who are in the process of installing "one of those fancy Japanese [toilets] that opens itself and washes your butt."

In the meantime, let's hope Teigen and her houseguests — both permanent and otherwise — have better luck in her home's other restrooms.

These Vegan Bakers Will Make You Rethink Your Wedding Cake

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By: Marni Fogelson

Gone are the days of tiered vanilla wedding cakes with white frosting for all — weddings are more individualized and personalized than ever, and the desserts that celebrate these occasions are no exception. A decade or so ago, the idea of serving a vegan wedding cake would likely draw some serious side-eye.

Tasty Wedding Cakes From Vegan Bakers |

But thanks to the creative genius and hard work of numerous vegan bakers, couples can now happily and proudly serve gorgeous and delicious vegan wedding desserts that rival traditional versions in appearance, taste, texture and irresistibility. We’re highlighting three innovators who have taken the vegan-baking scene by a storm and who revel in the challenges and hard work that come with using alternative ingredients. Despite their varied styles, the bakers share similar insight on what makes a successful wedding cake: flavors that make you happy alongside a dessert bar that can satisfy an array of tastes.

More: These Edgy Wedding Photos Take “I Do” to the Next Level

Tasty Wedding Cakes From Vegan Bakers | Lael Cakes

Lael Cakes

Decorated with sugar-sculpted flowers and stacked in elegant tiers, Emily Lael Aumiller’s cakes look indistinguishable from the showstopping versions gracing wedding magazine covers around the world. But unlike traditional offerings, NYC-based Lael’s creations don’t contain dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten or refined sugars.

Aumiller, who recently released Pure Artistry: Extraordinary Vegan and Gluten-Free Cakes, told us that her own allergies forced her to rethink the typical baking process and create her own recipes from scratch. The result? Delicate, moist cakes in traditional flavors as well as exotic ones, such as black chocolate mango and matcha. Says Aumiller, “Our work is delicious because of our ingredients — not in spite of our ingredients.”

Aumiller’s artistry and versatility in creating designs both timeless and modern comes through in every step of the creative and baking process — from making custom sketches for clients and sugar sculpting to including elements from a couple’s personal love story into the final cake design. (One favorite example was incorporating a magical flower from the Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night’s Dream into a cake decoration for a couple who met on the set of the play.) While such a fancifully decorated cake showcases Aumiller’s abilities, Lael Cakes has also become known for their open-layer, minimally frosted cakes adorned with unfussy flower and fruit details.

More: 8 Ways to Make Your Wedding a Chic, Charitable Affair

Tasty Wedding Cakes From Vegan Bakers | Erin McKenna’s Bakery

Erin McKenna’s Bakery

Erin McKenna’s Bakery put gluten-free baked goods on the map in the most delicious and stylish way. With over 12 years of expertise and locations in New York, Los Angeles and Disney Springs, Erin McKenna’s Bakery has become a coast-to-coast hit with a cult following. The bakery's cupcakes and doughnuts are adored by those with gluten sensitivities and other allergies as well as by anyone who just wants to eat a damn delicious treat. Best-selling cookbook author and food columnist Mark Bittman has proclaimed, “Vegan or not, gluten-free or not, Erin McKenna’s donuts are the best I’ve tasted in 20 years.”

When this gluten-free OG got started in 2005, there was no bakery in the country like it. “We did a massive amount of legwork to make clean baking (which sounds so much better than allergy-free) less gag-inducing,” she says. Luckily for all of us, Erin McKenna and her baking crew experimented, persevered and succeeded in creating concoctions free of many common allergens — such as soy, dairy, eggs, gluten, wheat and refined sugar — that are also vegan and kosher.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery treats are the perfect choice for wedding couples or guests whose various diets and allergies mean they generally have to settle for licking their lips and staring longingly at traditional wedding desserts. Known for their pretty, classic decorations and having a variety of traditional and unconventionally flavored offerings (strawberry éclairs with coconut cream, anyone?), Erin McKenna’s baked goods offer the ideal marriage between looking stylish and serving a diverse range of dietary needs.

More: The Emerald Engagement Rings Nontraditional Brides Will Love

Tasty Wedding Cakes From Vegan Bakers | Clara Cakes

Clara Cakes

At just 20 years old, vegan baker and cookbook author Clara Polito of Clara Cakes has nearly eight years of professional baking experience under her belt. This seasoned sweet-maker’s playful, approachable wedding desserts are perfect for more casual, homegrown weddings as well as everyday celebrations. By riffing on familiar and comforting desserts such as banana cream pie, s’mores bars and cannoli — as well as by whipping up her own inventions like Butterfinger-flavored cake or her famous Inception cookie (which for the uninitiated is an Oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookie) — Clara Cakes is a great option for couples who favor fun over fancy.

