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There May Be a New Way to Overcome Your Fears — & It's Just a Heartbeat Away

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Phobias are relatively common. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States, with 19.2 million Americans experiencing one or more phobias. However, a new type of therapy may enable some to overcome their fears.

According to researchers at the University of Sussex, help is just a heartbeat away.

More: Cannabis Affects Women Differently Than Men — Here's What You Need to Know

The study, which was published in the journal Ovid, explored a variation of exposure therapy, a known phobia treatment that has been around for some time. However, this new version involves exposing one to the object of their fear when their heart beats.

Dr. Hugo Critchley, chair of psychiatry at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and principal investigator of the study, explained in a statement: "[M]any of us have phobias of one kind or another — it could be spiders, or clowns or even types of food. Treatment usually involves exposing the person to their fear, but this can take a long time. [However,] our work shows that how we respond to our fears can depend on whether we see them at the time our heart beats, or between heartbeats. You could say we're within a heartbeat of helping people beat their phobias."

Traditional exposure therapy takes a great deal of time. It is a prolonged process that involves increasing exposure to the thing that scares you over a set period of time. However, this new therapy found patients' anxiety levels were reduced in a shorter period of time. 

Researchers sorted patients with arachnophobia (a fear of spiders) into three groups. The first group was exposed to images of spiders in time with their heartbeats. The second group was presented with the same pictures in between heartbeats, and a third control group saw spiders randomly in their therapy sessions. And while there was some improvement among all patients, the study revealed that the people exposed to spiders in time with their own heartbeats showed greater reductions in self-reported fear of spiders, anxiety levels and their physical responses to spiders.

More: Can Eating Organic Foods Lower Your Cancer Risk? It's Complicated

That said, while this study shows great potential, additional research is necessary. But in a world that gets more terrifying by the day, it's nice to know there are ways to make things less scary.


Matthew Broderick Made His Debut on The Conners as Jackie's Love Interest

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First of all, who doesn’t love a good Halloween episode of their favorite TV show? It may have been The Conners' first official crack at it, but the ABC reboot knocked this festive night out of the park — thanks in no small part to guest star Matthew Broderick

Reports Broderick would be making a cameo as the love interest of Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) began circulating last week. And those reports happily came to fruition this week when the Tony award-winning star made his Conners debut as Jackie's new boyfriend, Peter. You can check out a clip of him in action right here

More: Matthew Broderick Is Joining The Conners in a Romantic Role

More: Let's Talk About These New Pictures from  The Conners

But unlike Broderick, who is warm and funny and inherently likable, Peter is a bit… boring. Of course, having context about Broderick as a person and an actor makes his character’s supreme dullness all the more hilarious. 

Broderick clearly made a positive impression on the cast too. 

In an interview with ET, Emma Kenney (who plays Harris) emphasized how much fun it was working alongside Broderick for the Halloween-themed episode. “Matthew was so great, so funny. I was dying watching him. [He] and Laurie have a great dynamic,” Kenney said. 

More: 5 Ways The Conners Is Different From Roseanne

The actor also gushed about Broderick's endurance for coming to the show in an episode that required extensive time in the makeup chair for Halloween prosthetics. 

“Matthew’s costume is this philosophical mind game, I don’t know how to describe it at all,” Kenny told ET, laughing. “But it was really cool to look at and watch him get done in the makeup trailer… he was there for a long time, he was a trooper.” 

Whether Broderick will be a recurring character on The Conners remains to be seen — although it may not happen again in 2018 according to his IMDb. However, if Broderick’s Conners cameo made you wish you saw him on-screen more often, you’re in luck.

Broderick has several projects in the works, including Netflix’s high school apocalypse series Daybreak. That series, in which he is slated to play a school principal, will debut in 2019.

How to Handle Halloween When One Parent Hates It

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I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but Halloween is a very divisive, love-it-or-hate-it holiday. And my husband hates it.

I didn’t know people hated it because I’m firmly in the love-it camp. I’ve always loved Halloween. As a child, I adored dressing up and getting free candy; as an adult, I count down to the always-bonkers Halloween episode of American Horror Story and squeal with glee over every tiny dalmatian and Dorothy who rings my doorbell.

I think that’s partially because mom loved Halloween too. She always volunteered at my elementary school’s parade wearing an elaborate costume; she covered our house in fake spiderwebs and Halloween lights; and we even had a motion-detecting skeleton she named Clyde, who sat on our front steps and chattered spooky phrases at passersby for much of October. Suffice it to say, I have very happy memories of Halloween, and I want to pass them on to my children.

My husband is in the hate-it camp. He doesn’t have bad memories or dislike candy or anything. He’s just not a fan — I guess years of acting burned him out on dressing up as other people. Up until now, it hasn’t really mattered much. I enthusiastically greet our trick-or-treaters while he watches TV in the other room. But this year will be our daughter’s first Halloween, and I realized we really are a house divided. We’d never discussed our Halloween-with-kids plan. So I told him I want to dress her up and take her out (obviously not for candy — she’s 7 months old — but in general and for future Halloweens). But I also don’t want to miss staying home and giggling over the adorable, dressed-up children of other people who come to our front door. My husband doesn’t want to do either job because, you know, he does not like Halloween.

More: How Old Is Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?

We haven’t come up with a full plan of attack yet, so I turned to other couples to find out how they handle being a household with one pro- and one anti-Halloween parent. This is actually not an unusual problem, it turns out. There’s even an episode of ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat in which no-nonsense matriarch Jessica cannot tolerate her kooky husband’s adoration of Halloween. In the end, Jessica and Louis take the divide-and-conquer approach — Louis handles both parts of the holiday. But I wanted to hear from nonfictional families too.

More: What to Do if Your Child Is Scared of Halloween

Often, the parent who doesn’t like the holiday has some bad memories associated with it, so it can be a sensitive time, and while that isn’t the case in my household, it’s worth keeping in mind — I had forgotten there’s often a lot of bullying and vandalism that takes place on Oct. 31.

Paige, a mom of three, hates Halloween, while her husband loves it. (This is extra tough because Paige lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where Halloween is bigger than Christmas and the holiday is her middle child’s birthday.) “I think [my husband and I] have different memories from childhood — good for him, not great for me — but he is helping me embrace it more and more,” she says. “His positivity is helping me. I want my kids to have happy memories surrounding Halloween, so I'm trying to put my own bad feelings about the holiday aside.”

Other parents recommended setting ground rules and having clear expectations. “I didn't want my kids to miss out on something in their childhood because of my feelings about it,” said Ellen, a mom of two, who has avoided the holiday because of its sometimes-anti-Semitic history. “My compromise on this is that my kids may dress up in fun costumes — nothing gory or macabre — and my husband takes them trick-or-treating, but I will go along or do pickup duty [from trick-or-treating],” she says.

Kristie, a mom of one who also can’t stand Halloween, also has a no-scary-costumes rule, though her daughter is still a baby, so this will be her first time putting it in practice. “[My husband] knew what he was getting into — our first date was on Halloween, and I told him no Halloween activities from day one! But he loved it growing up and wants to take our daughter trick-or-treating.”

