You know that pelvic floor exercise where you breathe in deeply through the diaphragm, contract the abdominal muscles after exhaling, and then hold your breath before relaxing? That little number is called abdominal hypopressive technique, and it was believed for quite some time that it helped treat bladder issues.

Turns out, we were all wrong: There's not much proof, after all, that AHT works for treating said issues, including helping to stop bladder leaks.

A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finds AHT may be pointless for urinary incontinence. "At present, there is no scientific evidence to recommend its use to patients," Kari Bø of the Norwegian School of Sport Science in Oslo and Saúl Martín-Rodríguez from the College of Physical Education in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, told HealthDay.

More: 3 Tips for Managing an Irritable Bladder

"To date, AHT lacks scientific evidence to support its benefits," Bø said. "At this stage, AHT is based on a theory with 20 years of clinical practice."

The question, then, is what does work to prevent or treat leaky bladder?

Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler, a urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, who read the study, says Kegels can help. Kavaler told HealthDay AHT may not help prevent prolapse and incontinence, but Kegels and other pelvic floor muscle exercises can.

To do so, just hold your muscles as if you’re trying to stop peeing, and then relax them again.

Kavaler said managing your diet and weight along with exercising and practicing Kegels are the best ways to avoid having surgery for incontinence.

Dr. Carolyn Thompson, a gynecologist from Tennessee, says Kegel exercises and other pelvic floor muscle exercises are meant to treat stress urinary incontinence, which happens when the bladder support system fails. Kegels are also somewhat helpful in urinary urgency with incontinence, which occurs when the bladder contracts when you don't want it to. She said that loss of large volumes of urine or severe bladder prolapse are less likely to be fully corrected by simply doing Kegels.

That said, she does recommend Kegels for patients with mild incontinence who have minimal pelvic floor defects and for pregnant patients prior to delivering.

"The literature has demonstrated that Kegels are effective in treating both stress and urge urinary incontinence," she adds.

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

Do you remember the exact moment when Denny Duquette took his last breath? Were you overcome with sadness when you realized Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey weren't going to pull through? Are you still struggling to accept that Derek Shepherd is really, truly gone? You’re not alone.

For 14 seasons and more than 300 episodes, the characters — and fans — of ABC’s beloved medical drama Grey’s Anatomy have endured one excruciating tragedy after another. But while many of the faces and storylines have changed over the years, there remains one constant: Ellen Pompeo, who has played the role of Dr. Meredith Grey from the beginning with, well, surgical precision.

The 48-year-old actor, who has three children (Stella, 8, Sienna, 3, and Eli, 1) with husband Chris Ivery, has had a very big year. She made her directorial debut with two episodes of Grey's, executive-produced the new ABC spinoff series Station 19, and officially became the highest-paid actress in a TV drama, negotiating a $20 million salary after a hard-fought battle with the network. And now, she's partnered with the brand Young Living on the launch of Seedlings, a line of essential oil-infused baby care products.

We sat down with Pompeo in New York to chat about clean living, motherhood, the evolution of Shonda Rhimes and — cue the tears — what to expect from the Grey's season finale. Keep reading to find out which episode is her favorite, the one departed character she wishes she could bring back and lots more.

SheKnows: What attracted you to partner with Young Living Essential Oils?

Ellen Pompeo: I’m a big essential oil lover; I use them all the time. I use them when I clean. I wear them as a fragrance every day. I didn’t use them when I cook until now.

SK: I didn’t even know you could cook with them!

SK: Me either! And if you show me something that I don’t know, after 48 years, I’m down. They sent me the products and the Seedlings line. I have a little baby, so I was using the diaper rash cream and the body butter on him. I was like, I love this! And then they educated me about the company mission statement, and how they have their own farms and their own fields, and how they treat their workers, and how they’re trying to build schools for the farm workers’ kids. I really think they’re trying to be on the right side of things. They have a good mission and a plant-based mission. And let’s face it: This planet is in big trouble. I have a platform, and it’s something I believe in, and it’s super easy for me, so it seemed just like a really natural fit.

SK: Do you have any favorite oils?

EP: I have a lot of favorites. I love geranium, I love rose, I love jasmine, I love frankincense, I love vetiver, I love orange. I put vetiver and orange on my [3-year-old] daughter to calm her down, and when I don’t do it, she comes to me and she’s like, "Mommy, can I have my oils?" I started out having to chase [my kids] around, putting the oils on, and now I don’t have to. They come to me. They love it so much. It brings them comfort, and they feel nurtured and taken care of, and I feel good that I’ve given them a tool to self-soothe.

More: This Grey's Anatomy Actor Is Defending Her Costar From Internet Bullies

SK: Your whole family recently went vegan. How are your kids adapting?

EP: Amazing. My daughter just called me, she’s here in New York City — I made a mommy-daughter trip out of it — and she’s with my assistant today, seeing the sights. She was so proud to call me and tell me that at lunch she ordered vegan chili all by herself. And I was really proud of her. It’s something that she’s feeling empowered by, which I love.

SK: Does she have any awareness of the fact that you are the highest-paid actress on TV? Are you talking to her about gender inequality, or emphasizing that your girls will likely have to fight harder than your son for the same rights, voice and pay grade?

EP: I have more pressing issues to talk to her about and to worry about. I have to worry about her having active shooter drills in her school and lockdown drills. How easy it is to get a gun, and how toxic all the food is, and how toxic the air is, and how toxic the water is, and the extinction of species. I had to tell her the last white rhino died, and explain why human beings kill all these incredible, magnificent animals. So, I have about 50 other things to get to before I talk to her about gender inequality.

SK: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about motherhood?

EP: Never a mistake, always a lesson.

SK: What is your favorite episode of Grey’s Anatomy?

EP: I have a couple, but my most memorable favorite was the two gay soldiers [“The Becoming”]. We’re such a show for the masses, and I think the fact that we’re able to tell stories and show America that, yes, there are soldiers who are gay, yes, gay men exist, and yes, gay men can be soldiers, can fight for our country, can be brave and can also be gay. And women, too. I’m super proud to be part of a show that promotes racial equality, includes the LGBT community, talks about transgender issues and tackles all these important things.

SK: If you could bring back any character on Grey’s — dead or alive — who would it be?

EP: Sandra Oh. I think she’s the finest, finest, finest actor there is.

SK: Can you tell us anything about the Season 14 finale?

EP: Just that you can’t miss it. We’re gonna torture you a little bit first, but then if you want the happy ending, you have to watch the finale. Not that it’s such a happy ending, because those two characters [April Kepner, played by Sarah Drew, and Arizona Robbins, played by Jessica Capshaw] are leaving the show, but they’re going in kind of a happy way.

SK: What would you say is the most realistic thing about Grey’s Anatomy and the most unrealistic?

EP: I think the most realistic thing is that a lot of doctors are pretty hot! And the most unrealistic is, I don’t know if people are really having sex like that in on-call rooms in hospitals — it seems a little crazy to me. I mean, maybe it’s true, but I don’t want to know about it if it’s true.

More: Am I the Only Grey's Anatomy Fan Rooting for Jackson & Maggie?

SK: Do you remember the first time you heard the name Shonda Rhimes?

