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Kid Rules You Can Totally Let Slide in the Summer

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Yeah, yeah, there are parenting 'rules' most of us live by — but what about on summer vacation? Is it actually OK to let a few rules slide until September? Short answer: yes. Here's why.

Summertime doesn’t just mean longer days, no school and boatloads of sunscreen. Along with the rising temperatures often comes a relaxation of house/parenting/life "rules." And no, that's not something to feel guilty about as a parent; rather, it's something to celebrate.

Consider the summer your much-needed break from the day-to-day restrictions we put in place for so much of the year. That open space can allow you and your kids a little breathing room to play, have fun and explore. Think back to your happiest moments of summer as a kid: Was it a time to test boundaries and see how much you could do on your own?

So what if your brood isn’t eating three square meals a day or going to bed squeaky clean each night? The joy you’ll get from letting go will make it all worth it. Here are the rules it’s OK to break — just for summer.

More: As a Poor, Work-From-Home Mom, I Hate Summer "Break"

"Bathe every day"

Sure, maybe your kids usually come home from school or play with that “little kid stink” that necessitates a good scrubbing. In my house, our twins take a shower every evening with rare exceptions. But in summertime, go ahead: Relax the bathing rules a little bit. After all, your little one probably got rinsed right after that dip in the pool, right? And even if a little sand gets in the sheets, it’s all good — remember, they're just going to get dirty again tomorrow.

"Stick to a bedtime routine" 

Keeping kids on a sleep schedule makes perfect sense, especially during the school year when those much-needed z’s can mean the difference between academic success and falling asleep at their desks. But in summer, when there’s no need to wake up with the sun, getting kids to bed on the late side is totally fine. Although they won’t get their full night’s sleep, the fun experiences they’ll stay up for — a trip, barbecue or concert in the park — make it worth it. 

"Ice cream only once a week"

Limiting sweet treats is smart, of course. We all want our kids to have a healthy diet, right? But in summer, ice cream can become a part of daily life — after all, it really is the perfect thing to cool off with and enjoy as a family. Plus, you can always switch it up sometimes with fruit pops or frozen yogurt. Chances are your little one will still think it’s an awesome treat. 

More: The Ultimate Summer Reading List for All Ages

"No going around pants-less"

When it’s just too hot out, the clothes are going to start coming off, and that’s A-OK. And really, is there anything more adorable than the sight of a little kid running through a sprinkler in their undies? And yes, parents are allowed to break the pants "rule" too.

"Don’t overstay your welcome"

When my kids are invited on playdates, we try not to turn them into epic stays. But during those lazy summer days, we're happy to let playdates go on for hours — or all day and into the evening as long as the parents don’t mind. With no real agenda, just hanging out can create some of the best summer memories. So let summer be the excuse to overstay (and play and play and play). 

"Don’t track mud through the house"

During the rest of the year, it’s normal to be ultra on top of keeping a clean house. But in the summer, when wet towels, flip-flops and feet coated with questionable substances are constantly tracking in and out the door, ease up on the house rules already. Although you may have a little more dirt to contend with, simply relaxing about it can go a long way toward worrying less — and freeing up more time to enjoy with your little ones.

"Wait one hour after eating to swim" 

This rule, which we were all probably told when we were kids, is actually not true. I mean, have you ever seen a kid eat lunch and double over because of a dip in the pool? Let them eat grilled cheese and do Marco Polo — think of it as living on the edge! 

"Be careful"

Of course, we’re not advocating for your child to do anything truly unsafe. But summertime wouldn’t be the same without a few skinned knees, trees climbed and a bit of adventurous exploring. And hey, Gever Tulley, author of 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do), says you should even let your kids play with fire (within reason). 

More: Parenting Rules You Can Feel Free to Break

"Don't skip your nap"

We know that parents who are lucky enough to still have nap time want to keep their kids on a schedule — after all, nobody wants a cranky baby or toddler. But when there’s the opportunity to really experience summer, I say skip the nap and go out on that boat, meet friends for a picnic lunch or just stay one more hour at the pool. One skipped nap will not do irrevocable damage.

"Stay away from screens"

Of course, it would be sad if your child spent the whole summer glued to an iPad or TV, but instead of totally nixing screen time, what about switching up the screens? In the summer, there are outdoor movies galore, and in some towns, you’ll even find a drive-in. When screen time becomes communal time, it can be a rewarding, enriching experience that you and your little one will remember for many summers to come. 

Summer is definitely a time to let rules slide, and with that comes the opportunity for new adventures and discoveries (and hey, maybe even a little grown-up fun too).


Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson Are Selling Their Furniture, & You Can Buy It

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When you're in need of new furniture, what's the first thing you do? If you're thrifty like us, you hit up your parents and see if they have any hand-me-downs they're willing to part with. Well, it's a pretty well-known fact that Tom Hanks is America’s dad, so if his furniture suddenly became available, you'd jump on that opportunity, right? 

More: Home Improvement Mistakes That May Be Costing You a Lot of Money

Now here’s your lucky chance to have a piece of Tom in your own home. Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, are selling some of their furniture online via the consignment shop, Viyet.

The site, which is a marketplace specifically for high-end home decor, is selling almost 50 items from Hanks and Wilson's home. Some of the pieces include antique mirrors, such as one Venetian mirror with a gold frame and sun design that is priced at $2,975 as well as an antique Biedermeier mahogany dresser for $3,755 and a set of antique Louis XIV-style silk armchairs for $4,875. 

More: A Timeline of Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson's Romance

The sale also includes an amazing find: An antique hand-painted Italian secretary desk Hanks has personally used in the couple’s bedroom. “This writing desk was in our bedroom,” Wilson told Architectural Digest. “I kept all my personalized stationery in here and used the drawers to store it in boxes. The small drawers kept my pens, wax seals, and stamps. When I travel, I always look for a good stationery store. It’s the best souvenir.”

Something tells us these items will go fast, so you may want to buy your favorite pieces, like, yesterday. You can shop all of the items here

New Zealand Prime Minister Gives Birth, Makes History

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The world of international politics just got a lot cuter. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed a baby girl on Thursday, making her the second elected head of government to give birth while in office — following the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. 

Ardern and her partner, Clarke Gayford, shared the exciting news Thursday on Instagram. 

"Welcome to our village wee one," she captioned the darling first family photo. "Feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby girl that arrived at 4.45pm weighing 3.31kg (7.3lb). Thank you so much for your best wishes and your kindness. We're all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital."

More: This Prime Minister Is Pregnant — & Here's Why It Matters


Ardern announced her pregnancy back in January and, because people can be quite archaic and awful, has faced a lot of backlash from people who feared she couldn't balance running a country and raising a child. 

"I am not the first woman to multitask. I am not the first woman to work and have a baby," she responded during a news conference at the time. "We are going to make this work, and New Zealand is going to help us raise our first child." 

More: Tammy Duckworth Becomes First U.S. Senator to Give Birth While in Office

Funny how people rarely seem to criticize male world leaders for having small children while in office, such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has three kids, the youngest of which is only 4 years old. Ardern, who is New Zealand's youngest prime minister in more than a century at the age 37, is no stranger to unfair bias. Still, she hasn't allowed criticism to keep her from doing what she feels is best for her country and her family, even if that means admitting she doesn't have all the answers.