More: Halloween Movies & TV Specials Every '90s Kid Can Watch With Their Kids

After talking to other parents, I’m thinking the best approach will be to just take on the holiday as my domain for now. I’ll plan the costumes. I’ll take her out, and if our house has to be dark to trick-or-treaters while we’re on parade around the neighborhood, so be it. I’ll just start handing out candy after she goes to sleep. But I remain hopeful that eventually, my husband will at least pretend to like the holiday for one big reason: Watching your kids be happy is pretty powerful for overcoming dislike of anything. “Seeing how adorable they were and how much fun they had with it made a huge difference for me,” says Paige. “It was also so fun to show them how trick-or-treating works and to see our older son try candy for the first time — and of course love it. I actually feel like, as a parent, I get to rewrite my experience of the holiday.”

Adult Film Star Jenna Jameson Celebrates 18 Months of Breastfeeding

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Jenna Jameson is best known for her work in the adult film industry, but those famous breasts are currently performing a more essential role: 18 months and counting of breastfeeding Jameson's daughter, Batel Lu.

More: Amy Schumer Keeps Getting the Most Absurd Question About Her Pregnancy

"18 months nursing this little angel," Jameson wrote on Instagram. "I can’t describe the incredible bond full-term breastfeeding creates. It’s hard work, time consuming and sometimes frustrating... but I wouldn’t change one second."

Jameson then added the hashtags #fulltermbreastfeeding #breastfeeding #nursingmom #liquidgold #normalizebreastfeeding and #breastfeedingtoddler.

Jameson also posted a breastfeeding photo in September captioned in part, "yes, it can be hectic... yes I’m exhausted by 8 pm, no I have zero energy to go out. But I wouldn’t change a SINGLE thing! My daughter is my number one priority."

In August, Jameson shared a post in honor of National Breastfeeding Week.

And in March, Jameson urged women to #DropTheCover in a pro-breastfeeding Instagram post: "This is my calling... motherhood. My children have my heart and soul. Coming from my childhood without a mother and an absentee father has made me dig deep and define what it is to me to be a mommy... I pray I am the mother to sweet Batelli that I dream my mother would have been to me #dropthecover #normalizebreastfeeding."

More: Olivia Wilde Is Dead Set on Teaching Her Toddlers This Life Lesson ASAP

Of course, the decision to breastfeed or not is totally personal; not all women can do it, should do it or want to do it. But for women like Jameson who have had such a positive experience? Keep at it, girl — however long you and Batel Lu want.

2018 Celebrity Halloween Costumes You Have to See

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It's finally Halloween, but for some — celebrities included — the celebrating began as early as the weekend ahead of the spookiest holiday of the year. Starting Saturday, celebs started letting the good times roll, busting out their best 2018 costumes for parties, events and more. From current pop-culture icons including Game of Thrones and Black Panther characters to blasts from the past including cartoon characters, iconic celebrity looks and vintage-inspired career-wear, celebrities pulled out all the stops this year. They got super-creative and super-into their costumes, and we are so grateful they did.

More: Heidi Klum Gives Us a Sneak Peek of This Year's Halloween Costume

While we're sure to see even more great Halloween costumes in the next few days — weeknights be damned — here are some of the best we've seen so far. We're still waiting for big reveals, like Heidi Klum's 2018 costume, but in the meantime, we're pretty obsessed with what these celebrities flaunted for their spooky weekend celebrations.

Kylie Jenner

Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner took a page out of Beyoncé's book (circa 2016) by transforming herself into a vintage Barbie — complete with box. 

Beyoncé

Meanwhile, Queen Bey broke the mold once again by totally transforming herself into another iconic figure in entertainment: Toni Braxton. Or in Bey's case, "Phoni" Braxton.

Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest

Leave it to Kelly Ripa and cohost Ryan Seacrest to turn the studio into one big I Dream of Jeannie lamp. Another year of killin' the Halloween costume game in the books!

Bill & Giuliana Rancic

Bill and Giuliana Rancic rocked what could very well be this year's buzziest couples costume: Jack and Ally from A Star Is Born

Mariah Carey

When in doubt, go for the Halloween staples, right? Mariah Carey keeps it classic in a sexy nurse costume alongside Bryan Tanaka's shirtless doctor. 

Today

The Today team embraced the '80s this year for their eclectic yet coordinated costumes, and let's be real, they nailed it. Every single one of them. 

The DWTS judges

Dancing With the Stars judges Carrie-Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman all dressed up for this week's DWTS episode in the Halloween best. Inaba looks like the chicest Morticia Addams, Tonioli was our dashing Prince Charming and Goodman sported a cape to show he'd gone the Dracula route.

Khloé Kardashian

New mama Khloé Kardashian couldn't resist a bit of mother-daughter dressing up for baby True's first Halloween. And while we think these two make a pretty perfect unicorn pair, Kardashian hinted on Insta that she has more elaborate costumes yet to come.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

'90s sweetheart Sarah Michelle Gellar donned a Harley Quinn costume and struck a pose just for fans on Instagram a few days before Halloween.

Marcus Scribner, Tracee Ellis Ross & Anthony Anderson

Marcus Scribner, Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson put on their Wakandan best for Halloween and dressed as three characters from Black Panther: Erik Killmonger (Scribner), Nakia (Ross) and the man himself, King T'Challa (Anderson). 

Gabrielle Union

Gabrielle Union threw it back to the '90s and dressed as No Doubt-era Gwen Stefani, specifically in the "I'm Just a Girl" music video. Rapper Lil' Kim also showed up at Union's party, truly bringing the '90s flavor to the night.

Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner

While Sophie Turner chose to dress as an elephant for Halloween, her fiancé, Joe Jonas, dressed as — well, her. Jonas rocked a red wig and full gown for his Sansa Stark costume, which as Entertainment Weekly notes may be the closest he gets to a cameo on the series, which ends next year.

More: Halloween Movies & TV Specials Every '90s Kid Can Watch With Their Kids

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson went as the titular character from the '70s police drama, Get Christie Love! 

Sarah Hyland & Wells Adams

Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams rocked what is possibly the best couples costume ever: "Taco Belle." Hyland wore a taco costume complete with a Taco Bell hot sauce leotard underneath, while Adams dressed as the princess Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast

John Legend

John Legend put a pause on planning his Christmas special to dress as Prince Charming and take his daughter, dressed as a princess, for a spin around the proverbial ballroom.

More: Here Are the Most Searched-for Halloween Costumes of 2018

Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn paid homage to Crazy Rich Asians with her costume, dressing as the character Peik Lin (played by Awkwafina in the film).

Nikki Bella & Brie Bella

The Bella twins dressed as a much creepier set of twins for their appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon: the iconic dead little girls in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.

Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter and her boyfriend, Levi Meaden, transformed into Pamela Anderson and her ex-husband, Kid Rock, tattoos and all. "Don't worry," Winter wrote in her Instagram caption, "we're also concerned by the accuracy." She included a photo of Anderson and Kid Rock for comparison.

More: The Best Halloween Costume for Your Zodiac Sign According to an Astrologer

Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz dressed as a vampire who's just woken up, noting that nighttime is morning for these iconic and nocturnal blood-feeders.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba and Kelly Sawyer dressed as Bedrock best friends and neighbors, Betty Rubble and Wilma Flintstone, respectively. Yabba dabba doo!

Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin

Lisa Rinna wore her Edie Sedgwick best to a party with her husband, Harry Hamlin, who dressed as the artist Andy Warhol. Sedgwick was one of Warhol's "superstars," nicknamed "The Girl of the Year" in 1965 after starring in so many of his films.

George Clooney, Rande Gerber & Cindy Crawford

For the second evening of the two-night Casamigos Halloween Party, cofounders George Clooney and Rande Gerber dressed as copilots with Gerber's wife and former supermodel Cindy Crawford joining the party as their flight attendant. On the first night, Crawford and Gerber dressed as Debbie Harry and David Bowie, while their daughter, Kaia Gerber, dressed as Joan Jett.


When You’re in the Depths of Depression, Asking for Help Isn’t Always an Option

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I am depressed. Again. And if I'm being honest, I have been for quite some time.

That said, it is easy for me to write these words. It feels comfortable, natural. Like I am having a conversation with myself. But to say these words — to look another human being in the eye and admit that I am not OK — is hard.

Scratch that. It is nearly impossible. I clam up. I lock up. A lump forms in my throat.

Of course, I am not worried about being judged. The people I would confide in support me. They know about my struggles and my many mental illnesses. But unconsciously, I judge me. I feel stupid and pathetic.

In my head, I hear echoes of failure: "You are hopeless. You are helpless. You are weak. No one cares."

Plus, I don't know what to say. I am sad, but there is no reason. I feel empty and numb, but I cannot tell you what that means or why.

More: An Open Letter to Depressed or Suicidal Moms

Of course, I know these thoughts are reflections of my illness. They are the voices of my sickness and nothing more, but when you are deep in the throes of a depressive episode, reasoning and logic go out the window. 

Depression does strange things to your body and your mind. It makes you believe you are not good enough or smart enough. It makes you believe you are not strong enough, and the negativity consumes you. You feel trapped and alone.

And in those moments, those dark, desperate and desolate moments, all the promises I've made — to my therapists, to my physiatrists, to my husband and even to my friends — fall to the wayside.

I close the windows, turn off the lights and shut my bedroom door.

That said, I am not alone. In the depths of depression, many people fight these feelings. They have these exact same thoughts, and that is why so many of us struggle in silence. 

Depression isolates us. It makes us feel like we are "crazy" and completely alone.

It doesn't make any sense to actively avoid help. If I broke my arm, I would go to the ER. If I got sick, I would go to the doctor or at the very least take my medication. But mental illness isn't like that. Guilt wracks you. Fear consumes you, and you blame yourself.

Every. Single. Time.

Make no mistake. I know some people want to get help but can't due to a lack of funds, a lack of insurance or the sheer absence of doctors in their area. (No matter where you live, good mental health professionals are hard to come by.) But there are countless others who, like me, wallow in our sadness because our words simply cannot find a way out. Because depression — and mental illness — lies. And because the shame and guilt can be crippling. 

You don't want to burden others or bother others, and as such, you don't ask for help.

Does that make sense? No. Trust me. I understand how it sounds, especially in this day and age when #MentalHealthMatters has come into the spotlight. When well-meaning mantras like, "It's OK to not be OK," and "Don't be afraid to ask for help," have been repeated by many, including mental health advocates, allies and friends. But when you are drowning in darkness, when everything is hard and heavy, this is not the advice you want to hear (or need to hear) because nothing about not being OK feels OK.

There is no easy way to ask for help.

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

So, what do you do? What can you do? Well, if I'm being honest, I don't know. I was first diagnosed with depression 19 years ago, and I still don't know. But I've made progress. I have an accountability buddy, a friend and fellow mental health patient, who I text on good days and bad days — in other words, every day.

And while we can't fix each other, we do relate and commiserate. I can say, "I'm broken," or "I'm exhausted," and he gets it. He understands.

Of course, I'd be lying if I said I was (and am) always transparent. Many days, I've said, "I'm OK," when I'm not, but I'm trying, and that is something. That is a start.

And today, because of those texts, I picked up the phone and made a call to my psychiatrist — the one person who I allow to "get me" and care. 

Did I have to bottom out before I got to this moment? Yes. This week, I cried at work and while watching cartoons and on the bus. But I made the call. Somehow. And I hope you can too.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org, or text “START” to 741-741 to immediately speak to a trained counselor at Crisis Text Line.

Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest Inspired a Comedy Series With Their Friendship

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"Work spouses" have a very particular relationship, usually informed by how much time coworkers spend with one another in a professional setting. Now, these relationships are being put in the spotlight via a comedy series based on the real-life professional relationship and friendship between Live with Kelly and Ryan cohosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, which is sure to be an especially good time.

More: Ryan Seacrest Shared a Secret Video From His First Day on Live

As reported by Variety, ABC has committed to a "put pilot" for the comedy series Work Wives, which is described as an ensemble comedy that explores the dynamics of work spouses — as well as how those bizarrely intimate relationships affect everyone around them. This presumably includes actual spouses, friends and other coworkers. 

A put pilot commitment guarantees ABC will air the pilot episode even if the network does not pick up the series for a full run, though with the collective power of Ripa and Seacrest, it seems unlikely it won't be picked up for at least one season.

Michael Ian Black is on board to write and executive produce Work Wives, with Seacrest co-executive producing alongside Nina Wass and Andrea Shay under his Ryan Seacrest Productions banner. Ripa will also co-executive produce along with her husband, Mark Consuelos, and their business partner, Albert Bianchini, under their Milojo Productions banner.

More: Kelly Ripa & Ryan Seacrest Are Launching Their Own Live Cooking Competition

There's no word yet on who will star in Work Wives or when the pilot will air. Neither Seacrest nor Ripa has commented on the put pilot commitment from ABC at time of writing, likely because the news dropped in the middle of their Halloween 2018 shenanigans on Live. However, the concept behind Work Wives is so relatable we can't wait to see how the project develops.

November Movies We're Most Excited For

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November is just around the corner, and that means lots of exciting movies are coming to a theater near you. While you may be spoiled by spending your Saturday nights lounging on the sofa and bingeing your Netflix queue, we’re certain our list of movies will motivate you to get out of the house to see some of these fantastic films at the old-fashioned cinema.

Some November films are award contenders like Bohemian Rhapsody starring Rami Malek, about the '70s glam-rock band Queen. Boy Erased starring Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as parents who send their son to gay-conversion therapy will certainly get some Oscar nominations. Other November movies are just about having fun while you watch, like Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald starring Eddie Redmayne, and a ballet fantasy come to life in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.

Whatever genre excites you, check out our picks for the best films to catch at the theater this November.

More: What's Coming to Netflix in November

Bohemian Rhapsody

Rami Malek stars as Freddie Mercury, a gutsy singer who rises to fame as the frontman of Queen in the 1970s and '80s. We’re excited for this movie because we love Malek on Mr. Robot and are curious to see him as a leading man — especially one as dynamic as Mercury. We also think this movie is going to be great because of Queen's legendary operatic rock songs. Hands down, this is going to be one of the best movie musicals of 2018, and you can finally see it starting Nov. 2.

