In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Evans was asked to pick the best Teen Mom dad — and she delivered.
Jenelle Evans Us Weekly interview
Jenelle Evans Us Weekly interview
"The first person that came to my mind was Corey, for who would be the best significant other for the teen moms," she said. "He does everything he can for his girls and him and Miranda are happy."
Corey Simms, who was married to Teen Mom star Leah Messer for less than a year, is expecting his first child with his new wife, Miranda.
During the interview, Evans also shared some other gossip, including an update on the custody situation with her first son, Jace, who currently lives with Evans' mom.
"Right now, the current custody situation with my mom and Jace — we're still going through it," Evans admitted. "I think now that me and Nathan are over and she sees that I've moved closer to her and Jace, I think that she's more comfortable with letting me get Jace more often. Hopefully we can talk something out about custody."
A lot of the latest season of the show detailed drama between Evans and her on-again, off-again fiancé Nathan Griffith.
"The hardest moment for this season would have to be me and Nathan not getting along and him moving on to someone else," she said. "That was just really hard for me to deal with, you know, trying to co-parent with him but not hold a grudge against him and keep him away from my son. I was just really angry with him, but I got over it and we were able to co-parent."
And Evans opened up to fans about what's coming up next for her in the future, and we have to say, it sounds like a good move.
"I haven't gotten a job yet since I've graduated as a medical assistant," she explained, adding, "I just moved and I need to unpack and get Keiser in daycare. I want to go back to school and become a surgical tech, so I think I'm going to do that."
Edwina Robertson traveled to Blackall, Queensland, a few weeks ago to shoot a wedding. The event was joyful, but the ongoing drought has hit the area hard, causing families to make devastating sacrifices to stay afloat. The bride's family was one of those making difficult decisions. According to the photographer, her family had to sell all of their cattle the same week as the wedding.
"If you have ever lived in a rural community you will appreciate the struggles, the joy and the uncertainty of making a living off this great land of ours," Robertson wrote on Facebook. "... unless you've been living under a rock for the last three years, you will also have heard of the realities and the lack of rain. I am only an individual and I only, can't do much. But I can do a little."
So, she posted the wedding photo to her Facebook page, vowing to donate $3 for every share to Tie Up the Black Dog Committee, an aid and support group for those experiencing mental illness and depression in areas affected by the drought. The image was shared nearly 5,000 times in just a few hours, netting the group $15,000.
The runaway success of the stunt surprised Robertson. "I was mildly worried at the rate of the sharing initially (and wondering how on earth I was going to find the funds) but I am so glad this has happened," she said, according to Cosmopolitan.
Robertson has since created a crowdfunding page where people can donate money directly — and it's already raised nearly $32,000 of a $50k goal, but she's still donating the $15,000 raised from the social shares.
"If the funds help raise awareness and give support to someone in a rural community suffering from depression and saves their life, then it's the best $15,000 I've ever spent!" she said.
But there are a lot of people on Instagram who don't seem to agree and who have been attacking the actress in the comments of a fresh-faced, makeup-free selfie she posted on Wednesday.
"Current state: pre hair & makeup, about to get ready for my next press day in Paris, France for #disneysdescendants," the actress captioned the shot, continuing with a heart emoji and writing, "Slept in my 'I was into Minnesota before it was cool' shirt cause I'm missing my man @mccarya. This is what I look like most days, y'all! Needed to balance out some of these glam travel shots with some real life stuff. Sometimes social media has a funny way of altering our perception of reality! Join me in posting a no makeup/no filter selfie and tag me in it so I can see your lovely natural faces! Loving you always, Xx."
Some followers were quick to outright insult Cameron's looks.
"UGLY," one commenter wrote. "You look better with makeup," another said.
They must be trolling, because she looks great.
But a lot more commenters, many of them saying they're Cameron's fans, were crueler with their comments, claiming they couldn't even recognize the star with her natural face.
One wrote, "U look like a totally different person lol." Another added, "It doesn't look like you in that pic." Still another wrote, "Oml I never realized how different ppl look w and w out makeup (sic)."
We can only hope that Cameron has the confidence to know that while she may look different without makeup, she's still absolutely gorgeous and she certainly isn't even close to unrecognizable without it. The Internet can be such a cruel place, especially for young female stars.
Do you agree with the commenters? Does Dove Cameron look so different without makeup that you don't recognize her? Head down to the comments and let us know what you think.
This time, it's to show her support for Pope Francis, who is currently visiting the United States for the first time.
"Watching the Pope Francis coverage on TV and I am crying; what a wonderful man, such a kind and gentle soul #ProudCatholic," the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, who is serving a 15-month prison sentence, tweeted on Thursday.
Giudice, who has been in prison since January for a number of tax-related crimes, is a devout Catholic, Us Weekly reports. The magazine also says she's been working hard to keep her faith while she serves time away from her family, including husband Joe Giudice, who will serve his fraud sentence once she's released.
In a recently released sneak peek video of an upcoming RHONJ special, Giudice can be heard praying while on the phone with her family.
"Oh, please, God, bring me home to my family as soon as possible," she says. "And bless my four daughters and my husband. Amen."
