It's a sad day at Grey Sloan Memorial because we have to say goodbye to two of the show's more senior characters. After spending nine years each as Dr. Arizona Robbins and Dr. April Kepner, respectively, actors Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew will be leaving Grey's Anatomy at the end of Season 14. It will likely be a bit of a shock to fans of the show, who have spent years watching Arizona and April go through dramatic event after dramatic event only to come out stronger on the other side. But sadly, their time has come; it's time to say goodbye.

More: Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd Just Got Hitched & Has a Baby on the Way

According to Deadline, Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff made it clear there was no internal drama or dissatisfaction with either Capshaw or Drew. Rather, the decision was made simply because it was time for these characters to be written out as part of the overall direction of the show.

"The characters of Arizona and April are permanently woven into the fabric of Grey’s Anatomy thanks to the extraordinary work of Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew," Vernoff explained to Deadline. "As writers, our job is to follow the stories where they want to go and sometimes that means saying goodbye to characters we love. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with these phenomenally talented actresses."

More: Guess Who's Returning to Grey's Anatomy in the Spring

The importance of the inclusion of Arizona and April on Grey's Anatomy cannot be understated. Through Arizona, Grey's Anatomy was able to more meaningfully explore LGBTQ issues. Meanwhile, April's strong Christian faith allowed the show to explore intersections between faith and science in very interesting ways. Never mind the fact that April and Arizona are two beloved female leads.

Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes expressed her sadness at the thought of saying goodbye to Arizona and April to Deadline. "It’s always hard for me to say goodbye to any of my characters,” Rhimes notes. "Both Arizona Robbins and April Kepner are not only beloved but iconic — both the LBGTQ and devout Christian communities are underrepresented on TV. I will be forever grateful to both Jessica and Sarah for bringing these characters to life with such vibrant performance and for inspiring women around the globe. They will always be a part of our Shondaland family."

More: 12 Women We'd Love to See Join the Grey's Anatomy Cast

There's no word yet on how exactly Arizona and April will be written out of the show. While Grey's Anatomy has been known to write off some of its most beloved characters in gruesome ways, let's hope that in the case of these two amazing female characters, they get a more pleasant send-off.

Her time on Survivor: Ghost Island may have been cut short, but Morgan Ricke's impact on the game could go deep into the season because of her decision to give Domenick the Legacy Advantage. In our one-on-one interview with Morgan, she explains why Domenick is her pick to win it all despite saying his fake Idol contributed to her early elimination. She also reveals why her alliance wanted to vote Angela out from the very first day and discusses how she was almost put on a different season of Survivor altogether.

SheKnows: You looked absolutely shocked to be voted off. Was your elimination a true blindside or did you have a sense it was coming?

Morgan Ricke: I was really as shocked as it looked on television [laughs.] I wasn't as shocked as Angela because she was really so clueless and had no idea what was going on. I knew exactly what happened once the votes were read, but I was still shocked to be going home.

SK: Is there one person in particular who turned the tide against you?

MR: I know Laurel and James threw my name out there once Domenick showed them his fake Idol. Obviously, I don't blame anything on Domenick, but I think that kind of screwed with my game. My name was never on the chopping block until they saw his fake Idol. I don't remember who threw my name out first, but one of them did. I blame them [laughs.] No hard feelings. Game respects game. I ultimately think Libby made the bigger move because we did have that bond and that connection. You saw how hard it was for her. I give props to Libby for actually following through with it, because had she not done that Angela would've gone home. I like to take all the credit away from Laurel and James [laughs.]

SK: Why don't you want to give any credit to somebody like James?

MR: I love James. I love him as a person. It was a good move on his part. It was a solid move. He knows I'm physically a very strong player. I think I was physically stronger than him in all of the challenges. In the water challenge, he struggled. We had those Ninja Warrior steps that he failed and had to go back to do again. No guy likes to see a girl be better than him. I know he was a college athlete. I was as well, but I think I did better. I think that may have been a little embarrassing. I also think he saw I had a strong social game. He saw the connections I formed right away with Libby. When they came to our beach [after the tribal swap] they were greeted with open arms. He was like, "Damn, everyone loves Morgan. I gotta get this girl out of here." I think he also saw I was the glue that could hold Naviti together once Chris came back. I did have a relationship with Chris and Dom. The way he explained it to me in these last eight months is, "I thought you were the glue that could get everyone back together. Everyone really respected you and appreciated you socially."

SK: Although you went out of the game early, did you have anybody you wanted to go to the end of the game with?

MR: Yes. My strongest alliance in the beginning was an alliance of five with Dom, Wendell, Bradley and Kellyn. I always wanted to go super far with Dom. I kind of viewed him as Boston Rob. The tribe swap happened, and Dom, Wendell and I were still super close. I honestly want Dom and Wendell to get to the end. They have a huge target on their backs, so we'll see if they can do it. I'm rooting for them to go all the way.

SK: Being so close with Domenick, is there anything you learned about him from watching the show that you didn't know during the game? Did he keep any secrets from you? Did you know he had a real Idol?

MR: I didn't necessarily know 100 percent he had a real Idol, but I had an idea that he had one. I wasn't disappointed that he didn't tell me. I honestly didn't really ask. I was more upset about his fake Idol crap that he kept telling everyone about. He was messing up my game by doing that. He didn't have to tell Chris that. He didn't have to tell the four Malolo members on my tribe about that. That's ultimately what threw me under the bus. They were gunning for Dom, and when they found out about this fake Idol they didn't trust that it wasn't real. I think that hurt me, but good for Dom. It saved his butt. You gotta do what you gotta do.

SK: After you were voted off, you gave your secret Legacy Advantage to Domenick. Walk us through that decision.

MR: It was a very hard decision between Dom and Wendell because I obviously love and respect both of them so much. My connection with Domenick was just stronger. But the big question is, can Domenick keep his mouth shut? Domenick has a big mouth like me and he likes to tell everyone he has fake Idols and real Idols. Jacob couldn't keep his mouth shut, so I like to think the curse remained with Jacob. I kept my mouth shut for once in my life. The whole season is themed to reverse the curse. Domenick could do something with this because nobody really knows about it.

More:  Jacob Derwin discusses how therapy helped him after Survivor experience

SK: When you got the Legacy Advantage, did you worry that it might actually be cursed?

MR: When I got it, I didn't believe. Maybe it's because I didn't want to believe it. I blame Jacob because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. Sierra actually messaged me on social media. She was cheering for me. It sucks that I let her down, but I didn't do anything. We'll see if it's a curse for Domenick. I really hope not because I want him and Wendell to go far.

More: Sierra on her game-ending Survivor mistake with the Legacy Advantage

SK: Is Domenick playing too hard too fast or do you think he's playing it just right?

MR: I think he can really get to the end. I don't know that he's gonna be able to win because I don't know how many people he will stab in the back and be like, "I don't fucking care." Will they respect that gameplay or someone else's gameplay who might not have stabbed them so hard? I like the players that go out hard. If they make it to the end, props to them. It's not like Domenick has been hiding in the shadows. He's like, "I'm here. Vote me out." No one has done it yet. I like seeing the big guys make it to the end.

SK: If Chris didn't get sent to Ghost Island, was he going to be voted out that night instead of you?

MR: That's a great question. It would've been depending on what the Malolo members wanted to do. Domenick, Wendell and I literally wanted Angela out from day one. We just never really trusted her. We knew she was Chris's right-hand man. Chris is also strong in challenges, so I don't know that we would've gone for him right away. Chris was obviously gunning for Dom, but Dom, Wendell and I really did want Angela out. If Malolo wanted Chris out, we would've obviously gone with that, so Chris got really lucky. That rock draw was luck on his part. I kind of wish I would've drawn the white rock, but I didn't [laughs.]

SK: Why did you guys want Angela out so badly?

MR: She just never really opened up to anybody. We knew she was Chris's right-hand man. We tried to have conversations with her and talk to her about her life. Now, I know she has gotten a divorce, but she didn't really want to talk about her life. She was in the military. She didn't want to talk about the military. You just tried to get to know her and she would be like, "I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about it." It was really hard for people to form that bond and relationship with her. Hopefully she starts opening up, because maybe this vote she realized, "Oh, shit." She was so clueless, it was kind of comical. She had no clue what anyone was doing except herself. Hopefully this will open her eyes.

SK: But at the tribe swap she showed lots of emotion about the original Naviti being separated. She talked about how much she cared for the group.