Boy Erased

Based on a true story, Boy Erased features Lucas Hedges playing a college student whose ultra-religious family can’t accept that he is gay. To “fix” him, his parents (played by Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman) send him to gay-conversion therapy with serious consequences. The thing about this movie we're most looking forward to are the powerful, emotional performances, particularly from Kidman, whose heart breaks for her distressed son. See the drama unfold on Nov. 2.

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

In theaters Nov. 2, this film takes the Nutcracker story we all know and love and opens it up to an even more magical, colorful and mysterious world where miracles come true. We’re thrilled to see Keira Knightley totally transformed as the Sugar Plum Fairy in a pink wig and character voice. It’s exciting to see an actor we love so much take risks and be part of a fantastical world. We’re also curious to see Mackenzie Foy (Twilight) as ingenue Clara in her first starring role as an adult.

Dr. Seuss' The Grinch

Arriving Nov. 9, this classic Christmas story gets an animated reboot for a new generation with an all-star cast. What could be more exciting than Benedict Cumberbatch as the green sourpuss trying to spoil the holidays? Pharrell Williams narrates the story, and with music from Danny Elfman, this may be one of the most fun family movies of the season.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

Claire Foy plays Lisbeth Salander, the literary world's most icy heroine in the first film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's book The Girl in the Spider's Web (in theaters Nov. 9). This mystery-thriller cuts to the core, especially when the fate of abusive men, justice for women and nuclear codes are at stake. We can't wait to see how Foy interprets the role.

The New Romantic

In theaters Nov. 9, The New Romantic follows a frustrated college senior and column writer (played by Jessica Barden), who opts out of searching for romantic love when she begins dating a wealthy older man to experience life as a sugar baby. We think this movie looks super-fresh because it's a comedic look at a taboo relationship.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) again takes us into his exciting wizarding world where all may not be as it seems. This time, he must conspire with Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to prevent evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) from allowing pure-blood wizards to overpower the wizarding world and Muggle world alike, threatening all that Newt holds dear. Find out how the Fantastic Beasts saga continues on Nov. 16.

Widows

Arriving Nov. 16 and cowritten by Gone Girl's Gillian Flynn, this taught, blistering modern-day thriller is the story of four women who are left in huge financial debt after their criminal husbands are killed. The women decide to pick up where their husbands left off and take over a dangerous heist. Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Erivo star. This movie looks great because it has women stepping into roles that are traditionally played by men.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and bestie Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) decide to escape the video game world to explore something new: the internet. But when they come across the trendy BuzzzTube video site that entrances Vanellope, can their friendship survive? We can't wait to see this movie with our kids when it arrives on Nov. 21 because the franchise does such a good job entertaining children and adults.

Green Book

World-class pianist Dr. Don Shirley is about to embark on a concert tour that will take him into the Deep South. The only problem is that Shirley is black and will no doubt face racism or worse. When he hires driver and bodyguard Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a hard-edged Italian from the Bronx, they must rely on the Green Book to guide them to Black-friendly establishments. Based on a true story, the movie is already getting Oscar buzz and is slated to arrive Nov. 21.

Robin Hood

This latest version of the centuries-old folktale (arriving Nov. 21) has Robin Hood (Taron Egerton), a former soldier and rebel, partnering with his Moorish commander (Jamie Foxx) to lead a revolt against the unscrupulous English crown. What's not to love about robbing the rich and giving to the poor?

The Favourite

It's the 1700s, and Britain is at war with the French. While Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) should be focusing on the war, her mental stability is deteriorating. Luckily, she has Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) to run the country for her — but when a new servant (Emma Stone) shows up, a power struggle ensues as jealousy and bad behavior run rampant. This period comedy looks so caustic and hilarious, we're counting the days until its release. Don't miss this quirky period piece when it arrives in theaters on Nov. 23.

More: These Are the Hallmark Holiday Movies We're Excited to Watch

Anna and the Apocalypse

 When a zombie apocalypse threatens a small town on Christmas Eve, Anna (Ella Hunt) leads a charge against the undead, slashing and singing her way to safety. Yes, this is a zombie musical but don't think it's all fun and tap dancing for Anna, who finds herself in a whole lot of real danger as she tries to protect her friends, family and herself. This movie looks like the best zombie mashup flick since Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, and it's out in theaters on Nov. 30.


What You Need to Know About Pregnancy & Taxes

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Being pregnant and having a baby are expensive. A 2013 report from Truven found that the average cost for a pregnancy and vaginal birth clocked in at approximately $30,000, while a pregnancy and a C-section cost an unbelievable $50,000. While insurance covered much of the cost, The New York Times points out that new parents with insurance were left with a bill of $3,400. That number significantly increased for those without health insurance plans. 

Everyone could use some help managing these astronomical costs, especially since, you know, raising a kid is even more expensive than birthing one. And while we're sure you'd rather be shopping for adorable baby shoes, it's important to take the time to understand ways you can conserve some of your hard-earned cash, starting with everyone's favorite: taxes. 

This year, you might notice things are a little different thanks to the passage of the 2018 GOP tax bill. For many (like this writer) the bill can be hard to comprehend, and if you have kids and/or are pregnant, you probably don't have the time or energy to sort through it. Don't worry. We've got you covered with our easy-to-comprehend breakdown of ways pregnant people can use the tax bill to their advantage come April. 

More: How to Cope With Pregnancy Aches & Pains

Choosing a standard deduction vs. an itemized deduction

Ivan Philip Ivarson of Ivan Philip Ivarson Tax & Accounting Services explains taxpayers can deduct some qualifying medical expenses under Schedule A by itemizing their deductions rather than choosing the standard deduction. To do so, he says these expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income — which the IRS defines as "gross income minus adjustments to income" — for the 2018 tax year. (This, unfortunately, will shoot up to 10 percent for the 2019 tax year.) 

Unless you plan to hire a tax expert, you're going to have to do some math. "Let's say someone has $100,000 worth of income," Vincenzo Villamena, American CPA and managing partner of Online Taxman, explains. "If the expenses are over $7,500, then that's when you can start thinking about deductions."

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not so fast. According to Ivarson, choosing to itemize deductions doesn't make the most sense for everyone, as the itemized deductions would need to exceed the standard deductions (which includes things like mortgage interests and state taxes).  

"This means that a single person would have to have more than $12,000 in itemized deductions, a head of household $18,000 and a married couple $24,000," he says. "On top of that, the first 7.5 percent of your gross income is deducted from medical expenses before the remaining amount can be counted toward itemizing your tax return. When you take all this into account, you need people with large medical bills and other deductions to be able to come up with more than their standard deduction. For most people, it makes just taking the standard deduction a better deal." 

Still, it's nice to know that itemized deductions are an option, especially for those with above-average medical costs. 

So, what can you include as a qualifying medical expense? According to Villamena, things like preventative care and surgeries are fair game. 

More: 6 Maternity Leave Myths People Need to Stop Spreading

Doctor's visits

Going to the doctor isn't always the most enjoyable activity, but for many pregnant women, it's necessary. According to Villamena, the amount you pay out of pocket at the doctor's office (your co-pay or anything not covered by insurance) is deductible as well as travel expenses getting you to and from your appointment. 

