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Gwen Stefani Has a New Gig That Will Prevent Her From Touring

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One of the best things about visiting Las Vegas is the insane amount of talent all clustered in one little strip of land, where they continue to thrill visitors with showstopping performances each and every night. From Céline Dion to Britney Spears to Lady Gaga, the current pool of talent lighting up Las Vegas is immense. That pool just got a little deeper thanks to an announcement on Tuesday that Gwen Stefani will be heading to Sin City for her own residency beginning in June 2018.

More: Gwen Stefani Is So Happy With Her New "Country" Life

Rolling Stone reports that Stefani's show, currently titled Gwen Stefani — Just a Girl, will be custom-made for Zappos Theater inside Planet Hollywood. The space seats 7,000 people and has 60 ultra-high-def projectors and LED walls. It’s a space that been tested by previous major celebrity residencies before too. Jennifer Lopez and the Backstreet Boys are performing there now and Pitbull will reportedly join them later this month.

No doubt (see what I did there?) Stefani, who seems to be born to create, also relishes the idea of having the unique challenge provided by a residency. “To be able to do a show in Vegas is such an incredible honor. Growing up in Anaheim, Calif., I could never have imagined one day having my own Vegas residency. I have been so fortunate to tour throughout my career, but to create a show for Vegas is something I've never experienced and I can't wait," she said in a statement alongside the residency announcement news.

As Stefani’s three kids grow older — right now they’re 4, 9 and 11 years old — it makes sense that she might want to spend more time with them. A residency, which keeps her in one place and close to both her home in Los Angeles and boyfriend Blake Shelton's home in Oklahoma, seems like the perfect solution. A source close to Stefani told E! News, “This is about spending more time with her kids. She doesn’t want to go back out on a big tour again and be away from her kids for six months at a time. There’s flexibility that comes with doing a residency. She’ll be able to come in and out of Las Vegas for a couple weeks at a time throughout the year and she’ll never be too far from home.”

MoreBlake Shelton & Gwen Stefani Are Having a Lovefest on Twitter

...or too far from her sweetheart. The couple, who have been dating since November 2016, are the kind of adorable that could make you sick if it weren’t so perfect. She’s been visiting his Oklahoma ranch with her sons, and recently, Shelton called her “an adopted Okie,” also adding, “I love you, pretty girl.”

Blake Shelton Tweet

Blake Shelton Tweet

Now that her Las Vegas residency has been announced, Stefani's schedule will be shifting around to make accommodations for this show and any other performing or TV duties. Stefani will take a few breaks during her residency, with announced performances at the end of June and throughout July. She'll then take some time off until December after the Christmas holidays and will return in February 2019 and go through mid-March.

Stefani was rumored to be working on new music when she left The Voice after Season 12, and now we know she may have been working on these plans as well. She’s never been one to just take time off and play. During her last reunion with her band, No Doubt, she was working on both a solo album and a group album, and while on break from The Voice, she released two new albums in 2016 and 2017. After leaving The Voice, she also produced an animated series for Nickelodeon based on the Harajuku girls.

More: Blake Shelton's Helping Gwen Stefani With Her Next Album

Tickets for Stefani’s new show will go on sale April 13 to the public. Some presales for American Express cardholders and Caesars Entertainment Total Rewards members will start on April 10. All shows will start at 9 p.m. with seat prices starting at $59. This should be a residency to remember!


Seth Meyers & Wife Alexi Ashe Welcome 2nd Child — in Their Apartment Lobby

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What an arrival! The Late Night with Seth Meyers host and his wife, Alexi Ashe, greeted their second child on April 8 — on the floor of the lobby of their apartment building in New York City.

Meyers regaled his Monday audience with the tale of his new son's arrival. The newborn — Axel Strahl — just couldn't wait for the trip to the hospital. “I called 911, and over the course of a minute conversation, I said, ‘We’re about to have a baby — we’re having a baby — we had a baby,’” Meyers quipped. He thanked the New York Police Department and his neighbors, both of whom were on the scene almost immediately after baby Axel made his appearance. The police helped cut the baby's cord, while neighbors provided warmed towels from their dryers to keep the baby toasty (that's the NYC we love!). Check out the whole story.

Seth Meyers new baby

Seth Meyers new baby

Meyers said he was surprised when his mother-in-law urged him, "We have to go to the hospital now!" And while heading out to meet their Uber (ha! celebs — they're just like us, even during birth), Ashe informed Meyers there was no way they were going to get to the hospital.

More: Seth Meyers Packed a Lot of Meaning Into His First Son's Name

"We're in the lobby, and we're walking down the steps, and my wife just says, 'I can't get in the car. I'm going to have the baby right now. The baby is coming,'" Meyers explained. "I'm just trying to calm her down. Again, I know 'cause I've been through exactly one birth."

Ashe then calmly stated, "The baby is out." Rock star.

Meyers explained his son's unique middle name — a nod to Ashe's grandparents, who met in Austria the day after being liberated from a concentration camp at the end of WWII.

Meyers became tearful as he spoke about his wife giving birth, but joked, “I’m getting choked up thinking about how brave I was.” He also shared a photo of the scene, showing Ashe on the ground snuggling baby Axel to her chest while EMTs kept an oxygen mask on her. Meyers is beaming in the shot — typical proud papa.

More: Here Are Seth Meyers' Sickest Burns From His Golden Globes Monologue

Axel Strahl joins big brother Ashe Olson, who was born in March 2016. We're thrilled for the family — but hope they don't have any more major surprises for a while.

How to Get Rid of Armpit Fungus: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Thing i Secretly Googled

So, we've all heard of yeast and fungal infections and where they can creep up on our bodies. But did you know the less-than-dynamic duo can come together in your armpit? That’s what we call armpit fungus, even though it can be a culmination of different types of bacteria or skin molds.

And while this isn't something you have to be scanning the web for to figure out if you have it (because trust us, you'd already know if you did), here's how to get rid of armpit fungus — and five helpful things to keep in mind in the event you find yourself faced with this fungal foe.

More: How Celebrities Get Rid of Their Pimples Overnight

Causes

Like most fungal infections, armpit fungus is caused by skin fungi. In this case, there are two different things to look out for: skin molds, also known as dermatophytes, which are a common cause for most skin diseases, and yeasts that consume the superficial layers of skin.

Oftentimes, when there are breaks in the skin, those lesions can get infected with the bacteria either because of irritation, sweating or even perfumes from certain deodorants that you can use. You can also contract it from fungal strands or spores that can be secondarily spread from scratching infected areas and then touching unaffected areas on your body.

More: 6 Causes of Vaginal Odor — Because No, You're Not Alone

Symptoms

Like most skin irritations, some common symptoms that come with armpit fungus include itching and burning because of excessive scratching and skin damage, noticeable flakes of skin on clothing or elsewhere and darker tinted discoloration of the armpit skin. And all of these are normally accompanied by a musky or foul odor. In the event that the rash is caused by a dermatophyte, the rash can resemble rings with borders that are red and raised. With yeast-based infections, a smelly fluid discharge can also accompany the flare-ups.

More: Meet the 'Armpit Vagina': The Latest Body Part Women Are Supposed to Worry About

Spreading

Armpit fungus can be transmitted by direct and indirect contact with other people. Oftentimes, coming into skin contact with an already infected individual and then scratching unaffected parts of your body can embed the bacteria in your skin and cause you to contract the fungus in that area.

Treatments

The most common way to treat armpit fungus is to use topical antifungal ointments and powders, which thankfully, can be bought over the counter. These topical treatments should be applied several times daily over a few weeks. This works well for the fungal-based infections, but in the event that you have a yeast-based infection, you can also use the same ointment used for vaginal yeast infections.

Steps to prevention

Be sure to treat all infected areas on your body to help prevent cross-contamination and recurrence in other places. And since most fungal infections can be transmitted through direct and indirect transmission, don’t share towels, clothes or any other personal items with other people who are also infected.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to make sure that the infected areas stay clean and that you wash them properly and thoroughly when bathing — you can also remove any hair if there is fungus attached to it, but otherwise, it would be wiser to keep the hair until the infection resolves.

Avoid any deodorants or antiperspirants you used prior to the infection, as they may also have the fungus on them. To help with all these steps, try to wear lighter clothing to promote ventilation and prevention of sweaty buildup or use antifungal drying powder if you’re wearing a heavy sweater. You'll be ready for those strapless dresses or sleeveless shirts in no time!

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

I'm Not a Fan of Shondaland but I Can't Stop Watching Station 19

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This is it. Even though I'm on record saying that I loathe all Shondaland shows, I can't stop watching Station 19, a Shondaland show. I thought I was primed to ignore the soapy, melodramatic charms of Shonda Rhimes' series (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder and the now-canceled The Catch), but there's something different about this one that keeps me from changing the channel. If you, like me, have actively avoided Shondaland series but you want something new to watch, you need to get on the Station 19 train — or fire truck, as the case may be.