Not that there’s a reason to limit yourself to just one type of treat — Polito firmly believes that an assortment of goodies is the best way to keep wedding guests satisfied. She suggests supplementing a small layered cake (to be used for a traditional cake-cutting photo op) with bars, cream pies, cupcakes and cookies.

She also encourages couples to stray outside the typical bakery box in terms of the flavors they would like to incorporate. “I love when a couple comes to me with a cake flavor I’ve never made! The most recent one was a tres leches cake. It was so fun developing a new recipe, and I loved how involved the couple was in testing out the experiments.”

While some bakeries want clients to stick to a fixed list of flavors, Clara Cakes revels in imaginative and creative culinary challenges. “If a couple said, ‘I love raspberries and cornbread,’ I’d have a blast making something according to that,” she says.

Originally published on Domino.


#MeToo May Be Behind Casey Affleck's Break With Oscars Tradition

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The 2018 Oscars are rapidly approaching, and while many of us have been preoccupied (and rightfully so) with pondering who is the likeliest winner in each category, who got snubbed and who might be the biggest surprise nominees, it looks like Oscar tides are turning in other ways.

More: Casey Affleck Has No Business Presenting the Best Actress Oscar

On Thursday, it was announced that 2017 Best Actor Oscar winner Casey Affleck would not be partaking in Oscars tradition and presenting the Best Actress Oscar at the 2018 award show. According to Deadline, Affleck notified the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the artistic group behind the Oscars) that he would not be able to attend the Oscars this year. Deadline also claims (ostensibly as a result of a speaking with an inside source, although they aren't specific) that "Affleck did not want to become a distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category and that is why he made the proactive move," and they go on to say that he may have felt he was in a no-win situation for this year's proceedings.

More: Women Are Dominating the 2018 Oscars in Surprising Ways

Affleck not attending the Oscars to present is a major break with a time-honored Oscars tradition wherein the previous year's Best Actor presents the award to this year's Best Actress winner and vice versa. That said, it's not surprising Affleck feels like attending the 2018 Oscars would be no-win situation. With the noticeable rise in awareness and action being taken in the name of the #MeToo movement as well as Times Up, there's a good chance Affleck didn't want a repeat of what happened to him in 2017, especially when it could dim the shine around these contemporary cultural movements.

For those who may have forgotten, Affleck faced major controversy in 2017 while campaigning for the Best Actor Award for his star turn in Manchester by the Sea. Back then, he was swept up in renewed scrutiny over allegations of sexual harassment made by two women who had worked alongside him on the 2010 film I'm Still Here. The allegations made by the women included one woman alleging Affleck had crawled into bed with her without her consent. The other woman alleged Affleck made sexual advances toward her and grabbed her by the arm in an attempt to get her to stay with him in is his hotel room. Affleck settled with both women out of court for undisclosed amounts.

More: Marisa Tomei & Rosanna Arquette Honor the Overlooked "Silence Breakers" at the SAGs

Affleck has kept a very, very low profile since the 2017 Oscars with A Ghost Story being his only film to premiere later that year. While he does have projects on the horizon (so we'll no doubt be seeing him again really soon), this was probably the right move for Affleck to make. It may be momentarily odd not to see tradition adhered to at the 2018 Oscars, but if there's one thing we know now, it's that not all of Hollywood's established practices are worth keeping up.

Why Pornhub Is Offering Free Premium Membership to People on Their Periods

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When it comes to masturbation, we're not shy about talking about the numerous health benefits — especially when it comes to its effect on menstrual pain. As it turns out, Pornhub had the same idea: The site — which describes itself as "the leading free, ad-supported adult video streaming website" — is now offering free premium memberships to people while they have their periods.

The Fuck Your Period campaign features a dedicated landing page with facts and tips to get you through the week as well as a video explaining how the offer works. Menstruating users are prompted to answer a few questions pertaining to their cycle in order to calculate the arrival and duration of their next period. When that day arrives, they will receive an email from the site granting them full access to premium membership for the duration of their period. This cycle will then repeat for the user over the next three months.

More: Masturbation Comes With Some Serious Health Benefits

The idea is that by providing adult entertainment materials to people with their periods, it will encourage them to practice self-care and experience the pain relief associated with orgasms. Not only that, but as the video mentions, while some people love the idea of period sex (or are indifferent about it for that matter), others would prefer to skip sexy time with a partner during their cycle. By taking matters into their own hands, menstruators are able to experience an orgasm regardless of whether another person is involved.

