Men and women across the country and the world — gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual and otherwise — gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.

They took to the street to proudly or supportively wave their rainbow-coloured flags, or they celebrated from home, while sitting on their couches with their loved ones, quietly wondering why it took so bloody long to reach this legal and symbolic victory, a gesture of marriage equality across the board, regardless of gender and sexual preference.

I'm not the only one who's thought, in the lead up to this landmark event, that future generations would look back at the rights of the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, intersex) community across the world and wonder how people got away with such unabashed discrimination for so long.

Well, at least there is a sense of moving forward now and you don't have to look very far to see the leaps that have been taken in the shared support of the LGBTQI community. Just log on to Facebook!

More: 3 Ways being gay prepared me for parenthood

On the morning of the United States Supreme Court ruling, I woke up, logged into my social media pages and was gratefully overwhelmed by the number of people who had changed their profiles to include the pride flag.

Granted, I do have an amazing group of culturally aware and diverse friends who are pretty awesome on all accounts, but that constant stream of rainbow-coloured faces really inspired a sense of pride, both in the LGBTQI community for fighting to see this day come, but also just in my fellow human beings as a whole.

But, aside from being a nice gesture that is giving people the warm and fuzzies, does creating a rainbow Facebook profile picture really make a difference? Of course it does. It's the virtual equivalent of walking down the street during Pride and waving a rainbow flag about. It's the virtual way you communicate with your friends, your co-workers and your family that you recognise, acknowledge and respect a person's right to marriage, regardless of their sexual preference.

It saddens me, though, that something as uninteresting, as mundane and downright boring as a person's relationship status is under scrutinisation and debate, still. And it continues to be important to show our support for people who still don't have the luxury of being free to love who they want with legal recognition and equal rights, without ridicule, discrimination and, worse, being threatened with death.

In Australia, we still don't have marriage equality, which has left these kids, and many other people, scratching their heads.

Video: YouTube/BuzzFeedYellow

So far, more than 26 million people have rainbow Facebook profile pictures. And you can create your own by heading to Facebook.com/celebratepride.

But beyond showing support for your LGBTQI compadres and encouraging social change and inspiring inclusive attitudes to social issues, what else is your profile communicating?

It's influencing your community and communicating what is important to you. You might even be an influencer and as a result other people might also want to share their values and beliefs with their own communities, too. Then the ball keeps on rolling and that big virtual rainbow just keeps getting bigger.

Beyond that, there's been talk that Facebook is actually gathering information through the use of these rainbow profiles.

More: Iggy Azalea writes an apology letter to the gay community

Tracking people's beliefs and, consequently, possibly their buying and even voting habits. But the spokespeople from the social media giant have denied those claims, telling Mashable: "This was not an experiment or test, but rather something that enables people to show their support of the LGBTQ community on Facebook.

"We aren't going to use this as a way to target ads and the point of this tool is not to get information about people."

Even if it is a Facebook experiment, it's one that I don't mind being a part of, if it means showing my support of equality, marriage or otherwise.

Have you shared your pride on Facebook? Let us know in the comments section below.

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In fact, the Oscar-winning Kenya native said in a recent interview that acting has kept her away from her real passion, which lies in her home country: fighting for elephant conservation.

"I knew when I got the role in 12 Years a Slave that it was going to be a monumental film," she said about the movie that skyrocketed her to fame last year. "I did not know it was going to be as large… I just didn't have any frame of reference for what it ended up becoming. But I'm very honored to have been able to come out into the work with such an important film."

Nyong'o is back in Kenya now, spearheading an effort to curtail record poaching of African elephants for their ivory. It's the first time since her Oscar win that she's returned to the country where she spent her childhood and her first time visiting an elephant orphanage, she said Tuesday.

More: 4 Times Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o have been caught flirting

"It was my first time to really have an intimate experience with elephants. What struck me was how big they are, how quiet they are," she said. "It was really a breathtaking experience."

In an interview with BBC News, Nyong'o explained that she's loved elephants since she was a young girl.

"It's extremely important," she said of efforts to save the animals. "Elephants are one of [Kenya's] big five — I mean, we have their image on our money. So this is a great source of pride to Kenyans. And the fact that this is global heritage but it is in our care, I think it's really important for us, for the sake of the rest of the world, to ensure that elephants continue to walk this earth."

She continued, "It was very heartbreaking to think about the fact that they were being killed for nothing more than their tusks. I mean, that's a very small part of the elephant to lose the entire animal for."

More: Police solve the mystery of Lupita Nyong'o's stolen pearl dress

Do you agree with Lupita Nyong'o's mission to save elephants in Africa? Tell us your thoughts down in the comments.

More: Iggy Azalea slams Britney Spears in the grossest way ever

All signs point to yes. The two have been seemingly throwing shade at each other on Twitter in recent weeks, ever since Iggy blamed Britney for the total flop of their collaboration song and video, "Pretty Girls." Now, however, sources are telling Us Weekly the fight between the two stars began long earlier: when they were shooting the video.

"Iggy was difficult with respect to direction of [the] video. ­Everyone just got fed up and didn’t want to deal with it. Britney, being a veteran artist, was tired of arguing," one source said. The really interesting thing? That source told the magazine that Britney signed onto the song after Iggy's people asked her to.

More: Iggy Azalea debuts a new look that sparks plastic surgery rumors (PHOTOS)

But a second source contradicted that, saying, "'Pretty Girls' was Britney's song and video but Iggy totally took it over as if it was hers. Iggy ordered everyone — including Britney — around as if she was directing the video."

That source said Iggy was overbearing when it came to choosing the song's artwork. The first source said the art was "mutually agreed upon," but that Iggy demanded the song be re-released as a collaboration (she's shown as "featured" on the track).

What's more, the second source reportedly said Iggy chose Britney's outfit for the pair's performance at the Billboard Music Awards. The first source contradicts that, too, saying, "[Britney] chose her Billboard outfit and would never wear something she didn’t want to wear."