Giudice has been, for the most part, silent on social media while she's been serving her sentence. She's sent out a handful of tweets, mostly thanking her fans for their support during the ordeal. And it's been revealed that she has access to email, somewhat frequently from the sound of things. Reports have said she keeps in touch with family via email, and Watch What Happens Live! host Andy Cohen admitted he's corresponded with the reality star via email while she's been behind bars.
She "seems like she is OK," he said, adding that, "She definitely has not lost her sense of humor, which I really admire."
Although showrunner Shonda Rhimes and several cast members have been hinting all summer that this season would see the return of a lighter, happier Grey's, we all knew there would be tears, too. It's Grey's — there are always tears.
And, well, Rhimes came out swinging tonight, proving that she is capable of delivering hilarity and heartbreak in an action-packed one-hour arc. But where she really succeeded in the Season 12 premiere was in making a powerful statement.
Of the several highly anticipated fall premieres we've covered this week, most have proven to be bound by a deeper, more socially conscious sinew than years past. Empire addressed the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality and mass incarceration. Nashville tackled topics like postpartum depression and sexual identity crises. While this generally seemed to be well-received, some fans argue that these shows are politicizing too much — that TV is a form of escapism and shouldn't involve being "preached at."
Only, here's the thing: Social commentary in mass media is important. I'd go so far as to tender it has never been more important — we are byproducts of a digital age and, for younger generations, pop culture is the most palatable way by which to receive these messages.
This is where the Season 12 premiere of Grey's Anatomy was able to truly shine.
Instead of playing the shrinking violet with their first big medical case out of the gate, Grey's opted to center the episode on two young girls who've been hit by a train. At first, we aren't aware that they know each other. We don't realize they are in love.
Image: ABC
But they are. In a sweet exchange between one of the young girls and Dr. Callie Torres (played by Sara Ramirez, who was brilliant in this episode), the girl confesses, "We just wanted to be together, dead or alive."
They have been bullied and they have been abused. They've been ridiculed and socially ostracized. One of the girls, Jesse, has a particularly narrow-minded mother who has resorted to combing through her daughter's belongings and threatening to send her to a gay conversion camp — the latter of which spurs a tense standoff with Callie, who asserts, "You can't pray away the gay."
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 7
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 7
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 8
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 8
Contrary to some remarkably uninformed Twitter users, Grey's doesn't have a quote-unquote gay agenda. It has an anti-bullying agenda. It has a human agenda. Does that include shedding light on the insufferable bigotry the LGBTQIA community is subjected to on a daily basis? Sure.
Grey's Anatomy: Tweet 6
Grey's Anatomy: Tweet 6
As the young girls fight to survive, other stories emerge. Dr. Maggie Pierce shares that she was relentlessly bullied as a child for being petite and having a lisp. People called her "Little Maggot Pierf." We know from Callie's backstory in previous seasons her family has been intolerant of her sexuality, and even Karev confided in Jo that he was bullied for being "the fat kid in class."
The premiere's story line clearly struck a nerve with fans, many of whom empathized or personally identified with the persecuted girls.
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 1
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 1
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 2
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 2
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 3
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 3
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 5
Grey's Premiere: Tweet 5
In one of the most dramatic moments of the episode (besides the moment Maggie threw a punch!), Jesse's father reaches his breaking point, yelling at his wife, "I don't care if she's gay. I care if she's loved, and I care if she's happy, and that's what you should care about, too. What's wrong with you that you don't?"
Image: ABC
Image: ABC
Image: ABC
And therein lies the crux of it. I care if she's loved, and I care if she's happy. Such is the stuff we should all be focusing on. Especially since teen suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 24 — and LGBTQ teens are five times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.
Five times more likely. That's not a misprint, although I certainly wish it was.
This statistic was humanized earlier this year when the suicide of a transgender teen made national headlines. In January, 17-year-old "Josh" Alcorn posted a note to Tumblr imploring parents to love their children unconditionally. She signed the note by the name she knew in her heart, Leelah, and then stepped in front of tractor-trailer at 2:15 in the morning.
So, yes. Tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy was courageous and important.
Watching the episode, I couldn't help but think of the old story about a man who used to walk along the beach each day before work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked in the distance and saw a small child seemingly dancing in the surf. As he got closer, he realized the child wasn't dancing but, rather, bending down, picking up starfish and tossing them back into the sea so they wouldn't die when the tide receded. "But, young man, do you not realize there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference," the man said.
The child bent down, gently scooped up another starfish and tossed it into the ocean. As it sunk beneath the breakers, he said, "But I made a difference for that one."
And that, my friends, is the essence of tonight's episode.
And while, yes, it has plenty of health benefits, the scary experiences of a young girl in the United Kingdom proves that too much of a good thing can be dangerous.
According to a case study published in the journal BMJ Case Reports, the teen girl purchased green tea over the Internet in an effort to lose weight. Though the ingredients were in Chinese, she drank three cups a day for three months before she started experiencing dizziness, nausea, stomach and joint pains. Her doctor wrote it off as a urinary tract infection, but soon after she developed jaundice.