But according to Thomas J. Williams, cofounder of Deducting the Right Way, deductible doctor's visits aren’t just limited to women who are currently pregnant. He says women can also deduct fertility enhancement treatments, such as in vitro fertilization treatments and doctor-prescribed smoking cessation programs.

Of course, you'll have to keep all of your receipts if you plan to properly document and itemize your deductions. 

Tests

Unfortunately for your wallets (and for those who, like me, are squeamish), testing is a vital part of most pregnancies. According to Stanford Children's Health, expectant mothers will have to undergo routine tests, such as blood work and glucose-tolerance testing. If deemed necessary, some doctors will run additional tests, such as hCG testing or amniocentesis, to test for abnormalities. Any test ordered by a doctor is deductible. 

More: Pregnant in 2018? Here's What You Need to Know

Ultrasounds

According to the American Pregnancy Association, doctors can order ultrasounds during any pregnancy stage for a variety of reasons, such as monitoring fetal growth, identifying the location of the placenta, and scanning for abnormalities. All doctor-ordered ultrasounds are deductible as a medical expense. 

Around the 18- to 20-week mark, medical professionals may be able to determine the sex of the baby. If this happens during a customary ultrasound, great! If not, you may be tempted to schedule a private ultrasound or sonogram to find out. Unfortunately, any private service, including those popular 4-D ultrasounds, aren't deemed medically necessary and are, therefore, not deductible. 

Maternity clothes

As your pregnancy progresses, you'll likely need a few different (i.e., bigger) clothing items. But even though maternity clothes are often a pretty necessary part of being pregnant, Villamena says they are specifically excluded as a deduction by the IRS. *Sigh*

Extra help

What pregnant person wouldn't want a little extra help around the house? While the idea of hiring a cleaner may be tempting, the IRS considers such services personal expenses and deems them ineligible for a tax deduction — yes, even if your doctor recommends them. The same, sadly, goes for childcare. 

However, if your doctor orders in-home nursing care, you can absolutely deduct those expenses. 

Childbirth classes & complementary health care

Good news for Lamaze lovers — Villamena says you can deduct childbirth classes as they count for preparing-for-delivery expenses. But check with your insurance before you file your taxes. Some companies may reimburse you for the classes if you attend a certain number. 

If you prefer to relax in other ways, say with a prenatal massage, you're also in luck. Villamena says that doctor-ordered complementary health services are deductible. 

More: Do Pregnancy "Rules" Really Matter?

Supplies

As you've probably gathered by now, you're going to need a lot of supplies as a parent, from breast pumps to boatloads of diapers. Lamentably, many baby-related items (infant formula, baby food, diapers and diaper creams) are considered personal supplies, and are, therefore, ineligible for tax deductions. 

But all hope isn't lost. Williams says that any supplies for lactation (breast pumps, bottles and pads) are eligible for tax deductions since they are still considered medical expenses. However, those with flexible spending accounts may find it easier to pay for these items using the pretax dollars stored in their accounts. 

Labor & postpartum costs 

All labor-related costs (ambulance rides, nursing care, C-sections and hospital stays) are deductible medical expenses. Like always, you can only include the out-of-pocket costs, not those covered by your insurance. 

According to Williams, new moms "can also claim a tax deduction for therapy that is part of a medical treatment plan, a weight-loss program for a physician-diagnosed condition and a sterilization procedure." Just make sure to get all these approved by your doctor and keep all your receipts. 

And at the end of the whole pregnancy and birth process, you get a little bundle of joy... and a child tax exemption!

For a full list of medical expenses, visit the IRS website

Pin it! Tax tips for pregnancy

Starbucks' New Holiday Drinks Are Here, & They're Giving Away Free Reusable Cups

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Halloween may only be a few hours behind us, but it seems many are already looking forward to the next set of holidays — and Starbucks is no exception. According to a press release, the coffee chain will be decked out for the winter season starting Nov. 2. But it isn't just red aprons and decor. Starbucks will be offering a slew of holiday beverages... and a free reusable cup. 

Yes, free!

More: The 2018 Starbucks Holiday Cups Are Here — & We Want Them All

But before we get into the cup, let's talk about the drinks.

This year, Starbucks will be offering six seasonal specialties: a peppermint mocha latte, a toasted white chocolate mocha, a caramel brûlée latte, a chestnut praline latte, an eggnog latte and (my personal favorite) a gingerbread latte. All the beverages will be available hot, iced or as a Frappuccino.

The chain's infamous Christmas Blend will also be making a return.

Of course, none of these beverages are new, but according to the press release, there is a good reason. The inspiration for Starbucks’ 2018 treats comes from “the spirit of yesteryear."

“We started this season by looking to the past,” Kristy Cameron from the Starbucks Creative Studio said. "Looking back at our heritage, we found something lovely in our own story, with beautiful coffee and flavors that come together to make the season magical.” 

As for the cups, the reusable red containers will be available while supplies last. All you have to do to obtain one is order a holiday beverage on or after Nov. 2. And bonus: Customers who bring their holiday cup to participating Starbucks locations after 2 p.m. now through Jan. 7 will get $0.50 off their handcrafted grande beverage — which is a real win-win.

More: Starbucks Has Another New Drink, & This One Sounds Sweet & Satisfying

So, while we're not quite sure we are ready for carols and cold weather, Starbucks' announcement is the sort of holiday cheer we can definitely get behind.

Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Dressed as Our Fave British Royals for Halloween

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This year's Halloween festivities brought out some of the best and most creative celebrity costumes we've seen yet. One celebrity couple even decided to take their celeb royalty title to a whole new level — by dressing as literal monarchs. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen paid tribute to Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II, respectively, in some super-accurate ensembles.

More: 2018 Celebrity Halloween Costumes You Have to See

As reported by Entertainment Tonight, this power couple dressed as the reigning queen of England and her husband and prince consort — though they apparently did it just for the 'Gram. Although Teigen and Legend were apparently supposed to attend Kendall Jenner's birthday party, they admitted they were too tired to go out.

Legend documented their full costumes on his Instagram, while Teigen shared videos of them in costume and affecting British accents on her Instagram Story. In one, Legend says, "Hello. Happy Halloween to our loyal subjects," as Teigen slowly walks into the frame.

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen dress as British monarchs for Halloween

“We were going to go somewhere, but we’re so tired, so we’re at home,” Teigen said while she lounged on the couch in her costume in another video.

“We worked all day,” Legend added. “We just did it for the ‘Gram.”

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend dress as British monarchs for Halloween

The pair also showed off Legend's wig, with Teigen laughing as she focused the camera on his gray hair. Legend quipped, "Is it even accurate?" as he leaned into Teigen on the couch. Then she showed off her sensible low black heels, which are what the queen typically wears.

John Legend dresses as Prince Philip for Halloween

While Legend rocks a true-to-life military uniform in addition to his gray wig, Teigen has a curly white wig and a flowery hat to match her coat, which is in one of the queen's trademark bright colors, blue. She's even carrying a purse similar to the queen's Launer London purse, which is so famous that it was recently included in a new portrait of her commissioned for the Royal Air Force Club.

More: Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Just Announced a "Legendary" Christmas Special

We're loving how much fun these two clearly had with these costumes — and we don't blame them for wanting to stay in.

