In the latest soul-baring episode of Jada Pinkett Smith's popular Facebook series, Red Table Talk, she ended a feud with fellow actor Leah Remini. The women had a dramatic falling out in the past over Remini’s comments about Pinkett Smith’s alleged involvement in Scientology. 

The reconciliation occurred, explained Pinkett Smith just ahead of the sit-down, because Remini took the first step toward repairing their rift. “She reached out to me, which was really huge of her ‘cause I really don’t… I don’t know if I’m that big,” 

When Remini arrived to the titular red table, though, she and Pinkett Smith affectionately hugged and complimented each other before diving into their troubled history. 

So, what brought the stars — who met two decades ago — to this point of nearly no return? In her 2015 memoir, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, Remini referenced Pinkett Smith when describing a Scientology event. 

According to Remini, at the event in question, noted Scientologist Tom Cruise allegedly suggested the guests play hide-and-seek. Remini, who found the idea of adults playing hide-and-seek to be strange, tried to decline. In telling this anecdote, she claimed Pinkett Smith was one of the other celebrity guests in attendance, implying she was regularly involved with the Church of Scientology. 

Pinkett Smith downplayed the incident during a later appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, insisting hide-and-seek was more intended for the small children (including her own) at the event. 

Pinkett Smith also went on to explain in a series of tweets that she wasn’t a Scientologist but had studied the religion. 

“It upset me because I didn’t understand why we had to be in your book because we really didn’t have anything to do with this,” Pinkett Smith told Remini, adding that she was hurt by the betrayal. 

In that vein, Pinkett Smith addressed her comments on Watch What Happens Live. 

“[Cohen] doesn’t tell you what he’s going to talk about. He just throws stuff at you, and so when that came up, I was like, 'That’s not how I remember that night going,'” Pinkett Smith explained, addressing Remini, “You had basically created a situation for Will [Smith, her husband] and I… At that point, I’m like, 'I got to protect Will and I.'” 

In response, Remini admitted she hadn’t given much thought to the potential repercussions for Pinkett Smith and her husband, saying, “Looking back on it, I didn’t even consider Jada and Will… I was so caught up in that pain and also the pain of others and the effects that it had.” 

But Remini also revealed she had been upset by Pinkett Smith’s appearance on the show. “When I saw it, I was hurt, because I was like, ‘Oh, she’s in [the church],'” she said.  

As for whether she is or is not a Scientologist, Pinkett Smith pretty much laid that mystery to rest too. 

“My grandmother was like, ‘You’re gonna learn all the religions, and then you got to decide which one you want to practice,’ Smith recounted to Remini. “So, for me, all religions have been my home, which is why I didn’t have a problem going to the Church of Scientology and saying, ‘I’m not a Scientologist. I want to just be here and see what you have to offer,’ because that was my life, that’s what I’m used to.” 

Pinkett Smith then reiterated she has no interest in being a member of the controversial church. 

And like previous healing episodes of Red Table Talk (think Gabrielle Union!), the episode ended on a reconciliatory note. “I really truly deeply apologize,” Remini told Pinkett Smith. I should have thought about the names in the book. I should’ve thought about what that meant for you guys, and I didn’t.”

To which Pinkett Smith responded, “It’s OK. I love you anyway” — and Remini echoed the sentiment. Now, if we could just get Pinkett Smith to work her Red Table Talk magic on the rest of the world’s turmoil….  

Every time I meet someone new, I wonder if they are able to tell that I’ve been raped. I think I do a pretty good job of hiding it, but it took many years to start respecting my body again. I haven’t fully gotten there yet, and I still have days when I doubt myself.

It happened when I was 24. I was living in London and had just finished drama school. Life was good — poor but good. I was walking around a heavily trafficked part of London when I was approached by a distinguished-looking photographer wearing a suit. 

In an upper-class English accent, he told me he was in the middle of casting a commercial shoot and said I would be exactly what his client was looking for and suggested I should audition for it. I was skeptical, but he gave me his card. I looked him up and I found his website — full of professional photos of beautiful women. The following day, I called him and said I’d like to come to the audition. 

There was a welcoming atmosphere when I stepped into the apartment where the casting was being held. An assistant immediately offered me coffee, tea, water and fruit. Peter, the photographer, asked me to stand on an X so he could take a few shots. The whole thing was over within four minutes. Peter said he would call as soon as he knew what the client thought.  

His assistant called me the next day and told me the good news: I had booked the job. I was over the moon because I really needed the extra cash.  

When I turned up the following day at noon for the shoot, Peter happily greeted me at the door, but as soon as I stepped in, he locked the door behind me with a key he then carefully drooped into his pocket. 

I was trapped. 

Peter turned around, pulled out a hunting knife and started walking away from me into the main room where the shoot had been the previous day. I immediately broke out into a cold sweat. 

I gathered myself and asked to use the restroom. He told me to leave my bag behind. As I walked into the bathroom, my hands started to shake. I felt sick. My whole body was shutting down. I searched the bathroom for anything I could use as a weapon. There was nothing. The toilet seat was even gone. 

When I came out, he greeted me with a large glass of milk. I took one look at his knife and downed the glass, hoping that whatever was in the milk would numb the pain he was about to inflict. Shortly after that, I blacked out. 

For the next three days, I was raped repeatedly by multiple men.  Fortunately, I managed to escape. Most women don’t.

After I was raped, I lost my dignity, my self-confidence and my self-worth, and I was mentally numb for quite a long time. I really didn’t care what happened to my body — it was as if my body had been separated from my brain. 

I desperately wanted to be “normal,” and “normal” in our society, when you’re 24, means going out, having fun, drinking with friends and dating. So I did all that, but really only so I would fit in again — so no one would notice I was “different.” But in my mind, I’d never fit in again. 

I started dating again, and dating means at some point having sex. I thought it would be really difficult to have sex again, but the truth is, having sex was easy because I didn’t care about my body anymore. Making love, however, was a whole different thing. That meant I had to actually open up and be vulnerable. And that was something I couldn’t do.

In the years after I was trafficked and raped, I ended up having a few boyfriends, but I never let anyone get too close. I was constantly called “mysterious” and “hard to read.” This was all true. I didn’t do it on purpose — it just became my new setting. Everything and everyone was kept at arm's-length. This isn’t something I did consciously — I wasn’t even aware of it until many years later when I started to look back and figure myself out. 

I also lost respect for men in general, which isn’t good because obviously all men aren’t bad — just a few. But it’s hard to distinguish the nice ones from the bad ones after you’ve been raped. In my mind, I put all men in one box: bad.

As it turns out, the combination of not respecting my own body and thinking all men are bad is not the healthiest one. It basically meant I could have sex with a man and not care at all since my body didn’t matter and he certainly didn’t matter. In hindsight, I’m sure I must have hurt a few people. But more than anything else, I hurt myself.

At one point, I got pregnant and miscarried. After that, I assumed I couldn’t have kids after what happened. That led to more self-destructive thoughts. Not only had my mind been ruined, but my body was too. What’s the point now? 

I decided to move to a new country, hoping I could leave all of it behind — but that never works. But something did work because I met a guy who eventually became my husband, someone with whom I felt I could be completely honest. I ended up telling him what had happened to me. We were happily married for 12 years before we split up.  He’s still my best friend.

Now, I’ve met someone new, and against all odds, we have a daughter — which was totally unplanned. I thought I could never have children and had come to terms with that. She came as a complete surprise.

As a mom, I’m still working to gain self-worth and self-respect so I can teach my daughter those things. Working in Hollywood for the last 13 years hasn’t helped. 

But making my film Apartment 407 and speaking out about my past combined with the #MeToo movement has helped me heal. All the incredible support I’ve been getting from women and men around the world has made a huge difference to me. I’m getting stronger every day.

