If you have a kid with allergies, helping them enjoy summer takes a bit of work. Outdoor play means plenty of contact with plants in bloom as well as animals and substances that might trigger an allergic reaction. Cue itchy eyes, scratchy throats and runny noses.

But insisting kids stay indoors will ruin their summer (and yours, because bored, whining kids are no fun for anyone). That said, it's totally possible to let them out in the sunshine and keep allergic reactions to a minimum.

We spoke to a few experts who gave us nine helpful tips and steps for helping kids with allergies all summer long.

More: Summer Nighttime Activities the Whole Family Will Love

1. Know your child

It sounds obvious, but not all kids with allergies are the same. "Knowing your child's allergic triggers is the most important step," says Dr. Sujan Patel, allergist and immunologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. "If pollen is the problem, then when indoors, running the air conditioning rather than opening windows will be beneficial, and the same applies when in the car."

2. Check the pollen count

A weather app with a pollen count is a must for your smartphone, says primary care pediatrician and member of The Goddard School educational advisory board Dr. Jack Maypole. (Pollen.com's Allergy Alert app is free on iTunes and Google Play). If your child is symptomatic on a particular day, consulting the pollen count on the app can help inform you about what triggers are present and decide whether outdoor activities should be rescheduled for another day. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology advises outdoor play when pollen counts are at their lowest — predawn or in the late afternoon or evening.

3. Make sure all fruit is cooked

Summer means farmers markets — and lots of delicious fresh fruit. But if your child suffers from hay fever, they might have oral allergy syndrome, characterized by an itchy mouth, scratchy throat or swelling of the lips, mouth or tongue caused by cross-reacting allergens found in certain raw fruits or vegetables. According to the ACAAI, the biggest culprits are peaches, cherries, apples, celery, carrots, almonds, bananas, melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, pears and kiwi. The simple solution is to cook your fruit.

4. Avoid insect stings

According to the ACAAI, most insect stings in the United States comes from wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and honeybees. To protect your child from an allergic reaction to insect venom, avoidance is the first line of defense. Make sure your child doesn't walk barefoot in the grass, where stinging insects forage, or drink from open soda cans where stinging insects may be lurking. If you have a picnic outdoors, keep food covered at all times, and encourage your child to wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and shoes during outdoor play.

More: The Best New Outdoor Toys for Summer

5. Eliminate pollen from your home

The ACAAI recommends removing your child's clothes and shoes as soon as they come indoors because pollen they've picked up outdoors can easily attach to them and quickly transfer to furniture and bed linen. Pollen also sticks to hair, so don't hang about before getting them in the bath or shower for a good scrub. If you have pets, get into the habit of wiping them down with pet wipes to help get rid of pollen stuck to their fur.

6. Don't forget about indoor air

Your child may play outdoors during the summer, but you need to pay just as much attention to indoor air quality to keep pollutants to a minimum. Invest in a certified, good-quality air purifier, such as an LG PuriCare purifier, which automatically detects airborne contaminants and reduces smoke, pollen and other air pollutants. It emits colors based on detected indoor pollution level nearby — red meaning polluted and green meaning clean, so consumers can instantly check air quality. Another product is the Trane CleanEffects Whole-Home Air Filtration System, which uses revolutionary technology to remove up to 99.98 percent of airborne particles from the air inside the home, reducing harmful bacteria and allergens, like pollen, dust, pet hair and tobacco smoke.

7. Take medicine before going outside

Most allergy medicines work best when taken before exposure, says Dr. Kalpana DePasquale, a board-certified ear, nose and throat surgeon. This allows the medicine to prevent the body from releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause symptoms. "Nasal sprays and antihistamines should be taken daily in a patient with known pollen, grass and ragweed allergies," DePasquale explains. "This is how they work most effectively. But the peak effectiveness is about one to two hours after ingestion."

Dr. Robert Korn of Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care recommends a trial of an over-the-counter non-sedating antihistamine like Zyrtec or Allegra if your child is displaying allergic symptoms. "It takes two to three days to work, so don't give up too soon!" Korn says. "You may want to add an OTC nasal steroid like Flonase if nasal discharge and itching are prominent. If eye itching and tearing are your main symptoms, try over-the-counter Zaditor or Alaway. This is ketotifen, which is much less expensive than a prescription, which will often not be covered by your insurance."

8. Keep your garden in shape

Keeping your lawn and garden trimmed and pruned throughout spring will stop the shorter blades from holding as much pollen from the trees and flowers, advises Jay Ayers, indoor air-quality product manager at Trane. Rather than cut flowers from the garden (no matter how beautiful they are) to display indoors, buy cut flowers from a local florist, as these are likely to have been cultivated to be pollen free.

More: 11 Fun Summer Crafts & Activities for Kids

9. Dry clothes indoors

If you line-dry your clothes and bedding outdoors when the pollen count is high, it defeats the purpose of washing them. Use a clothes dryer instead, says Ayers. Pollen travels in the air, so wash clothing and bedding once a week to stop pollutants from settling in. Remember, the washing machine must reach 130 degrees F in order to kill pollutants, dust mites and their eggs, so always use a hot water cycle.

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

Every year at graduations across the country, wedged between the pomp and circumstance and the parties is one important rite of passage: the commencement address. Not until these inspirational words have been spoken can the class of 2018 move their tassels, fling their caps and run off to join the great big world. And every year, more celebrities join the ranks of invited speakers and put their public address skills to the test. It's less of an audience than the Oscars but with a much longer time limit, so it's a chance for celebs to really bare their hearts. Here's a look at who is participating in all the festivities this year and what they've been saying.

More: Best Excerpts From Golden Globe Winners' Speeches

Jimmy Fallon — Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, June 3

On June 3, Jimmy Fallon appeared at the commencement ceremony for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Class of 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. The ceremony had already earned attention because this senior class was the first to graduate in the wake of the tragic school shooting that occurred on Valentine's Day earlier in the year. Fallon's speech was filled with messages of love and hope, but also a little humor.

Capitalizing on a viral video, one of Fallon's opening quips went like this: "Today, you're graduating from high school. You should feel incredibly proud of yourselves. That doesn't mean you should rest on your laurels — or your yannies."

But Fallon went on to more heartfelt sentiments, remarking, "When something feels hard, remember that it gets better. Choose to move forward. Don't let anything stop you."

Cynthia Nixon — Helene Fuld College of Nursing, May 4

Nixon gave a tribute to her mother, talking about the woman who taught her courage throughout her life and modeled a can-do attitude. She credited her mother’s approach to a cancer diagnosis for giving her the faith to approach her own, later diagnosis head-on. She also encouraged graduates to “never doubt that you can make a space big enough for yourself in this world” and to know that their voices are important as they advocate for their patients and for better health care.

Amal Clooney — Vanderbilt University, May 10

The human rights lawyer told the crowd it was her first commencement address and asked them to bear with her. But there was little need for that, as Clooney eloquently discussed current affairs she is passionate about, telling grads that courage is needed now more than ever. She cited infringement on women’s rights and LGBTQ issues and freedom of the press as examples of areas that need courageous leadership.

Oprah Winfrey — USC Annenberg, May 11

Winfrey told the crowd she would have been there anyway, since one of her “daughter girls” — a mentee from the school Winfrey founded in South Africa — was part of the graduating class. She reminded graduates that they are now in a position to keep people in power “in check” by responding to false narratives and illuminating darkness. She urged grads to pay attention to people who claim to represent their interests and hold them to account.

Chadwick Boseman — Howard University, May 12

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Boseman received an honorary doctorate from the same school where he received his undergrad degree and joked with students that some of them were graduating by the skin of their teeth. He urged grads to reflect on the importance of the moment and recognize how they can contribute to the democratic process. He lauded students who put their complaints about the university into action through protests that took place earlier in the year.

Chance the Rapper — Dillard University, May 12

The singer proved himself a powerful speaker last year with his impassioned speech accepting the BET Humanitarian Award. At Dillard’s graduation, where Chance received an honorary doctorate, he encouraged students to get over the fear of eclipsing their heroes by comparing the performances of Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. “You do a disservice trying to live up to your ancestors,” he said. “You have to outlive them.”

