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#BlackLivesMatter cofounders on why the movement is more vital now than ever

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More: New video talks about passive racism and discrimination

In a crowded ballroom hotel in New York, Essence editor-in-chief Vanessa De Luca asked #BlackLivesMatter cofounders Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi about Sandra Bland — a black woman who was arrested last Friday and found dead in her cell days later.

"It just hurts my heart to talk about it," said De Luca, who was moderating the first keynote at the BlogHer15: Experts Among Us Conference that focused on #BlackLivesMatter.

Black lives Matter: How much more can black women take

Black lives Matter: How much more can black women take

This somber moment kicked off what would be a 40-minute talk on how Cullors and Tometi, along with fellow cofounder Alicia Garza, started the #BlackLivesMatter movement after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the death of teenager Trayvon Martin in July 2013.

The verdict — and Trayvon's death — made Tometi think of her then-14-year-old brother who was living in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. And I got goosebumps thinking of my own sons, also living in the suburbs of Phoenix and often the only two black faces in their schools and activities.

More: We have to give our black girls "the talk" and it's not about sex

"We were all in this kind of collective moment of grief and rage," Tometi said. "I, too, was searching; I was searching for people who felt the same way who wanted to do something about it. When I heard about this hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, I said, that’s it. It resonated really, really deeply with me."

Both Cullors and Tometi said the movement, which now has 26 chapters across the country and internationally in Ghana and Toronto, Canada, became much bigger than they could have imagined.

"An organizer’s dream is for something to go viral. Did I imagine this? No. Did I imagine Essence would put us on the cover? But I’m grateful for it," Cullors said.

Tometi added, "We created the platform online but it was really to impact our lives offline.” 

#BlackLivesMatter and its focus on black lives and not "all lives" has sometimes been a source of contention, but both Tometi and Cullors say the hashtag has been mostly well received — and that it is absolutely critical to focus on black lives.

More: BlogHer15: Experts Among Us coverage

"I think it’s absolutely a problem when folks are challenged with explicitly standing with this message as it is," Tometi said. "That’s how stressful racism plays out. And how privilege plays out. We are living in a crisis era and people are still wanting to be color-blind and to gloss over and to act like we’re in this post-racial era. And we’re not. We know we're not."

She added, "We know that all lives matter, we're well aware of that... but reality is that anti-black violence is killing our people and it's undermining our lives at every corner, and we have to get very real and precise about what is taking place.”

Black Lives Matter: All Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter: All Lives Matter

Cullors said that an Assata Shakur quote, which the group recites at all its events, is perfect to symbolize that the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag should matter to everyone, regardless of race.

Starting in a whisper and ending in a shout, the nearly 2,000 attendees spoke as one.

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.

It is our duty to win.

We must love each other and support each other.

We have nothing to lose but our chains.”


7 Ways the Emmys greatly improved its diversity problem this year

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1. Diversity's secret weapon: Shonda Rhimes

Anyone who loves television has no doubt been hooked on one of Shonda Rhimes' dramas. From Grey's Anatomy to How to Get Away with Murder, Rhimes creates compelling, multifaceted, strong and sexy African-American characters who great actresses like Viola Davis can sink their teeth into and earn an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Drama.

More: How Magic Mike XXL celebrates women of all colors, shape and sizes

2. Understanding Comedy Central is a hotbed of talent

When it comes to the Emmys, it would have been easy to dismiss the shows on Comedy Central just a few years ago, but not anymore. Beyond developing the talent of Amy Schumer, the cable network has also supported the comedy team of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele and their show Key and Peele, which was nominated for Best Variety Sketch Series. Keegan-Michael Key was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Show.

3. Hailing the Queen

Queen Latifah has been nominated for Best Lead Actress in the TV movie category for playing the title role in Bessie, an HBO film about blues singer Bessie Smith. Latifah told Deadline, "There are good roles out there, but we still have to fight for them. The tide has turned. Those who are in power [in TV] are looking to be more diverse; to show an America that actually looks like America and to show the various kinds of roles and tell the stories that we're involved in. For lead actors and actresses, this isn't a one-shot deal, this to me, is the beginning."

4. Recognizing that Empire's Cookie Lyon is one of the best characters on TV

The surprise mega-hit Empire managed to smash the standard television drama model by harnessing great actors like Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, along with stupendous writers like Lee Daniels and Danny Strong. The combination is simply electric. Henson was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama.

More: New TV show attempts to create gender parity in engineering

5. Having faith that good comedy can still happen on network TV

Anthony Anderson's show Black-ish is a comedy exploring what it means to be an African-American family in 2015. The show is poignant, modern and, of course, funny. Anderson was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy.

6. Knowing that horror has value

American Horror Story has blasted stereotypes by creating bold, strange and supernatural worlds where fascinating stories can take place. AHS: Freak Show was smart to cast Angela Bassett as the three-breasted character Desiree Dupree, and it clearly paid off now that she's been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Show or Movie.

More: True Detective finally steps up its game with its female characters

7. Knowing when a good actor gets even better

Orange Is the New Black's Uzo Aduba won the Emmy last year for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, but this time, she's nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress. We hope she can do it again!

New female-driven Twilight mini-movies get unexpected reactions (VIDEOS)

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The contest, The Storytellers: New Voices of The Twilight Saga, pulled in 1,300 scripts and 150 director pitches, but only seven films made the final cut. These finalists — seven female directors and eight female screenwriters — debuted their mini-movies on Monday night, walking down the red carpet with Meyer, of course.

