"Sorry seems to be the hardest word," sang Elton John, and he wasn't wrong. Why are so many people unable to say that one little word? Five letters. Two syllables. It should trip off the tongue the way "hello" does. But often, it doesn't. In fact, you probably know a person who never seems to apologize for any mistake — and if they do, it's with such agony and turmoil, you'd think they were ripping their own tongue out.

"Many people equate their behavior with their character," explains Vena M. Davis, licensed clinical social worker. "They think if they do something good, they are a good person... If they do something bad, they are a bad person. If they do something that hurts your feelings, they are someone who hurts others."

This applies to kids as well as adults — but as parents, we can do something about that. "Learning that mistakes are inevitable and that our significance as a person is not based solely on our behaviors is a great kick-off to an important conversation about apology," says Davis.

Here's what we should bear in mind when teaching our kids how to say they're sorry — and mean it.

More: "Stranger Danger" Is Over — Here's What Parents Are Teaching Their Kids Instead

Start early — just not too early

Before we teach a child to apologize, we need to be sure they are able to understand the perspectives of others. "By age 3 or 4, children can acknowledge others’ ideas. By age 5, children have the ability to imagine and anticipate consequences and the capacity to understand the purpose and need for saying sorry when their behaviors result in rule-breaking or hurting others," says Dr. Mayra Mendez, a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Having said that, it's never too early to start the groundwork with our kids. "Birth to age 3 provides a critical time for the young brain to develop consciousness of social rules, norms and expectations," says Mendez. "The foundation established during the early stages of brain development allows for gradual emotional growth and feelings identification, labels and projection. Development is a fluid and individualized process, but on average, children have the capacity to feel genuinely sorry as early as the preschool years."

Modeling is key

Kids learn from their environment what a healthy relationship is, and their parents are their main teachers. "When we have done something that has hurt or offended someone, it is important to reflect on how our actions were not in alignment with our goal in the relationship," says Davis. "It is important to go back to that person that we care about to complete the repair (i.e., apology) in order to mend the relationship." All parents have moments with their kids they wish they could go back and do differently. Of course, that's impossible, but what is possible is apologizing to the child.

More: How to Talk to Kids About Gender

Identify the what & why

A hollow apology is no better than the complete absence of an apology. "The most important thing to get across is sincerity," says Davis. "Modeling a sincere apology to your child will help them in their ability to apologize to the people in their world."

Davis offers a tip: Identify what you are sorry for and why you are sorry for it. Something like, "I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday. I know when I yell, it makes you feel sad. I don’t like yelling at you because I love you." Then chat with your kid about it if there's more to chat about, and feel free to circle back to the thing that was upsetting in the first place (e.g., chores, sibling rivalry, etc.) to try to problem-solve.

To help your child understand the difference between a sincere apology and a forced apology, Davis suggests framing the situation as if they were in the shoes of the person who was offended by their action. For example, "How would you feel if Jason snatched the toy out of your hand while you were playing with it? Do you think Jason feels sad/mad/scared? What do you think about saying sorry for snatching the toy out of his hand?"

"Identifying cause (e.g., snatching the toy from Jason) and effect (e.g., Jason feels sad/mad/scared) as well as chatting about appropriate social graces will teach the child how to have and maintain rich, meaningful relationships with the people who are special to them," says Davis.

FYI, your kid needs to actually be sorry

Forcing a child to apologize when they don't empathize teaches the wrong lesson: that apologies have no meaning. "Empathy is dismissed when apologies have no value," says Mendez. "When the words 'I’m sorry' are said without authenticity, responsibility for the hurtful action is evaded. Delivering a meaningless apology undermines respect for the other person."

More: 6 Reasons After-School Activities Are Worth the Effort

We live in a world where, too often, the most powerful, influential people never apologize even when they do seriously crappy things. Show your kid that there's a better way to be.

Former NSYNC member Lance Bass and his husband, Michael Turchin, are definitely in sync when it comes to family planning. Bass attended the Family Equality Council's 2018 Los Angeles Impact Awards on March 17, where he told Us Weekly he and Turchin, who after dating for three years, married in December 2014, have kids on the brain.

Former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon officially announced her campaign to become the Democratic candidate in the race for Governor of New York, oh, let's call it 24 hours ago and already there is a lot of strong public opinion about her bid.

There's a good mix of curiosity and excitement, including Nixon's SATC co-star Kristin Davis, who already supports her longtime friend ("I know she would be an excellent governor," Davis wrote in a supportive tweet). But there's also been a lot of concern about Nixon's qualifications and, perhaps most important of all, whether it's okay for the public to get behind yet another celebrity campaigning for a seat in government when the results have historically been mixed.

More: Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon Announces Her Campaign for Governor of New York

One of the more outspoken critics of Nixon's in the last day or so is former New York City mayoral candidate Christine Quinn, who had some rather terse words about Nixon's campaign announcement on Monday. "I’m surprised by this race. It’s a flight of fancy on her part," Quinn told The New York Post in an exclusive interview.

Of greater concern, though, is Quinn's reasoning behind her fervent disapproval of Nixon's foray into politics. While speaking with the Post, she seemed to conflate sexuality (both women have publicly come out; Quinn identifies as lesbian while Nixon identifies as bisexual) with the ability to run both a strong campaign and to do the job of governor properly, which is both rhetorically dangerous and is just plain disconcerting. "Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City. Now she wants to be an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. You have to be qualified and have experience. She isn’t qualified to be the governor," she told the Post.

Quinn continued in this same interview with the Post, noting that not only is she an "unqualified lesbian," but that her previous career as an actor doesn't actually equate to her being ready for the duties of public service. "She’s an accomplished actress, a supporter of political causes and that’s a good thing," Quinn noted. "Participating in rallies is important. But she’s never run an organization. Being an actress and celebrity doesn’t make you qualified for public office. This is a time to move away from celebrity and toward progressive leadership." Quinn's frank condemnation could be linked to, as People magazine points out, the fact that in 2013, Nixon publicly backed then-candidate Bill de Blasio for New York City mayor instead of Quinn.