Michael Keaton — Kent State University, May 12

Like many graduation speakers, Keaton spoke about his own memories of college and the way the experience changed him. He explained how school helped him grow to love education and touted the idea of free education for all. The actor also encouraged graduates to take chances in life to help them get back to their most authentic self. But he left the audience with the two most important words he could think to give them: “I’m Batman.”

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

John Lithgow — Dominican University of California, May 12

Lithgow was just one part of a two-keynote address ceremony. Noted economist Dr. Mary Yeager, his wife, was the other speaker. Lithgow also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and Yeager received an honorary Doctorate of Laws. Lithgow and Yeager told graduates that the relationships they established during school would enrich them for years to come and would remain their most precious gift.

Queen Latifah — Rutgers University Newark, May 14

Speaking in her hometown, Latifah told the gathered audience that now, they are the role models. She reached back to her experience of finding her confidence as a young actor in a school production to explain how a student’s roots can shape their life. “The love you find in family is a powerful teacher. Make sure you stay enrolled in that class as long as you can,” Latifah said.

Justin Trudeau — New York University, May 16

The Canadian prime minister urged graduates to fight the tribal mind-set that can provide community on one hand but tear people apart on another. Trudeau spoke of tolerance but stressed the need to aim higher, toward acceptance, respect, friendship and love. “Celebration of difference needs to extend to differences of values and beliefs, too. Diversity includes political and cultural diversity too,” he said.

Jimmy Carter — Liberty University, May 19

What’s made headlines is the former president’s joke about how the crowd at his speech was even bigger than the crowd in 2017 for President Donald Trump’s graduation address. “I don’t know if President Trump will admit that or not,” Carter said. He went on to talk about the human rights work he’s so well known for and to encourage graduates to learn to live in peace, considering all people equals.

Hillary Clinton — Yale University, May 20

Clinton injected lots of political jokes into her address to the graduates, including a not-so-subtle barb aimed at President Trump and the investigation into Russian meddling in the election. To an audience known for wearing outlandish hats to the ceremony, Clinton held up a Russian black fur hat, saying “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Ultimately, however, she encouraged grads to keep fighting for the things they find right, noting that it’s always worth it.

President Donald Trump — U.S. Naval Academy, May 25

The president told Navy graduates that the country would stand up to defend our men and women in uniform as they stand to defend us. He promised that the U.S. would be rebuilding our aging naval fleet with 355 new ships in the pipeline. Recounting some of the achievements of America's past, he said that we must have pride in our past to have confidence in the future.

Ava DuVernay — Cornell University, May 26

The award-winning director/producer told the crowd they were in charge of their own destiny, encouraging them to be the director of the film of their life. She recounted the road that took her from being an African studies/English double major at UCLA to speaking at Cornell now. Her journey gives her hope for the future of our world, she told the crowd, saying, "What gives me hope… is the knowledge that there is precedent — precedent for everything that everyone is experiencing. To be hopeless is to disregard history.”

Benicio del Toro — Mercersburg Academy, May 27

Benicio del Toro, an '85 graduate of the prep school, told the story of the road that led to his acting career before prompting students to figure out their convictions and passions in order to find their real calling. He pulled from the work of American painter Mary Rogers to direct students to look within before listening to the voices around them. "Mary said that every human being has a song in their head and that it lingers in the back of our minds. She talked about letting that song sing to us," he said. He also recalled the contributions that young people are currently making in society and lauded this generation for having the courage to see themselves as leaders.

Upcoming addresses scheduled:

Mindy Kaling — Dartmouth College, June 10

Mayim Bialik — UCLA, June 15

Sterling K. Brown — Stanford University, June 17

Giving birth to a healthy baby was my only pregnancy goal. But to achieve that, I wanted to position my mind and body in the best place they could be under the circumstances. The fact is that every action you take during pregnancy will affect two living beings — and that fact became my mantra while I prepared to give birth.

Since I'm a professional athlete, taking care of my body, training and eating right is a way of life for me — like washing my hands and brushing my teeth — so that part of life did not change for me during pregnancy; I continued to train for two to four hours a day and incorporated proper nutrition. Of course, as the days rolled on and my belly grew, I did slow my training to a more moderate level — and yes, I did indulge in some of those weird pregnant-lady cravings we've heard so much about.

But no matter what, I believe the best predictor of a healthy child is a healthy and happy mother — and my routine of training and eating well makes me happy and healthy, so I stuck to it.

More:  The Only Prenatal Fitness Tips You Need

After gaining 23 pounds during pregnancy (and having an emergency C-section), I was overjoyed to hold my baby boy in my arms. However, I knew that childbirth was only the top of the mountain; afterward, you still have to get down — a journey that can unfortunately contain just as many pitfalls and missteps as climbing up did. So even if you, like me, stayed on point with mind and body fitness leading up to childbirth, you still need to remain mindful and dedicated afterward in order to feel healthy within your ever-changing lifestyle with your new family member.

So for all the new parents out there, I've put together a few of my favorite (and proven successful) simple mantras for postpartum health and fitness. By following these, I was able to race Ironman Texas five months after my C-section. Then, I backed that up with Ironman St. George 70.3 the very next week — and Ironman Chattanooga 70.3, two weeks later.

Here are my five top tips for success in postpartum fitness.

Be patient

The body can be so resilient — if we are patient and allow it to be. Of course, being patient is difficult for many people (not just us athletes). But it's critical to let your body heal once you birth a human; healing means listening to your body when it says not to push and moving forward when it says, "Let's do this."

Fuel your body

That means fueling to heal and recalibrate, which will speed up the recovery process. Whether you are breastfeeding or not, it is so important to stay hydrated and replenish your body with healthy nutrients that give you the energy to manage this new little life you are now in charge of every day. For me, my postpartum availability to, say, properly cook vegetables was zero, so I made sure to stock up on chilled veggie superfood soup and other healthy, super-easy foods.

More: A Fitness Studio Saved My Postpartum Mental Health

Throw out your vanity

Yes, it's tough, but do it. Throw your vanity out the window for a bit, and it will make everything else more comfortable. Start your exercise routine out slowly, and don’t pay attention to the mirror or the scale. You will ultimately see small gains over time, and at some point in the future, you may even begin to recognize the old version of yourself — but new and improved and wiser and a parent.

As a currently nursing athlete, it's sometimes shocking to me how engorged my breasts get between feedings — especially when they end up bouncing around during races. But I have learned to throw my vanity out the door, and I am thankful that my body gets to and is able to nourish my kid.

Schedule, schedule, schedule

Time is our biggest commodity, and if you thought you had time before your child arrived, get ready for yours to be reduced to... nothing times 10. Efficiency is a key to freeing up time, so it can help to make a schedule for the day — which includes your fitness regimen. You will inevitably get thrown daily curveballs from your little one (or life in general), so just plan to adapt and keep moving.

Sleep

With a newborn, sleep deprivation is pretty inevitable — after all, you're being pulled in many directions. But sleep is the greatest recovery tool known to humans; there is no substitute for it. If you find yourself lacking, try to adapt to your child’s cycle. Learn to nap — even in small increments — and take advantage of every opportunity to rest, because there is no magical pill to duplicate it.

More: 6 Postpartum Fitness Tips That Won't Scare the Life Out of You

The climb down the post-birth mountain will likely be full of trip-ups and rocky terrain, but stay the course, and you will land successfully. Don't prolong or derail your recovery by trying to skip out on rest or nutrition. Instead, keep going over the above five in your mind. I can’t tell you the number of times in my new-mom days I would look at my clock and realize it was 3 in the afternoon — and I hadn’t had anything to eat or drink that day. It's those little things (you know, food and water and the like) that make the big things happen, so don't skimp on them.

