Coming up with beautifully composed dishes can be a challenge for nonprofessional chefs like us. But one thing I've learned over my years of cooking and creating recipes is to not walk away from challenging dishes, because they are usually easier to prepare than you think. This dish can be on your table in half an hour, impressing your guests and family with its presentation and especially its taste.

One of my favorite Asian flavors is teriyaki. It creates a perfect harmony of sweetness, saltiness and a hint of tartness on my palate. The rice tossed in with the remaining sauce in the pan gives an added boost of flavor to this dish and is a perfect accompaniment to the beef rolls.

30-Minute teriyaki beef rolls with green beans recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces (about 33 pieces) green beans, ends cut off
• 6 thin slices (about 10 ounces) beef
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• Olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 3 cups cooked rice

Directions:

1. Over high heat, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the green beans for 5 minutes, and then transfer them to a bowl with ice and water to stop the cooking. When they are cold, drain, and set them aside.
2. While waiting for the water for the green beans to boil, tenderize the meat. On a chopping board, place a slice of beef flat, and cover it with a layer of plastic wrap. With a meat tenderizer, pound the meat. Repeat with the other slices of beef, and then rub the slices with salt and pepper.
3. To prepare the marinade, in a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, mirin, honey, 1/2 tablespoon of sesame seeds and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Set the mixture aside.
4. On a chopping board, lay 1 slice of beef on the side closer to you, and place 5 pieces of green beans onto the beef. The green beans should be the same length as the width of the beef slice.
5. Tightly roll up the beef, and tie a cord around the roll to keep it from opening up.
6. Once you have rolled up all the slices of beef with green beans, place the rolls into a shallow bowl, and pour the marinade over them.
7. Finely chop the remaining green beans, and set them aside.
8. In a saucepan with olive oil over medium heat, sauté the garlic for 1 minute, and then brown the rolls. Discard the garlic when it turns golden brown.
9. When the rolls are browned, add the chopped green beans and the sauce.
10. Add 2 tablespoons of water, and let the sauce thicken, about 8 minutes.
11. When the rolls are cooked, slice them into 2-inch pieces, and then slice away the ends of the rolls to make them even. Finely chop the ends, and set them aside.
12. Transfer the rolls to a serving plate with some sauce from the saucepan. Leave some sauce in the saucepan to cook with the rice.
13. Place the chopped ends of the rolls into the saucepan, add the rice, and toss with the remaining sauce.
14. Serve while hot. Drizzle the rice and rolls with the remaining sesame oil and sesame seeds.

More teriyaki recipes

Teriyaki mango and apple meatballs
Slow cooker sticky honey teriyaki chicken
Teriyaki tofu and spinach ramen bowl

Photo credit: WENN.com

Despite how it looks at first glance, Tori Spelling reportedly has not changed her Twitter handle because of any Dean McDermott drama. As word spreads that the star, who has gone by the address @torianddean for years, can now be found at @Tori_Spelling, gossip is kicking up.

VIDEO: Was Tori Spelling's hospital stay faked for her reality show? >>

"Tori wanted to change it before her show Mystery Girls premiered," a source claiming to have insider knowledge on the topic is quoted as telling Us Weekly. "She wanted to change it for a while."

Getting her account in line with her co-star, actress and fellow mom, Jennie Garth, was apparently on Spelling's mind.

"She didn't want to do the new show press and have the Twitter be @jenniegarth and @torianddean," the source added. "The @torianddean was one Oxygen made when she did the show... she didn't change it because of any Dean drama."

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Although the Spelling Twitter change explanation makes a bit of sense, dropping any mention of Dean McDermott from the account amid their marriage seems ominous.

"They did not look happy at all," another source, who spotted the parents of four dining out on their eighth wedding anniversary in May, reported. "They were quiet. There weren't any smiles at all. It was sad to see them so down."

However, Spelling is telling a different story publicly.

"Things are getting better," the mother of four said of her troubled marriage during a recent appearance on Good Morning America. "Life is always a work in progress and our relationship is one as well, but we're moving in the right direction."

Do you think Tori Spelling dropping Dean from her Twitter handle is innocent, or a sign of things to come?

Photo credit: WENN.com

The full list of nominees for the 16th Annual Young Hollywood Awards has been announced, as has the host: Kelly Osbourne! The event celebrates the work of the entertainment industry's stars of tomorrow and will air on The CW on Monday, July 28.

VIDEO: Joan Rivers roasts everyone in Hollywood in new book >>

"We're thrilled to see the Young Hollywood Awards, now in its 16th year, continue to ascend to its biggest show ever," said Jay Penske, founder, chairman and CEO of Penske Media Corporation. Penske also added his admiration for both the show and The CW being the launchpad for the future of many stars' careers.

Osbourne, who is a fashion designer, actress and daughter of rocker, Ozzy Osbourne, also expressed her enthusiasm to be part of the show. "I'm so excited and honored to be hosting this year's Young Hollywood Awards," Kelly said. "They probably heard I was turning 30 this year and thought, 'We better ask her now.' Let me set you all straight and listen, you agents, managers, focus-pullers, casting agents, producers, the drag queen behind the MAC counter, network executives, plastic surgeons, craft service, columnists, the whole lot of you — 30 is still f***ing young! Thirty is the new 20, or is it lavender is the new black?" she quipped with her usual refreshing sense of humor.