More: 25 Sex and the City Quotes That'll Make You Want to Rewatch the Entire Series

For her part, Nixon rejected Quinn's harsh words to the Post, stating that this campaign bid is not about "her being a lesbian and my being a lesbian" but rather that she wants to push back at "the corruption in Albany [the seat of New York's state government]. It’s time for an outsider. I’m not an Albany insider."

Quinn hopped on Twitter a short while after her interview with the Post went live, attempting to smooth out some of her rougher comments from the piece. At the beginning of a four-tweet thread, she wrote, "To be clear, Cynthia Nixon’s identity has no bearing on her candidacy and it was not my intention to suggest it did. I want to be clear about that. I would never, EVER, criticize someone because of their identity."

Choosing to refocus the narrative towards a more sympathetic route, Quinn attempted to explain she knows that, as an out lesbian, she understands the tough race ahead of Nixon. "I’ve experienced it time and time again, and would never support it or condone it. As a lesbian who ran one of the most high profile races in the country, I know what that’s like. And I know it’s imperative that we encourage more members of our community to run for office."

More: Cynthia Nixon Won't Cop to Being Bisexual

Quinn's totally right about one thing (despite having contributed to it in the first place): if the kind of criticism and concern Nixon faces focuses on her sexuality and the way she chooses to live her very happy, very settled personal life instead of her political stances on major issues facing the state of New York, then yes, she has a long road ahead of her. But truly, Nixon doesn't deserve to have her personal life, including her sexuality, thrown in her face or used against her. Whatever Quinn's intended sentiment was that was meant to support her dislike for Nixon's run and regardless of whether or not Nixon's past lack of support fueled Quinn's critiques, Nixon deserves a fair shot now.

What's in the past should stay there and for now, all we need focus on is what Nixon's platform for this race is about and whether or not its something worth voting for.

That whole matchy-matchy thing you've thought about trying to pull off with your kid? Yeah, you can retire that thought right now. Just step away from the coordinating prints. Game over: None of us will ever achieve the level of high-couture mommy-and-me fashion that Beyoncé and Blue Ivy rocked this weekend at the 2018 Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles. Normally we can't even with these two, but this time, like, we really can't.

While the Duchess of Cambridge, formerly known simply as Kate Middleton, and Prince William are clearly deeply in love, they don't tend to show it in public. There's no official rule against royal PDA (obviously, or Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be in a lot of trouble, like, all the time), but it is frowned upon. Ever sticklers for the rules, it's rare for Kate and William to show any physical affection where curious eyes can see.

More: Kate Middleton Couldn't Let Prince William Have All the Intoxicated Fun

But that may be changing. Could Harry and Markle's influence be rubbing off on William and Kate? Because they have been going nuts with the PDA lately. Twice in the last few weeks, they've been caught and photographed while doing something sweet and physical.

During the royals' official St. Patrick's Day festivities, William and Kate were meeting Irish guards and William was spotted with his hand on his wife's green coat-clad back. I know. I know. Calm down, you crazy kids! It may not seem like much, but this is a big step for these two, who basically never show affection for one another publicly.

More: Kate Middleton's Snaps of Charlotte's First School Day Are Instagram Gold

And this comes just days after William showed the same kind of affection on Commonwealth Day, resting his hand on Kate's back while they walked. They're sure not making out in public, but this is a huge show for these two, who generally won't even be caught holding hands in public.

More: It's Not Easy Being Kate Middleton — Really, It Takes a Lot of Money

"The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles abroad," a royal etiquette expert explained to People magazine in 2016. Any time they're in public, William and Kate are "working representatives of British Monarchy," so they make sure to keep things as professional as possible.

Lindsay Lohan is back in front of the camera after landing a sweet gig as a spokesperson for a new website. While it's definitely a major win for Lohan, who's had a dearth of acting work lately and instead has spent her time occupying more of a relaxed "celebrity expat in Europe" headspace while making controversial comments about Harvey Weinstein and President Donald Trump. Once you see her in this new role, though, you'll wonder how this gig fell into her lap and, furthermore, what made her want to take it. Truly, you will be in awe, just as I was when I first saw the ad; whether that is a good thing or not remains to be seen. All I know right now is that this gig is weirdly kind of a good fit for Lohan.

More: Lindsay Lohan Is One of the Only People Defending Harvey Weinstein Right Now

On Tuesday, Lawyer.com, a new website dedicated to helping regular folks with various kinds of legal concerns find the right lawyer, dropped their new campaign onto the internet — nay, the unsuspecting world — and what to our wondering eyes did appear? Why, Ms. Lohan looking incredibly chipper and having ditched that very unusual accent she was sporting a few years ago.

The gist of the ad is that Lohan is here to talk to us about Lawyer.com and why she wanted to be the spokesperson for the up-and-coming company. The entire ad is predicated on jokes about Lohan's highly publicized legal problems, which she herself comments on in the ad, so it's not entirely at her expense. Essentially, why wouldn't we trust Lohan to know what it takes to find a good lawyer when she's had to do it herself?

"When Lawyer.com first reached out to me, I was confused and a little scared because I thought I was in trouble," Lohan tells us. "But when they asked me to be their spokesperson, I was intrigued. After meeting with the team, I realized Lawyer.com is just about helping people. From getting a DUI — let’s not pretend I didn’t get one, or two, or three or some others — it’s so simple, and it’s free."

Funny, right? Yeah, I didn't laugh that much either.

More: Lindsay Lohan Takes a Bold Stance by Showing Support for President Trump

According to one of the pages on Lawyer.com dedicated to Lohan's partnership with the company, this ad isn't the only one she has created, and it might not be the last — she's got a 12-month contract with the company. There could be a heck of a lot more corny ads based on her colorful (and that's putting it mildly) past in the works. Not only that, but Lohan has somehow parlayed this opportunity into not only being a spokesperson for the company but also a marketing and brand advisor, which will make her part owner of Lawyer.com. Wild.

More: Lindsay Lohan's Making Her Return to TV Alongside Rupert Grint

Listen, we may not have been expecting this from Lohan, but, as previously mentioned, it makes sense and it seems like it's a good fit for her. She's clearly trying to branch out from acting and try to stick the landing in some way, so why not this? It's been a heck of a couple of years for Lohan; let's hope this is the beginning of a smooth descent back into normalcy for her.