"It's been really exciting to do something, maybe not on a huge scale, but on a small scale to get more female voices out there," Stephenie Meyers said at the premiere, according to Entertainment Weekly.

More: #HowToSpotAFeminist tweets show people still don't understand feminism

The shorts were released to the public on Tuesday via The Twilight Saga's Facebook page. You can check out all seven of them and vote now for your favorites — but we won't be the only ones with a say in who takes the $100,000 prize. Kristen Stewart, Kate Winslet, Octavia Spencer and Jennifer Lee (director of Frozen) are just a few others who'll be judging the contest.

However, fans are already taking to Facebook and voicing their opinions, particularly on these two:

The Groundskeeper

Twilight mini-movies — The Groundskeeper

Twilight mini-movies — The Groundskeeper

OK, we know fans can be very protective of their favorite stories (cough, Game of Thrones, cough), but some of these comments are just plain harsh.

Twilight mini movies - fan comment

Image: Facebook/Tatiana Vinzant

twilight mini movies - fan comment

Image: Facebook/Stephanie Molina-Torres

twilight mini movies - fan comment

Image: Facebook/Bill Giso

twilight mini movies - fan comment

Image: Facebook/Jazmin Nerey

More: Ashley Greene shares her shocking struggle with body image (PHOTO)

Consumed

Twilight mini-movies — Consumed

Twilight mini-movies — Consumed

On the other hand, there is lots of positive support for the mini-movies, with several comments asking for extended versions and if the films will eventually be made into feature length. Consumed, in particular, tugged on some heartstrings.

Twilight mini movie — fan comment

Image: Facebook/Alexis Alferez Dulce

Twilight mini movie — fan comment

Image: Facebook/Nichelle Coe

Twilight mini movie — fan comment

Image: Facebook/Tina Schwabe

Twilight mini movie — fan comment

Image: Facebook/Marisa Sammons

Decide for yourself and don't forget to vote!

More: 8 Bizarre Twilight fan fiction stories we want turned into short films

Gwyneth Paltrow's latest recommendation for women will make you yawn — literally

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More: Gwyneth Paltrow calls out misogynism in business in one unexpected way

It is one of your body's natural responses and generally happens involuntarily, after all. Thank goodness you have Gwyneth Paltrow here to tell you that you've likely been yawning all wrong.

The star's latest blog post on her lifestyle website, Goop, is all about just that — she claims there are only two correct ways to yawn, and you'd better read up, because it's important to do it right.

"The other night at a dinner with Michael Lear, a wonderful yogi and important quarterback for mindfulness and meditation in this country, he caught, out of the corner of his very alert eye, the suppression of a yawn,” Paltrow writes. “‘Please yawn,’ he explained. ‘Really give into it, as it’s the body’s primary way to release and stretch the jaw and neck muscles after a long day of work and conversation.'"

More: Gwyneth Paltrow wants to prove she isn't jaded

Right. In case you're really curious, here's how Gwyneth says you should be yawning.

Yawn No. 1: Tilt your head back and let your mouth hang open widely. Then, "contract the back of the throat as if to perform Ujjayi breathing — a whispery breath — which is typically done through your nose with your mouth closed. Breathe deeply through your mouth so you feel the air hit the back of your throat." Once the yawn comes, "reach and extend into it, riding the yawn to stretch the jaw muscles." Oh, and then repeat that 8-10 times or until "tearing" begins or until your eyes water.

Yawn No. 2: Repeat all of the above steps, except as you begin to yawn, "bring together only the lips" and "keep the teeth slightly separated." This mouth shape will "take out more slack in the throat muscles to bring the lengthening and relaxation around the base of the tongue, and further stretch and relax the neck, jaw, and occipital regions," Gwyneth says. Also repeat this 8-10 times or as many times as you can before people assume you're having some kind of seizure (our advice, not Gwyn's).

More: Gwyneth Paltrow is being attacked for the way she used food stamps (PHOTOS)

Are you, like us, totally rolling your eyes at this advice? Or are you ready to practice Gwyneth Paltrow's mindful yawning? Head down to the comments and tell us what you think.

Cara Delevingne finally speaks out about Vogue's homophobic remark

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More: Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne use their tongues in the weirdest way (PHOTO)

The magazine took some heat last month when one of its writers interviewed Delevingne and called her bisexuality "a phase." Now, in a new interview, Delevingne is finally responding.

"My sexuality is not a phase," she told The New York Times this week, adding that she saw "nothing malicious" in the Vogue article. "I am who I am."

Delevingne went public for the first time about her relationship with female singer-songwriter St. Vincent in her Vogue interview. The author of the piece, Rob Haskell, didn't buy it.

"Her parents seem to think girls are just a phase for Cara," Haskell wrote. "And they may be correct."

Many immediately criticized the author's take as homophobic, especially after, in the same interview, Delevingne got vulnerable about coming to terms with her sexuality herself.

"I think that being in love with my girlfriend is a big part of why I'm feeling so happy with who I am these days," she dished. "It took me a long time to accept the idea, until I first fell in love with a girl at 20 and recognized that I had to accept it."

Now, she's telling the Times about the other ways being in love has improved her life.

"Being in love helps, you know?" she said to the paper about how her relationship helps her live her life to the fullest. "If you're in love with someone, you can be with them like no one else is in the room. Acting is like that. It's like taking that feeling and turning it on so nothing else matters when you're looking in another actor's face."