That's when doctors at Birmingham University Hospital diagnosed her with developing hepatitis, an illness that can be caused by a virus or toxic substances in the liver. The unnamed teen denied taking drugs or drinking alcohol, so doctors deduced that the sudden onset of hepatitis was caused by the excessive green tea drinking.
"After ceasing green tea consumption, there was a rapid and sustained recovery of her hepatitis," the report’s authors wrote of what happened after she was ordered to stop. They added that developing health issues from drinking abnormally large quantities of tea is a "rare but recurring theme," but they don't necessarily think the green tea actually caused it.
"There is potential for pesticide-induced hepatitis to exist, especially from less regulated products ordered from developing countries over the internet," the doctors said in the report.
So don't throw away your green tea, because it has been proven beneficial for health, but practice moderation, just like with everything in life.
If you stash dried herbs in the freezer, they're prone to browning. If you freeze them in water, they're liable to come out slimy. So while freezing fresh herbs is a fantastic and often overlooked way of preservation, it can lead to unappetizing situations — and, well, that just defeats the purpose, doesn't it? That's why the brilliant bloggers over at The Kitchn recommend freezing herbs in olive oil. Not only does this reduce the likelihood of freezer burn, but it also means you'll have fresh herbs ready to toss into dishes at a moment's notice. Find the full how-to here.
Did you know the flavor profile of herbs changes when they dry? Don't feel bad — we didn't either. Since you can't just stick fresh herbs in the fridge and expect them to stay fresh forever, herb paste is a smart alternative. Bonus? They're super quick, and pretty much anyone can master them. To get started, all you need is the fresh herb (or herbs) you want to preserve, a little olive oil and a food processor. Essentially, it's the refrigerated version of No. 1 and, speaking of refrigeration, this potent mixture will keep for up to two weeks.
If you're not up for blanching your basil or other aromatic herbs, here's a method that is a no-brainer — preserving the herbs in salt. Truly, this could not be any easier. You simply layer sea salt and said herb in a canning jar until full. Cap that sucker, toss it in the freezer and you're good to go. Just make sure you use the herb within a six-month window from the time you salted it down. Bonus? This method easily segues into making your own herbal salt blend.
Another method for preserving some herbs (this specific method is especially effective with mint leaves) is to mix it with sugar. You can go one of two routes — layer it in a jar, as with the salt in No. 3, or actually make a mint sugar. This will keep leaves fresh while simultaneously giving you a sweetener for summer salads, cocktails or any other culinary need. For the latter method, you'll once again need to break out the food processor. But don't worry, the steps are easy-peasy.
There's nothing like getting a big ol' bouquet of flowers, but watching them wither away after a day or two is the pits. Luckily, we've figured out by now that blooms will maintain their beauty if you give them a little routine TLC. So, here's a fun fact: fresh herbs are much the same. One way to preserve them is to treat them as you would a bouquet of fresh flowers — trim the stems, place them in a jar with just enough water to cover the ends, wrap them loosely in a bag or wet paper towels and store them in the fridge. Change the water every few days, and you've got fresh herbs that will last for weeks.
I mean, if you're going to preserve and/or repurpose fresh herbs, what better way could there be than in butter? Am I right? If you have an abundance of herbs you don't want to go to waste, consider using them in the creation of a compound butter. This method feels so divinely Italian, it makes us want to sit at a bistro and eat crunchy crusted bread alfresco. Fortunately, it's not as difficult to do as it sounds (creating the butter, not lunching like an Italian).
When you preserve an herb, you run the risk of losing the aromatic oils of the leaves with some methods. This is, well, undesirable. But according to gardening guru Kevin Lee Jacobs, you can store a wealth of large, flat-leaved herbs — without wasting those aromatic oils — by creating an "herbal cigar." He offers a great tutorial over at A Garden for the House that is, to be frank, a whole lotta fun.
This post was brought to you by Mueller's and Ronco Pot-Sized Pasta.
The vast majority of the drama on the latest season of Teen Mom 2 has involved Leah Messer's stint in rehab and Jenelle Evans' ongoing issues with Nathan Griffith. But these two are certainly not the only reality stars struggling to get along with their exes. Lowry also has her fair share of problems, although they are, perhaps, less urgent than the drama surrounding Messer and Evans.
Lowry may not be in the midst of crippling anxiety (read: addiction) or assault charges, but she has still managed to attract plenty of criticism from her haters on social media, many of whom believe that she is going out of her way to sap every spare dollar out of Jo Rivera. She argues that the money is needed to support Isaac, but many of Lowry's critics suspect that she's simply using Rivera to finance her fancy new home.
In a prior episode, Lowry claimed that her family had outgrown her old home, and while that may be true, they certainly didn't need to move from a moderately small house to a mansion. According to Rivera, the problem isn't one of necessity, but rather greed and selfishness. Unfortunately, this greed is not only negatively impacting Rivera, it is hurting the new gal in his life. What's more, it could make it difficult for him to provide for his new baby in the future. These factors are of little concern to Lowry, who evidently feels that a nice home trumps all else.