More than a quarter-century after her historic trip to space, Dr. Mae Jemison has her sights set on another frontier: advancing agriculture and science literacy.

Jemison, a former NASA astronaut and the first African-American female to travel in space is also an engineer, entrepreneur, physician and educator — and her latest project combines here areas of expertise in order to further science education and literacy, especially as it pertains to food production.

“Science literacy is so critical to our world because it touches everything that we do,” Jemison tells SheKnows. She is continuing her 20-year partnership with Bayer as well as joining forces with 4-H to work on a program called Science Matters, which is designed to equip at least 25,000 students with the tools they need to deepen their understanding of science.

More: Women Working to Cure Cancer Share Tips on Breaking Into a Male-Dominated Field

And while, yes, one of the goals is to get more people involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Jemison explains that the program is about more than training people for careers in science — it’s about giving people the information they need to be able to understand the world around them. She gives the example of women getting a breast cancer diagnosis; ideally, in a science-literate world, we’d be able to absorb and digest the relevant information to help us make informed choices about our health care.

Another significant way science education and literacy will factor into our future will be in relation to food production.

“By 2050, it is estimated that we’ll have over 2 billion people in this world,” Jemison says. “We need to produce at least 60 percent more food, and we need to do that in a sustainable manner.”

So how do we get where we need to be? Jemison says a lot of it has to do with science education and the fact that 80 percent of high school science teachers think that agricultural science is important, but at this point, only 22 percent include it in their curriculum. This is the aim of Science Matters: to bring attention to the thousands of available jobs in the agriculture industry, Jemison explains.

More: #MeToo Founder Tarana Burke on What's Next for the Movement

There’s also the matter of expanding what we think of in terms of what is involved with agriculture — it’s so much more than sitting on a tractor or growing crops in a field, Jemison says. In reality, careers in agriculture and food production involve everything from data science, robotics, artificial intelligence, microbiology and many others.

“All those careers are open — we just have to get in front of people,” she adds.

It goes without saying, but by Hollywood standards, Helen Mirren is a rarity. Now 72 years old, the award-winning actor has managed to navigate the industry without succumbing to its usual pitfalls.

So it was no surprise that within the first five minutes of chatting with Mirren, we're officially charmed. She's smart, warm, funny, sexy and a little irreverent in the most delightful ways. That's probably why she's in a league of her own in Hollywood — a celebrity with universal appeal who lives her own truth and, notably, continues to land (and nail) roles of true substance.

More: We Asked Helen Mirren What She Told Jane Fonda Backstage at the Oscars

The latest such role is Ella Spencer in The Leisure Seeker. On the surface, it's the classic American road trip. But the film digs deeper into the reality of life (and life together) as time begins its slow wind.

"I certainly think it's great they are being made," Mirren told us of movies that aren't age-reductive. "In the last 10 years, it's been such a huge shift toward the Marvel movies, and Marvel basically took over the film industry with the fun on one level but very destructive on another level. So all I can say is I'm happy [these movies] are being made now."

In this film, Ella and her husband, John (played by Donald Sutherland), demonstrate both the light and darkness inherent in loving someone through, well, everything.

Mirren understands the nuances of enduring love. Once a woman who insisted she'd never wed, she met director Taylor Hackford in 1985 on the film White Nights and has been married to him since 1997. For as much as young love is romanticized, there's so much to be said for two people showing up for each other every single day — after the frenzied pace of youth, after the kids and the careers. "When love does go on," as Mirren said.

"It's what we all do; we dreamily look into each other's eyes at the bar on a Friday night at the age of 23 and say, 'I just want to grow old with you.' It's a romantic image," she adds, countering, "The reality of growing old with someone is romantic! It's beautiful. But it's very different from what you imagine when you're young. If you've been through all these upheavals of life and challenges and arguments... There's something extraordinary about long love."

Where The Leisure Seeker and other films like it further the narrative is in treating the end of life as just that — life. "We deal with what happens when they lived happily ever after. The fact is it's not ever after. It's finite. They lived... what happened when they lived happily for a very long time." Mirren said with a laugh.

More: Helen Mirren's Most Memorable Quotes

In treating aging with that refreshing frankness, the film also ventures into territory treaded too infrequently: intimacy after a certain age. Not lights-off, eyes-closed, implied intimacy, but authentic intimacy.

"Oh, we talked about it a lot," Mirren revealed of how she and Sutherland approached their sex scene. "Donald was fabulous with that. The scene was written differently, and Donald and I — mostly Donald, I have to say — said, ‘You know what? This is not going to work. Let’s really think about this.’ And it was really he who came up with the scene as it is, and I was very grateful to him."

In the end, Mirren felt they captured something special. "I thought it was true. It was delicate. But you know, this is a couple who’s had a long sexual relationship with each other, as married couples do, and they go through all different kinds of phases of sexuality with each other. So it had a great truthfulness to it, and I thought it was beautiful," she said. "I was happy to do it."

The scene is arguably indicative of the dawning of a new age in film and TV: one in which women aren't viewed solely as sexual objects yet are viewed as vibrant and sexy over 40. Perhaps we'll finally see reflected that joy and sex and flirting and, you know, fun doesn't just fade to black.

Considering this in the context of sweeping movements like Time's Up and #MeToo, we wonder aloud what areas in Hollywood still most need to be improved upon for women. Mirren's been asked this question many times over the years, she said, and her answer has changed as the times have changed. There is a constant, though.

"I’ve always said, and I think it’s transpired to be true, worry about roles for women in real life. ‘Cause if night follows day, the roles for women in film will follow," Mirren elaborated. "Role models in real life are what’s needed. So encourage girls to go into technology, into science, obviously into other professions."

More: How Men Can Continue to Support the Time's Up Movement

She also noted that progress has been made, citing the rise of women in historically male-dominated work cultures such as law and academia. "The change in attitude is so substantial, obviously, now at this particular moment, but this has been coming a long time," said Mirren.

Of course, this means that the fabric of film and TV — and society as a whole — is changing right before our eyes. So, what advice would Mirren give to young women trying to break into the industry now? (Spoiler alert: It's sound advice for everyone.)