The main thing to keep in mind if you’ve been sexually assaulted is that it’s not your fault. 

Once you start applying that to your everyday thinking, it’ll slowly get easier. It takes time to get through what has happened and get back to “normal.” But eventually, you will get to point that your past doesn’t define you — and it’s worth the wait. 

Apartment 407 will be released worldwide on Nov. 6.

There’s a new viral video making its way around the internet today, and it comes from an unlikely source. In a surprising twist, Carrie Underwood’s husband, Mike Fisher — along with his buddy Austin Casselman, with whom he co-owns the hunting apparel company Catchin' Deers — has created a hilarious spoof of his wife’s hit song “Before He Cheats” and put it on the Catchin' Deers Facebook page on Monday. 

The NHL star and his friend filled ET in on the hunting-themed parody “Before She Bleats,” explaining the song’s title was inspired by a sound made by female deer. 

“A doe will make a bleating sound in mating season… it’s called a bleat,” Fisher said for the benefit of us nonhunting folk, like Underwood, joking, “I think most people know she’s not a hunting fan, so I think she wanted to be able to plead the fifth and then be surprised. We just wanted to have fun with it [and] obviously, showcase my vocal talent.”

When asked how he thinks Underwood will take the spoof, Fisher told ET, “I hear it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission, is that true? No, I think she’ll have a laugh with it. She’s got a good sense of humor. She’s funny, and hopefully she’ll be OK with it.” 

Something tells us Underwood will be just as impressed as we are with her hockey-playing husband’s comedic talent and — dare we say it? — vocal skills. Fisher teased the latter on Oct. 3, sharing a photo of himself in a recording studio and captioning the snapshot, “I know you guys have been waiting a long time but new music is on the way!! Stay tuned!” 

Seriously, who knew he was so funny?! 

With swapped-out lyrics like, “Right now, he’s probably out grazing with a corn-fed doe and it’s probably getting frisky” and “Maybe next time she’ll think before she bleats,” how could Underwood be anything but amused? 

Casselman, for one, believes Fisher’s charms will win Underwood over, saying, “I think that she’ll think he’s a pretty good singer.” 

Considering the couple has been married for eight years and is expecting their second child together, it’s safe to assume Underwood isn’t immune to Fisher’s charms — even when they’re a bit mischievous in nature. 

“Opposites attract,” Fisher said of his and Underwood’s inherent differences. “My wife is the best. She puts up with my hunting and she loves me.” 

And Underwood, who has long been a vocal champion of her husband, will undoubtedly support the spoof song if for no other reason than it was made to promote his and Casselman’s company.

Actor, comedian and pregnant person extraordinaire Amy Schumer is shameless in the best way. She knew we (and millions of others) could not resist a video clip of her ultrasound, so she added a reminder to vote on Nov. 6. Sneaky lady.

The footage was dated Oct. 16, but Schumer shared it Tuesday.

“It’s moving all around! Oh my God, oh my God, see, it has so much energy — that’s why I’m puking every day,” Schumer joked while watching the baby on the ultrasound.

Her caption was definitely more civic duty than diaper duty: "Happy Election Eve! You can look up your polling place + hours by texting LOCATION to 21333. And you can look up a sample ballot to be prepared at vote411.org/ballot. Make a plan to #vote and let's make history tomorrow!... (Feel free to copy this + send it to everyone.) thanks @piperperabo."

More: Amy Schumer Announces Her Pregnancy in the Most Amy Schumer Way

Her Oct. 22 pregnancy announcement and prepregnancy announcement also showed Schumer had voting on her mind:

Leave it to Amy Schumer to make voting seem like fun. 

Of course, the trolls are always out on Schumer's social media (don't tell us you're surprised by that). Male followers seemed especially threatened by all the attention Schumer's been getting, as evidenced by eloquent comments like this: "shut it dog face! God all you liberal women are dogs."

Let's see that dude go head-to-head with Schumer. She'd eat him for breakfast. 

Fortunately, the majority of commenters praised Schumer for her willingness to talk the talk and walk the walk.

More: Amy Schumer Learned to Be Woke From Actor Gabrielle Union

"Love the disguise!" wrote one. 

"You voted for two... once your little one arrives, the desire to make the world better in general and for all children specifically will blow your mind. Mama Bear is a whole other level!" said another.

We're voting Amy Schumer for favorite currently pregnant person. Our apologies to the runner-up, the Duchess of Sussex, formerly known as Meghan Markle.

Look, we know. We really know. It's 2018, and you don't know what to tell your kids about the actual state of the union anymore. Your Facebook feed is clogged with politics and nasty word wars about immigration and border control. You're dreading Thanksgiving dinner because it's pretty much a given Uncle Frank will get drunk and talk about arming preschool teachers and rabbis while your sister and her wife rage-cry into the mashed potatoes. Some mornings, you can't remember why you thought it was a good idea to bring kids into this world. 

More: These Nurses Make Sure Moms Vote — Even if They're In Labor

And that's exactly why your vote matters today more than ever. Take your kids. Slap on an "I Voted" sticker. Just keep caring, OK? Caring is a revolutionary act when you're slipping into a CNN or Fox News coma and all seems hopeless.

And no matter what your politics are, no matter what your religion is, you can choose to care — actively. Even if you're feeling like your vote doesn't count for much, your compassion still does. And there are many ways to help create a world for our children that is kinder and far better than this one. But it takes action — and one simple rule most of us were taught as children: Treat others as you would want to be treated. 

So on this voting day, put yourselves in the shoes of parents who are fleeing appalling, dangerous conditions in Central America. Whatever you feel about immigration, remember the caravan you've heard about is made up of families just like you and yours. Like you, these are parents who love their children more than anything. They are trekking hundreds and thousands of miles to try to keep their children safe and out of harm's way. They are trying to escape poverty, violence, hunger and homelessness and find a better life for their families. 

More: Ways to Score Free Food on Election Day

Will the U.S. grant them asylum? It seems doubtful. But you can help these families. You can choose nonpartisan kindness today. Because kindness isn't red or blue. 

Make compassion your platform. 

Here's how:

Educate yourself & your kids 

Read about the caravan and reject xenophobia and fearmongering. Our country is better than that. Our kids deserve better than that.

Donate together 

Here are just a few nonprofit humanitarian organizations offering assistance and care on the frontlines. 

• Save the Children's Border Crisis Children's Relief Fund: This fund provides emergency services and legal aid and works to reunite families.
• UNICEF: This organization is working with the government of our neighbor Mexico to provide safe drinking and bathing water, hygiene essentials, sunscreen, access to support and much-needed training to authorities on child welfare, protection and nutrition.
• Amnesty International Americas: Amnesty International is working overtime to document and monitor the situations and devastating conditions the families in the caravan are fighting against.
• Pueblo Sin Fronteras: This immigrant rights group organized the caravan.

Help your kids call or email your congressperson or senator

If you're not sure where to start, go to the U.S. House of Representatives website and enter your zip code. Looking for a senator? Just choose your state here. These sites will provide your elected officials' names and contact information. 

Another route: Identify your reps at Democracy.io, and email with ease.

Voting matters. But compassion might matter even more these days. Make kindness your platform, and you'll raise kids who care too. 

In this digital day and age, landing a job (or a lucrative client) looks much different than it did even a decade ago. Today, employers and business owners are taking advantage of the instant accessibility to potential employees offered by the internet — and arguably the top networking site where profiles are being vetted is LinkedIn.

Of course, the competition is fierce. In the U.S. alone, there are nearly 150 million people with professional presences on the business-building site. To catch the eye of entrepreneurs, headhunters or hiring experts, your profile needs to stand out.

Easier said than done though, right? Shelling out extra money each month for LinkedIn’s premium version might up the odds your profile is seen by the right people, but such expenditures aren’t always in the budget — especially if you’re a fledgling business or actively on the hunt for employment.

