The couple, who have been married for six years, never intended to go down this path. They decided long ago that they didn't want to have a family, but they had never even discussed the possibility of sharing the love in other ways.

"I'm not even sure how the conversation first started," Michelle admits. "We had been going through a few things — I think they were probably the normal growing pains that a couple goes through after 10 years together. Although we really love each other, we were both feeling restless."

Rewind the clock two years and the pair were fighting a lot. Michelle, a nurse, was increasingly stressed at work and Adrian, who works in IT, was also working long hours. They talked about taking a break, even divorcing, but didn't want to face the future apart.

"I was only 19 when we got together — I'd only had one other boyfriend before Adrian, and I kind of felt like I'd missed out on that wild, crazy time of your youth when you get to experiment," Michelle says.

"And I could tell Adrian was bored. We had sex about once a fortnight, maybe once a week — between working long hours, friends, family and the rest, we just didn't prioritize intimacy. He told me, flat out, that he wanted it at least a few times a week, but I was too exhausted."

Has monogamy gone out of fashion? >>

That's when they discussed the possibility of opening their relationship up to other sexual partners.

One night mid-way through 2012, Adrian told Michelle about a friend who had been hooking up with women every other week via the Tinder app. They had a look at the app as a bit of a laugh, but within a few weeks, they were both regularly checking in and "surveying the market."

When Adrian went to San Francisco for work one weekend, he "discovered" an attractive woman who was staying at the same hotel. "We'd been building to this point for so long, I kind of knew it would happen while he was away," Michelle says. "He called me to basically ask my permission and I said, 'Go for it.' It kind of felt surreal; I was thinking, 'Did you really just give permission for your husband to sleep with someone else?' I didn't feel bad, though. It was strange, I felt almost excited for him. And I spent the rest of the night on our sofa in Los Angeles, flirting on Tinder."

The following morning, Michelle called Adrian to see how it went, but quickly realized she didn't want all the juicy details. Not long afterwards, she connected with a tourist from Australia and had her first encounter.

"We had dinner at a restaurant about half an hour away from where we live, and it was a little awkward to begin with. But after a couple of drinks, we both relaxed and wound up fooling around in his hotel room. We didn't actually have sex, but it was such a rush to be with someone other than Adrian," Michelle says.

Confessions of a sugar baby: $4,000 monthly allowances and cars as gifts >>

Since then, both Adrian and Michelle have had around half a dozen casual hook-ups each. Through trial and error, they have learned to set some ground rules: no hooking up when the other person is at home.

"The only time either of us will do it is if the other person is busy; maybe I'm out on a girls' night, or one of us is out of town. There's no way I'm going to leave my husband at home alone on a Tuesday night so I can be with someone else," Michelle says.

They also never bring anyone to their house — "our home is just for us, it's sacred ground" — and they can't hook up with anyone they know or are likely to see again.

Because of these rules, Michelle says, jealousy is not an issue, and they've never had to worry about emotions getting in the way. She's not fearful that either of them will fall in love with someone else, as the connections they make are "purely sexual."

"I never thought that it would take something like this to improve our marriage. But when I think about it, we never had an issue with our relationship, as such. Adrian is my best friend and my biggest supporter in every way — the truth is, we were just bored in the bedroom," Michelle says.

"The funny thing is, we haven't actually dabbled with Tinder in a month or two because we haven't felt the need, but we know we can if we want to. And right now, our relationship couldn't be better."

* Names changed to protect privacy.

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According to People, the 31-year-old actor allegedly fought with security at local hot spot Katy Trail Ice House. An employee told the entertainment magazine that Short "got into an issue" with off-duty police officers who are employed by the bar.

The source continued, "He was uncooperative with police. It was a minor issue. He was verbally assaulting the police."

Who's hotter: Scandal's Scott Foley vs. Columbus Short >>

This isn't Short's only arrest this year. He found himself arrested in March after reportedly punching a patron at a Los Angeles restaurant. Short pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of battery.

In April, the beleaguered star was accused of domestic abuse by his wife, Tanee Short. She filed for divorce and asked for a restraining order to protect herself and their 2-year-old daughter. The couple had been married for nine years.

Shortly thereafter, the actor said he was leaving Scandal, though television industry critics speculate that he was fired from the show.

Arrest warrant issued for Scandal star Columbus Short >>

He announced, "At this time, I must confirm my exit from a show I've called home for three years, with what is the most talented ensemble on television today."

Now that his character's storyline has come to an end, Short told People that he was focusing on a music career instead.

He shared, "To be honest with you, I'm feeling raw, focused, vulnerable and in a perfect place to write great music. God's been preparing me for a long time to deal with this season of my life. Being able to have thick skin is something that is needed."

Would you date someone who was 23 years older than you? It was a question that Lesley*, 35, never thought she'd ask herself until she found the man of her dreams.

"He's a year younger than my dad. Which is kind of weird, right?" Lesley admitted with a laugh. "He's not someone I would normally date..."

And for anyone who thinks that Don was just looking for a hot, younger woman who does what he wants with no opinions of her own, Lesley laughed again.

"I'm really a pain in the a** and I'm not worth it. There are other girls who are way easier [to deal with] than me."

The two met through family friends when she was barely 20 and he was in his 40s. They were friends for more than a decade before they couldn't deny their feelings any longer.

"I thought he would never be interested in me because I'm so much younger than him," Lesley said, adding that she thought he saw her as "just a kid." But all that changed about five years ago after her 30th birthday. "He said he wanted to get together and I kind of had a feeling what was coming."

The couple has been together ever since. Instead of holding her back, Lesley attributes their age difference to making her more liberated and opinionated. "I've learned to become even more independent in my own views," Lesley said. "I don't let people push me around. I'm more bossy and certain of my own views from being with him, because that's how he is." For Lesley, age is not something that bothers her frequently. "How I look at it is, you're as young as you act and feel."

Both work from home, which might be a challenge for some couples, but Lesley and Don have found that it has made their relationship stronger. "I let him have his space and his time and I respect his work and the things he thinks are important," Lesley said. "And he does the same to me. I think that's also very crucial. It's important to him too that I'm happy and successful."

Like every couple, they don't agree on everything. "We have different tastes in decorating," Lesley said. "He's more traditional and I tend to like more hokier stuff. I may want to try some weirder colors and stuff like that."

The few difficulties they've faced have mostly come from people outside of their relationship. "We've gotten some dirty looks," Lesley said, admitting that fear of judgment used to bother her. "I thought everyone was looking at us. Then I realized that not everybody is looking at us... If somebody has a problem it's because they don't know us."

She also admitted that some members of her family have "a real problem" with their relationship. "But the majority of my family says, 'You're capable of making your own decisions and if this makes you happy, go for it.'"