Earlier this year, The Australian reported that Ardern asked another politician who entered office with kids, former President Barack Obama, how he dealt with feelings of guilt while juggling his duties as a parent and a leader. In true Obama fashion, his advice was practical and to the point. 

"His insights were the same as I'm sure any parent would probably give me: that you do your best," Ardern told reporters. And we know she will.

Johnny Depp's Rolling Stone Interview Is Full of Truth & Stories of Betrayal

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Johnny Depp has had a rough couple of years. The actor, whose career spans dozens of works and 35 years, has been all over headlines following significant legal trouble and alleged financial deficit, not to mention a messy divorce with Amber Heard in which she accused him of physical abuse and assault. While he's currently on tour with his band, Hollywood Vampires, which also features Joe Perry and Alice Cooper, fans have flocked to the internet to express concern over his gaunt appearance in fan photos. 

But what is going on behind the scenes of all this publicly aired dirty laundry?

More: Johnny Depp's Legal Woes Continue With a New Lawsuit

In a lengthy interview with Stephen Rodrick for Rolling Stone, which took place over 72 booze- and hash-fueled hours inside Depp's sprawling London home, Rodrick explains Depp's legal trouble through in-depth reporting and, of course, quotes from Depp himself. The profile is long and incredibly detailed. In case you don't have an afternoon to dedicate to reading it, we've plucked out some of the most interesting and relevant anecdotes to explore what Depp describes at the onset, saying, "So are you here to hear the truth? It's full of betrayal."

1. He really is losing money – fast

Throughout the course of his career, Depp has made approximately $650 million from films that made at least $3.6 billion in profits. This number includes Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which netted Depp approximately $300 million alone. However, despite these successes, the star is deep in debt, something his lawyers at TMG have allegedly been telling him for years. After they asked him to sell his St. Tropez estate in 2015, however, Depp recalled telling Mandel, "Listen, you and I are going to have to fucking sit down and you're going to have to explain this shit to me because I don't appreciate a phone call from you in the 11th hour. If you're going to call me, call me in the third hour."

Throughout Rodrick's profile, Depp repeatedly insisted that he hasn't done anything wrong — that his financial issues were caused by employees playing fast and loose with his money. He also said that the only reason he's fighting so hard with this lawsuit is for his kids.

"I have never, ever in my life been the bully kid," Depp said. "I never went out of my way to hurt anybody. When I was a little kid, what I was taught was never fucking start a fight, but if somebody fucking tags you or invades your fucking world, finish the fucking fight. To my mom's exact words, ‘Lay them out with a fucking brick.'"

He added, "My son had to hear about how his old man lost all his money from kids at school, that's not right.”

2. Post-divorce life from Amber Heard wasn’t easy

Following the news of his divorce from ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp told Rodrick, "I was as low as I believe I could have gotten. The next step was, ‘You're going to arrive somewhere with your eyes open and you're going to leave there with your eyes closed.' I couldn't take the pain every day."

He also added, "I kept trying to figure out what I'd done to deserve this. I'd tried being kind to everyone, helping everyone, being truthful to everyone. The truth is most important to me. And all this still happened."

More: This Is What's Really Going on With Johnny Depp's Dramatic Weight Loss

3. He's reluctant to turn his back on his family

Depp describes his relationship with his late mother, Betty Sue Palmer, as volatile. At one point, he says, "Betty Sue, I worshiped her. She could be a real bitch on wheels." Despite that, his first big purchase as an actor was a farmhouse for her outside Lexington, Kentucky. He also paid to have her moved to Los Angeles for treatment when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, where she lived in a $30,000-per-month house. She died in 2016, the night before Heard appeared in paparazzi photos sporting bruises that allegedly came from him.

Meanwhile, Betty Sue's farmhouse has become a money pit. After Depp purchased it, some of his family moved in to act as caretakers for the property. Allegedly, their spending reached a point where it was out of control, which Mandel — who was tasked with day-to-day responsibility for Depp's bank account prior to 2016 — told Depp "after years of keeping him in the dark." Now that Betty Sue has died, Depp hasn't sold the property. It also isn't named in any of his current lawsuits.

"[My family's] thinking is that I'm going to take care of them forever and that the farm is now theirs," Depp said. "I didn't make that promise." But he also won't cut them off, because he believes that TMG should have done that. "That's why I'm paying them."

4. Depp is trying to maintain his career

Depp has often been lauded as a genius by his fans, something Rodrick points out a few times in his profile. His acting chops were recently called into question, though, when reports surfaced in 2017 that he doesn't learn his lines and relies on an earpiece to be fed them from someone off camera on his movie sets. Depp told Rodrick the earpiece is real, but that he uses it so he can act without speaking.

"I've got bagpipes, a baby crying and bombs going off," he said. "It creates a truth. Some of my biggest heroes were in silent film. It had to be behind the eyes. And my feeling is, that if there's no truth behind the eyes, doesn't matter what the fucking words are."

Luckily, his career seems to be in good shape. According to IMDb, Depp has four movies being released through the end of the year (City of Lies, London Fields, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Richard Says Goodbye) and is slated to play Dr. Griffin in The Invisible Man

More: Johnny Depp Apologizes for Joking About Assassinating Donald Trump

At the end of their 72-hour interview, Depp saw Rodrick to the gates of his London home with the parting words, "Thanks for coming. This could be your Pulitzer." He added as Rodrick left, "Take care, man. Thank you for listening."

Like we said, this Rolling Stone profile is sprawling, and it digs deep into every detail of Depp's current financial situation. Setting the question of whether he is solely culpable for his current issues aside, it's clear that this hole is deep. Digging out of it will be difficult, especially if Depp refuses to change his ways — which according to Rodrick's reporting and Depp's own words seems to be hard for him.

Trolls Are Shaming Cardi B for Being Offset's ‘4th Baby Mom,’ & It Needs to Stop

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Cardi B is thrilled to be a mom, and she's not going to let trolls get her down. The rapper, who recently released her massively successful debut album, Invasion of Privacy, is expecting her first child, a girl, next month. While most of her fans have sent her well wishes, she revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that her pregnancy journey had a rough start, as her closest confidantes warned her that having a kid "might fuck up her career." Though she's typically tough as nails, she admitted she feared they might have a point. 

"A lot of successful women have kids, and a lot of successful artists have kids, but not at the peak of their career," she said. 

More: Cardi B Confirms a Baby Girl Is on the Way — Well, Kinda

She got over those worries quickly, however, after her album and hits, "Bodak Yellow" and "Be Careful with Me," continued to rise in the charts, shattering records once held by musical legends like Lauryn Hill and Beyoncé. Still, she pays attention to what the world says about her, especially when it comes to her relationship with fiancé Offset, one of the men behind the rap group Migos.

"People want to make fun of me, saying I'm the fourth baby mom," she said. "I know I'm not having a baby with a shitty-ass man." 

Cardi's defended her relationship in the past after admitting that Offset had cheated on her, saying things like, "This shit happens to everyone" and "I ain't no angel." And who'd want her to be an angel anyway? One of the great things about her is that she's so unapologetically herself, whether she's discussing her past as a stripper, twerking onstage or stealing the show in custom Jeremy Scott designs at the Met Gala.  

More: Cardi B Slammed for Twerking While Pregnant Because... Why??

Thankfully, Cardi told Rolling Stone neither her personality nor onstage antics will change much once she becomes a mother, and, yes, that means she plans to be just as brutally honest with her child as she is with the rest of the world.