“This is our first campaign targeted solely to women and it takes on a topic that we think a lot of brands tiptoe around,” Pornhub brand manager Alexandra Klein said in a statement sent to SheKnows via email. “But it’s a topic that women themselves are completely comfortable discussing and even joking about. Pornhub is all about breaking taboos and starting conversations, and we think this one was way overdue.”

More: Pornhub Launches New Sex Ed Site

With more than 80 million visitors each day, Pornhub has the ability to reach a lot of menstruators — and their partners. In fact, in addition to the service of encouraging people with periods to explore the benefits of masturbation as a form of pain and stress relief, it also has the ability to expose an entirely new audience to the idea of destigmatizing and normalizing periods.

This isn't the first time Pornhub has ventured into the sexual health and education arena. Last year they introduced a free online sexual resource center with original editorial content and advice on sexuality, sexual health and relationships. Let's hope this is part of a new trend depicting people with vaginas as sexual beings deserving of pleasure — even when we have our periods.

A New Lawsuit Accuses Harvey Weinstein of More Heinous Behavior

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The public has known since October 2017 that movie producer Harvey Weinstein has committed serious and horrific acts of sexual harassment, misconduct and possibly assault during his time at the top of the Hollywood food chain. Through numerous exposés and brave testimonies from the women and men who have worked for and with Weinstein, the picture of Weinstein's behavior has become clearer and clearer even though it has managed to horrify many of us. Now, a new lawsuit filed by Weinstein's former assistant exposes even more of his allegedly heinous behavior behind the scenes that only confirms some of the grossest details we've heard thus far.

More: #MeToo May Be Behind Casey Affleck's Break With Oscars Tradition

On Thursday we learned via The Hollywood Reporter that Sandeep Rehal has filed a lawsuit in a New York federal court against the Weinstein brothers as well as The Weinstein Company for discrimination and harassment that she experienced while working as Weinstein's assistant.

Rehal started working for TWC in February 2013 but by February 2015, she had had enough and couldn't continue working for the company. Once you read even a fraction of the details from the lawsuit, as reported by THR, you too may understand why she had to quit.

More: Marisa Tomei & Rosanna Arquette Honor the Overlooked 'Silence Breakers' at the SAGs

According to the lawsuit, it appears Rehal not only had to deal with the demanding whims of anyone personally connected to Weinstein but was also commissioned to set up the clandestine hotel meetings that many female actors cite as the means by which Weinstein attempted to get alone time with them.

"Much of Ms. Rehal’s work as an employee of TWC involved catering to Harvey Weinstein’s sexual appetites and activities, and catering to his demeaning and often abusive family members. Ms. Rehal was required to be involved in and aware of the preparations for, and clean up after, Harvey Weinstein’s extremely prolific sexual encounters."

Another shocking allegation made in the lawsuit is the Rehal was responsible for keeping a list of Weinstein's "girls," women with whom he had regular intimate liaisons, as well as buying lingerie and refilling and administering his erectile dysfunction injection shots.

"Every time Harvey Weinstein went to meet a woman at a hotel, in the office, or elsewhere, which occurred on average at least three times a week when he was in New York, Ms. Rehal was required as part of her job to provide Harvey Weinstein with a shot, which she placed in his jacket pocket or in a brown paper bag," the lawsuit states, continuing on to highlight the most stomach-churning detail: "Another 'task' Ms. Rehal was forced to do to aid Harvey Weinstein’s sexual encounters was to clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein’s office. This happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York."

More: Jason Priestley Reveals He Punched Harvey Weinstein in the Face

Rehal also endured being called sexist names, including multiple vulgarities about the female anatomy, as well as being encouraged to sit with Weinstein in the back of his chauffeured car and work while he allegedly groped her. It's not too difficult to see how Rehal could only bear to work for Weinstein for two years given the kinds of allegations laid out here.

Genie Harrison, Rehal's attorney, wrote in a statement, "Weinstein’s abuse of power has been well documented, allowing Sandeep finally to reveal the details of her employment, which before now might have seemed too incredibly horrifying to believe. Although Sandeep’s employers gave little thought to her physical and emotional welfare, we have confidence that the jury will deliver justice and restore her dignity.”

A spokeswoman for Weinstein told THR, "Mr. Weinstein categorically denies these allegations and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue." Reps for TWC have yet to issue a statement.

I Tried Forest Bathing, & It's Not What You'd Expect

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Working in the health and wellness space, I come across new trends all the time. Many of them are overpriced with negligible benefits. But when I first heard of a practice called “forest bathing,” I was intrigued.

Is it a claw-foot bathtub strategically placed in the middle of a forest where you take a literal bath? Is it rubbing tree branches on your skin to increase circulation? Is it frolicking through the woods in the nude? Turns out, it’s none of the above.

