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J.K. Rowling gives a fan touching advice on Twitter

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Surprise Harry Potter confessions make Rowling Twitter gold for all fans, but what we really love about her social media action is that she regularly reaches out to those who could do with a bit of J.K. love.

Proving that she not only reads her Twitter feed — so many celebrities clearly just tweet and then luxuriate in the knowledge of thousands of RTs — but actually takes the time to show she cares.

The 50-year-old writer's latest act of Twitter awesomeness took place over the weekend, when she replied to a fan who hopes to follow in her footsteps.

"You inspired me to write," wrote the Twitter user. "However, in Egypt, girls can't do anything as freely as boys. They laugh at me when I say I am a writer."

JK Rowling fan's tweet

JK Rowling fan's tweet

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

"Don't you dare let their laughter extinguish your ambition," Rowling replied. "Turn it into fuel! Big hugs from one writer to another x."

JK Rowling tweet response to fan

JK Rowling tweet response to fan

More: J.K.'s reply to sexist tweet proves she's a social media superhero (again)

Within hours the post had been shared thousands of times and other Twitter users also sent the aspiring writer encouraging messages.

"Shout out from Egypt as well!" a man named Alaa A. Rahman wrote. "A lot of us are like you trying to find their place as writers in our society."

The young woman replied, "Egypt, maybe I should say Egypt's ignorant people, had discouraged us for so many years. It's time to stand up."

JK Rowling fan's tweet 2

JK Rowling fan's tweet 2

She continued to receive messages of positivity over the weekend and was clearly boosted by the feedback. "Thanks for the support! I will ignore the haters because you guys gave me my spirit back! I Wish the best for you," she tweeted.

More: J.K. Rowling blasts Rupert Murdoch after his controversial anti-Muslim tweets


Cheryl Fernandez-Versini addresses anorexia rumours

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More: Cheryl Cole marries her French lover after only 3 months

The "Crazy Stupid Love" hitmaker has been plagued by rumours that she is too thin, and suffering from an eating disorder, but Fernandez-Versini is hitting back at the rumours and letting the world know that she is perfectly happy and healthy.

"No, I'm not anorexic," she told The Mirror. "It all started with a girl on Instagram calling us (sic) a bag of bones. At the time I was thinking people are so quick to judge without thinking, 'Is there a reason why this person might be like that?'"

More: We're a little bit excited about the new X Factor line up

The X Factor UK judge went on to explain that women are expected to adhere to extremely unrealistic standards of beauty and it needs to stop.

"Right now I feel like we are facing a lot of body issues in general — girls expected to have big booties, girls with thin legs — and it’s impossible," she explained. "It needs to slow down, or stop. It's highlighting body insecurities and it's not right.

"I work 12 to 14 hours a day. I don't even have time at the moment to exercise — and I don't need to either," she continued.

More: Cheryl Cole seeks revenge over The X Factor USA

And while she appreciates that her fans care, she insists that there really is nothing to be worried about.

"It's nice that people are concerned, but, honestly there's no cause for concern. You can see I am completely and utterly well and happy," she explained.

Skinny-shaming is just as damaging as fat-shaming and Cheryl's comments prove that as a society we need to be more mindful about the things we say.

Chic DIY colorblock bracelet is so easy to make

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colorblock antique jewelry

Materials:

Color block jewelry: Materials

  • An old piece of jewelry (but not your grandmother's!). Cuffs and thick bracelets work best.
  • Spray paint in 4 different colors varying from light to dark, vibrant to subtle
  • Sand paper
  • Painter's tape

Directions:


Step 1:

Color block jewelry: Step 1

Slightly rough up all smooth surfaces with sandpaper to help the spray paint adhere.

Step 2:

Color block jewelry: Step 2

Tape a diagonal paintline at the center of the jewelry piece. Continue taping off 1 entire end of the bracelet to protect it from spray paint. Firmly press down the tape to ensure a clean paint line. Spray the bracelet with the first paint color. Let dry, and give it one more coat. Remove tape.

Step 3:

Color block jewelry: Step 3

Tape off the end you just painted in Step 2, firmly press down tape at the tape edge, and spray paint the untaped end another color. Let dry and give it one more coat. Remove tape.

Step 4:

Color block jewelry: Step 4

Create a color-blocked triangle by positioning the tape diagonally so that the edge forms a triangle point with the paint line created in Step 3. Tape off the rest of the bracelet to protect it from the paint spray. Press tape down firmly and spray the uncovered end of the bracelet. Allow to dry, and apply one more coat. Remove tape. Repeat Step 4 on the opposite end of the bracelet with the fourth paint color.

Step 5:

Color block jewelry: Step 5

Spray the bracelet with clear varnish to protect the painted finish. Allow to dry, and voilà!

Color block jewelry: Finished

Color block jewelry: Finished 2

Sadie Frost's comments about ageing are honest and inspiring

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More: Sadie Frost celebrates her 50th birthday with trapeze and motorbiking

Speaking during an interview with The Telegraph Frost revealed that she has embraced the ageing process (despite the occasional derogatory comment).

"It's funny that you get to this age that is symbolic, that looks old, but I just don't [feel it]… I find that the odd trainer at the gym can be quite derogatory about women. They'll say, 'What does it feel like to be 50? Don't most men like younger women?' That kind of stuff," she said.

More: U.K. women are comfortable with ageing process reveals Lancôme survey

It's no secret that society creates unnecessary pressure for older women and the ageism against women in Hollywood — or any profession for that matter — is atrocious and well-documented. When a woman passes a certain age she can be made to feel as though her worth has expired but Frost says society couldn't be more wrong, because she feels far more complete now than she ever did in her 20s.