Though Lesley is now 35 and Don is now 58, they aren't worried about having children. Don already has two grown children and has said he would "happily have more" if she wanted kids in the future. Her family has encouraged her to figure out what she wants. "If you're going to have kids, get on with it," they've told her.

Regardless of their future, Lesley is happy they found each other. "I would rather be with him than with somebody else, no matter the circumstance," she said.

As far as regrets go, Lesley sometimes wishes that she and Don had not wasted 10 years waiting to date each other. "[Sometimes] I think we should've gotten together earlier. Because we could have saved each other a lot of heartache... we would've brought a lot of joy to each other sooner."

* Names have been changed

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Feeling rooted is very important right now. You’ve undergone many changes in your relationships recently, as well as upheavals in your family life. You may have relocated temporarily or even moved. All of this has left you with a desperate longing to hang out with your things and to sleep in your own bed at night. Unfortunately, that won’t be happening soon. If anything, it looks like you’ll be spending more time on the road over the next three months. Think of it this way: Home will be all the sweeter when you return to it after your travels.

Up next: Taurus horoscope >>

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You were born under the industrious sign of Taurus, which means that work, time and money will always be your top priorities. It’s easy to get caught up in the workday whirl of things, but you also have to remember that you were born under the planet Venus, and Venus is all about those very human resources that enrich and enable your life. Take time out of your busy schedule this week to check in with a colleague or to ask your manager how he or she's doing. Your genuine interest and concern will be greatly appreciated.

Up next: Gemini horoscope >>

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Mercury re-enters Cancer on July 12. Cancer is the zodiac sign of home, property and family. One of these was of urgent concern near the end of May, but it looks like whatever was bothering you at the time got moved to the back burner or just went underground for a while. Gone doesn’t mean forgotten. Indeed, this issue will be back front and center this week. Thankfully, you’ve had time to think about what you want to do and to gather information. This strengthens your bargaining position and allows you to dictate terms as you see fit.

Up next: Cancer horoscope >>

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Uranus is the planet of revolution and change. Uranus’ mission isn’t to upset things for the sake of upsetting them; its mission is to pull off the blinders and show you what you’re truly capable of if you’re willing to try something different. It will be hard to tell if you’re experiencing a breakdown or a breakthrough when Uranus squares the Sun on July 8. What can be said, however, is that this will be the first time in years when you will feel like you have a firm grasp of where all of this is leading.

Up next: Leo horoscope >>

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A family feud or contentious property matter is resolved on July 8, but not in the way that you had hoped. Indeed, the final outcome could be quite nasty. It’s to be expected when the Moon occults Saturn in Scorpio because this hidden light brings out all of the emotional wounds, suspicions and vendettas that lie beneath the surface. The best thing that you can do is to honor people’s decisions because they’re going to have to live with them. Know that you did what you could to turn things around, so take yourself off the hook.

Up next: Virgo horoscope >>

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Your ruling planet Mercury enters the realm of the Moon on July 12. You’ll notice it right away because all you’ll want to do is sleep. Resist the urge to grab some coffee or gulp down a Red Bull because the next two and a half weeks is all about making the switch from the conscious to the unconscious part of your brain. This is a recuperative period for you. You’re more sleep deprived than you know, so you need this time to power down, nod off or simply veg out. By July 31, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Up next: Libra horoscope >>

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People will continue to shock and amaze you this week. Just when you think you’ve figured out what’s going on inside their heads, they’ll say or do something that completely upends expectations. Since you’re apt to see the best (July 13) and the worst (July 8), it’s wise to reserve judgment until after July 22. This is when you’ll be on the other side of the emotional minefield, and all the surprise bombshells will be detonated and accounted for. Only then will you be in the right frame of mind to decide what to do next.

Up next: Scorpio horoscope >>

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Did someone declare open season on Scorpios? That’s what it will feel like when the Moon occults Saturn in your sign on July 7. This will make you the target for people’s negative projections and cynical suspicions. You’re used to this from rivals and opponents, but it will feel like a betrayal when it comes from loved ones and friends. There’s no escaping this energy, so wait it out, and avoid doing anything that will exacerbate the situation. Thankfully, the Moon is the fastest-moving planet, which means that this dark spell will lift by Thursday.

Up next: Sagittarius horoscope >>

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Saturn traveling through that part of your solar chart that pertains to self-undoing isn’t easy. To be clear: Saturn doesn’t cause the undoing. What Saturn does is make you aware of how you sabotage yourself by showing you the error of your ways again and again. This repetition isn’t meant to demean you; it’s meant to drive home the point that you’re the only one who can turn your life around. This won’t come through guilt, humiliation or self-recrimination; it comes through self-awareness and the vow to learn from history rather than slavishly repeat it.

Up next: Capricorn horoscope >>

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Your home life is changing, and with that, your feelings of security, continuity and rootedness. Perhaps you’re saying good-bye to a loved one leaving the nest or hello to a new arrival. Maybe you’re marrying, buying a new home or pulling up stakes and moving on. It’s important in times like these to focus on the future. It may appear frightening because that unwritten page looks so blank, but that’s the point. You have an opportunity to reinvent your life as long as you give your imagination free flight and side with your hopes instead of your fears.

Up next: Aquarius horoscope >>

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Change isn’t easy, but where others see crisis, you see opportunity. You’ve been aware of the deadwood and have been praying for certain people to go. You’ll get your wish on July 8, thanks to the Sun/Uranus square. This could manifest as a shake-up at work, a change in your volunteer roster or the ousting of a club president. What’s nice about a Uranus square is that it makes it impossible to cling to the same familiar choices. Things have to be different. Help people to articulate a fresh vision for the new direction they want to go in.

Up next: Pisces horoscope >>

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Finances have been on shaky ground since the spring, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when the other shoe drops on July 8. Thankfully, protective Jupiter is still in Cancer, which means that the impact won’t be as jarring as it could be. Indeed, said shoe will feel more like a flip-flop than a combat boot. Nevertheless, it’s time for you to be more proactive about getting your financial house in order. Consider meeting with a consultant or adviser. This person may see possibilities where all you see is a brick wall.

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There's the person you're supposed to be in love with and then there's the "friend" you've been hanging out with who really gets you. You have a really great time whenever you get together. However, this person seems to be involved in a complicated relationship as well. These are the dilemmas that romantic comedies are made of, but there won't be anything funny about what happens when feelings are divulged and decisions are made on July 13. Expect some rough going there but at least you'll wind up with the person you're supposed to be with.

Up next: Taurus horoscope >>

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Most people would balk at the complications that a potential paramour brings to the table. And quite frankly you'll be wondering why you don't balk too on July 7 when you learn about how much time he'll be away from you over the coming months, the debt he's accrued or the ongoing alimony payments. Yet the sun/Saturn trine on July 8 shows that you won't even flinch at the idea. In truth you've been through so much these past couple of years that there's very little that could take you by surprise. Besides: You're in love.

