2018 is proving to be a year for crowd-pleasing movies, and the list of summer blockbusters includes plenty of familiar faces.

Yes, sequel fever is at work, but those of us with a nostalgic side welcome these films with open arms. Watching Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! is sure to feel like we're spending time with old friends. Whether it's a new Star Wars story or a family of superheroes like The Incredibles 2, we're looking forward to seeing the filmmakers' fresh take on familiar characters and their new experiences.

For fans of original movies, female comic powerhouses Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis have paired up to bring us the spy comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me, which is sure to be a good time. In addition, Dwayne Johnson will be leaping off an impossibly high ledge in Skyscraper, wreaking havoc on the emotions of those of us terrified of heights.

Here's our list of the best movies coming to a theater near you starting in May.

More: All the Nostalgic TV Shows & Movies being rebooted in 2018

May 4

Overboard

Kate (Anna Faris) is hired to clean carpets for Leonardo (Eugenio Derbez), a rich, self-centered jerk. When he gets thrown overboard his own yacht, it becomes the perfect opportunity for Kate to get revenge. We adore Faris and her ability to do physical comedy — so we know this one won't disappoint. Even better, based on the trailer, it seems she's got great chemistry with Derbez. That will be fun to watch.

May 25

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Finally, an origin story movie for Han Solo, this time played by Alden Ehrenreich. We get to learn how young Han met Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) as they adventure into a dark world of crime. We're looking forward to this movie because of our 30-year relationship with Han Solo — this character feels like an old friend. Also, we just can't get enough of his swagger.

May 26

The Tale

After coming across a short story she wrote in middle school, Jennifer Fox (Laura Dern) is forced to take a disturbing new look at her first sexual experience. This film premieres on HBO. We love Dern in anything, but she's been killing it as of late, especially in the hit series Big Little Lies. This is just one more way to watch her interpret a complicated woman who's still is looking to grow and find herself.

June 1

Adrift

Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin play two avid sailors who find themselves sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. Based on a true story, we are inspired by two people who had the courage to stare death in the face and survive.

June 8

Ocean's 8 

You know the Ocean's heist movies, but this one has an outrageous all-female group of crooks including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna and Helena Bonham Carter. This is an amazing cast — period! These are some of the best leading actors around, and watching them play off each other in such a fierce female film? That will be a treat.

June 15

The Incredibles 2

Our favorite family of superheroes is back, only this time Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) is left alone to take care of the unpredictable Jack-Jack. After waiting 14 years to visit with the extraordinary Parr family, our anticipation of this film is at an all-time high.

Tag

When five highly competitive friends engage in an elaborate game of tag that takes them across the entire country, one friend's wedding may get disrupted. The film is based on an article from The Wall Street Journal and stars Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner. Hamm and Renner usually play very dramatic roles, and finally, we will get to see them have a little fun.

June 22

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Crazy, beastly dinosaurs are left unchecked on Isla Nublar, but when the island’s dormant volcano begins erupting, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) try to save the ancient reptiles from a second extinction. The reason we're excited for this? Dinosaurs, duh.

More: Anna Faris Views Marriage Differently After Separating From Chris Pratt

July 6

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Fatherhood is tough when you're a superhero, but when a global crisis threatens human survival, Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is called to work alongside The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) to save the planet from destruction. We adore Rudd as Ant-Man, but adding Lilly as The Wasp just ups the stakes and feels more inclusive to women.

July 13

Skyscraper

Dwayne Johnson plays U.S. war veteran Will Sawyer, who finds himself atop the tallest building in Hong Kong only to discover it's been set on fire. No one can do intense, hyperphysical action scenes like Johnson, who probably did a lot of his own stunts. This movie is sure to keep us on the edge of our seats.

More: Dwayne Johnson Has Chosen His Birth Doula: Jimmy Kimmel

July 20

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!

The big stars (Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Lily James, Colin Firth, Cher) are back, and so are the ABBA songs, but it's Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who's having the big life change: She's preparing for motherhood. The thing we're anticipating most is the music — what ABBA songs are they going to include? Will there be any original songs? We can't wait to find out.

July 27

Mission: Impossible — Fallout

When the CIA begins to question Ethan Hunt's (Tom Cruise) loyalty, he sets out on a mission to prevent a global catastrophe and protect his name. And when it comes to action, Tom Cruise never disappoints.

Aug. 3

The Spy Who Dumped Me

We all know dating can be tough, but dating a spy can be deadly. And funny. When Audrey (Mila Kunis) discovers her boyfriend is a spy, she pairs up with her best friend Morgan (Kate McKinnon) to they race through Europe with deadly assassins hot on their trail. We're excited to see the chemistry between Kunis and McKinnon as they traipse through our favorite European locations. Jealous!

Disney’s Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) is all grown up and finds he's lost his sense of wonder and imagination. Luckily, his cuddly friends from the Hundred Acre Wood reenter his life to provide inspiration. McGregor seems likes the perfect actor to portray such a beloved character/person. We know he'll bring as much comedy as he will heart.

Aug. 17

Crazy Rich Asians

Constance Wu stars in this rom-com about a young woman who discovers she's about to marry the richest man in Asia. But can she win the love of her groom's overprotective mother? After watching Wu dazzle on Fresh Off the Boat, we're so ready for her to take on a feature film.

Aug. 24

Slender Man

Five teenage girls perform a ritual to summon evil powers. What they get is a horrific, thin man with a featureless face who lives to kill. This looks like a mix of terror and girl empowerment gone very wrong — it's something we're not sure we've ever seen before.

Her efforts to make a big move on Survivor: Ghost Island were cut short when Desiree Afuye got caught in a lie. Although her attempts to cover up the lie were extremely convincing, it didn't pay off, as the tribe turned against her. In our one-on-one interview with Desiree, she revealed the game's biggest threats and explained why Chelsea Townsend is playing a better game than anybody actually realizes.

SheKnows: Did you have any idea the votes were going to fall against you or was it a true blindside?

Desiree Afuye: I had an idea. Going into it, I already knew Laurel had talked to Dom and Wendell, so I kinda figured it was going to be 50-50 either way. I wasn't really surprised. I was edgy about Chelsea and Kellyn, but I didn't know where everybody stood until the very end.

SK: You tried to make a big game move by telling several people that you were ready to flip on the Naviti tribe. Why was that moment the perfect time for you to try and make that move?

DA: I knew the closer we got, the stronger Dom and Wendell would be to persuade everybody to keep them around. I also knew that it would probably be an advantage to use the Idols they had against them. Kellyn was winning a lot at the time, so I figured, "Let me put an end to this while they still don't have the most power."

More: What Libby Vincek wishes she could change about her portrayal on Survivor

SK: But then you got caught lying to the tribe about your desire to flip. Was there any moment you actually admitted the truth or did you lie about it the whole time?

DA: I was planning to lie to the very end, and that's exactly what I did. They wouldn't go with the plan either way.

SK: Your lie was so convincing, though. Did you start to believe your own lie?

DA: I did. I started believing my own lie. I was like, hopefully I lied good enough. Even if people think it's a lie, they're just gonna have to go with it because I just put on such a good performance.

SK: We didn't get to see too much of your game this season. Tell us a bit about the game strategy you had in place and who your allies were.