When Richard Simmons dropped off the map in 2014, his disappearance and one man’s hunt to find him became the subject of the podcast Missing Richard Simmons. The series was a mild hit in the podcast world when it was released in 2017, but the show's tireless search for finding Simmons reignited our public interest in finding out what is happening in Simmons' life. It would now seem that the idea of locating Simmons has become a thorny issue and is now at the heart of a new lawsuit filed by the reclusive celebrity and his driver, Teresa Reveles.

More: Rumors About Richard Simmons Transitioning Are Disgraceful Whether They're True or Not

Turns out Simmons was not at all OK with that fact that private investigator Scott Brian Matthews allegedly planted a tracker on Simmons’ driver’s car as one of the various ways to track the celebrity down. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Simmons and Reveles found the tracking device in December 2017 and claim that it has been on the car for more than a year, although it worth noting that neither Simmons nor Reveles explains how they knew it’d been there for that period of time.

The suit, filed Monday, June 4, alleges that Matthews was using the tracker to find out if Simmons was visiting hospitals for treatments related to gender confirmation. The suit also says that Matthews works for publications like the National Enquirer and was gathering information “so that the tabloids can publish it for financial remuneration, and to embarrass and humiliate celebrities.” It also cites California laws that make it illegal for anyone, short of law enforcement, to place a tracking device on a car.

More: Richard Simmons Thanks LAPD for Having His Back

This is certainly not the first time in recent memory that Simmons has filed a lawsuit in relation to claims made about his life as it relates to his current whereabouts or health. In May 2017, Simmons filed a lawsuit against the National Enquirer and Radar Online about stories they ran claiming Simmons was transgender and undergoing the transition process from male to female. A judge dismissed the case, saying that although being transgender could cause someone to suffer hatred, contempt or ridicule, “the court will not validate those prejudices by legally recognizing them,” according to THR.

More: Missing Richard Simmons Producer Seems Apologetic & Almost Defensive

At the time we're reporting on this, Simmons, Reveles, Matthews haven't issued official statements about the lawsuit.

Oh, to be Kris Jenner. Wait; scratch that — oh, to have Chrissy Teigen as part of your inner circle. Because Teigen just gave Jenner the holy grail of housewarming gifts: a personalized vending machine that dispenses Moët & Chandon Champagne.

More: Kris Jenner Slams Rumors About Whether Tyga Is Stormi's Father

On Monday, Jenner posted a pic of the extravagant present on Instagram. The vending machine is apparently the first of its kind, "customized in an all-black design with 320 mini bottles of Moët Imperial Brut," according to Entertainment Tonight.

"When a forklift shows up at my house on Monday morning with a Champagne Vending Machine and an unlimited supply of @moetusa@moetchandon Champagne i am jumping for joy!!!" Jenner captioned the pic. "And I’m not gonna lie a little drunk."

And what better way to settle into your new Hidden Hills, California home than with an unlimited amount of alcohol and a steady buzz?

The Moet & Chandon Champagne vending machine was introduced in London in 2016 and then came to the U.S. in 2017, the first location being the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas. Then, Arnaud's French 75 in New Orleans got one too. As far as how much these babies cost, the only price we could find is from eBay at a whopping $6,595. So, if you have that kind of cash...

More: Chrissy Teigen Called Out the Backstreet Boys — & They Responded

Now, the gift not only came from Teigen, her husband John Legend, hairstylist Jen Atkin and photographer Mike Rosenthal all went in on the surprise present too.

"Kris is not easy to shop for because she always gives the most thoughtful gifts," a source told ET. "It's hard to outdo her! A Moet vending machine is ultra exclusive and the epitome of luxury, and it totally screams 'Kris Jenner!'"

You got that right.

As of publication, the Instagram post had nearly 675,000 likes. And all we have left to say about this housewarming gift is that our friends better step it up.

"I LOVE you guys thank you my beautiful friends #ilovechampagne#ilovemyfriends #blessed #luckygirl," Jenner wrote.

If you’ve been around a while, you know the alternative milk scene is constantly expanding and trying new things. There was the popular original alternative, soy milk, the next wave of almond milk, a drinkable coconut milk and an endless number of spinoffs, like cashew, hemp and rice milk.

If you follow any foodies on Instagram, you’ve probably seen that oat milk is enjoying its own time in the sun. It’s currently the darling alternative milk for everything from lattes to matcha teas to ice cream. The New York Times did a piece earlier this year about its rise to fame. But what exactly is oat milk, and why are people so obsessed with it?

It tastes good

Oat milk tends to be richer than other alternative milks, says registered dietitian Lauren Manaker. “It kind of tastes like oatmeal. If you like oatmeal, you’ll probably like oat milk,” she said. Manaker actually prefers the taste and consistency of oat milk in hot tea to cow’s milk.

More: 10 Smoothies Filled With Summer's Best Superfoods

Oat milk foams well

The drink gained popularity with baristas because certain brands like Oatly foam in a comparable way to dairy milk thanks to the addition of canola oil, making latte art and “extra foam” a real possibility. That’s not true for most alternative milks. Starbucks even added it to their European stores back in January.

It's nutritionally substantial

The oaty beverage also has some impressive nutritional stats when compared to other alternative milks. A cup of oat milk contains 10 percent of your recommended daily iron (more than soy or almond milk), 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. A cup of almond milk contains just 1 gram of protein per cup and no fiber. Soy milk still outdoes oat milk in terms of protein at nearly 11 grams of protein per cup, as does regular old cow’s milk, which has 8 grams of protein in a cup. But if you’re struggling with a soy allergy or lactose intolerance, oat milk is a solid alternative.

It's allergy-friendly

Whether you're lactose intolerant or have a soy, nut or gluten allergy, oat milk will work for you — just be sure to confirm it's been made somewhere that cross-contamination couldn't have occurred.

More: The Weirdest Ice Cream Flavors to Try This Summer

It's eco-friendly

If you’re trying to be kind to Mother Earth, oat milk is a winner there too. Oats use about 290 gallons of water to grow 1 pound of oats — it takes 1,929 gallons to grow a pound of almonds. Cow's milk, surprisingly, only takes about 122 gallons per pound.

It's easily accessible

Two of the biggest brands of oat milk right now are Oatly, which is credited with bringing oat milk to the U.S., and Pacific Foods, which manufactures several types of alternative milks. But it’s also pretty simple to make your own oat milk. You just make oatmeal, basically, and then use a cheesecloth to press the water — now milk — into a cup, retaining the oats themselves.

More: Starbucks Is Adding 2 New Frappuccinos to Their Permanent Menu

But it's not perfect

Manaker cautions that labels don’t tell the full story when it comes to the true nutritional value of oat milk and other alternatives. “With all the dairy alternatives, the manufacturers try to mimic what cow’s milk offers, so they’ll add calcium or they’ll add vitamin D,” she says. “The caveat is with traditional cow’s milk they add vitamin D3, which is the preferred source of vitamin D. The alternatives — including oat milk — most manufacturers, they add vitamin D2, which is cheaper…[and] is not as readily absorbed by the body.”

Iodine is another trace element that’s present in dairy but not in oat milk. Especially if a patient is pregnant or lactating, finding a replacement source of iodine and vitamin D is important. Manaker recommends salmon and eggs for vitamin D and seaweed, cod or iodized salt for iodine.

Overall, fad or not, it's a drink worth considering. "If people are choosing not to drink dairy cow’s milk, this is probably nutritionally one of the better choices out there on the market," Manaker said.

So, who's down for a warm glass of oats?

We all make comments from time to time that in retrospect we might have phrased differently. But there’s nothing to explain what was going through Woody Allen’s mind when he told a Spanish-language TV network that he believes he should be the face of any future #MeToo posters, should any be made.

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The interview took place in New York and aired Sunday night on Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos, according to E! News. The interviewer didn’t pull any punches, asking Allen directly whether accusations that he molested his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, were part of a witch hunt. It’s here that Allen gets quite effusive in his remarks.

“As I say, I am a great defender of the #MeToo movement. [...] It is good that you expose them," Allen explained. "I should be the face of #MeToo posters. I worked in films for 50 years, I worked with hundreds of actresses and not one, big, famous, beginner, no one has suggested any kind of indecency. I have always had a wonderful behavior with them."