Up next: Gemini horoscope >>

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On July 13, Venus in Gemini will form a rare trine to Mars in Libra. This is the perfect day to move in with him, to pop the question or to say "I do." Any pledge you make now will stand the test of time. Betrothals (which means "to be true") are ruled by air signs so you can rest assured that you can always take him at his word. You, on the other hand, will be more capricious. What else do you expect from a Gemini? Nevertheless you will always be true to him in your fashion.

Up next: Cancer horoscope >>

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Are you in love with an unavailable man who's just now becoming available? Or are you in love with a narcissist who comes looking for you whenever you show disinterest? It hasn't always been easy to tell the difference. Your current on-again, off-again affair has been unusually complicated. Nevertheless it's forced you to examine your behavior patterns just as deeply as you've examined his. Thankfully the sun/Saturn trine on July 8 shows you exactly where you stand. Life would be so much easier if you were saying goodbye, but it looks like you'll be saying hello again instead.

Up next: Leo horoscope >>

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You're not usually this ambivalent when you're in a relationship. When you make a commitment, you stick by it. However, the build-up of fiery energy in your horoscope is making it impossible to sit still. You don't want to make any promises you can't keep, but at the same time you can't escape this feeling that the real life you should be living is happening somewhere else. It's a good idea to keep things open-ended for now. Ironically the one thing to emerge from all of this is his unwavering commitment to you. It's reassuring.

Up next: Virgo horoscope >>

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One of the biggest challenges to being in a relationship is sustaining your friendships. When you were single you hung out with gal pals all the time, but once spoken for these friendships fell off the map. Chances are you'll get defensive when this is brought up on July 7, but listen to your BFF. Nobody wants to feel like a second priority or to be treated like an afterthought. Besides, your boyfriend's not going to fall out of love with you if you don't spend every waking hour with him. It could even be a turn-on.

Up next: Libra horoscope >>

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Mars in Libra hasn't been gentle with your love life these past few months. It's made you push when you should have invited and grab when you should have waited. In some ways you've taken on the guy's role which probably sent many of them diving down their rabbit holes. Thank heavens your ruling planet Venus will form a trine to Mars on July 13. This should mellow out the energy and take the edge off. You will also hear from someone you scared away. It looks like he got over himself and wants to try again.

Up next: Scorpio horoscope >>

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You feel things very intensely. This is good when you're passionate about something because you won't stop until you get it. This isn't so good when your feelings get hurt because you'll experience greater depths of misery than most people. This is why you prefer to get angry instead. Anger has muscle power, whereas tears betray your weakness and sensitivity. Nevertheless you need to trust in the strength of sensitive. It's one of your more winning qualities. Show some vulnerability on July 7 when the sun trines Saturn and your lover will show you his.

Up next: Sagittarius horoscope >>

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Passionate and romantic, you Sagittarians like to jump in the saddle and gallop off into the sunset with the first hot guy you see. But what's exciting in the moment often leads to rude awakenings the morning after. Consider dating different guys at the same time. The idea may seem labor intensive, but concurrent dating encourages you to study the pluses and minuses of each potential paramour. It also allows you to hedge your bets. It's something to think about as you get used to the idea of being a man magnet in the months to come.

Up next: Capricorn horoscope >>

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You're uncomfortable mixing work with pleasure, but considering all the time you spend at the office, where else do you think you're going to find love? This week's Venus/Mars trine shows that a colleague or client is getting very close to asking you out. He would have asked you out sooner but you kept changing the subject at the last possible instant. Don't worry so much about the propriety of this. You're a Capricorn after all. You wouldn't have fallen in love with someone who wasn't a consummate professional. Besides you know where he works.

Up next: Aquarius horoscope >>

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It's ironic how that fellow who lectured you about not getting too attached to him weeks ago is the same one who texts you every hour to see what you're up to. What can be said? Detachment attracts and as an Aquarian you can be far removed and aloof. But it's not like you're pretending to be uninterested or otherwise engaged. You have a busy life populated with friends and acquaintances. In any case, Mr. Open Relationship will be looking for something more exclusive this weekend. Tell him you're game as long as it's on a trial basis.

Up next: Pisces horoscope >>

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The difficulty with being born under a sign that yearns for things it cannot have is that you will overlook things that are in reach simply because they're nearby. This can lead to a life full of unrequited love, fumbled opportunities and realizations that came too late. Thankfully restrictive Saturn in Scorpio has forced you to look for love in the here-and-now and this has introduced some very real romantic possibilities. You might want to embrace one of these on July 8. It will feel nice to be embraced back. Love doesn't have to be so complicated.

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My vagina and I turned 30 this year, so you'd think we'd have a pretty solid relationship — you know, like Laverne and Shirley. Not so. Sure, we've been through a lot together, but in the way you go through a lot with someone if you're stuck in an elevator with them. Don't get me wrong, I take care of my vagina: I don't wear underwear that could double as sandpaper, I make sure it always looks presentable, and I take it in for its annual scheduled maintenance.

Other than the usual day-to-day maintenance though, there's this... disconnect. Honestly, I forget it's there half the time.

I'm one of the many women cursed with a defective sex drive, though for me I think it's less medical and more of an intimacy issues thing. I've always struggled with opening up to people and handling my emotions, so for much of my life, I've walked around in an apathetic daze. During past relationships, my sex drive would show up every once in a while, but it would leave just as quickly. There were times when I wanted to tap my vagina and ask, "Is this thing on?"

I cared about the hims throughout my life, though, so I'd put on a show, hoping I'd let go long enough for my sex drive to show up. Sometimes it worked, but usually it didn't. It became a frustrating point of contention in every relationship, especially my last one. At one point, there was such pressure to perform, I had a panic attack in the bathroom beforehand. He ended up meeting someone new, someone easier to be with — and I haven't heard from my sex drive since.

Now, on girls' nights when my friends talk about their sex lives (or foam at the mouth over their lack thereof), I think about cookies. I go along with the conversation to avoid them setting me up with the stripper from their bachelorette party, but my inner monologue is more focused on the last time I got any… Oreos.

When I heard about the Buzzfeed article, I was immediately drawn to it: Why hadn't these women looked at their vaginas? And why did they decide to now? Suddenly, I was asking myself the same questions and found myself preparing for my vagina's 15 minutes of fame.

I felt elated about my decision but utterly confused about the logistics: Am I flexible enough? Once I look at it... then what? Should I grab a flashlight just in case? It was like getting ready for a blind date. I even Googled "why you should look at your vagina" to see if I could find an owner's manual of some kind. Knowledge is power, but by that point, I was using it as a stall tactic.

Taking a look

I would've preferred a different venue than my itty-bitty bathroom, but with no blinds on my windows, I didn't want this turning into a spectacle. This was just going to be a run-of-the-mill, high-noon moment between me and my vagina.