Station 19 premiered in late March as a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, connected by Dr. Ben Warren's transfer to the fire station and the occasional reference to Seattle Grace or the doctors who work there. So far, Season 1 has received lots of critical praise. Variety called the show a "refreshingly gimmick-free character drama about the heightened atmosphere of a fire station, centered on [a] tough woman," and PopSugar praised Station 19 for giving us heroine Andy Herrera, who is confident and self-assured in her life and in her typically male-dominated profession, to root for.

More: I'm So Over Shondaland

The show's first major selling point is that the stakes are realistic and rooted in plausible situations, akin to a Grey's Anatomy episode. The circumstances of Station 19 are not so heightened that they strain credulity; the show's narrative comes from a logical, grounded place. It follows a regular group of firefighters, and sure, they're all absurdly young and hot and not at all weathered from the demands of the job. That's a tradeoff I'm willing to make as a viewer if it means that these young, hot firefighters are involved in plots like intense espionage or random murders. I could also do without beloved characters being killed off, which is a thing in Shondaland shows. HTGAWM and Scandal have both had ridiculous plots that jumped the shark so many times that viewers are used to them. This doesn't seem to be in the cards for Station 19 so far.

Take the show's second episode, "Invisible to Me," as an example of the way Station 19 stays rooted in reality. This episode might have the most off-the-rails moment yet, and it's honestly not even that farfetched. The entire crew heads out to a stretch of highway where a tanker has overturned, injuring the driver. Andy, in charge of the team at this point, notices something is off and tells the team to turn off the lights on the truck. The minute this happens, we see a ring of blue fire around the tanker that traps two of the team members attempting to help the injured driver. Watching Andy and the team figure out how to save their teammates while doing their job effectively is thrilling to watch, and it gets you thinking about the folks who do this work in real life. This is the moment I knew I was hooked on Station 19.

Station 19 Blue Fire Clip

Station 19 Blue Fire Clip

More: A Shondaland Crossover Is Officially Happening & It's Going to Be Amazing

That said, it's not like I'd been bored stiff up until this point, and there's more than the thrilling dramatization of firefighters in action to reel viewers in. In the early episodes, Station 19 makes good on its promise to portray Andy as a well-rounded female character. Unlike Meredith Grey in Season 1 of Grey's Anatomy, Andy has already worked her way to the top. She's earned the respect of her peers and is dead set on proving she can be a leader (one of Station 19's central narratives is about Andy jockeying to assume her father's role as captain after he steps down to focus on his health). Yes, Andy has various obstacles to overcome professionally, and by no means does she get it right all the time. But it's refreshing to see a central female character whose character is founded on confidence.

Station 19 Shondaland Photo 2

Better still, Andy is surrounded by characters who act as a family unit. It's easy to get past the fact that they're all young, hot and distractingly well put together because they're also friends who are focused on lifting each other up and pushing each other to become the best version of themselves. This certainly isn't the case with character groups in early episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal or HTGAWM.

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

Station 19 feels like it's taken the best parts of other Shondaland shows — a strong central female character, a very steamy love triangle (between Andy, her co-worker, Jack, and her high school sweetheart, Ryan; it will have you fanning yourself), lots of high-stakes workplace disasters and some perfectly timed alternative rock music — and become something so much better.

There, I admit it. I am officially hooked on Station 19, and I have no plans to get unhooked anytime soon.

Station 19 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Get to Know Rachel McAdams' Baby Daddy, Jamie Linden

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If you're a longtime fan of Rachel McAdams like I am, then you were probably thrilled to learn earlier this week she has reportedly welcomed a baby boy with her boyfriend, Jamie Linden. Exciting, right? But after the initial thrilling rush of news, you might have been curious about the details. Where exactly did she give birth? What name did she and Linden choose? How does she plan to spend the first months of her pregnancy? And maybe most important of all, what is the 411 on Linden, the father of her child who flies a bit further under the radar than she does?

Well, the answer to the first few questions might be slightly vague, but we for sure know the answer to the final question. The father of McAdams' child is also her boyfriend of (quite possibly) a little over a year and some change, screenwriter and director Jamie Linden.

More: Rachel McAdams Is Reportedly Pregnant With Her First Child

Linden's more of a behind-the-scenes guy in Hollywood, and that seems to be McAdams' preference when it comes to just how public she takes her relationship with him. According to E! News, the pair were first spotted together in 2016 in Paris and Los Angeles and later at a friend's wedding. However, Linden and McAdams have never attended a major event together — although it remains to be seen if they'll change that policy now that the cat's out of the bag in a number of ways.

According to IMDb, Linden's been actively credited with work on major motion pictures since 2006, but he's likely been working way longer than that. His first credits include screenwriting and coproducing credits on We Are Marshall and Dear John. He also directed Channing Tatum, Oscar Isaac, Chris Pratt and a whole host of other '90s and '00s stars in the ensemble dramedy 10 Years.

More: Our Favorite New Couples in Hollywood

E! News also notes some other fun things about Linden you might not have known, including the fact that he dated Zooey Deschanel for two years, from 2012 to 2014, and that he went to Florida State University for digital media production and marketing, graduating in 2001. Oh, and here's something doubly fun: The Price Is Right actually helped him pursue his writing dreams.

While speaking with Florida State University's College of Communication and Information's Alumni News, Linden recalled attending a taping of the game show, getting selected to play and then going on to win $5,000 (and a Tuscan wine cart). "The money actually helped me stay in California longer than I had planned," he noted. "I was applying to grad school and simultaneously writing my first script."

The more you know!

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

How to Make a Unicorn Cake in 13 Simple Steps

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Unicorns have long been our fantasy creatures of choice, and while it may seem the mythical beasts were everywhere last year, they continue to trend. From cereal and birthday cakes to hair styles, unicorns are aren't going anywhere anytime soon. And what better way to celebrate and embrace your love for unicorns than with a cake?

All you need are two lame-old normal cake pans and some elbow grease (and a little frosting) to transform your batter into magic.

More: 2-Ingredient Dessert Recipes That Will Satiate Your Sweet Tooth

How to make a unicorn cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 (9-inch) round cake
  • 1 (9-by-9-inch) square cake
  • White frosting (lots of frosting)
  • Rainbow-colored candies
  • Tubes of frosting (black and rainbow colors)

Directions:

  1. Remove the cakes from the pans.
  2. Level the cakes with a serrated knife.
  3. Take the round cake, and cut a 2-inch strip. The large piece left over will be the head.
  4. Trim a 1-inch piece of the circle cake, creating a square edge where you already cut the cake.
  5. Take the square cake, and cut a 4-inch strip.
  6. Take the 4-inch piece of cake, and cut it in half to have 2 (4-by-4-1/2-inch) pieces.
  7. Trim the corners of 1 side of the 4-by-4-1/2-inch piece to create the snout.
  8. Using the edge of the round pan, cut a rounded edge 2/3 of the way down on the 5-by-9-inch piece of cake to create the neck.
  9. Cut the unicorn horn out of the remaining square cake piece.
  10. Use frosting to start gluing together the pieces of cake.
  11. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  12. Frost again.
  13. Decorate.

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

Felicity Huffman Gets Real About Marriage to William H. Macy

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It's no secret that marriage is a journey, full of highs and lows, big successes and unforeseen obstacles. Add to this the unique set of pressures, like intense public scrutiny and time spent apart while filming, that comes with a Hollywood marriage and it feels like the deck might really be stacked against you.

However, in the case of William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman's 20-year marriage, it seems that they've nailed how to make marriage works for them and, lucky for us, they were happy to share why that is. While on the red carpet at the premiere for their new movie, KrystalUs Weekly asked them about the secret behind their 20-year marriage. “I lucked out, I married Bill Macy. But that’s as far as I can go. I don’t know how you make a marriage work. I just got lucky. I have no idea,” said Huffman.

Macy echoed her sentiments, telling the outlet, "I’m the luckiest guy, I won the lottery. I love being married to Felicity. I love being married, I really like it. Although I have screwed it up before. I just got lucky. There’s no secret, I got lucky.”