This year's nominees include Hunger Games stars, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence, 22 Jump Street funny guys, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, the hotties from The Vampire Diaries and many more.

See the full list of nominees below and cast your votes at www.yhawards.com.

Fan Favorite Actor: Male

• Adam Driver
• Ansel Elgort
• Andrew Garfield
• Liam Hemsworth
• Jonah Hill
• Josh Hutcherson
• Theo James
• Michael B. Jordan
• Taylor Lautner
• Aaron Paul
• Andy Samberg
• Channing Tatum

Fan Favorite Actor: Female

• Emilia Clarke
• Kaley Cuoco
• Zooey Deschanel
• Nina Dobrev
• Jennifer Lawrence
• Chloë Grace Moretz
• Emma Roberts
• Emmy Rossum
• Taylor Schilling
• Emma Stone
• Allison Williams
• Shailene Woodley

Coolest Crossover Artist:

• Ariana Grande
• Nick Jonas
• Lea Michele
• Kate Upton
• Shaun White

Breakthrough Actor:

• Sam Claflin
• Ansel Elgort
• Dylan O'Brien
• Miles Teller
• Nat Wolff

Breakthrough Actress:

• Danielle Brooks
• Elle Fanning
• Dakota Johnson
• Nicola Peltz
• Margot Robbie

#SocialMediaSuperstar:

• Ariana Grande
• Austin Mahone
• R5
• Chrissy Teigen
• Bella Thorne
• Ashley Tisdale

Best Threesome:

• The Hunger Games (Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson)
• Neighbors (Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse)
• That Awkward Moment (Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan)
• The Vampire Diaries (Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley)
• Workaholics (Adam DeVine, Anders Holm, Blake Anderson)

Hottest Body (of work):

• Derek Hough
• Kellan Lutz
• James Maslow
• Chrissy Teigen
• Kate Upton

Best On-Screen Couple:

• Mayim Bialik/Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
• Chris Colfer/Darren Criss (Glee)
• Emma Stone/Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
• Shailene Woodley/Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars)
• Shailene Woodley/Theo James (Divergent)

Best Bromance:

• Mark Ballas & Derek Hough
• Jonah Hill & Channing Tatum
• Key & Peele
• Adam Levine & Blake Shelton
• Seth Rogen & James Franco

Super Superhero:

• Stephen Amell (Arrow)
• Chris Evans (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
• Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
• Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past)
• Kellan Lutz (The Legend of Hercules) 

Photo credit: Judy Eddy/WENN.com

CMT's Party Down South has all the sexual tension, big hair and drama of MTV's Jersey Shore — the only difference is the accent. The show follows cast members, Daddy, Lil Bit, Lyle, Mattie, Tiffany, Lauren, Walt and Murray, as they spend the summer together in Athens, South Carolina, "muddin', funnelin', and gettin' country."

Did Jason Aldean bring his mistress to the CMT Music Awards? >>

In tonight's episode of the reality show, Lauren and Lyle find themselves in a cat and mouse chase through the house as Lyle hurls stalking accusations at his cast mate. The action starts in a cab ride back from a booze-filled night out and Lyle claims that Lauren fondled his man parts, which she adamantly denies. By the time the crew arrives back home, Lyle is repeatedly bellowing, "We got a stalker!" and Lauren is furious.

11 Perfect looks from the 2014 CMT Music Awards >>

"Who's been stalking you?" she asks with anger in her voice. "Who, me? No, no, no, no, no. Who, me? I've been stalking you? When the f*** did I talk to you tonight?" The next thing you know, she's chasing him around, throwing things and denying his stalking allegations.

Catch the sneak peak here:

This season of Party Down South, the crew will crack some beers as they party with locals in Athens and head even further south to hit the beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for spring break. The group navigates their way through new love triangles, drinking games and wild nights.

Get in on the fun tonight, Thursday, June 26, at 10/9c on CMT.

Photo credit: Julia Wykes

Julia Wykes brought her 5-month-old baby to Starbucks early in the morning. She'd planned on getting a drink to go, but her little boy became fussy so she sat down for a moment to tend to him. There weren't very many seats available, so the one she chose was close to the cash register.

And out of the blue, a customer went to the front counter to complain — about her.

"Could you get that woman to stop doing that in public?"

"She said in a very loud voice (I was obviously meant to hear), 'Could you get that woman to stop doing that in public? It is disgusting,'" Wykes tells us. And after the barista looked over and told the woman he'd take care of it, Wykes began bracing herself for an argument. "Not just about the fact that breastfeeding is a legally protected right in Ontario, but also that surely a nursing mom is better than a screaming baby!" she says.

Instead of telling her to cover up or leave, the young man of 18 or 19 approached with a smile on his face and offered Wykes a free refill. He also gave her a voucher for a free drink the next time she stopped in. He apologized that she had to deal with such unpleasantness, and the complaining customer left in a hurry.

Bravo, Starbucks

Thrilled at the turn of events, Wykes quickly shared her story with Starbucks and a friend in her local attachment parenting group — who also happens to run the very popular website and Facebook page, PhD in Parenting.

"At first I was flabbergasted by the woman's response to public breastfeeding," says Wykes. "To have a young man be more kind and informed than a middle-aged woman who may have had children herself was a shock. And while it may be a huge multinational company, I am glad that such a positive experience occurred in a Starbucks, it shows that they employ good people."