EP: Yeah! It didn’t mean much at the time. She was a different version of herself then. She wasn’t the powerhouse then that she is now, and that’s been one of the most incredible things about this journey, watching her evolution — watching her come into her power and watching her have this incredible success. And having a front-row seat to that has been quite remarkable.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding is almost here, and we couldn't be more excited. After a yearlong courtship, the pair announced their engagement in November 2017 and have spent the last six months planning what will no doubt be a beautiful wedding. As folks around the world prepare to celebrate this exciting day, it might be good to catch up on the wedding details that have been confirmed, proven false or widely speculated on. It's always good to be in the know, right?

Here's what you know should before Harry and Markle head to the altar in a few days' time.

More: How to Watch Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Wedding

The basics

The wedding is happening on Saturday, May 19. The festivities will kick off around 12 p.m. GMT, which is 7 a.m. EST and 4 a.m. PST for us Americans.

The wedding location

The wedding will be held at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

According to Kensington Palace, after exchanging vows, Harry and Markle will lead a parade through the streets of Windsor, riding in a horse-drawn Ascot Landau carriage the couple chose themselves. It's something Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge did on their wedding day. In fact, every British royal couple has gone on the traditional horse-drawn carriage ride right after their wedding ceremony.

Then they'll head to the reception.

The wedding reception

People magazine reported that the wedding reception luncheon will be hosted by Queen Elizabeth II, and it will be held at St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle. Later, Harry and Markle will host their own reception at the Waterloo Chamber, St. George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room within the castle.

How Meghan Markle & the royal family have prepared

As early as January of this year, all of Britain began preparing for the huge influx of tourism that will likely come with the wedding. When Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot in 2011, 350,000 tourists came to the U.K. for the big day. Britain's Office of National Statistics is already expecting similar crowds around Harry and Markle's wedding date as well as a $680 million boost to the U.K.'s economy because of the wedding.

The couple was granted formal permission to marry by Queen Elizabeth II in March. 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.

"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.

The paperwork was officially released for public viewing over the weekend of May 11.

In April, TMZ reported that Markle tried to fly under the radar when she visited the VFS Global U.K. Visa Application Centre in Chicago, but staying incognito proves tricky when traveling with four bodyguards. Eyewitnesses say Prince Harry's bride-to-be was polite to the staff and was in and out within 10 minutes. To expedite the process and receive her visa sooner, TMZ's sources reported, Markle paid around $1,500.

Although her visa will initially be for dual citizenship, Markle will be able to return in six months to file for permanent citizenship in the U.K., which Kensington Palace confirmed she intends to do.

The wedding guest list

Of the 600 official guests who received invitations, Entertainment Tonight speculated that several of Harry and Markle's celebrity friends made the cut. Since the Spice Girls' Mel B already hinted at an appearance, the girl band could possibly be attending and performing. In turn, their attendance would likely herald a cameo from soccer king David Beckham. Other potential celebrity attendees include Sir Elton John, Serena Williams, Priyanka Chopra and the cast of Suits — notably, Markle's on-screen love interest, Patrick J. Adams, and his new bride, Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario.

On March 28, we learned through Entertainment Tonight 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 provided additional reporting on some those duties. 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 Royal Air Force Honington — who all have ties back to Harry, will line the streets of Windsor, the city where St. George's is located.

On April 10, the Daily Mail reported that the Obamas didn't receive an invitation to the royal wedding — nor did current U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May or current U.S. President Donald Trump. 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 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.

More: Everything We Know About Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Wedding Menu

The person in charge of giving the wedding address

Over the weekend of May 11, we learned who will give the address at their May 19 nuptials.

"Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have asked that The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church, give the address at their wedding," Kensington Palace revealed in a statement.

Curry, who will travel from Chicago, Illinois, to Windsor to take part in the service, said of the news, "The love that has brought and will bind Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle together has its source and origin in God, and is the key to life and happiness. And so we celebrate and pray for them today."

The wedding photographer

In April, Kensington Palace announced the name of the photographer hired for the big day.

"Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle have selected Alexi Lubomirski to be the official photographer at their Wedding on Saturday 19th May," said the Palace's press release according to E! News. "Mr. Lubomirski will take the official photographs at Windsor Castle following the Wedding at St. George's Chapel.”

If Lubomirski's name sounds familiar, it's because you've seen it before — he took the royal couple's stunning engagement photos. Lubomirski expressed his excitement in the release, saying, "I could not be more thrilled or honored to photograph this historic occasion.”

The wedding planner

There was a fun report released via Vanity Fair in early April that the "secret wedding planner" and close friend of Meghan Markle's, Jessica Mulroney, will likely be attending the royal wedding. Mulroney, a Toronto-based stylist specializing in weddings, is one of the top guesses for Markle's matron of honor — while that's unconfirmed, VF strongly believes she will be, in addition to covertly planning the major event.

The wedding dresses

From Entertainment Tonight: "Information about Meghan's wedding gown has been kept under tight wraps, but we do know that Jessica [Mulroney] flew to London earlier this year to help her friend choose a dress designer."

Vanity Fair also reported that Markle will have two custom-made wedding dresses. The first will reportedly be "an elaborate yet traditional bridal gown" for the ceremony and reception. The other dress is reportedly "a glamorous, more sophisticated" gown she'll change into for the evening to "party the night away" with less restriction.

The official lineup for the bridal 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 matron/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 or matron of honor is going to be, but there are definitely some predictions out there: the aforementioned Mulroney is likely going to be a part of the bridal party (if not matron of honor) along with "Lindsay Roth... her best friend from Northwestern [University and] Heather Dorak [her Pilates instructor]," according to Entertainment Tonight, but a maid or matron of honor hasn't been confirmed.

ET also reported that Prince William will definitely be Harry's best man, but the rest of his groomsmen are not known at this time.

The music

This is still mostly TBD! Rumors have included the Spice Girls, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, but we're not 100 percent sure who could or would officially play at the wedding reception.

However, in April, E! News reported that Kensington Palace has announced what kind of music the nuptials will include.

"Both Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have taken a great deal of interest and care in choosing the music for their Service, which will include a number of well-known hymns and choral works," the palace revealed.

James Vivian, the director of music at St. George's Chapel, has orchestrated several live performances to take place throughout the ceremony — think choral groups, soloists, acclaimed 19-year-old cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the Christian gospel group The Kingdom Choir and more.

Also, within hours of the service ending — according to Britain's Decca Records — the music from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding will be released on audio and be available on vinyl May 25.

The flowers

In mid-April, 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."

The honeymoon

According to Entertainment Tonight, Harry and Markle will be staying in London following their nuptials. "The couple will be going on a honeymoon, but not straight away," Kensington Palace spokesman Jason Knauf told ET. "They will have their first engagement as a married couple in the week after the wedding."

It's believed Harry and Markle will honeymoon in Namibia. Travel + Leisure magazine previously reported that the twosome will likely stay at Namibia's newest luxury camp, Natural Selection's Hoanib Valley Camp if the end up going.

How to watch the royal wedding

On April 11, the official announcement arrived from Today that they had secured coverage for the royal wedding. Among the Today correspondents going over to the U.K. to cover this spectacular event are Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who will be doing a live show overlooking Windsor Castle, with Al Roker and Sheinelle Jones hopping in to do additional coverage. Additionally, both PBS and BBC America will be streaming the royal wedding and extraneous festivities on the special day for us Americans to enjoy.