MR: Maybe that was her talking about her alliance of five. I think it was more just being worried about the swap and leaving fate in the hands of the Survivor gods. Maybe she was like, "Oh, crap. I really didn't do a good job with Dom, Wendell and Morgan, and now I have to be on a tribe with them." That's exactly what happened. Her alliance of five was Chris, Desiree, Chelsea and Sebastian.

More: Interview With Survivor Winner Ben Driebergen After Winning $1 Million

SK: Who is the biggest underdog? Is there somebody viewers might be underestimating?

MR: I think Kellyn is underestimated. I think Wendell is underestimated. You haven't seen a lot of other people, so I don't want to give too much away. I love Kellyn. Wendell is hanging back in the shadows, but he's very smart and very strategic so it will be interesting to see his game play from here on out.

SK: How did you get on the show?

MR: I went to an open casting call in Cape Canaveral. I stood in line for probably six hours, and then you have one minute to talk. I'm a very loud, outgoing person. I can easily go for a minute straight. That was in April, and then in November 2016 they called me and said, "Hey, we'd love to fly you out to LA. Can you be here in two days?" I said, "Hell yeah!" That was it.

SK: So you were considered for a previous season before Ghost Island?

MR: Correct. I was originally considered for Season 35 [Heroes Vs. Healers Vs. Hustlers.] I think I could've gone further in 35 potentially. On 36, this season has a lot of superfans, so everyone knows the game as well as I did. I love the season I'm on. There's some things involving the history of Survivor, and I love the people I was playing with. We're all so super close. A lot of people have already been to Orlando to visit me. Even though I went home early, I'm glad I got to play on a season of players that are actually playing the game. The Ghost Island theme, being a superfan, is amazing. It's great getting all these tweets from all these old players.

Were you surprised to see Morgan voted off so early in the game? Join the conversation and leave a comment in the section below.

Barack Obama, how do I adore thee? Let me count the ways.

Okay, well, if I did that, we'd be here all day but the former POTUS has just given me a new way to adore him and I think you might actually find this news as wonderful as I do. It involves Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and Netflix. The trio is — brace yourselves — reportedly in advanced talks to solidify a deal with Netflix that would not only change the streaming platform forever but also be a bit of a history-making move.

More: Barack Obama Gave Michelle the Perfect Birthday Gift, Because Obviously

According to the New York Times, Barack is in advanced talks with Netflix to produce a series of "high-profile shows" for Netflix. It's not disclosed how much their paycheck will be, but the Obamas will likely get paid a substantial sum to create what sounds like more than one series for the more than 118 million subscribers on Netflix.

Oddly enough, it's unclear what "high-profile" means in this instance. Does it mean the Obamas would create documentaries? Make a foray into the world of fictional storytelling? Copy the talk-show-on-Netflix approach of Chelsea Handler and David Letterman with their own version? The possibilities seem endless at this point and NYT indicates that these series could include Barack sitting down with various figures to interview them on a multitude of socio-political issues. Basically, it's very hard not to get excited about what the Obamas' vision for these Netflix series' could be.

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

NYT does report that, according to sources they spoke with, neither Barack nor Michelle are interested in creating programming that comments on President Donald Trump, his administration or anything remotely connected to his administration. In my opinion, that's a major win. Not only is it silly to try and pit one president against another, why would the Obamas waste their newly-minted gigs as Netflix producers on the current president where there are so many other topics and people to focus on? Good move, y'all.

As The Hollywood Reporter notes, this kind of move is a history-making one for a former president. While we've had presidents who have moved from the world of film and television into the position of Commander-in-Chief, we've never really had a president take the reverse route. This interesting move from Barack is not only unconventional in the best way, but it's yet another example of how he wants to stay connected to the constituents he once presided over.

More: That Time Barack Obama Showed Prince His 'Dad Moves'

The Obamas has maintained a relatively low profile since exiting the White House in January 2017. They've been focused on their philanthropic work via their foundation, The Obama Foundation, while also appearing at various public events and discussions. Barack was recently on Netflix, in fact, as a guest of Letterman's for his new show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman. The Obamas also recently made wonderful waves at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., where their vibrant, symbolic portraits were unveiled to the populace.

This history-making Netflix deal is not the only avenue the Obamas are taking in maintaining some presence in the cultural consciousness. Back in March 2017, they signed on the dotted line for a $60 million deal with Penguin Random House to write respective books about their time in the White House. So basically, if this news tells you anything, it's that the Obamas still love us enough to want to share their lives and creative visions with us, which is maybe the biggest silver lining in 2018 thus far.

If daylight savings time crept up on you this year, you’re not alone. With the wild winter weather still hammering many parts of the country, it’s hard to believe we’re going to be springing forward on Sunday, March 11. But ready or not, here it comes.

Here are a few facts you need to know: It officially happens 2:00 a.m. local time on March 11, which means you'd better plan on setting your clocks forward before you go to bed on Saturday night.

Most of the United States observes DST on the same dates. But if you live in Hawaii or Arizona, you’re off the hook, and you don’t have to move your clocks forward on Sunday (though the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona still observes DST).

More: Why Sunny Days Actually Make My Anxiety Worse

DST is known to impact certain health conditions and contribute to more work-related injuries and car accidents in the days following the time change. That’s why it’s important to know how this time change can impact your health and what you can do to make the transition easier.

How daylight savings time can impact your health

Let’s face it. Those first few weeks of waking up to a darker morning can be difficult for many people. In fact, Dr. Mia Finkelston, a board-certified family physician who treats patients virtually via telehealth app LiveHealth Online, says it can be especially unsettling for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder and those who rely on the brightness that generally accompanies morning time to put them in a good mood for the day ahead.

Springing forward is also a concern for people who have risk factors for heart disease or known heart disease. “We know that the majority of heart attacks occur in the early morning hours,” says Finkelston. She explains that when we get up and rev our buddies for the day a little earlier than normal, it can create added physical stress. This added physical stress usually rears its head during the first three weekdays of daylight savings time.

More: The Simple Thing You Can Do to Sleep Better Tonight

If you have a heart condition or exhibit risk factors for heart disease, Finkelston recommends setting your alarm clock a bit earlier (15 to 30 minutes) than usual this week to give your body a chance to get used to the time change. It’s also a good idea to get to bed a little earlier.

Chris Brantner, a certified sleep science coach for SleepZoo, lays out several key studies in his sleep report that show an increase in fatal car crashes, strokes, workplace injuries, lost workdays and cluster headaches in the days following this time change.

The good news: There are steps you can take to help make this transition easier for your body. Here, Drs. Shalini Manchanda and Ninotchka Sigua, sleep medicine physicians at Indiana University Health, share their expert tips for tackling the challenges of DST.

Tips for tackling the challenges of daylight savings time

Do

• Maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule
• Slowly move your bedtime and wake-up time a week before the time change (go to bed 10 minutes earlier per night and wake up about 10 minutes earlier per day)
• Get regular exercise
• Get exposure to bright light in the morning to help you wake up better
• Try to avoid bright light prior to bedtime
• Have a relaxing sleep environment (quiet, dark and cool is always conducive to sleeping)

Don’t

• Consume alcohol or caffeine close to bedtime
• Watch television close to bedtime
• Use a computer or cell phone use close to bedtime
• Nap late in the day
• Stay in bed when you're struggling to sleep — go to another room and do something relaxing

What's not to love about a full-coverage foundation during the winter season? It’s essentially a blanket for the face that also happens to conceal random breakouts and even out skin tone. Unfortunately, it carries a couple of downsides. There are clogged pores if you’re not priming correctly underneath and the looming threat of it transferring to your clothes or worse — someone else’s.

Also, it can just feel heavy when using day after day. If your skin needs some breathing room but you still want the same benefits as foundation, most will recommend swapping it out for a concealer. And while that is the obvious and correct fix (besides going makeup-free when we feel like it), there are some caveats for ensuring it works with instead of against your complexion.

More: The 7 Best Concealers Makeup Artists Swear By

Choose your coverage

Like foundation, concealers are available in different finishes, from sheer to full-coverage. The type you use will depend on the condition of your skin. For instance, if it’s free of blemishes and you simply want to even things out, a sheer formula — similar to one you’d use on the under-eye area — will serve you best.

Natalie Soto, global makeup artist/educator for Jane Iredale cosmetics, stresses the importance of the technique you use to apply the product. “As the consistency of concealer can be a lot richer than foundation,” she says, “you should use a damp sponge in a tapping motion if applying it all over the face in place of foundation.”

Now, if you want to get fancy with a highlight and contour effect, know that you will need to utilize more than one shade.