Delevingne is set to appear in both Paper Towns and 2016's Suicide Squad, her first feature-length performances.

"I went through so much therapy as a kid, and I hated it, and because you get so used to saying the same thing over and over again, it just becomes a story," she continued. "I always wanted to act, from when I was four years old."

More: Cara Delevingne speaks out about ridiculous fat-shaming over her weight

Are you on Cara Delevingne's side or Vogue's? Do you think bisexuality is just a phase? Should Vogue have questioned Cara? Sound off down in the comments.

Caitlyn Jenner has already been offered her next TV gig

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More: Rob Kardashian shows support for Kourtney but not Caitlyn in recent post (PHOTO)

It sounds like she could if she wanted to.

Creator Jill Soloway and star Jeffrey Tambor, both from the Amazon original series Transparent, want Jenner to play a part in the show's next season, according to Extra.

The show couldn't be more perfect for Jenner — it features a family dealing with one of its own members coming out as transgender, just as Jenner is in her upcoming E! special, I Am Cait.

Tambor told Extra he was inspired when he saw Jenner's emotional speech as she was accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPN ESPY Awards Wednesday night.

"There was Caitlyn knocking it out in her beautiful white dress and saying all these beautiful things," he said. Soloway added, "Transparent takes place in Los Angeles, Maura lives in Los Angeles and Caitlyn lives in Los Angeles. There’s certainly a world in Season 2 where we have to acknowledge the fact that Caitlyn exists... we also want Caitlyn to visit, just as an honored guest, and come to a table read."

More: Why Kris Jenner shouldn't have to comment on Caitlyn Jenner's every move

The show is enjoying plenty of success after its first season — the cast just learned Thursday that Transparent was nominated for a total of 11 Emmy nominations for the first season, including a nod for Tambor for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Maura Pfefferman. Soloway said the cast was just sitting down for a table read of a script when they learned of the honors.

"We’re gonna play Sia's ‘Chandelier’ and we’ll have a dance party at the table read and celebrate," she said. "We jumped up and down for the Jeffrey nomination, then jumped up and down for the show nomination… as they kept reading every one of the nominations we were losing our minds."

Tambor added, "I’m gonna be really, really honest with you; I’m so happy for Amazon, I’m so happy for Jill. She started this story, from her gut, from her heart… there’s so many people who watch this… it’s about family — families will realize, every family has a secret and every family laughs and cries at Thanksgiving, and that is our show."

More: Siri makes sure Caitlyn Jenner gets the respect she deserves

Would you love to see Caitlyn Jenner on Transparent? Sound off in the comments below!

This 50-year-old model could pass for 25 and we want to know her secret

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Releasing a photo book entitled Timeless, the 50-year-old single mother of three could easily pass for a woman in her late 20s to early 30s.

More: Science may have discovered the real key to reverse aging

It really is amazing when you consider just how dramatic of a difference there can be between two people of the same age, height, body mass, etc. I am a regular at my gym, eat healthy 90 percent of the time and yet I have a strong feeling that the odds of resembling a woman decades younger than myself when I am nearing the age of 50 are not in my favor. But they certainly were in the favor of Candy Lo.

Candy Lo model

Candy Lo model

Did I just hear the faint sound of a jaw dropping to the floor? That's what I thought.

More: 'Power of makeup' selfies show women don't need makeup — they enjoy it

It's no surprise that after a few teasers uploaded to Instagram, fans hardly hesitated to run out and make the Timeless purchase. All 3,000 copies have been sold. I'm thinking this would make quite the addition to any coffee table collection, alongside Kim Kardashian's Selfish book of selfies, of course.

Candy Lo book

Candy Lo book

Proceeds from Timeless will be donated to charities dedicated to assisting children and women who have been victims of, or who are currently experiencing, acts of domestic violence. While most are subject to believe that a book of self portraits is proof of vanity, Lo is using her beauty for the greater good.

Candy Lo modeling

Candy Lo modeling

More: Women share stylish selfies to prove anyone can wear a crop top

Who knows what the future has in store for our ever-evolving looks but at least one thing is for sure. Whether or not we will bear wrinkles or see our bodies change once we turn the big 5-0, we're all beautiful in our own way. C'est la vie.

Retiring teacher gets 'flash-mobbed' on her last day at school (VIDEO)

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On playground duty on her last day teaching at St. Julian's, Mrs. Gabica was probably reminiscing about the 25 years she'd spent at the primary school. What happened next took her by surprise.

The playground turned into the setting for an amazing flash mob, which had been organised by fellow teachers and involved the entire school giving Mrs. Gabica a send-off to remember. Just brilliant.

Retiring teacher flash mob

Retiring teacher flash mob

Video: SouthWalesArgus/YouTube

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Massive chicken recall: 2 Million pounds of frozen products affected

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Coming on the heels on the Barber Foods chicken recall, affecting more than 1.7 million pounds of product, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today that Aspen Foods is recalling almost 2 million more pounds of similar frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken products due to possible salmonella contamination.

To date, three reports of illness have been reported in Minnesota, and FSIS has determined a link to the now-recalled products.

According to FSIS, "Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the organism. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized."

As with the Barber Foods recall, the concern is in the proper cooking of these products, one food safety expert tells Yahoo Health. The USDA stresses the importance of fully cooking these products:

"FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be in consumers' freezers. Although the product subject to recall may appear to be cooked, this product is in fact uncooked (raw) and should be handled carefully to avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen. Particular attention needs to be paid to safely prepare and cook these raw poultry products to a temperature of 165° F checking at the center, the thickest part and the surface of the product.