Lowry hasn't exactly received a lot of praise on Twitter as of late, but her haters were especially vicious tonight, with many hurling rather nasty insults at the reality star. Other critics were a bit more tempered, although nearly everybody seemed to agree that Lowry purchased more house than her family really needed.
Kailyn and Jo
Kailyn and Jo
Kailyn and child support
Kailyn and child support
Kailyn is greedy
Kailyn is greedy
The ongoing drama between Lowry and Rivera is bound to be further explored during the upcoming Teen Mom 2 reunion. Tune in next week to see whether the two have somehow managed to make nice.
Do you think Kailyn Lowry and Javi Marroquin should have found a more modest house? Comment and share your opinion below.
Lindsey's had a tough couple of weeks. She's been in the bottom and, as tends to happen when a contestant is in the bottom more than once, her confidence faltered. It's not clear what inspired her look, and although Tim did tell her in the workroom that she was on the right track, she was eliminated after the judges said her green dress was boring. Laurie, on the other hand, had a specific motivation — Tinker Bell — and her model was spilling out of her three-piece outfit, which judge Zac Posen referred to as messy. Although it was Lindsey who was sent home, Twitter was torn about whether or not it was the right decision.
But there was also the crew who thought that in spite of Lindsey's less-than-stellar record on the show, Laurie's revealing look was unforgivable and she deserved to go home instead.
lindsey should have stayed
lindsey should have stayed
yikes, laurie
yikes, laurie
nipples!
nipples!
pasties
pasties
Regardless of the Twitter controversy, Laurie survived and is one step closer to Fashion Week. Still at stake also is the Tim Gunn save, which folks on Twitter speculate will only be used if Ashley or Edmond is eliminated. Will he surprise us, though? Stay tuned.
Do you think Laurie should have gone home instead of Lindsey? Do you think Tim should have used his save for Lindsey? Which looks were your favorites this week?
In August, it was confirmed by showrunner Tim Kring at the 2015 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour that original Heroes character Claire Bennet would be dead at the start of Heroes Reborn. The news came as a shock to some fans, especially since throughout Heroes Claire was known for being indestructible and not being able to die. How did this happen? Well, that question and Claire's alleged death are going to be a driving force of this series and, specifically, for her father, Noah Bennet.
With that said, as goes with most shows, fans might be skeptical of Claire's death. Is she really dead? A lot of details remain unknown, but I'm sure as the show goes on, viewers will learn alongside Noah. He, too, is trying to figure out what happened to his Claire Bear.
As the premiere revealed, among all of the Evos, Molly Walker and Claire Bennet's locations were "unknown." Molly's whereabouts were answered, but as for Claire, can she not be tracked because she is dead? Wouldn't her status be set as "terminated" or "deceased"? Whatever the case, that's just one detail contributing to my theory that Claire isn't really dead — in addition to the fact that a body has yet to be shown. Is a character really dead unless there is a body? Maybe I'm not convinced because I'm hoping she's alive. She was one of my favorite characters on Heroes, especially because she was a smart, strong, confident and independent young woman.
Also, as fans probably recall, Claire and Noah's father-daughter relationship was one of the most important relationships throughout Heroes. For Heroes Reborn to begin with Claire's death, it's disheartening. Not to mention, Noah revealed that he and Claire hadn't spoken since she came out and showcased her powers on television for the world to see, which is how Season 4 ended. They didn't even get to say goodbye, or so it seems. Really? This is how this beloved relationship is going to end? Even though it's been five years since Noah and Claire have been seen on TV, I feel like fans are owed a lot more.
With that said, if Claire is truly dead (there is good chance due to Hayden Panettiere starring on ABC's Nashville), part of me understands why she's been killed. Like on Heroes, she is once again the driving force of the series and will propel Noah's mission, not to mention one of the overall plots. Plus, this series is about new heroes and focusing on original characters. To revolve around Claire, again, doesn't make sense. It wouldn't be a fresh or new series.
With that said, until I see a body I'm not convinced and refuse to accept Claire's death. I'm not the only one who's skeptical, either.
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Heroes Reborn premiere
Do you think or hope Claire is still alive? Is it a coincidence the show is titled Heroes Reborn? Just maybe Claire will be "reborn" and become a prominent character soon enough.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald,Netflix has crunched the numbers for over two dozen popular TV series, and they now know which episode is going to hook it's viewers.
How long it takes to become addicted to each series largely depends on the strength of the show itself, but in comparison to American audiences, Australians tend to take longer to become hooked on the TV drug, and it takes us roughly one or two more episodes.
It took Australians four episodes to get hooked on Orange is the New Black, while it took three to hook the rest of the surveyed countries. And while it took us five episodes to get hooked on House of Cards, it took the other countries only three episodes — yes, Australian's clearly have very high-standards.
Netflix's new data also proved something else: pilots are not as important as we originally thought.
"Given the precious nature of primetime slots on traditional TV, a series pilot is arguably the most important point in the life of the show," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. "However, in our research of more than 20 shows across 16 markets, we found that no one was ever hooked on the pilot. This gives us confidence that giving our members all episodes at once is more aligned with how fans are made."