"But do you know something? I can do everything that I did in my 20s — but better. Everything. If you're talking about running up a hill, or writing something that's meaningful, engaging in something. I'm more mindful of other people. Everything is more complete."

More: Jude Law and Sienna Miller on again

In the interview no topic was left untouched and the Set the Thames on Fire actress was also asked about how sex now differed from her youth.

"Yeah of course. I mean I can't complain about that either," she confessed.

actors lied about age slideshow

10 Stretches to relieve you from a nonergonomic desk

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Damn that nonergonomic desk chair.

Desk job stretches Pinterest

If your work furniture is getting you down, stop the madness. Literally, stop what you're doing right now. Push yourself away from your desk (it's cool, we know you're reading this at work) and work your way through these 10 stretches — they'll take less than 10 minutes to wrap up.

1. Chest opener

Chest opener

Sit up straight, clasp your hands behind you and press your palms together as you push your hands backward, opening up your chest for a good stretch. As you reach backward, close your eyes and allow your neck to relax backward, causing your chest to lift higher, deepening the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds, release to start position and repeat two more times.

2. Side stretch

Side stretch

Sit up tall, take a deep breath in and reach your arms up above your head as high as you can, trying to keep your shoulders down and away from your ears as you stretch up. Exhale and lean to the right, stretching the left side of your body. Hold for three seconds and return to center, repeating on the opposite side. Continue stretching side-to-side for a total of 60 seconds.

3. Neck roll

Neck roll

Sit tall, keeping your torso steady, and tilt your left ear to your left shoulder. In a slow, conscientious movement, roll your head down to center, so your chin is to your chest and across to the opposite side. Perform five neck rolls from side-to-side before switching to backward neck rolls, starting with the left ear to the left shoulder, but this time rolling your neck backward so you're looking up mid-way through the movement.

4. Nod and shake

Nod and shake

This is an over-exaggerated, but slow and conscientious, nod and shake of the head. Simply start by nodding your head five times, bringing your chin all the way down to your chest before allowing your head to lean back as far as it can. Each nod should take two to three seconds. After five nods, shake your head as if you were saying "no," slowly turning your head all the way to the left before turning it all the way to the right. Again, each nod should take two to three seconds.

More: The go-to post-workout stretching routine you shouldn't skip

5. Triceps stretch

Triceps stretch

Reach both hands up over your head, dropping your right hand down the center of your spine before grasping your right elbow with your left hand. Pull your right elbow toward your midline to deepen the stretch along the back of your triceps. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides.

6. Cross-body shoulder stretch

Cross-body shoulder stretch

For a great stretch across the back of the shoulders, extend the right arm before crossing it in front of your body. Grasp your right arm with your left hand, right below the elbow, pulling the arm closer to your chest. Hold for 30 seconds before switching sides.

7. Forward stretch and reach

Forward stretch and reach

This is an excellent exercise for releasing tension across the upper back. Clasp your hands together in front of your chest, turning your wrists so your palms face away from your body. Extend your elbows, using your shoulders and upper back to start pressing your palms as far as you can away from your body. As you stretch, lower your head and neck between your arms as you round your upper back to deepen the stretch.

8. Seated twist

Seated twist

Once your neck and upper back are feeling better, it's time to work your way down the spine. The seated twist can help alleviate tightness through your mid-back and down into the lumbar region of the spine. Plus, it just feels good.

Sit tall, feet flat on the floor. Reach your right arm back, placing it on the back of the chair or armrest. Reach across your body with your left hand, placing it on the outside of your right thigh. Take a deep breath in, allowing yourself to "get taller" with the breath. Then, as you exhale, twist your torso to the right as far as you comfortably can, looking over your right shoulder. Hold for five seconds before repeating on the opposite side. Perform three twists to each side.

9. Knee to chest stretch

Knee to chest stretch

The knee to chest stretch helps release tension in the lower back while also stretching the glutes and even the hamstrings.

Sit toward the front of your office chair, your feet flat on the floor about hip-distance apart. Take a deep breath in, checking for good posture. As you breathe out, draw your right knee up toward your body, grasping it with both hands, then pulling it closer to your chest. Hold for five seconds before switching sides. Perform three repetitions per side.

More: 6 Hip stretches that give major stress relief

10. Forearm stretch

Forearm stretch

Finish up your office stretches with a simple forearm stretch. Just place your hands fingers-to-palm directly in front of your chest, so that your right fingers are pointing up and your left fingers are pointing down. Press and hold your hands together as tight as you can for three seconds, then release and rotate your hands so your right fingers are pointing down and your left fingers are pointing up. Repeat three times per side.

Dance Moms' Chloe leaves almost everyone shocked at Teen Choice Awards

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More: Dance Moms' Abby Lee hit an all-time low encouraging shameful behavior

Lukasiak beat out Maddie Ziegler — who has already enjoyed major success, including appearing in Sia's video for "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart" — as well as Stephen "tWitch" Boss, Allison Holker, Derek Hough and Les Twins for the Choice Dancer honor at the show. And fans were completely shocked, taking to social media to express as much.

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 4

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 4

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 5

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 5

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 2

Chloe Lukasiak's beats Maddie in Teen Choice Awards 2

More: Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller's recent weight loss has angered many fans

Of course, the win was well-deserved, and Lukasiak proved she has many fans rooting for her, something that she appeared to remind her old dance coach, Abby Lee Miller, of. On Dance Moms, Miller constantly pitted Lukasiak and Ziegler against each other, and told Lukasiak she wasn't a "good enough" dancer, Hollywood Life reports.

During her acceptance speech, Lukasiak said, "I also wanted to say: To anyone who has ever been told that they can't do it, that they shouldn't do it, or they aren't good enough — ignore it. Do it anyways, and prove them wrong."

