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Laverne Cox's Emmy nomination makes history

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Fans react: 2014 Emmy nomination snubs and shockers >>

"I'm [feeling] pretty awesome," Cox told People. "I don't feel coherent. I'm just like a giddy, effervescent creature of the universe who is blessed and highly favored."

Cox's nomination is a first, because she is an openly transgender woman. She said she didn't believe the news at first, so went online to check it for herself.

"I jumped up and down and then cried," she remembered. "My agent of seven years, Paul, was the first person to call me. I'd auditioned for other agents in the past who all told me, 'I can't do anything with you, you're trans, I don't think you'll be able to get work.' But Paul saw something in me and took a chance."

The news is important for her, but she also knows how important it is for the transgender community. She explained, "I'm aware that I'm the first openly trans woman to be nominated for an acting Emmy.

"I'm just really proud of who I am. I love myself today — and I don't everyday. It's something I have to work at. My career and my life changed when I started accepting and embracing myself more. I hope this inspires my other black, trans folks to pursue their dreams, too."

Transgender celebrities and their personal stories >>

Cox hasn't thought about the possibility of winning and is nominated along with her OITNB cast mates, Natasha Lyonne and Uzo Aduba, in the category. She said Aduba is a "shoo-in" and, for now, she is just worried about her dress.

"It's a ton of pressure," she said. "I'm hoping to be wearing some couture something. But I want to get my body tight. I should head to the gym and do the rest of my interviews on the elliptical!"

The 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards are coming up on Monday, Aug. 25.


10 Tips to increase eroticism and desire in your relationship

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Photo credit: B2M Productions/Photodisc/Getty Images

Never in the mood? Faking it? or just doing it out of obligation? If this sounds familiar, low desire may have entered your relationship. It is completely normal for desire discrepancy to occur between partners who are engaged in a long-term relationship. Just like every other enjoyable thing in life, sex takes time and effort, but the good news is that with some practice, you can absolutely get your groove back.

Here are 10 tips to cultivate eroticism and increase desire in your sex life.

1. Get healthy

  • Practice self-care: Have a bath, get to the gym, enjoy a book for leisure or whatever gives you energy and is for you, by you.
  • Love your body: Having a positive body image, confidence and feeling attractive all play into one's sexual and sensual self. Cultivate a good and healthy relationship with your body in order for all other relationships to function at an optimum.

2. Dispel misconceptions around what is "normal"

  • Only you and your partner(s) can determine what is normal for your sex life.
  • The formula for normal within a sexual relationship is: What you want, plus what your partner wants/what makes you both happy, minus what's not feasible equals your normal. Embrace your individuality, wants and needs and be open to having fun and exploring your partner(s) as well.

3. Enhance the emotional intimacy

  • Work on your relationship. If things are not going well outside of the bedroom, it will absolutely impact the health of your sex life.
  • Try new things together to continue the growth in your partnership. Cultivating new experiences together can re-ignite the spark.
  • Start responding to conflict differently. Learn how to self-soothe and be responsible for validating your own feelings.
  • When you are on the same page with one another, outside of the bedroom, communicate about what you want inside the bedroom.
  • Try going on a "reveal" date where you can cozy up and share your ideas, desires and something new you would like to try; this can be an enticing experience in itself.

4. Get your mind and body aligned

  • Start thinking about sex as important. If you think about how much you do not want to engage in a sexual encounter it will lessen your chances for increasing your desire and enhancing your relationship with your sexual self.

5. Focus on pleasure sharing

  • Be okay with taking the focus off of the big O (orgasm). If you are feeling guilt, shame, pressure or stress around orgasming, then that in itself is conditioning to have a negative response to sex.
  • Open your eyes; making eye contact while being intimate can enhance your emotional connection. Completely letting go and allowing yourself to lose yourself in the presence of another is a feeling like no other. Free yourself from societal "norms,' let go and lose yourself in the moment, in the experience.
  • Once in a while, try giving each other an erotic massage excluding touching one another’s genitals. Focus on being sensual and intimate, not sexual.

Photo credit: Pixland/Pixland/360/Getty Images

6. Set the scene

  • Be aware of the context that leads to your sexual encounters. Pay attention to your aphrodisiacs: When are you in the mood, and why? What did you or did you not like about sex? Where are your erogenous zones? Knowing your triggers can help you to recondition your sexual response.
  • Create an environment that helps you to relax and feel sexy. Invest in some erotic literature, or take a bath and fantasize.

7. Change it up and create novelty... sometimes

  • Read and research the topic of sex/sexuality in order to broaden your horizons.This may help to excite you with either A) fantasies or B) possibilities or C) both.
  • Have some fun by creating a fantasy box to explore your sexual wants, likes and dislikes. Here is how it works: Each partner puts one (or more) fantasies in the box every week. Monthly, choose one fantasy (or more) to act out or explore through conversation together. A word of caution: Set boundaries within your partnership. If you would be uncomfortable hearing certain things, make sure your partner knows that ahead of time.
  • Go on vacation. Get away from the stress and responsibility of everyday life. Can’t afford one? Start a vacation savings account.
  • Read a new erotic or educational book together or research and try a new sex toy... a vibrator can be a girl's best friend when trying to have a quickie.
  • Be creative. Try dressing up and heading to a bar and pretend you are perfect strangers meeting for the first time. Use your creative side and come up with a fun, different and exciting date.

8. Look at your partner through the eyes of another

  • It's common for partners to stop appreciating and seeing all the reasons they fell for one another. Next time your partner gets checked out, or you are able to see them doing something they are good at or discussing something they are passionate about, take a moment to reflect and appreciate what others are seeing for the first time. Allow and capitalize on your shift in perception.
  • Compliment and appreciate what you have in your partner(s) versus what you think is missing, or could be better.