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What's your take on the Britney Spears/Iggy Azalea fight? Do you think Iggy actually started it? Or is it Britney's fault? Head down to the comments and share your thoughts.

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The actress, who will be on the cover of People magazine's Most Beautiful issue, said she only agreed to the shoot if she would be allowed to talk about what she finds beautiful in women, even though it often doesn't line up with the industry's standards for beauty.

"I feel like it's become open hunting season in how women are attacked and it's not because of who we are as people, it's because of how we look or our age," she said. "I'm shocked — and maybe I was just naïve, but I'm embarrassed by it. My son is getting ready to grow up in this world and I'm trying to raise a good man who values and appreciates women, and here we have this attack on women in the media that I don't see a stop happening."

Bullock is raising her 5-year-old son, Louis, something she says has made her even more aware of the challenges little girls face in respect to their appearances.

More: Sandra Bullock knows her way around a medical emergency

"Little girls are having the hardest time with bullying and the internet — somebody with a very large hand and big voice needs to put a stop to it," the actress said in an interview with E! News.

But until it does stop, Bullock, who wasn't shy about disapproving of People's hyper-appearance-focused Most Beautiful issue, said women need to have each other's backs.

"You'd be surprised at the love that you have in our crazy industry," she said. "The women have bonded together and have sort of become this tribe of trying to take care of each other and be there for each other in a way, because the minute you step out it's an onslaught. And I laughed when [People] said they're gonna be generous and bestow me this wonderful privilege, but I said if I can talk about the amazing women who I find beautiful, which are these women who rise above and take care of business and do wonderful things, and take care of each other, then I'm more than honored to be on the cover of this."

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Do you agree with Sandra Bullock's remarks? Head down to the comments and let us know.

He's always out there pitching in for a good cause. Now he has teamed up with Operation Homefront and Chase Bank to give away nearly 40 mortgage-free homes to veterans.

McGraw has already doled out six houses and plans to give away another 30 over the course of his remaining Shotgun Rider 2015 tour dates. Each stop on the tour means a veteran and their family get a newly renovated, mortgage-free home in their area. This isn't anything new. McGraw has already given out more than 100 homes to U.S. veterans on previous tours.

"These are people that have given us security for a lot of years," McGraw says about the project. "It feels good to give back to them in some small way."

McGraw's sister is a veteran, but he stresses that you don't need to know a veteran personally to feel a connection to their sacrifice.

"I don't think you can live in this country and not have a personal connection with people that put their lives on the line," he adds. "It's not about whether you agree with the policy or not."

So what can the rest of us who don't have a partnership with Chase and a foundation do? How can we make an impact on the veterans around us every day?

McGraw suggests we do something simple — give the veterans you meet a simple thank-you and a pat on the back.

"If somebody pats somebody on the back, that always feels good," McGraw said.

So as we approach Independence Day, remember the vets in your life, and when you meet a new one, thank them and give them a heartfelt pat on the back. Then tell them to contact Tim McGraw and figure out how to get a free house.

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Or the dialogue it would inevitably create.

The brainchild of 12 Years a Slave visionary John Ridley, American Crime centers on race, class, religion and gender politics in the wake of a racially charged murder.

More: 9 Ways American Crime is the most unique show on TV right now

At the center of the critically acclaimed series' story arc is Huffman's character, Barb Hanlon, a woman whose young war veteran son was brutally murdered during a home invasion robbery. Huffman fearlessly plays Barb, a mother hell-bent on getting what she perceives to be justice for her son, and the result is arguably one of the most compelling characters on television this year.

But to say the role is complex would be an understatement. In fact, we don't honestly know how to describe Barb in a way that truly captures her.

"I didn't quite, either," Huffman confides, "and a good friend of mine said, 'You know, she's internally parched.' And I was like, 'Yeah, you know, she is. She's brittle. She's been damaged and she's pissed.' And of course, one word for that is she's a racist. But there you see the building of a racist, which I think is the genius of what John Ridley did."

And at a time when our country's sociopolitical climate is tense (to say the least), racism is a topic that is at once sorely neglected and desperately needed. We need more characters like Barb Hanlon to help serve as a catalyst for the hard conversations.

It was only after such a conversation with her husband that Huffman could even consider taking the role. Because while Huffman "doesn't mind playing bitches," she didn't want the bitchiness of this character to be the entirety of her experience.

Huffman was simply having a hard time wrapping her head around Barb, the person.

"I was talking to my husband, going, 'I don't know if I should take this part. I don't know if I understand it,'" she says. "Here was my problem — she was so harsh to everyone. I asked [my husband], 'Does she have to be so harsh to everyone?"

It was only when he (her brilliant husband and fellow actor, William H. Macy) humanized Barb that Huffman could commit to the character.

"He said, 'Here's the thing. She is hell-bent on one thing, which is being a good mother and getting justice for her son, and that is something you can endorse. Anything that she perceives as getting in her way — whether it's her ex-husband, whether it's the police, whether it's the media — she will take on to the extent that she needs to either co-op them or neutralize them. That's the goal. It's not to be mean to her ex-husband. It's not to be a racist to the black cop. It's to get justice for her son,'" says Huffman.

More: Big Game star Felicity Huffman opens up about the 'wilderness of mothering'

In that, Huffman found a thread of humanity in Barb she could dig into. "That's when I could go, 'OK, I can endorse that, because we all want to be good parents,'" she elaborates. "And I certainly know that as much as I want to be a good parent, how it manifests in the outside world is oftentimes the exact opposite of being a good parent."

Through her portrayal of Barb, Huffman doesn't fall into the trap of proselytizing on behalf of her character. She plays the part, presenting a side of the story that is often polarizing.

She says, "I think what was interesting about Barb Hanlon the way John [Ridley] wrote her and hopefully the way I played her was that even though you don't endorse her point of view — even though you wouldn't have exactly wanted to have dinner with her, even though you knew that she kind of made every situation worse — you empathized with where she was coming from, and so you didn't hate her. Even though she was a hater, you didn't hate her."