"Do your work diligently. Be honest. Be true. Be on time. Don’t be an asshole," she told us, laughing as she bit off those last words. "It’s the same advice I would have given 30 years ago, quite honestly."

Updated March 21, 2018, 7:50 a.m. PT: Now that The Weinstein Company has officially filed for bankruptcy, it's become public who the company still owes money to. And while there are some names on the list that Harvey Weinstein regularly did business with that aren't too surprising, others are more shocking. You can see the full, 394-page list here, but here are some of the most surprising celebs who never got what Weinstein owed them:

• David Bowie
• Quentin Tarantino
• Kevin Smith
• Dame Judi Dench
• Michael Bay
• Malia Obama
• Robert De Niro
• Daniel Radcliffe
• Casey Neistat
• Zoe Brock (one of Weinstein's accusers)

It probably would have been easy to just let Harvey Weinstein's embattled company, The Weinstein Company, fall into bankruptcy, ending the disgraced producer's long legacy of abusing women. But that would have provided no help or closure, plus it would have taken jobs from the 150 people the company employs, who don't deserve to be punished because their boss is a piece of human garbage. What to do? Obviously, women have the answer.

More: All the Celebrities Who Have Accused Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Misconduct — so Far

A group of investors, primarily female, saved TWC from bankruptcy at the last minute, swooping in with $500 million to buy the company. That includes $80 million they've pledged to put into a relief fund to disperse to Weinstein's many victims. They also plan to remove the board that covered up Weinstein's actions and install their own mostly female board and keep all of TWC's innocent employees in their jobs. Oh, and they're led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, the former head of the Small Business Administration during Barack Obama's presidency and basically just an all-around feminist badass who believes in giving women all the same opportunities that are given to men.

"I have had a long-standing commitment to fostering women ownership in business," she said in a statement. "This potential deal is an important step to that end."

More: A Timeline of Harvey Weinstein's Life in Hollywood

The deal isn't done yet. It will take 40 days to be complete. But at the end of that, the women who are stepping up hope to have a movie and TV production studio with a new name and a new commitment to giving women a platform to tell their stories. The timing for this couldn't be more perfect. Women are poised to run the new, post-reckoning Hollywood, and the industry can only get better because of it.

The cold, hard reality of adopting a pet is that you'll never view a long vacation quite the same. It's difficult enough to leave our fur babies alone all day while we're at work. How the heck are we expected to relax and have an amazing time on a luxurious trip if we know our pets are sitting at home alone feeling sad, abandoned and totally miserable?

You have to decide: Is it worth packing up all those chew toys and bringing your pet along for the ride? If yes and you're flying, then it's time to check out the major airlines that actually allow pets in the cabin with you.

More: Here's Why Your Dog Barks All Night Long — & How to Stop It

* Please note that many of the airlines listed have an additional carry-on pet charge that you must pay upon check-in at the airport.

1. Air Canada

• Types of pets allowed: Cats and dogs small enough to fit and stay comfortably in their carrier under the seat in front of you (meaning they must be able to stand up and turn around)
• Maximum weight: 22 pounds including carrier
• Cost: $50 – $59 or $100 plus taxes each way, depending on destination
• International?: Yes

2. Air France

• Types of pet allowed: Small dogs and cats
• Maximum weight: 17 pounds including transport bag (guide dogs are authorized regardless of their weight); as of November 2017, crates are no longer allowed in the cabin, no matter their dimension
• Cost: $153.56 for flights departing from the U.S.
• International?: Yes, but note that this airline does not accept pets in the business cabin on intercontinental flights. The pet must travel in the hold.

For more info, visit Air France's website.

3. American Airlines

• Types of pets allowed: Cats and dogs over 8 weeks of age who are able to sit in a kennel under the seat in front of you for the entire flight
• Maximum weight: 20 pounds including carrier
• Cost: $125 each way
• International?: Yes, but no in-cabin pets on transatlantic flights or flights longer than 12 hours

Note that checked pets cannot travel on A321, A321S, A321H, A320 and A319 aircrafts. For more info, such as additional destination restrictions, visit American Airlines' website.

4. Delta

• Types of pets allowed: Dogs, cats (domestic and international) and household birds (domestic U.S. only); must be 10 weeks old for domestic travel and 16 weeks for international
• Maximum weight: No limit, but pet must fit comfortably in carrier under seat
• Cost: $125 in North America and $200 international, one way
• International?: Yes

For more info on additional restrictions, visit Delta's website.

5. JetBlue

• Types of pets allowed: Small cats and dogs
• Maximum weight: 20 pounds with carrier; the carrier cannot exceed the following dimensions: 17 inches long (43.18 centimeters) x 12.5 inches wide (31.75 centimeters)  x 8 inches high (21.59 centimeters)
• Cost: $100 each way
• International?: Yes

For more info, head to JetBlue's website.

6. Southwest

• Types of pets allowed: Small cats and dogs
• Maximum weight: No limit, but must fit comfortably in carrier under seat
• Cost: $95 each way
• International?: No (with the exception of trained assistance and emotional support animals, though no animals allowed to/from Jamaica) 

For more info, visit Southwest's website.

More: Does Your Dog Smell Bad? It Could Signal a Serious Health Issue

7. United

After drawing severe backlash for the death of a dog and the airline's mishandling of animals, United announced on March 20 that, effective immediately, it will not accept any new reservations for PetSafe travel (animals traveling in cargo) until May 1. This does not, however, affect animals traveling in-cabin.

• Types of pets allowed: Domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and birds (excluding cockatoos) older than 8 weeks
• Maximum weight: No limit, but must fit comfortably in carrier under seat
• Cost: $125 each way with an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside the U.S.
• International?: Rules for international in-cabin pets vary — contact the United customer-contact center for info on specific flights; pets are not permitted on flights to, from or through Australia, Hawaii or Micronesia

Visit United's website for more info.

8. Alaska Air

• Types of pets allowed: Cats and dogs (at least 8 weeks old and weaned), household birds and domesticated rabbits
• Maximum weight: 20 pounds including carrier
• Cost: $100 each way
• International?: Yes, to and from Mexico with proper veterinary documentation

Visit Alaska Air's website for more information.