Breastfeeding in public stories don't always have a happy ending, but I'm happy to see that this one did. "I just hope that experiences like this can show women that nursing in public is normal. If you are hungry when you're running errands, you eat," Wykes says. "Why should we think that our babies are any different?"

More on nursing in public

Female nipples: Overhyped, sexualized and censored
This breastfeeding graduate is doing it right
Delta drops the ball on breastfeeding again

Sarah Anne Markham's baby was only 12 days old, but he was already following a strict vegan diet.

Then the baby's pediatrician noted that the baby was dehydrated and not growing, and alerted authorities who took the baby into protective custody. His mother is now being charged with child neglect.

Child neglect or personal belief?

Markham refused any medical treatment for her baby, against the pediatrician's advice, on the grounds that she followed a strict vegan lifestyle for "religious beliefs."

Because of the pediatrician's diagnosis of severe dehydration, as well as concerns about the baby's weight, the doctor instructed Markham to take the baby to the hospital ASAP. He also provided her with medicine for the baby — medicine she did not administer because it wasn't vegan. When Markham failed to take the baby to the hospital, police were dispatched to her home.

Markham informed authorities that she didn't believe that her baby was dehydrated, that she was seeking a second opinion from a "natural" doctor and that she had purchased organic formula for the baby to replace the medicine. When police questioned if the formula was safe for newborns, she stated that because it was organic, it must be OK.

After she agreed to take her baby to the hospital, the police took her into custody for child neglect with great bodily harm.

Photo credit: ClickOrlando.com

Is veganism cruel?

The issue with a story like this one is that it's not unique. There have been other instances where parents cited vegan beliefs as a defense against neglect of their children, such as the couple whose 6-week-old son died after wasting away to a little over three pounds on a diet of apple juice and soy formula. (Someone explain to me how apple juice could be considered a healthy choice for a baby that young?) Or another couple who refused to treat their 9-month-old daughter after she developed bronchitis and continued feeding her only breast milk until she passed away at only eleven months old.

In both cases, the parents were charged with child abuse and neglect, but is it fair to say that these extreme cases are enough to claim that veganism equals child cruelty?

In short, no. It's not fair to generalize the vegan lifestyle as child abuse because a few vegan parents made extremely bad parenting choices. These parents were guilty of child neglect, but there were other factors in that neglect other than the child's diet (or lack thereof).

Vegan can be healthy

The truth is, veganism can be a safe lifestyle for the whole family to follow. In fact, exclusively breastfed babies are actually already "vegan." But like anything else, if a mother is feeding her baby breast milk, the quality and content of her milk is based on her own diet. Vegan mothers may need to speak to their care providers about taking additional vitamins, such as vitamin B12, or modifying their diet during breastfeeding to ensure their babies are getting the essentials they need to grow. Healthy vegan diets for children are possible, but they also need to be carefully monitored by parents and health care providers.

And not all parents who choose to eat vegan are necessarily doing so out of religious or extreme reasons. Megan Bishop of Michigan, for example, started incorporating vegan products into her family's diet, including for her 1-year-old daughter, when one of her children developed severe egg and dairy allergies. Sometimes, vegan is more than a personal belief.

But choosing a vegan diet or lifestyle and watching your child suffer simply because you believe in your right to have a personal choice over their health? Well, that's a different matter all together. Some may argue that taking a kid to McDonald's might be a form of child abuse, while others may say all-organic is the only way to go. As parents, we get to make that choice and we have to make diet and lifestyle choices every day because, well, it's our job as parents. We do what we think is right. And more importantly, we have that right.

What we don't have a right to do, however, is watch our children suffer as a result of our personal beliefs or desire to live a "healthier" lifestyle.

Veganism is not child abuse.

But not giving a baby the right nutrition is.

Let's not confuse the two.

More on parenting

No pressure, but your kid's doctor wants you to read aloud from birth
You'll never use "like a girl" as an insult after you watch this
Tales from the potty training trenches

Photo credit: WENN.com

The View is getting smaller and smaller.

The show, which originally aired with a five co-host panel, is down to just two current personalities, as Sherri Shepherd confirms that she will be leaving the production, according to E! News.

10 Inspirational quotes that prove Barbara Walters is a legend >>

"It's been seven wonderful years on The View and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on," Shepherd said today in a statement to Deadline via E! "I am extremely grateful to Barbara Walters and Bill Gedde for giving me the opportunity. I look forward to the business opportunities that lay ahead for me and I am incredibly grateful to my View family and my fans for supporting me on this journey," she added.

Even more changes for the talk show may be in store. Sources told E! that producers of The View are also looking to replace Jenny McCarthy. In addition, rumors are circulating that producers have their sights set on bringing former Real Housewives of New York star, Bethenny Frankel, on board. "The View is looking for someone to spice up the show," a source told VH1's The Gossip Show earlier this week. "Someone with big opinions and a big personality and Bethenny is at the top of the list." The source also revealed that Frankel, whose own talk show was canceled in February after just one season, is "very interested in getting back on TV. It is the only job that she really knows. She is telling friends that she thinks she can save The View."