More: Woody Allen Racist? He Gives Double Talk About Not Hiring Black Actors

Allen also seemed concerned about the optics of being lumped in with the other powerful men accused of sexual assault, harassment or misconduct and how that would reflect on him. He told the reporter, “Everyone wants justice done. Like now, there is the #MeToo movement. You support him, you want to bring these terrible stalkers to justice, and I think it's a good thing. What bothers me is that they link me to them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50, 100 of abuse. I, who was once charged by a woman in a child custody case that was analyzed and proven to be false. They group me with these people.”

More: Woody Allen Makes Creepy Comments About His Relationship With His Wife

Allegations about Allen first caught the public's attention when Farrow came forward in 1992 alleging that as a 7-year-old, Allen had molested her. The director denied the allegations and an investigation by the court cleared him of wrongdoing, but he still went to therapy for “inappropriate behavior” according to Vanity Fair. Just a few months earlier, in January 1992, Allen’s girlfriend, Mia Farrow, discovered nude photos in Allen’s apartment of her other adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, who was a college sophomore at the time. Allen later admitted to NPR that he started the relationship with Previn thinking “it would just be a fling." They went on to marry in 1997.

Allegations about Allen have not died down over the years. While he had maintained his innocence since the allegations first surfaced, it's understandable why, in the court of public opinion, the general feeling is that maybe Allen is actually not the best first option for #MeToo poster boy.

In 1998, Disney released the animated film Mulan, based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, which takes place in the Han dynasty. In Disney's version, Mulan is a female warrior who honors her family in an unexpected way. She steps in for her ailing father in the Chinese army by disguising herself as a man. Her secret is eventually discovered, but Mulan redeems herself by saving her city from the evil Shan Yu.

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Twenty years ago, this gender-bending female heroine was praised by movie critics and viewers alike. Not only did Disney celebrate a strong young woman, but it also prominently featured an Asian story in its major animated release for 1998. Can we still celebrate these wins from 20 years ago?

It’s fascinating to take a look back at Mulan and discover where the film succeeded and where Hollywood still needs to do better when it comes to portraying diversity and gender onscreen.

1. Cast

Disney worked hard to feature Asian actors in the voice roles in Mulan. Ming-Na Wen provided the speaking voice of Mulan, and Lea Salonga was the character’s singing voice. Other Asian actors in Mulan are B.D. Wong, Gedde Watanabe, George Takei and Pat Morita. This was the first major film with a primarily Asian cast to be heavily promoted since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club.

"Throughout my career, I've always been the token Asian or the lone character who happens to be Asian," Wen told Asian Core Media in 2016. "I know when the writers and producers were casting for Mulan, they strived and tried as hard as they could to make the right choices by casting as many Asian-American actors as possible. They looked high and low and the [talent] pool was even smaller than it is now."

This is not a new issue in Hollywood, nor has it been addressed well; this will be a hot topic this summer with the release of the highly anticipated Crazy Rich Asians. Hollywood needs to do better overall with telling diverse stories.

2. Strong female lead

Disney celebrated the strength of a young tomboy who didn’t want to conform to the norms of her Chinese culture. Mulan was interested in honoring her family in different ways — instead of accepting an arranged marriage, she went to war. Her strength was a big part of why Wen appreciated playing the character.

“To have it be such an inspiration for that many women over the years, I didn’t know it would have that kind of impact," she said on The Real in 2015. "This wonderful story of a young girl who saves China and she didn’t need a man to do it. In fact, she saves a man.”

Disney took a narrative and flipped the script, but it’s hard not to dwell on the fact that Mulan had to dress like a man to be taken seriously. If she had tried to join the Chinese army as a woman, she wouldn’t have even made it to the first battle.

In the end, Mulan rescues her city as a woman, but the underlying story has her hiding her gender to help out her family — and it's impossible to ignore the fact that Mulan is officially categorized as a "Disney princess."

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3. Stereotypes

We can’t ignore some of the stereotypes going on in Mulan, and 20 years later, they do stick out in the film. A lot of these masculine versus feminine traits are highlighted in some of the songs. Women are supposed to be docile and men are supposed to be filled with testosterone and strength. The song “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” has lyrics that are insulting to both men and women, unless you subscribe to the idea that men must look and act like cavemen.

Poor Mulan is not only subjected to the male stereotypes, she’s subjected to the female stereotype that women are a prize in marriage. Even though Mulan bucks these traditions, it’s hard not to cringe when listening to the song “You’ll Bring Honor to Us All.”

We question why these lyrics are in a family film. It’s even more shocking to think we didn’t blink twice at this 20 years ago.

More: All the Nostalgic TV Shows & Movies Being Rebooted in 2018

Disney is currently developing a live-action feature based on Mulan. The film was supposed to premiere on Nov. 2, but the release date was recently pushed back to March 27, 2020. Casting the title character took Disney to five continents, and nearly 1,000 actresses auditioned for the part.

It's clear that Disney took the casting seriously in finding the right person to play the part: Chinese actress Liu Yifei. Hopefully, some of the stereotypes and gender issues will also be addressed to make Mulan resonate as a true heroine in the modern world.

There are already so many reasons we love Serena Williams. Her athletic achievements and her candor about topics like her body image and her struggle with postpartum depression only make us love her more. Now, she’s putting that honesty to good use once more in a new interview (conducted shortly before she officially pulled out of the 2018 French Open) wherein she shut down one reporter who got a little too familiar with her, lobbing a ridiculous question about longtime rival Maria Sharapova’s supermodel looks at her.

More: Serena Williams Writes Sweet Love Note to Baby on the Way

The interview took place on Saturday with Bill Simons from Inside Tennis according to Today. There’s no explanation about what led up to this moment, but at one point, Simons commented to Williams, “I know you want to get back to Olympia [her daughter], work with me here please."

Williams replied, “Work with me,” and Simons shot back “We’re in this together, baby.” We can all agree that’s a pretty unprofessional way to talk to anyone, let alone a woman of Williams' caliber.

More: Serena Williams Is Already Flaunting Her Rockin' Post-Baby Bod

But Simons wasn’t done yet. He pressed on to ask a question that he said he’s been waiting 14 years to ask. “After the 2004 Wimbledon match with Maria, I had the opportunity to interview Donald Trump on his L.A. golf course, and he said that Maria’s shoulders were incredibly alluring and then he came up with his incredible analysis: that you were intimidated by her supermodel good looks. My question is: Have you ever been intimidated by anyone on a tennis court, and what are your thoughts about that occurrence?”

Williams, being the amazing woman that she is, didn't suffer the silliness of the question. Instead, she clapped back: “I honestly don’t have any thoughts about that. I can’t say I have been intimidated by anyone. That’s all. That’s it.”

When word got out about Simons ridiculous question, folks on social media jumped to Williams’ defense: “Probably one of the stupidest interview questions ever asked. And I doubt that Serena Williams is intimidated by anything,” tweeted one fan.

“That’s comical! Serena is Supermodel beautiful, intelligent, athletic, a businesswoman, wife, mother and in case anyone’s been living under a rock for the last 20 years a CHAMPION!!!” wrote another.

Another commented on how hard they cringed just reading the transcript (not gonna lie — we did too).

More: Serena Williams Is Headed Back to the Tennis Court & Ready to Break Records

Williams was set to meet Sharapova in the French Open on Monday but withdrew from the match shortly before it began. She cited an injury to her pectoral muscle that is preventing her from playing.

After years of women being largely ignored in medical research, we're finally getting used to the idea that symptoms of some health issues — like heart attacks — look different in women* than in men. There are also some conditions — like autoimmune disease — that disproportionately affect women. Now, new research out of the University of Gothenburg may shed some light on why.

But first, let's back up a little. When a person has an autoimmune disease, instead of defending the body, their immune system creates antibodies that can't tell the difference between the normal body cells and foreign cells and attacks everything (including healthy issue) according to information from the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. For some reason, almost all autoimmune diseases affect women more often than men, the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, confirms. This difference is especially apparent in the case of lupus, as 9 out of 10 people afflicted are women, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports.