Travel tips

Once you've decided on the perfect pet carrier, be sure to book your flight reservation early, as many airlines allow only a certain number of in-cabin pets per flight. Before booking any trip, always check with the airline for the most up-to-date information about how to fly in-cabin with your pet.

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

With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding on the horizon (May 19! It's so close!), it seems the entire world has come down with royal fever. It's hard not to become intoxicated by the couple, who seems to have walked straight out of a fairy tale. It's also not hard to understand why we're seeing royals in our films and TV shows too — including Victoria on PBS, about real Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.

More: The Queen Has Helped Tick One Big To-Do Off the Royal Wedding Checklist

While you're probably familiar with the Netflix show The Crown, about Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) and Prince Philip (Matt Smith), there's also a show, called Victoria, about another royal couple. It tells the often romantic and sometimes scandalous story of Prince Albert (Tom Hughes) and Queen Victoria (Jenna Coleman), the royals who led Great Britain into the Victorian era, a time of peace and scientific enlightenment.

Victoria airs on PBS and is finally back for Season 2, so we thought we'd take a closer look at their real marriage. All families have secrets, and royal families are no different. Here are seven things you need to know about the real Victoria and Albert.

1. True love

First cousins Victoria and Albert met when they were both just 16. Both expressed fondness for each other in letters written to family members, but the idea of a marriage between them only occurred when their mutual uncle Leopold suggested it. By then, Victoria was already queen, and Albert was forbidden from proposing to the royal, so it was Victoria who popped the question. They married in 1840, and she wrote this about her wedding night: "...his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms and we kissed each other again and again! His beauty, his sweetness and gentleness — really how can I ever be thankful enough for such a husband."

2. The "shadow side of marriage"

Victoria and Albert's marriage was clearly a passionate one, and it produced nine children. In the 19th century, childbirth was a truly dangerous affair due to the high mortality rate and incredible pain. But hope was nearby. As medicine progressed, anesthesia in the form of chloroform became available, but it was highly controversial. Because the Bible says women are meant to bear children in pain due to Eve's betrayal in the Garden of Eden, most doctors and husbands were against anesthesia. Luckily, both Victoria's doctors and her husband agreed to give it a try. Once the people of England heard their beloved queen was using chloroform, it became common for other women to use it, too. Thank goodness!

More: 13-Year-Old Queen Elizabeth Fell in Love With Philip at First Sight

3. Power struggles

Albert was intelligent and enterprising, but despite his love for Victoria often felt frustrated by his lack of power. But as Victoria grew more and more occupied with pregnancy and breastfeeding — which she called "disgusting," saying it made her feel more "...like a rabbit or a guinea pig than anything else and not very nice" — Albert took on more responsibilities. Victoria resented Albert at times, and though he was quite capable, she was the queen of England after all, and the power struggle often led to huge fights. At one point, after one of her "temper tantrums," Albert began to worry his wife had inherited madness from her grandfather, King George III.

4. Shots ring out

It was customary for the queen and the prince to ride in an open-air carriage and wave to their subjects. From 1840 to 1882, Victoria was shot at no fewer than six times while in her carriage. Most of the assailants, all male, were ruled to be insane. One man, ex-army officer Robert Pate, struck the queen with his cane. Though it was risky to ride unprotected in public, her subjects were sympathetic to the threats on her life and her popularity rose.

5. Humanitarians

Because the crown had to appear neutral on subjects like politics, Prince Albert was able to give humanitarian issues a voice. He often spoke out against slavery. Though the slave trade was abolished in England in 1807, it was still taking place throughout British colonies. Albert contributed to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, making it illegal throughout the empire. Albert also spoke out about child labor and helped abolish the practice of dueling between army officers.

6. Albert's untimely death

In 1861, a scandal emerged regarding the royal couple's eldest son, Bertie (who would become King Edward VII). The 19-year-old was in Ireland training with the army and had several sexual trysts with actress Nellie Clifden. Word got back to Albert, and he went to Cambridge, where Bertie was going to school, to counsel him on morality. They had long talks outdoors in the rain, which it is thought proved to be fatal for Albert. Albert came down with typhoid fever and died three weeks later. He was 42. Victoria blamed her son for Albert's death until the day she died.

7. Victoria after Albert

Victoria was devastated by Albert's death. She became a single mom to nine kids and lost the love of her life. Publicly, she went into mourning, donning black dresses for 40 years. But it's widely believed she became romantically involved with her Scottish servant John Brown, often sleeping in a room adjoining his. Their story is told in the film Mrs. Brown. After Brown's death, Victoria became close with Abdul Karim, a Muslim from India, who became her closest confidant. Her family despised him, and immediately after her death in 1901 ordered all their letters burned and deported him back to India. Their story is told in the recent film Victoria & Abdul.

More: 17 Things That Will Happen When Queen Elizabeth Dies

While all queens have complicated and intriguing lives, the sheer number of movies and TV shows based on Queen Victoria prove how influential and beloved she remains. Season 2 of Victoria is already underway; you can watch it on your local PBS station as part of the Masterpiece series.

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

Easter's just around the corner, and you know what that means: Some kids near you are about to be hopped up on some serious sugar. Hey, it's not their fault the small but mighty jelly bean is so darn good. Much like a tortilla chip, you can never just have one, right? But I digress...

The point is, not even the most interactive Easter egg hunts are going to be enough to quell the inevitable jelly bean-fueled jitters. You'll need to keep kids busy if you want there to be any chance of them falling asleep at a reasonable hour. Thankfully, there are plenty of eggcellent ways to occupy every bunny (yes, even the adults) at your Easter soiree, from crafty contests to some good, old-fashioned running around.

More: Easter Egg Hunt Ideas You Haven't Tried Before

1. Bunny bowling

What better way to knock out some energy than by knocking out some pins? For this game, you'll need to get your paws on six to 10 wooden pins. If you can't find them at your local craft store, don't worry; soda bottles can work just as well as long as you fill them with sand or dirt to weigh them down a bit. Then, follow Handmade Charlotte's lead by painting on whiskers and gluing on some ears.

Once you have everything set up, have the kids (or adults, no judgment) take a ball — a baseball or softball should do — and get to rollin'. Smiles guaranteed; scoring optional.