One awkward plié later, I finally figured out how to angle the mirror... and there it was. (I almost said, "Nice to meet you.") I studied it for several minutes, trying to answer my previous question: "Once I look at it... then what?"

No dice, but for the first time, I was OK with my lack of answers. I'd spent so much time acting like everything was kittens and rainbows in the libido department that I'd never just let my vagina be. I was always pressuring it to be something it's not, and in turn, pressuring myself.

I knew that doing this wouldn't cure my intimacy issues or fix my comatose vagina, but it was an important first step in getting to know this aspect of myself. I have to be comfortable with me — all of me — before I can be comfortable with someone else. I can safely say my vagina and I are finally on the same page.

On the surface, I was doing this for an interesting article assignment, but subconsciously it was more than that: I wanted to forgive myself for the amount of time I've spent shut off to avoid getting hurt or disappointed again — or worse, getting hurt because my fleeting sex drive is a disappointment to someone else. (And for all the times I talked about sex but was secretly talking about cookies.)

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship — you know, like Betty and Wilma.

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Kevin's struggle as a single father

Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), the town sheriff whose wife has abandoned their family to join the Guilty Remnant, is left in a tough position with their teenage daughter Jill (Margaret Qualley). Kevin's desperation to not fail her the way he feels he's failed his wife Laurie (Amy Brenneman) and son Tom (Chris Zylka) is one of his strongest motivations throughout the novel. He's a man who desperately wants his world, if not the world entire, to return to spinning on its regularly scheduled axis, and his continual attempts to reach his troubled daughter are a large part of that. We'd love to see more of the relationship between these two as the series unfolds.

The Leftovers review: It's kinda weird and we like it >>

The parallels between Laurie and Tom

Two members of the same family were both drawn into the two cults that sprung up in the wake of the Rapture. Laurie joined up with the silent Guilty Remnant, while Tom headed out to Holy Wayne's terrifying desert compound. The book was a great meditation on what it is about these cults masquerading as religion that offers so many people hope in the face of uncertainty, and it's interesting that both Laurie and Tom were drawn to that life, each of them dealing with it in an extreme way. Jill mourns for her mother, but Tom has the most in common with Laurie, and it would be great to see the similarities between mother and son expanded on.

Justin Theroux's strange collections aren't allowed in his house >> 

Holy Wayne: Less ominous, more odious

To be honest, when we saw Brad Leland onscreen, for a minute we thought he'd be playing Holy Wayne. Instead, the charismatic cult leader's shoes are being filled by Paterson Joseph. In the book, Holy Wayne was more of a dirty old man — a sexual predator, though his devout following never believed it — and Christine was simply one of his numerous wives. She was certainly no one he'd threaten Tom over. It's an interesting choice to make Holy Wayne more of a threatening figure, but there was a certain merit in seeing him as a pathetic, egomaniacal cult leader who finally admitted his guilt in open court.

J.K. Rowling to executive produce The Casual Vacancy on HBO >>

Keep it ambiguous

There were no easy answers about the mysterious worldwide mass disappearances in the novel, and that was one of the coolest things about it. The book was entirely about the aftermath: this happened, and now the world has to deal with it. Solving the mystery was never the point; it was about watching how people's lives went on afterwards. Executive producer Damon Lindelof is a veteran of Lost, so we know developing a mystery is definitely his strong suit, but we're hoping the focus stays on the lives of the citizens of Mapleton.

The Leftovers airs Sunday nights on HBO at 10 p.m.

And then I discovered he was having an affair.

I had always railed against infidelity — no way would I ever put up with that kind of crap. My girlfriends and I would talk about friends who had gone through it with boyfriends and husbands, and we always agreed that we'd burn the perp's clothes and use his credit cards to take an expensive mental holiday.

But there I was, staring at undeniably salacious Facebook messages between Jim and a mutual acquaintance we'll call Lisa, and instead of wanting to burn his clothes, all I wanted to do was curl up and hit life's "pause" button while I tried to make sense of things.

I'd gone over to his house at the request of his mother who'd stopped by to deliver some groceries. Jim had gotten a DUI a week earlier and wasn't supposed to be driving, but he wasn't home and neither was his car. He also wasn't answering his phone. His mother called me in the hopes I knew what was going on, so — frightened that something had happened — I joined her at the house and we tried to figure out where he could have gone.

Which is when I noticed his computer was still signed in to his Facebook account. His mother and I opened up his message folder looking for clues. I'll never forget the sound of my heartbeat thudding through my ears as I realized what I was reading. There were messages between him and Lisa, who he'd apparently wanted to see badly enough that evening that he'd driven to meet her on a suspended license.

Jim had been leading a secret online life for a couple of months. I was in shock. His mother was irate. She grabbed me, put me in her car and took me on the most terrifying car ride of my life stalking every hotel parking lot in town.

We didn't find him anywhere, but this was because by now he knew from the myriad of voicemails we'd both left him over the course of the evening, that the jig was up. He was parked on the side of the road somewhere, melting down at having been discovered.

Jim's mother and I went back to the house and loaded all of my personal things into my car. I locked him out of his Facebook page so that he couldn't delete the evidence. Then I sat and waited until finally he came home.

His mother took his keys as she left us to talk.

I don't remember what I said to Jim that night. I know I delivered what felt like a very dramatic speech and that I was practically vibrating with pain and disappointment as I spoke.

I didn't cry. I kept thinking "I should be crying," but no tears came.

Jim didn't respond. He mumbled an apology and stared at the floor, eyes red, but didn’t have anything to say for himself. He just stood there, absorbing my anger.

So I left.

I was spinning. How could I have been so wrong about the kind of person he was?

After a few days of drinking and crying and listening to my girlfriends tell me what a piece of s*** he was, I began to realize that the indignant dismissiveness I had felt in theory was impractical in reality. I needed to talk to Jim. I needed to understand what had happened so that I could begin to process it and figure out what my next step was going to be.

So the next time he called, I answered.

I told him I had questions. I wanted to listen to him, but he had to speak the truth. He agreed to answer my questions anytime I needed. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night completely obsessed with some moment that had struck me as odd months prior and I'd call him and ask "Did you not want to go to the Fourth of July party because Lisa was going to be there? Or were you really sick?"

He’d answer, "I wasn’t sick. I didn’t want to see Lisa. I was trying to stay away from her. I'm sorry."

Then I'd hang up, go back to sleep, and wake up in the morning with more questions. I felt like a blind person trying to put together a puzzle. All I could do was feel my way around the edges and hope that the answers I was getting would somehow fit together.

I took breaks from all the talking when it got to be too much, and instead went to yoga, read a lot, went hiking.

Meanwhile, Jim started therapy and shared his discoveries with me along the way. At first the drinking and online flirting had been an escape — he was depressed, overworked and anxious about applying for graduate school. He didn't know how to process any of what he was feeling and Lisa was a distraction from reality.