More: Little dancer appears in Sia's new video, but this time in a birdcage (VIDEO)

The only thing Lukasiak fans regretted is that they couldn't see Abby's face during her acceptance speech.

Dance Mom fans react to Chloe's win

Dance Mom fans react to Chloe's win

Dance Mom fans react to Chloe's win 2

Dance Mom fans react to Chloe's win 2

Were you surprised Chloe Lukasiak beat out the other dancers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Chloe Lukasiak's Teen Choice Awards Speech

Chloe Lukasiak's Teen Choice Awards Speech

Meatless Monday: Light, fresh veggie sandwiches with tons of crunch

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Crunchy-cucumber-carrot-avocado-sandwiches

In the summer, there’s no denying that you don’t want to spend oodles of time in a hot kitchen prepping meals. For a flavorful and cool Meatless Monday meal, try these crunchy cucumber, carrot, and avocado sandwiches with creamy horseradish dressing.

two-crunchy-cucumber-carrot-avocado-sandwiches

Cukes scream summer, and they taste pretty darn good on these sandwiches. The creamy avocado and crunchy carrots pair well with the zesty horseradish dressing which is easy to make. In fact, you might have a bit leftover to use as a yummy dip for other veggies.

Crunchy cucumber, carrot, and avocado sandwiches with creamy horseradish dressing recipe

Include any of your favorite veggies in this sandwich. Imagine how tasty (and pretty) red bell peppers and green onions would be.

Serves 4

Total time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

For the horseradish dressing

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons prepared horseradish, more or less to taste
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the sandwiches

  • 8 slices sandwich bread
  • 3 medium-sized, ripe avocadoes, peeled, pitted, and sliced
  • 2 large cucumbers, ends trimmed, and cut into thin rounds
  • 1/3 cup shredded carrot

Directions:

For the horseradish dressing

  1. Combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, horseradish, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the sandwiches

  1. Lay out 4 slices of bread. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the horseradish dressing on the bread. Divide the remaining sandwich ingredients evenly. First add the cucumber slices, then the carrot and finally the avocado slices to each slice of bread.
  2. Top with the remaining bread, slice and serve immediately.
meatless monday

More Meatless Monday recipes

Grilled tofu with cilantro-avocado noodles and cherry tomatoes
Chilled tortellini, tomato, and melon salad with lemon-mint dressing
Roasted blueberry and arugula salad with lemon-Champagne vinaigrette

Rapid Reads: 6 Big stories of the day

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1. Burning out of control

If you're living in the Western U.S. during these dry summer months, watch out. Wildfires are spreading through California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, devastating the land and taking hundreds of homes and cabins with them. Thankfully, no deaths or injuries have been reported so far, but these fires still desperately need to be contained. The Soda Fire in Idaho, spanning close to 300,000 acres, was only 25 percent contained in last estimates. Central Washington fires in Chelan and McNeil Canyon, burning close to 40,000 acres, were only 30 percent contained. Parts of California are understandably under a red flag watch — having four years of drought makes these fires even more dangerous. — CNN

2. Home run for baseball

History is being made, and baseball is being played. Milwaukee Brewers minor league baseball player David Denson of the Helena Brewers just came out as gay, making him the first openly gay player in active baseball. The 20-year-old first baseman credits his brave announcement in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to the support of his teammates who provided him with the acceptance and confidence he needed to go public. According to Denson, his teammates had the perfect response for what many would consider a controversial announcement, "Your sexuality has nothing to do with your ability. You're still a ballplayer at the end of the day." Let's hope the rest of America is taking notes. — USA Today

More: The Walking Dead's first gay male character: What you need to know

3. Open mouth, insert foot

Depending on how you look at politics, Donald Trump might just be the gift that keeps on giving as we approach the next presidential election. The Internet is abuzz after the Donald made his stance on immigration crystal clear in an exclusive NBC interview with Chuck Todd. Trump plans to reverse President Obama's executive orders on immigration if he is elected, saying of immigrants living illegally in the U.S., "We're going to keep the families together, but they have to go." Tell us how you really feel. — NBC News

More: 7 Donald Trump gaffes shaking up his presidential campaign

4. Morgan Freeman's tragic loss

Reports have confirmed that Morgan Freeman's 33-year-old step-granddaughter was stabbed to death on Sunday in New York City. E'Dena Hines, the granddaughter of Morgan Freeman's first wife, was found lying in the street outside of her New York City home at 3 a.m. with multiple stab wounds on her torso. A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene, but police are still continuing their investigation. Freeman released a statement celebrating Hines' artistry and talent in her short time here on earth. During this difficult time, we hope her family can get some answers. — People

5. Plane crash in Indonesia

Indonesian government officials have confirmed that an airplane carrying 54 passengers didn't just "disappear" on Sunday when it lost contact with ground control. Local villagers witnessed the Trigana aircraft crashing into the Tangok Mountain during its flight. Rescuers have headed to the mountain to start a search party, but there's still no information about survivors on the flight. Even more heartbreaking, five children and three babies were believed to be on the short 42-minute flight that never reached its destination. — Fox News

6. Stock up on sweaters

Summer isn't even officially over yet, and we're already hearing about the long and hard winter ahead. Forget shopping for an extra swimsuit — pad your closet with a few more sweaters and a bigger winter coat. The Old Farmer's Almanac is trending on Facebook because it predicts that this winter is going to be a doozy: You can expect frighteningly cold temperatures with heavy snow throughout much of the country, even in moderate areas like the Pacific Northwest. As if you needed another good reason to enjoy the last of the summer sun. — Associated Press

More: Running in cold weather sucks, but these tips make it easier


The reason why Chasing Life's Leo has to die

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The love story created from cancer

Now that Chasing Life's April and Leo have cemented their romance with a beautiful, poignant wedding — in the hospital chapel no less — something is going to have to happen to keep the show interesting. If not, it will be like the end of a good book, where the couple gets married and lives happily ever after. Unfortunately, this couple has their own struggles with cancer, and soon one of them is going to have to succumb to this horrible disease.

