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VIDEO: Celine Dion invites airport video guy to meet her

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Celine Dion

Photo credit: Sebastian Gabsch/Future Image/WENN.com

Richard Dunn, the man who became the latest viral internet star, has inspired the muse for his video. Dunn was stuck overnight at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas and decided to use his time wisely. He recorded a video of himself lip-syncing "All By Myself" by Celine Dion in different areas of the airport, and apparently Dion has become a big fan of his.

16 Celebs supposedly in the Illuminati >>

"The video was hilarious and touching. I loved it," Dion said in a video recorded for Dunn.

Dunn's video has been making the rounds online, and it received more than 1 million views the day after it was posted. In one hilarious moment, he even tries to grab the hand of the women's bathroom symbol.

Dion released her response to the video on YouTube for all her fans to see, but it was a message directed to Dunn for his video genius. She also offered him an invitation to meet her next time he is in town.

Music review: Céline Dion "Loved Me Back to Life" >>

"But next time you're stuck all by yourself, at Las Vegas airport for hours and hours and hours, please be my guest at my show," she said. "And by the way, Richard, you're more than welcome to use my bathroom. So, I hope to see you soon."

Watch Richard Dunn's video

All by myself from Richard Dunn on Vimeo.


The Band Perry's Kimberly Perry marries J.P. Arencibia

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Kimberly Perry

Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

It's official — Kimberly Perry is a married woman. According to E! News, the Band Perry singer was married on Thursday to her fiancé J.P. Arencibia.

CMA Music Festival: This is what happens when you send a non-country fan >>

The two were married at a church in Greenville, Tennessee, and the reception was held afterward at Perry's parents' home nearby. Plenty of celebs were in attendance, including Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton and Carrie Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher.

J.P. Arencibia, a catcher for the Texas Rangers, was a fan of Perry's before they ever met. He worked his way backstage at a 2012 concert in Florida and introduced himself. They were engaged back in October 2013.

He proposed to Perry at the same place they held their reception.

"I came back out on the front porch and he was standing there and he got down on one knee," Perry said of the proposal. "It was perfect."

Arencibia also treasured the moment and later shared it with ESPN, saying, "We had it set up that the family was sitting there and I was going to show up at the bottom of the hill and have her see me and have me walk up. They're a close family and I wanted them there."

"I saw that and I thought, 'This is really happening,'" Perry said of her surprise when she showed up at her parents' house.

Our favorite bad-girl songs in CMT Music Awards history >>

As for their relationship, it may have been a whirlwind one, but it was the one Perry was waiting for.

"I've never felt that with anyone before," she said when they got engaged. "He's just a really gentle soul. He balances me for sure."

Congrats to the newlyweds!

Woman's 47-pound tumor removal shows human side of health reform

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Woman's massive tumor removal only possible with ACA

Photo credit: University of Arizona Medical Center

This week, Marcey DiCaro was able to have a 47.5-pound tumor removed from her stomach during surgery. You might have seen the rather graphic image floating around on the internet.

"If the tumor had been let go, it would have killed me," the Arizona resident said in a statement. "I'm happy to be going on walks and getting back in the pool and getting out and enjoying life."

She found the tumor in 2012, which is also when she was lacking health insurance. When she got insurance and scheduled the surgery last year, she found out that the insurance company would only pay for a small portion of the costs. That surgery was later canceled.

That’s where the ACA came in. Under it, DiCaro was able to obtain a policy that covered her pre-existing condition. In April, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor, which took 10 hours.

Woman's massive tumor removal only possible with ACA

Photo credit: University of Arizona Medical Center

"Obamacare" good for the heart?

DiCaro isn’t the only person out there that has an "Obamacare saved me" type of story. A month before DiCaro had her surgery, Dean Angstadt was able to obtain insurance in order to have a sorely needed heart valve-replacement surgery. Angstadt put off getting a policy under the ACA because he wasn’t much of a supporter as it became law.

"For me, this isn't about politics," said Angstadt, from Pennsylvania. "I'm trying to help other people who are like me, stubborn and bullheaded, who refused to even look. From my own experience, the ACA is everything it's supposed to be, and in fact, better than it's made out to be."

Mike O’Dell, a man from Kansas, also needed life-saving surgery — for a new heart. He qualified for Kansas Medicaid, but he couldn’t meet the spend-down requirements for continuous coverage. Through the ACA, he was able to get health insurance and be put on the transplant waiting list. Now the 40-something father of three has a new heart — not to mention a new lease on life.

Note: These stories aren’t meant to promote the ACA — But we do think they are heartwarming tales of how health care reform in general really can impact our lives.

More health news

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Bulletproof blankets aren't a crazy idea

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Children walking in hallway | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Benis Arapovic/Hemera/360/Getty Images

Just before the end of the year, my kids practiced an all-school evacuation drill.

Every child and adult left the school building and walked about three blocks away to practice meeting up at a local church. I was late dropping them off that day and as I drove away I saw neat lines of small bodies snaking down the street, obediently following their teachers.

They were smiling — it was fun for them.