9. Don't lose your sense of self or playfulness

  • It's important to stay connected to your sense of self in order to stay alive and passionate within your relationships. Be sure to nurture your individuality and personal development.
  • It's important to have some independence and take responsibility for your own happiness.
  • Solely relying on your partner(s) to feel good or better about something can be an added stress and pressure on your relationship and an erotic killer.

10. Be open... literally

  • When desire is not at the forefront, I would encourage you be open to the idea and willing to receive and share pleasure. Desire is not always necessary to start or engage in a sexual encounter; being open and positive to having an experience can create desire and arousal. Knowing you can stop at any time can help with being more open more often. Again, taking the focus off the end result and putting the emphasize on being close, intimate, playful and open to the idea of being sexual.

If you are still not confident in increasing your desire, research the female sexual response cycle, educate and empower yourself! Consider talking to a sexologist or sex therapist. They are trained professionals who support clients in rediscovering their sexual and sensual selves.

Kim Kardashian says motherhood made her sexier

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Kim Kardashian says women can have it all, but she's wrong >>

"Well, I am definitely way sexier ever since having my daughter!" she told Lucky magazine in a new interview. "The struggle to get back into shape after giving birth is such a real one. It's so difficult to do, and afterwards, all you want to do is show off your body and feel sexy."

Kardashian has been wearing tight clothing and crop tops — even more than normal — and enjoys wearing mostly neutrals. Surprisingly, she said her fashion sense is very similar to North's.

"She doesn't like pink or purple. She likes greys, creams, oatmeal colors and black," Kardashian said. "Every once in awhile she'll add in some color, like with her little red Air Yeezys, but other than that she likes to keep it pretty simple."

And although the 1-year-old prefers simpler clothing, it doesn't mean she doesn't like some bling. Kardashian explained that, "Every time I have a necklace on, she's always trying to grab it and bite it. And anytime I have a barrette or something in my hair, she'll keep grabbing it, so I usually have to give her one of her own to play with."

Back off, work: Kim Kardashian re-prioritizes Kanye over career >>

Kim Kardashian credits her increased sexiness on motherhood and is hoping that trend continues.

"I just want to be a MILF!" she exclaimed to the magazine, to which her sister, Khloé, replied, "You are a MILF. Don't worry."

Wendy Williams a man? The talk show host comes clean

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Although Williams is willing to concede she can see how some might find her outward appearance to be slightly mannish, there's nothing major this 49-year-old mother of one has to confess.

"I get it. I've got a strong face, a strong body, I'm 5'11". I wear wigs. I get it," she said with a smile when the potentially hurtful subject was broached during a recent ABC News interview. "Do I get upset with it? No."

Wendy Williams trashes Paula Deen; calls her "stupid" >>

The woman who admits "people do think [she] was born a man" went on to say, "I get where that comes from, but in my opinion, there's no worse way to insult a woman than to say she looks like a man… [but] there's nothing you can call me at this particular point. I've been dealing with this for decades."

The intensity of the speculation has not been exaggerated. Start typing this animal-loving beauty's name into Google and you'll see that just behind the suggestion "Wendy Williams wigs" is "Wendy Williams a man."

How to create fun and funky looks with hair extensions and wigs >>

Sadly, the comments and critique of her personal life aren't anything new. The talk show host went on to share that she's been dealing with verbal abuse for decades, revealing her parents used to "fat shame" her.

"I had a very tortured childhood," Williams explained, elaborating on how the experience has inspired her to be vocal. "I was tortured, they fat shamed me... so, I want to talk about growing up."

The star, who is about to make her Vegas debut in a standup show continued, "I want to answer the big question about the boobs. People know they are breast implants, but a lot of people, I read and see, 'You've lost so much weight now, you need a breast reduction.' I will answer you straight and direct, if you are in Vegas."

Robert Downey, Jr. introduced Jen Aniston to Justin Theroux

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Let's be honest, when you're a high-profile megastar like Downey, Jr., you're bound to have high-profile megastar friends who are as gorgeous as Jennifer Aniston. Theroux isn't too hard on the eyes, either, so getting the two together probably wasn't a very big feat. RDJ, who met Theroux on the set of Tropic Thunder, admits that his skills had little to do with the Theroux/Aniston connection and instead credits chemistry and fate. "He and Jen fell in a real, legit fashion," Downey, Jr. told Details. "And he was willing from the jump to make sacrifices," he added, referring to the endless paparazzi stalking and use of Theroux's personal life for tabloid fodder.

Robert Downey, Jr. joins Twitter, fans follow in droves >>

But, apparently, Theroux is so smitten with Aniston, who he has been engaged to since the summer of 2012, that he doesn't even think twice about not being able to go out in public without being bombarded anymore. "It doesn't feel like a hardship, it doesn't feel difficult," Theroux said to Details. "It can be an annoyance, but it's not the end of the world. You have to center on what its core thing is, which is that you met someone you fell in love with. It's hard to explain. I just find myself wondering, 'what's the big f***ing deal?'"

It's likely that laid-back attitude, as well as RDJ's description of Theroux, that helped him hook one of the most sought-after bachelorettes in the world. "JT is a renaissance man in the truest way," RDJ said. "He can act, he can draw, write, direct, curate oddball collections — the whole deal."

Although the Iron Man star may spend whatever little free time he has playing cupid to the stars, he certainly isn't having any trouble in his own personal love life. He's been married to his wife, Susan, for nine years and just recently announced that the two are expecting their second child together.