Chasing Life's Leo and April

Image: ABC

Leo dying is the obvious answer to the current story line that the couple finds themselves in. April is the main character of the show. She is the center of almost every story line, so killing her off could essentially kill the show. If Leo died, it would add a whole new layer to the character of April, who would not only be dealing with her own mortality, but the death of the man she loves, the one person in her life who knew exactly what she was going through, as well as the man who is her kindred spirit. However, it would also free April up to rekindle her relationship with the other man she loves, Dominic, which would thrill fans of the couple.

Tragedy must happen for the show to move on

However, Leo dying is also the easy answer. What would happen if the show instead killed off April? Could it go on? It would leave Leo, mourning the love of his life, being comforted by all the female friends and family that April has. Who could they pair Leo up with? There are plenty of choices, including April’s sister, Natalie, and her best friend, Beth. It could be interesting to see how April’s friends and family move on after she dies. It could also be boring and very shortlived.

Realistically, since the show must kill off one of the characters, there are no other options than to kill off Leo, which will end up breaking the hearts of millions of fans. It will be emotional and tragic — and will leave everyone in tears, whether they are Team Leo or Team Dominic. Not only does Leo have to die, but he will have to die soon. The story lines on Chasing Life have moved fast, and we don't expect it to take long for the show to evolve into this tragic finale of Leo and April's romance.

What do you think about Chasing Life killing off one of the main characters? Will you still watch the show after the death?

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Mom's photo of little boy playing with her special needs son is going viral

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Something happens when we become parents. Our hearts really do explode outside our bodies and begin to walk around in raw, vulnerable fashion. When our children hurt, we hurt. Likewise, when others show compassion for our children, our hearts explode in a very different, good way.

More: Mom horrified by cops' response to stranger taking photos of her kid

Learning a baby has a diagnosis that may shorten his life is heartbreaking, and parents often face a choice: Climb under the covers or decide to fight back.

Myers chose the latter when she and her husband discovered their 6-month-old son, Kaden, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). A motor neuron disease, SMA is the leading genetic cause of death for infants, and neither treatment nor a cure exist for this disease "that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe," according to nonprofit Cure SMA.

Devastated, they looked in their son's eyes and knew they would never give up. Katie began a blog devoted to raising awareness of SMA and funds for both research and Kaden's medical expenses.

This week, their fight unexpectedly went viral when Katie and Kaden encountered a kind little boy during a trip to the science museum. Katie snapped a picture of the unidentified boy helping Kaden, and while she blurred his face to ensure his privacy, she thanked him via social media.

"Thank you for being amazing," she said. "You let my son play and engage with you. You helped him pick up balls from the floor when you saw that he could not. You didn't ask what was wrong with him or why he couldn't walk, you just saw him ..."

Kaden's Cure for SMA

Kaden's Cure for SMA

Overnight, more than 200,000 people had liked her post on Facebook and she began getting messages from grandparents, neighbors and friends who were sure they knew the little boy.

MoreWhy I have a strict 'no kids in the middle of my bed' policy

While they've all been wrong, Katie says the fact that so many people believe they know this kind little boy is inspirational by itself.

"He has given my life meaning beyond anything I ever imagined," she told SheKnows. The kind little boy perhaps saw exactly what Kaden's parents see: "We think he is the most amazing kid in the universe."

More: 9 Coolest things from the Internet this week to share with your kids

"My dream is for Kaden to grow up in a world where he is seen before his wheelchair. He is not confined to a wheelchair, he is mobilized by one and is one of the most independent and capable 1-year-olds on earth. He is a daredevil who wants to try everything, and we will do anything to make that possible for him."

Wolfgang Puck's Beverly Hills mansion hits the market (PHOTOS)

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Wolfgang-Puck-Mansion-Beverly-Hills

So, the address is none of our business apparently because Trulia isn't disclosing it to riffraff like us, but there's no question this 6,025-square-foot ritzy piece of real estate sits in the poshest of Beverly Hills enclaves with its highest-of-brow zip code, 90210.

More: 6 Most expensive celebrity homes

Wolfgang-puck-living-room

Check out those beamed ceilings. The house has five bedrooms, plenty of guest rooms, because who wants to drive home after chowing down at Wolfgang's house? There are also a modest 6-and-a-half bathrooms (which means a lot of mirrors to Windex). But the man who started Spago more than 30 years ago and still sits at the top of the worldwide restaurant heap probably has plenty of help.

Wolfgang-puck-mansion

The listing for the home calls it a "classic, private and chic Mediterranean Villa." The home also dazzles you with a "Grand 2-story entry with sweeping wrought iron stairway."

Here's the sitting area just off the kitchen. Which brings us to the main event, Wolfgang Puck's kitchen!

Wolfgang-puck-kitchen

The white cabinetry and rich, dark wood floors give an air of sophistication to this decidedly Californian home, with a nod to the state's Mission style of yesterday with a touch of cool, modern class. How lucky to get to be one of the Puck household's guests and have a front-row bar seat to watch Wolfgang cook. Can you smell the wood-fired pizzas right now?

More: 17 Celebrity mansions we envy

Wolfgang-pick-kitchen

Look at those beautiful marble counter tops, the perfect surface for rolling out dough and chopping fresh Cali veggies for days. The gorgeous gas range, designed for sturdy work, is softened by the delicate carving in the cabinetry. And the window seat looks like a cozy place to sip wine and flip through a cookbook while waiting on something to bake to a golden crisp. Anyone else feeling a little peckish?