“For contour, choose a concealer like Mehron Celebré Pro-HD Conceal-It and apply a shade that’s three shades darker than your foundation and on the cool side of the color wheel,” says James Vincent, Mehron Makeup artist. “Use this in place of contour powder for a more natural shape and shading that looks realistic and more elevated.”

And if you’re looking for a more bronzy and beachy effect, you can find something two shades darker and on the warm side of the color wheel.

But again, if you want to keep it simple, be sure to color-match your concealer to your skin tone. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a face that’s shades lighter or darker than the rest of your body. Awkward!

More: The Best Contouring Kits for Every Skill Level

Spot-treat, don’t spread

This is perhaps the biggest difference between foundation coverage and concealer coverage. Whereas the latter is typically applied all over the face and blended, concealer should instead be concentrated to the blemishes you wish to disguise.

For instance, if you have a pimple or dark spot on your cheek, instead of covering the entire area with concealer, you should dot each blemish and blend or build until it’s covered. The overall effect is that no-makeup-makeup look that tricks people into thinking you’re wearing nothing at all.

A great way to sheer out concealer for all-over coverage is by mixing a small amount of concealer with a pearl-size amount of your daily moisturizer or a facial primer (try Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener).

If you’re going for that contour/highlight effect we talked about earlier, your concealer should be applied to the parts of your face that are hit most by sunlight.

Vincent says, “Use a powder brush to sweep it over the forehead, down the center of the nose, on the chin and the highest part of your cheekbone. You can’t believe how easy it is to get the most beautiful beachy effect.”

More: How to Enhance Your Eye Color With Makeup

Blend, blend, blend

So what does one do when you need two types of coverage in the same area? Well, you’ll need either two different concealers — sheer and full — or you’ll have to apply the same concealer in two different ways. Again, a heavier consistency is best for disguising blemishes, but blending out the surrounding area with a sheerer formula (i.e., a moisturizer blend) will ensure that the treated area doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb on your face. And like foundation, you’ll also want to seal in your coverage with a setting powder or spray.

If you have no idea where to start your concealer search, start with this list of makeup artist-approved brands.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

When the reboot of American Idol was announced in May 2017, thoughts of "too soon" crossed my mind immediately. The long-running singing competition show went off the air in April 2016 after 15 successful seasons. The show needed to be away a lot longer for me to miss it.

More: 10 Behind-the-Scenes Facts About The Voice

Why did ABC need to revive the show almost immediately after Fox canceled the show? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Even in the last few seasons on Fox, the show felt tired and the excitement about who would win the show was long gone compare to the first few seasons when Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood became stars.

In its absence, NBC’s The Voice and Fox’s The Four changed up the typical singing competition show format with fresh new angles. While neither shows have produced superstars like Idol has, they certainly have drawn audiences in.

For ABC, their success has come in the dance competition show genre with Dancing with the Stars. They have done two full series a year, totaling 25 seasons. By investing so much money in the reboot of American Idol, they have sacrificed their top-10 sure-bet ratings winner for something I am not sure anyone cares about.

While American Idol premieres March 11, DWTS is relegated to a four-week spinoff featuring all athletes premiering on April 30. A full season of the show will be back in the fall. The budget for Idol took precedence over DWTS.

Let’s also talk about that judging panel. Katy Perry is earning $25 million to sit at that table. If this were 2011 with Perry fresh off her “Firework” single, this would be a huge casting coup. Unfortunately, she struggled with her last album release and she's not the top pop star in the world right now.

More: The New American Idol Has Snagged Country Superstar Luke Bryan as a Judge

Luke Bryan is a country superstar and considered to be a nice guy in the industry, but I have yet to hear any Idol viewer screaming with excitement over his addition to the panel. He has an important role as a judge, but will country fans light up the ratings for him?

I must admit I love Lionel Richie. There is something smooth and carefree about his personality, but he’s not going to add any drama to the judges table either. He's going to be rock steady, but I think all three judges are playing the same role.

The reason Idol originally worked so well is that there was a villain in Simon Cowell, a nurturer in Paula Abdul and a realist in Randy Jackson. This panel feels thrown together and lacks the chemistry that the original judges had.

ABC had to work extra hard to hire these three after other music stars turned the opportunity down — including the original Idol winner, Clarkson. Much of the music industry seems to be feeling the same way as me — the show is played out.

More: American Idol's Reboot Is Stirring Up Some Behind-the-Scenes Drama

In fact, I watched the two-hour premiere hoping to change my mind. The press screener that was available confirmed what I was dreading — it’s all the same. There’s no fresh take on the show that started a revolution in competition shows. Ryan Seacrest popped on the screen and I wondered if it was 2003 or 2018.

The three judges are all great at what they do in the music industry, and they are largely supportive of the contestants auditioning for the show. While no one needs to be snarky like Cowell was, I was hoping for one of the judges to have a few zingy one-liners like Clarkson has added to The Voice this season.

ABC has not only put money behind Idol, they’ve put a lot of muscle behind promoting the show. They want to prove to the naysayers the time is now and America is ready for a reboot of the show.

For me, I am taking a hard pass. It's just too soon.

We hear the terms "mental breakdown" and "nervous breakdown" a lot on the news, especially when it comes to celebrities — most recently with Tori Spelling. Either version is a vague, nonclinical term used to describe periods of time of extreme mental turmoil that causes great distress for a person, but what exactly does it entail?

To clarify, referring to a mental health episode as a "breakdown" — either "mental" or "nervous" — is not acceptable in clinical practice. It is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, nor is it used by mental health professionals. So why do people use "breakdown" so frequently?

According to Remi Alli, an expert in medical law and CEO of Brāv Online Conflict Management, many still use this term because "people would always prefer to have a physical (nerves) problem than a psychological or psychiatric problem." This makes sense: While we're making great strides toward a great understanding of mental health conditions, it can still be difficult for some to grasp the concept, so using language that everyone can picture and relate to — a physical breakdown — may be what they need to articulate what is happening.

More: Talking About Depression Is Good — Investing in Mental Health Is Better

Most of the time, Alli says, what people call a "nervous breakdown" is really one of the following: panic disorder, panic attack, bipolar disorder, anxiety, traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress, psychotic disorder, depression, schizophrenia and/or mood disorders.

Symptoms

Dr. Nicole Washington, a psychiatrist and founder and chief medical officer of Elocin Psychiatric Services, tells SheKnows, "The terms mental breakdown and nervous breakdown are essentially left to be defined by the person who is experiencing them, and it may differ depending upon the person.” In other words, there is no specific set of symptoms or checklist for determining whether a person is having a breakdown.

However, some of the symptoms associated with what people refer to as a “breakdown” can range from severe anxiety, depression, panic, weight loss, insomnia or too much sleeping, breathing difficulty, rapid heart rate, paranoia, hallucinations and extreme withdrawal from social life and dissociation, according to Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor and researcher who specializes in public mental health and health promotion at Ball State University.

More: Insiders Say Tori Spelling's Friends & Family Are Really Worried

“Symptoms and causes vary by individual case or person,” he tells SheKnows. “Helping people with such symptoms should be a high priority to prevent extreme consequences such as suicide and other very aggressive/violent behaviors. Fortunately, there are plenty of treatment options if individuals can access or get timely help.”

Causes

In short, Alli describes a breakdown as a "system overload." If someone is already living with a mental health condition like anxiety or depression, a triggering event — like a death or major life or relationship change — could push that person toward what we think of as a breakdown.

Similarly, Khubchandani says, these episodes are a result of chronically accumulated stress where an individual reaches a stage when they cannot cope and feel out of control — for example, severe and ongoing stressful life events, constant sleep deprivation, exhausting work schedules and financial pressures.

“Celebrities could easily be a victim due to high risk,” he explains. “Tori Spelling is a classic case of a high-profile person who has been struggling since the past several months with a variety of stressors of various types (e.g., legal, financial, etc.).”

Getting help

If you seek out assistance from a mental health professional, Washington recommends reporting the exact symptoms you are experiencing in order to give them a better understanding of what is going on and how they can help. Some of those symptoms include depression, extreme sadness, anxiety and restlessness.

“Though these terms are vague, they typically represent a state of significant distress and should be evaluated immediately to ensure that there aren't any severe symptoms present, such as thoughts of suicide or self-harm,” Washington adds.

It is also important to note that despite the fact that “breakdown” isn’t an official psychiatric term, it does not make what a person is feeling or experiencing during a period of extreme stress any less real or valid, Khubchandani explains. Sometimes, it may be the only words they have to express how they are feeling and an imperative part of them getting the help necessary.