2. Egg roll

Next up: the classic egg roll. This game, beloved by generations, is a favorite at the annual White House Easter celebration. First, you'll need to set the playing field. Gather some brightly colored string, ribbon or twine and create lanes and a finish line on the grass. To ensure that the lines stay put, stake the ends into the ground with sticks or skewers (Really, you can use a variety of items to mark the finish line. Even a flattened scarf will do.) 

To play, each participant will need a large wooden or plastic spoon and one hard-boiled or plastic egg. Then, when the start time is called, the players will have to use their spoons to roll their eggs down the playing field. The first one to cross the finish line wins.

More: 25 Easter Basket Ideas for Kids of All Ages

Next: Hat decorating contest

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3. Easter bonnet decorating contest

Is there anything cuter than these Whoville-inspired hats? Actually, yes. Your kid wearing one.

First, you'll need to ensure everyone has a hat. These can be of the inexpensive baseball, sun or bucket variety. Or if you'd like to go a different route, you can take a paper grocery bag, remove the handles and roll the top until it can fit snugly on your little one's head.

Then set out all your decorative items. These can be plastic eggs, flowers, stickers, glitter glue, ribbon and/or pipe cleaners. The possibilities are endless! To apply heavier items, make sure parents are on hand to operate a glue gun.

Once the kids have finished, you can hand out awards for categories like most creative, silliest and best Dowager Countess impression.

4. Basket(case) race

Another fun, simple game is the basket race. If you played egg roll, you can reuse the same lanes and finish line. If not, you can simply have participants line up and race to the nearest tree.

The game itself is pretty straightforward. The contestants will each place a basket on their heads and try to keep it balanced as they walk toward the finish line. Should a basket fall, that player will have to return to the starting point and begin all over again.

More: 22 Unique Easter Basket Gifts for Kids That Won't Break the Bank

Next: Easter egg charades

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5. Easter egg charades

Let's get some mileage out of those plastic eggs, shall we? This version puts a festive spin on the classic game charades. Fill each egg with a movie title, person or animal, and break into teams. Then one person from each group will take turns drawing an egg and pantomiming to her teammates. The first team to score 15 points (or any number you choose, really) wins.

6. Decorate a giant egg

You can play this game one of two ways.

For the first, you'll need a massive Easter egg. You can make this out of paper mache, foam or even draw it on butcher paper. Then, give each kid some paint or markers and have them go to town. If you want to make this competitive, you can award kids similarly to the decorative hat game.

For the second option, you'll need a few more items, including garbage bags, Easter grass, streamers and markers. First, you'll break players into teams of two or more and have each group designate one child to be its "egg." Then that person will step into a white trash bag that's been cut to have armholes and leg holes. The bag's opening should be toward the child's chest.

From there, each team will have a set period of time to stuff their egg with Easter grass and decorate the exterior using the streamers and markers. The most creative — and convincing — giant Easter egg wins.

More: 20 Printable Easter-Themed Coloring Pages for Kids

7. Bonus: Play with confetti eggs

Everyone will have a blast playing with these confetti-filled eggs. The eggs, or cascarones, were popularized in Spanish culture and are a fun way to spread a little cheer — and to make sure none of your breakfast shells go to waste.

You may recall men and women wailing in the streets and tearing their clothes when perennially hot actors Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling married and decided to breed with each other. The envious weeping of the public at large has died down some over the past few years, as Mendes and Gosling are notoriously private about their family life, so it's not like they're rubbing it in our faces every day (thanks, guys).

The couple now has two daughters: Esmeralda, 3-1/2, and Amada, who will turn 2 this May according to Us Weekly.

Recently, Mendes chatted a little bit with E! Online about motherhood — and she was so relatable as a mama, we had to laugh.

More: Eva Mendes & Laura Prepon Are Working Mom Goals

Mendes was promoting her new fashion line — The Eva Mendes Collection for New York & Company — when the E! Online reporter asked what her kids like to wear. "Thank God there's no fashion talk. But I let them wear whatever they want," she replied. "They have the right… They want to wear jammies all day or if they want to go in a costume to the market, I let them do that stuff. I let them win that battle. That's the easy one. I'm trying to get them to eat broccoli. That's the one I want to win. They can wear whatever they want.

Go, Eva! She also spoke a while back with Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show about Esmeralda and the way she describes being completely exhausted — and loving it — is super-sweet.

"I'm so incredibly tired. I thought I was tired before at times, you know, but no. Nothing like this, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Mendes told Ellen.

More: Surprise! Eva Mendes Had Her Baby Two Weeks Ago!

There are no pics of Esmeralda or Amada on either Mendes' or Gosling's social media. Like, none. (Not even the sneaky profile of a swaddled baby in a shadowy room thing. This Hollywood couple is all about their daughters' privacy. "Whether we like it or not, privacy is going to be very difficult for Esmeralda. I think it’s unfair but that’s our reality," Mendes said to Violet Grey prior to Amada's arrival. "So Ryan and I decided early on to give her as much privacy as we could. And my pregnancy was the first opportunity to give her that."

Mendes continued, "It’s such an intimate time for the mother, too. I know that it seems all very innocuous when you’re flipping through a tabloid at the doctor’s office or see a photo of a pregnant lady online, but I find the media’s 'bump watch' obsession to be both intrusive and stressful. So I made a decision to eject myself from it completely. I was like, 'Annnnd I’m out.'"

Sounds like Mendes and Gosling know exactly what they're doing as parents. Esmeralda and Amada might have a shot at a kind-of, sort-of normal Hollywood upbringing after all. Don't expect any playdates with the Kardashian-Jenner crowd, kids.

For two seasons, we've watched Chrissy Metz navigate all sorts of drama on This Is Us, but unfortunately, this is something she has had to do in real life too. In her new memoir, This Is Me, Metz reveals that growing up, her stepfather physically and emotionally abused her.

“I’m a tough cookie,” Metz tells People. “But it’s one of those things that attempts to break your spirit.”

In her book, Metz writes about how her father left her family when she was 8 years old, leaving her mother with three children to raise on her own. Her mother later remarried a man Metz refers to as "Trigger" with whom her mother had a baby. And while Trigger clearly loved his biological children, Metz says that he didn't treat her well, and her mother didn't see that because she was always at work.