Although forest bathing may sound like the latest wellness fad, it’s actually quite the opposite and has been around for quite some time. And unlike so many of the other health-related products and activities, forest bathing is not prohibitively expensive; in fact, it’s free.

What is forest bathing?

In short, forest bathing is a gentle, mindful (fully clothed) walk through the woods. The practice, also known as shinrin-yoku, began in Japan in the 1980s and has since been adopted by people in other parts the world.

It has also been the subject of research into whether any health benefits come from taking the time and mental space to mindfully walk in the forest. It turns out there are, and they range from improving our mood and stress levels to having an effect on our memory. It also helps to boost your immune system. This happens as you breathe in phytoncides — the airborne antibacterial compounds trees give off to protect themselves from insects, which are also beneficial for us, as they increase the number and activity of the type of white blood cells that helps fight viruses.

Dr. Nina Smiley, a psychologist and director of mindfulness programming at the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, is an expert in forest bathing and describes it as “mindfulness meets nature.” Mohonk has unofficially offered forest bathing to its guests since it opened in 1869 by encouraging them to step outside and take walks in the woods. Officially, it has offered forest bathing since 2017 when it was added to its spa and programming menus.

“Forest bathing is about being fully present in the moment and deeply engaged in the natural surroundings,” she tells SheKnows.

In addition to lowering blood pressure and pulse rate, a study out of the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences at Chiba University has shown that forest bathing also assists your parasympathetic nervous system, which Smiley describes as “the opposite of the ‘fight-or-flight’ sympathetic nervous system.” 

“When we get anxious and the body is flooded with cortisol, stress focuses energy on the action [that is causing the stress],” she explains. “The alternative is breathing gently and fully.”

How do you do it?

In order to try forest bathing, essentially, all you need is a forest and a way to slowly move around inside it (typically that’s walking, but would also work in a wheelchair or other aid depending on your needs). Smiley says that as you walk through the woods, you should use all your senses to take in the world around you — everything from the sound of the birds to feeling the warmth of the sun on your face to smelling the clean air.

“You’re not judging — you’re simply present in the moment and clearing your mind of thoughts,” she adds.

Aside from mindfully walking among the trees, Smiley also suggests taking a moment to close your eyes, remain still and breathe deeply. “As you open your eyes after you’ve been present in nature, it’s remarkable — the colors look more vivid, the shapes more distinct, the textures more detailed,” she says. “You’re seeing with it new eyes. It can be a very profound experience: relaxing, calming and centering.”

Even if you aren’t able to make it to an actual forest, Smiley says it’s possible to reap the mindfulness benefits of trees in most contexts. For example, if you are walking down a city street and notice a tree, she suggests pausing for a moment to be present with it and taking a few deep breaths.

Although Smiley offers private sessions for individuals as well as group forest-bathing sessions during the property’s mindfulness weekends, it is something anyone can do on their own time without a lot of training and at no cost. And like other types of mindfulness, forest bathing is a practice you can build upon; in other words, the more you do it, the more accessible it becomes, Smiley says.

What happened when I tried it?

Unbeknownst to me, I had been forest bathing all my life. Growing up in rural Ohio in a house surrounded by trees, the woods were always a place you could escape to if you needed to think or hide if you’ve gotten into trouble.

Now, living in New York City, trees are commodities. In June of last year, I visited the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, New York. Almost immediately after arriving, I took the most calming walk through the woods by myself — no music, no podcasts, no conversation — and instantly felt better. Later, a park ranger explained to me that walking in that particular forest is especially beneficial because the minerals from the natural springs are also emitted through the trees (albeit in very small amounts).

I tried forest bathing again — officially, this time — at Mohonk in early January. It was a sunny winter day, and although the high temperature would only reach 6 degrees F, being outside was still very pleasant. After a conversation with Smiley — and armed with her book Mindfulness in Nature — I ventured out into the forest.

Because of the recent snowfall, I was told that in order to walk on the trails through the woods, I’d have to wear snowshoes. It sounds counterintuitive, but attempting forest bathing while snowshoeing for the first time actually really worked. Normally, I’m a fast walker, and there was no way I was able to speed-walk or absentmindedly tramp through the woods with these large attachments on my feet.

Unlike most of my city walking, I had nowhere I needed to go and no set time frame other than the amount of daylight (I’m not quite ready for advanced nighttime forest bathing yet). So, I walked slowly — which really is the only option while wearing snowshoes — breathing in the frigid air and noticing how colorful the landscape was despite it being winter. I stopped walking and stood still for a while, taking it all in — until my nose started to run and I had to reach for a tissue. (It was 6 degrees after all, and this is mindfulness, not magic, so I still felt the cold.)