Grumpy Cat rules supreme as the internet's most influential feline

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There's no doubt that you've seen at least one meme featuring the sullen, yet lovable Grumpy Cat. And on account of your shares, likes and her headlines in the press, Grumpy Cat finds herself at the very top of Friskies 50. There's no comment on if she's actually happy about the feat. But it's safe to guess that her grumpy demeanor remains unchanged.

The list, compiled by the cat food brand, was debuted this month and is composed using each cat's social media engagement and user nominations. A perfect way for cat lovers to follow the hottest felines on the internet, the list links over to each cat's social media accounts and is expected to come out monthly. Cat fanatics can follow along at Friskies50.com or check out #Friskies50 on their favorite social media forum.

friskies50.com

Photo credit: friskies50.com

And as if you needed more reason to be a cat lover, Friskies also announced their annual video contest for your chance to win a nice chunk of change for your own original cat video. Find out details at The Friskies, so you can turn your otherwise normal house cat into a true blue internet star. And who knows, if it goes well for you, perhaps your kitty's video will go viral and she or he will be at the top of next month's Friskies 50.

Grumpy Cat 2

Grumpy Cat 2

More kitty love to read up on

Hot guys with cats — two obsessions in one
25 Cats who own the runway
Top baffling cat behaviors explained

10-Year-old's lemonade stand raises funds for kids with special needs

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Keith Boyd was born with nonverbal cerebral palsy (CP) 10 years ago. Today, he's busy running a network of lemonade stands and hoping to raise $25,000 for the school that first offered him the ability to communicate.

A gift of communication

Keith boyd | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Thrive15.com

The Little Light House, a Tulsa-based development center for children with special needs, gave Keith a Tobii EyeMobile, a tool that allows him to communicate by using his eyes to type what he wants to say on a screen, which is then verbalized by the tool.

"Our children are amazing," Erin Fager-Boyd, Keith's mom, says of kids with CP. "They have already fought a hard battle just to be here. We need to fight just as hard to make sure they have every tool they need to reach their potential."

Dump truck dreams drive inspiration

So how does a 10-year-old decide to launch a fund-raising lemonade stand? Well, he is 10 after all: It all started with a dump truck.

"Keith was raising money to buy a toy dump truck," explains his mom, Erin Fager-Boyd. "Christmas and his birthday were nowhere near, and we were trying to teach him how to earn money." The idea for a lemonade stand quickly blossomed into a business plan, and today, Keith's operation includes multiple stands around Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"My goal is to raise money for the Little Light House where I went to school until I was 6," Keith said in a press release. "They have done so much for me; I want to give back so other kids can go to that school without paying any money."

After having lemonade stands open for two weeks, Keith had raised more than $15,000, the family reports.

Teamwork was critical

Keith and Arthur with Lemons | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Thrive15.com

As with many successes in life, teamwork played a role. Tulsa resident Arthur Greeno, who owns two Tulsa-area Chick-fil-A restaurants, reached out to Keith's parents to ask how he could help. Working together, Keith now has a website for the lemonade stands and local sponsors and media partners.

"Keith has gained a lot of confidence in himself," Erin told SheKnows, "but most importantly, I think he has learned that there are a lot of people out there who are willing to help him along the way."

If you're in the Tulsa area, here's what you need to know:

  • Keith's Ice Cold Lemonade Stand will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday until Aug. 20 at 10 Tulsa-area locations.
  • For donations of any amount, Keith will give each customer a cup of either Chick-fil-A lemonade or Chick-fil-A sweet tea. (Tulsa-area Chick-fil-A restaurants are donating lemonade and sweet tea for all of the stands.)
  • For donations of $100 or more, Keith's customers will receive a reusable Chick-fil-A cup that they can take to any Tulsa-area Chick-fil-A restaurant through Aug. 20 for unlimited beverage refills.

About cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the brain or by abnormal brain development and affects approximately 764,000 children and adults in the U.S., according to CerebralPalsy.org.

For those babies' parents, the fear of never knowing exactly how their child is feeling or what that child needs can be overwhelming. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), offers those with nonverbal CP a chance at sharing their thoughts, feelings and needs.

"More people cheering"

Keith and his parents | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Thrive15.com

For the Boyds, much like many families who have a loved one with different needs, every so often a person reacts to Keith's diagnosis with, "I'm sorry."

"I don't usually receive their words as pity," Erin explains. "I feel that they understand that life is more of a challenge for Keith and us as his parents. It's easier for people we cross paths with for a short time to see the things he struggles to do and feel sorry for him, but the people who are in our lives day to day are here with us celebrating what he is doing. We definitely have more people cheering him on than feeling sorry for him."

More about AAC

"Augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC, is a blanket term used to describe methods of communication that do not involve direct speech," explains the website CerebralPalsy.org. AAC can be "low-tech, time-honored forms of communication like sign language, gesturing and manual language boards, as well as high-tech assistant devices such as touch screens, speech-generating systems, electronic keyboards and even iPhones and iPads."

Future looks lemonade-bright

Lemonade stand | Sheknows.com

Photo credit: Thrive15.com

Keith has a vision for his future — it's as CEO of Keith's Ice Cold Lemonade Stand and he intends to own other small businesses, as well.

In addition, Keith's mom reports plans to produce and sell juice boxes. "We hope to have the product out by the end of the summer... we are currently working with a broker to find locations interested in selling the product, but it will also be available for purchase on Keith's website," she says.

So what's the hardest part about running a business as a 10-year-old? "Trying not to think about business during school," Keith told SheKnows.

More about children and special needs

Mom story: My daughter has cerebral palsy
Hippotherapy treatment helps children with special needs
How we're failing children with special needs

8 GIFs illustrating why it's awesome to be an independent adult

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1. You can complain about young people

New Girl GIF

Photo credit: GIFCentral.gif

Now that your days of kegstands and sorority talk have come and gone, you kind of can't believe how ingratiating and self-important these entitled "youth" of today are. Fortunately for you, little enough time has passed that you can still delude yourself into thinking you were nothing like them at that age.