More: Eat These Foods to Boost Your Immune System

At this point, the study notes, there is a known link between testosterone and protection against autoimmune diseases, so women — who have about one-tenth as much testosterone as men — tend to receive the diagnosis more frequently.

“It’s very important to understand what causes these diseases to be so much more common among women,” Dr. Åsa Tivesten — professor of medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, a chief physician and one of the authors of the study — said in a statement. “In this way, we can eventually provide better treatment for the diseases.”

Basically, the study found that there is a critical protein called BAFF, which makes B cells (a type of lymphocyte that releases harmful antibodies) more viable. The researchers wrote they were trying to understand the connection between testosterone and B cells.

“We have concluded that testosterone suppresses BAFF. If you eliminate testosterone, you get more BAFF and thereby more B cells in the spleen because they survive to a greater extent. Recognition of the link between testosterone and BAFF is completely new. No one has reported this in the past,” Tivesten said in a statement.

So, what does this actually mean in terms of medical care? Ultimately, the researchers hope that their findings lead to more effective medications for lupus and other autoimmune diseases that impact so many women. Currently, lupus is treated with BAFF inhibitors, though it hasn't been as effective as scientists initially expected, the research notes.

More: Fast Food Makes Your Immune System More Aggressive

“That’s why this information about how the body regulates the levels of BAFF is extremely important, so that we can continue to put the pieces together and try to understand which patients should have BAFF inhibitors and which should not," Tivesten said in a statement.

While more research in this area is needed to more effectively treat autoimmune diseases, this is at least a step in the direction of understanding conditions that affect the lives of so many women.

*In this article, the terms "men" and "women" were used to reflect the terms used in the research. Real life is much more nuanced; not everyone with biologically female characteristics identifies as a woman and not everyone with biologically male characteristics identifies as a man.

Turns out it may be beneficial to listen to complete strangers generate oddly satisfying sounds on the internet. Welcome to the world of ASMR, a peculiar psychological phenomenon that just might be your next obsession.

Autonomous sensory meridian response is an experience characterized by a tingling sensation that begins at the top of your scalp and travels down your spine. These short-lived tingles are said to create feelings of tranquility and euphoria. While there is no definitive reason it occurs, Dr. Craig Richard, a pharmaceutical scientist at the Shenandoah University School of Pharmacy, hypothesizes on his site, ASMR University, that ASMR is induced through stimuli that trigger the biological pathways of intrapersonal bonding, releasing serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins. In other words, it's a rush of all the feel-good chemicals at once — which explains why ASMR is often referred to as a "brain orgasm."

These tingles are often felt as a result of a wide range of external stimuli, like a soothing voice, a gentle touch or exposure to a slow, precise or repetitive motion. For some, it could be hearing someone slowly flip through pages of a magazine. For me, it’s watching the Trader Joe’s cashier carefully pack my groceries.

"For people who do experience ASMR, there are a variety of stimuli that trigger it, and they are not the same for everyone." Richard tells SheKnows. “It is similar to a group of people all liking a type of music, but not everyone liking the same artists, styles and subgenres.”

In the hopes of building a foundation of evidence to encourage scientific inquiry and research funding for this phenomenon, Richard founded ASMR University, the most comprehensive research project on ASMR to date, with over 25,000 participants. But because there is no known scientific method to measure this internal sensation, the available research is based entirely on self-reporting — and is therefore not super-conclusive, he notes.

Despite this lack of scientific support, an entire subculture surrounding ASMR has continued to grow astronomically; type in ‘ASMR’ on YouTube, and you’ll instantly get 12.7 million results.

YouTube "ASMRtist" Olivia Kissper, who has almost 300,000 subscribers, is just one of the thousands of individuals around the world working to simulate the sensory triggers of ASMR themselves. On her channel, Kissper experiments with a variety of relaxing audio-visual elements, like whispered messages, smooth brush strokes, and crinkling objects to bring the tingles to her audience.

“I feel that it’s not just about the sounds. It’s about the personal attention and providing pleasant intentions," Kissper, who also makes role-play videos of interactions with hairstylists giving a slow and precise haircut or teachers providing a student with undivided attention, tells SheKnows.

More: This Breathing Technique Can Calm You Down in 5 Minutes or Less

While it all sounds a bit bizarre, these videos seem to actually help a ton of viewers around the world.

“There are not any health benefits of ASMR that have been confirmed by clinical studies yet,” Richard explains. “On the other hand, there are several published studies of people self-reporting that ASMR helps them to relax, de-stress and fall asleep as well as being helpful for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, depression and chronic pain.” 

More: 7 Tricks to Fall Asleep When It Feels Impossible

And Kissper’s subscribers confirm this. Kissper says that she has heard stories of subscribers who have curbed their addictions and gotten off of medications after watching her videos. She believes it has to do with the immense power of human connection and our unmet desire for this personal attention in what is an increasingly isolated society.

“Let’s say you feel alone. Initially, you would have to wait until you connect with someone, but with these ASMR channels, you can have easy access to these personal connections at any time,” Kissper says. “It’s a way to get something people are starved of — a connection and intimacy and closeness without any goal.” 

More: YouTube Channels for & by Badass Women

For millions of people struggling emotionally around the world, ASMR videos are seen as free and effective treatment options waiting for them at the single click of a button. Is this the breakthrough cure for mental illness we've been waiting for!?

Well, not exactly.

“ASMR is like a medication,” Kissper explains. “It definitely helps with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, but it doesn’t get to the root of the problem. It’s OK to allow the content to make you feel better, but viewers need to address the problems themselves to see real change.”

So, go ahead, pop in your headphones and give the videos a shot. While these tingles might not be the answer to all your problems, they certainly won’t hurt.

More and more, our search for a deeper look into Scientology increases as stories, documentaries and exposés from former members or nonmembers hit the internet. Who wouldn't want to know more about one of the most divisive religious groups in the world? But in a new interview, Parenthood alum and lifelong Scientology member Erika Christensen gets candid about her life in the church as well as the role her parents' beliefs in Scientology played in shaping her childhood and how she’s approaching things now with her own children.

More: A Parenthood Star Just Took on the Real-Life Role of Mom

The interview took place on her Parenthood costar Dax Shepard’s podcast, Armchair Expert, in an episode that released on Monday. While Christensen has spoken up about her involvement in Scientology in the past, this is the most open she’s been about how she came to her faith.

“My parents definitely are Scientologists, approached parenting from a Scientology viewpoint. I know that now as an adult. I can see that in the way that they approached me as a kid and really trying to do what I’m doing now as a parent,” Christensen said.

She gave the caveat that one can’t really raise a child as a Scientologist, though. “I like to really be specific about that too because it’s hard to raise someone as a Scientologist because its something that you do; it’s not something that you believe,” she told Shepard.

Christensen wanted to be clear that her parents didn’t force their beliefs on her but asked her to take a look at Scientology for herself. “They were never like, 'You need to go to church,' or anything like that too. It was like, ‘This is what we’re interested in. These are some of the things that we believe. We think this is a good idea. Would you check it out?’ It was always a choice and I was like, ‘Yeah, sure.’”

Her comments to Shepard indicate that she’ll want her children (she has one daughter and is pregnant with her second child with husband Cole Maness) to make their own choices about Scientology, saying, “It has to be true for you. Don’t take anybody’s word for anything, ever, basically, without being a cynic or without being some kind of paranoiac. It’s just, what do you have if you don’t have yourself?”

More: Parenthood: The Definitive Endings for Each Braverman — Ranked

Christensen generally keeps her faith to herself, but she did speak up to defend the church when it underwent a wave of criticism in 2013. She has also appeared in at least one promotional video.