So we gleaned a bit of insight from LinkedIn experts to find out how you can spruce up your profile for free. Here’s what we found out.

1. Be specific

Filler words won't do you any favors on your LinkedIn profile. Instead of trying to impress with expansive but vague statements, spell out what you bring to the table. "Add more specific bullet points on what services you offer with your business venture as opposed to, saying things like, "virtually anything," LinkedIn expert and social media marketer Brett Jansen tells SheKnows. 

Accordingly, Jansen also recommends streamlining your roles and responsibilities, saying, "Lump different roles within a single company as one, with the highest-ranking job as the title. List your achievements and responsibilities in bullets points." 

2. Level-up by lunching (yes, lunching)

Here's a bit of info we're obsessed with courtesy of CEO Lifestyle founder Nelson Wang — an idea Wang picked up from global thought leader Keith Ferrazzi. First and foremost, Wang recommends real-life networking as an excellent way to build your presence on LinkedIn. And his favorite means of doing so is simple: grabbing a quick bite. 

"As you meet new people, you can get to know them on a much deeper level by spending one-on-one time with them over coffee or lunch. This will help you build more meaningful relationships," he tells SheKnows. 

3. Ditch outdated credentials

Another pearl of wisdom from Jansen? "Remove your high school [listing] from your LinkedIn profile unless you are leveraging that to connect with other alumni," she says. Otherwise, it essentially serves no purpose other than to take up space. 

While you're at it, trade in that cropped picture of you and your college friends for a legitimate head shot. First impressions are important, and a professional-looking head shot can instantly foster confidence. 

4. Create a "value bank"

While it may be tempting to immediately fire off a "let's work together!" message once you've made a connection on LinkedIn, author and entrepreneur Alex Pirouz — who was featured in the book Getting Your Business LinkedIn — says you should first build up what he calls your "value bank." 

"Before you start emailing marketing to your contacts, think of a few ways you could add value to them," he told Forbes. "This will help develop the trust and rapport necessary between your connection so that when you contact them to hold a meeting they not only recognize you but most importantly [are] interested."

5. Customize your profile page URL

Did you know this was a thing? Don't feel bad — neither did we. But it is, and you can create a much more professional-sounding URL by following a few simple steps. Six, to be precise. 

First, you'll need to click the "Me" icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage. From there, click "View Profile," followed by "Edit public profile & URL" on the right rail. Under "Edit URL," clicking the little pencil icon (it says "Edit") next to your public profile URL allows you to tweak it. 

So, go ahead! Change that garbled mix of name and numbers currently tacked onto the end of your LinkedIn URL to your moniker or business name, then hit save. Presto-chango, you've got a much more professional LinkedIn URL to share. 

Tonsillectomies were once very common. According to Medscape, 1.4 million tonsillectomies were performed in the United States in 1959. However, by 1987 — less than 30 years later — that number had dropped to 260,000, and it is even smaller today. However, a new study revealed that doctors may still be performing too many tonsillectomies.

According to a study conducted by the University of Birmingham and published in the British Journal of General Practice, 7 out of 8 tonsillectomies are unnecessary.

Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 1.6 million children from the United Kingdom. What they found was that of the 18,271 children who had their tonsils removed, only 2,144 (or 11.7 percent) actually needed the surgery.

What's more, they found many children who actually need tonsillectomies are not receiving them: 15,764 children had records showing sufficient sore throats to undergo surgery but only 2,144 (13.6 percent) actually received them.

Dr. Tom Marshall, professor of public health and primary care at the University of Birmingham, explained in a statement, "[R]esearch shows that children with frequent sore throats usually suffer fewer sore throats over the next year or two." For kids with enough documented sore throats, the improvement is slightly quicker after having a tonsillectomy, which means surgery makes sense in those situations, he added. But the research suggests children with fewer sore throats don't benefit from the procedure enough to justify surgery because those sore throats tend to go away anyway.

Of course, one may wonder what the harm is in performing an unnecessary operation, especially on a body part we can certainly live without. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, tonsillectomies come with numerous risks, including uncontrolled bleeding, reactions to anesthetics and/or infections. And Marshall agreed.

"Children may be more harmed than helped by a tonsillectomy," Marshall said in the statement.

As such, researchers are hoping doctors and parents weigh the pros and cons of the procedure more closely.

Judging by social media, Hollywood hit the polls hard today — celebrities from Sarah Jessica Parker to Jennifer Garner and many, many more proudly shared selfies to document an important civic duty: voting.

Many public figures (including  celebrities) have mobilized in recent weeks to remind people how voting can affect change. And in addition to talking the talk, they are walking the walk. Proof? All of these beautiful post-voting selfies, complete with “I voted” stickers, of course.

Zendaya

The Greatest Showman star Zendaya shared a video on Instagram of herself doing what could possibly be described as a “happy dance” with her sticker.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon looked predictably picture perfect in her selfie, which she simply captioned, “I Voted! How about you?!”

Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

The couple that votes together stays together! Husband-and-wife duo Emily Blunt and John Krasinski couldn’t possibly be any cuter holding up their ballots.

Zooey Deschanel

Rocking a “Never the less, she voted” t-shirt the day before the midterms, New Girl star Zooey Deschanel made her intent to vote abundantly clear.

Sarah Jessica Parker

SJP wore her voting heart on her sleeve — quite literally. The Divorce star posted a video on her Instagram feed showing an “I am a voter” pin attached to a white sweatshirt with the same phrase written along the front and down the sleeve. In the caption, she vowed “neither snow nor rain” would keep her from the polling place.

Drew Barrymore

In her typical authentic and inherently charming way, Drew Barrymore let her “I voted” sticker do the talking for her in a makeup-free voting selfie.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds celebrated his birthday in late October with a voting party! The pair posted pics on social media showing off their absentee ballots.

Judy Greer

Actor and director Judy Greer shared in an Instagram story that she had voted, and she also shared information about how to vote in a separate post.

Olivia Wilde

Olivia Wilde shared a snapshot of herself posing beside an arrow pointing toward the polls and a wall mural reading “Be awesome today.” Her take? “Go be awesome and VOTE YOU FRIGGIN FACE OFF!”

Seth Meyers

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who watches his late-night show that Seth Meyers showed up to vote. The funnyman brought along his wife, Alexi, and son, Axel — whom Meyers joked was “disappointed because he thought we were going to ‘boat.’”

Justin Timberlake

JT shared his voting selfie on Nov. 3 when he mailed in his absentee ballot and took the time to caution against (illegal!) voting booth selfies.

Kerry Washington

No scandal here! Kerry Washington looked both chic and relaxed showing off her “I voted” sticker. “I did it! Felt sooooo good,” she gushed.

Billy Eichner

Comedian-slash-actor Billy Eichner shared a Twitter photo captioned, “Did it! Have you???” In subsequent tweets, he cautioned voters against leaving if the polling lines were long or if the polling station didn’t have their names at the ready.

Camila Cabello

Singer Camila Cabello shared her early voting snapshot on Nov. 1, along with an impassioned message. “One vote can make a difference,” she wrote. “We can contribute and help write the story of our country just by taking a few minutes out of our day to vote!”

Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt made an excellent alternative case for voting — getting the stellar sticker designed for NYC!

Mandy Moore

This Is Us’ Mandy Moore may as well be deemed the winner of the internet for the shirt she wore to vote. Its message? “Voting: 100% more effective than complaining on the internet.” *insert all the praise hands emoji*

Sophia Bush

Sophia Bush called the experience of early voting “so much fun,” revealing that she “went skipping down the street singing afterward.”

Jimmy Fallon

Funny guy Jimmy Fallon urged fans to “Vote with a friend!”