But whenever he came back to reality, he felt worse. Which meant more drinking, more hiding, lower self-esteem and a greater and greater need for escape.

And strangely, as he talked through this unhealthy process with me, I began to realize that his behavior really had very little to do with me. He had built a tornado of self-destruction around himself — an ugly spiral that could only end in some kind of explosion. Even the DUI wasn't enough to snap him out of it — he had to "blow up" his life.

That revelation, coupled with the fact that Jim was making a lot of sacrifices to win me back, was a huge part of my decision to start seeing him again.

Things started very slowly. We met for coffee here, got an ice cream there... Jim quit drinking and turned down an invitation to a top school in order to stay in town and focus on us. He started going to yoga with me, which was a really healthy way for us to share space without getting bogged down in feelings.

I still listened when my girlfriends patted my hand and told me how lucky I was to have found out what kind of guy Jim was before it was too late, but I was no longer sure Jim's infidelity was who he was.

Jim had hurt me in the worst possible way, but he hadn't cheated on me in some wormy attempt at breaking up with me, or because he was some kind of narcissist. He'd been hurting, depressed and unable to cope, so he'd sought escape through drinking, and when that stopped working, by sleeping with another unhappy person.

But now he was learning new coping skills and I was learning more about the man I had first fallen in love with. This peek behind the curtain at the ugly side of him totally scared me, but the more light that was shed on his behavior through therapy sessions, the less frightening he became.

And somehow, amidst the many, many positive steps Jim took to repair what he had broken, I forgave him.

It's now been a little over two years since everything fell apart, was re-examined and rebuilt. I still have days where I look at him and feel a pang at just how much impact another person can have on your heart, but most of the time I look at him and love him like crazy for all the work he's put into becoming a man deserving of my forgiveness.

Which is why I said "yes" when he asked me to marry him last year, and why I'm so excited to be tying the knot with him next month.

I still have a handwritten list of promises Jim wrote to me when I agreed to let him back in... it's in a frame above our bed.

More on dating and relationships

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Brushing twice a day and visiting the dentist twice each year are a good start, but there's more to caring for your teeth. We spoke to several dentists about why you should start taking better care of your teeth today, and how it can affect your overall health. The number one piece of advice? Start flossing. Here are five good reasons to make your teeth a priority.

1. Forget wrinkles — your smile will age you

As you get older, your teeth can appear dingy or yellowed if you don’t take proper care of them. If you clench or grind your teeth, they can also appear shorter as you age. Nearly 82 million Americans clench or grind their teeth. To prevent your smile from aging you, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills and author of Anti-Aging Dentistry recommends getting fitted for a night guard to prevent your teeth from being worn away. He also recommends brushing with a whitening toothpaste and rinsing with a salt water solution to kill unwanted bacteria.

2. Flossing is easy and cleans more than you think.

If flossing consistently is your biggest struggle because it's hard to maneuver, try this trick from Dr. Ngozi Etufugh, a dentist and oral surgeon in New York City. Simply tie the piece of floss you're using into a loop. No more wrapping the ends of the floss around your fingers (cutting off your circulation in the process). Instead, you can hold on to the loop and floss each tooth more easily. The best part, flossing actually cleans more than 2/3 of the surface of your tooth, and it tackles the parts that your toothbrush just can't reach.

3. Your bones could start disappearing.

While cavities are still a concern, the older you get, the more you have to worry about periodontal or gum disease. And it's more serious than just gingivitis; you can actually start to lose bone and have receding gums, according to Dr. Stuart Froum, President of the American Academy of Periodontology and clinical professor at the New York University Dental Center. He cautions that many women between the ages of 30 and 50 can experience hormonal fluctuations that can make them more susceptible to gum disease, which makes regular visits to your dentist even more important.

4. Skipping the dentist costs more in the long run.

Dental care is frequently neglected because it often falls under a different insurance carrier than medical care. But if you’re waiting to visit your dentist until you have insurance, you very well could end up spending more money in the long run than if you had just continued with regular visits, warns Dr. Edita Outericka, dental director of Dynamic Dental in Mansfield, Massachusetts. "I always encourage patients who come back in after having neglected their teeth, which is a big hurdle because having neglected your teeth can be embarrassing. I assure the patient that with proper treatment, we can give them a great smile," she said.

5. Mouth bacteria can sicken your entire body

Taking care of your teeth and gums can make a big difference in your overall health. One of the most surprising discoveries is that the "bacteria that causes chronic gum disease has been found in other parts of the body — such as in the amnionic fluid. Research has linked gum disease to poor pregnancy outcomes like pre-term and low birthweight babies," says Dr. Leena Palomo, associate professor in the School of Dental Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Gum disease, while not a cause, has also been associated with cardiovascular issues, and has been found to have a big impact on diabetes.

The bottom line is that good dental health starts with daily brushing, preferably with a whitening toothpaste like ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ and an electric toothbrush like ARM & HAMMER™ Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Deep Clean, daily flossing and regular visits to your dental professional.

This post is sponsored by ARM & HAMMER™.

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"I got cast almost a full two years ago," Osbourne shared. "And it's now the first time I'm ever seeing a full episode. So, I've been, 'Oh, God! What if I'm bad? What if it sounds awful?' because I've never done voiceover work before."

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Not only had Osbourne never done voiceover work before, but she didn't even know it was a possibility. As it turns out, she was pretty shocked to get the call.

"I didn't even know I had a voiceover agent," Osbourne admitted. "But apparently I did, and they said, 'Do you want to go in and do this audition for Disney?' And I was like, 'Me? Disney? Sure! OK!'"

Osbourne shared her audition process with us, and it sounded rather intimidating. Not only did she walk into the booth as a newbie, but she also knew next to nothing about her character on the show. Luckily, she pulled it off.

"So, I went in, and it was so scary," confided Osbourne. "And the only character description I had was — she was a witch and that the age demographic they were trying to reach was 2 to 11 years old. And that she has a little bit of a punk rock attitude. But I saw the lines, and it didn't quite make sense. I read the lines once and then a voice came out and they go, 'OK. You got the job.' And then the lights came on and I saw there had to be like 20 people in the room."

Kelly addresses that new head tattoo >>

We can't imagine an instance where Osbourne would ever need to worry about failing at something. As a talented and charming host of Fashion Police and the daughter of one of metal's biggest and baddest names, Osbourne comes with heaps of that "punk rock" attitude that showrunners were hoping to find. It turns out that even after she got the job, she was a bit intimidated.

"I remember, my first day, I was terrified to go into the booth. But, after the first five minutes, I realized it was the most fun job I've ever had," Osbourne shared, letting her excitement bubble out. "How cool is that, that I get to play a Disney villain? It is, like, one of my biggest dreams come true, you have no idea. It is so cool."