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

Are you ready for the royal wedding? It's best to stock up on all your viewing party necessities because we're mere days away from the big day!

Two years after the much-lauded Baby Cobra, in which Ali Wong took on sex, dating and marriage, the comedienne has returned to the small screen with her new Netflix standup comedy special Hard Knock Wife, now available on Netflix. This time, she's gracing us with her spot-on musings about life and labia after baby, not to mention the ironic brand of feminism that takes leaning in and topples it.

“Feminism is the worst thing that ever happened to women,” Wong said, and turned some heads, in Baby Cobra. “Our job used to be no job,” she lamented. "We had it so good!... And then all these women had to show off and say, ‘We could do it; we could do anything!’... They ruined it for us!” In Hard Knock Wife, Wong echoes this sentiment, admitting her dreams of being a simple trophy wife were shattered when she realized she was more of a “commemorative plaque.”

In reality, the soon-to-be mother of two is quickly becoming one of the busiest women in showbiz. Formerly a writer on college pal Randall Park’s hit television show Fresh Off the Boat, Wong has stepped in front of the camera on ABC’s American Housewife and will soon costar with Park in a Netflix feature the pair cowrote. She is also writing a book of essays that will be released next year, and if that wasn’t enough, most nights, after putting her daughter to bed, Wong travels to comedy clubs around Los Angeles to perfect new stand-up material. No wonder Wong verbally side-eyes Sheryl Sandberg’s edict to “lean in”: “I don’t wanna lean in, OK? I want to lie down.”

Hard Knock Wife continues to up the feminist ante, with insightful quips about the double standards that befall men and women in relationships, careers and parenting. Wong balks at how, when once in a blue moon, her husband musters up the courage to change their baby’s diaper, congratulatory confetti practically rains down from the sky. But Wong, who’s most often on diaper duty, gets pooped on on the regular. “Where’s my confetti at?” she asks.

But Wong turns the humor into a feminist rallying cry, bemoaning the lack of maternity leave in the U.S. After all, the time off is necessary, “not just to bond with the baby — f*** the baby! Maternity leave is for new moms to hide and heal their demolished-ass bodies!”

No one has ever accused Wong of being afraid to tell it like it is, but it’s refreshing to see a woman — and a pregnant one at that — being so unapologetically truthful about the realities of motherhood, which she lovingly describes as being in “solitary confinement.” When people ask her how the baby is, Wong shrugs. “I’m on the verge of putting her in the garbage. I need to be here to miss her so that I don’t go to jail!” Because, while Ali Wong may prefer lying down to leaning in, her stand-up reassures women that it’s totally normal to not have it all together. And that’s the brand of feminism that we just might need right about now.

This post is sponsored by Netflix.

It’s finally warming up outside, folks. The sweaters are coming off, the shorts are going on, and we even had to restock our sunscreen supply. More hot, wonderful sunshine also means winter is finally over, and it’s the best time to indulge in delicious frozen summer treats. Top of the list is a Frosty from Wendy’s because the usually $1 treat is currently only 50 cents.

More: The Jurassic World-Themed Blizzards Are Back at Dairy Queen

I mean, who doesn’t have fond memories of eating a Frosty? It’s basically a must-have whenever you order a burger at Wendy's. Thicker than a milkshake, denser than soft serve, it’s hard to compare a Frosty’s texture to anything but a Frosty.

More: Chipotle Threw a Denver Couple a Surprise Baby Shower

If it’s been a while, let us remind you that Frosty’s are made with milk, cream, vanilla and chocolate, and Wendy’s says there are no artificial ingredients in the shake whatsoever. So, that means it’s healthy, right? Let it get melty and drink it, dip your order of fries into it for a salty-sweet treat or save it for a delicious dessert. There’s really no wrong way to do a Frosty.

But there’s more to this promo than a tasty ice cream offer. If you take a selfie with your unbelievably inexpensive Frosty and hashtag it with #ThatFrostyLifeSweepstakes on Instagram or Twitter, you could win a vacation for two. Yep, a vacation, so you might not even have to spend your hard-earned dollars on a plane flight this season.

More: Nestlé Is Paying Billions to Sell Starbucks Products Globally

A heck of a deal and a sweepstakes too? Count us in. Just be sure to enter by May 31.

Although Mother's Day can be a fraught holiday for lots of reasons, for many people, it's a warm occasion to celebrate some of the strongest women in our lives. Moms are superheroes without capes, and at least once a year, we make sure to celebrate them and their badass selves, even if it's just with a phone call, an extra hug, pancakes at brunch or a throwback photo on Instagram.

More: 17 Songs That Pay Tribute to Musicians' Moms

This year, some of our favorite celebrity moms — including first-time moms like Mindy Kaling — posted about their days on their social media feeds. We also saw all kinds of tributes to moms, stepmoms, grandmoms, aunts, mom friends and more; we cried, we laughed, and then we rounded up our favorites to keep the celebration going into the work week. They deserve it, right? We certainly think so.

1. Mindy Kaling

New mom Mindy Kaling shared a photo of Pebbles and Wilma Flintstone with a caption that both celebrated her new-mom status and mourned the passing of her own mom. She wrote, "Happy Mother’s Day to those of us who miss our moms. I have a kid now who is the joy of my life, but each year that goes by there’s even more I want to tell my mom about! What’s one thing you wish you could tell your mom?" Complete with a heart emoji, this message is both heartwarming and incredibly sad — but we love Kaling for acknowledging that this day can be full of mixed emotions.

2. Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon shared a photo of herself and her late mom on Twitter and wished a Happy Mother's Day to those who — like herself and Kaling — were missing their own moms on Sunday.

3. Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen wrote a sweet caption about the many emotions of motherhood and shared a smiling photo of herself and daughter Luna that reminds us of our own family portraits. Teigen is currently expecting her second child with husband John Legend, so we expect even more cute family photos to come.

4. Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow posted a photo dating back to her first pregnancy in which she's bearing her naked belly on the night before she gave birth to daughter Apple in 2004. Paltrow sent wishes to the many types of moms from many generations in her caption. She wrote, "Fourteen years ago on the verge of a life-changing morning... To all of us, biological, adoptive, foster, spiritual, communal, all the den mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers, all the way back, happy Mother’s Day."

5. Halle Berry

Halle Berry also shared a throwback pregnancy photo dating back 10 years before the birth of her daughter Nahla. She wrote, "My dear friend @CliffWatts captured this image 10 years ago before I knew the real joy of motherhood. When you know, YOU KNOW and thank God I know! #HappyMothersDay to all the phenomenal women who KNOW!" She included a heart emoji for good measure.

6. Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan kept her Mother's Day post nice and light with a Boomerang video of herself and her daughter leaping across a studio floor. She included a vibrating heart and a laughing emoji, and we love how happy she looks.

7. Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel shared a selfie taken by her husband, Justin Timberlake, thanking him for being the designated driver for a Mother's Day brunch — featuring bottomless mimosas according to her hashtags! Timberlake shared the same photo on his Instagram, writing, "Celebrating my MVP’s today and every day. Happy Mother's Day!"