Jada Pinkett Smith

Red Table Talk host Jada Pinkett Smith always looks fierce — even when, or perhaps especially because, she slaps an “I voted” sticker on her forehead.  

Cynthia Nixon

She may not have won her bid for governor, but Cynthia Nixon still believes in democracy. “#IVoted because the patriarchy isn’t going to dismantle itself,” she captioned her sweet snapshot.

Amy Schumer

Comedian Amy Schumer has been honest about the difficulties of her first pregnancy, but nothing (including apparent bad weather) could keep her from casting her vote. You go, mama!

Jeff Goldblum

If you didn’t already adore Jeff Goldblum, please consider the fact that, in sharing his voting selfie, he quoted his 1996 cult classic Independence Day.

Jennifer Garner

“Every vote counts,” Jennifer Garner reminded fans in the short but sweet caption accompanying her voting selfie.

Taylor Swift

“I’m seeing a lot of underestimation of young voters in this new generation who now have the right to vote in the last couple of years. But these are people who grew up post-9/11. They grew up with school shooting drills at their schools. These are people who want to vote. It’s not enough to just want change,” Taylor Swift said in her Instagram stories. “It’s not enough to just want to vote. You have to go and make change by voting.”

Amy Poehler

Another dedicated patron of democracy, Amy Poehler endured a soggy New York City day to cast her vote.

Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling gave a shout-out to the 14^th and 19^th amendments in her voting selfie, thanking them for “letting me vote today.”

Madonna

Music icon Madonna shared a photo of her absentee ballot on Nov. 6, saying, “Just do it! I just did from across the ocean!!”  

Yara Shahidi

Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi couldn’t contain her excitement heading into the polling station, and one can only hope that enthusiasm spread like wildfire among her fans.

Debra Messing

The Will & Grace star voted and, in a video posted to Instagram, shared a passioned explanation as to why she did so. For good measure, she also shared photos of Eric McCormack and James Burrows with their “I voted” stickers.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

The former Governator encouraged fans to vote with a bit of movie humor, yelling, “Get to the chopper!” — a quote from Predator — before self-correcting to say, “Get to the polls!”

Ellen Pompeo

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo was in good company as she voted — she brought along her kids, whom she called her “voting squad.”

Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas took a break from all of his pre-wedding-to-Priyanka Chopra shenanigans in order to say “I do” to the democratic process.

Mariska Hargitay

You know Olivia Benson does her civic duty, y’all! SVU's Mariska Hargitay exercised her right in rainy-weather-wear of a cozy oversized sweater.

Leighton Meester

A fresh-faced Leighton Meester shared her own post-voting selfie, calling the act, “Standing up for my country, myself and my daughter.” 

Eva Longoria 

"Today’s the day y’all! Let’s get to the polls and make history. Make your voice heard today and vote!" Eva Longoria captioned her selfie.

The CW's Riverdale is quickly becoming a "family affair," as Kelly Ripa pointed out on Instagram on Tuesday when announcing she's joining the drama as the mistress of Mark Consuelos' character, Hiram Lodge. That's right. Fans will soon see the real-life wife and husband on the small screen once again.

Next to a picture of Ripa sitting in a chair on the Riverdale set wearing a little black dress holding what appears to be a whip, Ripa shared, "It’s a family affair........Hiram’s mistress. 23 years of auditioning for a role i was born to play. Coming soon to the @thecwriverdale."

The CW confirmed Ripa's upcoming role with the following statement released to Us Weekly on Tuesday: "Kelly Ripa will guest star on Riverdale as MRS. MULWRAY: Confident and tough, she is Hiram Lodge’s alleged mistress. She’s a beautiful, icy, femme fatale who gets caught up in a conspiracy that’s much bigger than she initially realized."

How exciting and mysterious does that sound? Her role sounds perfect for Riverdale. Even Consuelos is thrilled about his wife guest-starring in an episode — and as his character's "alleged mistress." He commented on her Instagram post, "Yes please."

Riverdale cast members Casey Cott (who plays Kevin Keller) and Marisol Nichols (who plays Hermione Lodge, Hiram's wife) also expressed their excitement over Ripa's addition. 

Cott commented on her Instagram, "I feel like this character is the female figure Kevin Keller never had but always needed. Thank god she's finally here." 

Nichols wrote, "I am beyond, beyond excited for this to happen!!!!"

If Cott and Nichols are lucky enough, maybe Mrs. Mulwray will share a scene with both of them. *Fingers crossed*

This isn't the first time a member of the Ripa-Consuelos family has appeared on the show. During Wednesday's episode, Ripa and Consuelos' eldest son, Michael Consuelos, will be seen as a young Hiram Lodge. It's really the ideal role for him, especially since he's the spitting image of his father.

As for Ripa's character, funnily enough, Consuelos spoke with Us Weekly in July about Ripa joining Riverdale as his character's mistress. "Wouldn’t it be great? She could play a nice little saucy character," he told the publication, before adding, "Hiram’s mistress or something like that?" 

Well, his wish came true. It's unclear when Ripa's episode will air, but it's definitely something for fans of both Riverdale and the beloved celebrity couple to look forward to.

Thanks in part to a millennial makeover, vitamins have become trendy. New direct-to consumer-companies like Ritual and Care/of aim to take the tedious research out of selecting a vitamin through curated selections that ship right to your door. But choosing the right vitamin can still be overwhelming. Our bodies are always changing, and with so many options, how can we be sure we’re getting the nutrients we need throughout our lives?

Rachel Posner, a clinical dietitian at St. Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington, Louisiana, tells SheKnows that most of our necessary nutrients should be coming directly from our diet, but vitamins and supplements can help to fill in the gaps where we’re missing the right amount of micronutrients.

And though she says there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to starting a vitamin regimen, she does feel that a multivitamin is an easy place to start.

“Look for a multivitamin that contains 100 percent of the daily value for each nutrient,” she said. “[But] keep in mind that nutrient needs change as we age.” In every decade, though, there are simple additions we can make to our diets to aid in relieving woes, from acne to menopause.

20s

“While our 20s can be an exciting time, this is also a time when the daily stress of school or new relationships coupled with poor eating habits can take a toll on our health and our skin,” Posner explains.

She recommends iron to counteract iron deficiency that can be typical in women in their 20s and folic acid if you’re planning a pregnancy. But her top recommendation for women in their 20s is fish oil. Adult brains aren’t fully developed until the age of 25, and getting the fatty acids provided by fish oil is vital to continuing cognitive development.

“If you are unable to consume at least two 4-ounce servings of fatty fish per week, taking a fish oil supplement containing 1,000 milligrams of EPA and DHA [omega-3 fatty acids in fish] combined may help improve attention span, mood [and] overall brain function,” Posner says.

30s

Posner again recommends iron and folic acid for women in their peak childbearing years, also adding that incorporating a vitamin C supplement can carry multiple benefits for aging skin — including protecting against dry skin, wrinkles and UV damage. 

Dr. Christel Malinski of Benson Dermatology in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, agrees, telling SheKnows that vitamin C “increases collagen production” and reduces redness.

If you’re taking a multivitamin, Posner suggests confirming that the multi contains at least 75 milligrams of vitamin C, but if you’re taking it on it’s own, she cautions to not exceed 2,000 milligrams.

If adult acne is your personal plague, Malinski prescribes vitamin A to her patients. “Vitamin A treats acne by promoting skin turnover, thus unclogging pores and helping to expel [blackheads],” she says. “[It] also helps to even skin tone and decrease wrinkles, making it ideal for antiaging as well.”

40s

Perimenopause (the transition into menopause) usually begins at this time and causes decreased estrogen levels as well as symptoms like hot flashes, bloating and irregular sleep patterns. Posner again recommends fish oil to “fight the effects of hormonal changes that cause hot flashes.”