More: Felicity Huffman Shares the Oh-So-Honest Interview She Did With Her Kids

Macy and Huffman have maybe one of the most admirable relationships in Hollywood. They met in the 1980s at the theater company they both belonged to in New York City and dated on-and-off for 15 years before marrying in 1997. Huffman was apparently hesitant to marry, fearing she’d lose her identity. “I was so scared of marriage that I thought I would’ve preferred to step in front of a bus,” she once commented in a 2015 interview. “Men's stock when they get married goes up. Women's stock goes down. Another thing, 60 percent of first marriages fail, 80 percent of second marriages fail. And if we applied that statistic to anything else like the post office or the military, we'd go, ‘This isn't working.' Whereas with marriage we just go, ‘See you all,' like that (she waves her hand in the air).”

Macy proposed to his love several times and it was finally only after a breakup that Huffman found the courage to say yes. “I was finally smart enough to go: ‘I'm going to marry this guy or really lose him for good … when he asked me again, I knew I couldn't say no. It was the work I had to do in order to bring myself to the marriage and then the work that I did to be able to trust another person and see what comes out of that comfort and that safety. I was able to blossom out of that.”

More: Big Game Star Felicity Huffman Opens Up About the Wilderness of Mothering

Huffman's initial comments about being lucking out seem to downplay their successful relationship, but it feels like it's more than just luck that has factored into the longevity of Huffman and Macy's union. In fact, it seems that even though luck might factor into how these two make it work, other key elements like trust have also seemed to play a major role. That trust is exactly what Caroline Madden, marriage therapist and author, says helps build the kind of strong relationship that can go the distance. “As a specialist in infidelity, I can tell you that trust is the most important thing in a marriage. It takes years to build and a second to break. But it’s more than just sexual fidelity. A spouse is trusted with so much: fears, vulnerabilities, painful wounds from childhood. In a good marriage, a spouse discloses these innermost thoughts and trusts that it won’t be used against them in future arguments.” Other experts also recommend intimacy, mutual respect, friendship, and presence to build a healthy relationship.

Macy addressed the idea of respect to US Weekly, saying (he calls Huffman ‘Flicka’) “She sees us. I’ll just speak for my two daughters and me. When Flicka looks at us, she sees us, and that’s rare in this world. She’s 100% supportive. She can criticize them, but she’s got your back. You’ll never question it.”

More: American Crime's Felicity Huffman Opens Up About Playing a Racist

The film the couple is currently promoting is Krystal, a coming-of-age comedy directed by Macy in which he and Huffman play husband and wife (not too much of a stretch, right?). While working together might seem like it could be a stress on the relationship, Huffman told Closer Weekly in 2017 that it makes her stronger. “You know how if you play a sport with someone who is better than you, your game will improve? It’s true with acting as well.”

One thing is evident from these two lovebirds: they spend a lot of time noticing and appreciating one another. They pay attention to the other person's strengths and aren't afraid to talk about what they enjoy in their partner. So they may call themselves lucky, but it's obvious they're both as hard-working in their marriage as they are in every other part of their very successful careers.

Everything We Know About Meghan Markle & Prince Harry's Wedding So Far

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Updated April 10, 11:20 a.m. PT: We have new intel on some of the folks who will and will not be attending the royal wedding in May.

As the happy day draws nearer, we have confirmation that sadly, close personal friend of Prince Harry and former President of the United States, Barack Obama, will not be attending the wedding ceremony. In fact, according to The Daily Mail, the Obamas didn't receive an invitation to the royal wedding in addition to neither current UK Prime Minister Theresa May or current U.S. President Donald Trump getting an invitation. The Daily Mail claims that since Harry is not a direct heir to the throne, he doesn't need to have such a formal guest list. That said, one might suspect that the royal family doesn't want to make a bold political statement by picking and choosing which heads of state they invite to the wedding (although this is just conjecture).

We also know that possible "secret wedding planner" and close friend of Meghan Markle's, Jessica Mulroney, will likely be attending the royal wedding. According to Vanity Fair, it's been reported that Mulroney, a Toronto-based stylist specializing in weddings, is one of the top choices for Markle's matron of honor. While it's unconfirmed is Mulroney has indeed nabbed the honor, VF strongly believed that she will, in addition to covertly planning the major event.

Updated April 1, 4:19 p.m. PT: Royal wedding planning is officially in full bloom. On Sunday, Kensington Palace revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen a florist to create the church flowers for their big day. In another nod to the couple's modern style, they chose high-fashion florist Philippa Craddock, who has previously collaborated with upscale brands like Hermès and Alexander McQueen.

According to the Palace, Craddock will source the foliage locally, drawing largely from the gardens and lands of the Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park. The fair-trade florist will also try, when possible, to use flowers and plants that are in season. "These will include branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves. The designs will reflect the wild and natural landscapes from which many of the plants will be drawn," says a Palace blog post on the subject.

Additionally, Craddock will incorporate pollinator-friendly plants from the Royal Parks to "provide a great habitat for bees and help to nurture and sustain entire ecosystems by promoting a healthy and biodiverse environment."

If that doesn't make you love the royal couple even more, consider this: after the ceremony, the floral arrangements created by Craddock will all be donated to charitable organizations.

Updated March 28, 11:40 a.m. PT: More developments have emerged about the upcoming royal nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and this time, the news is decidedly quite sentimental. On Wednesday, Entertainment Tonight reported that Harry and Markle had sent out 250 invitations to members of the British Armed Forces for the royal wedding. In a statement issued by Kensington Palace, it was noted that there would be a special role for the servicepeople in attendance.

"Regiments and units that hold a special relationship with Prince Harry will provide ceremonial support at the wedding and during the carriage procession at the request of Kensington Palace. More than 250 members of the Armed Forces will perform ceremonial duties at the wedding," the statement read.

ET additionally reported on some those aforementioned duties, which include: members of the Household Cavalry will line the stairs at St. George's Chapel where Harry and Markle will be married. Also, members of the Windsor Castle Guard, which includes those who have served in the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, Royal Marines, 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, The Royal Gurkha Rifles and RAF Honington and who all have ties back to Harry, will line the streets of Windsor, the city where St. George's is located.

This is an especially meaningful royal wedding development because Harry, if you'll recall, served two tours in Afghanistan after joining the military in 2006. It is expected that in addition to the strong military presence at his wedding, Harry will also wear his military uniform (just as Prince William did) on his wedding day.

Updated March 15, 2018, 10:50 a.m. PT: The royal wedding countdown is truly on. With just over two months to go until they say their I do's on May 19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are checking off items on a royal to-do list. The latest? Getting formal permission from Queen Elizabeth II.

British law states that the first six people in line for the throne must have the current monarch's permission before getting married. Should any of them marry without formal permission, they give up their right to ascend to the throne as well as the right of all their descendants to do so. Harry is currently fifth in line, right behind his niece, Princess Charlotte, meaning he had to have his grandmother's blessing or give up his spot.

In a letter to the privy council, though, the queen sounded thrilled to give her permission to Harry to wed Markle this spring.

"I declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between My Most Dearly Beloved Grandson Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales and Rachel Meghan Markle, which Consent I am causing to be signified under the Great Seal and to be entered in the Books of the Privy Council," her letter read.

QEII official wedding consent tweet

QEII official wedding consent tweet

Will we see a Princess Meghan in the future? With Harry so far from the throne, it's not likely. But with this development, it's officially possible.

Updated Feb. 27, 2018, 11:45 a.m. PT: It's been rumored that Ed Sheeran will be staging a performance at the upcoming royal wedding, but that's been shot down by Sheeran himself. Another maybe more likely rumor says Elton John may take the stage. But the Spice Girls' Mel B just dropped a big hint about a musical performance that would have everyone talking.

During an appearance on The Real Tuesday, Mel B told hosts Adrienne Bailon, Loni Love and Jeannie Mai she is going to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. When asked, "Did you get an invitation?" Mel B replied, "Well, it was the five Spice Girls. Why am I so honest?!"

Um, so does this mean the Spice Girls are performing at the wedding? They've previously declined to reunite and perform together, but when the actual Prince of Wales and his fiancée ask for something, we imagine it's hard to say no.

Mel B on maybe Spice Girls reunion

Mel B on maybe Spice Girls reunion

When asked specifically if she's attending the royal wedding to perform with the Spice Girls, Mel B just looked at her cards and shook her head. The cohosts screamed, and Mel B threw her cards in the air and said, "I need to go! I am going to be fired!"

No matter how you slice it, that sounds like an admission. Could this really be happening? Only a few months left before we find out for sure.

Updated Feb. 13, 2018, 12:40 p.m. PT: Here are a few more reasons to get up early and tune in to the royal wedding. Reports are saying there will be some world-class entertainment to help Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrate tying the knot — Harry has reportedly personally asked Ed Sheeran to perform at the wedding. Here's hoping he chooses something a little more romantic than "Shape of You."

There are also rumors Elton John will perform now that he's canceled a few of his Las Vegas shows amid confirming he scored an invite to the wedding of the century. Basically, everything he plays is tear-jerkingly romantic, so we can't imagine anyone better.