8. Kelly Ripa

Kelly Ripa also shared a brunch photo featuring herself, her kids and her husband, all beaming from a cozy booth seat. She wrote, "Got spoiled by my offspring and baby daddy. Thanks for the fancy brunch guys." She also included five heart emoji.

More: The Best SNL Mother's Day Sketches Of All Time

9. Sofía Vergara

Sofía Vergara shared a hilarious posed photo with her son on Instagram, writing "Happy Mother's Day!!!" in both English and Spanish and with plenty of emoji. Also, can we just say: that cake looks delicious.

10. Blake Lively

Blake Lively shared a tribute to her mom and her mother-in-law to celebrate Mother's Day, posting a photo of her own mom and husband Ryan Reynolds' mom. Lively wrote, "Most awesome mom ever. Then the only other most awesome mom ever. It’s always good to have back up. Just in case.... Happy EVERY day my Mamas," complete with a kissing emoji.

11. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon made two posts on Instagram for Mother's Day, celebrating her kids in one and her mom in another. She also shared a link to a video on the Hello Sunshine Facebook featuring a chat with herself and her mom for the "Meet My Mom" series.

12. Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson also posted twice on Instagram. She shared a photo of doughnuts gifted by her kids, Maxi and Ace Knut, that spell out "We (heart) you, Mom!" She also shared a photo with her mom, writing, "Everything I am is because of your faith and love. Thank you for being the world’s greatest Mom. I love you."

More:  Jessica Simpson's Daughter's 6th Birthday Party Was Literally "Over the Top"

13. Drew Barrymore

In addition to a video of the singing Mother's Day card presented to her by her daughter, Olive, Drew Barrymore also shared a two-year-old photo with her kids, writing, "I love this picture and carry it everywhere I go. I carry it in my heart. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY. although everyday is Mother’s Day, it is sure great to celebrate! My olive and my Frankie... you are the loves of my life."

14. Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu shared a video of her son, Rockwell, drawing a card for her for Mother's Day. It's a sweet moment captured on film, and Liu's caption is a simple, "Happy Mother's Day!"

15. Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik took a minute to post her appreciation for all the sweet Mother's Day photos going around and also acknowledged a different kind of Mother's Day with a photo of herself scooping a litter box. After all, pet moms deserve love and appreciation too!

16. Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez shared a photo of the cards, flowers and photos she received for Mother's Day. She narrates the video, "Feeling loved and appreciated on Mother's Day." Her caption sends out love to her family along with a few flower emoji.

Amy Schumer returned to the Saturday Night Live stage this weekend and brought her trademark brand of self-deprecating humor based on her life experiences. Following a sadly relatable bit about being a bridesmaid in your 30s (wearing Grecian dresses with "aging cleavage" and arms resembling turkey legs), she launches into how, despite her financial success, she still enjoys getting stuff for free and names tampons as something so accessible that anyone can get them for free. Except that's definitely not the case for a lot of menstruators.

Let's go back to her monologue:

"Something else you can get for free? Tampons. Honestly, someone will always hook you up. You'll never have to just bleed out. Someone will... a sister will be there for you," Schumer tells the audience in the studio and watching at home.

Yes, I understand that this is comedy and not a political speech, but the idea that period products are free to everyone is inaccurate and a blow to those working to highlight issues like the tampon tax and menstrual equity (a term coined by lawyer, activist and all-around badass Jennifer Weiss-Wolf).

More: What It's Like to Get Your Period in a Wheelchair

To start with, a lot of people "have to just bleed out." For example, menstruators who are homeless or incarcerated frequently don't have access to period products; other people may have to pick between buying food or pads. After natural disasters, people are quick to donate items like clothing or diapers, but typically don't think about the fact that a significant portion of the people affected will bleed for a week once a month and lost everything (including period supplies).

Those of us who are lucky enough to be able to afford to buy period products still have to contend with the so-called "tampon tax" (or "pink tax") in most states, which classifies period products as luxury items rather than a necessity.

Sure, your fellow bleeders in the restroom may help you out if you need a tampon and don't have it, but that doesn't make them free.

This is probably also a good time bring up that not all people who menstruate are women and that not all women menstruate. For those who #BleedWhileTrans, for example, getting a period product isn't always as simple as just asking for one.

Having said all that, there are a few aspects of periods that Schumer gets right during her monologue. For instance, she talks about asking women in a locker room if they have a spare tampon and notes that someone said she did, and then asked her what size she needed. Because yes, that's a real thing!

Tampons — and pads and menstrual cups — come in different sizes, and this may be helpful information to the audience watching who may not already know that. Period products, like most things in life, are not one-size-fits all, and even though this may seem like a throwaway bit from a standup routine, it's beneficial because it helps normalize this conversation.

More: 2017 Was a Big Year for Periods on TV

Lastly, when she describes the hushed tones in which people ask each other for tampons, she rightfully attributes that to the fact that "we've been taught to be ashamed of being born human women." This is, unfortunately, accurate. And by talking about periods on a national stage, Schumer is helping to break the stigma surrounding periods. Here's hoping next time she at least acknowledges that period products aren't always accessible — let alone free.

There's no better #MondayMotivation than a newly announced engagement. Today, Empire star Taraji P. Henson took to Instagram to share with her followers a very exciting photo: her hand in boyfriend Kelvin Hayden's with an incredibly shiny diamond gracing her left ring finger.

More:  Taraji P. Henson Is Officially Off the Market

In her Instagram caption, Henson wrote, "I said yes y’all!!! He started with the Cartier love bracelet BUT that was my #Mothersday gift and then he dropped to his knee and I almost passed out!!! #sheisofficiallyoffthemarket and she is sooooooooooooo HAPPY!!!!!! #GODIS," complete with crying emoji, laughing emoji, a ring emoji and some kisses for good measure. Included in the photo is a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and a slice of cake with "Congratulations" written along the rim.

Per E! News, Henson confirmed their relationship on an episode of the Essence podcast Yes, Girl! in December 2017. She said they've been dating since 2015 and admitted that she doesn't like to share too many details of her personal life with the public.

"I'm not the type to blast my personal business," Henson said. "But, you know, I think that's important for people to know. I'm happy. I'm very very happy. I just am. And you know, we've been together for two years. No one would really know that because I don't really blast my info like that. But I'm very happy."

Around the same time, she shared a super-cute photo of her dog sitting in Hayden's hoodie. In the caption, she referred to Hayden as the dog's "daddy" — and called them "Big #KBall with little squirt #KBall." The domesticity is, frankly, adorable.

This will be Henson's first marriage. She has a 24-year-old son, Marcell. His father, Henson's high school sweetheart William Lamar Johnson, was murdered in 2003. Henson wrote about Johnson — and his alleged abuse — in her 2016 memoir, Around the Way Girl. According to New York Daily News, Henson broke things off with Johnson after he hit her hard enough to make her mouth bleed, and despite urgings from her late father to reconcile, she opted to protect herself and her son.

Now, she seems incredibly happy with Hayden, who frequently posts adorable photos with Henson on Instagram. It's great to see her smiling, especially after all that she's been through.

Here's some more information you may want to know about the future Mr. Henson.