Sandy Hook broke our hearts

It was a lot less fun for me. My eyes filled up with surprised tears and I flashed back to Dec. 14, 2012. That's the day Adam Lanza shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. As the horrible news rolled in that 20 small children and six of their educators had been killed in a matter of gruesome minutes, I found myself identifying with the parents of those babies.

I grieved with them — we all grieved with them.

In the 18 months since the Newtown tragedy, an incident involving a minor or adult shooting actively near or inside a school has occurred, on average, once every five weeks.

That is a terrifying statistic.

It's still happening

Nothing has changed, not the way our leaders promised it would after that school-day slaughter. It is so hard to understand why a nation filled with families tolerates a day-to-day familiarity with death inside our schools.

In the wake of Sandy Hook, a spate of "products" were announced that would keep our kids safe in school — bulletproof backpacks, special covers for door handles that could prevent someone from opening the door from the outside, white boards designed to deflect bullets.

This week, a story in my Facebook feed revived this trend, with bulletproof blankets. The photo of this product depicts kids lying on the floor in a hallway, covered with these mats.

The BodyGuard Blanket, designed by ProTech, has straps that allow the user to put it on like a backpack and duck and cover.

We can't stop it, so how else can we protect them?

The idea didn't start with Sandy Hook — instead, Steve Walker, a podiatrist from Edmund, Oklahoma, was inspired to invent the blanket after a huge tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013, killing several students inside a school that lacked a tornado shelter.

He and his partners decided to use Dyneema, a high-density plastic used for ballistic armor, to enhance the protective properties of the blanket, making it not only resistant to metal debris but also to bullets.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and while I find no fault with a physician using his talents and brainpower to protect kids, I want to weep that our little ones are so vulnerable to violence inside their classrooms that asking administrators to consider investing $1,000 per child to offer them what amounts to a bulletproof vest is starting to seem like a very good idea, indeed.

Yes, it can happen to you — and me, too

My son asked me why he would ever have to leave his school "for real" to meet up at that church down the road. He's almost 6 years old, the age of so many of the victims at Sandy Hook. I hesitated and my 9-year-old daughter stepped in. "In case of a chemical spill," she cheerfully told her little brother.

But I had read the vague email from school. "We are not giving the children specific scenarios in which we would need to evacuate the building."

They were practicing for a school shooting, and I no longer believe that it can't happen to my kids, where I live.

More stories about violence and kids

Connecticut school shooting: How to talk to your kids about violence
Teens and risky behaviors: Violence at school
Are we desensitized to real violence?

TRAILER: Michael Keaton’s Birdman trailer is bizarre and incredible

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Michael Keaton
Photo credit: Daniel Tanner/WENN.com

In case you missed it, Michael Keaton has been making something of a comeback. He's had noticeable supporting roles in both Robocop and Need for Speed, and now he’s taking center stage (literally) in Alejandro González Iñárritu's Birdman.

RoboCop drama: Why did Michael Keaton call Joel Kinnaman a b****? >>

Birdman

This trailer is so strange and mesmerizing that you'll probably want to watch it more than once.

Keaton plays a washed-up actor unable to escape the shadow of his former glory. He's tortured by his past role as an iconic superhero but is also in the midst of mounting a somewhat autobiographical production on Broadway. Meanwhile, he's locked in a battle to overcome his own ego as he struggles to reclaim his past glory.

From what we see in the trailer, Keaton's past comes back to haunt him through visually striking imaginings — or are they hallucinations? — that bring to mind similarly stunning films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Synecdoche, New York.

Celebs weigh in: Fave comic book superhero (or villain)? >>

Of course, what else would we expect from Iñárritu, whose past projects include such complex films as Babel and Biutiful? Still, Iñárritu calls Birdman a comedy — a dark comedy.

And we've got to admit, when Keaton runs through the crowded Broadway streets in his underwear, that dark comedy vibe is totally working for us.

Photo credit: Fox Searchlight

Emma Stone, Edward Norton and Zach Galifianakis deliver just enough face time in the trailer to leave us wanting to see more of this film as soon as humanly possible.

Birdman opens October 17.

PHOTOS: Kim and Kanye's sexy second honeymoon

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Kim Kardashian
Photo credit: Alberto Reyes/WENN.com

After rumors that Kim Kardashian hated the European portion of her honeymoon with new hubby Kanye West, it looks like the reality star is delighted with her current vacation.

PHOTOS: Everyone looks miserable at Kim & Kanye's wedding >>

Kardashian and West are enjoying some sunshine in Punta Mita, Mexico, according to Us Weekly. Unlike the first part of the honeymoon, the blushing bride has been quick to upload photos of herself to Instagram. Kardashian posted some sexy bikini photos today. No photos were ever posted while the couple was vacationing in Europe a couple weeks ago.

Kardashian seems to be enjoying this leg of her honeymoon quite a bit more than the European excursion they went on directly after the wedding. Buzz started swirling that there was already trouble in paradise when the Keeping Up With the Karashians star showed up at LAX solo, and a source told The Daily Mail that Kardashian hated the Irish portion of her honeymoon. According to the tabloid, the vacation was an epic fail because it was filled with activities such as mountain biking and visiting notoriously gloomy parts of Ireland. "Kim's idea of fun is getting dressed up and and going out to some great restaurants and shopping till she drops in some of Europe's most posh boutiques, not roughing it in the country," the source said. Sunbathing poolside is definitely more Kardashian's style.