Updated Feb. 12, 2018, 10:30 a.m. PT: May keeps inching closer, and that means more and more royal wedding details are hitting the headlines. Over the weekend, we learned a little more about what to expect when May 19 rolls around and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say their I do's, including what time we'll need to be up to be able to tune in to the ceremony.

According to Kensington Palace, the wedding is set for noon in the U.K., which is 7 a.m. Eastern or 4 a.m. Pacific. It's gonna be an early morning for those of us on the West Coast, but it'll be worth it to see royal history being made.

The palace also revealed that after exchanging vows, Harry and Markle will lead a parade through the streets of Windsor, riding in a horse-drawn carriage. It's something Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did on their wedding day, and it was definitely a highlight. We're so excited to see it becoming something of a tradition.

The one thing the palace isn't revealing is who or how many people made the guest list. We still don't even know if invitations have been sent out, but we do know that St. George's Chapel can hold about 800 people, so there's plenty of space for a large wedding.

Spring really can't get here soon enough.

Original story, published Jan. 5, 2018: The next royal wedding was only just announced, and yet it's right around the corner. Before we know it, May will be here, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be exchanging their vows. With only five months to go before the big day, obviously we're hungrily searching the internet for all the information we can find about the upcoming ceremony.

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

Some of the latest news to hit the 'net is that both Markle and Harry are starting to assemble their wedding parties. A source told Us Weekly that Markle is sticking to some American traditions, despite the very British wedding that's being planned, and that means she's chosen a maid of honor rather than a chief bridesmaid.

"While it is very much a British wedding, expect a few American touches too," the insider said. There's still no confirmation about exactly who her maid of honor is going to be, but there are definitely some predictions out there: Markle's best friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, fellow actress Priyanka Chopra and Suits co-star Sarah Rafferty would all be unsurprising picks.

More: Meghan Markle's Engagement Ring Will Pay Homage to Princess Diana

Harry, on the other hand, has a pretty easy choice for his best man.

"Harry has several close guy friends, but there's no way he would ask anyone but William to take on the top job," a source told Us Weekly last month. That one was a no-brainer.

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

While the royal family is hard at work preparing for the wedding, all of Britain is preparing for the huge influx of tourism that will likely come with it. When Prince William and Kate Middleton tied the knot in 2011, 350,000 tourists came to the UK for the big day. Britain's Office of National Statistics is already expecting similar crowds around Harry and Markle's May 18 wedding date, as well as a $680 million boost to the UK's economy because of the wedding. Two beautiful lovebirds tying the knot and single-handedly boosting their country's economy? What a win-win.


Casual Sex Has a Bad Rap — but Does It Deserve It?

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For my 19th birthday, my University of Delaware dorm mates whisked me to New York City for a taping of the Phil Donahue Show. The topic that day was “My Mother Is a Slut.” Of course, it titillated the audience and the guest’s family members, who expressed clear disdain for the women’s lifestyles. So, when Donahue handed me the mic and asked for my opinion, I didn’t hesitate to share.

“As long as these women are safe and no one is getting hurt, I don’t see how or why it matters how many people they sleep with,” I chirped in all my you-go-girl glory.

Studio 8-G at 30 Rockefeller Plaza fell silent. I paused to wonder how the comment would’ve been received if the focus was on promiscuous fathers. Although it was 1992, the audience’s mob mentality felt much like today’s social media users that turn so-called sluts into immediate online hate figures. Sadly, the same stigmas that surrounded casual sex then are still very much present today.

More: What to Do if You Love Oral Sex but Your Partner Isn't Into It

Gigi Engle, a sex educator and writer, doesn’t think casual sex deserves its bad rap. “Every negative side-effect of casual sex has deep puritanical roots born from slut-shaming,” she says. “If we had comprehensive, pleasure-based sex education in this country, people would have the resources they needed to make empowered choices. We demonize casual sex because we demonize having sex outside of marriage. Of course it has a bad rap with these notions shrouding it.”

Sure, there are risks associated with any sexual situation, but casual sex seems to bear the brunt of it. “We live in a society that has conditioned us to think sex has to have emotional meaning to be good,” says Engle. “When you've been told having casual sex makes you a slut or if he (or she) doesn't call you after, you're worthless — well, this can sting.”

Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, reminds clients there are times when a handshake is just a handshake, and there are times when just touching someone’s hand can be electrifying and emotionally gratifying. “The same is true of sex,” she says.

More: This Is Why You Need to Have a Safe Word

It’s perfectly OK to want to explore casual sex — there are plenty of benefits for those who care to partake. “You can discover a lot about yourself; what you like and don't like, what works for you,” says Engle. “It's a great way to meet interesting people and explore different sexual tastes you might not otherwise.”

Sex boosts endorphins and feel-good hormones. Engle advises going about it in a healthy, empowered way — meaning not as a way to make yourself feel better or as a way to derive self-worth.

Beyond the emotional risks, there are some physical ones to consider when making healthy sexual choices. It should go without saying, but always use protection for safer sex. “Condoms (both male and female, whichever is preferred) during penetration is not up for negotiation,” says Engle. This means oral sex as well. “Yes, I do mean condoms during blow jobs and dental dams during oral sex,” she says. “The fact of the matter is that 85 percent of people have some form of HPV (not to mention all the other STIs).“

Although STIs are “a risk we cannot completely eliminate, and it's also a risk that exists if you are engaging in a monogamous sexual relationship,” says Lurie.

The bottom line is that casual sex may not be for everyone. Just like every other type of sex, from pegging to role-play. “What works for some may not work for others, and that's true for most things,” says Lurie.

“In reality, hookups are fun,” says Engle. “When done safely, they rock.” So, you go on and do you. “Having sex in a way that makes you feel good about yourself is the most important.” 

Is It Time to Ban Toy Guns?

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The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students and educators has brought the conversation about gun control reform to the forefront. Although parents' first and foremost concern is their children's safety at school, the tragedy has some parents and educators questioning whether it's time to make even toy guns a thing of the past.

Maria, who has a 7-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter, tells SheKnows she doesn't think there's a correlation between playing with toy guns and violence later in life — but she still chooses not to buy them for her children. "Ever since Sandy Hook, it's just made me really queasy to see kids playing with toy guns. And there are so many other toys out there that are educational," Maria says. "With all the other toy options that send a positive message, I can't see one good reason to buy toy guns for my kids."

Alexandra, the mother two boys ages 6 and 4, has a different outlook. "I think there needs to be policy change when it comes to gun control because obviously the legislation that's currently in place isn't enough," Alexandra says. "But I don't think toy guns are part of the problem. When my sons play with their toy guns, they're clamoring to be the good guy who comes to the rescue — not the person who seeks to cause harm."

More: Everything You Need to Know About March For Our Lives

There's been precious little research on the impact of toy guns, although one study conducted at Brandeis University in 2010 found that toy guns do increase aggressive behaviors. However, many psychologists don't see the benefit to banning these toys. Dr. Forrest Talley, a California-based child psychologist, tells SheKnows that a ban simply wouldn't be helpful.

Talley says very few toys are "toxic" to a child's development and notes the absence of solid research supporting the theory that children who play with toy guns will become more violent than those who aren't permitted to have these toys.

"What parents need to be concerned with is the quality of the play with which their children engage. If a child's play involves themes wherein the youngster is frequently and clearly identifying with a pernicious character, that would be troubling. But removing toy guns will not prevent this type of identification," Talley says. "Good parenting, which inspires children to emulate positive role models in their play, is the strongest safeguard in this respect."

More: What People Are Getting Wrong About the Parkland Shooter & Adoption

Daniel Patterson, a former vice principal and owner of Patterson Perspective, a consulting firm that specializes in helping parents raise teens who thrive socially and academically, disagrees. Firstly, Patterson points out there's no moral or social reason for children to have toy guns in the first place.

"Toy guns erode our children’s ability to understand the finality of death. In playing guns, they get shot, die and bounce back to their feet in joyful play as if nothing has happened. That’s the wonder of childhood imaginations," Patterson says. "They are too young to understand, and it’s not their fault. However, over time, with repetition — and via mediums like violent video games — they are inundated with positively associated examples of gun violence not being real, final or fatal."

Patterson also notes that toy guns can send mixed messages to young, impressionable children. "Children form positive associations with them without the proper context that guns, in their non-toy form, are used to cause often fatal damage to others," he says. "Positive associations with anything from childhood results in an overly romanticized perception of that memory as an adult."

Of course, Patterson acknowledges that the vast majority of children who play with toy guns don't become violent later in life. Nevertheless, he points out that we don't give kids toy cigarettes for a simple reason: We don't want them to associate something unhealthy with positive, fun memories.