What Single Women Who Froze Their Eggs Wish Fertility Clinics Had Told Them

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If you're a single woman in your 20s, 30s or 40s, chances are someone has asked you about whether you'd consider freezing your eggs. Given the significant advances in egg-freezing technology over the past few years — as well as the availability of slightly more affordable options — it's no surprise that business (because that's what it is) is booming. 

Now, a new study has provided insight into exactly why single women opt to freeze their eggs — and the results, though not surprising, point to the pervasive societal mindset we are considered failures if we don't become a mother. It also reveals what the women wish the fertility clinics had disclosed before they decided to freeze their eggs.

The research, published in the journal Human Fertility, examined the increasingly popular trend of "social" egg freezing — meaning to do so for nonmedical reasons. (An example of egg freezing for medical reasons would be fertility preservation in cancer patients). As it turns out, most of the women in the study reported they wanted to avoid "panic parenting" — a term used to describe entering into an unwise and/or unwanted relationship with a partner they're not enthusiastic about in order to have a genetically related child. In other words, my personal nightmare. 

More: Fertility Preservation Allowed This Woman to Have a Baby Post-Cancer

What women wish clinics had told them

The other major takeaway from the study is that the women who froze their eggs wish the fertility clinics had been more transparent about their chances of success — in this case, achieving pregnancy — using their frozen eggs. In fact, nearly all the women — whose average age at the time of freezing was 37 — said that the clinics they approached were unable to provide an estimate of the likelihood of a future live birth with their frozen eggs. On top of that, they report that the doctors didn't adequately discuss post-freezing processes and outcomes or provide details about success rates based on age or the particular clinic. 

This is problematic for several reasons. The first is that regardless of the medical or fertility procedure, all patients — in this case, the women freezing their eggs — have the right of informed consent. That means that before undergoing any sort of treatment or procedure, their doctors must fully inform them of all the potential risks and benefits — which include success rates. 

It's also important to remember that egg freezing is ultimately a business. Yes, egg-freezing facilities are providing a service and expanding reproductive options for some individuals and families, but it's also about making money. If clinics don't inform customers about the success rates of their procedures based on their pregnancy and live birth rates and the person's age, they are not fully disclosing all the aspects of the product they're selling. What's also troubling is that they're offering false hope.

"Whilst the number of women freezing their eggs remains small, many more are now considering this option as a way of extending the window of time they have to pursue genetic motherhood," Dr. Kylie Baldwin of the Centre for Reproduction Research at De Montfort University and coauthor of the study said in a statement emailed to SheKnows. "Clinics providing this technology have a responsibility to support informed decision-making by providing women who enquire about egg freezing with detailed information about the likelihood of achieving a live birth specific to their age at freezing."

Motherhood is not inevitable for all women

A lot of women genuinely want to be mothers — and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there are also a lot of women who definitely don't want to be mothers — and that's completely normal too. The problem is the idea that we're conditioned to believe motherhood is inevitable for all women. It's part of our societal definition of success for women, also falling under the umbrella of "having it all" — meaning a satisfying career, healthy relationship, comfortable house, interesting hobbies and, of course, children. 

More: Have Questions About Egg Freezing? You're Not Alone

Again, a lot of women genuinely want that life — and that is not problematic. What is problematic is making women who don't have children (for a variety of reasons) feel as though they're selfish or not fully complete or missing out on "the greatest joy in life." This idea — that without having children, we are a failure — is what drives some people to freeze their eggs. (Again #NotAllEggFreezers.)

Egg-freezing facilities know this, which is why it's even more important they disclose all necessary information on success rates. 

Overall, having additional reproductive options is a step in the right direction. The more opportunities women have to take control of their fertility, the better. But as we move forward, it's absolutely crucial that women who opt to freeze their eggs do so fully informed — both in terms of receiving accurate information from the clinic and knowing that not having children is a perfectly acceptable choice too.

Here's Our First Look at Colton Underwood as The Bachelor

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When ABC announced Bachelor Nation alumni Colton Underwood would be the star of The Bachelor season 23, fan reactions to the news were lukewarm at best. However, the first teaser trailer says Underwood is a "treat," with him twirling around in falling rose petals and even tossing candy into the air from a Halloween bucket.

More: How Bachelor Nation Reacted to the Next Bachelor

On Halloween 2018, ABC shared this first glimpse of Underwood as the Bachelor, playing on the tradition of trick-or-treat and even calling the show "The Boo-chelor." This prompted several people in the show's Instagram comments to use their own Halloween-themed language to express their anger at Underwood's selection, per Us Weekly.

"Scariest thing I’ve seen all day," wrote one user, who also used a thumbs-down emoji. 

Another added, "wt-actual-f is this? 1) The BOOchelor? Nope. 2) his dancing is embarrassing." 

Some fans even called for a boycott of the upcoming season because they're so displeased with the choice.

However, plenty of others commented on how good Underwood looks in the promo. One person even reflected on his controversial history with Bachelor Nation. "I like Colton..." they wrote. "I hope he is able to find happiness... we all deserve that. Tia was not for him. TV pushed them together."

Underwood first appeared as a contestant on Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette, on which he made it to "fourth place" before he was sent home. Then Kufrin's friend, Tia Booth, another Bachelor contestant, admitted she had feelings for Underwood (the two met when he was cast for Kufrin's season).

Both Underwood and Booth starred in the latest season of Bachelor In Paradise, on which their on-again, off-again relationship became a central storyline. However, Underwood ultimately couldn't commit, so he left Paradise. According to Us, he was tapped to be the next Bachelor one day later.

More: Ashley Iaconetti Reveals She'll Recite Her Own Vows, & Yes, There Will Be Tears

Now that filming for The Bachelor season 23 is well underway and fans are getting more glimpses of Underwood playing his part, the jury is out on whether or not he'll win their hearts in the end. The Bachelor returns to ABC in January 2019.

A New Vaccine May Give Those With Celiac Disease a Way to Eat Gluten

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Celiac disease is relatively common. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, the autoimmune disorder affects 1 in 100 people worldwide. The good news is, the condition is relatively manageable; those living with celiac are simply advised to avoid gluten. However, those with the disease may soon have an alternative treatment: a new vaccine is currently undergoing testing, and if approved, it would enable those with celiac to eat the wheat protein.

More: There May Soon Be a Cure for Celiac Disease

The vaccine, called Nexvax2, was created by ImmusanT — a company that develops therapeutic vaccines for those living with autoimmune diseases, like celiac disease. But how does Nexvax2 work? According to ImmusanT, the vaccine stops the body from having an inflammatory response when one consumes gluten. 

Nexvax2 was first tested in 2011 and was deemed "safe and tolerable at therapeutically-relevant dose levels," according to the company that makes it. Now, Nexvax2 will be undergoing phase-two testing, which "evaluates the safety and efficacy of Nexvax2 as a method to protect patients against the effects of gluten exposure."

Dr. Jason Tye-Din, the head of celiac research and gastroenterologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, told the Sydney Morning Herald, "[T]he vaccine is designed to target the 90 per cent of celiac disease patients with the HLA-DQ2 genetic form of disease. A successful therapy that can restore normal gluten tolerance would revolutionize coeliac disease management."