DA: Before the Chris vote, my allies were Kellyn and Chelsea. After the Chris vote, I realized I didn't have them as allies anymore because I was left out of it. I started building relationships with Laurel and Donathan. That's why I was so convinced to make the plan with them. It would've been beneficial for them because they were already at the bottom. They had a relationship and a friend in me. We would all vote together, and also I had a strong relationship with Michael. I spent most of my game with him as well.

More: Survivor's Chris Noble says he isn't the arrogant guy you think he is

SK: You said you had a bond with Chelsea, but the viewers know nothing about her. Her time on the show has been nearly invisible, almost as if she's not even there. Is her edit accurate in that appears she's not doing anything?

DA: I think she really was playing the game. She had ties to Dom. She had a strong relationship with Dom, and that's what got Bradley out of the game. People didn't really see that as being a move by her, but it was one of her moves. She spent a lot of time trying to build relationships with me and Kellyn, making us feel comfortable. She was trying to convince us that she was a strong competitor and with us. I think a lot of her game is not really making it on the screen, but she is playing. I thought her edit was going to be for somebody else on the cast, but I guess not. It's the edit she got, but I'm not sure why.

SK: Just to clarify, you said you believe Chelsea's edit was going to be given to somebody else? Who did you think was going to get the lack-of-story edit?

DA: I don't want to say [laughs.] There are other storylines that aren't as dramatic as Chelsea's.

More: Survivor villain Bradley Kleihege responds to haters who sent him death threats

SK: Michael seems to be one of the most likely candidates to win. He's playing hard and appears to be well-liked by nearly everybody. How does he keep escaping the vote?

DA: I'm not sure how he's made it that far, but I think he's just kind of played his cards right thus far. There's always been a target ahead of him, and if there wasn't a target ahead of him, he had an Idol for it. I think he's saved his tail a lot by having an Idol at times. I think that's what kept him in the game this long. He's totally a hard player. He almost seems like the perfect guy. There's nothing bad I can really say about him.

SK: Tell us about Domenick. He's been a big player this season who seems like he could win. What's your take on him?

DA: Out on the island, I knew Domenick was dangerous from day one. I knew he was going to be a problem if he got far along in the game, and I think he's doing exactly what I thought he was gonna do on day one. He's convincing. He's so persuasive, and I think he has a lot of people fooled into thinking they can beat them. Dom, right now, the way he's looking is kind of unbeatable. Wendell is the same. He's the guy that everybody likes. Nobody can say anything bad about Wendell, really. He's kind of playing a similar game to Dom. I think Wendell and Dom, probably from my perspective, they were the most dangerous.

SK: What was your end-game plan? Who did you want to take to the final Tribal Council?

DA: I had a lot of different people I thought of, like Laurel, Donathan, Angela or Chelsea. Any of them would've been good with me. I felt like they haven't really made a whole lot of moves. I felt like they wouldn't have an easy argument against me because they didn't make a whole lot of strategic moves that got them ahead in the game.

SK: How did you get on the show?

DA: I auditioned for it and got through. It just went from there. I auditioned with a lot of people. I wasn't convinced that I would make it, but I did. It was my first time auditioning ever for anything.

Do you think Desiree could have won the game had she made it to the end? Join the conversation and leave a comment in the section below.

Halsey might be 23, but she isn’t taking any chances when it comes to her future. The singer — who was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition affecting fertility, in 2015 — recently opened up about her surprising decision to freeze her eggs at such as young age and how suffering an onstage miscarriage has given her a new perspective on her future.

On Thursday’s episode of The Doctors, Halsey revealed that she recently froze her eggs as a preemptive measure to protect her fertility. She also acknowledged her privilege in being able to afford to harvest, freeze and store her eggs — a process that can cost women tens of thousands of dollars.

“I’m 23 years old, and I’m going to freeze my eggs. And when I tell people that, they’re like, ‘You’re 23, why do you need to do that? Why do you need to freeze your eggs?’ Doing an ovarian reserve is important to me because I’m fortunate enough to have that as an option, but I need to be aggressive about protecting my fertility, about protecting myself,” Halsey said.

The singer’s decision to freeze her eggs was motivated by her yearslong battle with endometriosis, which Halsey initially mistook as standard period pains. “The thing with endometriosis is that it comes down to that doctors can tend to minimize the female experience when it comes to dealing with it,” Halsey said. “My whole life, my mother had always told me, ‘Women in our family just have really bad periods.’ It was just something she thought she was cursed to deal with and I was cursed to deal with, and that was just a part of my life.”

More: Julianne Hough Opens Up About Life With Endometriosis

It wasn’t until she collapsed on tour and went to the doctor that she discovered that her pain wasn’t caused by dehydration or stress, but by endometriosis, a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.

“My tour manager had to take me to a hospital. And the whole time I was there, no one knew what to tell me,” she said. “Dehydration, stress, anxiety and I was saying, ‘What about my pain?’ A lot of the time they can make you think it’s in your head. It was so bittersweet because it was the relief of knowing that I wasn’t making it up and I wasn’t being sensitive and it wasn’t all in my head, but it also kind of sucked to know that I was going to be living with this forever.”

A few months after her diagnosis, while she was singing to a crowd of a few hundred teenagers, Halsey experienced a miscarriage onstage. The miscarriage, which happened not too long after she discovered she was pregnant, motivated Halsey to take her endometriosis more seriously and consider precautions to protect her future.

“I was on tour, and I found out I was pregnant. And before I could really figure out what that meant to me and what that meant for my future, for my career, for my life, for my relationship, the next thing I knew I was onstage miscarrying in the middle of my concert,” Halsey said. “And the sensation of looking a couple hundred teenagers in the face while you’re bleeding through your clothes and still having to do the show and realizing in that moment that I never want to make that choice ever again of doing what I love or not being able to because of this disease.”

More: What to Eat (& What to Avoid) If You Have Endometriosis

Now, almost three years after her miscarriage, Halsey is ready to open up about her decision to freeze her eggs and why she isn’t letting her endometriosis stop her from having a family or hinder her future.

“Reproductive illness is so frustrating because it can really make you feel like less of a woman,” Halsey said. “There’s a lot of times when you’re sitting at home and you just feel so terrible about yourself. You’re sick, you don’t feel sexy, you don’t feel proud, you don’t feel like there’s much hope. And so taking these measures so that hopefully I can have a bright future and achieve the things that I want to achieve by doing the ovarian reserve is really important.”

Endometriosis affects nearly 176 million people across the world, including celebrities like Julianne Hough and Jaime King. Props to Halsey for destigmatizing the condition and bravely opening up about her decision to freeze her eggs.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Hold on to your pocketbook: This morning, Amazon announced it’s going to raise its prices for Prime subscription for the first time in four years.

As of May 11, new subscribers will pay $119 a year for Prime service, which includes two-day shipping, access to TV shows and movies, music, storage and more. If you’re a current member, the annual fee will apply to renewing members starting June 16.

More: What You Need to Know About the Massive Gmail Update

The price has already been raised for members who choose to be monthly — rather than yearly — subscribers, increasing from $10.99 a month to $12.99.

This comes after Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos shared that the company currently has over 100 million Prime members worldwide. The service last raised its prices in 2014, when the yearly subscription cost went from $79 to $99.