In light of the recent shooting of nine black American church parishioners in Charleston, South Carolina, at the hands of a 21-year-old white man — and the victims' families' public forgiveness of the killer — this proves to be a complex perspective.

But Huffman makes one important distinction. "Having empathy for someone is different from endorsing their point of view or their actions."

Is it possible empathy is one part of the picture we've been missing?

"I think empathy allows us to see people whole. You know, instead of going, 'Oh, she's a racist, let's put her in that box;' 'Oh, she's a liberal, let's put her in that box;' 'Oh, they're a Republican, let's put them in that box;' 'Oh, she's a lesbian' — whatever it is, we put them in a box," Huffman explains.

"And the minute we put someone in a box, we don't have to understand them," she continues. "We don't have to have empathy for them, and I think the only way through this is to have understanding."

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Unflinchingly honest dramas like American Crime and complicated (and often unlikable) characters like Huffman's Barb are helping to address race disparities in our country in the hopes that we might one day soon come out on the other side.

"To tell you the truth, I think it goes like this: empathy, compassion, understanding," says Huffman. "And that, I think, opens the doors to transformations."

So, in honor of National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, here are three reasons I don't let my kids play with my cell phone. I see this happening all over the place — a mother hands her iPhone to her toddler to keep her quiet during a shopping trip or while waiting at the doctor’s office. You won’t catch me doing that and here’s why.

1. Kids don’t need electronic entertainment 24/7

I am all for using the iPad as a babysitter on occasion. We bought a loaded-up minivan with a DVD player specifically to keep sanity and peace during any car trip lasting more than 45 minutes. Better living through electronics has kept the meltdowns at bay more than once in my life. More than 20 times. Maybe more. And when I talk about meltdowns, I mean me. That said, we need to teach our kids that electronics aren’t the automatic Band-Aid for boredom. There are plenty of portable toys and games that can occupy your darlings through a trip to the supermarket. And besides, whatever happened to "I Spy"?

2. My phone is more than just my phone

I actually don't remember the last time I made a call on my cell phone. I've texted, tweeted, taken pictures and made purchases, but actual phone calls where I speak to another human? That has been awhile. If you're like most parents, your address book has been replaced by the contacts section in your phone. And remember those little photo albums our mothers used to carry around with our pictures tucked inside plastic protectors? We have that too, only it’s called "Gallery."

My phone contains all sorts of valuable information that might or might not be easily replaceable if a certain 4-year-old got overzealous with the button-pushing when he was trying to get to the next level of Angry Birds. Losing data that’s important to me wins over keeping my child entertained.

3. It's my phone

Since my phone serves so many purposes (camera, photo storage, address book, list repository, etc.), I splurged and got the expensive model. As a mom, I am resigned to sharing a lot of my stuff with my kids, but my phone is not one of those things. I’d rather wheel a screaming child through the aisles of Target than risk lost data, sticky Nutella fingerprints and kiddie drool on my smartphone. Some of my personal possessions are off-limits to my kids and I’m absolutely fine with them learning that lesson early.

Besides, I’m a mom. I can handle a little screaming.

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Thankfully I don't make this a daily habit, mostly because I'm just too lazy to leave the house every morning. (Score one for laziness.) So whether it's because you don't want to spend the money or because you're practicing to be a recluse, learning how to make cold brew coffee at home is beneficial.

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I have to admit I assumed there were probably expensive contraptions and machines required for this process, but really, all you need is a little patience. To do it right, you need at least 12 hours (and up to 24), so unfortunately you cannot cold-brew on a whim. That's probably what the coffeehouses are banking on. Otherwise, you only need a few items that most of us already have in the kitchen.

Check it out below, and see for yourself how easy it is to DIY cold brew coffee.

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If you know what an “unconventional conventionalist” is, then we’re guessing you probably went to a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and yelled at the screen. Maybe you even brought props, like noisemakers to use when Dr. Frank-N-Furter reveals his “creation!”  If you are that kind of fan, then this impossibly hard Rocky Horror Picture Show quiz will be a breeze for you.

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It happened Monday in Queens, New York. She had no history of health problems, and she had reportedly just had a physical that declared her to be in good health. But for some reason, Laura was struck by what is believed to be a seizure. While her father, Luis Palma, watched EMTs tried to save her, they couldn't.

“When I held her hand, I said, 'We lost her,'" he told the New York Daily News. "At that moment, when I touched her, I knew."

It's absolutely heartbreaking, and I can't imagine dropping my child off happy and healthy at camp one morning and never having her come home again. Actually, I can imagine, as this is the first summer I'm sending my 11-year-old son off to sleepaway camp.

While I'm wildly excited for him to experience all that summer camp offers and think it will be incredible for his self-esteem and sense of self, there's also a host of nagging worries about what could happen when I'm not around. From alligators in the lake (we live in Florida) to accidents and child molesters, a host of dangers cross my mind. I push them aside because I know logically that the possibility of them happening is small and because I try not to stifle my children based on my fears, but still, they linger. Things do happen… and not just at camp.

We can try to protect our children and prepare them as much as humanly possible, and still we can't save them from random flukes like this. So how do we walk away, wave and say "see you in a week" — especially after reading a story like this?

We do it because we have to. Because we can't live life with fears about what could happen. And as sad as it is to think about, I would rather have my children die while out having fun and living life than I would kill all the joy out of living by trying to keep them safe and next to my side at all times.

So when it's time for camp, I'll remember Laura's story, and I'll hug my son extra tight. But then I'll walk away and pray I'll get to hug him again.

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More: Farrah Abraham's daughter knows too much about her mom's sex life (VIDEO)

Only athletes are invited to the award show, which honors excellent performance and achievement for all things sports-related, and Abraham isn't on the guest list.