When I eventually went back inside for a cup of tea, I felt relaxed and refreshed. And even though I’ve been taking walks in the woods most of my life, moving forward, I will do it through a new lens of mindfulness — which, I think, is the whole point.

A Bacon-Crusted Mac & Cheese Football to Rule Your Super Bowl Party

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One of the most beloved celebrations where guests get to eat, drink and be merry is the Super Bowl. Whether you're watching for the game, the halftime or even the commercials, everybody will be snacking on delicious food and reconnecting with friends (hopefully without the intense competition of the game inciting too many arguments.)

Well, we've found the ultimate way to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII: A football-shaped mac and cheese encased in a bacon shell. Watch the video below to learn how to make it.

More: Super Bowl Bingo Is The Perfect Party Game for Everyone

Tip: You'll need football cake pans to get the perfect shape — grab them at Jo-Ann.

Bacon crusted Mac and cheese footbal (VIDEO)

Bacon crusted Mac and cheese footbal (VIDEO)

Give this recipe a try and let us know how it goes in the comments below.

bacon mac and cheese football

Image: Gabriela Arellano/SheKnows

A version of this article was originally published in February 2016.

Serena Williams Will Return to Tennis 5 Months After Giving Birth

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Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., you have one seriously badass mom. Serena Williams is officially scheduled to make her return to competitive tennis very soon with her sister, Venus Williams, in the Fed Cup. That's the powerhouse Williams sisters competing for the U.S. against the Netherlands on Feb. 10 and 11 as reported by ESPN.

More: Serena Williams's Daughter Makes Her Vogue Debut

Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian Sr. welcomed baby girl Alexis Olympia in September 2017 — and if you've been wondering what Serena's been up to, you just have to take a look at her Instagram (or baby Alexis' Instagram) to see that this is a very happy time for the tennis icon.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams

Williams sat out most of the 2017 season except for an exhibition match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in December. She lost to Jelena Ostapenko, who got no real bragging rights for that win considering Alexis had barely exited Williams' womb at that point. (Sorry, Jelena.)

After that loss, Williams bowed out of the Australian Open, saying on Snapchat, "After performing in my first match after giving birth I realized that although I am super close I'm not where I personally want to be. My coach and team always said 'Only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way.' With that being said I am disappointed to say I've decided not to compete in the Australian Open this year."

MoreSerena Williams' Daughter Is Teething — & the Whole Fam Is Miserable

But Williams told Vogue that she is determined to claim 25 Grand Slam victories (yep, you read that right) to set a new record. And she credits her daughter for mellowing her out and potentially keeping her in a winning frame of mind. "When I'm too anxious I lose matches, and I feel like a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born," she said. "Knowing I've got this beautiful baby to go home to makes me feel like I don't have to play another match. I don't need the money or the titles or the prestige. I want them, but I don't need them. That's a different feeling for me."

Considering Williams underwent an emergency C-section followed by additional surgery to remove a hematoma in her abdomen, which left her bedridden for six weeks, we think Williams' plan to tear up the court — and rumble with history in 2018 just months after her body's been through so much — are proof she is redefining the word "fierce." And we're #TeamSerena all the way.

Reese Witherspoon Hilariously Calls Out Vanity Fair for Worst Photoshop Job Ever

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Hollywood A-listers are no strangers to hilarious, disastrous Photoshop fails. But Vanity Fair's new cover might take the cake for being the worst Photoshop job of all time. Luckily, the stars involved find it just as funny as their fans do.

More: Anna Faris Reveals Her Top 2 Celeb Mom Crushes — & We Agree

The cover is for Vanity Fair's annual Hollywood portfolio, and the gorgeous shot by Annie Leibovitz includes Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hanks, Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, Gal Gadot and Nicole Kidman, posed in black-tie attire on a red carpet background. If only the editing were as good as the photography.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 1

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 1

There are many issues here, but one of the most glaring? The fact that Reese Witherspoon has three legs.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 2

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 2

Witherspoon herself didn't hesitate to call out the mistake.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 3

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 3

At least she's a good sport about it. Meanwhile, Vanity Fair is denying that she even has a third leg in the photo, claiming it's just the lining of her dress. I guess I can see it, but it still looks an awful lot like a leg.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 4

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 4

More: Reese Witherspoon Shaded ‘Mommy Blogs’ & Got This Response

One mistake Vanity Fair can't explain away, though? The fact that in another angle, Winfrey has three hands.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 5

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 5

Winfrey loved it and even better – Vanity Fair didn't try to deny or explain the mess up. Instead, they got in on the fun.

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 6

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 6

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 7

Vanity Fair photoshopped hollywood portfolio cover 7

At least everyone's having a good time with this, right?