Oh, Audrey Roloff, you really stepped in it this time. This week's episode of TLC's Little People, Big World offered a glimpse into the world of the Roloff clan's newest arrival, Ember Jean Roloff — now 8 months old. The episode documented the days before Ember arrived as well as the first two weeks after her birth. Her parents, Audrey and Jeremy Roloff, are (obviously) featured, although the episode highlight certainly came from Mom: Audrey Roloff joked that baby formula is "a sin." Uh-oh.

More: Audrey Roloff Shamed for Her Baby's Outfit

The new parents explained on the episode that Ember was having difficulty gaining weight as a newborn and was not nursing frequently. "We just don't have feeding figured out yet. It just didn't come easy for me, my body, for her," Roloff said on the show.

So what did Ember's pediatrician recommend? (You can guess where this is going.)

When the pediatrician brought up the idea of supplementing Ember's feedings with formula, Roloff wasn't a fan. Despite having suffered mastitis and generally struggling with breastfeeding, Roloff was determined to succeed at nursing.

More: Audrey Roloff Shamed Again — This Time for Wearing Jeans to a Doctor's Visit

"I was very adamant about breastfeeding exclusively," Roloff said on the show. "Formula is, like, a sin."

Huh?

"I never thought I would do that, but at the same time, I need to feed my baby, so we have to do it," Roloff continued. Well, that's the important thing.

Despite Roloff's apparent eventual conversion to the "fed is best" camp, it may not surprise you that the Twitter backlash against her earlier comment was swift and harsh. Followers flipped out at the suggestion that formula miiiiight be the work of Satan. And they have every right to; to breastfeed or not to breastfeed is a mother's personal decision, and judging or shaming someone else's choice is never going to sit well — certainly not on social media.

We mamas are all just doing the best we can, OK? Audrey, just go forth and feed that adorable baby ginger of yours — however you want to feed her — and all will be well. Satan's got bigger fish to fry.

Khloé Kardashian is raining baby True videos on our blessed heads, and we're loving every second of it.

On Tuesday, Kardashian shared brand-new video of her 7-week-old baby daughter — even capturing the cutest sneeze on record (yes, someone contact the Guinness Book of World Records, please — this is legit).

The two new clips were uploaded by Kardashian to her Instagram Story, and you can hear it in her voice that she is utterly enamored with her baby girl. “Baby True! Who is the cutest little munchkin?” Kardashian coos to True — who is sporting the most adorable and/or ridiculous pink ballerina outfit you have ever seen.

More: Caitlyn Jenner Snubs Khloe Kardashian on Mother's Day

Kardashian continues, “Hey, mama! Hi, baby True. Lookin’ like a little lady.” And then comes the sneeze heard 'round the world.

Fans have been loving the True pics and videos since May 12, one month to the day after True (daughter of NBA star Tristan Thompson) was born. True's debut was a video of her peering up at the camera with a flower filter. On Friday, Kardashian also Snapchatted a photo of “Mommy’s little love,” and on May 29, she sweetly tweeted that True is her BFF for life: “I sometimes still can’t believe I’m a mommy!!! I’m so so thankful for such a blessing!! True is the sweetest ever! I got my bestie for life!"

More: Is Khloé Kardashian Planning a Return to LA?

Do we know what's happening yet between Tristan Thompson and Khloé Kardashian in the wake of Tristan's cheating scandal? Not exactly. Kardashian did post a shot on social media of a quote that said, “You can be a good person, with a beautiful spirit, and still possess the authority to tell someone: ‘You got me f—ed up.’” Mysterious or not quite? Either way, you tell 'em, Koko.

Wedding guests break the rules all the time — and, honestly, it's easy to do. Choosing an appropriate dress or outfit, spending enough on the wedding gift, bringing a guest or not: They're all valid concerns, and with all the summer and fall weddings coming up on our calendars, we're tired of guessing. So, we reached out to a few experts who gave us the black-and-white deets of wedding guest etiquette.

Without further ado, I present to you the do's and don'ts of attending a wedding.

More: Modern Wedding Bands for the Minimalist Bride

Don't bring a guest if you weren't given a plus-one

You'd be surprised how many people actually bring a guest when they weren't given a plus-one — 33 percent to be exact. And that number increases to 45 percent for those between the ages of 18 and 24 according to a survey conducted by Brilliant Earth in November 2017. Men were also 1.7 times more likely than women to say they'd bring an uninvited significant other. Who knew?

"The biggest wedding guest faux pas a person can make is bringing someone who wasn't invited," Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette and modern manners expert and the founder of Access to Culture, tells SheKnows. "The general wedding etiquette rule of thumb is that if the invite does not extend a plus-one, it was for a good reason (budget, venue size, etc.), and you are attending the nuptials solo."

It's truly that easy: Check the invite and the envelope. If you don't clearly see that you have a plus-one, don't bring one! And that includes children too. "If the invitation only comes addressed to you and your partner, then your children are not invited," says Sarah White, owner and lead planner of The I Do List.

If you feel a mistake was made, however, don't hesitate to reach out to the bride and groom. "Stress that you don't want to bring anyone and skew the plans, you just weren't sure from the invitation and wanted to clarify." In short, just be nice and considerate about it.

If you do end up flying solo, use it as an opportunity to meet new people.

"You should be able to survive one night of meeting and dancing with new people even if you know absolutely no one but the couple at the wedding," says Washington, D.C., wedding planner Meghan Brumbley of DC Engaged. "It will be far more awkward for your date who wasn't even invited to be there with only you to talk to."

Don't skip on the gift

This is an obvious one: Always get the bride and groom a gift. But what you might not have known? You should mail it to them ahead of time — don't bring it with you to the wedding.

"Wedding gifts should be mailed to the bride (and/or her parents) in advance, not brought to the actual wedding," etiquette consultant Jodi RR Smith tells us. "Gifts are easily misplaced during the festivities and can be damaged in transport. Even a check should be mailed to ensure the bridal couple receives it. And whenever possible, put the card for the gift inside the package or wrapping for easy identification."

Here comes the hard part, though: Choosing the gift and spending the appropriate amount of money on it. That means not spending too much or too little.

First off, always choose off the registry before you go off script. "Selecting a gift off the registry is preferred to cash, honeymoon support and gift cards," Schweitzer says. "If you would like to give a more personal gift, pair it with something from their registry for a combination gift they will undoubtedly adore."

Keep in mind, though, that you do not need to empty your savings account to afford what the bride and groom may have on the registry. "Plan ahead so you can save enough, express your affection for the couple with a beautiful gift and enjoy their wedding celebration without breaking the bank," Schweitzer suggests.

But how much should you spend? This is where it gets tricky.

Schweitzer says it all depends on your relationship with the soon-to-be-spouses. "On average, research reveals how much is spent on gifts based on the relationships." She breaks it down as the following:

• Family member: $127
• Friend: $99
• Boss/supervisor: $115 
• Colleague/coworker: $63

However, Brumbley says the gift should be of an equivalent value to your "plate" as a guest — or, how much it costs for you them to invite you. Now, you'll likely have no idea what this number is, and you wouldn't dare ask the bride and groom. But Brumbley says for the average wedding, this is about $150 to $200 per person.

"Hopefully, if you are being invited to the wedding, you should have some idea as to whether the couple is someone who will be spending a lot on you and if you need to step it up," she says.

According to the aforementioned Brilliant Earth study, men and women spend differently on wedding gifts too: Women reported $50 as an appropriate budget, while men favored $100. Interesting, right? Further, 13 percent of women and 17 percent of men thought $200 or more is the appropriate amount to spend on a wedding gift.

More: 10 Printable Wedding Checklists for the Organized Bride

Do dress appropriately

Before you go shopping for a dress to wear to the wedding, check the invitation: It should give you an indication of the dress code — be it casual, formal or cocktail. If it doesn't state, White says to always opt for cocktail attire, which includes "a knee-length, nice dress for women and suits with a tie and jacket for men."

As far as colors go, never wear white or cream to a wedding. You know this. But, you can wear black or red, "especially if it fits with the wedding invitation," Brumbley says. "Use the color palette of the invitation as a cue as to what colors to aim for. If the invitation is using bright bold colors, then it is most certainly OK to wear bright, bold colors. If the colors are more muted, stick with pastels in your own attire."