"This frozen, raw, stuffed and breaded chicken product was labeled with instructions identifying that the product was raw and included cooking instructions for preparation. Some case-patients reported following the cooking instructions on the label and using a food thermometer to confirm that the recommended temperature was achieved. Therefore, FSIS advises all consumers to treat this product like a raw chicken product. Hands and any surfaces, including surfaces that may have breading dislodged from the product, should be cleaned after contact with this raw product. Also, keep raw poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use one cutting board for raw poultry and a separate one for fresh produce and cooked foods."

The affected products were shipped to retail stores nationwide. Varieties include chicken cordon bleu, chicken with broccoli and cheese, chicken Kiev, chicken Parmesan and Buffalo-style chicken, and were produced between April 15, 2015, and July 10, 2015, with "best if used by" dates between July 14, 2016, and October 10, 2016. The recalled products have the establishment number "P-1358."

Brands affected include Acclaim, Antioch Farms, Buckley Farms, Centrella Signature, Chestnut Farms, Family Favorites, Kirkwood, Koch Foods, Market Day, Oven Cravers, Princess, Rose, Rosebud Farm, Roundy’s, Safeway Kitchens, Schwan’s, Shaner’s, Spartan and Sysco.

To view a list of all recalled products and products labels, check the FSIS website.

Consumers can contact Aspen Foods at 844-277-6802.

7 Scoop shops with ice cream deals on National Ice Cream Day

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If you have similar feelings about the creamy, dreamy frozen treat, you'll be thrilled to know that this Sunday, July 19, is National Ice Cream Day. And that means plenty of places are giving out free cones, cups and extra scoops to celebrate.

More: 15 Super-easy ice cream recipes you could make with your eyes closed

Head out to these stores to get your freebies and deals. (And if you want to hit them all in one day, we're not here to judge.)

Carvel

All day on July 19, buy one soft serve cone in any size and any flavor, and get one free.

Baskin-Robbins

Baskin-Robbins wants to keep the party going all month long, and it's offering a free waffle cone upgrade on any double scoop of ice cream throughout the month of July.

More: 3-Ingredient boozy ice cream sandwiches for dessert in minutes

free ice cream

Image: m01229/Flickr

Friendly's

Since Saturday is Friendly's 80th birthday, it's celebrating all weekend long with a buy one, get one free cone offer. At $1.99, that's a steal.

Dippin' Dots

Get a free sample of the latest Dippin' Dots flavor (Redberry sherbet is made with Sour Patch Kids) on July 19.

Marble Slab Creamery

Another scoop shop celebrating National Ice Cream Month, Marble Slab will give you $3 off your purchases throughout July. Download their app to get the deal.

More: Summer diets be damned — rich raspberry-chocolate ice cream is so worth it

Lyft

Lyft is getting in on the ice cream action by taking you for a ride to a scoop shop and hooking you up with a freebie. This Sunday, just show your Lyft receipt at participating stores, and collect your free ice cream.

PetSmart

Dogs love ice cream too. All PetSmart locations with a PetsHotel are offering free ice cream samples for your pooch. Don't worry — they're dog-safe. Get Fido his treat from noon until 4 p.m. on July 19.

Ronda Rousey reveals her struggle with self-hate and eating disorders

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As a strong and confident woman in the spotlight, Rousey seems to have it all, but even she fell victim to the struggle for the unattainable "perfect body" so many women strive to have. And that struggle led her to bulimia.

More: Robin Roberts had the most unreal — and intimidating — ESPYs experience ever

"I was unhappy," Rousey revealed while talking with Yahoo! Beauty's Bobbi Brown. "I had to attend to all of the other things in my life, like my career and my training, to get to a point where I trained just because I loved it. I didn't even know that was what I wanted, but I made myself happy first and then got the 'oh wow' body."

But in her younger years, Rousey admitted she did "all kinds of crazy stuff," including bulimia, before she was able to find happiness in her own skin.

She added, "It's been a long process. What I really realized I was doing wrong was dieting and training and doing all of these things that I didn't even like to get this idea of the body that I wanted. I was focused on the results instead of the process. I was unhappy and thought that when I got the right body, I would be happy. But I was going at it backwards. I had to make myself happy first, and then the body came."

As for those looking to get in as great shape as Rousey, she gave some helpful suggestions — keeping it healthy, of course.

More: Every tearjerking moment from the 2015 ESPY Awards (VIDEOS)

"Drink as much water as possible all day long. I swear to god people say it all the time, but you really need to listen. And find a way to train that you enjoy and that you're excited about — training should not be a chore. Same thing with eating. Junk food shouldn't be a reward or the thing you look forward to. Find healthy foods that you love and stick to them."

"I eat throughout the day," Rousey said of her personal eating decisions. She said she follows the Dolce Diet for the most part. "I have three meals and two snacks, and it changes according to what I need at the time. When I am in MMA training camp trying to build muscle, I am eating different toward the end of the training camp when I am trying to keep my weight on."

She also added that she rarely drinks alcohol and is mostly gluten-free and dairy free. "The only dairy I eat is Greek yogurt and goat cheese."

More: Ronda Rousey's Floyd Mayweather burn stole the ESPYs red carpet (VIDEO)

As for her health and beauty today, Rousey is happy with herself and explained she runs her life by an Eddie Murphy quote that "I am probably butchering, but he said, 'Don't let the compliments make you feel good, because then you are going to allow the insults to make you feel bad.' So I try not to let how people perceive me be how I perceive myself."