If you're considering suicide or fear you may become suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24-7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you're worried about someone you love, visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is talking girl power in honor of International Women's Day — after he revealed on Tuesday on Instagram that his daughter Jasmine Lia, 2, suffered a serious health scare and was taken to the emergency room over the weekend.

Johnson posted a video thanking the emergency service responders and doctors who treated Jasmine, who appears to have recovered from the event (although reps for Johnson have declined to elaborate on what happened).

In the Instagram video, Johnson said, “This past Saturday night something happened to me and my family that I would never want to happen to any of your guys out there. Of course, emergencies do happen. We were up all night in the emergency room. We had something scary that happened to our little baby girl Jasmine — she’s OK now! — thank God.”

Johnson added, "But I just want to say thank you so much to everybody who was involved, so caring and compassionate and responsive. The 911 operator who was on the phone with me who was extremely calm, walking me through some processes.”

More: Dwayne Johnson & Lauren Hashian Reveal They Are Expecting a Second Daughter

Although Johnson did not go into detail about the specifics of the health crisis, he encouraged parents to keep as cool-headed as possible if ever an emergency arises: “To all you mommies and daddies out there — I just highly recommend that you stay as calm and as focused as possible because our babies… they pick up what you send out.”

Jasmine seems to be doing just fine, thank goodness. Johnson released another video — this one with his daughter — yesterday. And is it ever precious? Johnson captioned the video post, "Girl power. To every woman out there ‘round the world - all ages and races — I proudly stand by your side to always honor, protect and respect. Especially, the loves of my life at home. Now if I can just get Jazzy to say the daddy is the most handsome, brilliant, sexiest man alive part, then we all gonna be cool. #MyAnchors #InternationalWomensDay"

Prepare to melt:

The exchange is pretty priceless. Johnson says, "All right, my queen, can we say 'girl power'?" Jasmine obliges, ever so adorably. Gah!

“There you go! OK, how about this, ‘International Women’s Day,'” Johnson says next.

“Women’s Day!” crows Jasmine.

“Perfect! All right, can you say, ‘Daddy is the most handsome, brilliant, sexiest — might not be appropriate — man alive? Say all that.”

"Say all that," says Jasmine — proving she's got a personality as delightful and huge as her dad's.

More: Dwayne Johnson Reveals Why He Won't Run for Pres in 2020

Johnson shares Jasmine with his girlfriend, Lauren Hashian, who is expecting the couple's second child together. And guess what? It's another girl. We're convinced The Rock was born to be a dad to little girls. He also has another daughter from a previous relationship — Simone Alexandra, who is 16.

Girl power to Jasmine as she recovers — and can we also say that The Rock is rocking fatherhood?

A lot of us are trying to embark on healthier lifestyles as we get closer (thank goodness) to summer, but sometimes life gets in the way of the best of intentions. If we’re in a rush or don’t have healthy food prepped and available, we don’t make the best choices. (And by we, I mean me.) 

More: 20 High-protein desserts that won't derail your diet

Yesterday, March 8, Weight Watchers announced the launch of the WW Healthy Kitchen, which will include meal kits and kitchen tools designed to make it easier for people to incorporate healthy habits into their lives.

The food world is pretty saturated with meal kit brands, with Blue Apron being the most easily recognizable name. But this meal kit, created in partnership with FreshRealm, will be specifically designed to adhere to WW Freestyle-inspired recipes.

More: All the Alcoholic Drinks You Can Have While on the Paleo Diet

“At WW, our goal is to be a partner to everyone on their pursuit toward healthier living,” said Mindy Grossman, president and CEO of Weight Watchers International Inc., in a press release. “We know people today need the tools, inspiration and community to develop healthy habits in their day-to-day lives. Whether through a collection of delicious and satisfying recipes, custom WW kitchen tools, or fresh, quick-prep meal kits, we are delivering the solutions that make healthy eating and cooking accessible, easier, and simpler for all.”

This sounds pretty great, but there is one big difference between these meal kits and those sold by services like Blue Apron. The Weight Watchers meal kits will not be delivered to your door, but will instead be sold at grocery stores. There's no word yet on how much the kits will cost or how many meals will be included in each kit, but the average cost of most meal kits on the market is $60 to $75 per week (three meals), so we would expect the Weight Watchers meal kits to be somewhere close to that price point.

The new product line, which is launching in conjunction witht the meal kits, will include options such as water bottles with built-in tea or fruit infusers as well as storage and containers with compartments for easy fresh food on the go and tools to make meal prep simple.

The meal kits and other individual new products are expected to be in stores later this year.

It's hard to imagine that clean-cut Colin Firth and his wife, Livia Giuggioli, would be embroiled in anything even faintly scandalous or scary, but it seems like their number has been called. Unfortunately, Firth and Giuggioli have been in a private legal battle against a man apparently stalking Giuggioli. On Friday, there was truly shocking new development that might make you blink a little in disbelief. According to a statement released by Firth and Giuggioli through their reps, we learned that Giuggioli once had a romantic relationship with her alleged stalker, Marco Brancaccia.

More: Emma Stone's Obsession with Colin Firth Was Too Much for Him

"A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate. During that time, Livia briefly became involved with a former friend, Mr. Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited," the statement reads. "Subsequently, Mr. Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented. As a consequence of his stalking, threats and refusal to desist, the legal complaint was lodged with the Italian authorities."

The Firths, for obvious reasons, wanted to keep these details under wraps. That was decidedly not the case when an Italian newspaper printed information about the police investigation into the alleged stalking, and they say they decided to just be open about what happened.

More: Colin Firth’s Academy Award Best Actor Afterthoughts

"The reporting this week on this case is understood to be the consequence of a leaked court document," their statement continued. "This is greatly to be [sic] regretted. It does not serve the interests of any of the parties involved."

On the other side of things, Brancaccia denies stalking anyone and told reporters the Firth and Giuggioli were just trying to cover up their marital problems.

More: Colin Firth's Consciously Uncoupling from Paddington Bear

"We were romantically involved, she wanted to leave Colin for me," he said, adding that he and Giuggioli were together for about a year from 2015 to 2016. "I wrote an email to Colin about my relationship with Livia, which I now regret sending, and she filed a complaint against me for stalking out of fear that I could go public with what she had revealed to me about her marriage and work. In a year she sent me hundreds of messages of love, photos and videos, even a diary."

We fully admit it. If this had been a Hugh Grant quiz, we would have failed big-time:

How many children does iconic rom-com star Hugh Grant have?

a) None, the dude is a curmudgeonly British bachelor, duh
b) One, a love child with ex Liz Hurley, but don't tell anybody — even she doesn't know
c) Hugh who?
d) Oh, five — that would be five kids!

We would have picked A or B, then definitely C before ever, ever landing on D. So when we heard today that Grant has indeed fathered five children, we were dumbfounded. Where have we been? Where has he been? I mean, we now know what he's been doing, but how did he sneak all these children into the world behind our backs? Jeez, Hugh.

All right. Let us catch you up here. You may recall that Grant was romantically linked to actor Elizabeth Hurley for a long time — 13 years to be exact.

More: Hugh Grant Is the Best Part of the Love, Actually Sequel

It was Hurley who dished on her ex on March 6. While promoting The Royals, she told E! News that she and Grant are still quite close (not love-child close, but close enough to knock our socks off with this juicy intel). “I’m very lucky that 31 years into our friendship, he’s still my best friend in the whole world. He’s really a great guy,” Hurley said of Grant. “I see him a lot; I speak to him a lot. You know, he’s now a father of five, he has five kids and he’s a great dad. Yeah, he will remain my best friend for life.” 

What was that, Liz? That part before the nice best-friend talk, yada yada? Five?

Hurley — hilariously — didn't stop with that news. Two days later, she was chatting about Grant again on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and said, "[Grant] had another [baby] last week. He has five. He was over 50 when he spawned them all! He's an enchanting dad."

More: Hugh Grant Couldn't Recognize a Pic of Renée Zellweger

Grant is 57, which means he's packed five kids into seven years of his life. And somehow, we missed it. Thank heavens for oversharing ex-girlfriends. Hurley and Grant broke up in 2000, but clearly the two remain close — and she's not above having some (gentle) fun at his expense. She told Cohen, "Having these kids has transformed him from a very miserable person into a fairly miserable person. It’s improved him. He’s gone up the scale.”