Now that the reality princess has settled into her current vacation, has the babymaking portion of the honeymoon commenced? Rumor has it that it's game on for West baby No. 2. A source told People magazine that the newlyweds "both want more kids" and "more kids are definitely in the plan."

Kardashian and West were married on May 24 in a lavish ceremony at Forte di Belvedere, a newly renovated 16th-century fortress in Florence, Italy. Nearly 200 guests attended the affair, and the couple were serenaded by Andrea Bocelli as the bride walked down the aisle.

VIDEO: Simple homemade fries

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Simple homemade fries recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2-1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion salt
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 cup water, or as needed
  • 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying

Directions:

  1. Slice the potatoes into french fries.
  2. Place the fries into cold water so they won't turn brown while you prepare the oil.
  3. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
  4. While the oil is heating, in a large bowl, mix together the flour, garlic salt, onion salt, (regular) salt and paprika.
  5. Gradually stir in enough water so that the mixture can be drizzled from a spoon.
  6. Dip the potato slices into the batter, and then place them in the hot oil so they are not touching at first. The fries must be placed into the skillet one at a time, or they will clump together.
  7. Fry until golden brown and crispy.
  8. Remove from the oil, and drain on paper towels.

More fries recipes

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Robert Pattinson has heavy saliva, does weird things on set

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Robert PattinsonPhoto credit: WENN.com

A self-professed homeless man, Robert Pattinson also suffers from heavy saliva and has a knack for doing weird things on set while working.

The Twilight hunk stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night to promote his latest film, The Rover, and revealed he has "extraordinarily heavy saliva" while he does interviews. The British actor went on to say that he is now very "self-conscious" about the issue. "If I try and spit, I can only get it about a foot," he joked.

POLL: Will Robert Pattinson ruin the Indiana Jones franchise? >>

Pattinson also admitted that the saliva issue is the reason why he constantly lies about everything.

"I find it easier when I'm lying, for some reason, the saliva... I think the panic and the adrenalin makes the saliva thin out," the adorable oddball said.

But that's not the only bizarre thing Pattinson divulged about himself. During the premiere of The Rover that same night, Pattinson spoke to E! News on the red carpet and spilled some more self-deprecating goodies for his fans.

Robert Pattinson's performance in The Rover will change your mind about Indiana Jones >>

"I like to do weird things in between takes to really get into it," he said, adding that the lack of swarming paparazzi on the desert-like set of the film allowed him to do this. "Normally I'd be hiding in a corner somewhere."

While Pattinson did not go into detail about what exactly the "weird things" he does on set are, he did disclose he's homeless at the moment.

Robert Pattinson reportedly dating hot model >>

"My parents borrowed my house, which I was borrowing from someone else," Pattinson explained. "They kicked me out of it when I got back from Toronto. That's the end of that. I'm now homeless again."

He added that he is sure one of his "minions" knows where his clothes and stuff are being kept at the moment, because he's not totally aware of their exact location.


The app that lets you text a doctor anytime, anywhere

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Mom texting and holding baby

Photo credit: Tom Merton Collection/Caiaimage/Getty Images

The new mobile app, First Opinion, aims to give patients quick answers to their most pressing medical questions.

Why go to your phone when you’ve got a question? Well, it takes about nine minutes to get an answer from the service, it says; it can take eons to hear back from your typical primary care provider.

First Opinion

Photo credit: First Opinion

What about privacy, you may ask? The sign-up process asks only for your first name and email address. Then you’re paired with a doctor. And, for all you moms out there that have questions about your child’s health, rest assured: All the doctors are moms.

C.E.O. McKay Thomas came up with the idea for First Opinion after his wife got pregnant in a foreign country and had issues communicating with her physician thousands of miles away. The service has raised about $2.6 million from investors.

First Opinion

Photo credit: First Opinion

How reliable are the texts for medical answers?

The doctors on the service are screened by the company, and peers can review them so you can look at the ratings. The app launched last year and has completed 30,000 consultations over the past six months. The app focuses mostly on preventive care — so don’t go text-happy in a crisis.

"We introduce the doctor through the app by showing members the most important information about the doctor including how long they've been practicing, what type of doctor they are, how many consults they've completed and what their star rating is, and how many kids they have," Thomas said.

There is a bit of patient bias as far as it relates to the app: Right now, it’s only available on Apple devices.

Mobile health in the news

In related news, here are a few more recent headlines on mobile health:

  • The leading mobile health service in the nation, Text4baby, was found to have significant benefits for expectant mothers, according to a study out of the George Washington University and the Madigan Army Medical Center.
  • Want to know how iPhone and Android users measure up when they’re using mobile devices for health and fitness information? A study from Opera Mediaworks found that iPhone users focus on health and medical, while Android users prefer fitness content. The data was based on 500 million monthly ad impressions from over 400 mobile sites and apps on the Opera Mediaworks platform. They found that 62 percent of iPhone users were interested in health, while 58 percent were interested in fitness. Of Android users, 39 percent consume more fitness content as compared to 30 percent taking in health content.
  • A Manhattan Research study of 3,000 physicians found that more than 33 percent endorse mobile health apps to help patients improve diet and lifestyle. That figure is up 13 percent from two years ago.