Woman offers 4-year-old up for adoption on Facebook

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“I need help,” Donath, who reportedly lives in Dubuque, Iowa, posted to the “DBQ Mamas” group. “Does anyone know a family who would like to adopt a 4-year-old girl. My parents adopted her but got new jobs and then have no time for her. I have 3 kids of my own and can not (sic) handle another. Serious inquiries only.”

The post has since been taken down. And yikes!

MORE: Heartwarming adoption photo goes viral

Now obviously this post offering to unload the pesky child didn’t go over so well with the group’s “mamas.” They promptly called the cops and Mallory chalked the whole messiness up to a misunderstanding.

“Let me rephrase,” she posted later, presumably after a visit with authorities. “I’m not selling a kid, it was to help find adoption ideas. So calling the police to receive suggestions was ridiculous. She’s safe and fine. So thank you for your help.”

Mallory clearly underestimated the mamas’ reaction to her soliciting inquires to rehome a child, as they call it in adoption agencies. But what might have been more helpful would have been if one of the mamas would have offered a little kindness or help instead of trying to teach Mallory some lesson.

Let me explain.

I’m a licensed foster mother and I can tell you from experience that kids who have been separated from their birth families — even under the “best” of circumstances, whatever that means — have suffered tremendous trauma and have needs. Needs for attention and reassurance. These kids are usually high-maintenance kids who require caregivers who are in a position to meet those needs. Mallory sounds a little like a creep in this instance, but with four kids at home, one of which, her adopted 4-year-old sister, probably required a lot of attention, you can grant her a moment or 20 of insanity.

I’m also inclined to give Mallory a bit of slack based on her age — 24. She was a girl with her hands full, that’s all I’m saying. And we've all been there.

Make no mistake, when and if you ever see any hint of child abuse there is no alternative but to report it immediately. But take it from me, cops and government agencies are horrible at helping kids beyond getting them out of immediate harm's way. You know who is really good at helping kids? A bunch of badass mama bears.

Mama bears who whip up casseroles like Minions and load up minivans full of kids for a day at the park like ninjas. Mama bears who show up when their homegirls are getting overwhelmed and take the kids of their hands for the afternoon so they can get a desperately needed mani-pedi. Mama bears who see a kid misbehaving in the store and go ahead and give them the stink eye because, I’m sorry for the corny expression, but it really does take a village.

MORE: Why we adopted children with special needs

I’m not defending Mallory. That baby deserves better and I hope that the mama bears around her will take an interest in what’s going on at her house. Maybe they’ll volunteer to drive her to school next fall and have her favorite granola bars on hand every morning. Maybe they’ll talk to her about what it’s like at home or just give her a quiet place to hang out when she needs it. Or how about a hug and a kiss on the head? Every little girl needs that at least twice a day.

And so I challenge every mama bear out there to look around wherever you are and find the babies that might need a little extra attention and love and be there for them. Sure they’re not yours, yours. But they’re ours. And that’s what we do. And you better believe we make it look good.

21 Awkward messages that are better delivered on a cake

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If there ever was a time to eat your words, it should be in the form of a dessert smeared in frosting. What I'm gathering from all of these strange cake messages is: The best way to break bad news or to tell someone a harsh truth involves giving him or her a sugary treat, maybe so the bitter pill is easier to swallow.

From a purely scientific angle, it's interesting to observe that many of these honest cake messages involve an apology. The logic stands that if you've done something bad, you might as well try to make it better by giving someone a cake.

If you have something awkward you need to tell someone, get thyself to the grocery store and buy up a whole shelf of Betty Crocker cake mixes — you're going to need them, especially if you have something really terrible and really specific you need to get off your chest. Take it from these people.

"I don't know how to tell you this, but..."

1. Congrats on your teen pregnancy

Teen pregnancy

Image: We Know Memes

Because a typical baby shower cake would have been too vague.

2. How are we doing on that Henderson file?

Bob

Image: Img Soup

Dammit, Bob, you had one job. Now we all have to eat the delicious fruits of your procrastination.

3. I am gay

Gay

Image: Queerty

If you don't know how to come out to your nearest and dearest, always, always say it with cupcakes.

4. I'm sorry I blacked out, tried to kill you, and almost got us arrested

Blacked out cake

Blacked out cake

Of course, I forgive you for what was inarguably the worst night of my life. Nom nom nom.

5. I'm sorry I'm a grumpy bitch

Bitch

Image: Pics List

Note to self: Keep this cake in the freezer for the next time I skip lunch and pick a fight with my husband over the right way to wash a dark load of laundry.

6. I think we should see other people

Breakup

Image: Seriously for Real

No one can freak out and beg you to stay with a mouth full of cake.

7. I want a divorce

Divorce

Image: Marissa-Mars.Tumblr

If we really want to psychoanalyze this cake message, we could assume this guy is leaving his wife for her sister and wants to tell her in a totally d*ckish way. Or, more likely, this dude wanted to make sure that his soon-to-be ex-wife got a phone message from her sister since he's probably never going to see her again.

8. Man the f*ck up!

Man up

Image: Imgur

This is the man cold medicine that every whiny husband needs. The OP says, "I was complaining about my recent cold, so my wife made me a cake to help me 'feel better.'"

9. Nobody loves you

Mean cake

Mean cake

Let's call this one a rude cake fail for the record books — a mean message with typos aplenty, oh my.