The female-driven talk show has been a virtual merry-go-round of talent over the past year. Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Joy Behar both left the program last summer around the same time McCarthy was added. Behar left the show after 16 seasons and Hasselbeck exited to accept a position with Fox News. Perhaps the biggest change came just this past spring when matriarch, Barbara Walters, retired in May.

Photo credit: Bridow/WENN.com

Only a few months after her ex-husband welcomed a new child, Courteney Cox has announced she is engaged. Cox has been quietly dating Snow Patrol band member, Johnny McDaid, for months, but it looks like their relationship is more serious than anyone imagined.

Courteney Cox, David Arquette and their modern-day family >>

Both Cox and McDaid tweeted the news, along with the same photo, on Thursday, June 26.

I’m engaged to him! pic.twitter.com/gsFtZkb3Bk

— Courteney Cox (@CourteneyCox) June 27, 2014

I'm engaged to her! pic.twitter.com/dlynriJpOS

— Johnny McDaid (@johnnymcdaid) June 27, 2014

Cox and McDaid were first seen out together back in December, when they both attended Jennifer Aniston's holiday party. Friend Ed Sheeran was the first to acknowledge, back in April, that the couple had moved in together.

"I'm not sure that it's public knowledge, so maybe I shouldn't have said anything — but, yes, they're already living together," Sheeran said, according to Us Weekly. "Things are moving fast. He moved in and, judging by the last time I saw them, they couldn't be happier."

Cox and McDaid spoke with Us Weekly shortly after, both looking like they were completely smitten.

"He supports me in every way," Cox said. "He supports me creatively. He really believed in the movie... and not just because he likes me, though I know that helps."

Courteney Cox is totally smitten with beau Johnny McDaid >>

"Courteney is the most completely confident person I've ever met — at everything," McDaid said. "She gets music. She gets art. She gets the way a scene gets constructed, the way dialogue works. And she puts it all together in her mind and then explains it to the world and makes movies that make people laugh and cry, squirm and jump, all those things."

Cox and ex-husband, David Arquette, finalized their divorce back in May 2013. He became a dad again in April of this year, when his girlfriend, Christina McLarty, gave birth to their son, Charlie.

Challenge: write someone a physical note

Why? The next time you want to send a heartfelt sentiment, step away from the electronic device and dig out your note cards or stationery instead. Your effort will be appreciated, and your note will stand out much more than an email ever would.

Victoria: My friend, Chantel, is coming to visit me this weekend from Washington, D.C. I love a good girls' weekend, so I planned a few things to do. And what better way to keep track of it all and add a personal touch than with a handwritten note? Now she'll have the full rundown of the plans.

Jenny: I desperately miss my son during the school day. This week I decided to show him just how much by sticking a few napkin notes in his lunch bag. The notes were simple and maybe a little corny: "I love you to pieces," or "Have a great day, xoxo." However, I received lots of extra hugs and kisses after school so I know the notes made his day. The power of the handwritten word is easily overshadowed by technology. From now on I'm going to depend on my phone a little less and write a little more.

Chaton: Because of my commitment to preserving the art of the handwritten note I was excited to see my last challenge. This is a challenge I was born to perform because I live it every day.

In this age of electronic communication, many dismiss the value of a handwritten note. I'm not one of them. Perhaps it's my age, my love of the elegant or my passion for etiquette, but I have never believed that an email is a replacement for the real thing. I am part of a dying breed. I invest in stationery. I write notes. And, I mail them. Call me crazy.

I have been in note-writing mode since I returned from the hospital eight weeks ago when I had my son. I have been so blessed by the generosity of family and friends. Because of them, my son had clothes, diapers and wipes when he returned from the hospital. He came two weeks early and we had nothing. So, without our family and friends we would not have been prepared.

Writing notes by hand is an effort, to be sure. You have to have the stationery, write neatly and address them. The hardest part for me is writing neatly. I have terrible handwriting. Since Wite-Out is in short supply, I have cross-outs in my notes, my handwriting tends to slope downward and the notes are a little messy. That being said, I enjoy writing them and believe that people enjoy receiving them. Who knows, I may just start my revolution after all.

Roaen: When I was younger, I used to be better at writing notes. I loved stringing words together to convey my thoughts and passing them across the classroom to my friends. This was middle school. Today, I struggle with even writing a small five-sentence thank-you note. Why is it that as we get older, it's OK to let things go unsaid? I decided to again be better at that. I wrote a note to my almost 6-year-old and put it in his backpack with his snack: "Have a great day. Try not to get any time-outs, but if you do, I still love you. — Love, Mommy." It's a start.

Our Everyday Inspiration series wants to inspire you with small ways to improve your life. We've asked 20 women to take on a variety of small challenges and share their results. See all of our Everyday Inspiration challenges here, and meet the women here.

Photo credit: Eric Audras/ONOKY/Getty Images

Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy

The next time you flip your lid about a bad wireless connection, take a minute to appreciate just how far we've come in recent years. Here, comedian Louis C.K. reminds us of the not-so-distant past when phones had rotary dials and getting money meant going into the bank.

Pale Blue Dot

Frustrated by a power struggle at work? While office politics can certainly mess with your day, don't let that frustration take over your life. This video shows us that in comparison to the vast universe, we are just a tiny dot. In the words of Carl Sagan, "To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot."