2. You're the only person who gets to decide what your life will look like

Harry Potter Dobby GIF

Photo credit: thoughts-and-teabags.tumblr

You are the master of your own fate. Sure, that fate sometimes looks a lot like driving to your parents' house every weekend to wash your laundry, but the point is it was your choice. If you want to quit your 9-to-5 job and go be an underwater basket weaver, that's your prerogative, compadre.

3. Money

Money GIF

Photo credit: collegecandy

You're making your own money now… holla! Over are the days of collecting a paltry allowance for watching the neighbors' over-caffeinated kids. Over are the days of tearing open a care package from your parents just so you'll have clean socks to wear and Top Ramen to eat. You're pulling in an official paycheck, which pretty much makes you a baller.

4. You no longer feel the need to have an answer for everything.

Spider-Man GIF

Photo credit: quizzicallama

Seriously, the bravado of youth was exhausting. It's hard work having a witty retort or a wildly exaggerated story in response to every little thing. Once you grow up and get on your own, a liberating new kind of confidence develops… one which emboldens you to admit you have no frickin' idea what's going on most of the time — and that's OK.

5. Alarm clocks? Totally optional.

Weeds GIF

Photo credit: allieology

OK, so there is a caveat here: It's possible you will have to wake up early for work. But the beauty is that is entirely up to you. You're ultimately the one who picks how you earn your paycheck, which means you can work around your night owl tendencies should you so desire. Plus, you can absolutely hang up on your mom if she calls before 9 a.m.

6. There's this little thing called privacy…

Dexter GIF

Photo credit: saschagoryk

It's glorious. Your home is a judgment-free zone. You can wear the same pair of sweatpants all weekend long if you want. Or hey, you don't even have to wear pants. Nobody is around to throw shade your way. Or call the cops, either.

7. You can start drinking earlier.

Alcohol GIF

Photo credit: FromThick2Thin

When you're younger, tossing back a cocktail at 5 p.m. can earn you a reputation as a binger (probably because you don't stop drinking until the wee hours). But when you're an "adult," it's perfectly OK to have an alcoholic libation or two over dinner.

8. Sarcasm is a socially acceptable — nay, favored — pastime.

Sex and the City GIF

Photo credit: sonoferin

You probably thought you were pretty sarcastic when you were younger. But as an independent adult, you've had years to hone your wit and cynicism. And whereas it just earned you condescending comments as a kid, now it's something that earns you respect in your circle of friends. It's your preferred pastime… like the grownup version of Go Fish.

More on growing up

The 6 steps to actually getting up for your college class
10 Kids' movies that are awesome for adults too
Graduation speeches that even post-grads will be inspired by


Fired nightmare nanny still has not moved out

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This could very well be every parent’s nightmare. You want only the best for your children and you’ve got your hands full. So you seek out a loving nanny to help with your kids and around the house. You find a nanny that you feel meshes well with your family and offer her a live-in arrangement — she will help out with the kids and with some household duties, in exchange for room and board. Sounds fair, right?

It starts off great for a few weeks, only to hit a wall. The nanny stops performing her duties. She won’t leave her room, refuses to help out with the kids. So you do what any parent would do — fire her.

Situation resolved.

Nope! The nanny tells you she won’t leave your house. That’s right... the nanny tells you it’s illegal for you to fire her, and absolutely refuses to leave your house. And she still makes herself at home in the meantime, coming and going as she pleases.

I wish I could tell you this was a fictional story devised by my overactive imagination. But it’s real, and if you’re like me, you’re horrified.

Ralph and Marcella Bracamonte, of Upland, California, say that this story is what is happening to them right now. The Bracamontes say they hired Diane Stretton, 64, in March to assist with their three children. Marcella found Stretton on Craigslist and she performed a background check on Stretton, as well. She called Stretton’s references and says they all checked out.

“This could happen to anyone you let into your home,” Bracamonte says. “Your cousin, your friends. Any time you let someone into your home, they do not have to leave. And just a verbal agreement isn't good enough. It’s their word against yours.”

The Bracamontes have not yet secured an attorney — they are hoping someone will hear their story and help. She says she wants to get the word out that this can happen to anyone.

Stretton is even threatening to sue the Bracamontes for elder abuse, and she has told them she has a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which prevents her from helping around the house.

“She stays in her room 90 percent of the time,” Bracamonte says. “She never told me she had an illness when I hired her. Why would she take a job to help with three kids if she was sick? She clearly came here with a plan.”

So, what can the Bracamontes do? They cannot just change the locks and force her out in that manner.

“That would be considered an illegal lockout,” Bracamonte says.

They are finding out that getting Stretton to leave is no easy process, but here’s where they are at. They contacted their local police, and were told the police cannot be of help because this is a civil matter. They need to follow landlord-tenant law and go through a traditional eviction process. On Thursday, July 3, an eviction notice was posted to the Bracamonte’s door, stating that Stretton had three days to remove her things and officially move out. But according to Marcella Bracamonte’s Facebook updates, as of July 8, Stretton has still yet to pick up her things.

In the meantime, Bracamonte says that they are keeping a lock on their refrigerator and they will be very careful about who they invite into their home in the future. And they are already approaching this situation with a sense of humor.

“We’re already laughing about it,” she says. “Is this really real?”

Oh, and she says they won’t be getting a nanny, ever again.

Nanny nightmare

Nanny nightmare

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EXCLUSIVE: Will Gordon get the ax on Halt and Catch Fire?