Wolfgang-Puck-Patio

Once your snack is ready, go on and take it out on the beautiful patio that again infuses a touch of heavy Mission-style ironwork in the light fixtures, but then lightens the look with wicker chairs that play beautifully off the natural, sisal rug just inside. And again, the house opens up wide to let those cool coastal California breezes blow through. Indoor-outdoor living at its most gorgeous.

More: Celebrities at home: At home with Lynda Carter

Wolfgang Puck Beverly Hills Pool

And on those particularly toasty, sunny days, this beauty has a pool fit for celebutante sunbathing. We're particularly loving those teak tables between the chaise loungers that look perfectly equipped to hold heaping helpings of deliciousness while you bask in the rays.

Not a bad deal for $8.5 million, don't cha think? But you're going to need a hefty Windex budget, for sure. Wonder where Wolfgang will go next? Can't imagine any house could top this charmer tucked in the Hills of Beverly.

All images: From listings on Trulia

Police called to Joe Giudice's beach home for a very surprising reason

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More: Teresa Giudice surprises fans with unexpected wish for Joe

According to TMZ, Joe lost his cool with his eldest daughter, Gia, while at the family's Jersey Shore beach house this past weekend. The teen had reportedly been locked outside the house for several minutes, and when her father finally let her in, he apparently screamed at her so loudly that their neighbor decided to intervene.

The female neighbor went across to see what all the commotion was about, and she and Joe reportedly got into a screaming match. The neighbor could be heard yelling, "This guy is crazy, he's dangerous, call the cops," TMZ reports.

More: Joe Giudice's Bravo special: 6 Things you need to know

Officers arrived on the scene, and the argument was settled peacefully. A law enforcement source told TMZ that no arrests were made and that Joe's daughters reportedly begged the police not to arrest him.

A rep for Giudice told TMZ that the altercation took place because Joe was having a party, and his neighbor felt that it was "inappropriate for children to be around." Luckily, the matter was diffused because the Giudice's certainly do not need any more brushes with the law.

More: New report claims Teresa Giudice's found a way to make crime pay, big time

Real Housewives slideshow

Here’s what you need to know about condoms, lubricants and your pH

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Here’s the low down on selecting body-friendly lubricant to keep yourself healthy and sexy.

Vaginal dryness during sex can occur for many reasons (stress, lack of sleep and hormones, to name a few). And when your system and your vaginal pH are thrown off, the “good” bacteria normally found in your vagina can’t do its job – which is keeping you healthy.

When it comes to condoms, using additional lube certainly makes condoms feel more comfortable, pleasurable and natural. Lubricants may also reduce the risk of your condom breaking during sex.

Simply put, the right lube can prevent irritation, increase vaginal wetness and improve sex. What’s not to like about that?

What is pH level?

pH is a measure of acidity and alkalinity in a water-based environment. The pH scale ranges from zero to 14 with pH 7 as a neutral state (neither acidic nor alkaline). The lower the pH the higher the acidity. A lemon, for example, has a pH level of 2.

The vagina is a naturally acidic environment fully equipped with powerful bacteria that fends off many infections. A healthy vaginal pH level is between 3.5-4.5.

Why is intimate pH important?

A healthy vaginal pH level functions to balance rich quantities of beneficial bacteria. If vaginal pH level is not low enough (not acidic), this imbalance can allow for your body to become more susceptible to infections.

Know Your Lube

Many commercial lubricants are made with more alkaline-based ingredients that can neutralize healthy vaginal pH levels. Using a lubricant with a pH above vaginal pH (pH 4.5) will reduce the natural level of acidity in the vagina, thus increase the risk of infection.

I’ve found that many popular lubes can cause women to become irritated. It’s really important to pay close attention to your body’s signals and use the products that are right for you. Especially as there are great body friendly lubes and condoms that will provide pleasure without discomfort.

Some personal lubricants are pH-matched to mimic your body’s natural chemistry and come in a variety of lube formulas. Look for lubes free of glycerin and petrochemicals. If you have no idea where to start, and are hesitant to invest in an entire bottle, you’re not alone.

RepHresh Vaginal Gel has been designed to help maintain your vagina’s healthy pH level. It is FDA cleared and considered safe to use. Studies have also shown this product is effective at eliminating feminine odor. This product is inserted into the vagina and lasts up to three days.

Most importantly, with any product, always trust your instincts and your body. Any time you have a vaginal odor that you’d consider “strong” or unusual for your body, you should see a medical professional and not rely on over the counter products. Finally these types of products should never be used to prevent nor cure any suspected infection or disease.

Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between the makers of RepHresh products and SheKnows

I made ramen ice cream, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected

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dry ramen noodles

First, a disclaimer: There might not actually be ramen noodles in the ramen-flavored ice cream the museum is serving. I’m not entirely sure, and my research on the topic didn’t unearth any clues. But to me, if you’re going to call something ramen flavored, there should be ramen in it. Right? Right.

cooked ramen noodles

On my first attempt, I over-ramened in a big way. Two packages of noodles later my mixture was thick, chunky and looked like tapioca pudding. After a spin in the ice cream maker, and an overnight freeze, my final product resembled cement. There was no way an ice cream scoop was getting through it, even after hanging out on the counter for an hour. Good thing ramen costs 25 cents a package…

This is what too much ramen in your mixture looks like:

too thick ramen mixture

On attempt number two, with the ramen significantly scaled back and some other ingredient tweaks, the mixture was tasting pretty darn good going into the ice cream maker. Bonus points for its liquidity. Things were looking up.