Body Evolution: Model Before and After

If you suffer from body image issues, this video helps to illustrate that the perfect models in magazines simply aren't real. Hair and makeup experts and the amazing magic of Photoshop transform regular women into an unrealistic ideal. Take a peek at this time-lapse video of a model's "body evolution," then try this beauty routine of a healthier sort.

A New Perspective for Moms

Moms are tough, especially on themselves. This video takes a hard look every mom's toughest critic, and shows moms what their children really think of the job they're doing. If you're a mom, this is a must-watch.

This Is Water

You'll never look at adulthood —or your boring, difficult day — the same way again after watching this video. Originally a speech delivered to graduating students at Kenyon College in 2005, this moving film tells us what it really takes to get the most of out life. It's not what you do with your day that counts, it's all in the way you choose to think.

This is Water from Patrick Buckley on Vimeo.

More ways to put life into perspective

The body image video that will bring you to tears — and leave you totally inspired
Life lessons from a mom living with terminal cancer
10 Life lessons we can all learn from Nelson Mandela

Photo credit: Brian To/WENN.com

Braids are back (really, they never went out of style) and with summer here, it's the perfect time to have fun with braided hairstyles. Lucky for you, we've got a little braid-spiration in the form of January Jones' recent side plait. The Mad Men actress swept her locks into this pretty 'do for a recent promotional event and paired the style with bold blue eyeliner and a colorblocked dress.

Loving January's look? Recreate it at home with the help of Justine Piecuch, stylist at Salon Capri.

Photo credit: Brian To/WENN.com

"Leave it to January Jones to take [the] braid to a whole new level," Justine says.

1. For this look you'll need about 18-inch wefts of hair (or longer if you're really brave) and talented braiding skills.
2. With the 18-inch weft of hair, make a 4-strand braid. Starting from either the left or right, make 4 sections. With the outer strand, weave under, over, under. Repeat starting on the opposite side. Secure with elastic and set aside.
3. Next, divide your hair into 2 sections. To keep yourself organized, clip off the entire right section of your hair. Starting on the left, create a Dutch braid (aka outie). Instead of a regular braid you'll be rotating the strands underneath. This will give more texture on top and really make the braid pop.
4. Pick up pieces as you move toward the center base of your head just as you would with a French braid. Use a clip to hold this section into place while you do the other side. Once you've made a Dutch braid on the left, gather the 2 sides together and secure with an elastic at the base of your neck.
5. Now add the 4-strand braid by pinning it into the other braids you have just secured. Loosely wrap any hair around where they meet to conceal any elastics. You can gently pull at some of the loops in the 4-strand to create more of a lived-in look and of course, let any loose pieces fall naturally along your face. Practice a few times if you're wearing this to a big night out.

Jennifer Morrison's braided 'do

Emmy Rossum's shiny curls

Vanessa Hudgens' twisted ponytail

Zendaya might have scored one of the catchiest hits of the year with "Replay," but her focus for the rest of 2014 seems to be on film. SheKnows sat down with the Disney starlet to get the goods on her brand-new Disney Channel original film Zapped and how she's prepping for the role of the late singer Aaliyah in the upcoming Lifetime biopic.

"I think it's a good family movie," Zendaya says when asked why people should tune into Zapped, which airs on June 27 on the Disney Channel. In the film, she plays Zoey Stevens, a 17-year-old who takes to a new neighborhood after moving in with her new stepfather and stumbles upon the power to control her male high school peers courtesy of her cell phone application. Genius, right? And sure, it definitely sounds family-friendly, silly and, ultimately, caters to a young audience, but Zendaya is confident there's an underlining story to the film that will hit close to home with just about everyone.

INTERVIEW: What Zendaya thinks of Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus & more >> 

"At the end of the day, the underlining story is really real, and I think that's something that a lot of people can connect with, dealing with change and having to be in a new school and a new environment."

As for working with the film's cast mates, Zendaya says that the "vibe was great" simply because all of her costars were Canadian. "I don't know why, but I think Canadians are so great," she admits. "They're just so nice and friendly. Half the cast was Canadians because a lot of them were cast out there." Zendaya also told SheKnows about a particularly gross moment on set, where an entire chocolate fountain falls on her. Now that might sound delicious, but the actress says it was a little less appetizing than you might think. "Chocolate's one of my favorite things in the whole world," she gushed. "I was totally down until I realized that it was some concoction they made that wasn't necessarily chocolate. It smelled like soy sauce mixed with something else."

As for which app powers Zendaya wishes she had, the triple threat says it would come down to apps that could control teleporting, cleaning, and, of course, food. "I could totally go for some Panda Express. You wouldn't have to wait in line. You wouldn't have to wait for a table," she jokes.

Photo credit: Apega/WENN.com

Another project Zendaya is making headlines for is her upcoming role as Aaliyah in Lifetime's biopic on the icon, which is set for production later this year. Zendaya tells SheKnows she's always looked up to Aaliyah ever since she was young and has discovered some "scary similarities" between the two. "I've been going back in our interviews and there are things that she says verbatim that I've said in my interviews, and it's just crazy for me."

INTERVIEW: Zendaya reveals new project with DWTS' Val and Maks >>

Despite some negative press around her casting, it appears as if Zendaya is simply brushing it off her shoulders and keeping the focus of Aaliyah's biopic solely on Aaliyah. "I think it's about showing her in the best possible light and... letting people know who she was and what she was able to do in just 22 years."