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So far on this season of AMC's new series, Gordon (Scoot McNairy) hasn't always been a great guy — at least when it comes to his personal life. Let's be honest, he's kind of a lousy husband and a so-so dad. But when it comes to his job, he knows what he's doing and he's not afraid to say it.

Lee Pace will terrorize in Guardians of the Galaxy >>

In our exclusive clip, Joe (Lee Pace) and Gordon go at it during a meeting discussing the latest program for Cardiff. It sounds like Joe is keeping everyone on their toes by making more changes to the design and Gordon is not happy about it. He's barely keeping up with the workload he has and now Joe is suggesting a change that will take hundreds of hours to implement. Can you blame him for getting upset?

Primetime Emmy nominations 2014 >>

Gordon's anger only gets worse when he finds out what Joe has decided to call their program: "The Contrail." Joe seems to think that the name denotes a certain amount of power, like they will be leaving all of their competitors in the dust. While Gordon thinks the name denotes that they are nothing but the dust that floats behind a powerful aircraft. The name is the final straw and Gordon leaves the meeting in a huff after claiming that Joe's attempts to put form before function are going to leave everyone in the industry laughing at them.

Extant premiere review: In space, no one can hear you yawn >>

Has Gordon gone too far? Even if he had some good points, should he really be talking to Joe like that? We'll have to wait and see if his outburst will earn him some respect or if he's about to make a huge mistake for his career.

Be sure to check out the next episode of Halt and Catch Fire to find out what happens.

Zendaya's shiny, twisted ponytail

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Celeb Hairstyle of the Week: Zendaya

Photo credit: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

Singer and actress Zendaya brought her ponytail A-game to a recent event, opting for loads of shine at the crown and a sideswept pony with hair wrapped around it. Justine Piecuch, stylist at SalonCapri, is showing us how to look just as chic as Zendaya — no glam squad required.

Celeb Hairstyle of the Week: Zendaya

Photo credit: Apega/WENN.com

Get the look

"A long, sleek pony can take any look and make it polished and sophisticated. There are many statements in this look: the strong part, the slicked hair and the length. This is a great look for any hair type and especially great for second day on the run hair," Piecuch says.

  1. Extensions were most likely used in this look, but if you can't get your hands on any, you can still create a killer ponytail. With a boar bristle flat brush, use the heat from your dryer and tension to smooth any flyaways or kinks in the hair. Run a flat iron through to really polish off.
  2. Create a strong part (for the exact look here, do a side part). This can vary from the center to the outer part of your eyebrow. Spraying from the roots toward the ends and using your flat boar bristle brush, start to gather hair into a pony at the base of your neck. Once everything is smooth and clean secure with an elastic.
  3. Now, if using extensions, start to pin them into your own ponytail. They should already be neatly smoothed, straightened and gathered. Grab a small piece from underneath your own hair and divide it in half. Wrap 1 section around where your hair meets the extension piece. Then grab the second piece and wrap in the opposite direction. The point of this is to hide the 2 connecting pieces.
  4. Finish by doing a final spritz of hairspray over everything to clean up any flyaways.

More 'dos we adore

Debby Ryan's cute waves
Mel B's perky ponytail
Bella Thorne's intricate updo

La Toya Jackson explains how "Feels Like Love" put a wedge in her relationship

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La Toya Jackson: "I was kind of backing out of everything" >>

"On this episode of Life with La Toya, you'll visit me going into the studio and singing the song, 'Feels Like Love' — a song I did not wanna do. I was so against doing this song," Jackson explained. "But, I had to do it on my own terms, so I decided to do it after I was being pushed, but I did it my way. Which is quite interesting because it did turn out differently. And I like it very much."

Don't worry. Jackson gets through the song. She's a professional, after all. However, the trepidation over the uncomfortable studio session and unwanted song had La Toya on edge. Mix in two friends who are far more gung-ho about wedding planning than Jackson and you're looking at a recipe for disaster. Or, at least, added tension in her relationships.

"You'll also see on this episode that I get cold feet," Jackson said. "And Jeffre is a little sad about it because he feels it's my way out, because I'm trying to get back into the music. And he's thinking, 'Well, you didn't want to sing. You didn't want to get back into the music.' But, I do it [anyway]. So, he thinks it's an excuse and an escape to avoid the wedding."

Congrats! La Toya Jackson is engaged >>

Just how sad did her new fiancé wind up? It turns out the man who has been by her side for years, in and out of the recording studio, actually grew quite distant. It sounds like as pressures mounted in Jackson's life surrounding "Feels Like Love" and their impending nuptials, Jackson got nervous and Jeffre grew distant... really distant. But, can you blame him?

"But, what you don't know, is whenever I do anything, Jeffre's right there. He's hands-on," Jackson shared. "But, because he was so disturbed by my actions and what I was doing, he didn't show up to the studio. He couldn't care less. He wasn't around. And when he did show up, he was always down... he felt I was avoiding his feelings and avoiding everything about him and not caring about his feelings. But the truth is I was afraid. We all get afraid, don't we?"

Poor Jeffre! To see how it all goes down, make sure to tune in to Life with La Toya on OWN, Saturdays at 10/9c. And to find out a life lesson straight from Ms. Jackson herself, watch the rest of our interview at the top.

Want more TV news and reviews? Sign up for our newsletter >>

AJ McLean: The BSB Cruise would blow your bachelorette party out of the water

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It was "bachelorette night," and to ensure it wouldn't get to out of control, they made an announcement prior to the trip to keep it "a little low-key," asking attendees to refrain from bringing "giant inflatable penises and penis squirt guns" and the like.

"Sure enough, it was that times about 20," McLean recalls. "I actually stripped down to nothing but my leopard Speedos and kept my bowtie on. Then, I wore a T-shirt around the rest of the night that said, 'Blow Me.' There were all kinds of craziness. It's just what the fans want to see."