Less is more when it comes to ramen noodles in an ice cream mixture:

ramen noodle ice cream mixture

With fingers crossed (ramen might be cheap, but heavy cream sure isn’t), I pulled the second batch out of the freezer and tentatively poked at it. It was a little harder than custard-based ice cream, even a little crumbly until it softened enough, but that was to be expected. At least it wasn’t spoon-bending cement. Overall, a success so far. But how did it taste?

ramen ice cream

I’ll admit it… I was prepared to really dislike ramen ice cream. Sure, a bowl of instant beef ramen after a few glasses of wine is super-delicious, but in the sober light of day, I was unsure that ramen combined with dairy and sugar would yield equally tasty results. But it’s actually not bad. More than not bad, it’s actually kind of good (in that weird way that anything in ice cream form tastes good). The sugar-soy sauce combination tastes vaguely of caramel, and don’t forget the MSG in the ramen noodles. MSG makes everything taste better.

ramen ice cream in cup noodle container

Where I have to draw the line though is the veggie topping. The Cupnoodles Museum’s ice cream comes complete with all the standard toppings you’d find in your instant noodles. Peas, carrots, even shrimp. For authenticity, I added some cooked peas and carrots (I couldn’t bring myself to try the shrimp), and that gets a huge “no” vote from me. Ramen ice cream, yes. Veggies on top, no thank you.

ramen ice cream overhead

Would I make ramen ice cream on the regular? Probably not. I’m more of a ramen soup kind of girl. But it was an interesting experiment that ended not nearly as tragically as I expected.

Soy sauce ramen ice cream recipe

Yields about 24 ounces

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 package ramen noodles, cooked and drained
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce, plus more for garnish
  • 1 can cooked peas and carrots, for topping (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a high-speed blender, add the cooked ramen noodles, milk and sugar. Blend on high until the noodles are pulverized.
  2. Pour the mixture into a bowl. Add the heavy cream and soy sauce. Whisk the mixture together, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
  3. Pour the mixture into the frozen bowl of an ice cream maker. Run for about 25 minutes, then transfer the mixture to a container. Freeze.
  4. Remove from freezer for about 20 minutes to soften before scooping. Top with peas and carrots and additional soy sauce, if desired.

More ice cream recipes

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2-Ingredient ice cream will change your life (VIDEO)

Mom blasts school for dress code that shames girls for being girls

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And yet, that's exactly what happened to Deanna Wolf's daughter, who showed up at her high school in Huntsville wearing an eminently modest outfit that got her yanked out of class for a "dress code violation."

Wolf posted a photograph of her daughter's clothing to Facebook as part of a complaint against the school's behavior:

Deanna Wolf dress code photos

Deanna Wolf dress code photos

Wolf is right that her daughter learned a lesson today, and that lesson probably wasn't the one the school administrators intended when they sent the girl out of class. First of all, this girl is pretty thoroughly covered to any reasonable eye — not that that should matter. What matters is that a girl got kicked out of class because of the miniscule chance a stray breeze rippling through her geometry or literature classroom could expose the vague outline of her backside to her fellow students. And apparently the right of those (male) students to a totally distraction-free education trumps the right of Wolf's daughter to have any education at all.

More: Teen blasts school's discriminatory dress code with scathing brilliance

What we're telling kids when we pull girls out of class for dress code violations that expose knees or collarbones or those oh-so-erotic shoulder blades is that their opportunity to learn matters less than it does for a male student. We're telling them that the expectations for boys (don't ogle, pay attention in class) are miles and miles lower than what we want from girls (you are responsible for ensuring your male classmates are able to pay attention in class). And we're telling them that we'd prefer to remove them from a learning situation than to say, "Eyes on the blackboard, boys," once or twice during a lecture.

It can be hard to tackle this kind of issue as a parent, because it can bring more unwanted attention to a child already embarrassed by being pulled from class. It can invite some unwanted pushback from the community too, because people are highly invested in the idea that girls' bodies are in need of being controlled. But here are some tactics you can bust out if your daughter comes home with a dress code detention slip in hand.

More: 15-Year-old girl shamed for exposing her shoulders at a high school dance

  • Tell school officials to stop punishing girls for having bodies instead of punishing boys for ogling them. Wearing a sleeveless shirt is not consent to be slavered over; it's consent to not melt like the Wicked Witch of the West in a 60-year-old school with no AC.
  • Offer alternative suggestions. For example, if the boys are so distractable, do they need their own distraction-free learning zone? Instead of pulling girls out of class (where there are tons of other distractions besides the clothing of female students: windows with birds flying by, announcements from the PA system, shuffling papers and coughs and gum cracking), would the boys be better served by sitting in the gym with a workbook on their laps and some carefully placed blinders and white noise headphones? If not, then what's so special about the distraction afforded by a teenage girl's bare shoulder?
  • Point out the studies that show the disproportionate impact on girls' education dress codes have: especially overweight girls or those who developed breasts earlier in puberty. How many hours should a girl student have to miss before it's an even trade with the two minutes of staring a boy student would have done had she come to class in her original outfit?

More: Honors student's absurd dress code violation goes viral

It's not a fun fight, and not a pretty one, but it's one our daughters deserve to have us fight on their behalf. Otherwise, the only thing we're teaching them about their education is that they don't really deserve one.


7 Ways to improve your confidence and rock your personal style

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Let’s talk about seven ways to improve your confidence so you can rock your personal style.

1. Get healthy!

You are at your best when you have energy, strength to get through the day and have a body that is free from disease or injury. Plus, when you are healthy, you feel good about how you look. Your skin has clarity, your body is lean and your mind is alert. Be practical with your goals and be consistent with your dietary choices and exercise schedule.