Zendaya has other things to worry about aside from the haters anyway, especially with the recent news that she's the face of Madonna's clothing line Material Girl. While she hasn't talked to Madonna personally, she has exchanged a few tweets and messages on Instagram with the Queen of Pop. "Once Madonna knows who you are, you're good to go!" Zendaya said.

Photo credit: Michael Simon, StarTraks

On Wednesday, Lance Bass was on hand to host the Barefoot Wine Pride Kick Off Celebration in New York City. The event benefited Heritage of Pride and began a weeklong series of events to celebrate the LGBT community.

SheKnows got the chance to chat with Bass as he took in the scenery. "I have my bubbly in my hand [and I'm] very excited that Barefoot Wine let me come to be a part of this [event]."

Bass admitted that he went to the event to do more than just have a great time; it was also about sending out a positive message to young, gay people. "Every Pride here in New York is so memorable to me and I love to be a part of it in a more visible way with Barefoot Wine. They put their company's neck on the line for our community and you have to respect them [for that].

"It's all about visibility for our community," Bass continued. "Our [community] has just grown and grown with acceptance all over the world. Just in the past few years, [it's been great to see] how accepted it's been and it really is because of all these Pride events. When you see a group of people just having a good time, there's nothing scary about it. The more visible everyone is, the more it will turn people's minds. They'll say, 'Oh, I'm not so scared of it anymore.'"

Jessica Biel has wedding planning tips for Lance Bass >>

Bass also has another way he's helping the LGBT community — with a brand-new dating app that is set to go live the first week of July. The app, called Sparxx, is something Bass has been thinking about for some time.

"I'm a techie guy. I love, love, love anything technology. So I've been wanting to do this for a little while," Bass said.

Bass said another popular dating app gave him some inspiration as well. "I love the app, Tinder. I like that it's just a little more legit and you can't really 'catfish' people doing that," he said, adding that he wanted his app to be more than just for hookups. "In our community, there are lots of apps out there that are — quote, unquote — 'dating apps,' but they're just for one-night stands and that kind of stuff. I wanted to create an all-inclusive app for LGBT — lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender — and a nice dating app to find real love."

Congrats! Lance Bass is engaged to his boyfriend Michael Turchin >>

It's about finding love, according to Bass. "It's really just to find dates and not those one-night stands. I think that our community is a little stereotyped, or a lot stereotyped, as being risqué and one-night stand-ish and that's not what we represent, really. Me and all my friends that are gay, we love our relationships. I'm getting married next year and I just want to help gay friends of mine [find] love themselves."

Speaking of love and marriage, Bass and his fiancé, Michael Turchin, couldn't be happier about their upcoming nuptials. They could, however, be a little more prepared.

"The problem is: We're two guys planning a wedding," Bass said with a laugh. "No matter if you're straight or gay, we're still two guys planning a wedding, so we don't know what the hell we are doing. We've had a wedding planner for a few months, [but] we haven't really planned anything. We do know that it's going to be around February. We have a couple locations in mind, but we haven't even started making a guest list, anything like that. So when I get back to L.A. next week, I told my fiancé, 'Look, we have to sit down and start planning this, because before you know it, it's going to be November.'"

The wedding will be televised on E! and the couple is excited to be a part of helping people in America understand their community. "We're so excited that Middle America gets to see a gay wedding, probably for the first time. I think it's important for people to see that and to say, 'Oh! I've been to a gay wedding before.'"

It's something that Bass wished he could have seen as a child. "It's one of those things that — as a little kid from Mississippi — I would have loved to have been able to see something like that [and] know that there was nothing wrong with me."

How did Lance Bass come out to *NSYNC? By accident! >>

Bass believes it's vital for people like him to get out there and make themselves known. "I think it's all about visibility. It's so important for those gay, popular people that are in the news to keep being out there and keep being seen because you forget how many young, LGBT people — especially in the South and Middle America — feel like they're the only gay in town and it's a lonely, lonely feeling. So they have to look to the magazines, they have to look at television to not feel so lonely when they see people like us.

"We forget [that] 95 percent of [gay] people are still living in these places that it's just not talked about," Bass added.

What about those rumors about a possible *NSYNC reunion? Check out the first part of our interview with Bass to find out what he had to say about that.

Photo credit: Joseph Marzullo/WENN

You can't throw a rock these days without hitting someone who is a fan of E L James' erotic novel-turned-film-franchise, Fifty Shades of Grey. The S&M-tinged tale of Christian Grey and his impressionable young ward of love, Anastasia Steele, has spawned a particularly intense breed of fanfare.

Some call it "mommy porn." Some call it upscale erotica. But it seems like everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how the film adaptation plays out when it hits the big screen early next year.

Fifty Shades release date revealed >>

Eloise Mumford, best known for her roles in the TV series, Lone Star and The River, feels confident that the long wait won't have been in vain.

"I was incredibly honored to be part of the phenomenon," she says of nabbing the role of Ana's roommate, Kate Kavanagh. "There are tens of millions of fans of Fifty Shades who are expecting us to get the film right, and I really think that we did. We expect that now, too."

As for the prominent erotic subject matter, Mumford feels proud to be part of a cultural conversation that is decidedly adult. "The books are for grown-ups, the film is for grown-ups and I think it's exciting to be in a film that really treats the audience like grown-ups."