More health stories

Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings has a sweet health secret
Can you decode the most recognizable smiles in Hollywood?
Stress frazzles sperm: Study connects another link to infertility

7 Celebrities with surprisingly exotic pets

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Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber

Photo credit: ATP/WENN.com, David_Pibrac/iStock/360/Getty images

So, Justin Bieber walks into an airport with a monkey... don't worry, it's not the start of a bad joke. Well, sort of. For the Biebs' birthday last year, producer Jamal "Mally Mall" Rashid gifted Justin with a baby capuchin monkey. Unfortunately for OG Mally, the name given to the monkey, German customs officials detained Bieber and his crew when they discovered the monkey aboard Bieber's private jet at Franz Josef Strauss Airport. When they found out the Biebs didn't have the proper documentation for the monkey, they quarantined the little fella. Sadly, Bieber failed to produce the paperwork in a timely manner, but don't worry — this simian story has a happy ending. Cute Mally is starting a new life at a zoo in Germany with a family of fellow capuchins.

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere

Photo credit: WENN.com, WayPhanthit/iStock/360/Getty images

In January, Nashville star Hayden Panettiere surprised the Twitter world when she shared a picture of herself snuggling with a pretty unconventional animal: a snake. But unlike the huge constrictor she showed up with on the set of Live with Kelly and Michael to freak out snake-phobic host Michael Strahan, this particular snake is small — likely a juvenile corn snake. And this wasn't the first time Panettiere took to Twitter to share a little snake love. In 2012, the animal activist posted a photo of two slithery creatures, proudly proclaiming, "Our new baby Corn Snakes!"

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage

Photo credit: WENN.com, OceanBodhi/iStock/360/Getty images

Sure, plenty of people have aquariums. And, yes, perhaps some of them are filled with exotic fish. However, we think it's pretty safe to say few people (if any) have pet octopuses. Of course, Nicolas Cage is not your run-of-the-mill civilian, as well all know. At the height of his big-spending (you know, prior to the tax-evasion charges), Cage shelled out big chunks of change for all manner of random things — none, it would seem, more strange than his own pet octopus. Even stranger? He claimed he purchased the $150,000 sea creature to become a better actor by studying other life forms. Umm... OK.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Photo credit: WENN.com, Kristel Richard/iStock/360/Getty images

As they say, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl. Although Southern star Reese Witherspoon lives in Los Angeles with her family, she has a virtual menagerie of farmyard friends. During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2010, the pretty star revealed she had added two miniature donkeys — named Honky and Tonky — to her growing brood. "They're called donks," she told Ellen. "They're docile and sweet. We have a friend who had one, and we thought it was really cute." In addition to the donks, it's interesting to note that Witherspoon also has pigs, goats, chickens and a horse at her Los Angeles home. "It's so good for the kids to learn about animals and kindness and compassion," she said. "I make them clean the stalls."

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Photo credit: WENN.com, John A. Beatty/Moment/Getty images

For a man who many say is a notorious commitment-phobe, Leonardo DiCaprio certainly made a considerably impressive one in 2010. While attending the North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Show with Inception co-star Lukas Haas, DiCaprio paid $400 for a 38-pound Sulcata tortoise. Reportedly 10 years old when DiCaprio bought him, the tortoise could easily live for 80 years (not to mention grow to as big as 200 pounds). No word on what the The Wolf of Wall Street star named his terrapin friend, but we do know that's one lucky tortoise.

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart

Photo credit: WENN.com, DelafrayeNicolas/iStock/360/Getty images

Is Kristen Stewart a prime example of life imitating art? You might say so, since the Twilight star — who gallivanted with werewolves as Bella Swan — runs with a pack of wolves in real life, too. During a visit to the Late Show with David Letterman to promote the Twilight films, Stewart showed off pictures of her and her mother's wolf hybrids. "This is my pet," the actress revealed when Letterman held up one particular picture. "This is Jack. He's our oldest male. I know he looks kind of scary — he's a wolf. He's really sweet." But while her proclivity for wolf-kind may be a byproduct of her role in the Twilight franchise, it more likely has to do with her mother. "It's my mom's deal. Maybe it's a bit of empty-nest syndrome, and she needed to raise more children, because they really are hard to take car of," Stewart explained.

Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice
Photo credit: WENN.com, stephenmeese/iStock/360/Getty image

Vanilla Ice might have a tough exterior, but the onetime rap star is kind of a softie when it comes to his fur kids. Years ago when Ice's 60-pound pet wallaroo — a hybrid between a kangaroo and a wallaby — busted out of Ice's grandmother's yard and went on a little walkabout, Ice was distraught at the thought of losing Bucky Buckaroo. Fortunately, the traveling rascal was caught by animal control officers in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and returned to the rapper (after forking over a $220 fine and vowing to get updated permits for keeping the exotic animal). Ice's manager said at the time, "He called me and said that he got both of his pets [Bucky and the goat he escaped with] back and was extremely happy that he didn't have to give them up."