Additionally, she recommends a probiotic for hormone-related digestive issues, immune support and mental stability.

“When choosing a probiotic, consider your particular digestive issues and critically read the labels for health benefits,” she says.

Posner also recommends a magnesium supplement for this age group, as it can help to relax muscles, leading to better sleep while also regulating blood pressure and insulin.

“The RDA [recommended dietary allowance] for magnesium for females in this age group is 320 milligrams,” she explains. “If your diet is lacking in magnesium-containing foods [like] spinach, broccoli, nuts or legumes, consider taking a magnesium supplement.”

50s-plus

Once you’ve fully transitioned into menopause, you’re most susceptible to major bone-density loss leading to osteoporosis and bone fractures, making calcium crucial. 

“The RDA for calcium for females increases from 1,000 milligrams per day to 1,200 milligrams per day once you are over the age of 50,” Posner says, also noting that it’s important to find a supplement with calcium citrate, which does not require stomach acid in order to be absorbed since gastric acid-production also declines with age.

As we age, hair loss can also begin to plague many women. “Low levels of biotin can be associated with hair loss. [While] an excess of biotin is not necessarily helpful for hair growth, I do recommend supplements such as Nutrafol that contain biotin along with turmeric and other helpful ingredients,” Malinski advises.

No matter your age, Posner suggests consulting a medical professional before regularly taking any supplements and finding supplements that are USP-certified to ensure they have been tested for harmful levels of contaminants. She also warns against going overboard.

“Some supplements in large doses can lead to adverse effects or even toxicity,” she says. “Taking a multitude of supplements cannot override the effects of unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle.”

From hosting and preparing your Thanksgiving meal to Christmas shopping, the holiday season can be downright stressful. Hey, Amazon gets it, and it’s stepping up to help us all.

For starters, Amazon recently announced it’s offering same-day grocery delivery from Whole Foods stores until 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Offered through Amazon Prime Now, you can get those forgotten items from the grocery store delivered straight to your door in as little as one hour. Or, if you are in dire need of stepping out to get some fresh air (and a break from all that political talk), you can always pick up your order from participating Whole Foods stores.

Plus, eligible Prime members receive 5 percent back on Whole Foods Market purchases when using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card. 

And when Thanksgiving is all said and done, Amazon is making gift shopping as easy as ever.

Starting Nov. 5, Amazon is offering free shipping for a limited time — no minimum purchase required. The best part is you don’t even need to be a Prime member. 

“This holiday, customers can enjoy free shipping with no minimum purchase amount on orders that will arrive in time for Christmas, including items from Amazon’s expertly curated Gift Guides across electronics, fashion, home and toys,” said Doug Herrington, senior vice president of North American Retail at Amazon, in a press release. 

According to the release, non-Prime members who opt for the free shipping deal should receive their items in five to eight days.

Today, Amazon also added eight cities to its Whole Foods Market grocery pickup, expanding to 22 cities. The new cities include Birmingham Alabama, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Long Island, New York, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Salt Lake City, Utah, San Antonio, Texas, Tacoma, Washington, and Tulsa, Arizona. This means that if you’re a Prime member in those cities, you can pick up your order in as little as 30 minutes — all without leaving your car (a Prime Now shopper places the groceries directly into your car within minutes).

“Grocery delivery through Prime Now has been a hit with our customers and we’re happy to expand the option of grocery pickup to even more Prime members across eight new cities,” said Christina Minardi, Whole Foods Market executive vice president of operations, in the press release. “It’s just another way we’re making it even easier to enjoy Whole Foods Market’s healthy and organic food.”

This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for Amazon.

Although the exact cause of psoriasis is still a matter of debate in the medical world, a theory that’s backed up by an ever-increasing amount of research is that inflammation in the body can lead to this chronic skin condition.

Inflammation is a normal part of the body’s healing process; for example, when you cut yourself, the area around the wound is inflamed for a short time. Blood vessels surrounding the injury expand to deliver more blood to the area, and white blood cells increase to speed up the recovery process. However, in someone with psoriasis, the white blood cells become overactive, producing excess amounts of chemicals that trigger inflammation in the skin and other organs. 

One effect is an abnormally fast multiplication of the main cells in the skin's outer layer. In healthy skin, these cells take about a month to go through a cycle of dividing, maturing, moving to the skin's surface and shedding to make way for younger cells. But in skin affected by psoriasis, the cycle takes only a few days, resulting in red, thickened skin with silvery scales of cells that have matured too quickly.

"Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, so anything you can do to reduce that inflammation will reduce psoriatic flares," dermatologist Amy Spizuoco tells SheKnows. "People with psoriasis are also at risk of psoriatic arthritis and heart disease when that inflammation moves past the skin to joints and the circulatory system, so anything you can do to reduce inflammation will help keep your psoriasis under control and benefit your overall health."

To help reduce inflammation, Spizuoco recommends drinking lots of water, getting plenty of rest, exercising regularly, taking steps to minimize stress at home and at work and eating a healthy, balanced diet. 

To combat inflammation, Harvard Medical School recommends eating plenty of tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and collards, nuts like almonds and walnuts, fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines, and fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries and oranges.

People with psoriasis should also avoid lots of foods with inflammatory properties: refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pastries, fried foods, soda and other artificially sweetened beverages, red meat, processed meat, margarine, shortening and lard. Unhealthy processed foods are also more likely to lead to weight gain, which is in itself another risk factor for inflammation. 

For skincare products that help reduce inflammation, Spizuoco advises looking for products that are close to the skin's natural pH level (about 4.5). So, go for slightly acidic treatments with ingredients like urea and lactic acid, and stock up on ointment-based moisturizers and emollients. 

Because psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, avoiding certain triggers can also help avoid flares. Dermatologist Fayne Frey recommends taking all necessary precautions before exposing the skin to the sun to avoid sunburn (avoiding midday exposure, wearing protective clothing and always wearing SPF) and wearing bug repellent to avoid bites.  

"Psoriasis can appear in any area of skin that has been inflamed or injured," Frey tells SheKnows. This is known as a Koebner response, and it happens in about 1 in 4 people who have psoriasis. Other things that might cause a Koebner response are burns, cuts, bumps, rubbed skin and conditions like diaper rash, eczema, infection, scabies, warts and dermatitis, allergic reactions and skin irritations. 

Getting a tattoo or vaccination, having acupuncture and even shaving can trigger a Koebner response in some people.   

Treat your Koebner plaques the same way you treat your regular psoriasis plaques — but taking steps to reduce inflammation to your skin can help decrease the likelihood of a Koebner response happening in the first place. 

Psoriasis treatments, which include topical treatments like corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues and topical retinoids, light therapy and oral and injected medications, are designed to reduce inflammation in the skin. Make sure you follow the treatment plan recommended by your primary health-care provider, and do as much as you can at home to reduce inflammation in your body. Your skin will thank you for it. 

This is a sponsored post.

My daughter, Mackenzie, is in the first class of girls who have joined the historically all-male Cub Scouts, part of the Boy Scouts of America. And I couldn’t be more thrilled. In fact, Mackenzie joining Cub Scouts has helped bring our family together — and has even made my life easier.

Mackenzie's twin brother was already a Cub Scout, so she had already been attending Cub Scout events for a while. She would sit and watch, but heretofore was only permitted to participate in sibling-inclusive events. She would learn all the skills — but she couldn’t earn awards. So when the Boy Scouts of America announced after more than a century of being boys-only that they would welcome girls into their program, Mackenzie was thrilled.

When Mackenzie's dad and I sat down with her to talk about her potentially joining the Cub Scouts, she was beside herself with excitement. Her first question? Whether she would be able to earn her Whittling Chip so she could go to camp and carry her own pocketknife. We knew immediately Cub Scouts would be the right choice for her. 