Did you hear that, ladies? If you want to see it, you'll get it on the Backstreet Boys Cruise.

Backstreet Boys' new song, album and tour >>

And it wasn't just McLean who let loose. Brian Littrell and Howie Dorough did a little crowd surfing of their own, but it was Kevin who took home the prize as the most hands-on Backstreet Boy of the night.

"Kevin did not do crowd surfing," McLean reveals, "but he was squirting vodka into girls' mouths with penis squirt guns. Definitely lots of craziness going on."

The Backstreet Boys get their Hollywood Walk of Fame star >>

Makes you wonder, though, how do the wives feel about this? They have to be pretty peeved, right? According to McLean, that is absolutely not the case.

"I think after the first cruise, they all saw how crazy it is," he says. "Brian's wife has actually been to all three cruises, but a couple of the other wives bowed out.

"It's really not about being with your family and friends," he continues. "It's about being with your fans. And let's face it: Our fans don't want to see us all kissy-kissy, huggy-huggy with our wives and missuses."

Damn straight.

Battle of the boy bands: *NSYNC vs. BSB >>

But at the heart of it, the cruise is really all about the guys spending time with "the best fans in the world," and vice versa.

"This is a time for everyone to just go and let loose," McLean says. "Forget about your 9-5, your troubles or stresses you're dealing with at home, your jobs and personal life; and just come out and have fun with your favorite band for three whole nights and days."

For all you lifelong and newbie Backstreet Boys fans, the next cruise departs Oct. 24 from Miami, but you'll have to book quickly as space is limited. For more info about the Backstreet Boys Cruise, visit backstreetboyscruise.com.

"Start sleeping now," McLean warns. "You're going to need the rest."

Backstreet Boys Cruise video

Backstreet Boys Cruise video

I'm pretty sure I suck at being a mom

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Last week, I picked my daughter up from day care and told her we needed to drive downtown to attend one of my work events. With a scowl on her face and her arms crossed, she said, "I don't want to go to Mommy's work! I want to go home!"

But I want to make money so you'll have food to eat, I thought.

As far as I can tell, being a mom is a series of impossible scenarios like this one, in which I can't adequately meet all of my daughter's needs. I feel like a failure, and it's not because I'm depressed or unbalanced. It's because I am a failure. I'm constantly failing my child, and the more I try to meet all her needs, the harder I seem to fall.

There's not enough time, resources and energy for me to do anything besides fail her. And today, I hate it. I hate that this is the best I have to offer, when I wanted so badly to offer her the world.

A crash-course in high-stakes failure

The world was never mine to offer, though. The world requires things from moms that are impossible to navigate unscathed. All too often, the world will hurt my child, and there's not much I can do about it.

Last summer, I sat in the middle of my living room floor, sobbing and screaming as I desperately grasped at the jagged pieces of my crumbling marriage. My daughter was 2 at the time, and she toddled to me and said, "Mama, mama, don't cry, mama." I can't do this to her, I thought. So I left. I filed for divorce and stopped screaming in a heap on the living room floor, requiring my daughter to console me whether I wanted her to or not. But now she wails for her dad when it's time to leave him. "I don't want mama," she cries. "I want my daddy! I want mama and daddy to love!"

Let me ask you — which scenario is better? Anyone with a heart would respond, "Neither," and it's true. Neither was good. I just tried to make the best decision I knew how to make in an impossible situation. Late at night, though, I wonder whether she'll forgive me or blame me for her heartache.

I hope you know how much I love you

These questions race through my mind as I lie next to my daughter in bed. She's snoring, and I'm holding her hand. I nuzzle up behind her, and smell her curly hair, which holds the scent of a swimming pool and baby powder. I want to stay here next to her, where she can reach for me if she has a bad dream or needs reassurance of my love. But I squeeze her hand and sneak away to the darkness of my dining room, so I can tap out another article for another paycheck for another day.

I think to myself, I hope you know how much I love you, daughter. And I hope you know I'm sorry to be your first glimpse of the frailty and failure contained within love.

More parenting advice

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Extracurricular activities that maximize your student's college application

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If your student is currently preparing her college applications, take note: Schools do not examine grades alone. Instead, your child must consider a number of factors: Who is she? What are her aspirations, both during and after university? How is she already working toward these goals, in school and outside of it? Think of college applications not as transcripts, which simply state which classes your child took and what grades she achieved, but as resumes that describe her as a person: her academic and employment history, hobbies and extracurricular activities.

While there are multiple components that compose the college application, we will consider just one: extracurriculars. They may involve the arts, music, school clubs, sports, volunteering or another significant hobby. However, not every activity is relevant to your child's college application. In particular, college admissions officers analyze how activities demonstrate your child's passion, her dedication to an area of interest, and her leadership abilities. Below are suggestions to assist you and your student in choosing extracurriculars that will help her application shine.

Consider what your student wishes to major in

Choose extracurriculars that match this potential major. If your child hopes to become a journalist, being active in newspapers, blogs, and other media at her school is a wonderful way to showcase that career goal. Selecting activities related to a specific interest is also a sure way to determine whether she really does like the subject and if she truly desires to pursue it further.

Inquire

Certain activities are typically more visible within a school: sports teams, the yearbook committee, marching band, etc.. But other extracurriculars are less obvious. Encourage your child to ask around to learn what other passionate and driven students do with their free time. She may be surprised by how many opportunities exist, including internships, student governance, volunteer opportunities and other less-publicized clubs.

Create a new club

Does your child have an interest, but she cannot find an activity to match it? Advise her to speak with a teacher or guidance counselor, or with a group outside of school, about how to form her own extracurricular activity. She can determine which students share her interest and invite them to participate. This demonstrates her initiative and leadership on a college application, skills that are quite important to admissions committees.

