With world-class museums, observation decks that afford awe-inspiring views, and opportunities to wine and dine at the best restaurants at all hours of the day and night, New York City should be the most romantic place on Earth to date. There are so many different people and personalities just waiting to meet at an impromptu yacht yoga class, feel intense chemistry, forget to exchange phone numbers, marry other people, get their hearts broken, and then magically meet again at a coffee shop 10 years later, fall in love and run off together.

Or maybe that's the plot to a very bad romantic comedy.

More: 16 Romantic movies to stream on Valentine's Day

The boy-meets-girl formula that pervades most rom-coms doesn't usually fly in real life, particularly if you're single and looking to mingle (or simply meet someone who is nice, has ambition and rents an apartment the size of a closet) in New York City. Here's the reality of what to expect and why dating in The Big Apple is absolutely nothing like a romantic comedy.

1. You'd never date a business rival

In You've Got Mail, Meg Ryan's small bookstore owner and Tom Hanks' corporate bookstore bigwig are able to put their business interests aside to fall in love. In real life, cavorting with someone who threatens your financial stability and career in any way, shape or form is a big no-no in NYC. In our defense, studio apartments cost as much as estates with horse stables in other places, so there's a good chance you'd end up happy in love but living on the street.

2. One mess-up on a first date almost never means a second date

Because NYC is chock-full of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes, one wrong move on a first date could spell automatic death. Even Kate Hudson would be ghosted in a heartbeat if she made a conscious effort to turn off a guy upon first meeting him. There are just too many fish in the sea, and no one has the patience or time to deal with an overabundance of quirk.

3. NYC bachelors are not all powerful and successful

The only reason Jennifer Lopez's character in Maid in Manhattan had an opportunity to date a powerful and successful politician was that he assumed she was in his same social strata based on the Dolce & Gabbana coat she was borrowing. In real life, half a million women in Manhattan are dressed like Queen Elizabeth on any given day — thanks to sample sales. When you do finally meet a man with a job and a good head on his shoulders, it makes the competition tough.

4. You don't answer personal ads... unless you have a death wish

Tinder is an acceptable form of pre-courtship (because we tell ourselves a photo doesn't lie), but no one in their right mind would answer a personal ad on New York Craigslist or any other publication — because there's a very good chance you will meet someone who wants to cast you in a movie. Yeah, that kind of a movie.

5. If someone tells you they are "crazy," you believe them

This is not a test. There is a good chance that person telling you he or she is "crazy" is not being cute or Manic Pixie Dream Girl-like. And you certainly aren't taking any chances or jogging by her house the next day, just to be sure.

More: Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce creator shares her experience using dating apps (VIDEO) 

6. Native New Yorkers wouldn't agree to meet up at the top of the Empire State Building

With so many intimate little bars, cafés and restaurants, who in their right mind would agree to meet a stranger on a date at the top of the Empire State Building? Nine out of 10 times it's cold, crowded, windy, and considering how Meg Ryan's character in Sleepless in Seattle asked Tom Hanks' character to meet her on the observation deck on Valentine's Day, I'll say it again: really freaking cold.

7. There usually isn't a moment of realization just in the nick of time

Rom-com silliness goes a little something like this: Hi, we're both hot, we share an obvious amount of intense attraction, and yet we'll remain just friends until we both wake up and realize we're perfect for each other, which will happen 15 minutes before the closing credits. Dating in NYC: He/she's hot. Swipe right. Meet. Story ends.

8. When it all falls apart and you need a good cry, NYC is not the place to be

New York City is one of the best places on the planet to find work success, meet a successful eligible bachelor and to party. But when it all hits the fan, you find out your boyfriend of six months has a wife, three kids and a dog, and your job is turning you into a monster you no longer recognize, you will be on the next train home to New Jersey to cry in your parents' bedroom.

... Which is just what you'll need before heading back to Manhattan on that 5 p.m. train. Because you can never actually stay away for that long.