My daughter joining Cub Scouts means we will all be part of one "pack" — Mackenzie and her brother both. (Cub Scouts is organized into "packs" and "dens" — a "pack" includes kids ages 5 to 10). It's bringing our family together in the most practical, simple way. 

It also means the Boy Scouts of America gets it. This is an organization that understands girls can do anything — including being a part of Scouting. BSA understands every family is unique and needs options for kids of all genders. And with more than 50,000 girls enrolled in Cub Scouts to date, it's clear that this change didn't only resonate with our family.

The Cub Scouts didn't have to invite my daughter into Scouting; from Mackenzie’s perspective, she was already here. I just needed to buy her a uniform and get out of her way. 

When I first saw my daughter in her new Cub Scout uniform, I thought to myself, “This little girl is going places.” And she was — and is — not alone: Cub Scout girls earned several awards during the program's first co-ed year. 

When we went to our pack’s crossover event ­­— where Cub Scouts move into the Boy Scouts program (which will be called Scouts BSA starting this February) — my daughter again turned to me and asked, “Will I be able to cross over next year?” I was so excited to tell her that she will. 

Mackenzie has experienced a lot of firsts in Scouts, and now she has a new goal: She wants to be one of the first female Eagle Scouts in the world. I have every reason to believe she will do just that.

The kids in our Scouts pack come from all different backgrounds, but they all chose Scouts — and Scouts welcomes them all by the sheer nature of its inclusivity. Cub Scouts welcomes our whole family — parents, kids, regardless of gender — and invites us to share in adventures with each other. We cheer each other on. We teach each other new things and help out in our community as a family.

When I think about the future, I am overwhelmed with joy knowing that long after my twins earn their Eagle, we'll be able to look back and know we did it together — and that their brother-sister twin bond is even stronger because of it. 

If you would like to learn more about family scouting to find a group to join, please go to BeAScout.org. 

Two years into the Trump administration, Americans had the opportunity to weigh in on how things are going. And though it wasn't the massive "blue wave" some had predicted, Democrats made significant gains nationally — most notably through taking control of the House of Representatives. 

Beyond that, it was a night of progress toward — though not reaching — more gender-balanced representation, with a record number of women heading to Congress. Between historic candidacies and state-level ballot measures, there's a lot to unpack in terms of how women's health will be impacted by the election results. Here are some of the biggest takeaways.

Alabama & West Virginia pass restrictive abortion measures

Voters in Alabama and West Virginia voted to approve regulations that would significantly restrict access to abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court. In Alabama, the new amendment adds language to the Alabama constitution that would “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.” In other words, it effectively give a fetus the same rights as a person who has been born — a policy that sets a dangerous standard. And if that wasn't scary enough, this Alabama measure does not include exceptions permitting abortion in cases of incest, rape or life of the mother being at risk.

And then there's West Virginia. Voters there passed the No Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment, which would change the state’s Constitution to read “nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.” In short, that means Medicaid cannot be used for abortions — even those that are medically required (and had been previously covered in West Virginia). 

Oregon votes against abortion restrictions

Fortunately, voters in Oregon rejected a measure that would have prohibited public funds from paying for abortions except in the cases of rape, incest or threats to the pregnant person’s health.

Nevada gets rid of the tampon tax

Voters in Nevada made it only the 10th state to get rid of the so-called "tampon tax." This means period products are now exempt from state sales taxes and no longer classified as a luxury items. 

Though this may not seem like a big deal, it is a step toward menstrual equity, meaning people who menstruate should have access to the products they need in order to fully participate in society. Great job, Nevada — let's hope other states follow suit.

Improving maternal health is still on the agenda

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was handily reelected last night, and that's good news for maternal health. Speaking at the #BlogHer18 Creators Summit in August, Gillibrand outlined a bill she introduced in the U.S. Senate that would create standardized best practices for maternal health in hospitals across the country in addition to the money to fund this program.

Of course, her reelection doesn't guarantee this bill will pass, but it does ensure she'll still be in the Senate fighting for improvements in maternal health.

Marijuana is more acceptable & accessible

A was a good night for those working to legalize marijuana — both for recreational and medical uses. Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana use, joining nine other states and Washington, D.C. In addition, measures passed making medical marijuana legal in Utah and North Dakota. And though marijuana isn't a women's health-specific issue, it's worth noting because of the growing support medical marijuana is receiving from mothers who would advocate its use for their children with conditions like autism.

The House Science Committee will be run by someone who believes in science

Republicans have held control of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology since 2010, which has featured a revolving door of leaders who do not believe in science. But now that Democrats control the U.S. House of Representatives, that means the committee will have a much-needed change in leadership. 

Better yet, the ranking Democratic member of the committee — and likely new chairperson — is Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas. As a former chief psychiatric nurse, Johnson not only believes in science, she has a professional background in it. It's unfortunate simply having someone whose qualified for the job be considered progress, but that's where we are, and this definitely is.

More women's voices means better representation

The whole point of a representative democracy is electing people who we want to represent our best interests and advocate for us in government. Just the fact that more women are now in Congress than ever before likely means issues like reproductive health that were previously considered fringe or special interest (since, you know, old white dudes can't get pregnant) are now more mainstream. 

Did the midterm elections solve everything? Definitely not. But it demonstrated that when women run for office, we win. So many of us are still reeling from Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, and the election results offer some hope that when given the opportunity, we're ready to step up and make change.

After its bleak yet brilliant series finale, you probably thought you’d seen the last of Breaking Bad and its motley crew of characters (save Saul, who got a spinoff). But there’s good news for the fandom today — Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan reportedly has a movie based on the series in the works.

Wait, what? But, how… and who?! Could Walter White somehow be resurrected? We want details. Unfortunately, details are not exactly forthcoming at this point.

;The  Breaking Bad  Cast Reunited & Revealed Things We Never Knew About the Show

We do know a few things, however. New Mexico Film Office director Nick Maniatis announced on Tuesday that a feature with the working title Greenbrier would begin filming, primarily in Albuquerque, in mid-November and wrap in early 2019. 

The movie, which will reportedly be two hours in length, will be produced by Sony Studios.

Per a release from the New Mexico Film Office, the movie will “track the escape of a kidnapped man and his quest for freedom.” According to the Albuquerque Journal, there has been no official confirmation the film is in fact connected to the wildly popular Breaking Bad. That certainly seems to be the prevailing thought, though.

Based on the description, it doesn’t seem like a stretch to imagine that Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman could play a prominent part in the movie. When all was said and done, it was impossible not to feel both sorry for Jesse for everything that had gone down and happy for his newfound freedom.

Per IMDb, Paul has three movies currently in postproduction and a television series slated to air in 2019. So, arguably, he would have time in his schedule now to film a Breaking Bad movie.

Anna Gunn, who played White’s wife Skyler in Breaking Bad, appears to also have an opening in her schedule that could coincide with filming.

Naturally, the biggest question mark is Bryan Cranston’s Walter White. If you tuned into the original finale of the AMC series, you undoubtedly know that it would be pretty difficult for the character to return given how the finale ended.

However, stranger things have happened in film. A movie could introduce a surprise twist to the series’ end that viewers weren’t privy to. Or it could explore an unseen storyline that happened chronologically prior to the series’ end.

Cranston will be busy with the Broadway run of Network until mid-March 2019, with an eight-show-per-week schedule until the new year. In the new year, the schedule will slow down a bit — arguably giving Cranston a tiny margin of time to film at least a cameo in Greenbrier.

Sadly, though, Cranston recently weighed in about returning to the Breaking Bad universe, and it didn’t exactly inspire optimism.