Of course, that isn't going to stop her from trying to get into the show, especially since she's single now and clearly ready to mingle, judging by the video she posted on Twitter.

More: Teen Mom: Viewers are petitioning to fire Farrah Abraham

"So I'm single, as we all know, and I have a sexy outfit that my girl Angel Brinks made me, but I don't know where I'm going to wear it. Maybe the ESPYs?" Abraham asks, as if the whole point of this video wasn't to try to find herself a date to the award show. "But I need a single athlete. I mean, is there any takers? Fans, let me know who's available, and I'll be waiting."

Some of the most popular suggestions include Caitlyn Jenner, Ryan Lochte, Kris Humphries, Nerlens Noel and Chad Johnson.

So far, none of the athletes have responded to her request, but Abraham still has some time. The show isn't for another two weeks on July 15, 2015.

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The Soup's Joel McHale will be hosting the ceremony this year, while Jenner will, notably, be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

And while Abraham already has a dress on hand, designers are apparently begging Jenner to wear their pieces for the show. No word yet on who we can expect to see her in at the show, but if her NYC looks are any indication, she will absolutely slay the carpet. Watch out, Kim Kardashian!

Do you think Abraham will actually be able to snag a date to the ESPYs?

You don't have to dole out hundreds of dollars on a personal trainer to get fit. In fact, some of the top personal trainers and fitness minds in the biz go out of their way to make workouts and programs affordable for the average consumer. And nothing's more affordable than "free."

True story.

One of the best ways to take advantage of free workouts and fitness programming is to head to your mobile device's app store. As the industry turns to technology to reach more people, app developers have started to turn apps into the equivalent of a personal trainer.

1. YouTube

What?! How is YouTube like a personal trainer?

That's easy — almost every big personal trainer in the biz has a YouTube account where they share free workouts for their followers. As long as you have the YouTube app and you follow the right trainers (for instance, Cassey Ho, Tony Horton, the Tone It Up girls and even yours truly), you can work your way through a single workout or a workout series with verbal cues and video.

If you're looking for a channel with a wide variety of full-length workouts from multiple personal trainers, check out the BeFiT channel by Lions Gate. They've got an arsenal of videos from top stars like Jillian Michaels and Denise Austin.

Available on: iOS, Android and Windows Phone

2. Mountain Athletics from The North Face

Outdoor enthusiasts (for instance, runners, skiers and rock climbers) need a special kind of coaching to see gains in their respective sports. Sarah Jane Parker, certified A.C.S.M. personal trainer and the blogger behind The Fit Cookie swears by the Mountain Athletics app from The North Face. "This app offers lots of great workouts that are tailored to fit different outdoor disciplines, and even general fitness. It features a six-week plan that keeps track of your time, and walks you through exercises with videos."

Available on: iOS

3. FitStar Yoga and FitStar Personal Trainer

While FitStar Yoga and FitStar Personal Trainer do have premium versions that come at a price, the "basic" versions are free and are a great way to get you started. Both apps provide custom workouts from top-notch personal trainers (Tara Stiles on the yoga side and former NFL superstar Tony Gonzalez on the fitness side) that are based on your own level and goals. You can select the workouts or the program that meets your needs, set goals and compete against friends and connect your fitness devices, such as Fitbit or Jawbone Up to track your workouts more effectively.

More: 7 Apps that will turn exercise into a heart-pumping game

I especially love that the app is compatible with Apple TV, so you can easily project your workouts onto the big screen. For someone like me, who still values the benefit of a larger picture, this is a huge selling point.

Available on: iOS

4. Nike+ Training Club

You don't need to be a Nike fan girl to fall in love with the Nike+ Training Club. The app provides more than 100 full-length workouts led by Nike master trainers that cover a variety of formats, including high-intensity intervals, strength training and yoga.

Marielle Burch, C.S.C.S., Stroller Strides fitness instructor and blogger at Fit Girl in a Pretty World, explains why she enjoys using the app, "It has a range of workouts centered around your specific goal — for instance, get lean, toned or strong. It also has different categories for beginner, intermediate and advanced exercisers, so it's perfect for those of all levels. The time frames for workouts range from 15 to 60 minutes, and because they require little equipment, they can be done at home!"

One other benefit is that the Nike+ app enables you to connect with other users for motivation and support, and you can share your workout stats to Facebook.

Available on: Android and iOS

5. Sworkit Lite

Not going to lie, I've kinda fallen in love with the Sworkit Lite app. It's beautiful in its simplicity and its personalization, functioning almost like a "choose your own adventure" book. From the main screen you select the type of workout you want to do — strength, cardio, yoga, stretching or create a custom routine. After selecting the type of workout, you're given more customization options. For instance, if you selected "yoga," you'd be given the option to choose a workout for yoga sun salutations, yoga full sequence, yoga for runners or Pilates. The next choice you're given is time — you select the length in five-minute increments ranging from five to 60 minutes.

Once you've made all your selections, you're taken to your custom workout that guides you through a series of exercises with audio and video cues along with a timer so you know how long each exercise is performed.

More: Best apps for home workouts

Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of the "yoga" series — the app doesn't always lead a top-notch series of poses — but for strength, cardio and custom workouts, it's pretty amazing. I also love that once you're in a workout, you can select the music icon and listen to one of Sworkit's Spotify playlists as you follow along to your routine.

Available on: Android, iOS and Amazon

6. C25K 5K Runner Trainer

If you'd like to start running, but you have no idea how to get going, look no further than the C25K 5K Runner Trainer. Rachel McMichael, a personal trainer, fitness instructor and blogger at A Forever Change says she loves what the app offers: "It's designed to get you off the couch and 5K ready in just eight weeks. It requires just 30 minutes a day, three times a week, and includes clear and straightforward instructions. It's perfect for beginners or those who are out of practice. I highly recommend it!"