"I'm going to tell her everything. Everything," she said, adding that she'll absolutely talk about stripping and the difficulties of carving a path for herself in an increasingly tough industry. But until her child's old enough to have those conversations, Cardi said her priorities will be working hard on the road and spending as much time as possible with her daughter. 

"What I envision is my tour bus has my own personal room, and I just want to be with my baby," she said. "Only time I don't have my baby with me is when I'm getting my hair done, makeup done, performing. I don't want to miss one second. I don't want to miss no smiles; I don't want to miss no new movement."

With determination like that, there's nothing this self-proclaimed "regular, degular" girl can't do. 

Blake Shelton Didn’t Bounce Back From Miranda Lambert as Quickly as You Think

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Blake Shelton rarely mentions his first wife, Miranda Lambert, and his current girlfriend, Gwen Stefani, in the same breath. So when he did exactly that in a preview clip from Sunday Today With Willie Geist (the full episode of which will air Sunday), you knew he was about to take things to a really emotional, meaningful, reflective place. And that's precisely what he did as he touchingly opened up about just how deeply he was affected by his divorce from Lambert and the ways in which Stefani has become his biggest supporter during the three years they've been together.

More: Gwen Stefani Gave Blake Shelton the Most Patriotic Birthday Gift

"When I was going through my divorce and just, you know, hit rock bottom just like anybody does when they go through something that devastating," Shelton revealed to Geist (and as reported by Us Weekly), "it’s a miracle that I met somebody that was going through the same exact thing that I was at the same exact moment in time."

That "somebody" was Stefani, and that "same exact moment in time" is in reference to Stefani's divorce from her first husband of nearly 14 years, Gavin Rossdale. While Stefani and Rossdale's divorce wasn't finalized until 2016, the pair had long since split when she and Shelton found one another while working together on The Voice in 2015.

But as smitten as the two were in those early days, Shelton — to this day — readily admits that he never thought that his relationship with Stefani was going to be anything more than a temporary fling. 

"I think if Gwen and I were being honest right now talking about this, I think in the back of our minds, we both kind of thought this is a rebound deal because we’re both coming out of a pretty low spot in our lives, and we’re kind of clinging to each other to get through this," Shelton tells Geist in the preview clip.

Shelton's vulnerability is an eye-opener, to be sure, but it's just as interesting to take a step back and see that what they thought was just going to be a casual rebound to work through some serious heartbreak became a devoted, serious partnership.

More: Blake Shelton Gives Update on a Potential Engagement to Gwen Stefani

And while the two have hinted at marriage, right now it seems they just really enjoy lifting one another up and building a great life together and with Stefani's two sons from her previous marriage. If you don't believe us, just take it from Shelton, who remarked to Geist, "Now here we are, going on three years later, and every day that goes by just feels like a stronger bond between the two of us, and it constantly feels like it’s going to the next level. That’s the way I think either one of us would probably describe it if she was sitting here."

52 Super Easy (& Totally Inexpensive) Ways to De-Stress

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Anyone else find themselves going at 100 miles per hour, constantly plugged in without a second to just chill out? Us too. Between work, family and attempting to have a social life, it's pretty hard to find time to just sit still and do something for ourselves. And if for some reason that occasion does present itself, we normally just want to curl up for a nap.

Stress is just an accepted way of life — but consider this your very friendly word of warning. Researchers have discovered as of 2016 that chronic stress can actually change the brain and lead to anxiety and depression. So you can probably guess that your stress compounds and gives way to more stress, and more anxiety and depression that create more stress, and the vicious cycle continues.

More: If You Can't Sleep, It May Be Because of Tinnitus

We don’t have all the answers, but we do know that taking small steps in the right direction can make a huge difference. These little stress-busters, when used regularly, could bring your stress down to that normal-crazy level. You can try one idea for every week of the year:

1. Curl up with your real S.O., Netflix. (And use these Netflix hacks to make binge-watching so much easier.)

2. Take a bath while drinking a glass of your favorite wine.

3. Try a new, easy cardio activity: walking around the block, hiking at a well-lit park or swimming a few laps at the community pool.

4. Listen to a guided meditation podcast as you drift off to sleep.

More: The Health Benefits of Hot Yoga

5. Clean that one room/area of your house that has been driving you crazy. (Trust us, you’ll feel a lot better when the organizing is done.)

6. Watch fish swim in an aquarium and release all those to-do lists in your head.

7. Buy a plant. That's right; apparently just being around a houseplant can relax you.

8. Try a gratitude journal — write down three little things you’re grateful for at the end of each day.

9. Write down everything that is stressing you out on the next page.

10. Eat clean for one day (cutting out all processed foods) and observe how you feel before you go to sleep.

11. Practice several cycles of deep breathing at the beginning and end of your lunch break.

12. Set up a "walking date" with a good friend you haven’t seen enough of lately.

13. Drink just one glass of red wine with your evening meal.

14. Learn to meditate — and try it at least once a day.

15. Take an afternoon nap.

16. Pucker up: Kissing relieves stress by helping your brain to release endorphins.

17. Watch a viral video. A good laugh is a great relaxation technique and boosts endorphins.

18. While you’re at it, pay it forward by buying a fancy coffee for the person in line behind you, too.

19. Eat a banana — potassium helps regulate blood pressure.

20. Chew a piece of gum. According to a 2008 Swinburne University study, this act can relieve anxiety.

21. Use a Groupon to hire a housecleaning service to clean your home from top to bottom.

22. Send a friend, your mom or your sister a “just thinking about you” text and wait for their sweet response.

23. Read an old love note or love email.

24. Read an old work email, praising you for one of your biggest accomplishments.

25. Don’t just hum — sing along with music in the car at the top of your lungs.

26. Say "no" to an unnecessary commitment, with absolutely zero guilt.

Next: Have an at-home spa day

A version of this article was originally published in March 2008.

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27. Have an at-home spa day, with a DIY mani and pedi, all by your lonesome.

28. Sit in silence for 20 minutes.

29. Try a new, alternative workout class at the gym — PiYo, pole dancing or roping, to name a few.

30. Write a positive affirmation and stick it on your mirror for one week.

31. Create a vision board of where you would like to be in one year, five years and 10.

32. Run around and play outside with your kids or pets, without any time constraints.

33. Write out a plan for one looming task for the week, whether it’s a new work schedule, workout plan or menu plan for the family.