Right, right, you say, but who are the mothers of these children? Well, try to keep up: In September 2011, Grant had a daughter named Tabitha with a woman named Tinglan Hong, who was a receptionist at a Chinese restaurant in London (this sounds like worthy rom-com material; scriptwriters, take note). Tabitha's Chinese name? Xiao Xi, which means "happy surprise." Yeah, us too.

But Grant and Hong were just a fling — sorry, "fleeting affair," according to Grant's publicist. In September 2012, a year later, Grant had a second child, John Mungo Grant, with a Swedish TV producer named Anna Eberstein. Things get really cray-cray when Grant proceeds to reunite with Hong — enter third child, Felix Grant, who was born in 2013. Grant then bounced back to Eberstein to create his fourth bebe, a daughter, born in December 2015. Her name was not released, which, frankly, is just fine because we are having enough trouble following this fertile love triangle. Apparently, Eberstein and Hong even overlapped pregnancies at one point, but you're probably better at math than we are, so.

Anyhoo, Baby No. 5 is with Eberstein. No word on name or sex yet.

And what does Hugh have to say about all this? The notoriously media-wary actor said in a recent interview with People TV that becoming a dad was "the nicest thing that's ever happened to me." Aw, the lovable old coot is a softie after all. He said, "It's just lovely to have all that love around. Suddenly you love someone more than yourself. It's unheard of in my case and they love you and it's all enchanting."

Well, color us enchanted-ish. OK, maybe more stunned than enchanted, but we're rolling with it.

It’s one thing doing things for your partner out of the goodness of your heart. But if you feel like you’re overexerting yourself, doing everything for your S.O. and get nothing in return, you could be in a codependent relationship. Unlike in a healthy relationship, which is mutually satisfying, people with codependency form and maintain relationships that are one-sided. If this sounds like you or your partner, you may be in a codependent relationship. Here are 10 other signs.

You only know yourself in the relationship

Codependency happens when the relationship becomes your sole source of identity. In other words, if you weren’t with this person, you’d feel lost and lonely. “If you find yourself always mentioning 'me and my boyfriend' and frequently cutting off plans with others that are important to you, then this should be a red flag to yourself,” explains Michal Naisteter, a professional matchmaker with Three Day Rule. “Make sure not to fall into the 'you complete me' trap. You should be complete on your own!”

More: How to Identify & Fix a Motivational Imbalance in Your Relationship

It’s really hard for you to be alone or do anything without your partner

We should all want to be with our partners and enjoy their company. “However, there is a level of independence necessary in healthy relationships that is missing in codependent relationships,” says Sarah E. Clark, a licensed therapist and relationship expert. “If you notice that you avoid going places or doing activities by yourself or with friends, then this is something you will want to address.”

Your happiness depends on them

Doing nice things for the ones we love is great until it goes too far. “If you notice that you only find happiness in doing things for your partner or trying to make them happy, chances are that you have developed an unhealthy pattern of codependence,” says Clark.

You can’t make a decision until you talk to your partner

You need to discuss things with the person you’re in love with but also be capable of making your own decisions and not relying on them to make big decisions for you, explains relationship expert, divorce attorney and star of Untying the Knot on Bravo, Vikki Ziegler. “Codependent people are often unable to make their own independent decisions and have their own thoughts.”


You don’t want your significant other to go out with friends on the weekends

This is a big sign you’re codependent because you can’t trust and allow your partner to go out without you. “It’s important to live individual lives within a relationship and give people the freedom to spend time with friends and family members,” says Ziegler.

More: 11 Little Things That Can Totally Transform Your Relationship

You’ve become isolated from your support networks

Sam Nabil, a licensed professional counselor, says this happens one of two ways. “Your partner deliberately isolates you from your support networks by discouraging social interaction and sometimes using verbal, emotional or even physical aggression to 'send a message' that social interactions are not welcomed.” Nabil also says you may feel so embarrassed by your situation in a codependent relationship that you isolate yourself out of fear of being humiliated and shamed by your friends and family.

You never stand up for what you believe in

Though something is really bothering you, you may not speak up for fear of your partner getting mad at you. “You feel and always give in to your partner's whims and demands. It’s important to have your own opinions in a relationship, stand up for your feelings and say no when appropriate,” explains Ziegler.

Your partner can't keep a job

There is always a reason or excuse for quitting or being let go. This is putting a strain on financial stability so you are working harder — picking up extra work or taking a second job — to make ends meet. "This is a clear example of codependence — your partner is not pulling his/her weight and you are allowing it to happen by understanding and empathizing every time there is a job left and another excuse thrown out," says Laura MacLeod, a licensed social worker and founder of From the Inside Out Project. Your partner is encouraging the codependence by allowing you to do the work for both of you.

You make excuses

If you find yourself making excuses and "protecting" your partner's unhealthy and damaging behavior, it’s a sign you’re in a codependent relationship. “For example, we find a lot of partners in codependent relationships excusing behaviors like domestic violence, substance abuse, etc.,” says Nabil. In addition, he adds that people in codependent relationships often prefer to bite their tongue rather than have a conversation they believe will aggravate their partner or cause conflict.

Your partner allows & expects you to do the laundry/household chores

Take a look at what you are physically doing in the relationship. "For example, if laundry is your task and you have time and don't mind doing it, OK. But, if you have two jobs, make meals and manage the household — while your partner works part time or not at all — then laundry should not fall to you, says MacLeod. “In a codependent relationship, it's the 'you're better at it than I am' mentality. In a healthy relationship, the clothes are clean when you get home from your overtime shift.”

Hey, internet, think you might wanna take a chill pill and stop spreading weird gossip about Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher for a sec? The former household name may be keeping a low profile these days, but she is definitely not broke, homeless or living in a van, which is what some rather scandalous headlines read earlier this week. Hatcher spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the rumors and we're honestly a little surprised she even addressed them because, well, they're so ridiculous.

More: Teri Hatcher: Desperate Housewives "Better Than Other Finales"

"On the cover yesterday [Star magazine has] an article that says exactly that — it’s totally absurd — that I am broke and homeless and living out of my van," Hatcher said. "It’s categorically false. I am not broke. I have done very well investing my money. I am not homeless and I am not living out of my van."

The story apparently stemmed from some paparazzi photos of Hatcher in her van on a California beach. She explained that she was shooting for one of her YouTube series', Van Therapy, which is part of the YouTube channel she runs, Hatching Change.

More: Teri Hatcher's Mystery Illness: Frozen Shoulder

"They said they were going to run this story about me being broke, and I think they even used the word suicidal and homeless and whatever," Hatcher continued. "And my lawyer and my publicist said, 'Categorically not true, you can’t print that, she’s doing a YouTube show, that’s her van, she has many homes in many states all over the country. There’s nothing about this that’s true.'"

Despite dealing with something so utterly absurd, Hatcher is focusing on the good things in life, like campaigning for a revival of Desperate Housewives. To this, we enthusiastically say, "Yes, please!"

When asked if she would return for a reboot of the show, Hatcher replied, "I would be the first person, yeah, I never wanted it to be over, I loved those characters." Unfortunately, Hatcher doesn't think there are great odds of that actually happening. The show's creator has been pretty adamant in the past about not wanting to bring it back, meaning our days on Wisteria Lane are probably over for good.

More: Teri Hatcher's New Role Post-Housewives: Director?

We'll still keep our fingers crossed because you never know, especially with literally all the best TV shows getting the reboot treatment these days. In the meantime, it's nice to see that Hatcher has found a new way to stay current and that she's thriving (and definitely not living in her van).

Updated March 9, 2018, 9:40 a.m. PT: For the second time in less than a week, police were called to check on Tori Spelling's well-being. A police spokesperson told Us Weekly, "The only information I have is that we received a call to check the wellbeing of Tori Spelling yesterday [Wednesday] in Thousand Oaks. The call was received from her husband. Deputies contacted her briefly and determined she was fine."

This call comes only days after police were called to the home Spelling shares with husband Dean McDermott that it has since been revealed was over a domestic dispute. Police haven't said whether the dispute was between Spelling and McDermott. Since the initial police call, family and friends have told reporters they're increasingly concerned about Spelling's health.

Neither Spelling nor McDermott has commented on this recent incident.

Updated March 7, 2018, 7:30 a.m. PT: In exclusive interviews with Us Weekly, people close to Tori Spelling say her friends and family are increasingly concerned for her health following her March 1 breakdown that ended in police being called to her home.

"Her friends and family are all very, very worried," an insider told reporters, adding that constant fighting with husband Dean McDermott is probably a huge factor in Spelling's allegedly precarious mental state. "You would think the cheating, money problems and constant arguing would be enough for Tori to decide to divorce Dean, but she refuses to even discuss it. Tori believes a divorce would label her as a failure."