More on exotic pets

10 Pets to fall in love with besides a cat or dog
6 Aquatic pets that aren't fish
Reasons pet turtles and tortoises are awesome

American Horror Story: Sarah Paulson doubles your pleasure

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American Horror Story: Sarah Paulson

Photo credit: FX

American Horror Story has reinvented itself every season, but Season 4 could be the freakiest installment yet. And we mean that literally.

A few months ago, American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy announced that the new season of AHS would be centered on a freak show in a 1950s carnival. It's a description that sets one's imagination running with images of scary clowns, people eating fire and doing contortions that would make your stomach turn.

Is American Horror Story headed to the carnival? >>

The latest bit of information isn't stomach-turning so much as it is intriguing. Star Sarah Paulson posted a picture on Twitter that showed what character she would be playing in Season 4.

Or should we say, what characters.

The horror! Is Jessica Lange leaving American Horror Story? >>

Paulson revealed that she has taken on the roles of Bette and Dot, conjoined twins that are part of the carnival's set of "freaks." The photo shows Paulson looking as lovely as ever, times two. It's impossible to know yet which twin is Bette and which is Dot, but they both seem to have a lot of class and style. Their hair and makeup is flawless and from what we can see of their dress, it looks like the picture of fashion for the time.

After seeing the photo we have to wonder how Bette and Dot came to be in a freak show in the first place. They don't seem to belong in that type of environment, though it is a sad fact that people weren't as tolerant of differences back in those days. Are the twins two ladies who, if they'd been born at another time, would be running a corporation today? Or is there some sinister secret they are hiding that explains why they might just belong in a freak show?

American Horror Story: Coven premiere date, new trailer >>

Details about the newest season are still sparse but if Paulson's photo is any indication, it could end up being the most disturbing yet.

Will Grisha trilogy's Alina & Mal live happily ever after? Leigh Bardugo spills

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Leigh Bardugo

Photo credit: Kevin Rolly

According to author Leigh Bardugo, "Every book you read, good or bad, has some kind of influence on what you do." She remembers reading Stephen King's It at summer camp one year (not the best book to read alone in the woods, but still). She says, "I loved those kids. I was rooting for them. That is what makes for a great story."

Apparently, fans of Bardugo's acclaimed Grisha trilogy agree, as fan art, cosplay and yes, even some kinky role-playing have all been attributed to the characters she first created in 2012's Shadow and Bone.

Shadow and Bone followed orphans Alina and Mal, friends since childhood and now part of Ravka's army. While crossing the Fold, an unnatural patch of darkness, Alina reveals an unknown power that catches the attention of the infamous Grisha leader, the Darkling.

INTERVIEW: Beautiful Creatures authors reveal the YA books that saved their lives >>

The final in the Grisha Trilogy.

The Grisha are kind of like classy X-Men, in that they wear cool robes and each have their own superpower, ranging from Healers to Inferni (who make fire). The Darkling is the most powerful of them all, but even he can't lift the darkness in the Fold. Alina, in fact, might be the only person who can.

Of course, there's plenty of romantic tension as Alina fights her feelings for Mal (picture a butch Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and the Darkling (no doubt, in my head, Benedict Cumberbatch). Plus, the characters go through some massive changes in book two, Siege and Storm, and the ending was anything but easy.

What can we expect from the epic finale, Ruin and Rising? Bardugo doesn't pull any punches. She says, "I won't lie. There are some big deaths and big transformations in book three that I hope will hit the readers hard because they hit the characters hard." (Mercy! Mercy!)

Still, she does not want us to feel utterly destroyed by the final page (think Hunger Games, book three). "It was important for me to not write a third book that was utterly bleak," she says. "There's always moments where characters are laughing or friendships are formed, sometimes unexpectedly, and I think that's important. People, even in dire circumstances, use humor as a way to survive the bad stuff."

The next big thing for YA: Is dystopian dead? >>

And thank goodness she writes by that rule. Bardugo does knock her readers over the head on occasion, but she knows to add a good laugh just in time to save the day.

Over the course of the Grisha books one and two, Bardugo has created an amazingly entertaining cast of characters, including battling twins, a crazed (in a good way) sea captain and even some jealous teenage girls.

Of all these characters, Bardugo doesn't relate to one in particular. Instead, she says there's a little of her in each of her Grisha gang. "There are times when I relate to the Darkling's loneliness and times when I relate to Mal's jealousy or Alina's insecurity. They all have a little piece of me in them."

They've also become friends of hers, which is why the completion of the trilogy came with some unexpected emotion for Bardugo. She says, "The end of the series has been in the works for years, but to actually do those scenes and bring it all to a close was much more emotional than I expected. I didn't think I would be as affected by it as I was."

5 Reasons Tearling is the next Hunger Games >>

I feel her pain. I've been staring at book three for weeks. I refuse to open Ruin and Rising — not yet — because as soon as I open it, I'll have to one day close it and then, the Grisha trilogy will be over. Or will it?