Available on: Android and iOS

7. Official Lindora Lean for Life

For anyone looking for audio coaching rather than video coaching (especially helpful if you're a runner or cyclist), the Official Lindora Lean for Life app is where it's at. You can select workouts based on activity (running, cycling, strength training or flexibility), location (indoors or outdoors), length and intensity.

While exercising, the app provides you with real-time stats on time and calories burned... and to get even more accurate, you can elect to purchase the compatible PEAR Training Intelligence Kit that includes a heart rate monitor and earphones to track real-time heart rate, syncing it with your (free) PEAR app, so your coaches can provide training cues customized to your intensity and goals. Pretty fancy, right?

Available on: iOS

Us Weekly shared the first look at her journal-turned-memoir on Wednesday, and it reveals mostly that Giudice cries a lot. And when she's not crying, she works out.

More: Teresa Giudice's new show would be bad — especially for her daughters

She said she watched the movie Jersey Boys in prison and the ending really hit a nerve for her. "I was crying and have been very emotional for the rest of the night," she wrote in the January entry when she first arrived at prison.

She later adds, "I called Joe and he told me he was brushing Milania's hair and Gia was videotaping him! I loved to hear that and I wish I was just there with them."

She confessed plenty of other moments with her daughters also made her cry. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star said she broke down when Audriana asked if Giudice was coming home soon or if she could move into jail with her. Milania also asked if her mom was going to be home for her birthday on Feb. 2, which, Giudice wrote, "broke my heart."

More: RHONJ has made a decision: Will Teresa Giudice still be on the show?

And while we can imagine it's hard to be away from your children and family, it's still crazy to think that Giudice is going to make bank off of a book that basically just explains how she cried a lot. It's prison. It isn't supposed to be pleasant.

"I miss them so much," she wrote. "They are all I think about all day long and I pray that God helps me go back home to be with my daughters and my husband."

More: Teresa Giudice's lawyer has just shut down seven rumors about her

A different entry, on Feb. 27, reads like this, "Woke up at 6:15, went to breakfast at 6:30, had French toast and oatmeal.

"Checked e-mails, drank my coffee and watched the news. Did yoga at 8:30 till 9:10. At 12:00 to 1:00 they had Black History Show. They had Spanish dancers and rappers and talking about black history and handing out questions about black history.

"Whoever answered those questions right gets a Hershey's candy bar or a pack of tuna."

These "journal entries" are expected to make Giudice a reported $3 million dollars.

Though the actual length of the book is unknown as of yet, I can't imagine a hundred or more pages of this. They aren't even complete sentences!

Will you buy Teresa Giudice's tell-all book?

It's no secret that small towns are the new big city, packed with homegrown, farm-to-table and trendy items like homemade sausage, microbrews and mom-and-pop distilleries. Chefs and entrepreneurs are taking their small ideas and moving away from big cities to do things their way, and for half the money. Let's just say, everyone has a "Brooklyn." Therefore it's no surprise that like Brooklyn, these small towns are doing one (well, two) things well above all else: food and beverages.

While most people focus on wine and beer, spirits (think vodka, bourbon and gin) are gaining popularity with mixology's transition from pre-dinner drink to artisanal beverage, using ingredients from the garden and taking up more and more menu space. Spirits are showing sass, nuance and drinkability, in both a cocktail and neat.

It's a hard job, but someone had to do it. SheKnows explored the U.S.'s top 10 distilleries and we're here to share why their unique products and approach make us excited, happy and maybe a slight bit tipsy.

1. Watershed Distillery, Columbus, Ohio

Image: Watershed Distillery

I love a good underdog story to round out a night of drinking, which is why Greg Lehman and Dave Rigo's story from Switzerland to Ohio is compelling enough to try the hard stuff. Lehman, a former professional volleyball player in Switzerland, became aware of the abundance of locally produced spirits and wanted to start his own. Partnering with Rigo, the two were inspired to begin one in Rigo's hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Ohio, since Prohibition, has become one of the most difficult states to start a distillery, but that didn't stop these two.

Watershed Distillery produces vodka, gin, bourbon barrel gin and bourbon pulling straight from the bounty of the midwest farmland. The Bourbon Barrel Gin stands out among its sisters as trend we'll no doubt see in the future, combining two of our favorite things, gin and bourbon.

2. Middle West Spirits, Columbus, Ohio

Image: Middle West Spirits

It shouldn't come as surprise (but it does) that just like a wine's "terroir" (which is the region, soil, climate and temperament of a particular region) affects a wine, so does a spirit's. Ignorance is not always bliss.

Four-generation distillers, Brady Konya and Ryan Lang, experts in marketing and manufacturing, wanted to produce spirits that reflected their Ohio River Valley's terroir and honor the unique role of Ohio in America's distilling traditions. OYO, as many of the labels read, stands for "O-why-O," the original name for the Ohio River Valley. Dark spirits made in the American and Scottish ways complement a line of infused vodkas like Honey Vanilla Bean or Stone Fruit Vodka, which shouldn't be taken lightly. To even denote these as "infused" vodka belittles them, giving the memory of artificially infused cheap vodka. These vodkas are created by spirit "chefs" capable of balancing acid, sweetness and texture.

3. Finger Lakes Distilling, Burdett, New York

Image: Finger Lakes Distilling

It's a bit comical but if I picture where a former winemaker and banker would have a distillery, the easy answer would be, duh, New York. And since upstate New York produces some of the best wines in the country, owners Brian McKenzie and Thomas Earl McKenzie house their distillery on what else? A vineyard. P.S. They're not brothers.

Committed to doing the process correctly (even their building is inspired by the classic style of Scottish whisky distilleries with white walls and black trim) and with minimal waste might sound less than flashy, but they don't need to be flashy when the spirits speak for themselves. Being privy to many of their spirits (including gin, whiskey and vodka) in New York bars and retailers, I can say that starting a meal with a whiskey-based cocktail from their McKenzie line and ending with a sip of grappa is always a good idea.