34. Smell a relaxing scent, like a calming basil or chamomile essential oil or candle.

35. Spray lavender essential oil on your pillow before you go to sleep.

More: Brain Fog Is Real — Here's How to Deal With It

36. Pack a bunch of healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout your workday.

37. Turn off your phone and silence your email alerts for an entire afternoon.

38. Do a full Sun Salutation cycle when you wake up to start the day.

39. Eat one piece of dark chocolate, and enjoy every bite.

40. Plan a special treat or reward (that only mean something to you) to look forward to at the end of a long day.

41. Draw freehand or spend a few hours doodling in an adult coloring book.

42. Practice staying present for one hour — focusing on each sense in succession: sight, sound, taste, touch and smell.

43. Give someone you love a hug and hold on a little longer.

44. Practice that hobby you’ve been neglecting — painting, piano or learning French.

45. Sign up for a free workshop or class at a local community center.

46. Spend some time browsing travel deals and book a nearby weekend getaway you can look forward to all month long.

47. Talk to your boss about that work problem that’s been bugging you and try to come up with a workable solution.

48. Eat lunch picnic-style at a local park, if the weather permits. (And bring some cheese and sparkling water or wine.)

49. Walk through a new neighborhood in your town that you’ve never visited before.

50. Bake cookies from scratch.

51. Go see that movie you’ve been dying to see — alone!

52. Set the timer on your phone so that you don’t miss the sunset, and watch it without any interruptions.

52 totally doable ways to relieve stress without paying for a fancy massage

Do-Gooder Gina Rodriguez Is Doing Another Great Thing

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We think we can all agree that Gina Rodriguez deserves all the awards. The Jane the Virgin star makes us cry on a regular basis with her portrayal of Jane, but she also seems like a genuinely good person who uses her platform for elevating others. That's especially apparent now that she's convinced CBS TV Studios to take the money that would normally be spent on For Your Consideration events for Jane and instead establishing a four-year college scholarship for an undocumented high school student.

More: 21 Real-Life Wonder Women Who Give Us Hope Every Day

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news on Tuesday, June 19. The outlet reports that although Rodriguez and Jane the Virgin will throw their hats in the proverbial ring for awards season as they head into the fourth and penultimate season of the CW dramedy, the star told THR that the money spent on FYC events would be better served elsewhere.

"Our show has always jumped at any opportunity to help me do something for the Latinx community," Rodriguez said. "So I asked my showrunner, Jennie [Snyder Urman], if we could do something different with the money this year."

The four-year scholarship fund will go to a Princeton University-bound young woman from Los Angles. Rodriguez partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles to find the right applicant. She said she feels "invigorated" by her decision to help this student.

"FYC is a bizarre dance. Whatever you do requires an insane amount of money," Rodriguez said. She added, "It's taboo to talk about the money being spent, but it's the reality. I think sharing this might inspire other people to do something similar. You can desire recognition and, at the same time, decide to not play in the confines of the game as it's set up."

More: A Silent Video Helped Gina Rodriguez Open Up About Her Anxiety

Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for her lead role on Jane the Virgin in 2015. Her speech highlighted the need for better Latinx representation on screen. In the years since, she's used her Instagram (which boasts 2.6 million followers) to uplift creators of color each week, using the hashtag #MovementMondays. 

We think it's amazing that Rodriguez has chosen to use her platform in this way. We hope more stars will take up the mantle, especially now that Jane the Virgin is heading into its final episodes. The series' departure will leave big shoes to fill.


How an Emotional Support Animal Saved My Life

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I’ve always believed that every household needs a dog. The undying loyalty, the effervescent greetings, the irrevocable love — how could anyone not want that?

Growing up in a hostile home environment, I always sought comfort in my dog. When friends betrayed me, my parents hit me or someone bullied me, I'd lie down with my dog and wrap my arms tightly around her. She was my best friend — sometimes my only friend — and my favorite family member. I could never feel alone with her by my side.

But there was also a comfort in petting her soft fur in moments of panic. When anxiety attacks occurred, I felt calmer each time I stroked her head or ran my hand down her back. No words were needed — her physical presence and ability to remain by my side through emotional outbursts were all I needed to relax.

My dog helped me through some of the toughest times, and when she died, my parents discovered that the only way to save their daughter was to get another dog. Three weeks after I said goodbye to my 17-year-old companion, my family welcomed its newest member into the household—an 8-week-old Maltipoo.

More: Instead of Helping, My Psychiatrist Made My Mental Health So Much Worse

Though I was lamenting the loss of my former friend, the new puppy was able to alleviate some of my depressed feelings, and within a short amount of time, she became my favorite companion.

When I moved into my first apartment, I had to leave behind the family dog. Although my anxiety decreased with my parents’ absence, I began to feel lonely and depressed again. I went to therapy to learn new strategies to cope with my stress, but nothing could compare to my dog’s abilities. As my anxiety continued to control my life, my therapist recommended that I get my own dog, but with pets not permitted in my housing complex, this wouldn’t be feasible.

Since my depression and anxiety were severe, my therapist “prescribed” a service dog — or rather, an emotional support dog. She wrote a letter with my diagnosis and her recommendation for a dog, and within a few months, I was preparing for my very own Maltipoo.

I found a nearby breeder, and as soon as the litter was born, I was able to choose my puppy. I visited the litter six weeks later, and that is when I decided upon the name Sophie. I took a close-up photo of her face, and later that day, I registered her with the USA Service Dog Registry.

While Sophie is the best form of therapy for me, I’m often hesitant to inform others of her registration because some people take advantage of this registration — they see it as a way to evade housing restrictions on pets or a way to board an airplane without an additional fee. I was surprised by how easy it was to register Sophie — all I needed was a credit card.

So when I tell people that Sophie is certified, I often receive eye rolls or disparaging remarks about how I’m one of "those" people. But what makes Sophie and me different is that our bond is essential for my health. Just as a diabetic needs insulin to live, I need Sophie to live.

Sophie gives me a purpose in life. When I have nervous breakdowns or consider giving up, I look at Sophie and think, "She is my purpose, and I could never betray her by leaving her behind." 

More: Laughing Actually Has Some Health Benefits — No Joke

But Sophie has given me much more than just a purpose — she puts a smile on my face every morning, makes me laugh, makes me exercise and forces me to socialize with everyone in sight. We cannot walk past a single person without Sophie introducing herself and getting some attention. I’m learning how to overcome my shyness through all of the conversations that Sophie initiates for me with strangers.

If I’m having a stressful day at work, I know that I can look forward to Sophie welcoming me home as soon as I open the front door. She’ll wag her tail, lick my face, bring me her toy, and make me feel like the most important and loved person in this world.

My love for Sophie is ineffable, and while I enjoy the privileges of having her with me in places where dogs aren’t permitted, I’m now faced with a predicament — do I bring Sophie for my health and have to expose myself as someone with a mental illness or do I leave her home and silently suffer from anxiety?

When my coworkers used to ask me why I registered her as a service dog, I lied and said that I did it to evade the pet restriction in my apartment or so that I could bring her into stores with me, but I’ve realized that these seemingly innocuous lies are contributing to the “emotional support dog” stigma.

So now, when others question me about Sophie’s registration, I’m upfront and honest. I don’t divulge my full history with mental health, but I simply explain that I’ve struggled with anxiety and Sophie helps to reduce it.

I always carry Sophie’s registration papers with me, along with my doctor’s prescription letter. Having an official letter from a licensed psychologist helps to suppress any doubts or uncertainties regarding my legitimate need for Sophie.

Since emotional support dogs are still a topic of controversy, I don’t abuse Sophie’s privileges. If animals are prohibited in certain places where I know I won’t be anxious, then I don’t bring Sophie. But because Sophie has improved my life, I’ve begun to consider ways that she can help others. 

Maybe in my future career as a school psychologist, Sophie will be my little assistant who sits beside my desk and helps to ease my students’ anger and anxieties. Without any words, Sophie has the power to save a life.

Could Kate Spade's Dad Have Died From a Broken Heart? Cardiologists Weigh In

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Earl “Frank” Brosnahan, Jr., Kate Spade’s father, died on June 20, 2018, at age 89 — less than 24 hours before her funeral, People reported

“He had been in failing health of late and was heartbroken over the recent death of his beloved daughter. He was at home and surrounded by family at the time of his passing,” a statement obtained by People read.