2. Learn to speak in front of others

Many people avoid speaking publicly due to fear. When you learn techniques to overcome this fear you demonstrate your fabulous personal style by looking and sounding confident. You will be respected for your ability to present a talk with poise.

3. Stand tall

Good posture will help you breathe more efficiently, helping oxygen flow to your brain. This helps prevent feeling tired and promotes clear thinking. Good posture also looks better. You will appear more attractive and confident because you have good posture. As a bonus, you also have feelings of well-being when you sit or stand tall, quite opposite of the low-energy, depressed feeling you get when you find yourself slouching over.

4. Smile

It takes 12 muscles to smile and 113 muscles to frown. When you share a smile with another person, you are telling them that they are likable, safe with you and worth your time. Other people perceive you as approachable, trustworthy and pleasant when you smile. As a bonus, wearing a smile also boosts your own mood. Share a smile with everyone you pass by today.


5. Do something that scares you

Challenge yourself to do something that feels scary to you. Make videos for your business, go sky diving or call someone who needs to hear an apology from you. Doing something that feels scary, and surviving it, will increase your confidence. Frequently remind yourself that you survived the event and if you can do that, what else can you do? Keep pushing your limits.


6. Restock your wardrobe with clothes that are really “you”

Get rid of all the clothes, shoes and accessories that don’t fit your body or lifestyle. Replace them with pieces that fit your style personality and your body type. When you love what you are wearing, you feel unstoppable (more tips here).


7. Have good hygiene

We all appreciate someone who looks and smells fresh! I’m sure you do your best to maintain good hygiene but sometimes there are issues that are a little harder to control than fresh breath. I’m speaking about vaginal odor and itch. You can’t possibly look and feel your best when you are battling these. A simple solution for maintaining optimum vaginal health is to keep a normal vaginal pH, which keeps yeast and bacteria balanced.

Here’s how:

When vaginal pH is unbalanced, feminine odor and discomfort can occur.

Unbalanced vaginal pH can be caused by menstruation, semen, douching, body soap and even hormones from menopause. Feelings of insecurity and doubt creep in because we are just not sure how to manage the issues. With the help of the right products, you can take control of the situation!

RepHresh™ Vaginal Gel is an over-the-counter product designed to maintain healthy vaginal pH with a patented bioadhesive, which bonds to the vagina’s epithelial cells and restores the pH to its healthy range of 3.5 – 4.5. It helps eliminate feminine odor and vaginal discomfort and lasts for 3 days. The gel is applied with a pre-filled applicator directly inside the vagina so you don’t have to deal with messy creams.

In addition, RepHresh Pro-B is a daily probiotic supplement that helps balance yeast and bacteria.* Take once daily to maintain a healthy vagina.*

This winning combination of RepHresh™ products will help you feel fresh all month long!

Hello self-confidence, welcome back!

RepHresh is available at many mass retailers and online. Learn where to buy here.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Disclosure: This post is part of a collaboration between the makers of RepHresh products and SheKnows

Healthier funfetti pound cake swaps butter and oil for Greek yogurt

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Who doesn’t love a delicious homemade cake? What I don’t love about cake is how unhealthy it is and how it leaves me feeling guilty after eating it. Mind you, this is still cake, but with a few tweaks and enjoying a slice in moderation, it will keep you feeling great, not guilty.

This recipe skips the butter and oil and uses Greek yogurt to add a hint of tangy flavor while keeping it on the healthier side of things. The Greek yogurt gives the same flavor as a sour cream pound cake (but makes it healthier). I used plain yogurt in this recipe, but you can certainly add a flavored version if desired. This cake holds up well and will last several days stored in the refrigerator.

Greek yogurt-funfetti pound cake recipe

Dessert time gets a healthy makeover by skipping the fatty ingredients and using healthier Greek yogurt in this tasty baked dessert.

Serves 8

Prep time: 10 minutes | Bake time: 40 minutes | Inactive time: 1 hour | Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup plain or flavored Greek yogurt
  • 1 small lemon, juiced
  • 1 cup raw honey or agave
  • 1 teaspoon butter extract
  • 4 whole eggs
  • 2 cups cake flour, sifted
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup colored sprinkles

Directions:

  1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F, and spray an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. To a mixing bowl, add the yogurt, lemon juice, honey (or agave), butter extract and eggs.
  3. Using a hand mixer, mix until very smooth and there are no lumps.
  4. To a separate bowl, add the cake flour, almond flour, baking powder, sea salt and sprinkles.
  5. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center of the pound cake is completely baked.
  6. Remove the cake from the oven, and let it cool completely, about 1 hour.
  7. Once cooled, remove the cake from the loaf pan, and slice it into pieces.
  8. Store leftover cake in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

More funfetti-inspired desserts

Funfetti dip
Fruity pebbles funfetti cake
Funfetti waffles

How to pick a career based on your zodiac sign

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Birth-month significance has also made its way into scientific studies, which gives new weight to how your birthday can impact your future. For example, one study mentioned in Medical Daily said that your birth month may say something about your health later in life. Another reported by The Atlantic claims that the time of year you were born may explain aspects of your mood and personality. If scientists, arguably the most skeptical people, are standing behind birth month significance, perhaps there's something to it after all?

More: 5 Reasons why women make better leaders than men

Below you'll find what careers fit your sign best, based on common personality traits associated with them. If your current job is leaving you feeling unfulfilled, these suggestions might inspire you to change your trajectory in a way you may not have expected.

Aquarius

Personality: You're a humanitarian and curious in nature, which leads you to think outside the box. Not often excited by the conventional, you will most likely seek a job that gives you freedom and autonomy.

Jobs: Entrepreneur (starting your own company), scientist, designer, artist/performer, agriculturist

Pisces

Personality: You're highly intuitive, creative and compassionate. You excel where you can use your instincts, and rely less on logic.