We asked Osbourne what we could expect from her and her character on The 7D, and she gave us a little teaser.

"The best thing is, not only do I get to sing on it, but I get to do the voices of some of the different characters throughout the season on the show," she said. Adding, "I put on a voice for it. It's different. My inspiration was Maleficent with the attitude of Verruca Salt and the pronunciation of my mum. Very posh!"

Could anything be better than hearing Kelly give a slight imitation of her mom? And, yes, you read that right: She's singing again. To find out whether we should expect new music from Osbourne and hear her advice to girls, check out our interview above.

For more celebrity news and interviews, sign up for our newsletter >>

After suffering an ankle injury due to life as a professional ballerina, 27-year-old Beau Campbell decided to put a new spin on her practice by incorporating more yoga into her daily exercise routine.

The California-born, blonde beauty was a company dancer with Ballet Arizona for the past eight years before ultimately deciding to hang up her pointe shoes in exchange for her yoga mat, just shortly before SheKnows met up with her at the Wanderlust Yoga Festival on Stratton Mountain in Vermont, June 19-22.

Photo credit: Natalia Perez

Now as a member of Quixotic Fusion — an ensemble of artists that bring together aerial acrobatics, dance, theater, film, music and visual effects, Beau is traveling along with the Wanderlust team, performing and teaching at its various festivals across the country. At the most recent festival in Vermont, Beau had the unique opportunity to combine her passions for dance and yoga by debuting her newly created yoga class, which she appropriately titled "Yogarina."

Beau's Yogarina class is a "dance, yoga fusion," which is practiced half on the mat and half off of it.

Photo credit: Guru Amrit Kahlsa

"It's more of a traditional yoga warm-up, experimenting with external rotation and internal rotation," Beau said. "It's kind of a compare and contrast of ballet technique with yoga technique. We also get off the mat and explore more movement."

She described her teaching style as fun, light-hearted, never intimidating, but also pretty hard. "It's a lot of core work," she admitted. Beau's new style of yoga combines ballet technique with yoga poses and breath work for one killer workout that's sure to make you break a sweat!

"With the breath, we're creating space within our bodies and then I want the students to use their bodies to take up the space in the room," she explained.

Photo credit: Josh Suhar

At the end of class, students were given combinations of yoga poses and ballet positions to perform across the floor, and even experimented with a little improv of their own. "It was so wonderful to watch," Beau said of her debut class at Wanderlust. "The students were really open to trying new things."

Beau is hoping to make her new style of yoga accessible to students all over the country. But for now, you can take her class during one of the upcoming Wanderlust Yoga Festivals, or at her hometown yoga studio, Sutra Midtown, in Phoenix, AZ.

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1. Jake Roche is the baby of the group.

Jake Roche is the newest member of the group to hit the legal drinking age in the States. "Oh yeah, I'm actually the youngest," he told us. "I'm the baby! I'm 21, and then Danny [Wilkin]'s 24, Lewi [Morgan]'s 26 and Charley [Bagnall]'s 28. So Charlie is literally an old man." Since the fellas were in the U.S. when Roche turned 21, the older guys took him out to celebrate. "It got pretty wild," he admitted. "They put me to bed, so that was fun."

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2. Danny Wilkin had never left the U.K. before touring.

Before making it to the U.S. with the band, Wilkin hadn't strayed far from home. "Danny had actually never been on a plane, believe it or not," Roche told us. "He just stayed in the U.K. So this was the first time he actually went on a plane, and it was to America. This was all very bizarre and very new to him, but exciting nonetheless."

3. American climatology kind of amazes them.

The guys readily confess to loving plenty of things about America, but you might be surprised by the thing Roche said the band is particularly enamored with. "Just how you can be in, like, a really hot part of America, and then you get on an airplane and travel for three hours and it be really cold," Roche replied when asked about things in America he's fond of. "It feels like you've gone to a totally different country."

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4. They're what you might call "mama's boys."

When it comes to what they miss most when they are on tour, Roche didn't hesitate to admit their families aren't far from their minds. "We get kinda homesick. I think my main thing is not having my mum around to wash my clothes, that kind of stuff," he laughed, noting it's hard being away from his mum's cooking for prolonged periods. "But it comes with the territory, and we just feel very fortunate to be doing what we're doing."

5. All of the guys have different, um, strengths.

According to Roche, the fellas all bring something different to the table. Bagnall, he said, is the quietest yet also the funniest. He'd give the title of smartest to Wilkin. As for Lewi? Well, Roche gave Morgan the honor of being the biggest ladies' man, as well as the loudest. And something else, too. When we asked who would end up killing first if the band crashed on a deserted island, Roche laughed. "I reckon Lewi would," he said. "Lewi would be that kind of barbaric, live on a hill in Pompeii, Castaway-type character."

6. Roche doesn't think much of his skills with the ladies.

They say being in a band ups your game, but you couldn't tell it by Roche. "Oh, my game is terrible. I'm awful. If there was a ranking on who's got the best game in the world, I would probably be near the bottom — I'm that bad," he admitted. However, he did admit things got a little wild during their Vegas residency. "I can't really tell you why," he teased, "but it was a good time."

7. High-speed chases? Been there, done that.

Rixton has some pretty hard-core fans. During a recent visit to New York, the police even had to be called to keep the crazies under control. "We came out of a studio in New York and saw these fans across the road," Roche remembered, "and as soon as we got into the car, they got into their car. So we were like, 'Well, that's strange. They didn't ask for a picture or anything, they just got away.' But as soon as we took off, they just tailed us and they started following us back to the hotel, so we literally had to dodge in and out of traffic trying to lose them. It was really exciting, actually," he laughed. "It was the highlight of the week."

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8. These boys dig country music, y'all.

While Roche said he couldn't necessarily think of any music they listen to on repeat that people might consider embarrassing, he was quick to point out that they're really into one particular type of music right now. "At the moment, we just love country music. Country music isn't big over here yet, so if you say you like country music, they're like, 'What?' Like, they have no idea what it is," he explained.

9. Their ideal downtime would likely include sweatpants.

Yes, the guys are incredibly grateful for the fact that they're super busy. But still... Roche said they'd probably add a few more low-key days into their repertoire if possible. "Sometimes I miss waking up in the middle of the day, going downstairs, pouring some cereal and leaving the cereal box out, watching TV and just kind of slobbing out all day," he said.

10. They kind of think Americans need to give themselves a break.

From the outside looking in, the American dream is rife with stress. "I just worry a bit that everyone has anxiety," Roche said. "Everyone just seems to be kind of nervous over there and kind of bordering a bit on panicky. They just need to chill out and go down to the local pub and have a nice beer, a bit of fish and chips, and I think everything will be just fine."