“We’re all really proud of our show and Better Call Saul, and I think in some ways, it’s best to leave it alone. You want to think back on it favorably and say, ‘I don’t want to mess with it.’ It was a perfect opportunity for all of us. It changed all of our lives, and this man on the end here [Vince Gilligan] … He changed our lives for the better, and he is a brilliant storyteller,” Cranston told the crowd during Breaking Bad’s 10-year anniversary panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July.

Ironically, it was during that same panel that a fan asked if the series would ever be turned into a feature film, and Cranston quickly dismissed the ideas with a perfunctory, “No.” Gilligan, on the other hand, said, “Anything is possible.”

Nov. 6 was a big night for women in American politics. Thanks to the 2018 midterm elections, 113 women now serve in Congress — surpassing the current record of 107 according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. And while some were disappointed by the 2018 results — specifically Democrats, who did not see the "blue wave" they were hoping for — the achievements of these women should not be minimized. 

Here are the highlights.

First Muslim women elected to Congress: Ilhan Omar & Rashida Tlaib

Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have become the first Muslim women ever elected to Congress. Omar, a Democratic representative for Minnesota, will serve the states' fifth district, and Tlaib, who is also a Democrat, will serve Michigan's 13th district, which includes parts of Detroit. 

First Native American women elected to Congress: Sharice Davids & Debra Haaland

Sharice Davids, a Kansas Democrat and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, and Debra Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat and member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, will soon become America's first Native American congresswomen. Davids will also be Kansas’ first openly LGBTQ member of Congress.

First Korean-American woman elected to Congress: Young Kim

Republican Young Kim defeated her Democratic opponent, Gil Cisneros, in California on Tuesday, making her the first Korean-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Youngest woman elected to Congress: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

On Tuesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became New York's — and the nations' — youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Ocasio-Cortez is 29.

First female governor of Maine: Janet Mills

After serving as the state's attorney general, Democrat Janet Mills will become Maine's first female governor.

First female governor of South Dakota: Kristi Noem

Republican Kristi Noem made history on Tuesday when she was elected South Dakota's first woman governor. Noem currently serves as the state's only U.S. representative.

First Black representative in Massachusetts: Ayanna Pressley

Democrat Ayanna Pressley became Massachusetts' first Black U.S. representative. Pressley is slated to serve the state's seventh district. But this isn't the first time Pressley has made history. In 2009, she became the first woman of color on the Boston City Council.

More: 12 Empowering Quotes from Women Running for Congress

First Latina representatives in Texas: Veronica Escobar & Sylvia Garcia

Democrats Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia — who will represent Texas' 16th district and 29th district, respectively — became the first Latina representatives in the state's history.

Too close to call: Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams

Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams is not conceding in the Georgia governor's race, at least not yet. At the time of publication, the race remained too close to call. That said, if Abrams wins, she will become Georgia's first Black female governor.

It’s something many of us are guilty of — overthinking the relationship we’re in. Why did they do that? What does that really mean? Overthinking a relationship doesn’t just jeopardize the relationship we are in, it can make us stressed and sometimes physically sick. But stopping this is harder than one might imagine. A lot of it comes from developing the confidence to be oneself and not care how the relationship turns out. We reached out to a bunch of relationship experts for their advice, and they gave us 13 ways to stop overthinking our relationships.

1. Don’t analyze everything that comes out of your partner’s mouth

 “Sometimes people don’t communicate properly and don't always say things that they mean," celebrity relationship expert and TV personality Vikki Ziegler tells SheKnows.

"Just because your partner doesn't say I love you several times a day or is not comfortable with PDA, it doesn't mean you don't have an amazing relationship. Stop obsessing over certain words or lack thereof, and if you feel a certain way, ask your partner — don’t obsess over it,” says Ziegler. 

2. Focus on how you feel instead of assessing the relationship

You could be overthinking the relationship when you should be worrying about how you feel about the relationship/your partner. “Ask yourself how you feel about yourself within the context of the relationship. This can provide a better gauge of where you are than attempting to analyze everything you’ve said, done and experienced as a couple,” says Dr. Jess O’Reilly, Astroglide’s resident sexologist.

3. Consider your "best friend" perspective

Sometimes, your closest friends do offer the best advice. So what advice would you give them? “If you find you’re overthinking interactions, arguments or situations in your relationship, consider the advice you’d give your best friend if they were in the same scenario,” says O’Reilly. “Would you tell them to speak up? Would you tell them to stop overthinking? If so, it’s likely you could benefit from following that same advice.” 

4. Ask yourself, “Do I have too much time on my hands?"

Maybe you’re bored and need something fulfilling to consume you. “Get interested in yourself and make yourself more interesting. Finding a hobby, passion or something that excites you may put the focus where it belongs — on you,” says relationship expert and Platinum Poire CEO, Rori Sassoon. You’ll become so busy you won’t have time to spend your time overthinking a relationship.   

5. Be clear with yourself about what is it you really need in a relationship

Often, overthinking everything about the relationship and your partner is a sign you don’t know what you really want and aren’t getting what you need. “Once you have clarity around what it is that you need, then you can pinpoint if something is missing in your relationship. With the specific knowledge of what is missing, you can talk with your partner so that they also have clarity around what it is that you need,” says Laurel House, dating and relationship coach and host of the Man Whisperer podcast.  

6. Don’t make the problem the star of the show

In other words, stop focusing on what’s wrong and instead redirect your mind to what you want. “This way, you are focusing on the solution and the ideal outcome and how you can achieve it as opposed to the problem,” says House. 

7. Say what you mean & mean what you say to model effective communication

You shouldn’t have to read between the lines to understand your partner’s needs and intentions, so don’t ask them to do the same, says O’Reilly. “You’ll find that the more you model direct communication, the more they’ll reciprocate similarly. You can then listen to what they have to say and trust them instead of analyzing and looking for hidden meaning.” 

8. Train your brain to be more positive

If your mind starts drifting toward what's worrying you about the relationship, turn the wheel and think about your friends or your dog, text your best friend… just stop yourself from thinking about the relationship. “Don’t go thinking of the future or the past. If it’s meant to be with your partner, it will be. Stay present with them and be aware of how they make you feel,” says Sassoon. 

9. Stop gabbing with your friends about all your issues

While it’s nice to have friends who are on your side, it’s not helpful when all they're doing is fueling the fire. “Pity-partying isn’t helpful and in fact can be hurtful. Your friends might have the best intentions, but they might not know how to help you. They likely won’t bring up your faults and ways that you may be aggravating the problem because they don’t want to hurt your feelings or maybe because they are so narrowly focused that they can’t see the bigger reality of the situation,” says House. 

10. See a therapist

Sometimes, getting professional advice and having someone to talk to without judgment can be the best solution to overthinking a relationship. “Most likely, a therapist will diffuse the situation and make you realize you are just overthinking,” says Lindsey Metselaar, a relationship expert and host of the We Met At Acme podcast.

11. Get away for the weekend

Get some fresh air, with or without your significant other. “Your mind will clear, and you'll be able to focus on living in the moment. If you travel without your partner, you will miss them and think of the good times and not overthink,” says Metselaar.   

12. Start focusing on the positive things

Be grateful for the good things your partner does for you and try not to focus on the small things he or she doesn’t do, says Ziegler. “Practicing this will keep you in a state of happiness and prevent you from overanalyzing and overthinking the entire relationship.”

13. Create a journal to track how often your overthinking is happening

You may feel like you're thinking about the relationship all the time, but this will give you a good perspective on how much overthinking you're actually doing and why, says Rachel Perlstein, cofounder of A Good First Date. “In additional to helping quantify, [it will help you] identify specific thought patterns, triggers, underlying emotions. Once you have more understanding, you can take action to address the underlying thoughts, feeling/needs.” 