It was recently announced that Bardugo has signed for a two-book deal with Henry Holt & Co. for a new project called The Dregs, which will also take place in the Grisha world on a small island called Kerch. It will be a different cast of characters but along the same timeline as the original trilogy. So despair not, Grisha fans; the world you love has not really come to an end.

As I prepare to read Ruin and Rising, I have so many questions. Will Alina and Mal finally live happily ever after? Will the Darkling find the light? And what of my beloved Sturmhond? Only Leigh Bardugo knows for sure, but I'm finally ready to find out as I say a fretful farewell to one of my favorite young adult trilogies.

Photo credit: Amazon

More YA magic

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Twilight, American Pie director Chris Weitz to release YA book
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Spicy shrimp quesadillas with chipotle-avocado sauce

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Spicy shrimp quesadillas with chipotle avocado sauce

Quesadillas are one of my go-to quick weeknight dinner ideas. You can take just about anything you find hanging out in your fridge and turn it into a delicious dinner option. Plus it's loaded with cheese, and who doesn't love cheese? This quesadilla is packed full of spicy pepper jack cheese, spicy chunky salsa and sweet shrimp. What's more is the chipotle-avocado dipping sauce that you will want to start using on everything.

Spicy shrimp quesadillas with chipotle avocado sauce

Spicy shrimp quesadillas with chipotle-avocado sauce recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients: 

  • 2 small flour tortillas
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 2 tablespoons spicy salsa
  • 6 cooked shrimp
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder

Directions:

  1. Lay out a small flour tortilla, and top it with 1/4 cup of shredded cheese, salsa, shrimp, another 1/4 cup of shredded cheese and the other tortilla.
  2. In small skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the quesadilla, and cook until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese has started to melt.
  3. Flip the quesadilla, and cook the other side until the tortilla is browned and the cheese has melted.
  4. Let the quesadilla cool while you prepare the sauce.
  5. Cut open the avocado, remove the flesh, and mash it together with the lime juice and chipotle chile powder.
  6. Serve the sauce with the quesadilla.

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Female nipples: Overhyped, sexualized and censored

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Woman hiding her nipples | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: ONOKY - Fabrice LEROUGE/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

The female nipple has been the subject of much scrutiny as of late — and going around topless in public is only part of the controversy. Breastfeeding in public has always been a hot topic, and unfortunately remains something that some feel should be "hidden" or at least covered. But you know what? That's not a requirement, and thinking that way is oppressive.

Free the Nipple

You may have seen the #freethenipple hashtag trending on Twitter. The idea behind the movement is that an exposed female nipple is no more inappropriate than an exposed male nipple. Celebrity adherents, most notably Scout Willis, have taken to the streets, demonstrating how going topless in NYC (for example) is legal, but the photos of such activity cannot be posted to social media sites like Instagram or Facebook.

The issue is pervasive in the parenting community as well, with moms being asked to cover up, go to the bathroom or even leave the premises when they breastfeed their child. A short PSA, starring Soko, Rumer Willis and Tyler Jacob Moore has been released titled, "Everybody's Gotta Eat." The premise is simple — we're humans, we're hungry and we eat. With no shame, with no conflict and with no disgust. These same principles need to be applied to babies and their mothers who need to breastfeed them.

Paala Secor has been personally involved in the #freethenipple campaign since Facebook lifted its ban on exposed nipples in breastfeeding photos, and she tells me that she loves this video. "I really appreciate how simple and straightforward Free the Nipple was about this issue," she explains. "Humans eat food. Babies have the right to eat as well. Mothers have the right to feed them without harassment."

Paala Secor breastfeeding | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Nicole DiGiorgio/Sweetness and Light Photography

Facebook's recent policy change prompted Paala to post photos of herself nursing her little boy, skin-to-skin, including an exposed nipple on the non-nursing breast. This has resulted in tons of support as well as criticism and condemnation, and unfortunately internet "trolls" are working overtime to try to get her photos removed and her banned from the site.

However, she says that her participation is not all about her. "It's about the big picture," she shares. "It's about decriminalizing the female body, stopping the shaming and harassment of women for, well, just being women. My mother warned me about what it was like to be a female in a man's world when I was just a little girl. I was confused at the time but looking back, she was just trying to warn me. I hope I never have to tell my daughters that. I'm working for them."

More on breastfeeding in public

This breastfeeding graduate is doing it right
Delta's breastfeeding "policy" on Twitter creates uproar
Do private breastfeeding areas discourage public nursing?

How moms are climbing out of the darkness of mental illness

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Depressed mother | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Tetra Images - Jamie Grill/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

Why Climb Out of the Darkness?

I suffered from horrific postpartum anxiety before I'd ever heard of it. My doctor had given me a pamphlet on postpartum depression (PPD), and I knew I wasn't experiencing that. I figured at the time that PPD only meant suddenly wanting to harm yourself or your baby. I lived with near-constant, crippling fear without knowing that what I was experiencing wasn't normal. I remember being unable to walk near pictures on the walls while holding my newborn son, because I was afraid the frames would fall and kill him. I didn't know to ask for help, and I didn't see a light at the end of the tunnel. Climb Out of the Darkness touches me on a personal level because I don't want women to feel alone and lost while in the grip of mental illness. Women need to know that help is available, and that it will get better.