Join us on Thursday, July 10, at 10:30 a.m. PDT @SheKnows for Rixton's Twitter Takeover! Use the hashtag #SheKnowsRixton to participate and ask the guys questions.

Just like everyone's other favorite '90s trend, scrunchies, overalls are officially back on our fashion radar. And you know how you can really tell they've made a comeback? Our fave celebs and fashion brands are remixing their overalls and wearing them 2014 style. Whether you love or hate the trend, you have to admit that these ladies are rocking the look with the best accessory of all: confidence.

We're digging the way Zoe Saldana styled her overalls. With a striped 3/4-sleeve top and colorful ballet flats, the trend gets dressed up a bit.

If a supermodel like Alessandra Ambrosio thinks short overalls are cool, us mere mortals can definitely get behind the idea.

Julie Bowen took her overalls for a spin at her local farmers market and looked simply adorable. We know what you're thinking: This look could very easily have gone very "farmer." Luckily, Julie's cool canvas slip-ons, petite straw hat and hipster glasses lend the look a cool vibe.

British fashionista Fearne Cotton showed us a cute way to style your overalls on a chilly day: Just add tights, black booties and a form-fitting coat.

The temps are rising right now, but when things cool down in a few months you'll want a way to wear your overalls and stay warm. Julianne Hough wore hers with a long-sleeve crop top, an oversized scarf and animal print flats while out and about in Los Angeles.

Shop the look

Ready to give overalls a second chance? Try these styles on for size.

• Kardashian Kollection Kourtney Hot Rod Denim Jeans (Sears, $39) 
• Dakota Collective Cotton Blend Finney Overalls (T.J. Maxx, $50) 
• Black Orchid The Skinny Overall Die Another Day (blackorchiddenim.com, $174)

Now that overalls are trendy again, we're wondering: Will you rock the look 2014 style like these lovely ladies or simply count the days 'til the trend goes away?

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The frustrating thing about watching a police procedural isn't just that we've all seen so many versions before. There are tropes that cross from every genre without getting old and stale, themes that we'll happily watch play out on any show, and if they're well done, it'll feel like the first time an audience has seen it. There's one trope, however, that we're ready to give up on forever, and it's one that Murder in the First is especially guilty of indulging in.

The dead, naked blond girl.

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When Murder in the First began, the pilot was capped off with the discovery of the dead body of Cindy Strauss, the pretty young flight attendant who had the misfortune to spill wine on Erich (Tom Felton) on a particularly bad day. She was found at the bottom of a staircase in her apartment, naked, with her neck broken. Another blond girl displayed in a sexually provocative pose, the kind of scene we've become desensitized to after years of CSI and Law & Order.

But it's the kind of thing we shouldn't be desensitized to. It's the kind of thing that shouldn't occur in such large numbers across the prime time landscape. Additionally, it's as though it isn't enough that Cindy's dead. As the weeks have gone on, more information about her has unfolded, none of it flattering. She was killed in a particularly violent way, and to make it even more demeaning, the evidence suggests that moments before her death, she'd been fellating the man who murdered her. She was sexually promiscuous and two months pregnant with at least four possible contenders for who the father could have been before DNA evidence seemed to point to Erich. Aspersions are cast on her character by pilot Bill Wilkerson (Steven Weber), who calls her a liar and a home wrecker and blames Cindy entirely for the fact that he was sexually enchanted with her. The problems in his marriage aren't his fault, of course — it's all because Cindy got too attached to him after he led her on.

Murder in the First review: We all had a dream world as kids >>

Even the medical examiner sneers about how selfish this young girl must have been once he discovered that she'd done the street drug MDMA while pregnant. As though there was no possibility that she may have been drugged without her knowledge, as though she might not have known she was pregnant.

Crueler things have been said about Cindy than have been said about the top candidates for the suspects who may have murdered her, and week after week, it's become harder to stomach. Just another dead blond girl, just another girl who should have known what she was getting herself into when she made choices about her romantic partners. The subtext from Wilkerson, from Erich, from her co-flight attendant Stan: none of them want to come right out and say Cindy deserved what she got, but oh, the implication is undoubtedly there, and it seems that the show is going out of its way to convince us that we shouldn't be sad about the death of this young woman, because after all, she committed the heinous crime of having consensual sex with two of her bosses.

Murder in the First review: Freaky is good >> 

Call us crazy, but we're a little tired of seeing the dead girl on a crime procedural being blamed for the misfortune that befell her.

In fact, we're a little tired of seeing so many dead women on TV in general. It's especially disappointing on a show like Murder in the First that's doing so much right with their lead female detective Hildy Mulligan (Kathleen Robertson). For the show to impress us at this point, a great step in the right direction would be demonizing the man who killed Cindy Strauss, instead of trying to make the audience dislike a woman who's no longer in a position to defend herself from these awful accusations.

But planning a wedding is a lot more complicated than planning a flash proposal. You want it to be classy, beautiful and a reflection of your taste, naturally, but you also need basic stuff like someone to marry you, a photographer and don't forget a marriage license.

A new company, PopWed Co., based in Washington D.C., aims to keep your spontaneous wedding spontaneous by taking care of all those little details. All you do is tell them about you and your fiancé and they will come up with an idea that is both legal and entertaining.

Photo credit: Maggie Winters/Pop Wed Co.

High-school sweethearts Maggie Winters and Steven Gaudaen came up with the idea after photographing weddings and elopements for several years together. "We were talking about how I could possibly still provide photography for elopements with such a crazy schedule, and at the same time I kept getting emails asking for advice about locations and places that are good for photos. We realized that if he was an officiant, our couples wouldn't need to hire any other vendors, and we could offer the locations that look awesome in photos plus the entire elopement experience for our couples and they wouldn't have to worry about a thing. So Steven became a Humanist officiant and we started marrying couples all over D.C."

Because they travel so light — no food, decorations, flowers, bridesmaids, limos or other wedding "necessities" required — PopWed specializes in unconventional wedding venues like museums, parks, landmarks and other public venues. They even married a couple inside the Smithsonian Museum. Since they don't ask for permission to do a wedding in the location, there's always the possibility they'll get kicked out — but that only seems to add to the allure for excited couples looking to do something unique and unusual.

Photo credit: Maggie Winters/Pop Wed Co.

Maggie adds that the intimacy allows them to focus on making sure it is exactly what the bride and groom (or bride and bride or groom and groom) want instead of worrying about all the little details. Plus, at $1,900 for the whole shebang, it's a bargain compared to the $25,200 price tag of the average U.S. wedding.

But the biggest benefit to a PopWedding are the bystanders, says Maggie. "My favorite thing at every wedding is how beautifully bystanders treat our couples. We frequently have people cheering from car windows and passing by giving high fives and congratulations to our couples which is a way different side of DC than you see when trying to commute on Metro during rush hour!"

Photo credit: Maggie Winters/Pop Wed Co.