You’ve likely seen them floating around: the articles claiming Love Actually is one holiday movie not worth its hype and that it’s problematic in some way. This, dear hearts, is not one of those articles. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. We’re here to reiterate all the reasons to still love Love Actually.

Because — to quote this holiday treasure — it’s (almost) Christmas, and at (almost) Christmas you tell the truth.

Please feel free to imagine us standing on your stoop, presenting these reasons to you on poster board while Christmas carols stream from a stereo.

1. It depicts love in a beautiful array of forms

Does the film contain some of the most heartwarming romances in cinematic history? Sure does. The prime minister and Natalie, Jamie and Aurelia, we’re looking at you. But the movie is so much more than a surface-level rom-com. It shows love in many forms: the deep bond that can build between a stepfather and his stepson, the dark and complex love between a sister and her troubled brother, and honestly, we’re not even sure what between aging rock star Billy Mack and his right-hand man, Joe.

Some of these love stories are messy and complicated, but it doesn’t mean they’re any less filled with love. Which brings us to our next point.

2. It’s sentimental, yet authentic

Herein lies a major source of Love Actually’s magic. Unlike more saccharine examples of the holiday movie genre, this film doesn’t just focus on the happy stuff. It keeps the hard stuff in too because the hard stuff is just as much a part of real life. The movie is even rated R! 

Despite dealing in heartbreaking experiences like the death of a loved one, unrequited love, adultery and self-sacrifice, Love Actually somehow still manages to impart all of the classic warm and fuzzy holiday-film feels. How is that? 

3. It pulls off the vignette movie better than most

Eight love stories form the foundation of Love Actually and, really, there are more when you get in there and start analyzing everything. While we’re not naming any names, many a movie has tried to master the vignette format and failed miserably.

Where they have failed, though, Love Actually shines. Fans of the film may not love every story being told, but they love the movie enough to parse out their favorite arcs.

4. Two words: Andrew Lincoln

Before he was Sheriff Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead's zombpocalypse, Andrew Lincoln simultaneously broke our hearts and made them skip a beat as Love Actually’s Mark, who quietly pines for his best friend’s bride before delivering one of the film’s most iconic romantic moments.

Oh, Mark. Bring your wasted heart our way. Swoon.

5. You feel all the things

Clearly, we’re feeling some kind of way about Mark's unrequited declaration of love. Five minutes before that, we were probably laughing. And 10 minutes before that, there were likely tears. 

Love Actually is the kind of movie that cycles you through every emotion, and you won’t be mad about it either. There’s something so inherently life-affirming about realizing you can traverse your emotions from sorrow to joy and back in the span of a single movie.

6. It just never gets old

This movie came out in 2003, meaning it’s been around for nearly two decades and we’re still not tired of it. Conservatively, we’ve watched it 15 times or more — at least once every holiday season. And, yet, it never feels stale or outdated. If we’re really being honest, it feels more salient than ever.  

Because the world needs more love, not less, and Hugh Grant’s prime minister offers an important reminder to that effect in the first five minutes of the film: “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”

The new Starbucks and Ban.do collection is finally here.

Starbucks teamed up with Ban.do again for an exclusive limited-edition collection of six adorable floral-printed items. Items include a collectible ornament, a ceramic traveler, a 16-ounce cold cup, a 12-ounce ceramic mug, a notebook set and a pencil pouch. Prices range from $9.95 to $19.95.

"The spirit of gifting is a huge part of who we are as a brand, not only because a lot of our products make great gifts, but because gift giving promotes togetherness and thoughtfulness, which are two huge parts of our brand philosophy," said Ali LaBelle, creative director of art and design at Ban.do, in a press release. "We wanted this collection to feel festive regardless of what you celebrate. We've also never created an ornament before, so it was really exciting to design something as iconic as the Starbucks holiday ornament."

Starbucks collectible ornament, $9.95 at Starbucks

12-ounce ceramic double-wall traveler, $19.95 at Starbucks 

12-ounce ceramic mug, $12.95 at Starbucks

Pencil pouch, $13.95 at Starbucks

Notebook set, $11.95 at Starbucks

The limited-edition collection is available in select Starbucks U.S.- and Canada-licensed store locations, including inside grocery stores, airports, hotels and retailers. 

But if you can’t find it in stores and you want it for free, Ban.do’s giveaway contest ends today — so, hurry! Enter ASAP!

Ban.do and Starbucks’ partnership started the summer of 2017 with a Los Angeles-inspired collection released in the Asia-Pacific region. Following the success of that launch, Ban.do released its first Starbucks collection exclusively in U.S.- and Canada-licensed stores this past fall.

"Ban.do celebrated 10 years in business this year, so it's been a year to be thankful for,” said Lana Hansen, chief growth officer at Ban.do, in the same press release. “We're lucky to be in the gift industry which celebrates people and to team up with Starbucks to kick-off the holiday season is a dream! It's an honor to have Starbucks' ongoing support to create these special moments for our communities at such a meaningful time of the year."

Ember mug, $149.95 at Starbucks

Starbucks also released a temperature-controlled Ember mug. The 12-ounce white travel mug is pretty pricey, though. It’s $149.95, but it's likely worth every penny.

Octavia Spencer is busy transforming her body and improving her well-being, and she’s doing it with the help of a famous friend: Mark Wahlberg. When she decided to kick up her exercise regimen, the acclaimed actor turned to her Instant Family costar. Bonus? She’s been documenting her process via Instagram. 

Basically, if you need a bit of workout inspo, she’s your woman. Spencer does the work — just ask Wahlberg.

In a video posted to Wahlberg's Instagram account on Sept. 24, he appeared alongside Spencer to rave about her dedication. He says she goes to sleep at 7 a.m., wakes up at 2 a.m. and is at Wahlberg’s gym by 3:30 a.m. to squeeze in her workout. And, per Wahlberg, she “puts in the work” like “no one has ever seen.”

In addition to workout videos showing some of the fitness endeavors she's undertaking, Spencer frequently posts aspirational progress pictures. 

On Oct. 24, she shared a refreshingly vulnerable video on Instagram discussing her arms, saying, “I never go sleeveless. But here is what I want to show you. I’ve been working out for years, and the cellulite on my arms has never gone away. It’s melting away from my thighs too!” 

A few days later, she posted a throwback picture to illustrate the difference in her arms. “Posting this picture so you can see the difference in my arms. I was 40 lbs lighter here [than present day],” Spencer wrote, explaining that despite working her upper body “like crazy,” she and her trainer couldn’t seem to vanquish her cellulite.

Spencer credits the transformation in large part to Wahlberg and his Performance Inspired supplements — which she keeps on set to combat mindless snacking from the craft table. 

“The fact that my crew is inspired to do small things to help us all reach our fitness goals makes my heart burst with pride,” she wrote on Instagram Oct. 6. “We work 12 – 14 hours a day, surrounded by comfort snacks just waiting to indulge bad choices. So, I’m introducing them to my @performinspired nutrition family. We will have protein shakes, protein cookies and bars to help keep us on track.” 

Of course, the most important part of this journey is how it makes Spencer feel. And these days, that’s confident. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Wednesday, she playfully discussed her dating life. 

When DeGeneres asked if there were any potential romances happening, Spencer replied, “Kinda. Not really, but did Brad Pitt say something about me, is that what this is about? ‘Cause I saw him Sunday. I saw Brad Pitt Sunday night, and I squeezed him. Is that what this is about?” 

She continued, joking, “Well, you can hook me up with Brad. But we’re just friends, Brad and I, don’t start that rumor, Ellen. Brad and I are just friends. Brad Pitt.” 

Hey, we’re not hating the idea of an Octavia Spencer-Brad Pitt romance. Or should we say, Broctavia? We kid. We kid. Regardless, we hope Spencer keeps doing her thing in the gym and on-screen, ‘cause she is steady giving us life over here.