More: Kelly Clarkson Has No Time for Twitter Body-Shamers

“My body seemed to offend him, but he couldn’t help but stare, especially when I was eating," Metz writes. "He joked about putting a lock on the refrigerator. We had lived with a lack of food for so long that when it was there, I felt like I had to eat it before it disappeared. Food was my only happiness.”

After that, Metz says she started eating in secret — getting up for a snack in the middle of the night, or sneaking food to eat in the bathroom. Then, the physical abuse started.

“I don’t remember why Trigger hit me the first time," she writes. "He never punched my face. Just my body, the thing that offended him so much. He shoved me, slapped me, punched my arm. He would hit me if he thought I looked at him wrong. I remember being on the kitchen floor after he knocked me over, and I was begging to know what I did. He just shoved me hard with his foot.”

More: Why Are We So Fascinated by Celebrity Body-Shaming?

Metz says that when she was 14, Trigger started to force her to do weigh-ins. He would sit on a chair next to the scale and yell, "Good God almighty!" when she stepped on, demanding to know why she was "getting fatter," she writes. At that point, his physical abuse had gotten worse.

"One time he hit me, and I looked right in his face. If I had a gun, I thought, I would shoot you,” she writes.

Metz says she felt conflicted, though, because she did love him and wanted him to accept her as part of his family. Eventually, they did build a relationship and she indicates that they are now in a good place. But before that happened, she used comedy as a coping mechanism — then turned that into a career — and says she has no regrets about the life experiences that got her to where she is now.

“We all go through stuff," Metz writes. "But I truly believe that everything that happened to me, happened for me. [I’ve learned] some beautiful lessons.”

Hya-what, you ask? While the words “hyaluronic acid” may not roll off the tongue, it’s an ingredient you should get to know if you’re looking for that ever-elusive glowy skin. Hyaluronic acid (or HA, as the beauty pros like to call it) is a substance that occurs naturally in the skin, and it’s a not-so-secret skin care weapon that can keep skin looking plump and feeling quenched.

Not to be confused with exfoliating acids like salicylic or glycolic, hyaluronic acid works to cushion and lubricate our joints, nerves, skin, hair and eyes, says Dr. Benjamin Barankin, a Toronto dermatologist and medical director of Toronto Dermatology Centre. “About 50 percent of the body’s hyaluronic acid supply is found in our skin, where it helps to keep the skin soft and supple,” he says.

But (spoiler alert) that’s not always the case.

“Unfortunately, our body’s production of hyaluronic acid declines with age,” Barankin says. As the skin loses its ability to retain water, signs of aging such as dryness, lines and sagging creep in. Thankfully, there’s no need to start endlessly chugging H₂O when you can help offset the effects of water loss with the simple addition of a hyaluronic acid moisturizer, such L’Oréal Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care Moisturizer for Normal Skin, to your skin care routine.

“When used in products, HA binds water and results in less wrinkled-looking skin,” says Barankin. “It has excellent hydrating properties, attracting and retaining more than 1,000 times its weight in water to reduce the look of [surface] wrinkles and crepey skin.” While it’s never too late to start reaping the benefits of a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, Barankin suggests making one part of your beauty regimen after age 25.

Want something that layers well under makeup? L’Oréal Hydra Genius fits the bill. It’s loaded with three different kinds of hyaluronic acid along with aloe water to keep skin hydrated and looking radiant all day long. And it’s available for normal, oily and extra dry skin types.

To apply, “dab each area of the face with product, then gently rub in circles,” recommends Barankin, adding, “Don’t forget the eyelids.” If you’re particularly dry, spend lots of time in the water or have extensive sun damage, it’s a good idea to use it both morning and night.

This post is sponsored by L'Oréal.

Even if you're an HGTV star known for your talent for finding and flipping homes, you can still fall victim to a bad deal. That's apparently what happened to Tarek El Moussa, who's suing Southern California realtor Shahen Martirosian for $20,000 after he was allegedly conned while trying to buy a home.

More: Tarek & Christina El Moussa Get Sentimental as a Major Anniversary Nears

El Moussa filed the lawsuit, which alleges he was attempting to buy a home to flip from Martirosian, who told him he'd have to put a $20,000 deposit in escrow in order for the bank to approve the sale of the home. El Moussa put down the cash and alleges Martirosian then converted it into personal-use funds and stopped answering calls from El Moussa. Obviously, the sale didn't go through, and El Moussa claims he found himself with no house and out the $20,000 he put down for the sale.

More: Tarek El Moussa Just Announced His Next TV Show, & It Looks So Uplifting

He's now suing Martirosian for that $20,000 plus interest and damages. Since this all went down in 2015, just the interest is going to add a pretty penny to the amount Martirosian will have to pay up if El Moussa wins this battle. And if what he wrote in his court documents is accurate, El Moussa definitely deserves a payday after all this hassle. There are two sides to every story, though, and Martirosian now has a chance to respond to the allegations before this case moves forward in court.

More: Tarek & Christina El Moussa Gave a Big Update on Flip or Flop

Since we now know that El Moussa is moving forward with another season of Flip or Flop amid his divorce from his wife and costar Christina El Moussa, we can't help but wonder if this house was supposed to be one for an episode. We'll probably never know now, though, and we're sure the El Moussas came up with plenty of other homes to buy that didn't end up the subject of a legal battle.

In case your horoscope missed it this month, there’s something very exciting to look forward to in your future. Nope, it’s not new love. Ah, not a new job either. But still very exciting. What is it? I'm getting a reading...

It's a Crystal Ball Frappuccino from Starbucks!

More: The Wonderfully Bizarre Starbucks Drinks You Can Get Around the World

Take a break from your tarot cards to try out this fun new offering. Photos have been rolling in on Instagram from baristas and sign designers who are getting ready for the drink, which will be launching tomorrow.

Although Starbucks hasn’t confirmed the release, the colorful new drink is rumored to taste like peaches and cream with white mocha around the cup and rock candy sprinkles.

More: Will You Try the New Pickle Juice Slush at Sonic?