10. Sorry I got semen in your eye

Semen

Image: Lolbrary

Don't let it happen again.

11. Sorry I peed in your bed

Peed in bed

Image: Cake Wrecks

Just a few years into parenting, and my kids owe me about 100 of these cakes.

12. Sorry I tased you

Tased

Image: Imgur

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a homemade sorry-about-the-taser cake could be worth a thousand apologies.

13. Sorry I'm a sh*t daughter

Daughter

Image: Cup of Zup

This is exactly what happens when you forget Mother's Day.

14. Sorry for being basic

Basic

Image: Super-Mega.Tumblr

This cake should come with every pair of yoga pants sold at Target.

15. Stop liking people that aren't me

Stop liking people

Image: We Heart It

In translation: Wanna go steady?

16. This is an intervention about your drinking problem

Drinking problem

Image: Reddit

Courtesy of Reddit, it's the ol' bait and switch: Happy birthday! Just kidding. Let's talk about your drinking problem.

17. We hope you fail

Fail

Image: College Humor

This cake message sums up how every coworker feels any time someone is promoted to a new and better job: Buh-bye! We hope your success gives you an ulcer!

18. You make poor choices when you're drunk

Drunk

Image: Img Ace

And this cake should be sold with every bottle of tequila. To soak up the alcohol, of course.

19. You're fired

Fired

Image: Funny Junk

Amber, Cassie and Lisa: A public cake message left in the office break room seemed like the only logical way to break the news. You have until the end of the day to clear your desks.

20. You're old and have a small penis

Photo bucket cake

Photo bucket cake

Happy birthday? Happy retirement? Does it even matter anymore?

21. Y u no propose?

Propose

Image: Pop Hangover

She wasted three years of her life on you, and she baked you a cake? Put a ring on it already!

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Confessions of a crazy camp mom

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Then my 11-year-old son went to sleepaway camp.

By day two I was ready to hijack a damn helicopter and swoop in to bust him out of that place. What if he wasn't happy? Would he remember to brush his teeth and change the rubber bands on his braces? Maybe I should just call and ask someone to remind him to reapply sunscreen often? What if I just wanted to hug him?

More: 3 DIY hacks moms can use for summer camp (VIDEO)

The days ticked by ever so slowly as I missed my boy. Oh there were photos the camp posted every day — photos that were surely designed to comfort parents. Instead they made me a raving lunatic. All day and night, I'd wait, refreshing the page to see if new pictures had been uploaded.

Then the glorious moment would come when I saw that pictures had been posted — usually around 11 p.m. when I was fighting to stay awake for a glimpse — and I began to scroll through furiously at first looking for his face or floppy hair, then ever so slowly with an eagle eye looking for any small sighting of his tennis shoes or the back of his head so I could try to discern how he was doing.

More: My kid will never go to summer camp

Unlike the other campers/posers who appeared smiling in multiple pictures per day, my son apparently ran and hid from the camera most of the time. My husband joked that we could fly a drone over camp and get our own pictures; I didn't think it was the worst idea I'd ever heard. When I finally would see his sweet face, I spent far too much time studying it, trying to glean his level of happiness and if he was eating enough vegetables. Then I went I went back to refreshing my screen.

To help pass the days that dragged by while I waited until I could go pick him up, I sent him what are known as bunk notes via a sort of one-way email system. You send your camper a note (or 50), which is then printed out and given him at mealtime. They can then send you... nothing.

More: How to pick exactly the right camp for your kid

That's the thing about camp I wasn't prepared for — it wasn't just him being away from me necessarily, it was the total and complete lack of communication, the lack of being able to gauge his mood and ask questions. It's a lot easier being a hands-off mom when I can get my hands on him if I want. If he went to Europe for two weeks it would be different because we could call, Skype, text and email, but not so at camp. Besides snail mail (which I didn't receive — harrumph), they're cut off from you completely. And that's hard on a mama no matter what your parenting type.

When pickup day finally arrived, I was thrilled to see him and ready with a million questions and hugs. He loved archery and water skiing; his teeth appeared to have been brushed at least semi-regularly and he was happy. So happy, in fact, he asked if could go for longer next year. I told him maybe... if they install a helipad.

Bachelor in Paradise is getting an hour-long addition

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More: Chris Soules' latest gig makes us think he's just looking for fame

As if you weren't already chomping at the bit, waiting for the new season of Bachelor in Paradise, ABC just made the wait even more excruciating by announcing that Bachelor in Paradise will also be followed each week by an hour-long after-show called After Paradise.

The live after-show will be hosted by Chris Harrison, of course, and co-hosted by prolific Bachelor live-tweeter and actress Jenny Mollen. The two will break down each episode of Bachelor in Paradise Monday nights from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST.

And, aside from the hosts' riveting dissections of each episode, After Paradise will also feature surprise guests, including recent booted cast members and celebrity guests, according to Variety.

Bachelor in Paradise will air differently this season, with two nights a week. The show will get a two-hour time block on Sundays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with another hour (maybe for each week's elimination?) on Mondays.

More: Bachelor in Paradise will feature a huge surprise this season

It's unclear as of now if ABC is using After Paradise as a tester platform before launching after-shows for their other series, dramas included, but this could be the first of many depending on the success of After Paradise.