But for those worried the film will come across as a thinly-veiled skin flick, the actress stresses that director Sam Taylor-Johnson's adaptation artfully captures the emotion at the story's core.

Writer vs. director: Fifty Shades of Grey set drama? >>

"Ultimately, it's a story about a relationship, and everyone has had a relationship that made them feel and experience things that they haven't felt before. So that's the heart of it," she explained, adding, "I think everyone's had relationships — maybe not S&M relationships — that in some way mirror Christian and Ana's relationship."

She also iterates that the film isn't strictly about romantic relationships, either, saying, "It is a lot about friendship. Playing Ana's best friend, Kate, I really get to see it from that lens, you know, that it's about women supporting each other and being friends and, ultimately, being excited for each other when they're falling in love."

Still, starring in the film was "a ballsy move," she laughs. But Mumford's not one to shy away from controversial roles. In the real-time military thriller, Drones, which hits theaters tonight, the actress plays a drone pilot tasked with deciding the fate of a group of alleged terrorists with the touch of a button.

Dakota Johnson's dad won't watch her in Fifty Shades of Grey >>

Fortunately, she has her family to back her plays. "My parents are incredibly supportive, thankfully, so whether it's playing a drone pilot or playing Kate in Fifty Shades, they're always incredible supporters," she shared. "I'm very lucky."

And although Mumford is staying pretty, well, mum on any other details of the movie, she reaffirms that she is "thrilled and honored" to be a part of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/WENN

The story of two soldiers tasked with deciding the fate of alleged terrorists with the touch of a button (and a lot of blind faith), Drones is the kind of movie many actresses might politely tread lightly around and just tiptoe by, but not Eloise Mumford.

"I read the script and I instantly fell in love with it," she shared. "I was incredibly excited to be reading a script that dealt with such important things that are going on in the world right now, so I fought really hard to get the job. I think it's really important — regardless of politics — to talk about the effects that drones have on humanity and on the people that are piloting them, as well as the decisions that they're asked to make."

Did The Fault in Our Stars movie stay true to the book? The cast spills! >>

In addition to the controversy and the ethical dilemma surrounding the use of drones in combat, the gripping film, which plays out in real time, addresses a host of hot-button topics… hard-to-come-to-terms-with topics, such as the military's judicious view on civilian casualties, the validity of the war on terror and the use of 9/11 as a motivator.

Mumford stars opposite Matt O'Leary (Brick, Frailty, Sorority Row), and the two create an undeniably charged set. As time runs out and tensions become fraught, it's hard not to feel as though you're trapped in the stifling control room, too.

"It is really intense," Mumford admitted, noting that she and O'Leary did a lot of prep work to get into the right mindspace.

"One of the things we did was we met with a drone pilot and spoke with him at length about what that experience was like and how hard it is to have a 9-to-5 war job, basically — where you're coming home at night and seeing your family at night and then going back to work in the morning and you're expected to be on the battlefield — and how hard psychologically that is," she explained.

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

The training wasn't entirely psychological, though. She also underwent a rigorous boxing routine to ensure she was as physically fit as her character would be. "Then, when we got to set," she told us, "the words and the story kind of took care of the rest."

Still, she reiterates that it is "incredibly tasking" and "emotional" to put yourself in these soldiers' shoes. "Soldiers in many ways are trained to not act on emotion," she explained, "and so it's the constant push and pull of the emotional side of it and the fact that they're trained soldiers and they're trained not to feel those emotions that was incredibly difficult."

The undercurrent to these pervading issues, of course, is the aftermath.

"The reality is that veterans, in general, in our country right now are not getting enough attention, and not even in a patriotic sort of way, but just in the reality of PTSD is incredibly real," she asserted.

It doesn't just affect the foot soldiers on the battlefield, either. She explained, "Drone pilots, who aren't necessarily coming home, but who are always home, but still participating in warfare, are having really high levels of PTSD. It's something that we need to deal with as a society in some capacity."

TRAILER: Josh Hutcherson will give you the creeps in the new Mockingjay trailer >>

While she hopes Drones resonates with people the way it has with her, Mumford's walking away with a heightened awareness regardless. "The reality is that if you sat me down in a drone pilot's seat, I would have no idea where to start!" she laughed. "And that just gives me a real appreciation for the people doing it."

Photo credit: Michael Tran Archive/FilmMagic/Getty image

She loves her sister as much as Justin and Jessica love each other

There's nothing that comes close to two dogs that have love for one another.

She makes sunbathing look awesome

It's not safe for humans, but it's darn cool for Tina.

She looks super-good when going for a nature hike

Anybody else would be a hot, sweaty mess after a fitness hike, but not Tina.

She sits cooler than any other dog on the planet

Is Tina a contortionist? I'm thinking she is.

She buckles up like a good girl should

It's always safety first for Tina.

She naps like a boss

I mean really, can you nap like this?

She's as strong as a man, but as graceful as a lady

We've seen Tina go on runs, hikes and more with her mom. But when she's at home, she's all about being a lady.

She gets down with nature

Tina is not afraid of a little dip in some pond water.

She drinks from only the best

You thought Voss was cool? Tina drinks water from only the fanciest of pools.

She's the ultimate guard dog

Sure, Tina is smiling, but she's got her guard on to protect her famous parents.