But you can breathe a sigh of relief if you're terrified that Netflix is going to influence the way that future series are made, because they have no plans to use this data.
"This won't have any direct effect on the creative process for our showrunners/creators," a Netflix rep told Variety.
Best known for co-creating The Daily Show as well as being its head writer, Winstead is still making waves for her comedy, activism and writing. Her current project is Lady Parts Justice, an organization she started in 2012 in response to the continual attacks on reproductive rights across the country. Using comedy and digital media, LPJ urges folks all over the U.S. to stand up and fight for their rights. LPJ just came out with a new Tinder parody app, Hinder, which allows users to scroll through the profiles of various politicians to see how they rate when it comes to LGBT and reproductive rights.
Hint: It's usually not very good, and users have the option to "swipe right or left" based on how offended they find themselves over certain politicians. It's a hilarious way to learn more about those being voted into office and charged with protecting — rather than violating — our rights.
In addition to Hinder, on Sept. 26, Winstead and LPJ will be launching their second V to Shining V, allowing people to attend any number of events across the country or to create one of their own. V to Shining V encourages people to host or attend parties where they can "plot, scheme and change" the laws that are threatening reproductive health access. SheKnows spoke to Winstead on Hinder, Trump and a whole lot more.
V to Shining V promo
V to Shining V promo
SheKnows: The Hinder app is hilarious and frightening all at once. What has been the response to it so far?
Lizz Winstead: We have not heard back from politicians yet, but users are loving it and are blown away by the number of powerful and influential people who have dedicated their lives to making life harder for women. Just having [the info] in the palm of your hand and scrolling, scrolling and scrolling is a wake-up call. Plus, presenting it in the form of an app that so many young people use to hook up with hammers home just how many people are shaming them and trying to stop them from getting the safe and healthy tools they need to continue to have the kind of sexual experiences they choose to have on their own terms.
The best response has been from iTunes, who rejected us because we don't fit the guidelines for an app because it is political and calls people names. But what makes the rejection so hilarious? They have an exemption for professional comedians and satirists. Dang! If only I had some experience in those areas... [Update: iTunes just accepted the app after much pushback from LPJ fans!]
SheKnows: What can those who want to support abortion access and LGBT rights but are not near a major city featuring a V to Shining V event do?
LW: They can throw a house party or just gather with friends on Sept. 26 and interact with our website to see what laws are on the books or being proposed. Take photos, and post them on social media using the hashtag #V2V15.
We're also asking people to commit to doing a few things:
1. Gather pals and, as a group, decide to adopt a local clinic. Reach out to them, schedule a meeting, and ask the ways you can provide assistance and support to them. Be a pack mule, be an advocate, be the people who buy 'em a drink!
2. Suggest a staff party so the workers themselves have people celebrating them.
3. Like churches do with prayer chains, create an email list of committed friends that will be at the ready to show up, if asked, to counter the horrible protesters when they show up.
4. Voter registration.
5. Plan a V to Shining V event next September in 2016 so you can continue the momentum of support to the polls.
LW: Creating more videos and ramping up our reproductive rights road show. Also, bringing comedy, help and some workshops around the country so we can support but also listen to how folks are working in communities and help them incorporate humor into their messaging.
SK: Finally, we have to know, what's your official stance on presidential nominee Donald Trump?
LW: Donald Trump has replaced bedbugs as America's No. 1 Pest.
Grilling pineapple makes it taste even better, in my opinion, if that’s even possible! The flames make the fruit caramelized and sweet — the perfect companion to tangy barbecue sauce with chicken mixed in.
Image: Patricia Conte/SheKnows
When you realize you can have this meal on the table in under 30 minutes, you’ll be able to say, “Take that, busy week!” This is a great meal to serve not only when time is at a premium but even when there's time to kick back on the weekend.
Image: Patricia Conte/SheKnows
To keep this recipe gluten free, use this recipe for easy, gluten-free barbecue sauce, or pick up a bottle of your favorite brand.
Grilled chicken and pineapple lettuce wraps with barbecue sauce recipe
1 head lettuce with large leaves (I used bibb lettuce), washed and dried (you likely won’t use the whole head of lettuce, so save the rest for another meal)
4-5 ounces favorite barbecue sauce
1/3 cup red bell pepper, seeds and pith removed, diced
Sesame seeds, for garnish
Directions:
Before heating the grill, brush the grates with a bit of the vegetable oil (or use nonstick cooking spray). Heat the grill to medium.
Lightly brush both sides of the chicken with some of the vegetable oil, and season with salt and ground black pepper.
When the grill is hot, add the chicken, and grill for about 6 minutes on each side or until done. The FDA notes that a safe internal temperature for chicken is 165 degrees F, as measured by a meat thermometer.
Just before the chicken is finished cooking, add the pineapple to the grill. Cook for a few minutes on each side, just until the pineapple is lightly charred and you can see grill marks. Remove the chicken and pineapple from the heat, and let the chicken rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cut the chicken and the pineapple into cubes, and add to a mixing bowl along with the bell pepper.
Heat the barbecue sauce in the microwave for 25 to 30 seconds to warm it up a bit. Pour the barbecue sauce over the ingredients, and gently toss to combine.