Bachelor in Paradise Season 2 is set to premiere Sunday, Aug. 2. This season, the opportunity to search for love has been extended to previous Bachelor nation contestants like Clare Crawley, who joined the show for Season 1 after losing out on love with Bachelor Juan Pablo, JJ Lane, dubbed "The Turd" by Amy Schumer during Kaitlyn Bristowe's season, and Jared Haibon, who was a fan favorite from Bristowe's season and the third runner-up.

More: Bachelor in Paradise is bringing back fan faves from Chris Soules' season

Season 2 will also showcase some returning favorites for — that's right — their wedding! Lacy Faddoul and Marcus Grodd's recent wedding will be highlighted during Bachelor in Paradise, sealing their place among Bachelor success stories.

Will you watch After Paradise?


Heroic teen with autism saves mom from burning car

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It's pretty hard to imagine what you would do in a life and death situation, but hopefully our response would be like Tyler Gianchetta. The autistic teen did not bat an eye as he pulled his mother out of the car moments before it was engulfed in flames.

More: Car accident claimed life of pregnant woman, baby saved

Newsday reports the two were traveling together before Tyler's mom, 50-year-old Susan Gianchetta, blacked out while driving and hit a tree. "Really, just out of nowhere, she just started shaking and then we hit a tree," Tyler recounts. Even with a broken hand, Tyler was able to remove his unconscious mother from the car, but only a few feet. With the help of a few good Samaritans, they were able to take Susan to safety.

Tyler's mom is recovering at a local hospital after suffering multiple injuries — including a broken hip, pelvis and ribs.

I am so happy this family is OK as this accident could've easily turned deadly. It's scary to think a situation like blacking out and hitting a tree could happen, but thankfully this young man's actions occurred in the nick of time. Police say his mother suffered a medical episode that caused her to pass out at the wheel. I don't know if she was aware of any conditions — or potential risks of driving for that matter — but am glad to hear she's recovering.

This should inspire us all to have a talk with our children about what to do in an emergency. Obviously you can't always plan for the unexpected (after all, it is unexpected), but having some thought to a course of action can hopefully make the outcome a more positive one. While most kids wouldn't find themselves in this life-or-death situation, they should feel empowered to act.

More: Heroic toddler rescues 68-year-old man trapped in a car

As a parent, it's very easy to want to do everything for your child. Rather than shield them, we should encourage them to become more proactive. Whether you dial 911, yell for help or call a friend or family member, little actions can be life saving.

More: How not to be a helicopter parent

Gwyneth Paltrow on family, co-parenting and a trip to Paris with her dad (VIDEO)

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Paltrow chatted with BlogHer cofounder Elisa Camahort about co-parenting techniques, the beauty of her first trip to Paris with her late father and why she (like so many of us!) took an office job.

The keynote conversation transpired in a standing-room-only ballroom, touching on family, death and business alike. Camahort’s questions revealed a sort of uber-multitasker of a woman, facing down many of the juggling aspects of life that other women do.

Why did Paltrow launch goop, for example? She just “kind of wanted a place to organize my stuff. I wanted to have an opportunity to answer my own questions,” she told Camahort. “Originally I was just gonna put some stuff online and have a private site for my friends,” she said, until friends suggested she put her thoughts in newsletter form. “The inception was for my little community,” she said, “and I kind of stupidly didn’t think larger at first when I was first doing it.”

More: Why the Girl Scouts are more important than ever

Paltrow had a moment of pause once she’d launched the newsletter and reflected on who might get it. “’Who am I communicating with?’ I sort of had a lot of passion, and I’m very passionate about travel and health and wellness and food and trying to become a better person, so I think in essence I was using the website in order to get closer in a sense, closer to my community.”

“You super leaned in!” laughed Camahort. “Forgive the expression.”

“I love that expression,” replied Paltrow, smiling.

Eventually a London businessman offered to help Paltrow turn her little newsletter into a business. Most recently, Lisa Gersh — formerly of Martha Stewart Livingjumped on board. Of working with a person Camahort termed “a media powerhouse,” Paltrow said, “Lisa Gersh came on and was like, ‘OK, this is what’s happening,’” and I was like, ‘All right!’”

As to the nature of the goop reader, Paltrow said, “I think that our woman is — it doesn’t really matter what her income is, but she’s a really engaged, forward-thinking person. She wants interesting options. Originally people thought, ‘Oh, it’s too expensive, [that’s] not approachable.’ That’s really not the case.”

More: #BlackLivesMatter cofounders on why the movement is more vital now than ever

Turns out Paltrow treats her job rather like the rest of us do, getting her kids to school, then showing up at the office every day to lead her editorial team. Her goal, she says, is not to always have her brand be Gwyneth Central, but to have goop eventually stand fully on its own. “My dream is that in 20 years someone will say to me, ‘Didn’t you have something to do with that?’”

And Paltrow has feelings about her site’s reception in the media, of course: Responding to Camahort’s inquiry about whether she reads her own press, she replied with a laugh, “I only read [the] nice things!” Calling much of the press about her “incendiary” and “about pageviews,” she continued, “I’ve been in the public eye my whole life. It’s a bizarre learning curve. You really have to find a way to separate the words of a person you respect… from people who are just in pain and are projecting their own shit on to you.” (This particular comment earned a few whoops from the bloggers in attendance.)