Meanwhile, the family's long-publicized money problems reportedly continue.

"They are heavily in debt," the insider said, and they've moved eight times in the last seven years. "Tori has had enough of Dean’s moaning about not being a working actor and is demanding he get a real job to support their family."

The source said Spelling is expected to pick up McDermott's slack, and she relies heavily on her mother, Candy Spelling, to make ends meet.

"Candy pays for all of the kids’ expenses," the insider said.

Even more troubling for friends and family, the source explained, is that amid all her problems, Spelling is considering having a sixth child.

"She is more concerned with perception than her own relationship," an insider told Us Weekly. "It’s just very sad."

Hopefully things start looking up for Spelling and her family soon.

Updated story, March 1, 2018, 5:50 p.m. PT: New details have emerged mere hours after initial reports broke about Tori Spelling's alleged breakdown, which resulted in two separate phone calls to police. One phone call happened late Wednesday evening, and the second was made in the early hours of Thursday morning.

While it wasn't originally clear why the police were called, we may now know the reasoning thanks to further investigation. According to Entertainment Tonight's ongoing coverage, a source claims that Spelling's alleged breakdown was caused by a variety of concerns related to her marriage, her children and her finances. "There are several things that led up to this, and she really couldn't take the pressure any longer,” the source reportedly told ET. "[Spelling] tries to be the best mom she can be, but with five children and terrible financial issues, her marriage has suffered tremendously."

A source claims that that initial phone call on Wednesday night was reported to be classified as a "female mental call," resulting in the police responding. According to the source, it may have happened after some stress or possibly a fight occurred between Spelling and her husband, Dean McDermott, and McDermott possibly leaving the residence for a couple of days before unexpectedly returning home.

"She had no idea he had walked in the door and it scared her," the source says. “She is obsessed with trying to make her relationship with Dean work despite all their issues. Her breakdown came after she and Dean had been fighting. She literally was hysterical and, sadly, the kids were home and everyone was scared. [...] She is under far too much pressure."

The source also claims Spelling has been "so overwhelmed" with the pressures of motherhood and raising her children, to the point that it may have kept her from getting out of the house. "She spent weeks at home alone with her family," the source claimed to ET. "She has not been active on her social media and also stopped talking to almost all her friends."

Spelling made headlines in 2016 after she was sued by American Express for $87,000 in credit card debt. Additionally, in late 2016, she was also sued by American Express for an unpaid bill of more than $38,000 and was also made to pay an additional $855 in court fees. She had apparently been borrowing money from her mother, Candy Spelling, in order to assist in these payments.

Neither Spelling nor her reps — nor anyone directly related to Spelling, as it happens — has released a statement at this time. Whatever the cause is for her distress, we can only hope the turmoil subsides quickly and that she, as well as her family, is able to find a safe and happy resolution to the concerns.

Original story, published March 1, 2:30 p.m. PT: Tori Spelling may or may not be going through something serious right now, and the reports emerging from multiple news outlets seem to indicate the former. There is one report in particular from a former contestant on The Bachelor (of all places) that implies there were warning signs of trouble with Spelling just before the calls were made.

More: Tori Spelling Put Makeup on Her 9-Year-Old & the Internet Isn't Having It

TMZ reports that on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 28, the police were called to the Spelling residence by Spelling because she believed that someone was breaking into her home; it was her husband, Dean McDermott. While TMZ's report has yet to be updated, we know that the police were called back to the Spelling home early on Thursday morning local time, although it's unclear at this time, as E! News' follow-up report notes, who called and why the police were called again, although TMZ speculates this could be linked back to what they're alleging is Spelling's breakdown. The police visits have now led to an investigation by authorities.

For the most part, there seems to be no immediately discernible reason there would be discord or cause for worry about Spelling's mental health or her well-being. However, there's a chance that something could be simmering just beneath the surface, if there is any truth to the comments popular Bachelor Nation personality Corinne Olympios (yes, the Corinne Olympios) made to Entertainment Tonight.

More: Tori Spelling Wants a 6th Kid, Because The Brady Bunch

During the daytime on Wednesday, Olympios recalls that she got to spend some one-on-one time with Spelling while the two were taking part in filming an episode of the yet-to-premiere Facebook cooking show Secrets in the Sauce. Olympios notes that the whole experience was surreal, mostly because she never thought she'd be hanging out with Spelling, but also because Spelling appeared a bit quiet, tired and withdrawn.

"This is the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me in my life," Olympios told ET. "The host of the show said [Tori] wanted to stay and hang out to meet me. We were kind of chatting, but she was kind of silent."

When it seemed like Spelling was tired, Olympios said, "I was thinking, 'Well, she does have five kids.' She was saying it's stressful, it's a lot. Someone was joking around with her like, 'Don't go home yet, say you're getting a manicure.' She was like, 'Oh my god, yeah right.'"

More: Why Can't We All Just Be Happy for Tori Spelling?

Perhaps the most troubling detail is that at one point, Spelling was given gifts for her kids from the show, and Olympios recalled, "[S]he kept dropping them [and] kept picking them up. [It was] like her mind was somewhere else." The police were called just hours after this incident.

Neither Spelling nor her reps have released a statement at this time. It's still unclear whether this is something truly worrisome or just a blip on the radar, so let's hope for the best where Spelling and her family are concerned.

Sure, you can spend all your time turning your beer green on St. Patrick's Day, but why not buy a little extra green food coloring and make vibrant emerald cupcakes too? It's the perfect excuse to dye desserts, and we have some delicious St. Patrick's Day desserts rounded up for you to choose from.

From cake pops to cocktails, these sweet tweets are just as fun to look at as they are to eat.

Luck-o'-the-Irish cake pops recipe

Yields 4 dozen

Ingredients: 

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 teaspoons McCormick Green Food Color
• 3/4 cup marshmallow créme
• 1 (14-ounce) bag white confectionary coating wafers
• Lollipop sticks
• Green sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare the cake mix as directed on the package, adding food coloring. Pour the batter into a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and bake as instructed for that pan size on the package. Cool completely on wire rack.
2. Into a large bowl, crumble the cake. Add the marshmallow créme and mix until well blended. Shape into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate 2 hours.
3. Melt coating wafers as directed on the package. For each cake pop, dip 1/2-inch of lollipop stick into melted coating. Insert the dipped end of the lollipop stick halfway into the cake ball. Let it stand until the coating is set. Dip each cake pop into melted coating. Shake gently to remove excess coating. Sprinkle or roll the cake pops in green sprinkles if desired. Place the cake pop stick-side-down in Styrofoam blocks and let them stand until the coating is set.

More: 21 St. Patrick’s Day Appetizers That Will Win Any Party

Irish cream swirl brownie recipe

Serves 16 

Ingredients:

• 1 (18-ounce – 20-ounce) package fudge brownie mix
• 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Green Food Color

Directions:

1. Prepare the brownie mix as directed on the package, adding vanilla. Reserve 1 cup of the batter. Spread the remaining batter into a greased 9-inch-square baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl with the electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, flour and sugar until smooth. Add Irish cream liqueur, egg and food coloring; beat until well blended. Pour the mixture over the brownie layer in the pan. Drop the reserved 1 cup of batter by the spoonful over cream cheese layer. Cut through the batter with a knife several times for a marble effect.
3. Bake as directed on the package for a 9-inch-square baking pan. Cool in the pan before serving.

Easy green velvet cupcake recipe

Yields 24

Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package German chocolate cake mix with pudding
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (1-ounce) bottle McCormick Green Food Color
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 (16-ounce) container cream cheese frosting
• Green sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cake mix, sour cream, water, cocoa powder, oil, food coloring, eggs and vanilla just until moistened, scraping the sides of the bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
2. Line the cups of 2 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners. Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.
3. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan 10 minutes. Remove from the pans; cool completely on a wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting. Decorate with sprinkles if desired.

Next: More Gorgeous Green Treats

A version of this article was originally published in February 2012.

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Serves 1 

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Irish cream liqueur
• 2 ounces Irish whiskey
• 2 ounces chilled brewed strong coffee
• 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• Vanilla whipped cream (recipe follows)
• Green sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add the Irish cream, Irish whiskey, coffee and vanilla extract; shake until well mixed and chilled. Strain into a martini glass.
2. Top it with a dollop of vanilla whipped cream and green sprinkles if desired.

Vanilla whipped cream recipe

Yields about 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract (optional)
• Coarse sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
2. If desired, wet the outside rim of a martini glass with peppermint extract. Dip the glass in coarse sugar to lightly coat.