There was one big Photoshop edit that was made to the photo that was definitely not a mistake, though. Amid ongoing scrutiny after several allegations of sexual misconduct, James Franco was edited out of the final photo, even though he posed for it with the other stars.

"We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him," a spokesperson for Vanity Fair told The Hollywood Reporter.

More: Laura Dern & Reese Witherspoon Prove They're as Close as Ever & Not Feuding

Never a dull moment in Hollywood.


The Newest 13 Reasons Why Star Spills About Season 2

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After wrapping a day of filming on the second season of 13 Reasons Why in Napa, California, Anne Winters and a few of her castmates went to dinner together before hitting a Starbucks. All was well until they walked in, and then pandemonium started.

“We walk into Starbucks, and literally everyone was like, ‘Oh my God!’” Winters says. “This girl just started crying. She was like, ‘Oh my God. I gotta get a picture with all of you. I can’t believe the whole cast of 13 Reasons Why just walked into Starbucks. I just got stood up on my date, and he’s not here, and now it’s the best day of my life.”

Winters and another 13 Reasons Why newcomer, Bryce Cass, stood to the side as a line of fans formed to take pictures with the cast, including Dylan Minnette (Clay), Steven Silver (Marcus), and Michele Selene Ang (Courtney). One fan, after handing their phone to Winters to take their picture, commended her on befriending “famous people,” unaware that she was cast in the second season—not to mention almost played a key character from season one (more on that later).

“We just acted like we were their friends," Winters says. “Someone was like, ‘Aren’t you guys so glad that you’re friends with famous people?’ And we were like, ‘Yeah…It’s so fun.’”

Anna Winters on '13 Reasons Why' | SheKnows

Raised in a tight-knit Christian community in Dallas, Winters fell in love with acting after performing in church plays growing up and reenacting Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies at camp every summer with her best friend.

At 15, Winters, at the suggestion of a friend, auditioned for a talent competition in Dallas, with the prospect of meeting big-shot agents and managers from Los Angeles. After her audition, Winters was quickly taken under the wing of a manager and flown to Los Angeles, where she signed with an agency and was thrust into the pilot season of a show. “For some reason, the guy who led this thing really took a liking to me, and he basically was like, ‘You have to come to LA. You have to come to LA,’” Winters says.

"I love that our industry is shedding light on the stories about underdogs."

Winter’s agency pushed her to move to LA immediately, but her parents declined, forcing her to stay in school. So she auditioned from Dallas via tape, nabbing a pilot on Nickelodeon titled Summer Camp opposite Hailee Steinfeld. The pilot was never picked up, but Winters could feel her career burgeoning, so when she started her senior year she was faced with a decision to either apply to college or move to LA immediately after graduation.

Anna Winters on '13 Reasons Why' | SheKnows

“It seemed so far-fetched,” Winters says. “I’m pretty realistic, so I was like, ‘Well, yeah. I can go to LA and try. But realistically, I’m not going to become a famous actress.’ My thought process was, ‘I’m going to do this for fun. If something happens, great. If something doesn’t, whatever. I had a great time and at least I went out and tried.’”

"I don’t ever remember having that real of a show for a teenager."

With that mind-set, Winters deferred admission to a college she had been accepted to, staged a fake going-off-to-college party, packed her car, and moved to LA the week after she graduated. “I lied to everyone I knew. In Dallas, it was super looked down upon to not go to college and move out and pursue a dream,” Winters says. “I just told everyone that I’m going to college, and I even had a graduation party with the university on a cake knowing fully that the minute I was done, I was leaving for LA.”

After moving to LA, Winters spent several years on web shows and in indie films opposite actors such as Selma Blair and Nicolas Cage, before landing an audition for a then-unknown Netflix show called 13 Reasons Why, produced by Selena Gomez.

Anna Winters on '13 Reasons Why' | SheKnows

Having read the book in high school, Winters was pumped, and after she learned that her audition was for the show’s lead, Hannah Baker, a high school student who commits suicide and sends tapes to people whom she considered responsible, the stakes were raised even higher. “I was like, ‘Oh, what’s this?’” Winters says. “I had read the book, and I was like, ‘That’s super cool.’ It was a great script, and I loved the role of Hannah.”

After her initial auditions, Winters flew to New York City to meet with the show’s creator, Brian Yorkey, making it to the final few auditions. In the end, Winters was turned down and passed over for Australian actress Katherine Langford, leaving her gutted. “I was bummed when it was such a big hit,” Winters says. “I was like, ‘Dang, I really wanted that role.’ That doesn’t happen all the time. But when you get really far in something, you’re like, ‘Damn. That’s crazy. That show blew up.’”