Kelvin Hayden is a former NFL player

The former cornerback played at the University of Illinois in college and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears. According to ESPN, Hayden was released from his contract with the Bears in 2014 after a 2013 injury put him on injured reserve for a full season and several other injuries on the team forced management to make roster changes.

Hayden is 34 years old

That makes him 13 years younger than Henson, who's 47, but age ain't nothing but a number as evidenced in their photos together — like the one above, which Hayden captioned with just a crown emoji.

He's a family man

In addition to sharing a video of himself, his mom and his son singing along in the car on Mother's Day, Hayden frequently posts photos of kids in his family, and it couldn't be cuter. And speaking of being a family man, that Cartier bracelet he gifted Henson seems to suggest he supports her as a mom — and that's important with wedding bells in their future.

More:  Taraji P. Henson's Fiercest Moments

We're so happy for this beautiful couple and cannot wait to hear more about their wedding details as time goes on. Congrats, you two!

The Kennedy family legacy lives on — not just in politics, but now on the small screen too. The late President John F. Kennedy's only grandson, Jack Schlossberg, made his acting debut last week on the eighth season finale of the CBS crime drama Blue Bloods.

More:  All the Best Movies Inspired by the Kennedys

Schlossberg posted a video of his acting debut on Instagram as well as a photo from the set. In it, he stands in costume with stars Will Estes and Vanessa Ray. He captioned the photo, "I don’t make the rules, I just pretend to enforce them — Cash me tonight on season 8 finale of Blue Bloods my dream come true!! Best show in the entire world."

Schlossberg's brief turn as a cop on Blue Bloods is his first scripted TV appearance according to Entertainment Tonight. However, he hasn't been entirely out of the spotlight. In May 2017, alongside mom Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, he made his first television appearance on Today, where he discussed President Obama and his own possible future in politics. When she was asked about her son's potential future, Kennedy said, “I love my son, Jack. I’d support whatever decision he makes."

“I’m inspired by my family’s legacy of public service. It’s something that I’m very proud of,” Schlossberg said. “But I’m still trying to make my own way and figure things out. So stay tuned — I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

More:  This New Jackie Kennedy Conspiracy Theory About JFK's Death Is Too Much

Per Entertainment Tonight, Schlossberg — whose father is Edwin Schlossberg, the designer, author and artist who in 1977 created the first hands-on learning environment in the U.S. for the Brooklyn Children's Museum — is currently a full-time student at Harvard Law School. When he's not acting or studying, he's written for Time about the declassification of his grandfather's assassination records, for The Cut about doing sports events for charity and for Medium about how private citizens can display political courage. The latter is an interview with former President Barack Obama. He certainly seems to be following in his family's footsteps.

It's been a little over a month since Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their amicable split after nine years of marriage. Over at SheKnows, we're doing OK and healing — thanks for asking.

Since the announcement, the former couple have started to move on. Jenna has taken down her Instagram pics of the two of them and removed her wedding ring, while Chan has resumed social media posts after taking a few weeks off. Their next move? We're guessing that any day now, C-Tates is going to start dating again, and of course we think he's so down to earth that he'll probably fire up a Tinder account.

We also know that he's been off the dating market since 2006, when he met Jenna, and Tinder didn't launch until 2012, meaning that he'll probably need a lot of help with his profile, from writing his summary to picking pictures. And we are here to help. If we fall in love with each other in the process? We are fine with that. We would honestly star in an upcoming feature film together, which we imagine will be called Magic Mike XXX: Happily Ever After.

Let's get started.

More: Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan Tatum Announce Split With the Sweetest Statement Ever

Next, pictures

Here are some guidelines: 

Don't post a blurry, badly-angled selfie of you in a baseball cap. No women are going to go for that. Although, now that we've seen yours, that actually looks pretty damn good.

But definitely don't share a shirtless picture. Even if you look pretty good with the top popped, research shows that women find it vain and a little creepy to see on dating websites.

However... in your case, yes, please post that. And also make us a poster for our bedroom wall.

OK, but definitely, definitely don't share a picture of Jenna with her face scratched out and claim that it's just you and your sister. That is the worst Tinder move in the book. The whole world knows exactly what Jenna's collarbones look like, and we will come after you.

There's not as much research on this, but we're pretty sure that single women love to see a man posing with a bottle of the vodka brand that you've recently launched. Especially if it's taken outdoors!

Women also enjoy seeing men on Tinder hanging out and having fun with their guy friends.

But we're sure that the very best way to get women to swipe right is obvious: Post a picture of you and freaking Roxane Gay. We literally don't know a person on earth who would pass this up.

More: Kristen Bell Has a Very Zen Opinion About Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan Tatum's Split

Other online dating tips

Don't message a woman just with "hi" or "What's up?" Someone like you should start a Tinder conversation with something like, "I am Channing Tatum."

A recent study found that women only swipe right 14 percent of the time. But, well, we don't think that's going to be a problem for you, really.

If you're tall, you should list your height. If you're Channing Tatum, just point that out immediately and you'll be fine.

You want to emphasize your best features. In your case, this probably means showing absolutely everything. Come on — you owe this to America.

Finally, remember that online dating can be frustrating and stressful! If you get discouraged, just give us a call. We can comfort you over a cup of coffee, or maybe dinner?

In the fallout of Nikki Bella and John Cena breaking off their engagement just weeks before what was meant to be their wedding day, emotions have surely been running high. On Monday, Cena gave a heartfelt speech on Today about his feelings on the breakup, his persistent love for Bella and his desire to reconcile in the future — a speech that left cohosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb in tears.

More: John Cena & Nikki Bella Share Inspirational Posts on Would-Be Wedding Day

Even before he hopped onto a stool in between Gifford and Kotb, it felt like this interview was going to be a tough one. At approximately 7:20 a.m. EST on Monday morning, Cena tweeted out, "Very happy to join @klgandhoda on @TODAYshow this morn! Could use a bit of [wine emoji] to take the edge off."

But when he actually got to Today and started chatting with the ladies, it got really emotional, really quickly. "It's been incredibly reflective, which is amazing, but it's very difficult," he told Gifford and Kotb. "I had my heart broken out of nowhere — or for me, it was out of nowhere — and anyone who's experienced that knows that it comes with a series of bad feelings."

He added, "I still love Nicole. I still would love to marry Nicole. I still would love to have a family with Nicole." He said that despite speculation that he's "enjoying the single life," he's spent most of his time alone at home, surrounded by memories. His public appearances, he said, are an effort to keep living his life despite how he's feeling, especially at this time when he was supposed to be on his honeymoon — his "first vacation in 15 years."

Although Cena didn't elaborate on the "unfortunate set of circumstances" that led to Bella breaking off their engagement, he said repeatedly that he wants to support her as she chases her happiness and that the situation is "complicated."

And the plot thickens from there. Later on Monday, Extra asked Bella about Cena's plea when they chatted on the red carpet at the NBCUniversal Upfront Presentation. Bella had not seen the clip, and when it was described, she told Calloway, “Wow. Well, I'm speechless. That's crazy.”

Regarding the future, Bella seemed open to anything and that she just wants Cena to be happy.