Spoon out enough of the mixture to fill about half of each lettuce leaf, and sprinkle with the sesame seeds as garnish.
The Bridesmaids and Spy director is taking the lead in the announced all-female Ghostbusters remake and has apparently been taking a lot of heat from displeased fans. Enough so that he's had it, and he's firing back at disrespectful tweeters.
The cast lineup will feature Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig in the leads along with SNL ladies Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon rounding out the group. Chris Hemsworth and Ghostbusters alumni Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Bill Murray are also set to have supporting roles in the remake.
But just because the original Ghostbusters are on board with the film doesn't mean fans are. In fact, it seems Feig has been getting so much mean-spirited criticism that he isn't going to ignore it anymore.
Paul Feig twitter rant response 1
Paul Feig twitter rant response 1
Paul Feig twitter rant response 2
Paul Feig twitter rant response 2
Paul Feig twitter rant response 3
Paul Feig twitter rant response 3
Paul Feig twitter rant response 4
Paul Feig twitter rant response 4
Paul Feig twitter rant response 5
Paul Feig twitter rant response 5
Paul Feig twitter rant response 6
Paul Feig twitter rant response 6
Feig's tweets aren't just the result of an upset director, though. They're the result of an upset human who has seen the hate his actors — who happen to be real women, by the way — have received. Given all the rudeness he's been fielding from people who, as Feig says, have no idea what they're talking about, it's clear why he's had enough.
Why not give the film a chance before making judgements?
Yes, the original is a classic. And, yes, Feig's rendition will be different, but that doesn't mean it can't also bring something fresh, meaningful and fun to the cinematic world.
Oh, and if you hate against the fact that there are females in the lead, then you deserve all the hate the Internet can throw at you. Welcome to new-age feminism.
Do you think Feig did the right thing by firing back at haters?
The big treasures at sales often go quickly, and since most yard sales are on weekends, starting first thing in the morning will give you an advantage over other shoppers who intend to sleep in, so fire up that coffeemaker. It also helps to show up on the very first day of the sale.
2. Make a shopping plan, and stick to it
This helps with avoiding impulse buys (yes, yard sales are just as rife with impulse buys as the mall) and with mentally parsing through the clutter of sales to get down to what you really want. Think about what your home or closet really needs before you head out to shop, and write them down if necessary. If you're on a tight budget, refer to the list each time you're considering something you hadn't planned to purchase and resolve only to buy what you need.
Just like it's helpful to plan what you'll buy, it's also a great idea to plan where you'll buy. Check Craigslist or your local paper for listings of that weekend's sales and map out how you'll get to each, then fill up that gas tank. If you've got a whole morning, leave in wiggle room in between for finding sales the good old-fashioned way: scouting out signs as you drive.
4. Haggle wisely
Keep lots of cash on you, and don't be surprised if a seller isn't game to bargain early in the morning. It's still worth it to arrive at sales early before the best offerings sell, but keep in mind that sellers will be far more likely to want to give you a deal later in the afternoon when they're closer to closing up shop for the day. If the seller doesn't go for your best offer and you're willing to risk losing out on the item for a deal, plan to come back in the afternoon, and if it hasn't sold by then, you'll be more likely to get yourself that deal.
Be friendly to the sellers and fellow shoppers. Besides the fact that kindness is just great karma (which is reason enough), it also can get you some shopping rewards and extra help. You may even make a new friend! If there's something specific you're looking to buy that the seller doesn't have out, mention it to them anyway. They may know someone nearby who's selling what you want or may know where to buy it new affordably.
6. Bring a friend
A pal can help you scope out your driving route and keep her eyes peeled for yard sale signs you may not notice from the driver's seat. She can also be your voice of reason on questionable purchases.
Research whatever product you're looking for before heading out so you know how to quickly size up whether anything you find for sale is worth your money. Obviously, yard sales are an "as-is" experience, and you're less likely to find something brand new, but being able to gauge the level of wear and tear on the gorgeous picture frame or dress you've spotted may save you a lot of effort post-purchase. Are you willing and able to make any repairs it may need or is saving that time worth the extra price of buying the product brand new? Are you able to tell how many years of use it may have left before giving out?
8. Know what to avoid
Products like mattresses, car seats, stuffed animals, certain types of couches and anything else that could be unsafe or a breeding ground for bed bugs and bodily fluids may be worth avoiding. Even clothing purchases should be stored separately from your other clothes until you're able to run them through the wash in hot water and dry them at high heat to protect from any bed bug infestations.
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain, and set aside.
To make the meat mixture: In a skillet, heat the olive oil, then add in the ground turkey, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until no longer pink. Add the garlic, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add in the marinara sauce, heat through for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove from the heat, and set aside.
In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning and garlic salt.
In another bowl, combine the cooked pasta, eggs and Parmesan cheese.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Generously coat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Place 1/2 the noodle mixture in the bottom of the dish, spreading it evenly.
Place 1/2 the meat sauce on the noodle layer, spreading it evenly.
Using 1/2 the ricotta mixture, cover the meat mixture by placing several small dollops of the ricotta mixture on top, then spreading it evenly.