She's not afraid to bare all

There are no secrets about Tina. What you see is what you get.

Those eyes get to look at two of the hottest people in Hollywood: Justin and Jessica

If only those eyes could talk. We'd love to know what Tina gets a glimpse of every single day (hint: Justin Timberlake in his Sunday best).

And that body gets to be the lapdog of one gorgeous lady

Talk about jealous. Tina gets to be up close and personal with the one and only Jessica Biel.

More celebrity dogs to be envious of

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Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

In Transformers: Age of Extinction, we meet a kooky inventor named Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg), who barely makes a living refurbishing broken machines and inventing new ones. When he's not welding metal, he's doing his best to keep his 17-year-old daughter from dating — not just from dating bad boys, but from dating anyone.

Like most teenagers, however, Cade's beautiful daughter, Tessa (Nicola Peltz), has been keeping secrets from her overprotective dad. Turns out that while Cade is getting grease under his fingernails and tinkering with mechanical pets, Tessa's been smooching a sexy 20-year-old Irish bloke named Shane (Jack Reynor).

EXCLUSIVE: Does Transformers' Nicola Peltz think Mark Wahlberg is sexy?

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

We can't say we blame her, given that Shane is massively hot. But when Cade finds out his underage daughter is dating a 20-year-old, he freaks out, threatening to call the cops on Shane because Tessa's a minor. Tessa explains that the two met in high school and they began their romance when she was a sophomore and Shane was a senior.

We felt that was enough explanation for us and had no problem with the three-year age difference. But the filmmakers decided to go one step further by having Shane explain the legality of their relationship status due to the Texas "Romeo and Juliet law." What?

"We've got a preexisting juvenile foundational relationship, statute 2705-3," Shane tells Cade in the film.

Cade quips back, "Romeo and Juliet, huh? You know how those two ended up? Dead."

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

Many states have Romeo and Juliet laws to protect a consensual sexual relationship between an adult and a minor, but only if the couple is within three years of each other and over the age of 14. Without these laws, Cade is correct and Shane could be guilty of statutory rape. We guess director, Michael Bay, didn't want his audience worrying about that possibility while ogling robots that turn into trucks.

Instead of explaining the legal justification for Shane and Tessa's romance, however, we wish the filmmakers would have explained just how and why the alien robots "with souls" decided to make the dinosaurs go extinct millions of years ago while denying all the scientific proof that an asteroid hit the earth, causing the mass die-off. We wonder if Texas has any laws regarding that...

Transformers: Age of Extinction opens in theaters today.

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

Andy Cohen's Bravo TV show Watch What Happens Live seems to get some of the best scoop from its guests. Add Mark Ruffalo to the list of stars who have dished about former co-stars during the late-night talk show.

On Thursday night's show, Ruffalo appeared with Keira Knightley to promote their new film, Begin Again. A viewer question came in for the actor about whether he stayed in touch with his 13 Going On 30 co-star Jennifer Garner. The movie came out in 2004.

Ben Affleck's alleged card-counting affecting his marriage >>

Ruffalo shared, "We had a great time together, and I think we would. But then Ben [Affleck] came on the scene, and that was the end of that."

Cohen, who's always known to stir the pot, joked, "I heard that he doesn't allow her to have male friends."

The Kids Are Alright actor sheepishly shrugged and kept his lips pursed, which implied that the news might be true. The talk show host broke up the awkward moment and laughed, "I made that up."

Ben Affleck still thinks highly of ex-fiancée JLo's butt >>

The star then said he was "unable to confirm" whether the rumor was true but he was "sad" about the end of their friendship since they enjoyed working together a decade ago.

Garner and Affleck starred together in Daredevil in 2003, but their romance didn't blossom until mid-2004. They were married in June 2005 and now have three children together.

That Andy Cohen always gets some juicy gossip.

Photo credit: Chris Saxon/WENN.com

Apple CEO Tim Cook has never publicly said that he is gay, but on Friday, a CNBC host may have "outed" Cook live on air — although it appears to have been an accident. Squawk on the Street co-host Simon Hobbs was speaking with New York Times columnist James Stewart about high-profile gay executives when he said that Cook is "openly gay."

INTERVIEW: Lance Bass on the importance of gay pride >>

Silence fell across the panel, and then Hobbs said, "Oh, dear, was that an error? I thought he was open about it. I don't want to comment about anybody who might or might not be. I'm not going to out anybody."

According to Business Insider, there have long been rumors about Cook's sexuality, but he has never commented on them. Out magazine included Cook on its power list, but he never responded to the honor.

The New York Times wrote a piece on Cook last year that hinted at his sexuality.

"He often quotes Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy but doesn't much talk about the origin of his political views. The speech he gave last December, in which Mr. Cook mentioned the cross-burning, started to give some hints. 'Since these early days,' he said, 'I have seen, and I have experienced, many other types of discrimination.' All of those, he continued, 'were rooted in a fear of people that were different than the majority.' Apple declined to say what he meant by the reference to discrimination he experienced, but it did confirm the details of the cross-burning story."

Disney Channel debuts first same-sex parents >>

Cook, who was named the CEO of Apple in 2011, has also advocated for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation — but that is far from proof that he is gay. Either way, the CEO obviously wants his private life to remain private.

Watch the video here