More: The Amazon Prime Perks You're Not Taking Advantage Of

No word currently on how — or if — the price hike will affect Amazon’s discount Prime prices for students, who currently get a six-month trial and then pay $49 a year, or the recent launch of special prices for customers who receive government assistance, who currently pay $5.99 a month.

The service is reportedly expensive to fund, especially with the addition of benefits like two-hour shipping and one of the largest libraries of entertainment… though the company did make $1.9 billion in the last quarter of 2017 alone.

More: Amazon Inexplicably Shut Down Hundreds, Possibly Thousands of Prime Accounts

Amazon also recently announced an expansion of its Key delivery service and has begun delivering packages to the trunks of cars in 37 cities. This is in addition to a service that allows members to have packages delivered inside their front doors.

If you’ve been putting off a new Prime subscription of have let your membership lapse, be sure to sign up before the May date.

The story around Miranda Lambert's possible rebound romance with Evan Felker, the frontman for country music group Turnpike Troubadours, continues to pick up steam. This time, Evan's reportedly estranged wife, Staci Felker, posted something on her Instagram Story that could be connected to rumors about Lambert and Evan's alleged love affair.

More: Miranda Lambert May Already Be Rebounding With Another Musician

The photo was posted to Staci's account Thursday afternoon (we managed to grab a screenshot before it disappeared).

More: Miranda Lambert Is Broken-Hearted, & She's Not Afraid to Admit It

Yikes.

Staci hasn't released any further statement since reports about her husband and Lambert's romance surfaced.

But Staci isn't the only ex in this equation — Blake Shelton is responding to the love affair rumors too. Just one day after the initial reports of Lambert and Evan's connection appeared online, Shelton posted a similarly vague comment about karma on his Twitter account: "Been taking the high road for a long time... I almost gave up. But I can finally see something on the horizon up there!! Wait!! Could it be?! Yep!! It’s karma!!" Shelton never confirmed he was actually talking about Lambert, but the timing is certainly interesting, which led the internet to speculate.

According to Us Weekly, Staci filed for divorce from Evan just one month after he went on the road with Lambert for her tour, Hangin' With Hippies. The last photo Staci has with Evan on Instagram, in which she looks very happy, dates back to January.

More: Miranda Lambert & Anderson East Break Up, for Real This Time (Maybe)

Since the initial reports broke, neither Lambert nor Evan have commented — explicitly or implicitly — about the rumors of their relationship. For now, things are still a bit up in the air about these two, so it's fair to say we'll be waiting to see how things pan out.

On Monday, the birth of the third child of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate Middleton, was announced by a "self-proclaimed Royalist Town Crier." Ever since Princess Charlotte was officially promoted to big sister, royal family enthusiasts have been waiting with bated breath to learn the name of William and Kate's baby son.

Today, Kensington Palace announced the news in a tweet (I really wish the town crier had delivered the news, but you can't have everything). The newest addition to the family is named Louis Arthur Charles, and he will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.

More: The Royal Baby Is Here — & It's A Boy

Louis wasn't the most obvious choice for the little prince's name. Bookies had their money on Arthur, followed by James, Albert, Philip, Alexander and Henry. Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, told People that Louis is likely a tribute to the baby's grandfather, Prince Philip. It was also the name of Prince Charles' great-uncle and mentor, Earl Louis Mountbatten, who was murdered in 1979.

“Louis is obviously a favorite name and an indirect nod to the Duke of Edinburgh and his side of the family. I did think that Philip might have appeared in there somewhere," Little told People.

More: William & Kate Are Totally Ready for Baby No. 3's Arrival

The bookies' top choice, Arthur, made it as the middle name. This name is rich in British history — who could forget King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table from the sixth century? It's also one of Prince Charles' middle names.

And speaking of Prince Charles, William and Kate included a tribute to little Louis' grandfather in his name. Charles is the second middle name of the royal baby. Similarly, Princess Charlotte's second middle name is Diana after her late grandmother — so, although naming a royal baby is complicated business, William and Kate have found a pattern when it comes to family tributes.

More: Kate Middleton Is Living Her Best Pregnant Life With This Tattoo-Hard Hat Combo

Now that little Louis officially has a name fit for a prince, the family is settling into their new routine back home at Kensington Palace. "[Parenthood] suits them really well," a friend of Kate Middleton's told People. "They are enjoying it and are very happy."

It’s a tale as old as time: social, adventurous extrovert (me) marries homebody, social minimalist (my husband.) We’ve been married nearly 10 years now, and so far, I’ve mostly solved our personality discrepancies by going on adventures by myself or actively pursuing friendships on my own. After all, loneliness researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University told CBC News that loneliness has a risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. I was doing it for my health!

But after moving to a new state, my base of friendships has dwindled, and I also find myself wanting to do more exploring with my husband since everything is new to both of us. How, then, to make new friends without eating at all the must-try restaurants without him?

Well, I realized, we could make friends with couples.

Beyond the convenience aspect of couple friendships, there are benefits to your relationship too. “You see your partner happy and interacting and that can bring out the best attributes of one’s partner,” says Dr. Geoffrey Greif, professor at the Maryland School of Social Work and the coauthor of the book Two Plus Two: Couples and their Couple Friendships. You may also learn from the other couple about how to be a stronger couple, he said. “In addition to the obvious fun couples can have together, these can also be problem-solving interactions that you have.” From how to deal with your kids to how to handle vacations to how to handle issues with extended family, having other couples as a resource can prove to be invaluable.

And the convenience of getting to socialize with your spouse and other people? That’s nothing to turn up your nose at. “The hardest thing for any one in a couple to sort out is how much time do we have for ourselves as a couple, how much time do I have to myself,” Greif said.

If you’re sold on the idea of cultivating more friendships with other couples, here are a few ways to get started.

1. Talk about the kinds of friendships you’re looking for

Couples, he said, need to understand what their partner is looking for in a friendship. One person in the couple may want to go out several times a week with different people. The other might want to build more consistent relationships with the people they already know. Talking about these things beforehand can help the couple know what they’re looking for ahead of time.

Also consider what kind of friendships you both value. “Some couples want to go out and have a deeper connection and are emotion-sharing,” Greif said. “Others say, 'I work really hard during the week. I have a really intense job. I just want to go out and have fun.'”

More: How to Stop Obsessing Over a Past Relationship

2. Look for group activities

Once you know what kinds of friendship you’re looking for, you can look into joining a new group or evaluating the ones you’re already part of. Do you join some kind of regular group, like a hiking meetup or beer-tasting club? Maybe you decide to volunteer somewhere together or maybe you can reach out to the couple you always run into at your kid’s soccer game. Whatever it is, the best way to make friendships is to have consistent interactions with the same people — so choose an activity that will allow for it.

More: The Downside to Being Single That Nobody Talks About

3. Tap into the friendships you already have

There’s a good chance one or both of you already have a few friends who are in relationships. If you already have a friend who has a spouse, see if they would be interested in hanging out as a couple.

4. Keep your expectations realistic

“Let go of the expectation or need for all spouses to be best friends with each other,” says Shasta Nelson, author of Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness. Any time you introduce your friend’s partner to your partner, they’re starting at ground zero in their friendship when you’ve already got an established relationship. This new friendship will take time — and it’s also OK if they’re only ever friendly acquaintances.