“I have hope. I’m at a point in my life where I kind of lost me and I want to find me and work on me," she told Extra. "I just want John and I both to live happily ever after whether it's together or separate and I just don't want us to go down the road in life and have regrets of like 'I did this for you' or 'you did this for me,' so I think it's okay in relationships to take that moment."

She also said that filming the next season of her reality show, Total Bellas, put added pressure on her engagement, and she needed to take a step back. "I felt so much pressure from the cameras, the world, my family, John, and I think I started taking care of everyone and forgot about me and that's what caused me, I don't know, I don’t want to say ‘snapped,’ I don't want to say ‘a breakdown,' but something like that, you know?"

More: More Details Emerge About John Cena & Nikki Bella's Relationship & Breakup

Cena said on Today that since the split, he's done a lot of self-reflection and realized that things he was stubborn about — like not wanting to have kids — are things he now feels differently about.

At the end of the clip, Cena said that he and Bella are still talking — but that he doesn't want to hold her back. He looked directly into the camera and said, "For anyone out there speculating on what's going on, I love her. I want to be with her. I want to make her my wife. I want to be the father of her children. I just want us to work."

Cena added that even if he and Bella never get back together, he'll take the time he had with her and be grateful. Only time will tell if these two may walk down the aisle someday, but as we've seen time and time again, anything is possible.

Breastfeeding is complicated. If you do decide to do it, there’s a lot to consider. Will you exclusively breastfeed? How will you deal with its impact on your relationship and on your body? How long will you do it? And what happens to your body when you do eventually decide to wean your baby?

Leigh Anne O’Connor is a board-certified lactation consultant who has coached many folks through the process of weaning. She says that one of the factors determining how your body reacts to weaning is whether you do it quickly or slowly. When it’s quick, for example, O’Connor says you might experience dramatic hormonal shifts, which can manifest in anxiety and even a miniature bout of postpartum depression. (This is usually short-lived and can depend on your previous experience with PPD.) 

More: There Are Actually Some Health Benefits to Giving Birth

Your breasts can change shape, in both size and appearance, because you’re still producing milk while weaning, and you might experience discomfort as well as medical issues such as blocked ducts. Avoid breast binding, says O’Connor. It can exacerbate the blocked ducts and also lead to mastitis, an infection of the breast tissue that can occur when bacteria from the baby’s mouth, enters a milk duct through a crack in the nipple. A supportive bra, however, is a must during weaning, and you can also take painkillers like ibuprofen to mitigate the pain from engorgement, which will go away if you avoid stimulating your breasts.

As a lactation consultant, O’Connor asks people about why they’ve made the decision to wean. “People say, ‘I don’t know,’ and ‘Someone told me I needed to.'” She advises people not to think of breastfeeding as all or nothing. “You don’t have to stop because you’re going back to work,” she says. “You can still do it some of the time, just at night or in the morning if that’s become part of your ritual.”

More: What Moms Think It Really Feels Like Giving Birth

There’s a lot of judgment in deciding to continue breastfeeding past a certain point. It is O’Connor's belief that it’s both normal and appropriate for 2-year-olds to nurse. In other words, you don’t have to rush weaning if you feel it’s not right for you and your baby.

“There’s this cultural norm that says bodies have to go back to being sexual immediately after birth and stop being maternal," she says. "We don’t understand that a body can be both.”

And if breastfeeding isn't for you or you'd like to start to wean earlier rather than later, that's normal and appropriate too.

Jessica, who lives in Wisconsin, has two boys, each of whom she weaned at different speeds. Her first son was weaned at 18 months, “basically overnight,” she says. Upon reflection, quick weaning worked well for her.

More: This Amazing Story About a Mom Who Didn't Know She Was Pregnant Is Going Viral

“My sex drive was super-high [and] I lost all the baby weight just by eating healthy and moving around as usual,” she explains. She weaned her second son, who’s now 2 years old, over a period of six months, which was a very different experience. Her sex drive virtually disappeared (as well as her ability to orgasm), she gained weight, she felt much more anxiety, and her marriage was also under stress.

“It wasn’t right for me. I should have been done,” says Jessica, who recommends that weaning be introduced at night when you are likely waking up to nurse. “I felt like a milkmaid after a while, like I’d lost my sense of self. You have to go with your gut and not be afraid to say no. Your kids aren’t going to be traumatized if you stop. They’ll turn out fine.”

The moral of the story is that like breastfeeding itself, weaning is a personal process you should do when it feels right and works for you — regardless of society's standards.

By Chanel Dubofsky

Oh, Gwynnie, you gorgeous, Goop-y fertility goddess, you. You make me want to get knocked up just so I can take some artsy nude photos of my pregnant self to whip out when I'm 90 to show my grandkids and great-grandkids — long after I've consciously uncoupled from my blissful sexy youth. That's what you do to me, Gwyneth, damn it.

Gwyneth Paltrow is not currently pregnant (as far as we know), so everybody just chill. This is a throwback pic from the day she became a mother with firstborn Apple. Gwyneth posted the shot of herself on Instagram as a tribute to Mother's Day. It features her in side profile covering her breasts with her hands looking concerned about either her water breaking or the overly intense sheen of the silk drapes.

More: Gwyneth Can't Wait for a Wild Bachelorette Party

She captioned the photo, "Fourteen years ago on the verge of a life changing morning... To all of us, biological, adoptive, foster, spiritual, communal, all the den mothers and grand mothers and great grandmothers and great great grandmothers, all the way back, happy Mother’s Day."

Apple is now 14, and her brother, Moses, is 12. We'd imagine they're not too fazed by their mom's revealing Mother's Day Instagram offering. After all, their famous mama takes a bath every single night — and her kids often hang out in the bathroom with her while she's relaxing. In an interview with Into the Gloss, she said, "I actually don’t shut the world out when I take a bath. Sometimes I’ll be in there soaking and my kids will come in, and we’ll have a whole chat about school or whatever."

Paltrow, who won an Academy Award for her breakout role in Shakespeare in Love, co-parents with ex-husband Chris Martin, Coldplay frontman. It's not always easy, she says, but for Martin and Paltrow, the kids are everything. "You have to constantly let go," Paltrow told ET in 2016. "You have to let go of old ideas, old resentments. You have to put the kids first, which I think people have the idea of that, but then oftentimes, you struggle with it."

More: Why Gwyneth Doesn't Think Divorce Is a Failure

Gwyneth continued, "If you once loved the person enough to have kids with them, you have to focus on what you still love about them and what's beautiful about them and all the good aspects of your relationship. You still want a family, you're just not in a couple. So, I acknowledge we've done it in an unorthodox way but it's working for us."

Paltrow is engaged to TV writer Brad Falchuk, which means some conscious coupling is about to go down soon. Congrats, Gwyn, and happy belated naked Mother's Day.

Caitlyn Jenner rather conspicuously froze out stepdaughter Khloé Kardashian in an Instagram Stories post wishing the women in her family a Happy Mother's Day. Yikes. Could it just be an oversight? Maybe. But apparently, Jenner even included ex-wife Kris in the warm shoutout. Oops.

Kardashian and Jenner have not spoken for two years (confirmed by Jenner), so it's not really a big shocker that Kardashian might not be at the top of Jenner's Mother's Day love list. And Kardashian also suggested that the birth of her daughter, True, wouldn't make a difference in her relationship with her once-stepparent.