4. Industry City Distillery, New York City, New York

Image: Industry City Distillery

It's no secret I work in food. What I love most about this business, besides the cooking (eating) part, are the people. It is rare to find someone who loves food and doesn't love people. On a culinary work trip to Nashville (are there any other?) I met the men behind Industry City Distillery: unpretentious, smart and seemingly very "Brooklyn" for the South.

Since then, I haven't been able to get my bourbon-drinking boyfriend to stop drinking my vodka. Made entirely with beet sugar (gluten free!) their Industry Standard Vodka is smooth, delicious and drinkable on its own, which is not a quality you typically hear about vodka.

This might be the only spirit at the moment, but Industry City Distillery is up to big things.

5. Tuthilltown Spirits (Hudson Whiskey), Gardiner, New York

Image: Tuthilltown Spirits

The distillers at Hudson are proud of being "out of the box" when it comes to their hand-crafted and slightly experimental whiskeys. If there's a problem, they think it through like a person. Like the other distillers on the list, Ralph Erenzo, Brian Lee and Gable Erenzo are slight nerds with a passion for being close to the earth and getting something right.

User-friendly "baby" bourbon is made in a pre-Prohibition way in small bourbon barrels making it easy, approachable and delicious. Their rye, a typically tricky grain to grow and use, is whole grain instead of paste to create a caramel taste.

Create a little agitation in the barrels? Simply throw a bunch of speakers in the barrel room and get the bass going for good vibrations... pun intended. How's that for fun.

6. Whistle Pig Farm, Shoreham, Vermont

Image: Whistle Pig Farm

Rye is the pinot noir of spirits, temperamental but oh-so-rewarding when it's done right. With the least amount of sugar, it doesn't lend itself to making alcohol. It takes work and finesse. Drinking rye is like dating a bad boy. You just can't get enough. And it's no secret that Whistle Pig had a huge hand in making rye in vogue again after a nearly 100-plus year hibernation. When Raj P. Bhakta bought the farm he sought out Master Distiller Dave Pickerell (Maker's Mark) to help him on this task. 100 percent of Whistle Pig is made from rye grain. For a dark spirits gal, that is impressive and sexy.

Rich but balanced, high-end but approachable. Simply put, it's about as American as it comes; just drinking it, you're doing something patriotic.

7. Laird & Company, Scobeyville, New Jersey

Image: Laird & Company

With 300 years of producing applejack tracing back to 1698 with Scottish heritage, the family began making alcohol with what was abundant in Southern New Jersey: apples! With General George Washington asking for Laird's Applejack directly and the family's commitment to the cause during WWII, when the distillery was converted into a factory to dehydrate apples and produce pectin, the now eighth generation of the Laird family is president and head of America's oldest family of distillers. The most notable is Laird's Applejack.

8. Piedmont Distillers Inc., Madison, North Carolina

Image: Piedmont Distillers

It's impossible to have a list of distilleries and leave out moonshine, the legendary ultra-smooth and clean-tasting drink of the South. Hand crafted with nothing artificial, the line of Midnight Mood Moonshine by Piedmont Distillers is flavored with nothing but fruit and charming (don't get too charmed!) names like "Apple Pie."

Popular for making moonshine before and after prohibition in the Appalachian Mountains, the Johnsons, like many farming families, did so to make extra money. Junior Johnson's persistence and (sometimes) illegal makings of moonshine are a credit to what is made today, "Smoother than vodka and better than whiskey." Cheers to that.

9. Prohibition Distillery, Roscoe, New York

Image: Prohibition Distillery

Made with no added sugar, this is vodka for rich people. It's gluten free! Bootlegger Vodka and Gin is seen in chic restaurants (Nick & Toni's, Nobu, Tavern on the Green) and Four Seasons Hotels. It's smooth and easy to drink, which makes it perfect or on the rocks, yet indulgent at the same time. Bootlegger Gin in similarly smooth but with simple botanical flavors and hints of citrus.

Visit the distillery to find a building rich with history as a converted firehouse and VFW post. The symbol on each bottle was popular during Prohibition and worn on the lapel throughout the world as a symbol of soliders who died during wartime. It's a great toast to fallen friends and fitting for the Americana brand.

10. Templeton Rye, Templeton, Iowa

Image: Templeton Rye

The story is that Templeton Rye is Al Capone's whiskey of choice, which quickly meant that it found its way into the bootlegging empire, moving the alcohol from Iowa through major cities like Chicago and New York. A built-in, no-cost marketing plan. While most of the town in Iowa was built on enterprising outlaws who were eventually punished, the rye whiskey survived Prohibition and was made in small batches for family and friends. Ironically it wasn't legally made until 2006, timing perfectly for the resurgence of cocktail culture. Perfect in drinks like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans and Sazerac.

Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between Experience Columbus and SheKnows

According to several tabloid reports, Kourtney is over Scott's partying and womanizing and is just about ready to launch an all-out custody war.

After a report leaked that Scott cheated on her with a 21-year-old woman in New York City, a source said Kourtney blew her top. "She called Scott after the story about his latest infidelity came out and told him he'll never see his kids again,” a pal told Life & Style.

"Her team of lawyers has been notified that she's gearing up to fight for full custody of their children, too."

More: Kourtney Kardashian finally shows us Reign and he's scrumptious

Another source told OK! that the couple is definitely on the verge of a split. "They had their biggest fight ever," an insider said. "Kourtney feels she has no choice but to fight for full custody of the kids, unless he can behave like a real dad. Realistically, Scott doesn't stand a chance in a custody battle."

Kourtney has not commented on the stories directly, instead preferring to post cryptic Instagram photos and captions that we can totally read into and interpret however we want, including this one, which obviously means they are breaking up.

Tell us: Do you believe the latest Scott and Kourtney rumors?

Image: Universal

In the film Steve Jobs, written by Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) and directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Michael Fassbender plays the now-deceased computer icon as a mercurial, stubborn and misunderstood genius struggling to maintain control of his technological empire.