How the climb supports women

Though awareness of postpartum depression has spread, lesser-known disorders like postpartum anxiety, OCD, PTSD, psychosis and pregnancy depression continue to plague moms. Postpartum Progress began as a blog and has evolved into a crucial resource for women looking for education, support and hope. Last year's climb raised $40,000 for the nonprofit. This year's climb just surpassed $100,000. Over 1,000 women are climbing, walking, biking and running to celebrate hope and honor the struggles of women who have faced perinatal mood disorders and anxiety. With the support of donations, Postpartum Progress can continue to provide directories for women to find support and treatment, private forums, educational materials and news.

It's about community

Katherine Stone, founder of Postpartum Progress, actively engages with members of her community on Facebook. Stone promised to get a tattoo of Postpartum Progress's iconic warrior mom logo if the climb raised over $100,000. With that goal now met, she's ready to make a permanent statement. I have tattoos that represent my children, and I got them at a time in my life when it felt like I would never escape the stifling clutches of anxiety. Now, the colorful birds on my back are a reminder that I've healed. Anxiety isn't forever, but it feels like it will be when you're lost in it. Having a community full of women who are in the same place — and more importantly, who have found relief — is a crucial part of the healing process.

When fundraising is about conversation

There's no minimum goal to participate in Climb Out of the Darkness. Registration is free. By encouraging women to find their own ways to get sponsors for the climb, this event spurs conversation. Women who may have never told loved ones and friends about their struggles with mental illness can bring it up in the framework of fundraising and embarking on the climb. The more we talk, the more we remove the stigma from mental health issues surrounding pregnancy and motherhood. We still have so many mountains to climb.

More on postpartum depression

Symptoms of postpartum depression
Birth disappointment: When things don't go as planned

Real moms share: How I beat the baby blues


VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon, Gov. Chris Christie are dancing dads

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Photo credit: WENN.com

We all remember our dads embarrassing us out on the dance floor at family parties and weddings over the years. In honor of Father's Day, Jimmy Fallon, along with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, danced their way through a viral video of the "History of Dad Dancing" on The Tonight Show.

In true dad form, the talk-show host was outfitted in khakis, deck shoes, a blue polo shirt and a big gray mustache. Christie copied that look as the two dancing dads shimmied their way through some hilarious moves.

VIDEO: Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Fallon do the tight-pants dance >>

From the "Lawn Mower" to the "Belt Grabber," awkward dad moves were in full effect throughout the entire video. While Fallon danced rather confidently throughout the piece, the governor often looked a little ill at ease. He was often seen glancing at the TV personality to double check he was in time with his dance partner.

The men's favorite dance was clearly "The Dance You Do at a Springsteen Concert" as they played air guitars and rocked out to the Boss' tunes. It's probably the most masculine moment of the entire piece.

The three-minute video ends with a nod to Christie's recent George Washington Bridge scandal with Fallon wagging his finger for the "This Bridge is Closed" dance. The politician dramatically storms off the set only to return for an encore of the Springsteen concert dance moves.

VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon, Terry Crews in oily nip-sync battle >>

The possible 2016 presidential candidate is working hard to rebrand his image after his administration closed traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge in September. It caused a four-day traffic jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The governor claims to have no knowledge of the closure.

Will this help his marred image? Watch Governor Chris Christie dance with Jimmy Fallon.

Marc Anthony's child support dues could have been worse

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Marc Anthony

Photo credit: Derrick Salters/WENN.com

Marc Anthony isn't exactly a winner in his fight with ex-wife Dayanara Torres over how much child support he should pay monthly for their two sons, but things could have been a lot worse for Anthony if she'd completely gotten her way.

Word broke Friday that a judge ordered the singer to pay $26,000 per month to support Christian Anthony Muñiz and Ryan Anthony Muñiz. The amount is double what he had been paying but still a far cry from the amount the former beauty queen initially requested.

Marc Anthony is ugly? The singer's own dad told him so >>

Though it's tough to believe, Torres originally asked the courts to raise her typically friendly ex's payments from $13,400 per month to a whopping $123,426 per month.

In addition to her request for increased child support, the 39-year-old beauty claimed that she needed between $4,000 and $7,000 a month for a nanny and a housekeeper and that she has been forced to sell her home and move into "a hovel" in Los Angeles.

Marc Anthony splits with much younger girlfriend after one year >>

As part of his reasoning against paying such a large amount, Anthony brought in an expert to weigh in on the dangerous effects affluence could have on their two sons. TMZ previously reported that the psychologist's written declaration to the judge discussed the "problems of children who are raised with near unlimited funds, particularly children in Los Angeles whose parents have made very large amounts of money in the entertainment industry."

The expert added that children from exceptionally wealthy families "become high-risk for illicit drugs, alcohol and a fast-paced lifestyle that they are not emotionally capable of handling" in their tween and teen years.