Top with 1/2 the mozzarella cheese.
Repeat with the remaining noodles, meat sauce, ricotta and mozzarella.
Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil, and cook for an additional 10 minutes, until brown and bubbling.
Let rest for 10 minutes, then cut into squares, and serve.
This post was brought to you by Mueller's and Ronco Pot-Sized Pasta.
To honor her mother — and raise awareness during October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month — the British designer created a beautiful compression bra to make the world a bit brighter for women going through the painful healing process after a double mastectomy.
And the best part? She named it after her mother. The rose-colored Louise Listening bra is her way to "bring something feminine and beautiful into a bra that is taboo,” she said in a statement, according to People.
“There are so many different emotions attached to the tragic realities of having had a double mastectomy, many cultures are unaccepting and terrible things happen to women both physically and emotionally," she added. "And we just wanted to make something that allows women undergoing this to have something to be proud of, something with no shame attached.”
Most of all, McCartney wants women dealing with this awful illness to know that "you can still be feminine, have your sensuality, have all of the things that are attached to being a woman and that part of your body can still feel beautiful on the outside, as well as the inside.”
Vytas Baskauskas: I did. After the challenge, we went straight to Tribal. We didn't get that few hours of going back to the beach and getting a sense of what's happening. My name was getting thrown out a bunch. Once my name was getting thrown out, my whole strategy, dude, was to lay low. I wanted to go to that beach and lay low. I knew I was a threat and figured I would be targeted at the merge. I wanted to lay low and cultivate some goodwill around camp, but my name got thrown out within 30 minutes of being out there. It was tough to come back from that. I knew my name would be written down at least a few times at Tribal. I was hoping I could rally enough people around Abi because nobody really liked her around camp. Some said they didn't like her, but I knew that some people were still gonna write my name down because I was a threat and Abi wasn't. I had hopes that I could have had some people rally against her, but unfortunately, it didn't go my way. I wasn't shocked. I was disappointed, for sure. But that's how it is.
SK: When you walked out of the game, you said there were no hard feelings. Do you still feel that way or did watching the episode change anything?
VB: No hard feelings. People said a few things that weren't that kind about me on TV. That's unfortunate, but I signed up for it. Survivor is a cutthroat game. I'm sure I said things that didn't make the air about other people. I can't hold it against people. We're not perfect, that's for sure.
SK: Had you known that your torch was going to be the first snuffed, would you still have wanted to participate in the experience?
VB: Nope. I hold true to that to this moment. Even second, maybe, I still might not have gone out [to compete]. If you had told me I was out first or second for sure, then no, I wouldn't have gone. It's a lot, man. It takes two months out of our lives. Even when we get voted out, we can't come home. I had a newborn son that was waiting for me at home. I had my career that I had taken time off of. It's tough to be out there just waiting for everybody else to get voted out and waiting for the game to finish. Yeah, I love Survivor. I'm super grateful I got the opportunity. The only person's fault that I got voted out is mine, so that's on my shoulders. But, yeah, it's a bummer. If I had to do it all over again, I would have done things differently. If I knew it was gonna be my fate no matter what, then I would have rather not gone.
SK: That said, would you play again?
VB: I love Survivor. It's tough to say. When I came out of the game immediately, I said, "That's it. I'm done. I'm never playing this game again." I was bummed, man. I was really disappointed. But I've had a couple months to sit back and realize maybe there were some things I could have done differently. I'm still such a huge fan. When I watched the intro before the stuff started happening with people calling me smarmy, I was getting chills. I was like, "I'm on Survivor again! It's so cool! Wow!" I love it and it would be hard for me to say no if they asked me one more time.
SK: Your brother won Season 12 and then competed with you in Season 27. You've always had a competitive nature between each other, so what was his reaction when he learned you were the first eliminated?
VB: Oh, man. He was really disappointed for me. He knows how much Survivor means to me. Survivor means a lot for him. I think, in a sense, he feels a little bit of personal responsibility that he was the one that helped get me on the show the first time with Blood Vs. Water. He was invested in me wanting me to do well. He was really rooting for me. When I came home and told him, he was really sweet. He was really kind to me. He took me in and gave me a big hug. But, yeah, he was sad, too. We were both pretty disappointed that it worked out the way it did.
SK: Take us back to last May. How confident were you that the fans had voted you back into the game?
VB: I was pretty confident. I was from a recent season. My name is memorable. Especially with the guys' pool being whittled down to 15 from 16 once Mike had won, I was pretty confident. I wasn't really worried that I was getting on.
SK: Shirin didn't have the nicest things to say about you. What's your take on her?
VB: I don't think Shirin's a mean-spirited person. I think that Shirin got treated poorly by some of the men that were in power positions the first time she played. I don't know too much about her personal life, but I remember she talked about her family trauma and I think she has some stuff with male authority figures in general. That being said, she came to the beach wanting to figure out which guy has the most power on my beach and let's try to get that guy off. For Shirin, I was the person with the most power on the beach. She wanted to make sure that she could cut me down. She did that not only by rallying people around to get me out, but in her side interviews to cut me down as much as she could. I think that's her own trauma. I try not to take that stuff personally. Am I disappointed she did that? Of course! I think it sucks, but everybody has got to vote for somebody, and it was her game plan to get me out.