When season one came out, Winters boycotted the show out of sadness, until she opened her email a year later and saw that she had an audition for Chloe, a new character in season two. However, with the massive success of season one, the audition process was completely different. “When I got a chance to audition for it again, I was like, ‘Hell yeah! OK. Cool,’” Winters says. “The show got so big that in all the auditions, you didn’t know what your character was going to do. You didn’t even know who your character was with in the storyline because all the character names were made up. Even the names you’re talking about were random names.”

13 Reasons Why Promo trailer

13 Reasons Why Promo trailer

While Winters, who never told Langford that she auditioned for Hannah, couldn’t spill too much about her character — aside from that she’s a cheerleader — she suggested that audiences would take time to warm up to Chloe. “I’m very curious to see if people like me or don’t like me at the beginning,” Winters says. “She definitely is very likable, but also some of the situations she’s in, you’re like, ‘I don’t know if we trust her or if we don’t.’ What will be interesting is I think people’s opinions will change over several episodes.”

"I see that 13 Reasons Why promotes awareness and shows something that’s real."

Winters also suggested that the second season will tackle the common criticism that 13 Reasons Why “glorified” suicide in season one. “The second season is different because they’re answering a lot more questions with Hannah and what she went through, and also, everyone else’s stories and their take on it, instead of just Hannah’s point of view.” Winters says. “People were thinking that it promoted suicide. This season, you can tell that that’s not really what it’s about. It shows a more realistic point of view.”

Anna Winters on 13 reasons why IG

Anna Winters on 13 reasons why IG

As for her own take on the criticism, Winters believes that the show is “all about how you look at it.” “I’m not going to tell them that they’re wrong,” Winters says. “Shows are there for people’s own interpretation, but I see it in such a different way. I see that it promotes awareness and shows something that’s real. We’re trying to get people to watch and be like, ‘Wow. This is something that really needs to be helped and noticed.’ I think the glorify thing is funny because it’s like, ‘We can say that about any TV show because technically it’s on TV and it’s being glorified.’ It’s more than that.”

For Winters, one of the biggest takeaways of working on 13 Reasons Why was looking at her own high school experience in a different light. “It really made me wish that I could go back in time and talk to more people and hear different people’s stories,” Winters says. “In high school, you’re so narrow-minded, and you don’t really care. It sounds so bad, but it’s not like you don’t care that you knew, but that you don’t notice or care enough to know. So you just go about your life without knowing that people are going through something real.”

Anna Winters on '13 Reasons Why' | SheKnows

As far as the fandemonium she witnessed at Starbucks that day, Winters isn’t worried. She’s more focused on the palpable shift in Hollywood toward telling underrepresented stories—something she saw lacking in teenage television she watched growing up.

“I don’t ever remember having that real of a show for a teenager,” Winters says. “I love that our industry is shedding light on the stories about underdogs or about people who used to not have stories made about them. Now we’re making stories about them, and that’s super-cool.”

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

90210 Alum Vanessa Marcil Suffers 7th Devastating Miscarriage

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Vanessa Marcil — star of General Hospital, Beverly Hills 90210 and Las Vegas has miscarried the baby girl she was carrying. The actor revealed the devastating news on Jan. 25 via Instagram. The post shows a photo of Marcil and her fiancé — known on social media as "MC" — kissing on a beach.

Marcil released the news to ask for privacy as well as send a heartfelt message to others who have endured pregnancy loss, letting them know they're not alone.

Vanessa Marcil miscarriage

Vanessa Marcil miscarriage

“Our hearts are with Vanessa and MC who have lost baby OPM. Thank you for respecting their privacy as they heal and thank you for sharing all of your personal stories. You are not alone," read the Instagram statement.

MoreVanessa Marcil's Sweet Pregnancy Announcement

On Nov. 13, Marcil revealed that she was pregnant again after having endured six miscarriages. “It’s baby time. After 6 miscarriages we are saying prayers for OPM #MadHappy,” she wrote on Instagram.

Vanessa Marcil pregnancy

Vanessa Marcil pregnancy

She revealed the baby's sex earlier this month, captioning an Instagram pic of her dog with her head on Marcil's belly, "THE GIRLS."

Marcil has one child — son Kassius, 15 — with ex (and fellow 90210 alum) Brian Austin Green.

More: These Celebs Shared Their Miscarriage News to Help Others Cope

We're devastated for Marcil. At the same time, we are deeply moved by her willingness to share her heartbreaking news with others who are struggling with pregnancy loss and infertility. She could have easily kept this pregnancy — and subsequent loss — a secret, but instead Marcil is bravely speaking out so other women might feel a little less alone. What a remarkably beautiful gesture during such an unspeakably painful time.