More: Celebrities Push for More Than Just "Prayers & Condolences" After Florida Shooting

Alise McGregor, founder of Little Newtons, a childcare center focusing on early childhood education, also tells SheKnows she doesn't believe toy guns are the reason for the epidemic of gun violence in America. But McGregor says that due the danger of mixed messages, she advises against parents buying toy guns for their kids.

"Thinking of playing with guns from age 3 to, say, 10 years old and then switching to avoiding them because they are dangerous can be confusing," McGregor says.

She also urges parents to think about what we're teaching children when we allow them to play with toy guns. "If we are teaching children to be kind and building strong children, toy guns bring a conflicting message," McGregor tells SheKnows. "Outside of the gun itself, the 'play' that is experienced when playing with guns involves fake-shooting each other, which is something that is conflicting (in my opinion) with treating others with respect and respecting life."

For parents who have previously kept toy guns in the home but now want to remove them, McGregor recommends explaining the why to your child in terms they'll understand. It can be as simple as discussing why guns are dangerous and that parents want their children to be safe. And, luckily, there are plenty of other active toys out there that serve kids better than guns do — from sports toys to nature-inspired toys to McGregor's favorite, toys that represent "community helpers" (fire trucks, police cars and ambulances).

As the conversation surrounding every aspect of gun violence continues, it seems likely more research will be conducted about the impact (or lack thereof) of toy guns. In the meantime, the insights of Talley, Patterson and McGregor can provide some guidance to parents who are currently feeling conflicted. The bottom line? Whether or not it's worthwhile — let alone productive — to issue any kind of national toy gun ban, chances are good there's a toy out there that just might serve your child better.

Heart Disease Is the Leading Cause of Maternal Death in the US

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Gradually, we're becoming more aware of heart disease symptoms in women and recognizing that it's not a condition that only affects men. But more than that, it's not only older women who are impacted by cardiovascular events; in fact, heart failure is now the leading cause of maternal morbidity in the United States.

Between 1987 and 2011, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths more than doubled, with heart failure being the leading cause of the deaths. Despite that, we still don't know a lot about heart failure-related hospitalizations before, during and after delivery.

However, a recent study out of the University of Illinois at Chicago is shedding some light on the subject and found that women are at the highest risk for heart failure within the six weeks after delivery. Published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure, the research also suggests that heart failure is a major health problem among relatively young reproductive-age people who could become pregnant, especially among those who have another existing condition, like high blood pressure.

More: Knowing the Signs of a Heart Attack & Cardiac Arrest in Women Could Save a Life

“This finding lends support to using delivery-related hospitalization as a window of opportunity to identify high-risk women and develop surveillance strategies before discharge,” Dr. Mulubrhan Mogos, assistant professor of nursing at UIC and the study's lead author, said in a statement.

Even though less than 2 percent of all pregnancy-related hospitalizations occurred during the postpartum period — six weeks after the delivery — almost 60 percent of pregnancy-related heart failure hospitalizations took place during the same time, the study found.

One of the main takeaways from the study is the need for closer monitoring of high-risk people who have given birth before they are released from the hospital and during the rest of the postpartum period, Mogos said. Normally, people are discharged from the hospital two or three days after giving birth, and their overall health isn't evaluated until an appointment with their doctor six weeks later.

The rates of heart failure also increased almost 5 percent each year between 2001 and 2011 during the period prior to delivery. According to Mogos and colleagues, this may be attributable, at least in part, to the existence of other conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure) prior to pregnancy.

More: Thinking of Being an Organ Donor? Here's What You Need to Know

In the study, Black women from the southern United States were more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure both before and after childbirth. For many, pregnancy and childbirth may be their primary access to health care. As a response, Mogos and his coauthors suggested at-risk mothers should be more closely observed after giving birth, ideally by a multidisciplinary team that includes heart-failure specialists.

“Health education about expectations and their risk status during delivery-related hospitalization may empower women to seek immediate support from their social network and healthcare provider,” Mogos said. “There is a need for increased awareness and public health measures to address risk factors and promote prevention strategies among historically disadvantaged groups."

The moral of the story is that you're never too young to pay attention to your heart health — especially during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Dax Shepard Wanted a Prenup, but Lied About It

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Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell bring me so much joy. Together, they have found some rare combination of honesty, humor and perspective that makes them #RelationshipGoals. But in a recent interview with Conan O’Brien, Shepard revealed that even they dealt with one of the major concerns of all Hollywood couples — namely, the dreaded prenuptial agreement.

The couple married in October 2013, and according to Shepard, prior to the wedding, Bell asked him if he wanted a prenup. He said no, but admitted to O'Brien, “I really wanted a prenup. Really bad. I really wanted a prenup, but I said, 'No, I don’t want one.'”

Shepard also kidded that he’s glad Bell is more successful than he is now thanks to hits like Frozen and The Good Place. “The joke is now on her, because she’s become much more successful than me and has much more money than me," Shepard said with a shrug.

MoreKristen Bell Wants Frozen Out of Politics, Thank You Very Much

O'Brien proceeded to congratulate him with a handshake. Since California is a community property state, it means any assets earned during the marriage are usually divided equally in a divorce. While Shepard and Bell are never getting divorced — I repeat, neeeeverrrr!!!! — trying to fight that law is just one reason Hollywood breakups can get so ugly.

Dax Shepard Conan O'Brien

Dax Shepard Conan O'Brien

More: Thank You, Kristen Bell, for Flipping the Script on Mental Illness

While Shepard and Bell don’t have the financial safety net provided by a prenup, they seem to find other creative ways to protect their relationship. One tactic is just to keep it real. Bell was recently a guest on Shepard’s podcast, Armchair Expert, and he explained to O’Brien the effort was a disaster. “I think she thought I was trying to unveil some big secret of hers, which I was not,” he told the host. “And she had also had plans to go to Michaels to buy crafting stuff at the same time. And then she was annoyed that this was the day she was supposed to be buying yarn. That really set her off.”

But despite the on-mic arguing, he still decided to release the episode. “Sometimes, we’re in Samsung commercials canoodling at Christmas, and sometimes, we’re screaming at each other about Michaels. That’s just how it is. It’s a real marriage.”

More: The Best Gift Dax Shepard Ever Received From Kristen Bell

Even without a prenup, through some hard work and honesty, Shepard and Bell’s relationship seems pretty ironclad to us. While we’re not invested in their financial success as much as they are, there are plenty of other reasons we’re rooting for them to go the distance and become one of the great Hollywood romances of all time.

Ellen DeGeneres Sent 'Unqualified Lesbian' Cynthia Nixon a Message

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In her run for governor of New York, Cynthia Nixon may not have the support of a certain former city council member (aka Christine Quinn), but she’s got the support of one of the most popular women in the country. Ellen DeGeneres tweeted the Sex and the City star to wish her happy birthday and gave her a vote of confidence.

Ellen Tweet

Ellen Tweet

“I’ll never forget when you played Mystery Word on my show. Happy birthday, from one unqualified lesbian to another,” she said.

DeGeneres’ tweet was a crack at a comment Nixon received the week after she announced she would run against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the race for New York governor. Christine Quinn, openly gay and a former New York City Council speaker, slammed Nixon to the New York Post, saying, “Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City. Now she wants 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.”

Nixon’s campaign has taken on the remark as a slogan and has begun selling hilariously awesome stuff like buttons and T-shirts reading, “Unqualified lesbian.” This is undoubtedly one of those shirts that will require an explanation when your kids find it in your drawer in 20 years, but that's cool.

Nixon Unqualified Lesbian

Nixon Unqualified Lesbian

Nixon thanked DeGeneres for her support today and noted that her very lifestyle has been an exercise in qualification. “Lesbi-honest, if we waited for the world to qualify us, we never would have made much progress.”

Nixon reply to Ellen

Nixon reply to Ellen

More: Sarah Jessica Parker Has Thoughts About Cynthia Nixon Running for Governor

As one might expect, the exchange between the two celebrities is receiving mixed reactions on Twitter.

Nixon support tweet

Nixon support tweet

“I have followed her politics for a long time! She’s going to be great!” wrote one supporter, referring to Nixon’s progressive activism. She has campaigned for issues surrounding education, LGBTQ rights, breast cancer awareness and women’s health care according to Time. But most people only became aware of her activism when she entered the fight in New York to legalize same-sex marriage in 2011.

Another Twitter user admitted she isn’t familiar with Nixon from her TV roles, but from her political work. “TBH I’ve never seen SATC. But I’m a big fan of your activism and your courage in taking on Cuomo. You go girl!”