Green-with-envy cheesecake bar recipe

Serves 24

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (about 30 cookies)
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Green Food Color
• 3 eggs
• 2 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix the cookie crumbs and butter. Press firmly onto the bottom of a foil-lined 9-inch-square baking pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Add the sour cream and peppermint extract; mix well. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour 1/2 the batter over the crust. Tint the remaining batter green with food coloring and pour it over the batter in the pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is almost set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
4. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Lift it out of pan onto a cutting board and cut it into bars. Drizzle the bars with melted chocolate. Store leftover bars in the refrigerator.

More: 10 St. Patrick's Day Green Food Recipes Kids Will Absolutely Love

For International Women's Day, Jessica Chastain decided to take the high road and be helpful to another woman who attempted to debate her on abortion on Instagram. That really is the true spirit of the day, right? Women coming together and supporting one another, even when it feels like there's conflict, is definitely one positive takeaway and Chastain was the embodiment of that on March 8 when things unexpectedly got a little heated.

More: Which Films Did Jessica Chastain Subtweet at the Cannes Conference?

It all started when, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Chastain celebrated International Women's Day by posting a photo of herself in a T-shirt reading, "We Should All Be Feminists." She captioned the shot, "FEMINISM: the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes."

While the message was not a particularly controversial one, it's one that was undoubtedly going to get some attention. Namely, this attention came from one very vocal woman, Karin Schulz, who wrote in the comments, "Yes, feminist that believe in God and stand up for The Unborn. I would be for that kind of feminist."

More: Catt Sadler Is Sending a Strong Message With Her Departure From E!

OK, so that was kind of spicy on Schulz's part, but Chastain didn't take the bait. Instead, she reportedly visited Schulz's profile and found a link to the GoFundMe page she and her husband had started to raise money for fertility treatments after a long struggle to conceive. And Chastain donated $2,000 to it, writing, "You'll be wonderful parents who teach love by example. Someday you'll hold your baby. Don't give up."

That's not even just the high road. It is the highest possible road a woman can take.

Chastain's behavior in the face of someone who criticized her is inspiring. Even though she and Schulz have competing beliefs, Chastain wished her well.

"Yes, you can decide what is right for you. I am pro-choice and I believe that everyone has the right to make their own decision. I read about your journey to become a mother and it broke my heart," she wrote. "I hope that your dream will come true in 2018! Much love to you."

More: Jessica Chastain in Tears Over 'Alt-Left' Twitter Debate

That's the kind of action that truly makes a difference on International Women's Day, and we hope Schulz can follow Chastain's lead and build other women up instead of tearing them down.

Whether you're a bride, groom or guest, everyone knows the best part of a wedding is the cake. From elaborate multitiered confections to more rustic bakes made with love by a family member, sharing something sweet with everyone in attendance is a delightful way to kick off a marriage.

This year, wedding cakes will run the gamut: Not only will we see dramatic black cakes for the goth brides among us, but sparkling geode cakes are also still going strong. Let's take a look at the biggest wedding cake trends of 2018 — and for you brides- and grooms-to-be, maybe this list will help you decide which wedding cake trend is right for your special day.

More: A Look at the Most Extravagant Royal Wedding Cakes

Geode cakes

Geode cakes with plenty of crystal detail will still be a favorite in 2018.

Succulent cakes

Beautiful cakes adorned with succulents give a green-thumb touch to any wedding.

Marble cakes

Elegant marble swirls are a subtle but elegant choice.

Black cakes

Make a statement at your wedding with a dramatic black cake.

Watercolor cakes

Pastel watercolor-style cakes work well for spring and summer weddings.

Super-realistic flower cakes

For an entirely edible cake, consider decorating with super-realistic buttercream flowers.

More: 10 Printable Wedding Checklists for the Organized Bride

Hand-painted cakes

The attention to detail in a hand-painted cake can't be beat.

Wedding dress cakes

Instead of wedding toppers, look for cakes decorated with the couple or with bridal dresses ending in 3-D frosting.

Gold

Gold fondant and edible gold flakes will add some shine to wedding cakes this year.

Geometric

Geometric details add some fun whimsy to your cake.

A version of this article was originally published in January 2018.

There are fewer and fewer people in Bill Cosby's corner. Accused of rape and sexual assault by dozens of women over decades, Cosby is set to stand retrial for rape beginning next month. In the meantime, Lisa Bonet, who played his daughter on The Cosby Show, is finally breaking her silence about her longtime co-star.

More: Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Trial Is Putting His Paranoia in Overdrive

In a new cover story for Net-a-Porter, she said she was never treated inappropriately by Cosby. All the same, she wasn't surprised when the allegations against him went public.

"There was just energy. And that type of sinister, shadow energy cannot be concealed," she said.

Ask whether there was a darkness about him, she replied, "Always. And if I had anything more to reveal then it would have happened a long time ago. That’s my nature. The truth will set you free."

More: Jason Momoa Finally Married Lisa Bonet in the Secret Wedding of Our Dreams

She added, likely referring to Cosby's upcoming trial, "I don’t need to say, ‘I told you so.’ I just leave all that to karma and justice and what will be."

Ironically, Bonet was fired by Cosby after she acted in sex scenes in her 1987 film Angel Heart, and then appeared nude on the cover of Interview to promote the movie. He cited "creative differences" as the reason for letting her go, but she says he was retaliating against her for failing to choose only roles as family friendly as The Cosby Show.

More: One Bill Cosby Juror Says There Was Major Stress During Deliberation

This is the first time Bonet has spoken publicly about Cosby's trial or the accusations related to it, but her daughter Zoe previously told The Guardian that Bonet was "disgusted and concerned" when she heard what Cosby was accused of.

Oral sex can hold a lot of weight in a relationship between two people. It's not an issue if you both like getting and receiving it, of course. But what if one of you loves the way it feels and it's your favorite way to be intimate with your partner, but they aren't interested in partaking? That can be a huge problem and leave you feeling like something is missing.

If this has ever been the case with you and you are fine working your way around it by finding other ways to orgasms or being sexual with your partner, then chances are it isn’t affecting your relationship.

But let's face it; many people feel like getting oral sex can be an out-of-body experience and make you climax in a way you don't through intercourse, touching or using a vibrator. In fact, it's a running joke with a lot of couples that a man wants a blow job for his birthday or a holiday and he’s satisfied with just that. I've talked to women who dole them out simply because they know it makes their man incredibly happy, but they don't actually love giving them.

More: Is Your Partner, Ahem, Lacking When It Comes to Oral? Let Us Show You the Way

But for some, it's not just about pleasure — It's about wanting to connect with someone on a different level. And you may feel offended or wonder if there is something wrong with you if the person you are intimate doesn't have an interest in engaging in oral sex.

Domina Franco, a writer, sex educator and coach who has been studying human sexuality for over 20 years, recently spoke with She Knows and let us in on some tips to work through this situation, because if you ask me, oral sex is like being put under a magic spell, and if you enjoy it, you should get it.

Start talking early

First, Franco says you must talk to your partner about your desire for oral sex in a respectful way that doesn't make them feel as if they are being pressured, and it's helpful to have this discussion early in a relationship. In fact, she says, "Talking about it before oral could even happen is so important."

While this may be difficult, it will be much less embarrassing than saying it with your genitals in your face or having them go through with something they don't want to do.

Franco advises if you have been in a relationship for some time and your partner has already expressed to you this is not something they enjoy or are willing to do, that is your answer and it should be respected. Then it's up to you and your partner to "decide if your relationship and sexual connection is satisfying as a whole," she says.

She adds it doesn't help anyone when resentment builds over these issues, so it's best to decide how important oral sex really is to you and realize there isn't anything wrong with you if you really want it nor is there anything wrong with someone who doesn't want to receive or give it.

Don't be demanding

Franco strongly advises approaching this subject with caution, as no one wants to be criticized or feel threatened for their sexual preferences. Pay attention to what they are saying and how they are saying it because sometimes they may just be saying something to please you that goes against how they truly feel.

We also spoke with Dr. Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist, author of The Self-Aware Parent, regular expert child psychologist on The Doctors on CBS and costar on Sex Box on We TV. She suggests some ways to make things go a bit smoother.

Don't be afraid to initiate

Walfish says doing something like performing oral sex without any expectations to get it in return can show your partner your "heartfelt generosity," and in turn, you may find it comes back to you.