More: What to Do if You & Your Partner Don't Agree on Having Kids

5. Meet up individually too

Just because your new couple group gets along doesn’t mean you should only ever hang out as a foursome. Nurture friendships with the individual you get along with best, and encourage your partner to do the same. “If any two people are trying to build a stronger relationship, one of the most important things they can do is to create their own rituals and shared memories together,” Nelson says. “As yourself, ‘Is this a person I’d want to still be close to even if one of us was no longer coupled for some reason?’” Especially if your answer is yes, you need to pursue a friendship outside of your couple date nights.

6. Don’t force it

“It’s unnecessary to think any two people need to be best friends just because their spouses are,” Nelson says. If you get together with a new couple and for some reason there’s tension or even just disinterest, accept it. You or your partner might still meet up with them on occasion, but accept that the group dynamic won’t work all the time.

Grey's Anatomy fans will be delighted to learn that after 14 seasons, we're finally going to meet Dr. Alex Karev's mom. Sure, it's not exactly one of the biggest or most pressing mysteries that's arisen on the show, but this development in Karev's Grey's storyline will be especially meaningful for fans who have watched him grow and transform into one of Grey Sloan's finest docs since Season 1.

More: These Grey's Anatomy Fan Favorites Are Officially Done & We're Not OK

Deadline reported on Thursday that television legend Lindsay Wagner was cast to play Karev's mother, Helen Karev, in what's being described as a "key role" for the episode set to air on May 3. The episode, set to be directed by Grey's star Jesse Williams, is titled "Fight for Your Mind" — an intense episode title if ever there were one. This is the description for Karev's storyline (one of three in the episode) as described by Deadline: "Alex and Jo (Camilla Luddington) go on a trip to Iowa to find Alex’s mom, whom he hasn’t heard from in a very long time." OK, it's not really that much to go on, but hey, this is Grey's; there's always more to the story than meets the eye.

Older Grey's viewers will likely recognize Wagner from her starring role in the mid-'70s hit series The Bionic Woman and more recently NCIS and Warehouse 13. This will be Wagner's first time appearing on a Shondaland show. It's not known if she'll appear in more than one episode of Grey's, so soak up this appearance while it lasts, folks.

More: 10 Struggles Every Grey's Anatomy Fan Knows to Be Real

The news of an addition to the Grey's Anatomy family couldn't come at a better time. Where the cast is concerned, fans have been dealing with the departure of veteran stars Jessica Capshaw and Sarah Drew. On the show, there's been a lot of upheaval surrounding the revelations about Harper Avery and how the Grey Sloan team is dealing with the fallout. Having the chance to focus on Karev's backstory and explore his relationship with his mother will likely be a relief for viewers — an exciting new plot point that will provide some interesting character development for Karev is always a good thing.

She's famously unflappable on the tennis court, but motherhood has thrown Serena Williams a few curveballs — and the star athlete is using her own experience to raise awareness about the struggles faced by new moms, particularly women of color.

Williams gave birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, seven months ago, but the birth didn't go as planned. When her baby's heart rate began dropping, doctors told Williams they needed to perform an emergency C-section.

More: Serena Williams Will Return to Tennis 5 Months After Giving Birth

Although she took the news in stride, Williams told People, "I was still devastated. I think every woman, a part of them, wants to have birth naturally and [to] feel that… when you get a c-section it’s different.”

Shortly after Alexis' birth, Williams was hospitalized due to multiple blood clots — including one in her lungs. She underwent surgery and had to spend the next six weeks in bed recovering. “My whole life I’ve been physically pushing my body to the limits," Williams shared. "And this is the one time where I couldn’t control anything. I couldn’t push my body. My body pushed to its maximum. That was so hard."

More: Serena Williams' Daughter Makes Her Vogue Debut

As she got back on her feet, Williams says her sister, Venus, husband Alexis Ohanian Sr. and friends have provided an invaluable support system. “It takes a village to raise a kid and it takes a village to get back on the court,” Williams told People.

More: Serena Williams' Daughter Is Teething — & the Whole Fam Is Miserable

As Williams bounces back and prepares to return to the tennis court, she's using her platform to raise awareness about the struggles faced by Black women during pregnancy. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, a statistic that Williams describes as "devastating."

"If I wasn’t who I am, it could have been me — and that’s not fair. Class shouldn’t separate health, and it’s so frustrating to know that [it does]," Williams told Glamour. "And the reason I use the word class is because I’m able to afford this opportunity to speak up and say, 'No, I need help now!' and people will listen to me. But a lot of African-Americans — and people in Africa, India, or Brazil, to name a few — don’t have that opportunity. It’s completely devastating."

We didn't need any more evidence that Williams is a badass hero both on and off the tennis court, but she gave it to us anyway. Props to the tennis star for opening up about her own struggles and raising the important (and far-too-often overlooked) issue of the pregnancy risks experienced by Black women.

Dancing with the Stars premieres on April 30, and we are expecting a very competitive season. This spring season has been a bit unusual compared to other spring seasons in the past thanks to the reboot of American Idol.

More: Everything We Know About the Mini-Season of DWTS

The return of Idol reduced the DWTS season down to four jam-packed weeks of dancing. The spring season also has its first themed show since Season 15’s all-star season. Season 26 is an athletes-only edition.

Since an athlete’s goal is to perform to the best of their abilities and try to win with each outing, it’s natural to expect a competitive season. DWTS also delivers at least one big surprise elimination each season, so we expect the same thing to happen this season.

Here’s what we think will happen this season on DWTS.

Top performers

It’s pretty much a given that figure skaters Mirai Nagasu and Adam Rippon are already in contention for that Mirrorball Trophy without even stepping out on the dance floor. Their sport requires a high level of performance quality, and they have to remember choreography with each program. Even though they have to adjust from figure skates to ballroom shoes, we are expecting one of them to walk away with the win this season.

Controversy

The casting of Tonya Harding was a controversial move and even Harding knows it. She’s avoided social media until now. With her new Instagram account and the hopes of creating a new image, will America forgive her? It’s a tough call given the fact that Nancy Kerrigan starred on DWTS just one year ago.

Another brewing controversy is a political one. Rippon has talked openly about disagreeing with Vice President Mike Pence’s stance on LGBTQ rights when he was governor of Indiana. The VP offered to meet with him before the Olympics, but Rippon was focusing on his upcoming competition. Some DWTS fans have shared their displeasure with Rippon’s casting on the DWTS Facebook page.

More: 13 Dancing with the Stars Feuds We're Still Not Over

Beloved cast member

Each season, there’s one contestant who might not be the best dancer, but they have the biggest heart. Their journey wins over the voting public and they stay in the competition far longer than anyone would have imagined. In the past, we have watched Tommy Chong, Bill Engvall and Robert Herjavec have incredible journeys on DWTS. Who will that contestant be in Season 26?

We are predicting Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be the beloved contestant. His height of 7 feet, 2 inches makes it difficult to compete with his pro partner, Lindsay Arnold, who is 5 feet, 6 inches. However, Arnold knows how to whip her contestants into dance shape and Abdul-Jabbar is a beloved figure in basketball. He’s also a cancer survivor, so his story is already a compelling one.