Nixon support tweet 2

Nixon support tweet 2

More: Cynthia Nixon's Political Legitimacy Questioned by Another Female Politician

As can be expected though, there are also detractors chiming in on the exchange between Nixon and DeGeneres. “I do request you not stay in the race simply to weaken the Democratic Party since getting rid of Trump is more important than your personal ambitions,” wrote one commenter.

Nixon negative tweet

Nixon negative tweet

Another pointed out her connection to Mayor Bill de Blasio, whom Nixon supported in the past. “Her politics … match those of the mayoral candidate she supported, Bill de Blasio, who is corrupt and incompetent.”

Nixon negative tweet 2

Nixon negative tweet 2

More25 Sex and the City Quotes That Will Make You Want to Rewatch the Entire Series

This campaign is just getting started, so we're going to see a lot more back and forth on social media in the months leading up to the November election. But starting out with a vote of confidence from DeGeneres and a memorable new slogan sure seems like it will make things easier for Nixon. For now, happy birthday, Cynthia Nixon!

The Lesson Queen Elizabeth II Taught Angelina Jolie & Her Kids

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It turns out Angelina Jolie and Queen Elizabeth II are kindred spirits of sorts, and I am very much here for it. It's easy to imagine Jolie and the queen could both find common ground in their humanitarian efforts and would both understand the pleasure and perils of being in the public eye. But as we are about to learn in an upcoming ITV documentary, Queen Elizabeth and Jolie not only share common ground, but the queen has also indirectly imparted serious wisdom unto Jolie and her children.

More: Queen Elizabeth II Says Princess Charlotte Is the Boss of Prince George

According to Entertainment Tonight, one of the first outlets to report on Jolie's comments in the documentary The Queen's Green Planet, which puts the spotlight The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, an initiative that began in 2015 as a network of forest conservation programs throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. Part of this documentary includes one particularly compelling moment when Jolie discusses the important lesson the queen indirectly taught her and that she, in turn, is going to pass along to her kids.

At one point in the doc, Jolie remarks, "'This is why it’s important to plant a tree,’ that’s the biggest message I can teach my kids, and it’s something that they’ve certainly learned from Her Majesty and her message. They ask me, ‘Why is it so important to her?’ You know when you sit up at night in a tent with your kids, and they say, ‘Why does the queen of England care about planting trees in Africa?’”

More: Angelina Jolie Is Teaching Her Kids Some Major Life Lessons

Jolie continues to explain, saying, "What it comes down to is you say to the kids — you know, really, you don’t know her. You can’t understand all that it means to be a queen and all that," she continues. "But you try to say, ‘You know, she’s just this really lovely lady who really cares about people around the world, and she really cares about the future, and she wants your grandkids and her grandkids to be able to be running around enjoying nature and other cultures and the importance of other cultures.’ She thinks that really matters and I agree with her.”

More: Angelina Jolie's Kids Made Another Red Carpet Appearance

Whether or not you're a parent, I think Jolie's comments here are universal. During her time on the throne, Queen Elizabeth has managed to impart wisdom to her subjects, show kindness and grace in all situations and leave us with an important virtue worth emulating. The queen's forward-thinking attitude toward conservation has clearly left an imprint on Jolie, and hopefully, it's done the same for everyone.

These Are the Best Flowers for Mom on Mother's Day

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A fresh bouquet of beautiful flowers is often a staple for may celebrations: anniversaries, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and more. In fact, Mother's Day is the No. 2 holiday for florists and floral purchases (Valentine's Day is No. 1) according to the Society of American Florists. And it's no surprise, either: An arrangement of fresh flowers makes for a beautiful gift, especially when you've put in extra thought about which bloom best suits the recipient — in this case, your mother.

So instead of hurriedly choosing a bouquet or merely picking up the one that looks the prettiest, why not make it more meaningful? What you may not know is that each flower has a rich history and often multiple meanings behind it, says the Society of American Florists. You can choose the flower that matches Mom's personality best or simply go with her birth month bloom. Pair that with a thoughtful card, and you're on your way to truly making your mom's day this May.

More: 32 Things Moms of Boys Say Just About Every Day

Below, take a look at the most popular flowers for Mother's Day and their respective backstories, courtesy of the Society of American Florists and Teleflora. Bonus: We've included a rundown of birth month flowers, plus brief meanings for nearly every single flower imaginable.

Rose

Pink roses in blue vase with one orange rose

Classic, smart, sophisticated: If these words describe your mom to a T, then the rose is for her. The rose can also mean different things depending on which color bloom you choose. For instance, yellow roses represent friendship, while pink roses mean "appreciation and admiration."

Tulip

Bouquet of pink tulips

Much like roses, tulips come in different colors, each with its own meaning. Purple tulips represent royalty, and pink tulips mean "caring."

Lily

lily bouquet in glass vase

If your mom is high-energy, a joy to be around, a major source of inspiration for you, then grab her a bouquet of lilies. Stargazer lilies are perfect for ambitious moms, day lilies represent enthusiasm, Casablanca lilies mean "celebration" and calla lilies are the go-to for regal mamas.

More: 7 Things I Said I'd Never Do as a Parent — That I Now Do

Peony

pink peonies on wooden background

Peonies may not be one of the most common flowers for Mother's Day (they're more popular for weddings), but they sure are beautiful. The Society of American Florists says peonies represent healing, but Teleflora explains that they also signify honor and richness.

Orchid

pots with orchids on grey background

Imaginative, quirky, funny, trendsetter: If any of these words describe your mom, then her floral equivalent is the orchid. Technically, the orchid means "delicate beauty" — you're probably the best judge of whether your mom would be thrilled or pissed by that comparison.

Alstroemeria

Blue background of Alstroemeria flowers

We see these flowers everywhere, but did you have any idea this is what they're called? These are alstroemerias, and they're perfect for moms who are poised, refined, passionate and love surprises. Alstroemeria means "aspiring."

Carnation

white and pink carnation studio shot with grey background

Last but not least, the carnation: the flower that symbolizes love, at least according to Brides, which explains that pink carnations in particular mean "a mother's undying, eternal love." Christian legend has it that pink carnations first grew from the ground where the Virgin Mary shed tears over Jesus' death.

More: Family-Friendly Spring Break Destinations You Can Actually Afford

Next: Birth month flowers and more flower meanings

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Birth month flowers

Want to give your mom a bouquet that represents her birth month? Check out About Flowers' list below.

  • January: carnation
  • February: iris, violet
  • March: daffodil
  • April: daisy, peonies
  • May: lily, lily of the valley
  • June: rose
  • July: delphinium
  • August: dahlia, gladiolus
  • September: aster, forget-me-not
  • October: marigold
  • November: chrysanthemum
  • December: poinsettia, holly, narcissus, paperwhite

More flower meanings:

About Flowers also has an expansive list of flowers and their meanings.

  • Alstroemeria: aspiring
  • Amaryllis: dramatic
  • Anemone: fragile
  • Apple blossom: promise, fair
  • Aster: contentment
  • Azalea: abundance
  • Baby's breath: festivity
  • Bachelor button: anticipation
  • Begonia: deep thoughts
  • Black-eyed Susan: encouragement
  • Camellia: graciousness

Carnations:

  • Pink: gratitude
  • Red: flashy
  • Striped: refusal
  • White: remembrance
  • Yellow: cheerful

Chrysanthemum

  • Bronze: excitement
  • White: truth
  • Red: sharing
  • Yellow: secret admirer
  • Cosmos: peaceful
  • Crocus: foresight
  • Daffodil: chivalry
  • Delphinium: boldness
  • Daisy: innocence
  • Freesia: spirited
  • Forget-me-not: remember me forever
  • Gardenia: joy
  • Geranium: comfort
  • Ginger: proud
  • Gladiolus: strength of character
  • Heather: solitude
  • Hibiscus: delicate beauty
  • Holly: domestic happiness
  • Hyacinth: sincerity
  • Hydrangea: perseverance
  • Iris: inspiration
  • Ivy: fidelity
  • Jasmine: grace and elegance
  • Larkspur: beautiful spirit
  • Lavender: distrust
  • Lilac: first love

More: 25 Sweet Quotes That Celebrate the Magic of Motherhood

Lily

  • Calla: regal
  • Casablanca: celebration
  • Day: enthusiasm
  • Stargazer: ambition
  • Lisianthus: calming
  • Magnolia: dignity
  • Marigold: desire for riches
  • Nasturtium: patriotism
  • Orange blossom: fertility
  • Orchid: delicate beauty
  • Pansy: loving thoughts
  • Passion flower: passion
  • Peony: healing
  • Poppy: consolation
  • Queen Anne's lace: delicate femininity
  • Ranunculus: radiant
  • Rhododendron: beware

Rose

  • Pink: admiration/appreciation
  • Red: passionate love
  • Red and white: unity
  • White: purity
  • Yellow: friendship
  • Snapdragon: presumptuous
  • Star of Bethlehem: hope
  • Stephanotis: good luck
  • Statice: success
  • Sunflower: adoration
  • Sweetpea: shyness
  • Tuberose: pleasure

Tulip

  • Pink: caring
  • Purple: royalty
  • Red: declaration of love
  • White: forgiveness
  • Yellow: hopelessly in love
  • Violet: faithfulness
  • Wisteria: steadfast
  • Yarrow: good health
  • Zinnia: thoughts of friends

59 Unique Spring Baby Names for Your Little Sprout

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Spring is a time of rebirth and, of course, regular-old birth. If you're careening toward the latter this spring, you may be in the market for a fresh and floral or otherwise nature-inspired baby name. These adorable spring-inspired name picks are an updated alternative to many of the traditional top-100s. We've also rounded up more than a dozen bonus baby names with special springtime meanings.