That said, Nexvax2 will not immediately solve one's gluten intolerance; rather, the vaccine will slowly build immunity to the proteins in gluten — thus ending the negative side effects.

More: The Most Common Celiac Disease Symptoms Are Way Too Easy to Miss

There is no timeline for when this vaccine may be available; however, phase two of the trials will follow patients for no less than 12 consecutive months.

The Best Queen Songs That Aren't 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

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This week, Bohemian Rhapsody opens in theaters, telling us the story of Queen's rise to fame while focusing on the life and times of lead singer and LGBTQ rock icon Freddie Mercury. 

While the reviews of the biopic are mixed (with complaints revolving around the fact that the movie skims over Mercury's interior life as a gay man in the '70s and '80s), we can basically all agree Queen is one of the best bands in history, with a list of amazing hit singles longer than Mercury's spandex-covered arm — "We are the Champions," "Under Pressure," "We Will Rock You," "Another One Bites the Dust," "Killer Queen," "Somebody to Love," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"... and on and on and on. 

But what about their other songs, the ones we don't know every last word of like we do "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Let's check out some of Queen's deep cuts and discover some new ballads and anthems that aren't already etched into our brains. 

More: November Movies We're Most Excited For

"The Prophet's Song"

Released in 1975 as part of Queen's fourth album, A Night at the Opera, "The Prophet's Song" was written by the band's guitarist, Brian May and, at over eight minutes long, the band's longest song with lyrics. A fan favorite, this song is just as fun and epic as "Bohemian Rhapsody," with a mystical feel and a progressive-rock sound. But since it shared an album side with the famous single, it didn't get as much credit as it deserved. 

"The Millionaire Waltz"

It's little wonder that this forgotten Queen song didn't hit the charts. It had to share album space with "Tie Your Mother Down" and "Somebody to Love," all off their 1976 effort, A Day at the Races. Still, it's a multi-key, multimeter song (like "Rhapsody") written by Mercury that also highlights John Deacon's bass playing. 

"Keep Yourself Alive"

More: Where Did Lady Gaga Get Her Stage Name?

This is the first single off the first album by Queen. Released in 1973, this track did get a little radio play and squeezed itself onto the band's greatest hits album — but most people still aren't familiar with it, and you won't hear it on the radio very often. Penned by May, this high-energy, wailing song is a precursor to future hits like "We Will Rock You." 

"You and I"

This ballad was written by Deacon and featured his acoustic guitar paired with Mercury's strong vocals and piano. This song was one of a very few that were never played live by the band, and it served as a quiet, thoughtful contrast to another song on A Day at the Races, "Tie Your Mother Down." 

"It's Late"

Written in the form of a three-act play, "It's Late" is another song written by May, this time for the band's 1977 album, News of the World. The song, which is about the end of a dramatic relationship, was actually released as a single in 1978 but only barely peaked on the Billboard's top 100 before being lost to time. It was certainly overshadowed by two other smash hits on the same album, "We Are the Champions" and We Will Rock You." 

"Dragon Attack"

Released in 1980, "Dragon Attack" was one of the band's favorite songs to play live as well as a favorite of mega-fans. Deacon once said it was his favorite Queen song ever, and we can see why. We love its epic nature, its soaring fun and its groovy, funky sound that dominated the band's early- to mid-80s career. Maybe it would have had a bigger chance for fame if it didn't appear on the band's 1980 effort The Game along with "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." 

More: All the Upcoming Biopics We're Excited For 

"Scandal" 

This late-era Queen song is a powerful take on the band's last days with Mercury. Written by May, it's about the guitarist's divorce (and affair) in the late '80s as well as the rumors that were swirling about Mercury as his health deteriorated after his AIDS diagnosis. Still, the band was able to take everything in stride and turn their grief into what many true fans consider one of their best tracks of all time.  

"The Night Comes Down"

Also written by May, this song was written just after the formation of the band and appears on its debut album, which hit stores in 1970. It signaled so much to come with its stellar songwriting, Mercury's operatic singing and tons of rocking. No, it's not as polished as some of the band's very best hits, but you can see the genius that is coming. 

More: What's Coming to Netflix in November

"The March of the Black Queen"

May considered this song the song that allowed "Bohemian Rhapsody" to be written. Extremely complex musically and a favorite among die-hard Queen fans, it was never once played live in its entirety. Written by Mercury himself, it is everything he and the band stood for: fun, flamboyant, technical and dramatic. 


This Is Us Actor Michael Angarano Teases Nicky's Death, & We're Not OK

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We hope you're prepared for more incoming tragedy on This Is Us, because if you thought the death of Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) was heartbreaking, you haven't seen anything yet. At least that's what newcomer Michael Angarano says about his character's death and the lead-up to it, all of which apparently has a huge impact on how Jack acts as a parent toward the Big Three.

More: This Is Us Honors Its "Hometown" of Pittsburgh Following Synagogue Tragedy

"You'll definitely understand why Jack is the way he is and the way especially that he speaks about his brother, Nicky," Angarano told Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday. "Everything will become really clear really soon."

In the currently-airing season three, we're getting insight into Jack's time in Vietnam with his little brother, Nicky, who is Angarano's character. He hinted to ET that while Jack's death — an unexpected heart attack resulting from complications suffered during a house fire — was sad, the circumstances behind Nicky's death during the Vietnam war were even direr.

"It's pretty tragic," Angarano said. He added, "All of it is pretty sad."

Audiences first met Nicky during the Oct. 16 "Vietnam" episode of This Is Us. After it aired, Angarano told ET, “There’s one thing that you can really see in this episode that really weighs on Nicky: that he is Jack’s brother. He feels the weight of being the younger brother, always being protected, always being looked out for. It’s Jack’s plan. There’s that classic sibling dynamic in which the younger brother’s like, 'Let me go. I can do this. I can be my own person.'"

However, he added, "It’s also that co-dependent relationship that he has because he needs it. There’s a part of him that doesn’t know if he can stand on his own without his brother’s help." 

More: This Is Us Season 3 Theories About the Pearsons & Beyond, Based on What We’ve Seen

If This Is Us is good at anything, it's tugging at fans' heartstrings — so whatever happened to Nicky, and however Jack was involved, we're sure it's going to be utterly devastating.

KUWTK Teases Khloé's Labor Amid More Drama With Tristan Thompson

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Khloé Kardashian is reliving some of the hardest and happiest moments of her life, as Keeping Up with the Kardashians dives into the cheating scandal that rocked her relationship with Tristan Thompson and her delivery of daughter True in an upcoming episode. 

In a recently released preview, Kim Kardashian West and Kris Jenner scrambled to get to get to Cleveland as Kardashian went into labor earlier than everyone expected. 

More: Khloé Kardashian Shamed for Leaving Baby True With... True's Dad?

"I gotta go," Jenner told Kardashian West and Kourtney Kardashian in the clip. "I just moved the plane up, and I think she's in labor... The only thing that frightens me is that she's going to have this baby before I get there. And then she's giving birth alone."  