As far as shoes go, consider the wedding venue. Will you be in a grassy setting or on the beach? Choose carefully and think comfortably if you can. "When it comes to shoes, no one will look down on you for wearing sky-high heels, but keep in mind you will have to be in these shoes all day," Brumbley says.

Don't take pictures during the ceremony

You might feel tempted to do it, especially if you see others reaching for their cell phones to snap a pic or two, but do not take pictures during the ceremony.

"Leaning into the aisle, holding your phone in the air or walking around to get a better angle disrupts not only the professional photographer the couple has hired, but also the ceremony itself for the couple and every other guest there," White says.

However, Smith says you can take pictures at the beginning and at the end of the ceremony. Just leave the hired photographer to do his or her job during the ceremony.

Lastly — and this is a biggie — "no posting until after the couple posts to social media," Smith warns.

Don't leave before they cut the cake

If you're heading to a wedding, you should really stay for the entire event, but it's understandable everyone has their own schedules and might have to leave early for one reason or another. If you absolutely must leave early, though, Smith says to wait until the wedding cake cutting has begun.

"Before you leave, be sure to wish the wedding couple well," Smith adds. "Congratulate the families of the bride and groom, and thank the wedding hosts (i.e., whoever paid for the wedding!)."

Do have a great time

You're at a wedding, after all! And if you're lucky, a wedding with an open bar. So eat, drink (but not too much!) and dance your butt off.

"Always dance at a wedding," Brumbley says. "This is so huge and really your biggest role as a guest. You are there to celebrate the couple, and the best way to do that is to make the dance floor a fun place to be by getting your boogie on!"

That said, don't be shy, either. Get out there and mingle.

"Get ready to make new friends!" Brumbley says. "Come prepared to ask questions and get interested in their lives. People love talking about themselves and asking someone questions is the easiest way to keep the conversation going."

The world learned on the afternoon of June 5 that fashion designer Kate Spade had died. She was found in her apartment New York City; it is unclear at this time how long she had been dead before her body was found. It has been confirmed by officials that Spade died by suicide. Officials also noted in their report that Spade had left what appeared to be a suicide note.

More: All the Celebrities We've Lost in 2018

Spade's legacy will undoubtedly endure in the fashion industry and beyond. As one of the few women credited with starting and running her own highly successful fashion label from the 1990s onward, women and men alike will surely have fond memories of Spade's iconic handbags and her eye for preppy, sleek design.

On Twitter all day Tuesday, there was a huge outpouring of grief, condolences and remembrances from celebrities. Among the many tweets to remember Spade, those at her own label, Kate Spade New York, tweeted out a message on her death: "Kate Spade, the visionary founder of our brand, has passed. Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly heartbreaking time. We honor all the beauty she brought into this world."

Similar messages also surfaced on Twitter from the likes of Chelsea Clinton, Josh Groban and Olivia Munn.

More: These Celeb Moms Gave Birth After 40

Spade has left quite a mark on all of us. Our condolences go out to Spade's family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time.

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

We've all had the unpleasant experience of totally zoning out during an important meeting or suddenly struggling to articulate a point that we've made dozens of times in the past. For many people, this is an infrequent occurrence, and once the frustrating or embarrassing moment has passed, it's quickly forgotten. But if you find yourself feeling "foggy" quite often, you're probably experiencing brain fog.

Although it's not a medical term, brain fog is real, and it can interfere with your ability to function. The hallmark characteristics of brain fog are trouble concentrating, feeling forgetful and a general struggle to think clearly.

"Sometimes, it's brief and fleeting or it can be continuous," behavioral neurologist Dr. Mary Ellen Quiceno tells SheKnows. "Generally, people can still function in their daily activities, but believe that they are not performing at their best."

Quiceno says brain fog can have myriad causes, including insomnia, certain medications, stress and mood disorders, thyroid and metabolic disorders and chronic pain like fibromyalgia or frequent migraines.

"Our brain makes up only 2 percent of our body weight but consumes 20 percent of our total energy," ER doctor Dr. Darria Long Gillespie tells SheKnows. "So a problem anywhere else in the body is often reflected in a feeling of diminished brain functioning, or brain fog."

More: What You Need to Know About Fibromyalgia — Lady Gaga's Chronic Pain Condition

Gillespie says the best way to deal with brain fog is to find its primary cause. For example, if an autoimmune illness or diabetes is the most likely culprit for the fogginess, the focus should be to treat those conditions.

A common cause of brain fog is stress — after all, according to a 2017 Gallup poll, 80 percent of Americans report feeling stressed either frequently or sometimes. If chronic stress is making you feel foggy, Gillespie suggests "starting mindfulness exercises, simple breathing exercises to lower your stress in the moment or exercising for five to 10 minutes a day." She also emphasizes the importance of sleeping for seven to nine hours each night because, as most of us have learned the hard way, nothing functions well when we're tired. "Exercise and mindfulness breathing exercises also help you sleep, giving you a double benefit," Gillespie adds.

Aideen Turner, a physical therapist, is also a major proponent of using exercise to combat brain fog. "Research has now established the effects of exercise on our cognition. Exercise increases the blood supply or 'food' to our brain. This changes the brain from the molecular to behavioral level in ways that protect our memory and thinking skills," Turner tells SheKnows.

More: Things That Happen to Our Bodies When We're Stressed

Dealing with the underlying cause of brain fog, whether it's by treating a physical illness or establishing healthier sleep and exercise patterns, should mitigate the symptoms or make it go away entirely. But if your brain fog persists or the symptoms suddenly become severe with no explanation, Gillespie says it's time to speak with your doctor.

Most often, brain fog is a sign that you should focus on self-care. We live in a culture in which unhealthy habits like sleeping fours a night, being the busiest and most stressed out person in the room and never taking a sick day are praised and even glamorized. Instead, we'd all be better off extolling the virtues of a full night of sleep (because, let's be honest — sleep is glorious), having a healthy work-life balance and prioritizing treatment of physical health problems. After all, feeling foggy all the time is neither glamorous nor desirable.

It’s been one wild ride for fans of the country music melodrama Nashville. After four seasons on ABC, the twangy show was sent packing — only to be picked up by CMT after the show’s devoted fans, or “Nashies," rallied for its return. And now, after CMT announced Season 6 would be the last, we must say goodbye to Juliette Barnes, Deacon Claybourne and the rest of the Nashville gang for good, so to help us get in the right headspace for that difficult task, we went straight to the source: Nashville’s executive producer, Marshall Herskovitz, who let us pick his brain about the show’s (literal and figurative) swan song.

More: Will Nashville Season 6 Include Juliette Joining a Scientology-Like Religion?

Believe us when we tell you he’s just as sad to see the series end as the rest of us are. However, Herskovitz felt good about the fact that they were given the chance to shape the send-off in a way that seemed fitting for these characters who’ve imbued the series with so much heart.

“First of all, although we were certainly not happy the show was going to end, we were glad that we had a head’s up from CMT so that we could construct the season knowing that this was the end of the show and in some way do justice to these characters and not leave them hanging, you know, in the ether,” Herskovitz explained.

In doing so, says Herskovitz, he and the rest of the creative team had to dig deep into each character — and as such, the sort of vulnerability and humanity fans have seen since the death of Rayna James will see the show all the way through the series’ end. “As writers, we set about trying to understand what the journey of each character has been and how you would want to leave that person or that character for the viewers to imagine in the future, and that’s a great opportunity,” Herskovitz told us. “So this last season has really been about finding what the path should be for each of these people.”

More: Hayden Panettiere's New Diagnosis Mirrors Her Nashville Character

As any good Nashie knows, losing Rayna (played by Connie Britton) proved brutal emotionally — not to mention it was a bold move to kill off the show’s original lead. Could Nashville really work without Rayna? But just like Grey’s Anatomy, which in a similarly polarizing move killed off Patrick Dempsey’s Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in 2015, Nashville turned the tragedy into a chance to grow the characters who’d been standing in Rayna’s shadow.