Jobs: Artist (all kinds), psychiatrist/psychologist, veterinarian, philanthropist, work in non-profit sectors that have creative outlets

More: Jobs for people who love to travel

Aries

Personality: Compulsive, driven and enthusiastic. You're outgoing, and are not afraid to promote yourself.

Jobs: Police officer/firefighter/emergency response, trauma doctor, advertising, public relations, broadcast journalist, politician.

Taurus

Personality: These are the hard dedicated workers. They're patient, precise, and great at expressing themselves clearly, but they cherish stability.

Jobs: Engineers, computer programming, lawyer, surgeon, chef, accountant, educator.

Gemini

Personality: You're always moving, and don't do well in monotonous jobs. You like travel and are great at social networking and promotion.

Jobs: Broker, architect, advertising, television/film production, rescue worker

Cancer

Personality: Cancers are the nurturers, so any job where you can take care of things, people, or animals, fits like a glove. You're great at giving advice, and handle responsibility well by being a creative problem solver.

Jobs: Veterinarian, CEO, lawyer, writer/editor, teacher, social worker, human resources

Leo

Personality: Natural born leaders whose independent ingenuity inspires others to follow them. They don't do well when managed by someone else.

Jobs: Politician, CEO, artist/performer, designer, entrepreneur

Virgo

Personality: You're very detail-oriented, a perfectionist, but generally do well in a team environment.

Jobs: Editor/writer, teacher, accountant, critic, translator, data analyst

More: 12 Reasons working from home is the best and the worst

Libra

Personality: Libras thrive when they interact, so they're great in jobs that deal with other people often. They're also quite charming, so if they solicit you for money, you might find yourself giving it to them.

Jobs: Customer service, fundraising (non-profit), performer, salesperson

Scorpio

Personality: You love to figure out puzzles and unravel mysteries, but on your own. You're intuitive, driven, and stubborn to a fault.

Jobs: Surgeon, scientist, detective, lawyer, researcher, computer programer

Sagittarius

Personality: You're ethical, congenial, and great at making decisions — all in all, the perfect boss. You have lots of energy, and prefer to be moving around rather than tied to a desk.

Jobs: Public relations, film/television producer, any jet-setter job, teacher, entrepreneur, spiritual leader

Capricorn

Personality: Capricorns are always punctual, and want everyone they work with to be as well. They are precise, and determined to do the job right and well.

Jobs: Office manager, editor, banker, government employee, science researcher, administrator

Coco Austin reveals alarming news about her pregnancy weight

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For example, instead of gaining weight from the get-go, she says she actually lost weight during her first trimester even as her boobs continued to grow.

In her new celeb pregnancy column on E!, the star of Ice & Coco describes her pregnancy journey so far. For example, when it came to morning sickness she experienced little to none. "My first thing was I called my doctor and said ‘Are you sure I'm pregnant? I don't feel pregnant," she wrote. "I was only sick one time. What's the deal?' He said everybody is different."

She notes her boobs are bigger, and that not only did she not gain weight during the first trimester, she lost it — and then advises pregnant moms to not eat anything extra during the first trimester to avoid gaining any weight in those first three months, and that's questionable at best.

MoreThere really is a perfect age to get pregnant — says science

Weight gain is an interesting topic because as Austin points out, women vary wildly in their results as they go through pregnancy. Not gaining weight the first 12 or 13 weeks is not unusual — many women suffer from morning sickness and food aversions and wouldn't be able to put on weight if they tried, and yes, some women do lose weight during those early months. Studies have even shown that it's not a big deal for overweight or obese women to actually lose weight over the course of a pregnancy (provided that's what their doctor advises).

More15 Hilarious ways to confirm you're really pregnant

But it's not something to be taken lightly for the average pregnant mama. Some women do have a severe aversion to gaining weight during a pregnancy, and while the term "pregorexia" is not universally recognized by professionals, the behaviors that make it a thing definitely are. Weight gain during pregnancy is a normal, natural result of growing another human being, and even though this particular celeb isn't championing losing weight during pregnancy, her advice needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Traditionally, doctors have differing weight gain recommendations that are based on a woman's pre-pregnancy weight. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women who are underweight should strive to gain anywhere from 28 to 40 pounds, average weight 25 to 35 pounds and overweight 15 to 25 pounds.

MorePregnancy drug maker in big trouble over Kim Kardashian 'partnership'

Overall, it should be between a woman and her health care provider how much weight she can or should safely gain, and often, it doesn't seem to matter what you do during pregnancy — sometimes you pile it on, other times you struggle to gain just a few pounds. It's critical to work carefully with your doctor or midwife to create a plan that works best for you, your health and the health of your fetus.

Zayn Malik's random dig at Taylor Swift infuriated Calvin Harris

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The trouble started when Malik retweeted an image, since deleted, that criticized Swift's choice to remove her music from Spotify as greedy. When Harris caught wind of it, his hand was forced — he had to defend the honor of his lady. Warning: The language in some of these tweets is explicit.

Calvin Harris attacks Zayn Malik

Calvin Harris attacks Zayn Malik

More: Is Calvin Harris' Armani ad the hottest celebrity underwear ad yet? (POLL) 

Malik hit back hard, implying that Harris misconstrued why he retweeted the pic and made a fool out of himself in the process.

Zayn Malik attacks Calvin Harris

Zayn Malik attacks Calvin Harris

More: 15 Zayn Malik moments that made Directioners fall in love with him

Harris backed down immediately.

Calvin Harris backs down from Zayn Malik

Calvin Harris backs down from Zayn Malik

Swift has not commented on today's sword fight. Perhaps she and her cats are helping Harris lick his wounds.

taylor swift breaks records slideshow

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