Food can help

Some are turned off from performing oral sex because of the taste. This can be an easy problem to work around, and Walfish suggests spreading some tasty treats such as whipped cream, jam, chocolate sauce or liquor on your partner's clitoris or penis to see if that helps you acquire a taste for it, so to speak.

More: 8 Ways to Bang Out an Orgasm With a Partner Without Actually Having Penetrative Sex

Whatever the reason, feeling fulfilled sexually can make or break a relationship, so talking about what we want is always important.

We're in a time where women are storming the gates — both literally and figuratively. For one, hundreds of thousands poured onto the streets for the Women's March on Washington in January 2017 and again this past January. Beginning in the autumn of 2017, multitudes of women in a variety of industries, and most predominantly in film and television, came forward to detail their stories of sexual harassment and abuse in hopes that the insidious systemic behavior that has allowed those things to happen ends immediately. In January 2018, a group of women formed the Time's Up collective, raising awareness about sexual harassment and assault and taking contributions to build up a legal defense fund for survivors everywhere.

More: 11 Hidden Women in History Whose Stories Deserved to Be Told

At the head of the pack were activists, journalists, social media commentators, celebrities, producers, directors and so many more. Women from every industry stepped forward and collectively said, "Enough is enough." There's no time like the present to champion women who are working to make the world a better place. So, to celebrate, we've rounded up a list of 21 real-life women who are our modern-day superheroes.

1. Tarana Burke

Activist Tarana Burke created the #MeToo movement over a decade ago, though it wasn't until actor Alyssa Milano tweeted the words that it took off as a hashtag. Burke's tireless advocacy work is aimed at helping the most marginalized people — women of color, especially — who lack the same privilege as white women to accuse and seek refuge from their abusers.

Burke was named one of the Silence Breakers in Time's 2017 Person of the Year issue, though many have noted that her absence from the issue's cover is glaring.

2. Gabrielle Union

Actor and activist Gabrielle Union has been speaking out for years about rape culture and sexual violence. Her new book, We're Going to Need More Wine, is a collection of personal essays that dig deep into her experiences — including her own rape, her relationships and life as a black woman. Tarana Burke credits Union as "one of the few examples of resilience [she] could point to" when she started doing workshops with black survivors.

3. Lupita Nyong’o

Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong'o isn't slowing down. She was already part of the Star Wars franchise, and her role in Black Panther this year had everyone buzzing.

But most notably, Nyong'o was one of dozens of women to come forward about sexual harassment from film mogul Harvey Weinstein and one of the only women Weinstein's team actually responded to in the press. Nyong'o also called out Grazia U.K. for editing her hair in a cover photo.

This star continues to shine, regardless of how many people try to knock her down. We're constantly in awe.

4. Kesha

Kesha fought tooth and nail for the right to make new music without her abuser, Dr. Luke, whom Sony fired. Her newest release, Rainbow, was the first album she recorded without his input — and it was a smash. It was clearly shaped by her legal battle and her experiences as a survivor, but what no one could have predicted was that Rainbow would become an anthem for 2017 (#MeToo).

More: 20 of the Most Inspiring Modern Quotes on Feminism

5. Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman embodied all our rage when she told a reporter she wasn’t yet ready to speak about the wave of sexual assault allegations that stormed through Hollywood this fall. But a few months after she gave us a snippet of her thoughts in an Instagram post, she detailed the assault to the New York Times and also accused Quentin Tarantino of not doing enough to protect her from an accident during the making of Kill Bill.

6. Heather Heyer

Activist Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville, Virginia, when a neo-Nazi drove a car into a crowd of counterprotesters at a white supremacist rally. Her name and the quote in her last Facebook cover photo became rallying cries for those resisting white supremacist gatherings all over the country.

The Heather Heyer Foundation was founded in Heyer's name to provide scholarships and financial assistance to those in need who are passionate about civil rights and social change. In the wake of her death, Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, encouraged people to follow in her footsteps, stand up for social justice and keep fighting.

7. Ariana Grande

Following a terrorist attack at her Manchester show that killed 22 people and left 59 injured, Ariana Grande and her team pulled together a fundraiser concert in just a couple of weeks. The One Love Manchester show raised $13 million in funds to help bombing victims and their families.

8. Kelly Marie Tran

The first Asian woman to be cast in a lead role in the Star Wars franchise, Kelly Marie Tran broke down crying at the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere, and we all cried along with her. Representation matters.

More: 10 Women Who Changed Hollywood History

9. Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson has come a long way from Veronica Mars. When she was added to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok, Thompson came out in full support of the character’s canonical bisexuality (although it was never confirmed in the film, which is a representation issue for sure).

10. Danica Roem

Danica Roem became the first openly trans woman to be elected to a state legislature in 2017 after running on a platform that was purely based on policy. To make the victory even sweeter, she beat a legislator who fought (and lost) to ban transgender people from being allowed to use public restrooms. Way to go, Virginia.

11. Ava DuVernay

Writer, director and producer Ava DuVernay has been everywhere, and we love it! In addition to her incredible work on Queen Sugar, she put hope into the hearts of everyone when the first few trailers for Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time premiered. Her attention to detail and focus on bringing black girls to the forefront of incredible stories is so, so inspiring.

12. Roxane Gay

Author Roxane Gay faced a ridiculous amount of fat shame when she released Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body. Gay shot down her critics with aplomb and penned dozens of critical essays and op-eds that called attention to some of the worst things we've seen lately. What a badass.

More: 10 Books to Read With Your Kids During Women's History Month

13. Keah Brown

When Keah Brown created the #DisabledAndCute hashtag, it went viral and received nationwide media attention. Her incredibly personal, sharp-witted writing about the experience of being a black woman with cerebral palsy will be collected into a book of essays, The Pretty One, coming soon from Atria Books.

14. Patty Jenkins

The first woman to direct a DCEU film blew the entire franchise out of the water. Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman made $821.8 million at the box office, and we’re so ready to see her take on the rest of the world, too.

15. Issa Rae

Issa Rae's rise from YouTube star to celebrated actor, writer and director is one for the books. Her HBO series Insecure has been renewed for a third season, and she has unapologetically acknowledged that the series is not made for men or for white people. Rae carved out a space for herself on a white-dominated network, and it's awesome to see her (and Insecure) thrive.

16. Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe delivered a fiery speech at the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017, just months after launching the women's empowerment movement #FemTheFuture, which had its inaugural brunch last fall. And recently, she released the music video for "Make Me Feel," which saw her owning her bisexuality.

17. Gina Rodriguez

Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez dedicates weekly posts on her Instagram account to #MovementMondays, wherein she highlights a different person of color in the entertainment industry. These posts offer accolades and exposure to the accomplishments of actors, writers, producers, activists and more — and Rodriguez's 2.4 million followers are always stoked in the comments.

Seeing her lift up others each week is super inspiring, especially when celebrities are so often seen tearing each other down. Rodriguez has also spoken candidly about her experience as a Latina in Hollywood and how she's often criticized for not being "Latina enough."

18. Zoë Quinn

In 2014, video game developer Zoë Quinn’s ex-boyfriend made a blog post that sparked the Gamergate controversy, wherein men in the gaming community went on a targeted harassment campaign against Quinn and other women, including Brianna Wu and Anita Sarkeesian.

Quinn's book Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate hit stores in September 2017. It details her experiences with online harassment and offers solutions for combating the problem at every level. Quinn has become a voice for the voiceless in gaming and online harassment, and her social media presence and grassroots organizing are so important.

19. Lauren Duca

More than a year ago, journalist Lauren Duca wrote an article for Teen Vogue arguing that Trump was gaslighting America. She then launched the Thigh-High Politics column, taking an insult hurled at her and reclaiming it for her sharp political commentary pieces.

Duca has been the subject of intense, targeted harassment from several high-profile men — including "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli, who was banned from Twitter because of his obsession with her. Despite these threats to her well-being, Duca has never stopped delivering critical think pieces. Her 2017 Shorty Award for Best in Journalism was well deserved.

20. Janet Mock

Trans author, activist and TV host Janet Mock has long been an important voice in the transgender rights movement. She released her second book, Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me, in June 2017, and her insightful commentary in every interview has been a breath of fresh air.

21. Tina Tchen

Tina Tchen is a force to be reckoned with. Not only did she serve as an assistant to President Barack Obama, as chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama and as executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls from 2011 to 2017, but she's also currently one of the leaders of the legal defense fund for Time's Up, which has so far raised over $21 million. And that's not all. The Recording Academy (the organization behind the Grammy Awards) just named Tchen as the chair of its new task force for inclusion and diversity.

A version of this article was originally published in December 2017.