Lo and behold, it worked.

“Personally, I think that the episode after her death that included the funeral was one of the best episodes we ever did. I didn’t write it. I didn't direct it,” Herskovitz shared. “I can say that because I’m so proud of the people who did create that episode. And I think it gave people a kind of reassurance that there was a Nashville after Rayna, and people then went along for the ride.”

That's precisely what Herskovitz hopes fans will do when Season 6 premieres. When asked about whether the show will wrap up all the loose ends it left with the close of Season 5, the executive producer (barely!) resisted the temptation to let a few secrets slip.

"I’m going to go out on a limb… oh, God, I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t! I wanted to, but I really want people to go on this journey," he teased. What Herskovitz could say, though, is that the wait for these final episodes will be worth it for longtime fans.

"Let me put it this way: I hope that people reading this and people watching the show trust that we who are making the show love the show and love these characters and would not do anything that would in some way destroy the six years of experience that people have had with these characters — that we would do justice to them," Herskovitz promised.

Of course, one of the biggest question marks in the minds of Nashies is the fate of Juliette Barnes (played by Hayden Panettiere). Will she be able to break free from the hold the cultlike Movement for Coherent Philosophy has on her? Will Avery Barkley (played by Jonathan Jackson) even be waiting for her if and when she does?

"What we're interested in doing with this cult is actually making sure that everything he [the spiritual leader] said is true and profound. This is a guy who has a lot of real insights into what it means to be a person and how to experience yourself, and he actually helps Juliette a great deal," Herskovitz said.

"So, what happens later? Is there a dark side? All of that is going to be revealed in these final episodes. I mean, people have seen the promos — I think people have a sense that it’s not going so great for Juliette, so I think there’s a dark and a light about this organization, and I think that was important to us from the beginning."

More: Why Will's Storyline on Nashville Is Gut-Wrenching for This Southerner to Watch

In other words, Nashies, rest easy! Panettiere will once again be filling your screens with Juliette's trademark sass at some point this season.

"Yes, I can say that because we see her in the promos," Herskovitz confirmed, adding, "and because we love Hayden and there was no way we weren't going to see her! So, yes, she's coming back. I can't talk about her experience, but in a couple of episodes, you're going to see a kind of story about what she's been going through down there in Bolivia."

Naturally, we did our due diligence and tried to squeeze Herskovitz for intel on whether Deacon Claybourne (played by Charles Esten) would come full circle and find himself walking down the aisle with his new love. But Herskovitz, through laughter, remained tight-lipped about any potential wedding.

However, while he couldn't look into Deacon's future, Herskovitz was happy to weigh in where Nashville could wind up down the road.

"I absolutely could," he responded when asked if he could envision a reboot. "I think there's plenty more to tell about these people. I'd love to bring on new people. We've often talked about the possibility of the show having a life at another network or whatever. I can't say there's anything active happening right now, so I don't want to give people hope... but from my personal point of view, I'd love to see that and I would love to be involved with it."

From Herskovitz's lips to God's ears, eh, Nashies? Here's to hoping!

There is no official way to look depressed or suicidal. It's not as if you get your diagnosis from a psychiatrist and are immediately issued a pair of stained sweatpants and a worn-out bathrobe and instructed to skip showering and never stop crying.

For a lot of people living with mental illness — myself included — it can look like we have it together. We can get up in the morning, put on a polished outfit, go to work, make jokes, socialize and carry on as if everything were normal — even though in reality, inside we feel like life is pointless and hopeless.

Upon first learning about my diagnosis, several people even told me that I don't "look" depressed or even that I have "no reason" to be depressed. But that's not how mental illness works. There is no way of looking at a person, assessing their physical appearance, demeanor or professional success and knowing for sure what's going on in their mind or how their brain works. But this is hard to remember sometimes — like when we learned of designer Kate Spade's death.

More: What People Don't Realize About Suicide Prevention

Though her sister, Reta Saffo, told the Kansas City Star that Spade had suffered from "debilitating mental illness" for the past three or four years and was self-medicating with alcohol, she says Spade avoided seeking help out of fear that it would hurt her "happy-go-lucky" brand. Most of the rest of us aren't literally the face of a cheerful, colorful brand built on optimism, but some of us also living with mental illness can absolutely relate to feeling like we have to constantly mask how we're really feeling.

Why losing a public figure this way affects us

Unlike her sister, most of us don't know Spade personally, yet similar to the responses to the deaths of Robin Williams and Chester Bennington, many people have strong emotional reactions. This happens because we feel somehow feel personally connected to their work — whether your first "real" handbag was one of Spade's designs or you grew up watching Williams on Mork & Mindy or listening to Bennington's music with Linkin Park.

"We invite public figures and celebrities into our homes and our hearts in such a way that allows us to genuinely celebrate when they get married and have children and grieve when they are gone," Dr. Marissa Long, a licensed clinical psychologist in Southern California and the founder of Thrive WISE, tells SheKnows. "The loss of these icons by way of suicide can have an even bigger impact because of how we have come to know them over time. We know them as happy, healthy, successful role models. We don’t typically know them as actual people with struggles or complaints."

More: 13 Things Never to Say to Someone Who Is Suicidal or Depressed

Success is not an antidepressant

Unsurprisingly, when someone well known dies this way, people have a lot of questions, most frequently, "How could they be so depressed? They had it all," Dr. Dion Metzger, a psychiatrist practicing in Atlanta, tells SheKnows. She explains that we see people like Spade as successful and rich and assume that it comes with happiness, noting that her death serves as a reminder that mental illness does not discriminate based on income and/or fame.

It also underscores the incorrect assumption that depression is simply being really sad about a certain event or situation — as opposed to being a serious mental health condition based in the brain that impacts our mind and behavior, Long explains.

"This means that no matter how seemingly great our lives may be or actually are, if the brain’s chemistry is out of balance in just the right way, we will suffer from depression," she says. "A depressed person may be stereotypically sad, isolative, cry often and have negative thoughts. They can alternatively be extra engaged, putting effort into connecting one last time or anything in between."

Warning signs

Although people living with depression and/or suicidal thoughts don't all look a certain way, there are some warning signs to keep in mind. These could include a person giving away their possessions, making vague statements like "the world would be better off without me" or "I wish I could just go to bed and never wake up," or hoarding their medications instead of taking them as prescribed, Patti Sabla, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker practicing in Hawaii, tells SheKnows. Similarly, Metzger adds that other warning signs include a person isolating themselves from other people and making final statements like "I've always loved you."

Additionally, Long says not to ignore a person if they talk about wanting to die or kill themselves, noting, "This may seem obvious, but often goes overlooked." And pay attention to other things they say, including if they mention that they feel like they're a burden or hopeless. Also, any behaviors that display a recklessness or disinterest in safety beyond what would be considered normal may be a warning sign, Long adds.

What to do if you think someone might be suicidal

As hard as it might be to address suicide with someone, Long says that it's important to let the person know that you're concerned about them and care.

"Oftentimes, when we think that someone may be suicidal, it can create a very real fear that we attempt to dismiss or avoid," she explains. "Instead, the best thing to do is to approach it in a caring but head-on manner and provide solid resources, and possibly even a plan to immediately access those resources such as a suicide hotline, contacting the police or going to a nearby hospital for evaluation and support."

If you simply avoid the issue, it can add to depressive thoughts such as, “no one cares” or “it would be better for others if I were gone,” Long says. And don't be concerned that bringing up suicide will plant the thought for the person. "If someone is having thoughts of suicide, the greater risk is not talking to them about it," she adds. "By the time that someone may think and be brave enough to ask about suicidal thoughts, it is likely their loved one has been contemplating or struggling with suicidal thoughts in secret."

What can we learn from this?

We can use tragedies like Spade's death as a teachable moment for those who may not know much about suicide, Sabla explains, adding that now is the time to have a dialogue about it because suicidal thoughts are more common in society than we realize.

"Hopefully, this decreases the stigma behind suicide and allows people to have an open conversation about it," she says.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.