More: Khloé Kardashian Shares Pic of Baby True's Face for the First Time

"No, I don’t think that affects anything with Caitlyn," she says in the video below from ITV's Lorraine. "[Things are] just as they are." Excuse me while I grab a sweater. Things just got chilly in here.

Jenner was otherwise downright gushy in her Instagram Stories yesterday. “So blessed to have so many amazing moms in my life!” Jenner wrote, including photos of daughter Kylie with her baby, Stormi, and even a photo of herself affectionately hugging her ex-wife. It gets better (or worse, depending on which Kardashian-Jenner team you're on): Jenner also included a shot of herself with Kim Kardashian West and Saint — despite a yearlong cold spell in which Jenner and Kardashian West allegedly did not speak.

Jenner also posted a warm throwback tribute to daughter Kylie when she gave birth to Stormi in February. Um, awkward. Nope, no favorites here.

It's no secret that Jenner's connection to the Kardashian family has been, well, challenging since she came out as transgender in 2015. “I’ve lost all relationship with them, yes, I don’t talk to any of them anymore,” Jenner said in a notoriously fractious interview with Piers Morgan in 2017.

More: The Kardashian-Jenners React to Khloé Kardashian's New Baby News

This might have been a nice moment for Jenner to express even a little support for new mom Kardashian, who's currently trying to balance getting the hang of breastfeeding with dealing with the alleged infidelities of her baby's father, Tristan Thompson. It's been a brutal time for Kardashian, who (for now) remains in Cleveland, Ohio, far away from her famous family's support, according to a source. Thompson plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Can we all just play nice, Kardashian-Jenners? For the kids?

May the Lord open... the URL to Yvonne Strahovski's Instagram feed so you may behold her baby bump bounty. The Handmaid's Tale actor announced the good news on Friday that she is pregnant with a very sweet belly pic.

Strahovski, a native of Australia as well as an alum of TV series Dexter and Chuck, captioned the photo, "I am very excited to finally be able to share my special news — I'm going to be a Mama! So very exciting to watch & feel this little Peanut growing every day!"

More: 5 Things to Look for in Season 2 of The Handmaid's Tale — Spoiler Alert!

This will be the first child for Strahovski and her husband, Tim Loden. The pair married a few months before the 2017 Emmy Awards according to E! News. "We ended up jumping in the lake in our suit and gown, it was ridiculously hot," she told E! of her Northern California wedding. "But we had a great time." How cute are these two?

More: Why Yvonne Strahovski Stuck Needles in Aaron Eckhart

Strahovski's The Handmaid's Tale character — Serena Joy — is a disturbed, angry woman who must rely on a captive handmaid (played by Elisabeth Moss) to bear a child for her. Strahovski admits the role left her a little wary of becoming a mom. In April, she told Stellar magazine, “[Serena Joy] has made me wary of starting that process. I just always imagine if I have a child at work — screaming at people or throwing things around — how on earth will that affect something growing inside of me?” 

But she added, “[The role] hasn’t put me off [for good]... it’s definitely something I want for my future."

Welcome to the (hopefully non-dystopian) future, Yvonne. Praise be.

Pauley Perrette took to Twitter over the weekend to address tabloid rumors speculating about the reason for her departure from NCIS. Perrette's final episode on the series aired May 8 and depicted her character, Abby Sciuto, leaving the lab to pursue a life of philanthropy in honor of her slain coworker. Perrette has previously said that there was no bad blood between her and CBS or between her and the show's cast and crew, but her tweets suggest otherwise.

More: Pauley Perrette Addresses All the Rumors About Her NCIS Exit

Just after midnight on Sunday, Perrette wrote, "I refused to go low, that's why I've never told publicly what happened. But there are tabloid articles out there that are telling total lies about me. If you believe them? Please leave me alone. You clearly don't know me. (Sorry guys, had to be said)."

Six hours later, she tweeted, "Maybe I'm wrong for not 'spilling the beans' Telling the story, THE TRUTH. I feel I have to protect my crew, jobs and so many people. But at what cost? I.don't know. Just know, I'm trying to do the right thing, but maybe silence isn't the right thing about crime. I'm... Just... ?" About 20 minutes later, Perrette added, "There is a 'machine' keeping me silent, and feeding FALSE stories about me. A very rich, very powerful publicity 'machine'. No morals, no obligation to truth, and I'm just left here, reading the lies, trying to protect my crew. Trying to remain calm. He did it."

In what appears to be her final tweet on the matter, Perrette added two hours later, "I've been supporting ant-bullying [sic] programs forever. But now I KNOW because it was ME! If it's school or work, that you're required to go to? It's horrifying. I left. Multiple Physical Assaults. I REALLY get it now. Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety. Tell someone."

Although we don't know who Perrette is referring to, fans are replying to the tweets with tons of speculation, guessing that Perrette was bullied or harassed. Us Weekly reached out to Perrette's rep for comment, but as of the time of writing, there's been no update.

More: These Goodbye Tributes to NCIS' Pauley Perrette Are Everything

Assault allegations have rocked Hollywood as the #MeToo and Time's Up movements attempt to dismantle the structures that reinforce victim-blaming and keep predators in positions of power even after victims have come forward. Regardless of the nature of the "physical assaults" Perrette references in her tweets, her words reflect a widely shared experience: that staying silent is the safest option. And that's got to change.

Sometimes you see it coming from a mile away, and other times, it comes as a complete shock: losing your job.

And regardless of how it happens, it hits you hard.

For me, it was a massive blow to my self-worth, my confidence as a professional and, of course, my bank account. As the type of person who needs structure and financial security, the not-so-expected loss turned my world upside down. And when it happened, I felt myself kick into overdrive, asking myself (and admittedly googling), "What are the next steps? How do I make money now? How long can I sustain myself before I go completely crazy?" All valid questions we'll get to, but the one question that really struck a chord?

"What did I do wrong?"

Don't get caught up on the why

It's the most difficult thing not to do when you lose a job: blaming yourself and/or wanting to know why you were fired.

"Searching for a why or validation will not change the outcome," says career coach Ren Burgett of 3R Coach.

"When you lose your job, you'll want to get the scoop and find out what's happening or what was said about you," he continues. "Secretly, you want to know how bad things are now that you're gone, but it's the worst thing you can do because it prevents you from moving forward. Take the needed time to mourn the job you had and then move forward. Use this as an opportunity to create a new direction for yourself and discover a new passion, and let the past be in the past."

More: Are You a Toxic Coworker?

Sometimes, losing your job has nothing to do with your job performance (if you were laid off due to downsizing, for instance). Sometimes, it's a blessing in disguise. For me, it was both. But this took a long time for me to realize — and I have my large, incredibly strong support system to thank for that.

And this is where the next step comes in: Find someone you trust to talk to.

Talk about it

"Losing a job can trigger all kinds of feelings," human resources expert, consultant and therapist Laura MacLeod says, "so you'll need to be able to share that with a trusted colleague, friend, partner, family member. Look for somebody who will listen, empathize and not give you advice or help you immediately find a new job — too soon."