Another constant to keep your eye on is Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer. He checks off a lot of boxes that the DWTS audience enjoys — he's charismatic, he's excited about the dance show, and he's handsome. It also doesn't hurt that he and partner Witney Carson have some fun chemistry. Don't count him out of the finale mix!

No promotion

We are also expecting a tough road for Notre Dame basketball player Arike Ogunbowale. It’s not because she can’t dance, but because she’s not allowed to promote her participation on the show due to NCAA regulations.

NCAA regulations are incredibly strict and bylaw 12.4.1 states that athletes cannot profit from “the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletics ability.”

One of the big components of DWTS is getting to know the fans on social media, and she cannot use this aspect at all or she risks losing her NCAA scholarship and status on the team. Ogunbowale will not be able to do weekly press after the show like other contestants, nor will she be allowed to go on Good Morning America if she is eliminated according to Dance Network sources.

More: Soap Stars Who Were Contestants on Dancing with the Stars

Shocking elimination

Every season has one shocking elimination that the average viewer wasn’t expecting. So we should expect at least one top talent to go quicker than expected. There are three figure skaters in the competition — and we hate to say it — but they will probably cannibalize each other when it comes to voting. Harding will probably go first. We think only one figure skater will be left standing in the top two contenders — will it be Rippon or Nagasu?

Dancing with the Stars premieres Monday night, April 30 on ABC at 8/7c.

Brad Pitt is going to have a hand in shaping Harvey Weinstein's post-#MeToo public image, and it's likely a bittersweet moment for the actor. Pitt's history with Weinstein is fraught, to say the least, so the fact that he's now bringing the shamed producer's takedown story to the big screen must be cathartic.

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

People reported on the news that Pitt, through his production company, Plan B Entertainment, and Annapurna Pictures acquired the rights to The New York Times exposé that was instrumental in bringing the decadeslong allegations of sexual assault and harassment made against Weinstein to light. Once believed to be infallible and inured to these allegations, Weinstein's downfall in late 2017 initiated a shocking wave of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations among dozens of famous and powerful men.

There are currently no other names attached to the project. That said, the cachet of Pitt's name and the prestige of Plan B and Annapurna will ensure this project develops into a fairly high-profile one pretty quickly. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will focus on the intense reporting process that took place in order to bring the story into print rather than focus on the stories behind the multiple allegations against Weinstein.

The story has already gotten some positive feedback on Twitter, with women coming forward with positive reactions.

Having Pitt attach himself to this project is especially meaningful because of his turbulent history with Weinstein. When Gwyneth Paltrow came forward in 2017 to tell her story about Weinstein and how he invited her to a hotel room in the early '90s and attempted to massage her while trying to talk about casting her in Emma (she was eventually cast). Paltrow rebuffed his advances, but when she told then-boyfriend Pitt about what happened, he confronted Weinstein at a party about what happened, apparently poking him in the chest and telling Weinstein, "You will not ever do this to Gwyneth ever again."

More: Gwyneth Paltrow & Angelina Jolie Tell Their Harvey Weinstein Stories

Now, with the benefit of time and a changing of the guard, this could be one of the most important films Pitt ever makes. This film could have women everywhere cheering before the credits roll.

Kendra Wilkinson is wrapping up one stage in her life and eagerly diving into the next one with a major makeover — and she's pulling it off like a champ. The last month has been pretty rough for Wilkinson, who officially filed for divorce on April 5 from her husband of nearly nine years, Hank Baskett. Now, she's pushing right past the sadness and embracing the good, as she should be.

More: 36 Hollywood Couples Who've Called It Quits in 2018

On Thursday, Wilkinson shared a photo set on her Instagram that showed a very happy Wilkinson sporting a new brunette lob. With the sun shining down on her, she looks so carefree and happy — a feeling also reflected in the photo set's caption.

"Been wanting to experiment like this for a long time n [sic] here it is. So excited for this change but I’ll always stay true to my roots," she wrote.

We're not even gonna pretend Wilkinson's new hair color is anything other than fantastic. There's nothing quite like the mood-boosting effects of a mini-makeover.

More: Kendra Wilkinson Has Had It With the Mom-Shamers

Since filing for divorce, Wilkinson has been working to maintain some normalcy in her life for the sake of her children. That wasn't too easy when her dog, Martini, died on Saturday or when her followers attempted to shame her. But Wilkinson has remained resilient through this turbulent month. She's posted photos of herself hanging out with her two children, Hank Jr. and Alijah, and she's even posted some cheeky photos of herself getting a little tipsy while playing video games.

More: Kendra Wilkinson Is Having Very Human Problems Right Now

Wilkinson's going to be just fine if you ask us, and she's got the hair — and willpower — to prove it.

We can all agree that orgasms are great. Now, what if you could make that big-O magic even better? Turns out you can — here are nine tips to step up orgasms for vulva-owning people, solo or partnered. And if you can’t have or don’t want orgasms — that’s OK too. You do whatever feels good to you.

Get to know your body

There are so many ways to try for an orgasm — dildos, clitoral stimulators, vibrators — but board-certified sexologist, Lanae St.John, likes to start with a vulva owner’s relationship to their body. How do they feel about their vulva? How do they feel about their vagina?

“Lots of messaging about sexual activity (outside of good sex education) is that women perform acts in service to their partner’s pleasure,” St.John tells SheKnows. Getting permission to touch yourself is key. “Many people are instructed to not touch their vulva. Some are told it’s dirty. Some aren’t told anything specific, but the attitudes of people around them as they were growing up told them the body was off-limits. Getting past these mental blocks or reprogramming through accurate information is helpful for so many people.” 

Get warmed up

Make sure you get really warmed-up before genital stimulation. Give (or have your partner give) lots of attention to your breasts, nipples and inner thighs before touching your vulva, Dr. Laurie Mintz, author of Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters — And How to Get It tells SheKnows. Or start off by rubbing your entire vulva slowly and luxuriously using lubricant. Then very, very slowly, move to your clit and inner lips and perhaps your vaginal opening as well.

More: Your Definitive Guide the Lube

Don’t rush it

Unlike people with a penis, who can orgasm in a matter of minutes, the vulvar/clitoral orgasm takes some time. “On average, women require 20 to 30 minutes of clitoral stimulation to climax,” Jenny Block, author of The Ultimate Guide to Solo Sex tells SheKnows. In everyday life, we’re multitaskers and overachievers.

“While a ‘quickie’ is valid, we need to also spend some quality time with ourselves,” sex educator Betty Dodson, author of Sex for One, tells SheKnows.

Block sums it up best: “The longer the tease, the more fulfilling the please.”

Stop trying so hard

“It seems counterintuitive, but when we really ‘try’ to have an orgasm, we tend to tighten up and force things,” Tara Struyk, cofounder and editor-in-chief of Kinkly tells SheKnows.

Rather, Struyk says that the best orgasms come when you're totally relaxed, in the moment and free of any expectations beyond exploring and feeling good.

"If you're able to listen to what your body is telling you — either when you're masturbating or having sex — and move into whatever is making it feel better, you'll be able to give your body the time for the full wind-up the biggest, best orgasms really need,” she adds.