Though Kardashian West initially planned to stay behind for her 20-year high school reunion, she ditched the idea and took off with her mom. "You know, when there's something crazy that goes on in our family, we just always drop everything that we're doing and go be supportive to them," she said. "I obviously wanted to go to my reunion, and I wanted to make both work, but since my reunion is in two days, it's like, game over — it doesn't matter. I'm going to go to Cleveland and be there for her." 

We have a feeling everyone from high school already knows every minute detail from Kardashian West's life over the past two decades anyway. 

The episode, which airs on Sunday, Nov. 4, is going to be an emotional one for Khloé Kardashian. Earlier this week, the reality star revealed the show will finally air her initial reactions to rumors that her boyfriend, Tristan Thompson, cheated on her while she was pregnant. 

More: Kris Jenner Praises Khloé Kardashian

"I signed up for the show the [sic] for the good and the bad, right? The bad is very hard to relive but it's life," she shared with her 26.2 million Twitter followers. 

Sources told Us Weekly yesterday Thompson isn't thrilled about the upcoming episode either. "Tristan isn't happy that all of the cheating is going to play ou ton [sic] Keeping Up With The Kardashians after the scandal has already made his life miserable," the source said. That's pretty rich coming from the guy who allegedly cheated on his very pregnant girlfriend, but OK. 

Despite the source's additional claims the couple "isn't on solid ground," the two spent Halloween together in Cleveland with their daughter, who dressed as an adorable flamingo, which Thompson documented on his Instagram.

Khloé Kardashian, Tristan Thompson with baby True, who's dressed as a flamingo  

No matter what happens in their relationship, it seems the most important thing to both parents is to keep their daughter happy and healthy. And this Halloween, that's quite a treat.

Etsy Reveals New Holiday Shopping Data, & It's Honestly Heartwarming

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People can be cynical about the holidays, especially in a world where Thanksgiving itself has become a jumping-off platform to Black Friday and a month of frantic consumerism. But according to a new study from Etsy, things aren't that bad.

Etsy conducted a survey of holiday shopping habits, and one particular statistic tugged our heartstrings: 85.9 percent of respondents said they prefer giving gifts to receiving them.

More: Fail of the Week: Holiday Shopping Blunders That Are Truly Priceless

Their reasoning? Fifty-nine percent of people polled said they "enjoy making other people happy," Fifteen percent said, "It shows love," and 11 percent said, "It allows me to be creative." And though many of us feign embarrassment when someone rips into our present to them right then and there, it turns out that 57 percent of us actually like it when someone opens their gift in front of us.

If you're already feeling anxious about getting your holiday shopping done, don't worry. Only 25 percent of us do holiday shopping throughout the year, with most people picking up presents one to two months before the holidays. Of course, there are the procrastinators — 12 percent buy all their presents two weeks or less before the holidays (and 2 percent don't buy presents at all).

More: 9 People You Should Add to Your Christmas List This Year

Now that Halloween is over and the stores are already decorated with Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's paraphernalia, we can all look forward to gift-giving season. And yes, we have to admit — as much as we love showering others with presents, there's a part of us that's just as excited to receive some goodies ourselves. Hey, we're only human!

The Last Parts Unknown Episode Anthony Bourdain Was Filming Before He Died Won't Air

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When the final season of CNN's Parts Unknown premiered on Sept. 23, the episode featured late chef and writer Anthony Bourdain's last recorded narration for the series. After Bourdain's death by suicide in June, CNN opted to craft a final season from the footage that had already been shot, using narration by Bourdain's friends and colleagues to wrap up his work and pay tribute to his memory.

More: As a Suicide Survivor, Anthony Bourdain's Final Season of Parts Unknown Means So Much to Me

CNN has now announced, per People, that it won't air the episode Bourdain was filming in France with his friend and fellow chef Éric Ripert when he died. The fifth and final episode of Parts Unknown will air on Sunday, Nov. 11, and take place in the Lower East Side. 

“After Anthony Bourdain’s tragic passing on June 8, it was determined by CNN and the series’ production company Zero Point Zero, that we would honor the work with a final season,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. “From the completed footage, the producers were able to create five location episodes (including Kenya, Asturias, Indonesia, and Far West Texas) plus two specials. Alsace was not included.”

According to People, the penultimate episode of Parts Unknown was a behind-the-scenes special titled Under the Tarp, which aired on Oct. 28. In addition to behind-the-scenes clips, the special also featured stories and memories shared by the show's crew, many of whom counted Bourdain as a close friend after working with him for years.

Parts Unknown director and cinematographer Morgan Fallon told People he thought Bourdain “would’ve loved the special. I think he would’ve felt that it was very true to who we all were.” 

He added, “I want more than anything for people to understand that Tony had the ability to be very playful and fun and that what you’re seeing is a family joking and being self-referential and self-deprecating. It’s also very heartfelt for me to watch it because that’s how I feel about our experience. We had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs and, you know, we all really loved each other.”

Now that Bourdain's story is in the hands of his loved ones, it's bittersweet to see these final episodes of his show. In the Sept. 23 episode of Parts Unknown, Bourdain said in his narration, “Who gets to tell the stories? This is a question asked often. The answer in this case, for better or for worse, is I do — at least this time. I do my best. I look. I listen. But in the end, I know it’s my story, not Kamau’s, not Kenya’s or Kenyans’. Those stories are yet to be heard.”

More: Anthony Bourdain's Life & Legacy Will Be Honored in a New Documentary

Per previous releases from CNN, the network is also producing a documentary about Bourdain's life and career, slated for release sometime in 2019. Saying goodbye is hard, especially to someone whose influence can still be felt far and wide across the culinary world — but the crew on Parts Unknown is clearly doing their best, and we appreciate every effort.

The New Service Delivering Women's Health Products & Prescriptions to Your Door

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Despite all of the progress we have made in America, health care is still lacking. In fact, according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, 12.2 percent of Americans were uninsured at the end of 2017 and millions more were underinsured. But one company is hoping to level the playing field: Hers, a new women’s care brand, is hoping to supports women's health in an easy, affordable and effective way.

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Hers comes from the developers of Hims, a telemedicine start-up that promotes men's health. And while Hims is known for their wide array of skin, hair and penile products, Hers will offer birth control, a medication to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder and several prescription and over-the-counter acne and hair-loss products. But the best part? All these medications can be ordered from and sent directly to your home.

Woman putting cream on her face.

"Hers provides a level of care that's unlike anything else on the market," Hilary Coles, Hers brand lead, tells SheKnows. "We've built a judgment-free, efficient diagnosis process that respects women's time and resources while giving access to the most reliable, high-quality products. Hers removes barriers typically associated with medical-grade care — in-person doctor appointments, long pharmacy lines, expensive co-pays — because we believe that women should be able to make worry-free, informed choices around their well-being.”

Hers will accomplish this by giving women access to a network of over 120 doctors and products that are up to 80 percent off traditional retail cost, building a more efficient and informed process.

Vitamins and shampoo.

There are numerous reasons people are turning to online sales and telemedicine companies for their health care needs, including that many live in areas where they cannot access quality health care or cannot afford it. And women in particular often struggle to get an accurate diagnosis, as they often face skepticism and judgment when they approach medical professionals.

 More: 6 Misconceptions About Endometriosis

As such, Hers has the potential to be a real game-changer for women across the country.

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