Nutella Went on Sale in France, & People Went Absolutely Bonkers

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People get really excited when a jar of Nutella is in front of them — especially when it’s on sale. And I get it. Nutella is amazing and makes everything better, but settle in for a story about the most ridiculous Nutella craze of all time.

Picture it as a combination between Black Friday and a really great sale at your local market — and that’s what you got when a French supermarket chain discounted Nutella by 70 percent. Madness of the sweetest kind ensued.

"It was a real disaster, 200 people were outside waiting for the supermarket's opening," one employee at a store in Metz, France," told CNN. "All of this mess for a Nutella jar."

More: What to Buy & What to Skip at Whole Foods

"People just rushed in, shoving everyone, breaking things. It was like an orgy," another employee in Forbach, northeast France, told AFP. "We were on the verge of calling the police."

There are videos on social media of shoppers fighting over jars, yelling and screaming and pushing. It really was like an American big-box Black Friday sale.

nutella

nutella

"Seriously? All this for Nutella,” remarked one stunned bystander.

Another commented, “This is not normal.” It’s not normal, of course, but it is delicious.

More: 3 Luscious Nutella cocktails guaranteed to bring a little magic to your day

The regular price of Nutella at Intermarché is €4.50 ($5.60 USD). It was discounted to €1.41 ($1.75 USD), which is quite the bargain. We don’t blame anyone for wanting to stock up, but come on people, let's be reasonable.

KFC Is Embracing Feminism in the Weirdest Way in Its New Commercial

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2018 has been off to a bit of a rocky start. We can all agree on that, right? You know what the world needs more of right now? Fried chicken. And female empowerment. KFC looks like it's trying to ensure we get a hefty dose of each of those things judging by a new commercial in which there's something a little different about Colonel Sanders.

Though the colonel claims, "I'm definitely not a woman" in the commercial, it's Reba McEntire underneath that luxurious white mustache.

More: The revelation of KFC's "secret" fried chicken recipe got us shaking our heads

McEntire isn't the first celebrity to take on the role of the colonel. Other celebrities have taken up the colonel's mantle in recent years, including Rob Lowe, Ray Liotta and Jim Gaffigan, but we've got to say, McEntire is definitely our favorite.

The bit starts with the colonel onstage singing about the new Smoky Mountain BBQ chicken. But interspersed are funny lyrics like, "Please ignore the likeness to famous country singers," and "I swear I'm not a famous woman!" At one point, we even see McEntire as herself sitting in the audience watching the colonel perform.

More: KFC Chizza commercial is the craziest thing you'll see all day

You've gotta give her props — the performance is funny, and she totally pulls off the colonel look. But I think the real question is: Can KFC's Smoky Mountain BBQ flavor live up to McEntire's awesome portrayal of Sanders? Hmm, better go do some research!

Reba McEntire Colonel Sanders Commercial

Reba McEntire Colonel Sanders Commercial

The First Celebrity Super Bowl Commercial Is Here, & It Stars Keanu Reeves

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Bless the internet, because without it, we would have to wait until it's actually Super Bowl Sunday to start watching the most important part of the broadcast: the commercials. Now that basically everything in the world that doesn't happen live is online, we can start soaking in that sweet, sweet, multimillion-dollar advertising now, over a week before game day.

More: Keanu Reeves & Winona Ryder Are Reuniting for the Perfect Rom-Com

One of the first ads we get to see is also the first celebrity ad of the year, starring Keanu Reeves, because of course. The guy is in absolutely everything, so he may as well be in a Super Bowl ad, too. He's partnered up with Squarespace, a free website builder, and the ad will definitely get you ready to settle in on the couch with chips and dip for the truly American capitalism extravaganza that's coming to your TV screen Feb. 4.

Keanu Reeves stars in first celeb super bowl ad of 2018

Keanu Reeves stars in first celeb super bowl ad of 2018

More: 12 Celebs Who Surprisingly Believe in Aliens

In the ad, motorcycle loving Reeves is sitting next to a raging campfire with his laptop on his knees, because where else would Keanu Reeves choose to design his website? (He also lies on the ground and pretends to be riding a motorcycle... for inspiration, maybe? Unclear.)

But as Reeves uses Squarespace to easily design a sleek, effective website for his motorcycle company, a single tear rolls down his cheek as he's overcome by how easy it is. Glad to see he's able to poke fun of himself and the "Sad Keanu" meme this is clearly referencing.

More: Keanu Reeves Pulls the Classiest Move in Just 44 Seconds (VIDEO)

We're sure this isn't the whole ad and there will be some kind of surprise in store for the actual broadcast, but still, this is a strong start for Super Commercial Bowl 2018.

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