More: Don't Love Being on Top? These Tips Will Change Your Mind

Buy a clit vibe

When we picture sex toys, many immediately think of some sort of phallic-shaped dildo or vibrator, but people with a vulva may want to consider one that focuses all of its attention on the clitoris.

“Buy a clitoral vibrator and use that alone or with a partner,” Mintz advises. “If your partner has a penis, one option is to use it on yourself during intercourse. You can also use it separate from penetration" no matter what sex organs your partner has.

My go-to clitoral vibe is the Womanizer Pro. It’s not the sexiest of toys at first glance, but it’s given me more orgasms than I could possibly count.

Create a fantasy

“To have your ultimate orgasm, have your ultimate fantasy,” says Block. “Go crazy and give yourself permission to do whatever you have to do to get off, whether it’s reading a Rachel Kramer Bussel anthology or screwing 100 cowboys.” 

One of the upsides of playing out hot mental scenarios is there’s zero risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Experiment with kink

If you’re new to kink, Mintz suggests starting by using a blindfold or light arm and leg restraints while your partner pleasures your vulva with their fingers, tongue and/or a vibrator.

For some people, "this giving up of control is helpful in allowing them to fully immerse in the sensations of the moment without worrying if they are taking too long, etc.,” she says. Before you start to experiment, Mintz stresses that it’s important to trust your partner and negotiate that if something doesn’t feel good, you will communicate that, and they will stop.

Try edging

“When you feel like an orgasm is inevitable, back off,” Mintz says. This is sometimes called “edging.” 

The folks at the website OMGYes describe three ways to edge:

• One is to completely stop touching until the feeling of an impending orgasm is gone and then start touching again (you can do this over and over)
• Another way is to move the touch away from your clit as your orgasm approaches (e.g., instead of circling the clit, tap the inner lips); again, do this over and over
• Or you and your partner can back off by continuing to touch your clit but not in the way that’s about to result in an orgasm

“When edging in any of these ways, most people with vulvas like the touch to be lightened,” Mintz shares. “No matter how you edge, the goal is to do so until you can’t take it anymore, finally giving in to the touch that will result in an orgasm.” 

Why stop at one?

What's better than one orgasm? Multiple orgasms!

“For those who want to try sequential (often called multiple) orgasms, after an orgasm, move the stimulation away from the spot where you or your partner was touching before the orgasm occurred and touch someplace else, not allowing the arousal to diminish entirely, and then move back to more intensive touching that will result in orgasm,” Mintz says.

So, there you have it — plenty of ways to make your next time with a partner or solo even more pleasurable. And a reminder that if sex doesn't end in an orgasm, you haven't failed and it's nothing to be ashamed of — the important part is that you took some time for yourself and had a good time.

Kim Kardashian West is ready to talk about Tristan Thompson. Y'know, the guy who allegedly cheated on her sister, Khloé Kardashian, during her pregnancy and quite possibly for the duration of their nearly two-year relationship?

More: Khloé Kardashian Fans Won't Stop Trolling Tristan Thompson

Kardashian West has been pretty quiet up until now about the entire scandal, which came to light through outlets like TMZ mere days before Kardashian gave birth to her first child, daughter True Thompson, on April 12. Kardashian West decided to let her real feelings come through, though, in a still-unaired interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

In the preview clip posted on TMZ, DeGeneres asks her longtime friend if she has anything to say about Thompson's cheating scandal. Kardashian West, taking a well-timed sip from her mug, takes a moment to put her comment together. She then bluntly replies, "Like, I don't even know how to describe it besides it's just so fucked up."

Oh yeah, sis? Tell us how you really feel, why dontcha?

Kardashian West comments at another point in the interview, "We were really rooting for Khloé — and we still are! She's so strong and she's doing the best that she can. It's a really sad situation all over. I kinda made this rule with my brother [Rob Kardashian, who has problems of his own with Blac Chyna, the mother of his child, Dream]: If there's a baby involved, I'm gonna keep it cute, keep it classy and not talk too bad. I'm going to try to not say anything so negative because one day, True is going to see [this interview.]"

More: Kim Kardashian West Shares First Pic of Her Whole Family, & Here Come the Kim-Shamers

It's definitely nice to see Kardashian West trying to stay on the classy side of things, although you can see she's pretty annoyed by the entire scandal in the first portion of the clip. It's totally understandable too. She's not just going to up and take Thompson's side in this scandal, the full extent of which is unknown at this time. It's believed there were multiple women Thompson was romantically linked to, but with neither Thompson nor Kardashian commenting on the cheating rumors at this time, Kardashian West's remarks on Ellen are the only confirmation we have that somebody messed up — and it's not Khloé Kardashian.

I’m slowly learning that I will never feel alone ever again because I am the mother to a daughter, and that will never change.

As far as realizations go, this is both liberating and terrifying. Liberating in that living with unconditional love in your heart frees you from seeking love out. Terrifying in that loving someone so hard makes you vulnerable to hurt and pain. Along with every memorable moment, there’s the possibility that something might go horribly wrong at any time.

I’m slowly learning that my life has changed. I’m no longer able to do the things that were once easy, mostly for logistical reasons. I cannot meet a friend for coffee or a drink at the last minute because socializing requires quite a bit of forethought. I can’t indulge a whim to hit the town at night without planning far in advance or paying for a babysitter. My day-to-day existence has shifted permanently to accommodate my little one. But I’m not at all resentful. I want to be with my baby pretty much always anyway.

More: I'm Pregnant (on Purpose!) but I'd Rather Talk About the Abortion I Had 3 Years Ago

I’m slowly learning that my own needs are secondary to those of the tiny creature I’ve created, not because I’m an especially generous or kind individual, but because that’s what being a mom entails. There’s no avoiding it, really. When your baby needs to eat, you instinctively feed them. When they need a new diaper, you don’t let them sit in their soiled nappy for longer than absolutely necessary. When they cry, you work to soothe them.

I’m slowly learning that when you’re a mom, you can no longer be so particular about things. You eat what you can when you can. You won’t always be entirely sated, but you’ll barely register lack of satisfaction since there simply isn’t enough time. You get your nails done and your hair cut far less frequently than before, not because you’re any less vain, but because you forget to care about your own appearance. You exercise if and when you get the chance if and when you have the energy. At some point, it becomes easier to recall how many poopy diapers you changed the day before than what you ate for lunch that very afternoon.

More:  The 8 Parents You'll Meet as a New Mom

I’m slowly learning that being a mom is all-consuming. You never get to stop being a mom. Ever. And that’s the beauty of it. Parenthood is a cloud that hovers over you at all times — sometimes bright, fluffy and purely innocuous, other times suspiciously dark and foreboding.

I’m slowly learning that I’m a different person now. And that that’s OK. It would be impossible to remain the same. I am my former self, plus motherhood. I am not saying that being a mom requires abandoning every aspect of your former identity or becoming better in any way. But it does require making tough choices and learning. It demands stripping your old self down to her core and choosing which pieces of her are worth preserving and which pieces you’re better off jettisoning. It requires taking a hard look at yourself through the eyes of the person who’s pretty much programmed to adore you and to mimic your every move. It requires softening your heart and toughening your soul.

Originally published on Thought Catalog.