SK: When you went into the game, who did you think was the overall most ill-prepared person?
VB: It's tough. Some people I didn't get to meet. I have no idea when rubber meets the road if I'm right or wrong. But I looked at Kimmi and thought, all right, she hadn't played in 15 years. I was wondering if she was ready to play this game. In our tribe, a guy like Jeff Varner, who is so excited to be back, he wanted to play the right game. I saw the struggle that was going on inside of him. He really didn't know what his best path was. He ultimately chose a path that was against our alliance. I'm bummed that he did it, but he did what's best for him. I think, mentally, I'm not sure that he still knows what his best path is for the game. That being said, we've all played before. I think everyone was pretty much prepared for what to expect out there.
SK: On the flip side, who did you view as the biggest threat?
VB: It's tough to say that there's one big threat. People are heroes. People are villains. People are strategic. People aren't strategic. In Survivor, every liability becomes an asset. Every asset becomes a liability... So much of it is circumstantial. Yeah, there [are] huge threats out there. I was a big threat. I was probably the most villainous guy out there. Physically, Joe is a huge threat. Jeremy is a big threat. You look at some of the women and what they've done in their games and how strong they are. There [are] a lot of big threats out there. Then there [are] a lot of people that want to be a threat. I knew going in that people that didn't get a lot of time their first season around were the ones that would be playing as hard as they could. Look at Kelley Wentworth. She didn't do much her first season, and I think she's a huge threat this season. She wants to make a name for herself.
SK: What was the biggest difference you noticed between Second Chance and Blood Vs. Water right out of the gate?
VB: I think people are just ready to play. First time around, it took a while for strategies to start happening. But this time, strategy was happening before the game even started with body language and gestures. As soon as the game started, strategy was being discussed on the raft as we were paddling to the rice. It was happening from moment one.
SK: I've covered Survivor for years now. I've been to 18 finales now, but something was very different about the social media reaction to the Second Chance premiere. There was so much talk on Twitter about you and Joe in your underwear. What was it like for you having that kind of attention from viewers?
VB: My Twitter was going crazy with underwear talk. I've never worn underwear like that ever in my life. Production told me to get a funky pair of underwear, get a crazy pair of undies. Little did I know that I was either gonna have sweatpants or underwear. Usually we get a pair of swim trunks early on in the game, but we didn't get them. So it was 100 degrees and I had to choose between these heavy sweatpants or the crazy pair of underwear. I was like, all right, let's embrace it. I didn't really know [laughs] that they were gonna be that big of a hit — or a miss, some people said.
VB: Yeah. I did. We left straight from the challenge right to Tribal Council. You come from what I remember in Survivor, usually you go to a challenge and then back to the beach. When you get back to the beach, you get an opportunity to get all your stuff. You get to grab your bag, your clothes and everything together to take in case you're gonna get voted out. We didn't get that opportunity. So I left all my stuff on the beach.
Were you surprised Baskauskas was the first person voted off? What do you think of his thoughts about the game? Weigh in and dish your thoughts by leaving us a comment.
Take a traditional or trending name, change up a few letters and voilà: a new, personalized name just for your baby.
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows
Play with vowels
Modern parents take great liberties with "a," "e," "i," "o," "u" and sometimes "y." Among the 1,000 most popular names for boys, there are 28 combined spellings of Aiden, Brayden, Jayden and Kaden. Most vowel swaps occur within the name:
Adalyn, Addilyn, Adelynn
Aiden, Aaden, Aydin
Brayden, Braeden, Braiden
Brendan, Brenden, Brendon
Damian, Damien, Damion
Grayson, Graysen, Greyson
Jayden, Jadon, Jaidyn
Jordan, Jorden, Jordyn
Kaden, Caiden, Kayden
Landon, Landen, Landyn
Mason, Maison, Maysen
Raina, Rayna, Reyna
Reagan, Raegan, Regan
Tristan, Tristin, Trystan
Zoey, Zoe, Zoie
For girl names especially, the long "e" sound comes in a wide array of options: "e," "ee," "ie," "y," "ey" and "eigh."
On the Social Security Administration's list of top baby names, there are seven different spellings of the name Cameron: Camren, Camron, Camryn, Kameron, Kamron and Kamryn. Just goes to show that a hard "c" or "ch" can readily replace "k" or "ck," and vice versa.
Christopher, Cristopher, Kristopher
Kason, Casen, Kaysen
Colton, Colten, Kolton
Connor, Conner, Konnor
Carly, Carleigh, Karlee
Kalyn, Cailyn, Kaelynn
Kailey, Kaylie, Caylee
Katelyn, Caitlyn, Kaitlin
The above examples include names that begin with these letters, but you could replace letters within a name as well.
How you spell your baby's name is entirely up to you, but others may unwillingly take liberties with it. Making a name unique can help your child stand out among peers, but it can also mean he or she will spend a lot of time correcting those who misspell it.