More: 33 Radiant Baby Names That Literally Mean "Light"

Floral names

Floral names are a perfect choice for a spring baby, no? They also make great baby name group themes for twins or siblings. In fact, chef Jamie Oliver likes nature and floral names so much, he named his daughters (wait for it) Poppy Honey Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal Blossom Rainbow. Check out more flower-inspired names below.

More: 50 Easter-Inspired Baby Names Perfect for Your Spring Baby

Baby names inspired by nature

We love these cool names inspired by nature. Check out some of our top picks below.

Next: Baby names with spring-inspired meanings

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

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Baby names with spring-inspired meanings

Girl names

  • Mae: French name meaning "goddess of spring growth"
  • Fontanne: French name meaning "fountain, spring"
  • Laverna: French name meaning "born in the spring"
  • Odeletta: French name meaning "little spring"
  • Abril:  Spanish name meaning "the month of April"
  • Apryl: English name meaning "April"
  • Muna: Native American name meaning "overflowing spring"
  • April: English name meaning "born in April"
  • Avril: English name meaning "born in April"
  • Diona: English name meaning "from the sacred spring"
  • Florentina: Spanish name meaning "blooming"

Boy names

  • Attwell:  English name meaning "lives by the spring"
  • Aviv: Hebrew name meaning "spring"
  • Wells: English name meaning "lives by the spring"
  • Atherton: English name meaning "the town by the spring"
  • Bradwell: English name meaning "from the broad spring"
  • Hartwell: English name meaning "lives near the stag's spring"
  • Kelby: Gaelic name meaning "place by the fountain or spring"
  • Kingswell: English name meaning "lives at the kings' spring"
  • Weldon: English name meaning "from the spring hill"
  • Maxwell:  Scottish name meaning "Magnus' spring"
  • Denver: English name meaning "green valley"

More: These Traditional "Boy" Names Are Perfect for... Baby Girls

And don't forget to consider the spring months — March, April, May — as potential baby names. May and April more commonly used for girls, while March is categorized as a boy name of Welsh origin. Spring is another great unisex name that would be perfect as a first or middle.

Spring baby names

Grey's Anatomy Star Jessica Capshaw Documents Her Bittersweet Last Day on Set

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The time has finally come. The goodbyes have been said, the filming has been completed and for veteran Grey's Anatomy actor Jessica Capshaw, the final drive home from the studio has been made. Tuesday was a sentimental day for Capshaw, who documented her final day at work on Grey's Anatomy before officially exiting the show. After nine years playing Dr. Arizona Robbins, Capshaw's tenure on the show has come to a close and fans were lucky enough to be treated to Capshaw's final day.

More: It's Time to Say Goodbye to These 2 Grey's Anatomy Characters

On Tuesday, Capshaw hopped on to her Instagram Story to tease fans that the day had finally arrived. "OK, ready for some bananas information? Today is my last day filming at Prospect Studios. Not my last day filming on Grey's Anatomy, but my last day filming at Prospect Studios," she explained to her fans. "Full of lots of nostalgia."

The documentation didn't stop there. A short while later, Capshaw hopped on to Twitter to confirm that she was making her final drive home from set. From the sound of the tweet, the bittersweet feelings were apparently starting to set in — hard. "Last drive from home to the studios this morning...TEN YEARS of commuting to reflect upon in 35 mins...wooaaahhh...," Capshaw tweeted out to the world.

Jessica Capshaw Final Day Tweet

Jessica Capshaw Final Day Tweet

More: 12 Characters Killed Off Grey's Anatomy We're Still Mourning

The impulse to get a bit reflective must have set in a short while after that, ostensibly once Capshaw had processed that she's actually filmed her last ever Grey's Anatomy scenes. I'm inferring this because it looks like, a short while after that tweet, Capshaw hopped on to her Instagram to post a proper photo and this time, she paired the photo — which is her looking skyward with a smile — with this hopeful caption and a ton of blue heart emojis: "Blue skies ahead..."

Jessica Capshaw Final Day Instagram

Jessica Capshaw Final Day Instagram

Capshaw's departure from Grey's Anatomy might still feel a bit sudden for many fans, who only learned back in March that she and fellow Grey's star Sarah Drew were leaving after nearly a decade on the show. The announcement admittedly came out of nowhere but it all seemed to be for the best. At least, that's the sense that we got when all parties involved, from Shonda Rhimes to Drew and Capshaw, posted statements that indicated there was nothing but love even though there would be lots of goodbyes in store.

Rhimes offered a heartfelt statement to the public, writing that, "It’s always hard for me to say goodbye to any of my characters. 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: Ellen Pompeo Thinks This Is Why 2 Grey's Anatomy Stars Are Leaving

For her part, Capshaw wrote in a statement just how meaningful it was and what a pleasure it was to play Dr. Arizon Robbins. "For the past 10 years, I have had the rare privilege of not only playing Arizona Robbins, but also being madly in love with playing her," she wrote, going on later in the statement to write, "I am sad to see her go, but I am consoled by the idea that she will continue to live on and on in all of our consciences and our imaginations. Shonda, thank you for the ride on this incredible rollercoaster."

Jessica Capshaw Grey's Departing Tweet

Jessica Capshaw Grey's Departing Tweet

What does the future hold for Capshaw? Well, she hasn't made her intentions known just yet, but there's no new projects listed on her IMDb page, so something tells me she's going to be resting up and enjoying some personal time with her family right now. I can't blame her; after nine years, she's earned it.

6 Reasons Chef's Table Is the Only Food Show You Need

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A few years ago, my spouse and I made the choice to stop paying for cable. We only ever mainlined Food Network for hours on end, and there were (and are) plenty of cooking and food shows available on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. We realized we didn't need cable to yell at contestants on Cutthroat Kitchen or bite our nails over basket ingredients on Chopped.

More: Ranking the Best Food Network Shows

And ever since Netflix premiered Chef's Table in 2015, few other cooking shows have truly measured up. The series certainly has its issues — like the fact that it seriously underrepresents female chefs, for one — but in general, the viewing experience is incredibly pleasurable from episode to episode.

Chef's Table is a deep-dive documentary series focusing on one chef in each episode. There are six one-hour episodes per season, and three seasons are currently available to stream. There are also two spin-off series: Chef's Table: France, which debuted in 2016, and Chef's Table: Pastry, which premieres Friday.

Chef's Table Pastry Trailer

Chef's Table Pastry Trailer

Not convinced you should add this series to your queue? Here are just a few reasons you need to jump on the Chef's Table bandwagon ASAP.

The food is stunning

Chef's Table S1 Title Sequence

Chef's Table S1 Title Sequence

Admittedly, I could never afford to eat at the majority of the restaurants featured on this series. However, it's amazing to see what these world-renowned chefs can do with even the most basic ingredients.

Take, for example, how Massimo Bottura, from Italy, took his love of "the crunchy part of lasagna" in the first episode of Season 1 and turned it into its own beautifully plated food. I mean, what? He also transforms cheeses into all kinds of textures, as you can see on his Instagram feed.

Massimo Bottura Instagram

Massimo Bottura Instagram

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The series is beautifully filmed

Chef's Table S3 Trailer

Chef's Table S3 Trailer

It isn't just the food that's beautiful. Chef's Table is an incredible visual experience, from the small detail shots of chefs' hands plating food to establishing shots of restaurant exteriors or cityscapes. Unlike the harsh, glaring lights of food competition shows or the sometimes too-gloomy cinematography of other documentaries, this series strikes a perfect balance. It's hard to take your eyes off of any episode.