Every January, we are bombarded with diet and fitness experts invading our televisions, computers and phones. They're all touting their latest and greatest fitness craze in hopes all those people who made fitness-related New Year's resolutions will partake in their program. There's one thing all these diet and fitness exerts can agree on — you have to make healthy eating and exercise a habit. But it's not only true for healthy eating and fitness. And as we enter spring-cleaning season, that one fundamental tip is going to become our best decluttering tool.

You've heard it before — getting into the habit of making your bed as soon as you wake up will make you more productive during the rest of the day. Productivity expert Charles Duhigg writes in his book, The Power of Habit, "[M]aking your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget." This got me thinking — if making your bed puts you on the path to daylong productivity, what other small habits will help you achieve the same effect?

More: A Spring-Cleaning Checklist for Every Room in Your Home

If you are a firm believer in the power of making your bed, here are four ways to carry that productivity habit into other areas of your home.

1. Clear your coffee table

Coffee tables: the classic home repository for all manner of keys, phones, wallets, earbuds, newspapers, junk mail and beyond. Making sure your coffee tables are neat and orderly, with all the things that live on it neatly arranged, will take two to three minutes maximum, and the payoff will be huge. If you're interested in incorporating the make-your-bed method into your life but don't know where to begin, start with the coffee table.

2. Wipe down kitchen counters

It's easy to forget just how germy and gross our countertops can get, but when you come in from a workday and plop down your purse, groceries, gym bag or anything you happen to be carrying, a lot of unwanted things can get left behind. Starting the day with a clean counter means you'll eliminate the transfer of germs and bacteria and have a cleaner kitchen in minutes.

3. Empty your dishwasher

This is a great habit to get into at the end of your day. No one likes waking up to a chore, so by emptying your dishwasher at night, it will be all ready to load up with tomorrow’s breakfast dishes.

4. Restock bathroom supplies

Dollars to doughnuts, there's at least one thing in your bathroom that needs to be restocked or, at minimum, checked on. For example, you can always make sure you have enough toilet paper at the ready because getting caught without at least one backup roll you can reach is never fun. But you should also make sure you're stocked up on tissues, toothpaste and even make sure your hand soap dispenser is filled up. This is an easy two-minute check that will make all the difference throughout your day and, by extension, the rest of your week.

More: Cleaning Hacks for the Woman With Zero Extra Time

Like all good habits, adapting the making-the-bed method into your daily routine will be tough at first, but it could truly pay dividends in the long run. Less stress and more productivity? Yeah, that's definitely worth taking a few extra minutes every morning or evening to do these tasks.

On Friday, new information came to light about how Curry handled her former Today coanchor, Matt Lauer, during a particularly tricky time in 2012.

More: Matt Lauer Is Finally Talking After 5 Months of Silence in Exile

Ever since her unceremonious ousting from Today in 2012, Curry has been working on her own comeback, and it's (somewhat annoyingly) been overshadowed by requests for her comments on working with Lauer in light of the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him in 2017. While she's been pretty gracious about the whole thing, she's been hesitant to give too much detail about what it what like working with him and potential behavioral red flags she encountered... until now.

On Friday, we learned through a Washington Post report that Curry actually reported some allegedly disturbing behavior of Lauer's on behalf of a female coworker back in 2012. According to Curry, a female staffer took her aside and told her she was "sexually harassed physically by Lauer."

Curry explained, "A woman approached me and asked me tearfully if I could help her. She was afraid of losing her job… I believed her."

More: Ann Curry Actually Isn’t Celebrating Matt Lauer’s Termination

That belief in the story of her female coworker (whose name was withheld by Curry in the report) had Curry taking the allegations straight to NBC higher-ups. "I told management they had a problem and they needed to keep an eye on him and how he deals with women," she recalled to The Washington Post.

This story takes a bit of an interesting turn when this same Washington Post piece notes that, when asked for a comment on Curry's story, an NBC spokesperson claims there is no record of Curry's complaint or any notes in Lauer's personnel file about the alleged incident.

More:  Ann Curry Wasn't Surprised When She Heard About the Matt Lauer Allegations

Curry comes across as pretty incensed about the incident, even to this day. "This is one of the problems when we talk about corporations with an HR department being under leadership of someone who might or might not be accused," she explains. "How are they going to complain about it if they are accusing someone who is overseeing the department that is supposed to protect them?"

The female staffer's complaint, made through Curry, may be in the wind, but the memory of what happened is clearly burned into Curry's brain. It's hard to forget or ignore incidents like these, but the one good takeaway from this incident is that Curry believed her female colleague and did everything in her power to help her out. At the end of the day, that matters.

Although my job requires that I test-drive fancy new skin care products almost constantly, the truth is, I actually prefer a no-frills routine with ingredients I can understand without having to pull out a medical dictionary. At the same time, I’m totally into innovations that sound weird or gross but are indeed beneficial because every once in awhile, a little adventure is needed.

Such is the case with stuff that comes from our own bodies, like placenta and blood. Both of those words immediately make me think of childbirth and horror movies, but now people are actually slathering both on their faces in the name of healthy skin. So what gives?

More: 10 Game-Changing Skin Care Tips for Black Women

Placenta

There are a couple of different variations, but the ones used most frequently in skin care are derived from animals or plants. On rare occasions, experts extract human placenta for serums and other concoctions too. Placentophagy, a fancy word for eating placenta, is also popular among new moms who want to feed nutrients back into their body post-childbirth, although the idea that this actually confers benefits isn’t backed by strong research.

Placenta has long been a sought-after ingredient for firming and hydrating skin because of its protein content; a key compound for pumping up collagen production. Dr. Maryam Zamani, founder of MZ Skin, has been incorporating ovine placenta and plant stem cells into her luxury line for this very reason.

“When absorbed topically, these stem cells help boost collagen synthesis while increasing hydration, which helps to fight the signs of aging and rejuvenates skin,” she says. (A great product for this is the MZ Skin Rest & Revive serum, which contains both restorative placenta and stem cells.)

More: The Newest Ingredients Taking Over K-Beauty

Blood

Great news for people who get queasy when they see red: You have options! No, you don’t need to rub actual blood all over your face, but applying it topically through cream can actually plump up your skin with regular use.

One of the most popular options is courtesy of Dr. Barbara Sturm, whose Blood Cream is constantly name-dropped by celebrities such as Emma Roberts and Jenna Dewan. For a pricey $1,400, she withdraws blood from your arm, and a week later, you get a label-less jar, filled with fragrance-free cream that does everything from speed up the healing of acne scars to even out skin tone.

There’s also the vampire facial, immortalized in this classic Kim Kardashian West selfie:

According to medical aesthetician Holly Cutler, the name refers to the use of a person’s platelet-rich plasma to rejuvenate the skin through a micro-needling device. The obvious expectation is that you will see blood, which is why the word vampire is fitting. Thankfully, the procedure (which provides best results after three to six treatments) isn’t as painful as it looks since a numbing solution is applied beforehand.

So how does it work? Prior to the micro-needling, blood is drawn from your body and spun in a centrifuge for six minutes to remove red and white blood cells, leaving only your liquid-gold plasma, or PRP (platelet-rich plasma). This means the platelet concentration is now considered to be double the normal concentration in whole blood.