This isn’t the first time a parent has died soon after their child; in December 2016, Debbie Reynolds died one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher. But is this just a coincidence, or can someone really die of a broken heart? We asked two leading cardiologists to weigh in.

Is it possible to die from a broken heart?

In short, yes. The technical term for it is “stress cardiomyopathy,” Dr. John Bahadorani, a cardiologist at Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, tells SheKnows, but it’s also known as “apical ballooning syndrome,” “takotsubo cardiomyopathy” and “broken heart syndrome.” 

More: Is Having a Broken Heart a Medical Condition?

The onset of stress cardiomyopathy is frequently but not always triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, like the death of relatives (particularly if unexpected), domestic abuse, arguments, catastrophic medical diagnoses, devastating financial or gambling losses, natural disasters or acute medical illness, Bahadorani explains.

According to Dr. Gregory S. Thomas, a cardiologist and the medical director of cardiovascular programs at MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute in Fountain Valley, California, the condition can result from an apparent stress-induced hormonal imbalance that is poorly characterized, but can cause chest pain and transient heart impairment. But death from broken heart syndrome is uncommon, he tells SheKnows.

In addition, a study published in 1997 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found a dramatic increase in the number of deaths from heart disease — primarily heart attacks — on the day of the Northridge earthquake, Jan. 17, 1994, Thomas notes. 

“Heart disease deaths in Los Angeles County averaged 73 deaths per day on the days prior to the 6.7 [magnitude on the Richter scale*] earthquake but spiked to 123 deaths the day of the earthquake,” he explains. “Other investigators found proportionately similar increases after the 6.6 Athens earthquake in 1981 and the 6.9 Kobe earthquake in Japan.”

What exactly happens to your body when you have broken heart syndrome?

The most common symptom of stress cardiomyopathy is chest pain, while other patients present with shortness of breath or syncope (passing out episodes), Bahadorani notes. 

“Some patients develop symptoms and signs of heart failure, tachyarrhythmias (including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation), bradyarrhythmias, sudden cardiac arrest or significant mitral regurgitation,” he explains. 

Approximately 10 percent of patients with stress cardiomyopathy develop symptoms and signs of cardiogenic shock, such as hypotension, abnormal mental status, cold extremities, oliguria, or respiratory distress, Bahadorani adds.

In older persons, emotion-related heart problems are more likely related to the stress hormones of norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) causing a heart attack than stress cardiomyopathy, Thomas explains. 

“These stress hormones make the heart muscle work extra hard, and if atherosclerosis has built up in the heart arteries, this can cause a heart attack and death because of the increased demand on the heart,” he adds. “Another pathway that can occur with stress is caused by these same stress hormones. A sudden increase in norepinephrine and epinephrine can aggravate atherosclerotic blockages in the heart arteries, in some cases causing disruption of the blockage and closure of the heart artery to block off flow to part of the heart.”

More: Gossip & Shame: Why Mothers Like Kate Spade Hide Mental Illness

The good news is that most people survive stress cardiomyopathy; however, the risks of severe in-hospital complications are similar to those of patients with heart attacks, Bahadorani says. People who survive the acute episode typically recover within one to four weeks, he adds. 

This highlights the importance of taking care of yourself and others, even in times of grief or when everything may seem overwhelming.

* The Richter scale measures the strength of an earthquake on a scale of 1 (minor) to 10 or higher (devastating, though nothing over 9.5 has ever been recorded). 

How to Talk to Your Kids About Death

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My nana died of cancer when I was 12. Her illness was kept a secret from my younger cousins and I until the very late stages, and none of us went to the funeral. On the brink of my teen years, I remember feeling angry that I wasn’t allowed to go and that the decision was made for me. I felt robbed of the chance to say goodbye to her. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d seen her because I had no idea it would be my last. 

More: How to Talk to Your Kids About Scary Things

I know my parents did what they thought was best for me, and now that I have kids myself, I can understand what a tough call it was to make. 

Because death is scary — thinking about it, talking about it, preparing for it. Talking to children about death is definitely up there with things we wish we didn’t have to do but really can’t avoid. And you really, really shouldn’t try to avoid it. You might think you’re protecting your child by keeping the D word out of all conversation, but death is indisputable, and if you don’t tackle questions head-on, you might cause more harm than good. 

“It’s important to talk to kids about death because they’re already exposed to it — in the media as well as in real life when a pet or person dies. It’s very confusing and upsetting for them,” psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman tells SheKnows. “If you give children the impression death is something they shouldn’t talk about, they have to stuff all their feelings down, and it could turn into a more serious psychological problem later on.” 

How does death affect kids?

The effect of death on kids depends on their age or emotional maturity. “Generally, kids under 7 can’t understand the concept of death,” says Lieberman. “They watch cartoons or play video games where characters are shot or killed in other ways and then pop up again.” 

Older kids can make more sense of the permanency of death and will experience a wide range of emotions when a loved one dies, including confusion, curiosity, sadness and anger. “Teens may react with anger or act as if they don’t care that the loved one died,” says Lieberman. “But this is simply their psychological defense mechanism protecting them from feeling and showing their pain.”  

Kicking off the conversation

Any conversation about death should be age-appropriate, never giving more explicit or detailed information than the child can process in a healthy way. “Let your child’s questions guide you as to how much information is needed or desired, taking care to truly listen to those questions and maintain kind, gentle eye contact during discussions,” clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly tells SheKnows. To help them accept death as a natural part of life, Manly suggests referring to the cycle of life, which shows that all things (bugs, flowers, etc.) have a limited lifespan. 

Manly recommends giving some thought to the setting and timing of your conversations. “Make sure your child isn’t hungry or tired before having this important discussion,” she says. 

While it’s important not to hide your own genuine emotions from your child, it’s equally important to talk to your child when you’re in a calm, nonreactive state. “Expressing sadness and grief is OK, but do it in a way that is validating for your child,” psychotherapist Jodi Aman tells SheKnows. “If you show fear of death, this can have a lasting impact on them. They notice everything. If you are afraid of death, they think it is something to fear, which increases their anxiety and stress.” 

More: What Not to Say to a Bereaved Parent — & What to Say Instead 

What to say — & what not to say

Try to resist the temptation to tell your child that it “will be better soon” or that “it was meant to be this way.” “It’s always best to avoid trying to tell a child what not to feel,” licensed clinical social worker Monique B. Jones tells SheKnows.

Jones believes that any reference to faith in the immediate aftermath of a death is not helpful for children. “This may create resentment and anger by telling a child that they shouldn’t feel the way they feel about their loss,” she explains. “What you want to do is acknowledge and reaffirm the unavoidable thing that is happening and then reassure the child that it’s OK to feel the way they are feeling about it.” 

Help your child stay connected to their loved one by sharing good memories. “Talk about how proud that person would be of them and how they changed their life,” says Aman, who also recommends doing something to honor the deceased, like planting a tree, giving the child a keepsake (such as a piece of jewelry or item of clothing they remember their loved one enjoying) or making a donation to a charity that had a special meaning for their loved one. “Anxiety comes with powerlessness, and doing something counters this. It is a positive way to channel the grief,” she says. 

If you are discussing death because the child’s parent is terminally ill, help them understand they will not be left alone and that others will be there to provide good care, says Manly. Try to be honest with the child while ensuring that the level of information imparted is age-appropriate.