Think about leadership

Is your child already involved in an activity? She should consider volunteering or running for a leadership position within it. A move from member to leader can be challenging, but also rewarding. It develops organizational and management skills, and it is a great way for her to network with other students who she might not otherwise meet.

Focus on a select few, rather than many, activities

Quality, not quantity, is what matters here. On college applications, it is preferable to demonstrate a deep involvement in one or two activities, rather than a shallow commitment to many. It proves that your student can choose something she is passionate about and pursue it without distraction. If she is already burdened by a multitude of extracurricular commitments, she should consider relinquishing several. The closer she moves to graduation, the more work... applications, SAT/ACT preparation, etc.... she will need to complete.

For more tips and strategies to help your student succeed in school, visit www.varsitytutors.com.


LeBron James decides to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers

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James is leaving the Heat after four years in a move that is causing the same controversy as when he first joined the Miami team. Speaking to Sports Illustrated, James announced his decision and the Ohio native also tried to explain his polarizing move.

Chad Ochocinco loses both his jobs after arrest >>

"When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn't had that feeling in a long, long, long time," James said. "What's most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio."

The 29-year-old basketballer added that he wasn't aware how much his hometown meant to him when he first left for Miami. "My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball."

Tim Tebow has a new football gig but it's off the field >>

Of course, the Cavaliers are ecstatic at James' decision to return and have new hope for a team championship win. However, for the Heat, this means the end of their winning streak.

"I am shocked and disappointed in today's news," managing Heat director Micky Arison said on Twitter. "However I will never forget what LeBron brought to us for four years. Thanks for memories."

Did Cupid shoot his arrow into Kobe Bryant? >>

Meanwhile, the Cavalier's owner, Dan Gilbert, called James a narcissist, a coward and disloyal quitter in a letter blasting him for leaving the team four years ago. And now that James is returning to Cleveland, he will play for Gilbert once again.

Harry Potter and MMA star David Legeno found dead

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J.K. Rowling posts new Harry Potter short story online >>

A statement issued by the Inyo County Sheriff's Department said Legeno's remains were found by hikers "in a remote wash" near Zabriskie Point in Death Valley. The sheriff said that it appeared Legeno died of "heat-related issues" — and the location was so remote, the sheriff's department had to have his body removed by helicopter. The actor was 50 years old.

Legeno may be best known to wizarding fans as Fenrir Greyback in the last three Harry Potter films, but he began his career in showbiz as a mixed martial arts fighter. Legeno started that career at the age of 42 and became known as The Enforcer.

In the three Harry Potter films he appeared in, Greyback was a "Voldemort-following werewolf," according to Yahoo, and was defeated by Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Legeno has also appeared in Snatch, Batman Begins, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and Snow White and the Huntsman.

Glee star Becca Tobin's boyfriend found dead >>

He most recently worked on The Last Knights with Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen.

According to the sheriff, there is no sign of foul play in Legeno's death, but an autopsy is being conducted. He is survived by a daughter.

Moving on up! Katie Holmes buys $4 million NYC apartment

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The 35-year-old mom and her daughter, Suri, are moving out of their $12,500-per-month rental in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. According to Us Weekly, she is buying a $4 million apartment in a more family-friendly area of midtown.

EXCLUSIVE: Take a look at The Giver's Katie Holmes character poster >>

The entertainment magazine's source said, "She is buying in a more neighborhood-y area. The place has three bedrooms, and she needs to do some work to it but not much."

The reasons for the move were really based on her 8-year-old's needs. The insider shared that The Giver star "wanted more of a neighborhood for her daughter."

This holds true to Holmes' Midwestern values that she treasures so much. The mother-daughter duo spend as much time with her family in Ohio that her work schedule will allow.

Tom Cruise admits Scientology caused split with Katie Holmes >>

In her recent Glamour magazine cover interview, she talked about where she is in her life when it comes to dating.

"I am really focused on motherhood and work right now," she explained. "I think you don't know... I didn't know how much love I had in me. It's overwhelming. Everyday I discover more about this spectacular human being I get to be the mother of."

Cruise and Holmes divorced back in 2012 due to her fears about raising their daughter in the Church of Scientology. The mother-of-one has since enrolled her child in a private school in the city where she leads a relatively normal life and away from the church.

It looks like Katie and Suri have found their home in the Big Apple.

Steven Spielberg, dinosaur killer? Funniest reactions to (fake) viral photo

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Posted by Branscomb to Facebook on Sunday, this picture of Steven Spielberg has gone viral.

Steven Spielberg Dino Post

Photo credit: Facebook.com

As you can see, Branscomb captioned the picture on Facebook with a satirical message, saying: "Disgraceful photo of recreational hunter happily posing next to a triceratops he just slaughtered. Please share so the world can name and shame this despicable man."

PHOTOS: Hey girl, here's what Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes' baby might look like >>

And, well, evidently satire is a subtle beast not immediately apparent to some people.

Sure, there were some people who clearly picked up on the joke and played along. In the beginning, the photo seemed to gain momentum mainly with sarcasm-friendly folks. Here are few of the choice comments posted in response to the photo that we pulled for your viewing pleasure (names not included because... well, because the fact that some of these comments were made is embarrassment enough for the people who made them).

We're pretty sure these people were flexing their own satirical muscles...

"And this is why we can't have nice stuff..."

"He's not dead, he's just sick."

"They taste like chicken. Proving the link of dinosaurs to birds."

"Mr. Spielberg, I'm so sad you'd kill an extinct Triceratops. Please tell us you at least ate it, and it did not go to waste. P.S. Next time bag one of these horrid Velociraptors. They're mean little b******s!"