Anthony isn't alone in having hefty child support payments to make. Halle Berry was ordered just this week to pay $16,000 per month to Gabriel Aubry to support their daughter Nahla.

What do you make of a star having to pay so much child support?

Kathy Griffin to emcee Daytime Emmy Awards

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Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

It's going to be an interesting Daytime Emmys this year. It won't be televised for the first time in 40 years, and Kathy Griffin has been announced as the host of the show.

The awards show was unable to find a network to host this year after spending the last two years on HLN. The 2013 ratings were low for the telecast, so the network opted not to re-sign.

Kathy Griffin thanks Justin Bieber during Grammys speech >>

In order to keep the show available to viewers, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is using Livestream to broadcast the show on the web. Fans will be able to watch the show at DaytimeEmmys.net.

In addition to the new broadcast format, NATAS announced Griffin as the official emcee for the evening.

Griffin said in an official statement on Friday, "I am beyond thrilled to be hosting what I'm told is the most important television event of the year. Knowing that over 100 million people from every corner of the planet will be watching, I will try to keep my nerves at bay and deliver a great show. I can only hope that at the end of the evening, critics and fans alike will compare it to the experience they once had watching Neil Armstrong take man's first step on the moon. My only regret is knowing that this epic evening will distract millions of viewers from enjoying this year's World Cup. I apologize to FIFA."

Kathy Griffin flashes granny panties at Gloria Estefan >>

As a two-time Emmy winner, the comedian is sure to bring lots of laughs and irreverent moments to the show. However, the executives in charge don't seem to be worried.

Chairman of NATAS Malachy G. Wienges said, "We are very excited to have Kathy leading our ceremony this year. She is a beloved figure in the community, and we know that she will have audiences laughing the night away as we honor the brightest stars in our industry on a global stage."

The Daytime Emmys are set for Sunday, June 22, in Beverly Hills, California.

Matt Lauer agrees to new contract with the Today show

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Matt Lauer

Photo credit: Joel Ginsburg/WENN.com

Matt Lauer may be one of the most consistent faces at the Today show, and he agreed to keep that face on the air for a little while longer.

VIDEO: Miley Cyrus says Matt Lauer is too old for sex >>

The host agreed to a contract extension with NBC to keep him on the Today show, which he's been on since 1994. The Today show has been floundering in recent years, losing out to Good Morning America on ratings. Lauer's own popularity suffered two years ago when Ann Curry left the show. But he quickly bounced back, and NBC was said to be happy to have him re-sign, according to the Associated Press.

"Matt really isn't the problem with the show," Shelley Ross, a former executive producer for both ABC and CBS, told the AP. "Matt still, I think, is one of the all-time anchor greats. I clearly think the Today show is rattled. It's not the confident show it once was."

According to Nielsen, Good Morning America is still on top, but Today is gaining on the ABC morning show. Over the last year, GMA's audience grew 8 percent, with an average of 5.7 million people watching each morning. Today grew 9 percent and is now at 5.1 million, and CBS This Morning grew 11 percent and is now at 3.1 million.

NBC wouldn't say exactly how long Lauer's contract was extended but did say it was for "multiple years." Neither would NBC disclose his salary, although it was previously reported at $25 million, according to Reuters.

Carson Daly officially joins the cast of the Today show >>

"We couldn't be more thrilled with Matt's decision," NBC News President Deborah Turness said. "As I've said many times before, he's the best in the business, and there is nobody I would rather have in the Today anchor chair than Matt."

"I consider this the best job in broadcasting," Lauer said. "I love the people I work with every day, and I have such respect and gratitude for the people I work for. I couldn't be happier to be staying."

Maks Chmerkovskiy is single but wants babies

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Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

Maks Chmerkovskiy can't even enjoy his mirror-ball trophy win because everyone is still speculating about his dating life. Even he is getting sick of all of the rumors.

On Friday, he tweeted out a message from India, where he is working as a guest judge on that country's version of Dancing With the Stars.

Maks Chmerkovskiy, Meryl Davis reunited for dinner date >>

Over the last several weeks, the media has been gossiping about his possible involvement with his DWTS partner Meryl Davis, his former girlfriend Kate Upton and newly single Jennifer Lopez. He just wants to be single and have fun right now.

However, there's one thing he's ready to do — be a father. In a recent interview with Social Life Magazine, Chmerkovskiy said, "I raised so many children at the studio that I am ready to create one of my own. I am ready to have a family now. I need an outlet. I have so much I want to give, and I need someone to give it to."

Maks Chmerkovskiy & Meryl Davis' love: Beyond romance >>

There will probably be women lining up to share that family life with the bad boy of the ABC competition show. He's been a fan favorite ever since he joined the show back in 2006.

One thing his future lady will need to understand is his relationship with his "extremely tight family."

Chmerkovksiy told the magazine, "My brother, Valentin, shares a place with me in L.A., and my mom and dad come to the West Coast to visit me often. I am very close with my dad: we are best friends."

Hopefully, his fans are taking note of the qualities he is looking for in a future mate — lots of babies and family time.

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