Manly recommends using open-ended questions — such as “How are you feeling right now?” and “What thoughts are you having?” — during your conversation to create a safe, encouraging space for your child to share their emotions. Stress the importance of reaching out for help when you are sad or feeling bad inside — no matter your age. 

Finish the discussion by reassuring your child that you are available for any questions or thoughts that might arise at any time. In other words, the conversation isn’t over. 

“It’s crucial that your child knows that you, as the adult and their caregiver, are ‘safe,’” says Manly. “Your child may fear that you will die soon and they will then be left alone. Let your child know that they are safe and loved. These are every child’s top needs.” 

The funeral dilemma

There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to kids attending funerals, says Lieberman. “When deciding whether your child should attend a funeral, keep in mind their age, psychological maturity, how close they were to the person who died, whether it will be an open or closed casket and what you have told them about death.” 

More: Why I’m Raising Huggers in a Keep-Your-Hands-to-Yourself World

Talking to kids about death is never going to be a straightforward or enjoyable experience. Resources that might help you guide your child through times of grief include The Children’s Room, Journey of Hope and The Compassionate Friends

This Is What We Know About the Roseanne Spinoff & How the Internet Feels About It

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When ABC canceled Roseanne at a dizzying speed rarely seen in the television industry, we'd all assumed that that would be the end of the '90s reboot. It had proven itself to be divisive when it was on the air, tackling current political issues in a moderate, if not eyebrow-raising way, so for a portion of the public, it might have been a welcome relief to see the abrupt end of the show while the most loyal fans lamented its demise. 

And then, on Thursday, June 21, ABC made a big announcement. 

More: Roseanne Officially Canceled at ABC Because Tweets Do Have Consequences

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Roseanne spinoff will be titled The Connors and will include the core original cast (John Goodman, Laurie Metcalfe, Sarah Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Michael Fishman) sans Roseanne Barr. From a description of the show released by ABC, it sounds like the show will immediately address Barr's absence with a creatively written exit and a fresh start for the family. Part of ABC's statement addresses this, stating that The Connors will begin with “a sudden turn of events” and that the Conner family have to "to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before."

ABC has approved The Connors for 10 episodes for its first official season. It is already scheduled for a fall premiere, but the specific date is still unconfirmed. The Connors will still have a prime spot in the weekly lineup, with episodes airing on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/7c. 

Along with the announcement of The Connors, a joint statement was released by Goodman, Metcalfe, Gilbert, Goranson and Fishman expressing their positive outlook for The Connors. "We have received a tremendous amount of support from fans of our show, and it’s clear that these characters not only have a place in our hearts, but in the hearts and homes of our audience," they wrote. "We all came back last season because we wanted to tell stories about the challenges facing a working-class family today. We are so happy to have the opportunity to return with the cast and crew to continue to share those stories through love and laughter."

The announcement of The Connors led to some very mixed reactions from the internet, with celebrities and average folk alike reacting within hours of the news. 

More: Every TV Show That's Been Canceled in 2018 — So Far

As for Barr, she has yet to react to this new. ABC has confirmed that she will have absolutely no creative or financial involvement, meaning this is the cleanest break possible (short of keeping the show canceled for good) for ABC and The Connors.

Starbucks Announces Plant-Based Drink Options With New Coffee Smoothies

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Dairy will always have a place in our world, but many of us are looking for more plant-based options wherever possible, and dairy-free and vegan spins on our favorite foods, from whipped cream to ice cream, are everywhere this season.

More: How to Make Your Favorite Starbucks Bakery Items at Home

In fact, the demand for plant-based products grew over 8 percent last year according to 2017 Nielsen research, and to give customers what they're looking for, Starbucks is expanding their dairy-free options by offering almond milk and other dairy-free options in-store. And now, they’ve launched a ready-to-drink beverage with almond milk. Today, Starbucks is launching the new Doubleshot Coffee Smoothies with almond milk.

More: Bone Broth Is the New Smoothie Trend You Need to Try

These are the first plant-based coffee smoothies on the market and are available in both dark chocolate-banana and vanilla-honey-banana. These new drinks are available in grocery stores nationwide right now for $2.75. We can't wait to try both flavors and imagine they’ll probably go down really well with those vegan macadamia oat cookies, which are already available at Starbucks.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said consumer interest in drinks like Frappuccinos are not what they once were, and they are aiming to launch more plant-based cold-brew protein drinks this summer along with lower-sugar and lower-calorie drink items. This seems to be the first step in things to come, and we're here for it. We'd love to still have our daily Starbucks break and also get to feel a bit healthier about it at the same time.

The Surprising Ingredient Olympian Hilary Knight Puts in Her Smoothies

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Hockey extraordinaire and 2018 Olympic gold medalist Hilary Knight has been competing at an Olympic level since 2010, when she participated as the youngest U.S. player at the Vancouver games (talk about a high achiever!). Since then, she’s won nine world championship medals and become the face of women’s hockey in America.

As a champion ice hockey forward, she’s got to fuel her body so she can score against her opponents. Like most athletes will tell you, Knight’s diet is pretty highly tailored for nutritional impact. But that doesn’t mean it’s all fruits and vegetables all day every day. Knight has her favorite non-whole-food treats too. One thing that surprised us? She mixes Red Bull into her smoothies. Yes, seriously. Apparently, she can’t get enough of the caffeinated drink as a pick-me-up. Who are we to argue with an Olympian?

Another thing we like about Knight: Her fridge seems to keep it simple. Among the staples are yogurt, oatmeal and chili. A favorite food that gets brought up more than once? Pizza. Now that’s a woman after our own hearts.

Here’s what else we learned about what’s in Knight’s fridge.

SheKnows: Tell us a little bit about what’s in your fridge. How about your pantry?

Hilary Knight: I always try to stock my fridge with things that help fuel my body and my lifestyle. For instance, I always keep Chobani yogurts in the fridge and protein, nuts and granola in my pantry. All of these snacks are light and easy to eat on the go.

More: Whitney Port Has Never Eaten Pasta — No, We're Not Kidding

SK: Are there any items that you always make sure to keep in stock?

HK: I always make sure to have Red Bull stocked in the fridge. I like to drink it when I train to keep up my energy throughout the day. I just tried the new Red Bull Summer Edition Coconut Berry, and it’s one of my new favorite flavors!

SK: What’s your go-to healthy snack?

HK: I’ll make a smoothie with fruit, yogurt and Red Bull. I call it the Knight Train. Other than that, some quick trail mix grab-and-go or apple sauce.

SK: Can you give us an example of one of your favorite weeknight meals?

HK: I like fresh pasta with a medley of veggies, definitely some red and yellow peppers, olive oil and cracked pepper with Himalayan salt.

SK: What does a typical breakfast look like for you?

HK: Yogurt, English muffin with almond butter and banana or apple slices.

More: A Look Inside Paige Davis' Fridge

SK: Do your eating habits change when you’re training? If so, how?

HK: Yes. I try to pay attention to what I’m putting in my body and how it affects training. When I train, I eat more calories. I eat a ton of whole foods, including whole grains, legumes, fruits and veggies. I might have oatmeal and walnuts for breakfast, white bean chicken chili and salad with light dressing for lunch and pasta with mixed veggies for dinner. If I’m hungry for a snack, I’ll grab popcorn. I tend to drink a lot more water when training too. While diet is important, balance is key —you can’t train and eat like a machine all of the time.