The premise for Can You Yawn Like a Fawn? is pretty simple. Like other sleep books, it offers instructions for how it should be read. Certain words and phrases are bolded or italicized so that parents can emphasize them as they read. The instructions also encourage you to incorporate your child's name into the reading, as well as yawn... a lot.

More: Does The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep really put kids to sleep?

The book starts out by letting the reader know that all the little animals in the world are going to sleep. Once we've established that it's bedtime in the animal kingdom, readers go animal by animal, saying goodnight to each one and practicing their yawns. For example:

"In the land down under, silly kangaroo hops and hops until she has hopped herself out, phew! She snuggles into bed and yawns a happy yawn. Can you yawn like a kangaroo?"

You go through the same routine with a mouse, a penguin, a duck and — spoiler alert — a fawn. In total, readers say goodnight to and yawn along with 12 animals, and then at the end you yawn and say goodnight to your child. It's a sweet concept and one that's much more kid-friendly than some of its competitors, like The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep.

More: 50 Chapter books every girl should read by age 15

I tested out The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep a few months ago and found it a bit creepy, to be honest. The Rabbit is lengthy — it took at least 30 minutes to get through it — and the story is so dependent upon robotic repetitions to get kids to go to sleep that it almost reads as if there's no plot. Can You Yawn Like a Fawn? succeeds admirably in eliminating some of those issues and putting the tactics of a sleep aid into a story that is actually engaging and sweet. Small kids will enjoy it, and it features some truly stunning illustrations:

So, the burning question parents have is: Does the book work? The answer to that depends on what you're hoping to accomplish. I read it to both my 4-year-old and my 18-month-old, and while both enjoyed it, it did not have the hypnotic effects that some parents probably want. Neither of them fell asleep while I was reading, nor did they succumb to their exhaustion immediately after. That said, both of them enjoyed the pictures and the opportunity to mimic their best baby animal yawns. Both of them also seemed more calm at the end of the book, like they were ready for sleep.

More: 50 Chapter books every boy should read by age 15

In general, the book does what it sets out to accomplish in that it soothes kids, it gets them focused on bedtime and it relaxes them into the process of falling asleep. Even better, it does all of this while still being engaging and fostering bonding time between parent and child, rather than just mechanically coaxing kids into a deep slumber. Your kids might still be awake when you're done reading, but it's a charming book that's worth adding to any small child's collection.

Cox made her public debut with reported boyfriend Jono Freedrix at the SAG Awards on Saturday, right before she picked up her statue for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series with the rest of her OITNB castmates. Though neither Freedrix nor Cox have publicly spoken about their relationship, several outlets say the alleged couple was heavy on the PDA at SAG Award after-parties.

Here's what we know about Freedrix so far.

More: What Laverne Cox wants society to know about straight men dating trans women

1. This actually wasn't his first time out with Cox

Freedrix has been making the rounds with Cox for weeks, as evidenced by his post of himself raising the roof while sitting next to her at the Logo Trailblazer Honors in January.

There's also this photo of Cox and Freedrix at a film festival together nearly a year ago.

2. He's international

Freedrix hails from Canada, where he is the president of The Virtual Stage, a Vancouver-based film and theater company, according to his social media pages.

The Virtual Stage is "dedicated to the investigation of emerging technologies in live performance," says its Twitter page.

3. Jono Freedrix might not be his actual name

Light Internet stalking revealed that Freedrix's name might really be Jonathan Friedrichs. While his Instagram account is under the name Jono Freedrix, his Facebook identity is Jonathan Friedrichs, so the jury is out on which one is official, but we suspect that Jono Freedrix might be his stage name.

More: Laverne Cox's #ILoveMenButHatePatriarchy gets some serious hate

4. He was an adorable child

He's totally got the same look as Haley Joel Osment circa The Sixth Sense time period, as one of Freedrix's Facebook friends so cleverly pointed out.

5. He has another Orange Is the New Black connection

He worked on a short comedy about public breastfeeding titled Sucklepump with Joel Marsh Garland, who plays Scott O'Neill on OITNB.