It's incredibly important to take time between job hunting and refining your résumé to focus on you. Take time to work through your feelings and thoughts; be honest with yourself.

"You may feel sad, angry and lost. Sit with this and work through it," MacLeod says. "Losing your job is a loss, no matter how you felt about the job, so you'll need to treat it as such — not ignore and figure you'll just dust yourself off and start looking for a new job. This will only push the feelings deeper, not get rid of them. Once you have worked through, you can look at future plans. But don't rush. You'll be sorry."

This isn't something that'll happen overnight or even in a few days. But as you navigate these feelings, you must also address and get a handle on your immediate needs, including — and most important — your finances.

Get your finances in order & tighten your budget

"First of all, for the sake of practicality, file for unemployment if you are eligible and/or make use of your severance package, if applicable," says human resources manager for Maple Holistics Nate Masterson. "The government takes money out of your paycheck each month, and it is precisely in cases like these where it actually comes to your aid. This isn't meant to be a long-term solution, of course, but it's a start. It is a way for you to be more stable, relatively speaking, while you process and figure out your next move."

More: 10 Ways to Save Major $$$ Without Even Noticing

Once unemployment is filed (again, for those who are eligible), next ask yourself: What is your real financial solution, not your "panic" financial solution? This means creating a budget for how long you can realistically support yourself without a consistent income. For me, it was more important to immediately begin freelancing so I could slowly wean myself off unemployment. To echo Masterson, look at unemployment as a very temporary life vest to keep you afloat.

Burgett also points out, "You may have to rely on your credit card more now, and that's OK."

In short, tighten your budget. Cut off unnecessary monthly expenses, like streaming services, subscription boxes, etc. They may seem small, but those extra few dollars per month can help you pay for groceries and utility bills.

"More likely than not, you will be able to find a way to cut down on nonnecessity expenses and create a budget that will help you stay afloat financially while you are in between jobs," says Alayna Pehrson of Best Company.

Some may also feel tempted to cut off their gym membership, but — and this is my personal opinion — if you can hold onto it, keep it. For me, working out frequently helped me take out any frustrations I had and release tension. It was also the best place for me to escape to remind myself this was a temporary problem — and it won't last forever.

"Worrying about money can be extremely stressful," Burgett says. "Focus on what is happening today. Are you out of money today? If the answer is no, then you're OK. Remember, life can change in just one day. So don't worry about the future, just worry about today. If you're not out of money today then you're not out of money. Keep it that simple."

Apply, apply, apply

The obvious next step: Fix up your résumé and get back out there. Now, this is easier said than done, but be confident in your skills. You were hired for a reason, and you haven't lost your strengths, so get back out there.

"Looking for a job can be really hard, especially when you don't have one to fall back on," says Masterson. "It brings high anxiety and tension into the mix. It makes every interview more stressful, and it isn't easy. But you will need to get back out there and do your best."

Now, you're probably asking yourself, "What do I do about the letter of recommendation?" Valid question. First, if you left the company with bad blood (i.e., you were fired for disloyalty, an illegal act or some unethical deed), you likely won't receive one. Instead, Burgett suggests asking a trusted peer or subordinate if you were in a leadership role for one.

"Sometimes, a letter of recommendation can be more powerful from the perspective of a person that worked alongside you or for you," he says. "Potential employers want to know what you're like to work with and about your leadership skills. Have your letters of recommendation from a peer focus on teamwork, collaboration and communication skills. If your letter of recommendation is from a subordinate, have the focus be on mentorship, leading by example and your coaching skills. These are all important traits that will help set you apart from other candidates."

However, if you were laid off due to cutbacks or downsizing, then asking for a letter is acceptable. "If there is some animosity between you and your manager, and you don't think they will be into signing a letter of that kind, consider bypassing them and going to a higher-up," Masterson advises. "If an executive is sympathetic to your predicament, you may end up with much more than you bargained for."

More: So, You Burned a Professional Bridge — Now What?

Get your side hustle on

The job hunt can be a long one, so ensure you're also doing what you can to make money on the side. Either freelance or obtain some sort of side job — something that will help you stay on your feet until you can find a full-time position.

"Although this type of income may not be the most substantial, it can help you pay the bills and help you avoid drowning in too much debt," Pehrson says. "Something is better than nothing, after all."

Another tip: Learn new skills. You'll likely find yourself with much more free time than you had before, so use it to your advantage.

"If you get laid off and find yourself with a good amount of free time, you can try to learn new skills like sewing, cooking, gardening, carpentry, machinery, etc.," says Pehrson. "All of these skills can save you quite a bit of money, especially if you are having a hard time making ends meet."

Stay positive!

Now, this may all seem incredibly overwhelming, but as you take steps to find a new job and make ends meet, one bit of advice helped keep me sane: Stay positive.

"Remember the fundamental law of attraction and mindfulness: What you practice grows stronger," says Masterson. "You never know what may come up if you make room for it in your life."

It's been touch-and-go where Meghan Markle's relationship with her father, Thomas Markle, is concerned. But even with the various highs and lows they've gone through (especially in recent months as she's planned her wedding), it was believed that the two could come together on May 19 for Markle's wedding to Prince Harry. Now, just six days before Markle says "I do," news has emerged that Thomas will be unable to attend the wedding.

More: Meghan Markle's Dad Will Attend the Royal Wedding Despite Rumors

The reason, according to Hollywood Life, is quite grave: Thomas checked himself into the hospital on May 8 after suffering a heart attack. Hollywood Life also notes that he has thankfully is okay and has checked out. But. it appears that he's going to stay home, rest and recuperate rather than tempt fate at perhaps the most-profile event of 2018.

A report from TMZ announcing Thomas' heart attack to his abstaining from the royal wedding implies he might also not be going to prevent further tension or embarrassment for Markle. This could be due to the fact that it came out only recently that the paparazzi photos that were taken of Thomas were actually staged. Thomas told TMZ that he was tired of being portrayed negatively by the paparazzi (previous photos show him looking very casual while out and about, sometimes disheveled) and wanted to rehab his image. He was apparently approached by a paparazzi outlet and offered an undisclosed sum of money to stage the photos. Thomas has since apologized for his actions, telling TMZ they looked "'stupid and hammy.'"

More: How to Watch Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's Wedding

Just a day after the truth emerged about the photos, Markle's half-sister, Samantha Markle, took responsibility for the photos. "The bad press over my father… is my fault. The media was unfairly making him look bad so I suggested he do positive photos for his benefit and the benefit of the royal family," she wrote in a now-deleted tweet.

According to Us Weekly, Markle had opinions about the staged photos. As a source told the outlet, "'Meghan is upset and disturbed by the entire ordeal and just wants to move past it. She doesn’t want to let anything ruin her day and is trying to keep focus on the [royal wedding] weekend."

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

Markle and her father have a bit of a fraught personal history, but it seemed that would have been laid to the side in an attempt to celebrate this happy occasion. Thomas was even supposed to fly to London this week to meet members of the royal family in private and he would have helped Markle from the car and walked her to the chapel; that will no longer be happening. Additionally, the private meeting may happen at a later date, but that's unconfirmed.

Regardless of this recent drama, we hope Thomas gets well sooner rather than later. Missing your daughter's wedding, regardless of the drama, is no good at all.