More: Kate Winslet reveals meaning of eccentric baby name to Ellen

While Fassbender is a truly talented actor, some early criticism of him being cast as Jobs came from his appearance because he looks nothing like Steve Jobs. According to emails leaked in the Sony hack in 2014, writer Sorkin called the decision to cast him "insane." Sorkin wanted Tom Cruise instead.

Image: Universal

We bring up the fact that Fassbender looks nothing like Jobs because it's baffling to us why the filmmakers would attempt to make the curvy, sultry Kate Winslet look like the real Joanna Hoffman on her worst day. It seems that if they could fudge Fassbender's appearance, why not allow Winslet to bring more of her natural beauty to the role?

Images: Twitter/Universal

The above photo shows the real Joanna Hoffman next to Winslet's portrayal of her. Yes, Joanna is in a geometric print dress that no one would wear today, but she looks like a typical '80s girl going through a Pat Benatar phase. So why couldn't the filmmakers embrace the same aesthetic for her movie doppelgänger? It seems like they wanted Winslet's Joanna to be unstylish and frumpy. What's up with that? We know there must have been a better '80s dress to put her in. Why not make her style more like a Nagel print and less like a tragic cat lady librarian?

Same goes for the image below. Winslet looks more like herself, but she's still hidden under that drape of a dull sweater.

Image: Universal via Facebook

Was it intentional? Probably not. But it still seems slightly insulting. It's almost playing on the trope that smart, intelligent women can't look attractive — and we all know that's not true. So were the filmmakers worried that audiences would want the two characters to be romantically linked so they crushed that possibility by making her less attractive? If that's true, then they're denying the real spark of attraction: chemistry.

Image: Universal

More: Kate Winslet talks motherhood and laughs at her critics

Who is Hoffman, you ask? We'll give you some background: She was hired to lead the Apple marketing team in 1980, despite the fact that the "Macintosh Project" was still in development. She also drafted the first user interface guidelines for the Macintosh computer. At Apple and later at neXT, also working with Jobs, Hoffman earned the reputation as the only person who could successfully interact with Jobs and not start a war. She even received a faux award for being the one person who could go head-to-head with Jobs in 1981 and 1982. Clearly, Hoffman is a woman to be reckoned with.

More: 2013's Jobs movie review: Ashton Kutcher's sleek hardware

So what do you think? Fassbender looks nothing like Steve Jobs, so why should Winslet look like an even frumpier Hoffman? Let us know in the comments section below.

Steve Jobs opens in theaters Oct. 9.

“I have a proposition,” he drawled. “One kiss. Let’s prove to each other we’d be a disaster together.”

“I don’t need a kiss to confirm you’d be a nightmare to deal with,” she shot back. “You’re an ex-smoker, workaholic, anger-ridden, meat eater cynic.”

His fingers moved to caress her cheek, the line of her jaw, up to her temple. Little brushes of tenderness, contradicting the raw strength and power in those hands and body. Ready to crush her but choosing gentleness. The lust rolled over her in waves, and she fought back with all her power.

“And you’re a tree-hugging, naïve, post-world hippie with a God complex,” he retorted. “Vegetarian, to boot. Plus a hardened criminal.”

Arilyn growled under her breath and dug her nails into his shoulders with fierceness. “You know nothing about me, Officer! I am not naïve.”

“Stone. Now shut up.”

His mouth took hers.

She planned to fight back and give him everything she got.

And she did, but not in the way she planned.

The moment those blistering-hot, soft lips met hers, she lost it. Swamped by the delicious scent and taste and feel of him, she arched upward and opened her mouth for more. He muttered something dark and dirty, and slid his tongue past her parted lips and beyond.

Then he showed her who was boss.

Oh, he kissed her with all the hard passion and lust she always dreamed about but never inspired. With her past lovers, she got tender, slow lovemaking, and poetic words murmured in her ear. Moves were coordinated like a beautiful song, and though she was satisfied, and emotionally full, there was an ache deep in her body that never felt completely fulfilled.

She’d thought something was wrong with her and happily ignored that part of herself.

Until now.

Stone Petty owned her. Possessed her. His tongue took what he wanted and demanded it all, with each thrust and complete deflowering of her mouth. He reached around and sunk his fingers into her hair, tugging her head back to expose her throat and keep her helpless beneath him. Her breasts pressed against his hard chest, his erection notched between her open thighs, and he ravished her body and soul, leaving nothing behind but an aching, horrible want for more.

More: If you thought Fifty Shades was sexy, wait until you read this steamy scene

She exploded with her own demands, turning the kiss into something much more. Whimpering, she opened her mouth wider, arched her body up to rock against his hardness, and dug her short nails into his scalp.

“You taste so good,” he muttered, biting and sucking on her lower lip. “Like sugar cookies. I want to spread you out, taste you, eat you until you come apart.”

His dirty words caused a rush of liquid warmth to trickle between her legs. “Oh, God, this is bad,” she gasped, clinging tighter. “Very bad.”

“And so good.” He ground his erection against her, bumped her clit, and she shuddered, writhing to get closer. “Need more.” He ripped his mouth from hers, grabbed the stretchy halter top, and pulled it down to bare her breasts.

She wasn’t wearing a bra.

“I just died and went to heaven,” he groaned, his hands cupping her breasts and rubbing her tight nipples. She bit down on her lip to keep from crying out, especially when he plucked at her, watching her tortured face as if to see what she liked. “You’re like butter and cream, silky smooth. Peach nipples, just like I thought. How do they taste?”

“No, don’t, I don’t think — oh!”

His lips opened over one aching tip, his tongue swiping over and over, nibbling on her like a feast. She drowned in a tidal wave of sensation, her brain shut down, her body exploding on overload like a bad circuit firing up.

Her past seductions consisted of scented candles, romantic verses read aloud, and the taste of Champagne. Silken sheets turned down. Long, endlessly orchestrated scenes that she always dreamed she wanted.