More: Why Skin Care Experts Keep Telling You to Exfoliate

“Once the skin is cleansed, this concentration is applied to the skin during the facial treatment using a micro-needling device to create thousands of micro-channels to drive the plasma into the dermis, causing the skin to rejuvenate,” says Cutler. “The skin is wiped clean at the end, and healing topicals are applied to enhance collagen stimulation and seal the skin.

Slightly gory details aside, you’re probably wondering why people put themselves through this. According to Cutler, growth factors from PRP boast many benefits, including reducing fine lines and wrinkles, evening out the skin tone, improving dark circles and helping to rebuild scars.

Cutler adds, “Overall, there will be an increase in thickness by 10 to 12 percent, improving the youthfulness and volume of the skin almost like a small amount of filler all over. PRP is also used in hand rejuvenation, hair restoration and vaginal rejuvenation.”

It’s also worth noting that both blood- and plasma-infused treatments and products often come with a hefty price tag because of the technology and equipment needed to create them. If you’ve considered adding either to your routine, save your pretty pennies.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

What’s your relationship with your period? Do you dread it? Do you have a condition like endometriosis or PCOS that makes it unpredictable, unbearable or both? Do you feel like you’ve tried everything and you still feel like the crappiest crap every month?

Have you ever heard of a period coach? It’s an actual thing, and it doesn’t just exist in places like New York and Los Angeles. Period coaches help you understand your cycle, its quirks and why and how things play out (or don’t).

More: The Real Effect Endometriosis Has on Fertility

Before we get into the specifics of period coaching, you should know that for some, it’s controversial. Some menstrual coaches don’t have a license, and so they’re not technically qualified to practice medicine.

“I have no idea why someone would see a menstrual coach instead of an acupuncturist and/or naturopath where we can treat holistically and recognize issues with our female patients and correctly triage to a GYN, endocrinologist or other medical practitioner. We integrate care,” Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, a doctor of Oriental medicine and acupuncture says.

Practitioners of Chinese medicine, Trattner says, are super-effective at resolving issues like fertility, menstrual pain and pelvic congestion syndrome. Depending on how a person who menstruates cares for themself, their diet, stress levels, sleep and iron intake can all affect periods. If your period is different in a bad way for more than three months, it is time to see a gynecologist. Trattner recommends addressing heat and cardiovascular exercise as a means of regulating your period and its symptoms.

More: Yes, Your Period Messes With Your Digestive System — Here’s Why

What to expect from a menstrual coach

As far as period coaches go, there seems to be some variation in the practice. Limor Weinstein is both a therapist and a menstrual coach. She encourages her clients to talk about their periods and how they feel about them and urges them to remember that people who get periods all have similar experiences.

Weinstein also helps them to develop skills to cope with their symptoms, especially mood swings, depression and anxiety. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy and refers folks with especially severe symptoms to physicians and holistic practitioners.

“There are various natural supplements that are known to help women with reduction of symptoms — alongside working through the emotional aspects that are caused by the physical changes in the body," Weinstein says. "Working with a medical doctor in conjunction with a coach or a therapist is very helpful.” She also recommends consulting a menstrual coach if their cycle and its symptoms are adversely impacting their ability to function on a day-to-day level.

If you seek menstrual coaching from Samantha Salmon, an integrative nutrition health coach, author of You Can Afford to Be Healthy and creator of the Perfect Period Program, you’ll get guidance on how to have a more comfortable period experience. Salmon looks at how diet, herbs and lifestyle can actually get rid of period pain and decrease the amount of bleeding you have.

“The point of coaching is to bring the client from where they are to their goal, and information alone does not help people do that,” Salmon explains.” That’s why they hire a coach. I help them break through the mental blocks and obstacles so they finally take action on what they have been struggling to do for a long time.”

Johns Hopkins University alumnus Alisa Vitti is the author of WomanCode and the creator of Flo Living, a support system for people dealing with period issues and the first global modern menstrual health company in existence. Vitti cites her own experience with her period and what she calls a “hormonal breakdown” as the catalyst for her foray into period coaching.

“We’re just not thinking about hormones the right way,” she says. “Synthetic birth control doesn’t really cure or address any of the problems. We need to be thinking about how to leverage the endocrine system.”

Flo Living’s protocol helps the body regulate hormones via diet and lifestyle. Vitti acknowledges that acupuncturists and naturopaths are super-helpful in treating period issues, but points out that they’re also often not covered by insurance, so one session with a Flo Living coach, which happens online, may be more affordable.

More: Why Period-Shaming Is an Environmental Issue & What You Can Do About It

“Ninety percent of the problem is that people don’t believe you can do anything about your period, so you take no action," she says. "There’s a cult of confusion and misinformation around menstruation, and that’s keeping women sick and underserved.”

By Chanel Dubofsky

Congrats are in order! On Saturday, Glee alum Lea Michele took to Instagram to share some exciting news — boyfriend Zandy Reich popped the question, and she said yes. The couple, who went public with their laidback love last summer, reportedly "couldn't be happier" to officially kick off their life together.

And, hey, it doesn't hurt that Michele gets to do so with some stunning bling on her ring finger. Per E! News, Reich proposed with a 4-carat elongated, radiant-cut ring. Even sweeter? He collaborated with The Jewelers of Las Vegas' Leor Yerushalmi to custom design the sparkler for his now-fiancée.

Reich, president of the clothing brand AYR, came into Michele's life years before the pair began dating. "They've been friends for a long time, a few years. Things turned romantic recently and they're dating now," a source told People in July 2017, right around the time the couple was first photographed holding hands.

More: Lea Michele's Now Ex-Boyfriend Had a Questionable Past

In the time since, Reich has gotten a vote of confidence from someone very near and dear to Michele: her Glee and Scream Queens boss, Ryan Murphy.

"Ryan is my family — he's one of the greatest friends that I have in the world. When my boyfriend got the seal of approval from Ryan Murphy, that was it. Yeah my parents, yeah friends, whatever. But Ryan Murphy, it's a done deal — it sealed the deal," Michele told Giuliana Rancic in September 2017 on E!'s Live from the Red Carpet coverage at the Emmy Awards.

Michele's joy is made all the more meaningful by the fact that she only recently came out on the other side of unimaginable pain. In July 2013, Michele's boyfriend of one year and Glee co-star Cory Monteith was found dead at the age of 30 in a Vancouver hotel room. The cause of death was determined to be a drug overdose.

Although Michele eventually found the strength to move on, the actress still carries Monteith's memory with her in a very tangible way: tattoos. Like her Glee character, Michele sports a small tattoo on her derriere that bears the name of Monteith's character, "Finn." In April 2016, the star shared another ink tribute to her late boyfriend, revealing a tiny No. 5 on the side of her ribcage — a nod to Finn's football jersey number.

So sweet! It's lovely that Michele found a way to honor Monteith and fully embrace living (and falling in love again) at the same time.

More: 12 Ways Lea Michele & Idina Menzel Are Basically the Same Person

Her engagement isn't the only way Michele's life is looking up, either. On April 9, she and fellow Glee alumnus Darren Criss announced they're reuniting for a co-headlining tour. Named the LM/DC tour, the musical experience (think Broadway tunes, tracks from their solo albums and Glee favorites) will start on May 30 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sounds like a super-fun and busy time for Michele, but we have no doubt she'll manage to squeeze some wedding planning in there too.