SK: What would you consider the ultimate comfort food?

HK: Pizza!

SK: Everyone has a signature dish that they can make really well. What’s yours?

HK: I make a banging BLT.  

More: All the Delicious Ways to Elevate Your Scrambled Eggs

SK: Any foods you absolutely can’t stand?

HK: Any kind of pulled meats — I just hate the texture!

SK: Any dishes you’re excited to try this summer?

HK: I’m always in search of the best wood-fired pizza and meatballs.

SK: If you could only eat one food for an entire week, which food would you choose?

HK: Yogurt.


Well, there you have it. A little bit of yogurt and pizza, and we'll have a generation full of unstoppable women's hockey players.

Pink's Daughter, Willow, Got a Way Better Tooth Fairy Gift Than We Ever Did

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Pink's daughter, Willow, is learning the fine art of hustling at an early age. The 7-year-old budding makeup artist recently lost one of her baby teeth, and instead of getting a quarter under her pillow (isn't that what you got? No? Just us?), she scored a crisp $100 bill. 

More: Pink Says She's Raising Her Kids Gender Neutral

"Willz is gonna be the next major investment banker," Willow's pops, Carey Hart, captioned a photo of her holding the money-making chomper on Instagram. "We settled on a 100 buck for 1 shot at pulling her tooth out. Was the best money I ever spent, and she got 20 weeks worth of tour per diem in 5 seconds." He added the hashtag, #LoveThisKid.

To quote Puff Daddy (or P. Diddy or Love or whatever moniker he goes by these days), "It's all about the Benjamins, baby."

More: Pink's Kid Dyed Her Hair & Is Cooler Than All of Us


My question is: How are Pink and Hart going to keep up once their 18-month-old son, Jameson, starts losing teeth? Sure, they're both successful — she's a pop sensation, and he's a motocross racer — but, humans have 32 teeth, and at $100 a pop, they're looking to drop $6,400 between their two kids. That's a lotta tooth dough.

More: Pink's Daughter Gives Dad Carey Hart a Very Extra Haircut 

Willow, who recently celebrated her birthday by dying her hair purple, is currently touring the world with Pink on the Beautiful Trauma Tour, where they'll be making stops all over Australia and New Zealand from now until September. If I were Willow, I'd be yanking those baby teeth like there's no tomorrow to rack up some souvenir spending cash. You can never have too many kangaroo key chains, IMO. 


Jennifer Aniston Isn’t Wasting Time Being Heartbroken Over Justin Theroux Divorce

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Jennifer Aniston is doing so fine right now, it's unreal. As far as we can tell, she's taking a cue from her own rom-coms and moving the heck along with her life. She's surrounded herself with work, friends and a bright future ahead. In fact, new reports suggest that she's incredibly happy with her life now, to the point that if you ask her about her second husband, she might just reply, "Who?"

More: Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox Are Best (Matching) Friends on Girls' Night Out

A source told People magazine that Aniston "is very happy being single. She is focused on her own happiness." People backs up its unnamed source with a photo from the set of Aniston's new movie with Adam Sandler, Murder Mystery, which is currently filming for Netflix. And wouldn't you know it — she looks pretty happy in the photo.

But Aniston's happiness on the set of Murder Mystery is just the tip of the iceberg. Since announcing her split from Theroux in February, the actor has set herself up with lots of projects to keep herself occupied. After she finishes Murder Mystery, she'll be filming a still-untitled TV project with costar Reese Witherspoon. A bit further down the line, Aniston will get to work with Tig Notaro and Lena Waithe on the Netflix comedy First Ladies, where she'll play a lesbian President of the United States.  

In recent months, Aniston has also kept longtime friend Courteney Cox by her side when she's had to appear for public events. Cox has been Aniston's plus-one to a few events, including a recent lifetime achievement event honoring pal George Clooney and a benefit dinner hosted by Chanel. 

More: Jennifer Aniston Is Going to Play a Lesbian POTUS & We're So Into It

Aniston has no time to dwell on the past, and with so many great things happening in her life right now, why would she ever want to in the first place?

Selma Blair Got Emotional About Addiction & Sobriety on Instagram

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Selma Blair turns 46 on Saturday, and on Instagram, she got reflective about another big personal milestone she hit Thursday. Inspired by the love she received ahead of her birthday, Blair got candid about her sobriety.

More: Selma Blair Opens Up About Managing Depression, Anxiety & a Hollywood Career

Blair posted a photo of herself in front of a birthday cake and sporting a birthday hat, and her emotional caption gave followers a deeper look at what this birthday means to her. 

"2 years sober. 2 years feeling everything and nothing. 2 years of extreme gratitude and humility and grace," she wrote. "I thank the Lord and my friends. Thank you for the most special birthday week @fran.anania, #amypines, #arthursaintbleick. I prayed for a miracle at my lowest points. I am a living miracle. Thank you. Thank you." Blair also used the festive hashtags "#birthdaygirl," "#almost46," "#summersolstice" and "#grace" to really send the message home.

It's been a long road of repair and recovery for Blair, who has been open about her journey toward sobriety. In 2017, she revealed to her Instagram followers that she's spent most of her life battling depression, anxiety and alcoholism. A year earlier, Blair was removed from a flight from Cancun, Mexico, to Los Angeles after "a combination of prescription medication with alcohol" severely impaired her. Blair later apologized for her actions, and it seems that 2016 was the year she began to get sober.

More: We Love Selma Blair Even More for Her Honest Account of Her Scary Plane Ride 

Two years later, she looks as healthy and radiant as ever. This is a huge achievement, and we're looking forward to many more celebratory posts from Blair on this anniversary in the years to come.

All the Ways Sandra Oh's Killing Eve Character Is Basically Grey's Cristina Yang

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The entire first season of BBC America's Killing Eve is available to stream on your computer and on demand, and it's leading the 2018 TV Critic Awards nominees with five nominations. But the real question is: Are you watching it yet? Or have you been on the fence about it, unsure about whether or not you'd want to watch a modern, twisty, moody spy thriller that features two female leads? Well, we're here to tell you that you need to get off that fence and dive into Killing Eve, primarily because one of the show's stars, Sandra Oh, is giving us serious flashbacks to another famous, beloved TV character of hers, Grey's Anatomy's Cristina Yang.

More: 11 TV Shows You Should Be Watching

At first glance, it may not seem like MI5 agent Eve Polastri has anything in common with Seattle Grace's Cristina Yang. One's a spy; the other is a surgeon. One lives and works in Europe; the other lives and works in Seattle, Washington. One uses psychology and political machinations to her advantage in her line of work; the other uses scalpels, X-rays and the like in hers.

But move past all the superficial details, and you'll see that Eve and Cristina are more alike than you would have guessed. Take a look for yourself to see what we mean. 

1. Eve & Cristina both work in male-dominated fields

Neither woman is fazed by the fact that they work with domineering men — they just dominate right back. They're both surrounded by pompous bros who like to question their competence (but little do these men know, Eve and Cristina are the definition of smart and competent) and they have no qualms about putting their male peers in their place whenever they display a little workplace sexism.

2. They dedicate themselves entirely to their work

Their personal lives may be taking a nosedive at different moments in their lives, but don't expect Eve or Cristina to let their work slip. Eve practically throws her very sweet, supportive husband to the side because she becomes so focused on finding Villanelle, and Cristina has seen relationships and friendships become the collateral damage to her own career goals. Things work out in the end, but these women risk a lot for the sake of their work.