The featured chefs have fascinating stories (especially the women)

Chef's Table - Nikki Nakayama

Chef's Table - Nikki Nakayama

Each episode of Chef's Table focuses on the life and work of a different world-renowned chef, and the passion they express in their interviews and in their work is unparalleled. Some of their struggles are genuinely heartbreaking, and the stories of others are simply fascinating. In every case, their resilience as they worked toward their current status is always inspiring.

The first episode that left me feeling genuinely enamored was the one profiling Niki Nakayama. A queer woman of color who's described as one of the most innovative chefs working today, Nakayama produces a new menu at her restaurant N/Naka every single night. In her episode, she said she prefers to create a series of cohesive dishes for her guests that will provide an intimate, personal experience, especially for repeat customers. That's some seriously hard work.

nnaka

nnaka

To reach this level of success, Nakayama trained under the guidance of esteemed chefs Takao Izumida and Morihiro Onodera, went on a three-year working tour through Japan, and opened and closed two different restaurants when they weren't sustaining her passion. During the episode, Nakayama revealed that she's constantly undermined because of her gender and appearance, but she's never given up the fight. Now her craft is widely admired by others in the food industry.

Although the series doesn't feature nearly enough women, the women it does feature are such hardworking, dedicated chefs who are constantly pushing the envelope when it comes to food.

It's a perfect compromise to watch with a companion

Cat and dog cuddle on a cough

If you're really into Netflix docuseries and your partner (or friend, or family member) just wants to watch Great British Bake Off again, Chef's Table strikes a nice balance between the two. It'll please the foodie, the artist and/or the biography-obsessed historian in your life, and it provides hours of conversation.

When I sat down to re-watch the first season (my favorite) last week, my spouse and I had a long conversation about traditions of Italian cooking, based on Massimo Bottura's episode. We also talked about the lack of women profiled on the show, which led to a conversation about how women are often underrepresented all across the food world, despite there being so many passionate, hardworking, talented women in kitchens everywhere — literally, everywhere — in the world.

More: 44 Incredible Shows on Netflix You Should Be Watching

You'll discover tons of places to add to your travel bucket list

Chef's Table: France Trailer

Chef's Table: France Trailer

If you want to "eat around the world" or even just reserve a table at a really fancy, really delicious restaurant to impress someone (that someone could be yourself), Chef's Table provides plenty of destinations. The food on this series is mouthwatering and gorgeous, and from what the interviewees all say, it's worth traveling to taste.

Chef's Table has totally reinvigorated my desire to travel to Italy and France, and it's also made me want to go home to California and do a long, food-focused road trip down the coast. Dominique Crenn, featured in the third episode of Season 2, owns Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, and I feel like I need to go just to see just how innovative her dishes are in real life.

Atelier Crenn

Atelier Crenn

It's reminiscent of other shows you probably love

Chef's Table S2 Trailer

Chef's Table S2 Trailer

Did you love Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations? What about the PBS series The Mind of a Chef? A Chef's Life? Chef's Table has the same informational vibe as these series, but the focus is a little different. It's more personal, though it always connects each chef's story to a larger cultural context. The series dives deep into the cultural history of food, how these chefs are turning tradition on its end without scoffing at the lessons they've learned from older chefs and, in some cases, family members and ancestors. It also offers a full look at these chefs' lives, including personal details that are evocative but also relevant to what they do and how they do it.

If I haven't convinced you by now to check out Chef's Table, it may be a lost cause. But for just a little more convincing, check out this beautiful bite by Chef Enrique Olvera, featured in Chef's Table Season 2.

Enrique Olvera

Enrique Olvera

Bon appetit!

Is Ear Candling Actually Effective?

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Candle

If you've never heard of ear candling, you're in for a treat. Some complimentary or alternative health adherents swear it does all sorts of good for the ol' ear canal, and yes, it involves sticking something into your ear and lighting it on fire. Does it really do any good, and are there any inherent dangers to putting a flaming candle in your ear? Let's find out.

What the heck is an ear candle?

An ear candle is different from your ordinary candle. They're usually hollow, made of fabric soaked in beeswax and are about a foot long, so you're not exactly sticking a birthday candle in your ear and lighting it on a fire just a few inches from your head. However, you do put one end in your external ear canal and lie on your side, while the other end is lit with actual fire. Many people put a paper plate or some other barrier between their head and the lit to keep hot wax from dripping down to their face.

The desired outcome is that a vacuum is formed by the flaming candle, which will hopefully draw out wax and other undesirable substances from the ear canal. Practitioners usually cut the stub of the candle open and proclaim the brown waxy substance inside to be the successful result of the procedure.

More: Is Acupressure a Solution for Period Pain?

Risks outweigh the benefits, of which there are none

Unfortunately for those who are looking to clean out their earwax or relieve pressure, it looks like this practice is a waste of money, and worse yet, potentially dangerous. Dr. Benjamin Tweel, an otolaryngologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, says ear candling is not effective at removing earwax.

"Although people have reported seeing earwax in the end of the candle, scientific experiments have shown that this substance is actually candle wax," he tells SheKnows. "In fact, multiple studies have shown that ear candling cannot remove earwax from the ear canal. Likewise, ear candles cannot relieve pain or pressure in the ears."

Not only does the practice not remove earwax, relieve pain or relieve pressure, it's also totally not safe at all. Tweel notes that injuries from ear candling include burns, complete obstruction of the ear canal by dripping candle wax, outer-ear infections and even eardrum perforation. Also, don't forget you can accidentally light your hair or your surroundings on fire.

A quick search confirms one case in which a 50-year-old woman came in after ear candling went awry — the person performing the candling burned herself while removing the candle, and hot wax went into the patient's ear canal. She was also experiencing some hearing loss. She had to go under general anesthesia for its removal, and the doctor discovered she had a perforation in her tympanic membrane (aka eardrum). The perforation and hearing loss were still present one month later.

If you're waxy, what should you do instead?

Even though we may feel that earwax must be removed, you should pay attention to the warnings on your cotton swabs and keep them out of your ears and also pay heed to the old saying to never stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ears. In fact, Tweel says that ears do not need to be cleaned routinely — they naturally expel wax on their own. "Q-tips, for instance, will generally make earwax problems worse or cause other symptoms," he explains.

There are cases in which earwax does completely block the ear canal, which can negatively impact hearing. For this, Tweel suggests using over-the-counter earwax drops that typically contain mineral oil and peroxide, which can help the wax drain out.

More: Does Lavender Really Help YourSleep Better?

"If that doesn’t help, a primary care doctor or an ENT [ear, nose and throat doctor] can clean out the earwax," he says. "If you have sudden hearing loss that doesn’t improve with earwax drops, you should be seen by a doctor within a few days, because that may be a sign of a serious condition."

Bottom line: Keep flaming candles away from your ears because it doesn't work and can also cause serious problems. Instead, try to let your ears do their own thing and be the self-cleaning body parts they already are.

Mariah Carey Reveals She's Living With Bipolar Disorder

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Mariah Carey, known for her incredible vocal range and several high-profile relationships, has been in the spotlight for the past two decades. Now, in a cover story for People, she's opening up about living with bipolar disorder.

The singer was first diagnosed in 2001 when she was hospitalized for a physical and mental breakdown, the magazine reported, but at first, she was in denial about the condition.

More: Tori Spelling Reportedly Had a "Mental Breakdown" -- But What Does That Actually Mean?

“I didn’t want to believe it,” Carey told People. “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me,” she says. “It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music.”

Carey is now getting the help she needs, taking medication for bipolar II disorder as well as attending therapy, the magazine reported.

“I’m actually taking medication that seems to be pretty good. It’s not making me feel too tired or sluggish or anything like that. Finding the proper balance is what is most important,” Carey told People.

Initially, she thought she had a sleep disorder, but knew it wasn't a typical case of insomnia because she wasn't lying awake at night. She was able to continue to keep up with her incredibly busy schedule, but said she "was irritable and in constant fear of letting people down."

Carey then learned she was experiencing a form of mania.

"Eventually I would just hit a wall," she said. "I guess my depressive episodes were characterized by having very low energy. I would feel so lonely and sad — even guilty that I wasn’t doing what I needed to be doing for my career.”

So why did she decide to come forward now, 17 years after her diagnosis?

“I’m just in a really good place right now, where I’m comfortable discussing my struggles with bipolar II disorder," Carey told People. "I’m hopeful we can get to a place where the stigma is lifted from people going through anything alone. It can be incredibly isolating. It does not have to define you and I refuse to allow it to define me or control me.”

More: "Oversharing" Personal Health Information Isn't Bad Manners — It's Helpful

She's right — talking about mental health issues does help to normalize it and destigmatize the conditions for other people — especially when the person doing it is famous. We wish Carey all the best and are appreciative for her openness on this subject.

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