More: BlogHer15: Experts Among Us coverage

And about that “public eye,” Paltrow shared a sweet memory of her father, the late Bruce Paltrow, who took her to Paris for a weekend when she was 10 years old. Her story brought down the house: 

Gwyneth Paltrow first Paris trip

Gwyneth Paltrow first Paris trip

As for co-parenting, which she does with ex-husband Chris Martin, turns out celebs are trying to juggle everything just like other parents. She’s trying to figure out how much access to social media her tween children should have — the 11-year-old is not yet permitted a phone — and it turns out her values sync up nicely with Martin’s.

Gwyneth Paltrow CoParenting ooyala video

Gwyneth Paltrow CoParenting ooyala video

One-bite chocolate cream pies you won't believe are vegan

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I used puff pastry as the crust, pricking it with a fork before baking so that it didn't rise too much. Vegans, be sure to check the ingredients on your package of pastry before using it to ensure it's dairy-free. Once the crusts were baked, I topped the rounds with a super-creamy chocolate pie filling containing a secret ingredient: avocado.

Don’t be dismayed when you spy avocado in this recipe. Not only does it make the chocolate topping ultra creamy, it also adds fiber and nutrients without giving the dessert an odd flavor. It definitely works here — give it a try.

Mini vegan chocolate cream pie bites recipe

Inspired by Amanda Nicole Smith

Decadent, creamy and plant-based, these bite-size chocolate pie treats are perfect for anyone looking for a delicious dessert while avoiding dairy.

Yields 12

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 15 minutes | Inactive time: 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

For the pastry shells

  • 1 sheet puff pasty dough, thawed
  • 1 small biscuit cutter

For the chocolate filling

  • 1-1/4 cups raw cashews, soaked
  • 2 large, ripe avocados, halved, seeds removed
  • 3/4 cup canned full-fat coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder (can substitute with dark chocolate powder)
  • 1/4 cup raw agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
For the topping
  • Cocoa powder, for garnish (optional)
  • Coconut whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

  1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry dough.
  3. Using the biscuit cutter, cut 12 circles out of the dough, and place them on the parchment paper. Poke each piece of dough with a fork several times, and then bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. Remove from the oven, and let cool for 15 minutes.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the chocolate filling.
  6. Using a hand mixer, mix the filling until it is very thick and creamy and there are no lumps. Cover, and chill the chocolate filling for 30 minutes.
  7. When ready to assemble, place the puff pastry shells on a serving platter.
  8. Spoon the chocolate filling into the center of each pastry shell, and garnish with coconut whipped cream and cocoa powder.
  9. Best served immediately.
  10. Tip: When soaking the cashews, place the nuts in a large bowl, and cover them with warm water. Allow to sit on the counter and soak for 4 hours or overnight.

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

More vegan dessert ideas

No-bake vegan Meyer lemon tarts
Vegan almond cookies
Boozy vegan raspberry cupcakes

Scott Disick's back in LA being even more reckless than before

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Disick has always played the bad boy role on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but he is taking things to a whole other level with his latest antics.

Is he acting out worse now in the wake of the official breakup from longtime girlfriend and baby mama Kourtney? Or has his behavior always been this bad and we just didn’t have this spotlight on him as closely. Disick was spotted back in Los Angeles recently and on his worst behavior yet.

After he moved out of his family’s home (or, should I say, a woman moved some of his belongings out of the couple's mansion), he was spotted moving into a $3.2 million investment property.

More: Scott Disick could have his own reality TV show in the works

On Thursday, a gaggle of women, as well as the rapper Mally Mall, were seen arriving at Disick’s new digs. The model-esque women were caught taking selfies outside his pad among exotic sports cars and other high-end vehicles. At one point during the day, Disick received a delivery of several Alec Monopoly paintings, worth over $20,000 each.

More: The latest Scott Disick rumor of him praying with teenagers is just sad

The gathering is the exclamation point on a long line of erratic and dangerous behavior from a man some say is on the "bender of his life." Another source told Us Weekly, "Scott is running off the rails. He can’t keep going like this. It’s scary."

He has reportedly entered and left rehab facilities several times. Most recently, on July 5 in Florida, he entered a facility but left after only six hours. This bad behavior comes on the heels of him missing his daughter's birthday and it seems (based on both his and Kourtney's social media accounts) he might not even have seen his children yet.

Is he spiraling out of control? Tell us what you think in the comments

More: Scott Disick fans are completely panicking on Twitter (PHOTOS)

Canada tops survey of most respected countries — again

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The Reputation Institute surveys 48,000 people in G-8 countries, asking them to rank countries in different categories. Canada topped the list from 2011 to 2013 but fell to second place last year. This year we are back on top thanks to our "effective government" and "welcoming people."

More: 5 Reasons Canada is the happiest place in the world

Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Australia rounded out the top five. The U.S. was ranked 22nd out of 55 nations. Fernando Prado from the Reputation Institute says that Canada does lag behind in contribution to global culture and a perceived lack of brand names and companies.

I would gladly trade consumer culture for the amazing things our country has to offer — stable government, strong banks, beautiful landscapes, a social safety net, tolerance and diversity, health care and people polite enough to not brag constantly about how great we have it here.

More: 13 Malala Yousafzai quotes that inspire us to be better

The Reputation Institute creates a separate list that ranks how citizens perceive their own country. Australia came out on top of that list, with Canada in second place. Russian citizens put their country third on the reputation list, but they actually ranked 52 out of 55 countries, giving them the largest gap in perception. The U.S., China and India also had large gaps between how they see themselves and how others see them.

More: Canadian words that should be added to the dictionary

Well done, Canada! We are confident, helpful and not too boastful. Let's celebrate with a two-four, eh?

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