3. They go through some harrowing situations while on the job

Spy work and medical work are taxing gigs, y'all, and they are not — we repeat: not — for the faint of heart. Both feature lots of blood, lots of intense situations (like standoffs with your enemy or performing heart surgery) and lots of strong language. 

4. Eve & Cristina develop and maintain strong female friendships

Eve and Cristina both have solid female friendships in their respective workplaces that help keep them sane and anchored while also feeling supported. And sure, Cristina may not have a strong, possibly romantic but mostly friendly attraction to an international assassin like Eve does, but even Eve's connection with Villanelle is too special to ignore as anything other than interesting and valid.  

5. Both women have killer comebacks, even in tense situations

The power of the one-liner is strong with these characters. Even in pressure-cooker situations or awkward moments, you can count on Eve and Cristina knowing just how to diffuse the tension. 

6. Eve & Cristina put their keen intellect to good use — & are recognized for it by their peers

These women are smart as hell, and they know it. Eve isn't afraid to give a shoutout to her schooling credentials when she comes under scrutiny over whether she is qualified to lead her own mission, and Cristina is always ready to remind folks that she demands to be recognized for her brains at all times.

7. Neither Eve nor Cristina is afraid to question authority

There's always someone in a position of power low-key trying to hinder Eve, whether she's fully aware of it or not. By the end of season one, she's in full "question everything and everyone" mode, making her a loose cannon around her boss. As for Cristina, she did listen to her bosses, but don't act like there weren't times she pushed back with her own strong opinions.

8. Both women are solid advice-givers

Both women have little to no time for feeling sorry for oneself. Instead, they're here to give their peers some damn good advice so they can all get on with it. 

9. Eve & Cristina know how to keep a secret

Because Eve's line of work is so intense, she's naturally adept at keeping secrets. Meanwhile, there so much drama between Cristina and her coworkers that she's had to keep some big things to herself over the years. 

10. They're both big fans of a good, stiff drink

Eve loves a big glass of wine or a gin and tonic at the end of a long workday, and Cristina's a fan of alcohol in all its forms. Both women drink responsibly and often, especially when it's needed after a long day at work. 

11. They're tired all the time, & honestly, we get it

It's tiring work being a surgeon and being a spy! With every twist, turn and obstacle Eve and Cristina face, it's hard not to sympathize with them every time their shoulders slump with exhaustion. We feel you so, so hard.

More: 32 Most Shocking Moments From Every Grey's Anatomy Finale Over the Last 13 Years

Basically, if you've been a fan of Cristina Yang all these years, then you'll definitely find yourself cheering Eve on as you binge Killing Eve season one — which you really should go do, like, right now.

Brand-New Mom Eva Longoria Rallies to Keep Immigrant Kids With Their Parents

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Actor Eva Longoria gave birth to her first child, Santiago Enrique Bastón, on Tuesday — and in between snuggle sessions, she's using her platform to rally against the Trump administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy. 

More: Eva Longoria Just Welcomed Her First Child

"In light of my son's birth I wanted to bring focus on the families that have been separated at the border," Longoria captioned her first publicly shared photo of herself and her baby. "Having my son next to me, I cannot imagine him being taken from my arms. Families belong together which is why we must do what we can to reunite them. That's why I am supporting @raicestexas and @aclu_nationwide to help fund legal services for separated families." She ended her post with the popular hashtag, #KeepFamiliesTogether.


The Trump administration has separated thousands of asylum-seeking families since April, when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the highly controversial zero-tolerance policy that punishes anyone who crosses the border into the United States through unofficial channels. As a result, the U.S. government has been tearing children — more than 2,300 of them since May — from their parents, placing them in what are essentially internment camps while their mothers and fathers are taken into custody for processing. 

More: Eva Longoria's Gender-Neutral PJ Baby Shower Was the Stuff of Dreams

After receiving backlash from even some of his most prominent conservative supporters, Trump reversed the policy earlier this week and announced that instead of separating families, the U.S. will now place them all in holding cells together. However, as of now, the administration doesn't have a clear plan on how to reunite the kids that were already separated, some of them infants, with their parents. It also hasn't addressed how it will deal with the major psychological impact family separation will have on these children in the future. 

Since the policy went into effect, dozens of celebrities, including Longoria, have donated their money to organizations that can provide these families with legal assistance as they fight to reunite with their loved ones. For Trump's 72nd birthday, power couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend donated $288,000 ($72,000 from each member of their family) to the ACLU. 

"Chrissy and I are outraged to see and hear the horror stories of immigrant families seeking asylum and refuge in America being ripped apart due to the inhumane policies of the Trump administration," Legend wrote in a statement posted on Instagram. "These actions are cruel, anti-family and go against everything we believe this country should represent." 

If you'd like to join celebrities like Teigen, Legend and Longoria in their fight to end family separations, here is a list of ways you can help families at the border

ABC’s New Show The Proposal Is Becoming Even More of a Problem

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The Bachelor spinoff The Proposal has barely begun, and it's already coming under scrutiny. Producers were forced to pull the second episode, featuring contestant Michael J. Friday, after allegations of sexual assault were made. The allegations did not identify Friday but did lead the show's producers and ABC to believe they may involve him, so an investigation has been launched and the episode shelved.

More: 7 Things Horribly Wrong With The Proposal

Deadline reports that, in a lengthy Facebook post, Milwaukee resident Erica Denae Meshke made detailed allegations of a sexual assault she claimed was facilitated by a contestant slated to appear on The Proposal. Meshke said that the assault happened in November 2017 in Milwaukee. 

Meshke explained that she has been dealing with trauma stemming from the assault, but she was compelled to tell her story after allegedly seeing the man's face in the lineup of male contestants appearing on The Proposal

"This post may be a direct result of that initial shock, sleep deprivation, depression, or a combination of all three — but after seeing his face again, I’ve finally had it. I’ve seen too many women taken advantage of, especially in the Milwaukee scene," she wrote, implying that this may not be the first time the man in question has been involved in a sexual assault. "I’m telling my story for me, and I’m telling my story for them. The most effective way of stopping these predators is by talking about it."

You can read Meshke's full story on Deadline as well as on her Facebook. Her core allegations are that this man (whom The Proposal producers believe is Friday) found her on Tinder. Meshke said he wanted to meet, she insisted on a public place, and he suggested the lobby/entertainment room of the Diamond Tower, an apartment complex in Milwaukee. When she arrived, Meshke claimed, he met her, introduced two older men who he said were his friends, and left. The two men allegedly offered Meshke a drink, which she said was spiked. Then, she said, they brought her upstairs to an apartment, where they continued to assault her over several hours.

Friday has not released a statement, nor has ABC released any updates on the investigation. It is also not known if ABC intends to air Friday's episode later.

More: Everything We Know About Bachelor in Paradise Season 5 So Far

This is the second time in mere weeks that a male contestant associated with an ABC show has faced serious allegations. On June 13, People magazine reported that Bachelorette contestant Lincoln Adim (who is still competing on the show) was convicted of indecent assault and battery just days before The Bachelorette premiered on May 28. News of Adim's conviction came out after filming on the season had wrapped, so ABC was unable to react during filming as the network is doing in this case.

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