"The word 'irony' could do with some studying by some of these postings on here. Anyway you can plainly see it died of natural causes. About 68,000,000 years ago."

"Animatronics have feelings too. Haven't you people seen Short Circuit? It's a documentary on this robot that has feelings. In the second one he joins a gang in New York or some s***. He gets into all sorts of shenanigans. You should watch it. JOHNNY FIVE IS ALIVE!"

"I always knew 1990s Spielberg was a monster!!"

"I don't know which disturbs me more, that he killed this magnificent creature at all, or that he apparently did it with his bare hands since he's not posing with his weapon of choice."

"Besides, he didn't shoot that precious triceratops. He was only helping the doctors who were treating the poor thing after it ingested West Indian Lilac, which is toxic to some animals. This man should be praised and given an award from some Academy for his work with these wonderful creatures."

AJ McLean: The BSB Cruise would blow your bachelorette party out of the water >>

Then there were the people we kinda thought might be joking....

"Is it even legal to kill dinosaurs?"

"So Stephen Spielberg is a poacher?"

"One day we will realize that we are killing all animals on this planet and we need them to survive. But, when we realize it will be too late."

Naturally, there were about a gazillion-and-a-half people who felt the need to point out the picture was, in fact, a fake...

"I think that is director Steven Spielberg [and] a triceratops from the movie Jurassic Park! It is a prop!"

"Photoshop!"

"Some people. That animal has not existed for hundreds of years. Jerks." (Um, might want to bust out your ol' textbooks and check the timeframe on this one, pal. That, and lay off the vino.)

"So is it just me or does nobody realize that it is Steven Spielberg, he directed Jurassic Park, it's a prop!?!?!?"

"Yes SS w/prop from Jurassic Park. He'd have to bring one back from extinction first before he could whack it off!" (Someone should probably clue this lady into the fact that the idiom 'whack it off' has another meaning.)

Protesters are getting crafty in Hobby Lobby stores >>

And, sadly, there were those people we can only hope to God are joking...

"That's why they are on the endangered list."

"Is that some kind of bison/bull?"

"Isn't that an endangered species?!? Horrible!!!"

"Is this real?"

"What a sick bastard!"

"This is most definitely not a joke. It's 100% real. And so sad. Who could do such a thing??"

"I can't believe you sick people would laugh at this! It's one of God's majestic creatures, who, like all of us, should only eat plants!"

"Did this really happen? There are so many assholes out there killing these kinds of animals into extinction. I think they should be killed to save the animals."

"Omg what a jerk. Why would he kill an endangered species?!?"

"I just happen to be the only person in this whole thread who actually feels sorry for this poor animal, instead of just being sarcastic and making a bunch of jokes about it!"

"Steven Spielberg has absolutely no respect for animals. Posing in front of this poor dead animal like that. Barbaric."

Particularly this impassioned woman...

Steven Spielberg rant

'

Photo credit: Facebook.com

Plus, as the internet is wont to do, the photo spawned a slew of funny memes.

Steven Spielberg dino photoPhoto credit: Facebook.com

Steven Speilberg

Photo credit: Dennis Wood/Facebook.com

Steven Spielberg

Photo credit: Facebook.com

Steven Spielberg

Photo credit: Kate Atkisson/Facebook.com

Steven Spielberg

Photo credit: Patricia Delicia/Facebook.com

Ultimately, the post has been shared nearly 35,000 times so far and has elicited more than 10,000 mostly moronic comments — half of which make us think commenter Frank Charles is really onto something when he suggests, "This is why we need a sarcasm font." But most of which make us defer to the words of commenter Buddy Barlow, who does a pretty good job of summing up how the majority of the world not pulled into this prehistoric prank probably feels:

"You guys are complete idiots. I fear for mankind."

VIDEO: Reese goes on a spiritual sojourn in new movie Wild

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Wild

Photo credit: Fox Searchlight

A powerhouse of an actress, Reese Witherspoon has taken on real-life figures in movies before. To play June Carter in >Walk the Line, Witherspoon had to learn to croon like a country singer. In >Rendition, she played Isabella Fields El-Ibrahim, the wife of an Egyptian-born chemical engineer and had to research military tactics and ethics.

In the new film Wild, she plays Cheryl Strayed, a woman mourning for her mother and dealing with a terrible breakup. She's in so much emotional pain, she even turns to heroin and risky sexual escapades with strangers to dull the hurt. When none of it works, she decides to go on one long walk — 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail to be exact.

What The Giver author Lois Lowry really thought of Meryl Streep playing the Chief Elder >>

Her strategy is to walk off the pain, get out of her head and use this physical journey as a way to find inner peace. Can someone really find enlightenment from hiking a trail that traverses three states? We think it can happen and here's why.

First, getting out in nature is a great way to connect with the earth and the beautiful parts of it. There's so much ugliness in life, sometimes you just need to get out of the city, get away from the media and listen to the wind whip through the trees.

July movie preview: SheKnows picks the flicks >>

Second, planning a hike as long as this one is a good example of goal-setting. If a person can finish something as physically demanding as walking from the bottom of California to the top of Washington state, they can really do anything. And they will learn self-reliance on the way.

Third, the sense of accomplishment after achieving such a big feat would inspire self-confidence. Just having survived all the elements, from the desert to the mountains, would create a strong sense of self-worth.

Patricia Arquette explodes Hollywood stereotype in new film Boyhood >>

Of course, there are real dangers along the way. So, instead of doing the trek ourselves, we're very happy Witherspoon is starring in this movie, so we can sit back in the safety of a movie theater, suck a Diet Coke and reap the benefits from her character's spiritual journey.

Wild opens in theaters December 5.

Wild

Wild

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