More: Read a steamy scene from Alice Clayton's book Wallbanger

Now she realized how they’d barely scratched the surface of her need. Right now, she wanted to push Stone Petty on the ground, climb on top of him, and sink down until he slid deep inside her. She wanted to get sweaty, be loud and take pleasure on her terms, with nothing holding her back. With a man who wasn’t afraid to be rough, and demanding, and bad.

“I want you. Now. Here.” He looked up, his mouth wet, eyes fierce and so filled with hunger she began to shake. “You want it, too.”

She did.

But she couldn’t.

Get your full copy of Searching for Always here and check out the rest of Jennifer Probst's books here.

About the author: Jennifer Probst’s novels, novellas and ebooks range from sexy contemporary romance to erotica. She lives in upstate New York. For more about this multitalented New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, visit JenniferProbst.com.

You might not even need to dip them into anything, because as is, they are already so rich in flavor. Garlic, Parmesan and fresh rosemary are my favorite ingredients to mix with roasted potatoes, so these three work like magic on this snack.

One great thing about making potato skins is that you get to make two recipes in one. The skins become great snacks or appetizers, while the unused flesh goes to dinner as a side dish. No waste there. Your mom will be so proud!

Garlic-Parmesan potato skins recipe

Potato skins are great snacks or appetizers, especially when you make them rich with flavors. Try this simple combination of garlic and Parmesan cheese with a toss of fresh rosemary.

Serves 4

Prep time: 10 minutes | Bake time: 1 hour 18 minutes | Inactive time: 15 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 43 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and dried
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh rosemary
• 3 garlic cloves, grated or minced
• Salt

Directions:

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Prick the potatoes all over with the tip of a sharp knife, and place them onto a baking pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour or until tender, and then let them cool down until they can be handled easily without getting burned. Baking time depends on the size of your potatoes. The smaller they are, the less time they need to cook.
4. Cut them in half lengthwise and then into quarters or wedges. Scoop out the pulp, leaving just a thin layer on the skin. You can use the pulp for other recipes.
5. Place the potato skins onto a baking pan lined with baking paper. Drizzle them with the olive oil, add the garlic, salt and rosemary, and mix well.
6. Bake them again for about 15 minutes or until they turn brownish on the edges.
7. Take them out of the oven, and mix in the Parmesan cheese, leaving about 2 tablespoons for sprinkling after they are cooked. Bake for another 3 minutes.
8. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan, and serve immediately with your favorite dip.

For tons of great recipes, like our I <3 Comfort Food page on Facebook.

More potato recipes

Cheesy hasselback potatoes
Potato skin nachos
Cheesy twice-baked potatoes

Kaitlyn will finally come clean about sleeping with Nick. Shawn, as expected, does not take the news well. At all.

More: Ian isn't the only Bachelorette contestant who disappointed us

According to a source who spoke with E! News, "Shawn just couldn't get over [Kaitlyn sleeping with Nick]. He was obsessed. He was more upset that it was Nick than anything else. He asked Kaitlyn, 'Why him?' He didn't understand why, out of all the guys, it was Nick she had to sleep with."

Though Nick came into Kaitlyn's life mid-season and was greeted with skepticism by all the guys, most seemed to take a liking to him and accept him as part of the group once they got to know him. But definitely not Shawn, who took to calling Nick "the other guy."

No doubt, Shawn's refusal to accept Nick came from the threat he felt over Nick's presence. Until Nick showed up on Season 11, Shawn was the clear frontrunner. Now things aren't so cut and dry and Shawn is feeling the pressure. So much so that last week we saw him consider leaving the show.

More: Did Kaitlyn Bristowe just Snapchat The Bachelorette winner?

According to E! News, last week wasn't even Shawn's breaking point. It's only going to get worse in the upcoming episode.

"Nick felt he had tried to get to know him and was rebuffed at every turn," E!'s insider explained. "He didn't have any respect for the way Shawn was handling himself. Shawn never gave him a chance.

"Nick and Shawn never end up making peace on the show," the source added. "It's one of the most bitter rivalries the franchise has ever seen."

More: Andi Dorfman blasts Nick Viall on Twitter after The Bachelorette sex scene

And it will reach the height of its tension when Kaitlyn reveals she slept with Nick.

Check out the sneak peek below.

Are you Team Nick or Team Shawn?

More: J.K. Rowling has written another Harry Potter story... sort of

The Harry Potter movies have been out for so long now, a lot of people probably thought there were no more surprises to be found. Those people have clearly never met Tumblr user ravenclaw-enfp.

The scene where she discovered her Easter egg is the Battle of Hogwarts at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

"Guys. I just realized something," she writes. "I JUST REALIZED SOMETHING. In this scene in DH part II, Harry, Ron and Hermione are just running around doing shit. Until now, I thought it was rather pointless and that they just took it in the movie to add some action. But then. I REALIZED SOMETHING."

She explains the scene, one fans probably know pretty well. First, Harry, Ron and Hermione fight a giant, ugly troll creature. Then, they take on a wave of spiders. Next comes a werewolf. Last, they face dementors.

More: J.K. Rowling sends amazing message to fan who wants to give up on life

Not getting it? Allow ravenclas-enfp to explain further.

Images: Tumblr/ravenclaw-enfp

"THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BATTLED AND NOW THEY DO IT AGAIN IN A SECOND WITH A SMALL SPELL AND IT SHOWS HOW MUCH THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND HOW MUCH THEY HAVE GROWN," she explains, obviously in all caps because, hello, this is big.

Image: Giphy

Don't believe it? Check out the clip of the battle below and see for yourself.

More: Matthew Lewis' underwear pics skeeve out J.K. Rowling (PHOTOS)

What do you think of the latest mind-blowing Potter revelation? Are you going to watch the movies again so you can catch this scene? Head down to the comments and let us know what you think.