And Maggie and Steven will soon add another wedding to their list: their own. The couple got engaged and are planning a PopWed wedding for the fall.

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Madonna was escorted into a Manhattan court by two officials, three police officers, two bodyguards and her assistant, according to the Mirror. But Madonna didn't sit with the regular jury members, she was taken to a private office to meet with the head clerk.

PHOTOS: Madonna, Demi Lovato & Jennifer Hudson selfies >>

The singer was expected to be released from jury duty due to her stardom and the attorneys on the case were reportedly not happy with her appearance even in the early stages of the trial.

"She'd be a total distraction," one of the attorneys told the Mirror. "I'm sure she's bright, but her celebrity overrides her intellect. Everyone would be staring at her — I know I would."

Madonna's late arrival may not be for her lack of caring, but rather was planned by the court itself. Court spokesman David Bookstaver said they allowed her to show up late to cut down on any distractions she might cause.

"We're happy she's coming," Bookstaver said.

She posted a photo on Instagram as she was waiting for her name to be called.

Madonna has a new 26-year-old boy toy >>

Madonna's arrival at court came a week after she was criticized for skipping out on her previous jury date due to what she called an illness. She later posted pictures on social media of her family on vacation.

The singer has some big things happening in her life right now. Her daughter, Lourdes, has decided to go to college in Michigan and Madge will have a new album out very soon.

The 55-year-old musician, whose real name is William Drayton, Jr., has an annual party that has been the bane of his neighbors' existence for years. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, he is accused of setting off thousands of dollars worth of fireworks.

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Last year, his holiday party was ruined by TMZ who revealed that he planned to set off $8,000 worth of fireworks. The Metropolitan Police Department warned Flavor Flav that he would be thrown in jail if that happened, so he moved the party elsewhere.

A neighbor told the local periodical that Drayton had three or four pallets of fireworks stacked about four feet high. The former Public Enemy member set most of them off all at once in an effort to avoid police interference. However, the neighbors got to police quickly because they feared their homes would catch on fire with an errant spark.

The cops confiscated approximately 100 pounds of the remaining fireworks from his property. Flavor Flav sounds like he has learned his lesson this time around because he's moving the party out of the neighborhood.

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He said, "I don't want to go to jail for fireworks."

However, he does liken his neighbors to Scrooge or the Grinch because "we all had a ball until the police came. It isn't like I do this every day."

His neighbors and the police certainly don't see it that way.

The incident happened in Wiltshire, England, where a spokesperson for the Wiltshire Police told the entertainment magazine, "A 37-year-old man from [the town of] Devizes has been arrested for being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and for possession of a Class B controlled drug. The bail will run until the end of August."

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In the U.K., Class A drugs include heroin, cocaine, crack, MDMA or ecstasy, methamphetamines, LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. Class B drugs include amphetamines, cannabis, codeine, ketamine, methoxetamine and methylphenidate.

While the 37-year-old drummer of the group, Sound of Contact, is currently out on bail, he faces anywhere from six months to life in prison stemming from the series of charges. It is unclear how this will affect his music career since two of the key members of the band split in January 2014.

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Simon released a public statement on Monday denying all the charges. He said, "I refute the allegations presented in the press today but due to the obvious legal implications at this time, I am unable to comment further."

The musician is the son of the "You'll Be In My Heart" singer and his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli. The couple was married from 1975-1980. Simon's half-sister and actress, Lily Collins, is from the former Genesis singer's second marriage to Jill Tavelman. They were married from 1984-1996.

Phil Collins' representatives had no comment to People magazine regarding the incident.

Ed Sheeran: Taylor Swift is really a middle-aged woman >>

"The music industry is not dying," she said. "It's just coming alive."

Swift said she knows so many artists pour themselves into their albums and that is what is going to save the industry.

"The way I see it, fans view music the way they view their relationships," she wrote. "Some music is just for fun, a passing fling (the ones they dance to at clubs and parties for a month while the song is a huge radio hit, that they will soon forget they ever danced to). Some songs and albums represent seasons of our lives, like relationships that we hold dear in our memories but had their time and place in the past. However, some artists will be like finding 'the one.' We will cherish every album they put out until they retire and we will play their music for our children and grandchildren. As an artist, this is the dream bond we hope to establish with our fans."

Taylor Swift is true & special, but has no time for boys >>

TSwift started in the world of country, but she has since moved to other areas of music, including pop music. Some country fans have called her a sellout, but Swift said she is just making the music she wants to. She explained, "The wild, unpredictable fun in making music today is that anything goes. Pop sounds like hip hop; country sounds like rock; rock sounds like soul; and folk sounds like country — and to me, that's incredible progress.

"This moment in music is so exciting because the creative avenues an artist can explore are limitless. In this moment in music, stepping out of your comfort zone is rewarded, and sonic evolution is not only accepted — it is celebrated. The only real risk is being too afraid to take a risk at all."

I've always dreamed of making my own ice cream cones but never really gave myself the time. After my first batch, I was astounded by how easy and quick they were to make. All you need is a waffle maker and a cone. Really, that's it. Oh! And, of course, no waffle cone is complete without a hearty serving of this creamy, tart and tangy ice cream.

Honey, lavender and mascarpone ice cream (with homemade waffle cones) recipe

Yields 2 cups of ice cream and 12 cones

Ice cream recipe adapted from Food & Wine

Ingredients: 

For the cones

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions: 

For the cones

1. Preheat a round waffle maker, and spray it lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and the cinnamon. In another bowl, beat together the eggs, the white and brown sugars, the butter and the applesauce until creamy. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk and ending with the flour. Mix until fully combined.
3. Fill a 1/4-cup measuring spoon with batter, and pour it onto the hot waffle maker. Using a spatula, make sure to cover the waffle maker with the batter. Close the lid, and cook for about 3 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Immediately wrap the waffle around the cone shape you have. Hold the cone for a few seconds to set the waffle's shape. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you've used up the batter.
5. Place the cones onto a cookie sheet, and bake for about 2 to 3 minutes or until they are deep golden in color.

1. In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks and sugar.
2. Into a copper-plated saucepan, pour the milk and whipping cream. Whisk in the honey.
3. Bring the milk mixture to a roaring simmer, and then remove from heat and pour it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly until the mixture looks like a custard. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan, and return it to the heat.
4. Cooking over medium heat, stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon until it's thick and coats the back of the spoon, about 5 to 6 minutes. Once the mixture is cooked, remove it from the heat, and pour it into another bowl set over ice water.
5. Immediately whisk in the mascarpone and lavender, and stir to combine. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes or until it thickens. Spoon the mixture into a frozen basin of an ice cream maker. Turn on the machine, and churn for about 20 minutes. Cover with saran wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
6. Once chilled, serve the ice cream in the cones or along side them with an extra sprinkle of lavender.

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