While several stores have posted that the drink will be available starting March 22, a few people seem to have worked their magic on the baristas to get them a day early. But don't leave it up to fate — you'll need to be quick. Other outlets have reported the drink will only be available through March 25.

More: Weight Watchers Is Launching Blue Apron-Style Meal Kits

Starbucks has rolled out several limited-time options in recent years that have generated quite a bit of hype, like the Unicorn Frappuccino from April 2017 or the Dragon Frappuccino later the same month. They've also used drinks to celebrate holidays, like the Vampire Frappuccino from Halloween of last year. All told, if you haven’t become a Starbucks Gold member yet, it probably won’t be long before you conjure up enough points.

Just don’t skip the whipped cream on this one or you might not be able to see into your future.

Actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard manage to juggle family life and two careers — but Bell is the first to admit it ain't easy. Bell spoke to E! News on the red carpet on Saturday, March 17 at the premiere of her new adventure documentary, Pandas. Bell is the narrator. Shepard is currently working on a new podcast, Armchair Expert — including an episode in which he and Bell talk about love, marriage and what it means to be vulnerable. (Damn, we love these two.)

More: Kristen Bell Became Everyone's Marriage Counselor on Valentine's Day

Bell and Shepard have two daughters: Lincoln, 4, and Delta, 3. So, how does the power couple manage it all? "It's choreographed, I guess," said Bell, "to make sure someone is always there and present for our kids." She added, "It's a very particular family schedule when we're both working. Although I'm not working right now so he is taking on a larger work load."

Bell said that she and Shepard feel incredibly fortunate to have the jobs they do in Hollywood, a "family-friendly" industry. "You can bring your children to work, or I could nurse the baby when I was working early on," Bell said. "I hope to see more businesses — not just the acting world — allow that kind of stuff."

More: Kristen Bell at the SAG Awards Proves She Should Host Everything

Searching for a name for your soon-to-be-born baby boy isn't easy. The options are seemingly endless. Should you go with a baby name that honors your heritage? Or should you go with something more cutting-edge? But in the end, sometimes going back to basics is truly the best route. Modern names may come and go, but a sturdy, classic, all-American name will stick around forever.

We've rounded up a list of names for boys that are might be traditional, trendy or retro; but they all have one thing in common: They are beloved in America.

More: Long, Elegant Baby Names for Your Little Lady or Gentleman

Popular American boy names

Each year, the Social Security Administration releases a list of the top baby names of that year, taken from birth certificates. Noah has nabbed the top spot for the past three years running. So who else made the list?

According to the most recent list released (in 2017), these are currently the top 10 names for baby boys:

• Noah
• Liam
• Mason
• Jacob
• William
• Ethan
• James
• Elijah
• Michael
• Benjamin

Top American boy names of all time

The Social Security Administration also compiled the most popular baby boy names of the past 100 years (from 1916 to 2015). This list gives us a great snapshot of the top American boy names ever.

These are the top 10 most popular boy names of the last century:

• James
• John
• Robert
• Michael
• William
• David
• Richard
• Joseph
• Thomas
• Charles

Trendy American boy names

Wondering what boy names are the hottest of the year? These are climbing the charts the fastest.

Check out the modern and upcoming all-American boy names.

• Kylo
• Creed
• Benicio
• Adonis
• Fox
• Kye
• Hakeem
• Shepherd
• Wilder
• Zayn
• Mikael
• Eason
• Karim
• Franco
• Apollo
• Zyaire
• Kingsley
• Bridger
• Grey
• Alistair

Classic boy names of the past

Old-fashioned names are making a huge comeback here in the U.S. These names are classic, and you'll probably even find a couple in your family tree.

If you are looking for a distinguished and traditional all-American name, check out some of these options.

• Walter
• Arthur
• Samuel
• Clarence
• Ernest
• Oscar
• Alfred
• Perry
• Wesley
• Percy
• Amos
• Rufus
• Eli
• Owen
• Silas

All-American celebrity boy names

We couldn't leave off the baby names of some of our favorite American celebrities. These are unique, trendsetting and forward-thinking.

Some of our favorite celebrity boy names:

• Bingham Hawn — son of Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy
• Diesel Dean — son of Olympian Jennie Finch
• Finn — son of actor Autumn Reeser
• Kannon — son of actor Kevin James
• Skyler — son of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe
• Felix — son of actor Elizabeth Banks
• Forest Sage — son of actors Teresa Palmer and Mark Webber
• Zeppelin Bram — son of actors Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris
• Bronx Mowgli — son of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and actor/singer Ashlee Simpson

A version of this article was originally published in October 2011.

There are few things in life more nostalgic than cracking open an ice-cold soda pop. Back in the day, soda was a rare treat doled out when parents finally relented to endless begging for a frosty pop. And if we've heard it once, we've heard it a million times: Soda will rot your teeth and your insides. Sadly, yes, most companies slip a ton of nasty hidden ingredients into mass-produced sodas — but if you go old-school and make your own, you can sidestep said nasties.

Creating your own healthier version of soda pop is as easy as creating a flavored syrup at home and pouring some cold seltzer over it in a nice, tall glass. Bada-bing, bada-boom — instant homemade soda.

More: These Homemade Snacks Are So Much Better Than the Vending Machine

How to make homemade soda

One of the great things about making soda at home is that you can control the intensity of the flavor and the relative sweetness of the resulting beverage. You can experiment with flavors and even use real fruit to make the syrups.

Making syrup for soda is as easy as making a simple syrup (sugar and water) and adding flavoring. To use fresh fruit, choose fruits that are very ripe and juicy and either put them through a juicer or puree them and press through a strainer. If you use canned or bottled juices, look for juices that have very high natural juice content and a very low sugar content.

More: The Wonderfully Bizarre Starbucks Drinks You Can Get Around the World

Basic soda syrup recipe

Yields about 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 – 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh fruit juice or concentrated fruit juice (the more concentrated the juice, the more intense the final flavor)

Directions:

1. Combine the ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer until the mixture is reduced by half. (To intensify the flavor, you can add a dash of an appropriately flavored extract.) 
2. Store the finished syrup in a squeeze bottle in the refrigerator for instant access.
3. To make homemade soda, simply add syrup to a glass of ice and top off with seltzer water or club soda.

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