6. He's a Leonardo DiCaprio fan

But who isn't, really?

7. He's a former teacher

According to his personal website, Freedrix previously worked as a high school teacher, where he taught photography, drama and ran an award-winning teen filmmaking program.

8. He's a gifted wildlife photographer

The photo above, while gorgeous, isn't even one of his best. His website is full of amazing pictures of birds, monkeys, bears and insects.

9. He dabbles in stop-motion animation

Is there anything this guy can't do?

10. His favorite animal is the orangutan

"I spent 2 months living with orangutans in Borneo in 2003," Freedrix wrote on Instagram. "Later I fostered 2 orphaned orangutans who were rescued from captivity after their mothers were killed by poachers & they were sold as pets on the black market. Illegal logging is an even more devastating problem. Go to orangutan.org, see the amazing work Dr. Biruté Galdikas & the Orangutan Foundation International is doing, and help protect these beautiful endangered species."

More: Laverne Cox strips down to prove beautiful point about trans community (PHOTO)

Just one day before the live performance, Hudgens' father passed away after a battle with cancer. Though it would have been perfectly understandable for Hudgens to sit out the performance, she decided that the show would go on, and told the Twittersphere that her performance would be in honor of her father. Now, Hudgens has once again gone to Twitter to thank her fans for their support during this trying time.

Grease Live! was widely praised by both fans and critics alike, and while all of the cast members killed it, it was Hudgens' rendition of Rizzo's infamous ballad "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" that really floored audiences. Hudgens' song, which is basically Grease's answer to why slut-shaming is so not OK (because, uh, women are people who can make any decision that they want), has been viewed over 1 million times on YouTube since it was posted on Sunday. Clearly, Hudgens made people feel things with her performance, and considering her own personal struggle, that's incredibly impressive.

More: Grease: Live!'s lyric censoring leaves Grease fans disappointed

While Hudgens has had an exciting career in the decade since High School Musical, her dedication to Grease Live! and her knockout performance shows that this is the area of the entertainment industry where she thrives. Hudgens used her talent to not only help herself cope with a serious loss, but gave the world something amazing back in the form of an incredible performance and one gorgeous solo.

Hudgens' loss is a painful one, but it's good to know that her art and the support of her fans can help her get through these trying times. She may be going through something challenging, but she hasn't let that stop her from giving her work her all — something that her dad would likely be proud of.

Tell us: What did you think of Hudgens' tweets and her Grease: Live! performance? Let us know in the comments below.

While love between species is not common, when it happens, it's truly a sight to behold, especially if said species are still babies. The duo met after Piper made her way over to the house next door, came nose to nose with a sweet brown pup — and two BFFs were instantly born. Since that first meeting, the friends have been inseparable.

More: 12 Animals whose epic fails are actually adorable

Could two animals look any more perfect snuggling next to each other like that? Nope.

Piglet Piper actually has a pretty extraordinary story all her own. She was found abandoned out in the cold. No one knows what became of her mom, but thankfully she was rescued and taken to a shelter. A few weeks later, a Tennessee family who already had four mini pigs adopted little Piper and brought her into their warm, loving home.

Along with her new canine bestie, Piper has a bunch of pig siblings, a mom and dad, not to mention adoring owners. She is so in love with her new pals that she spends most of the day running around like mad — until she sees a blanket. She looooooves blankets.

More: Bunny yoga may be the motivation you need to exercise

And teddy bears.

And sweaters.

Okay, I think I got it now. She pretty much loves anything that's fluffy, but her puppy buddy will forever be number one in her heart.

I can barely handle all the cuteness. I want to join this little piglet-puppy snugglefest.

More: 13 Astonishing facts about sloths

Teresa Giudice had a quiet family party for her daughter Milania's 10th birthday this week, complete with a confetti-strewn cake that looked absolutely delicious — far better than prison food.

More: Teresa Giudice's house arrest imposes unfortunate restrictions on her

More: Teresa Giudice is back to glam in her first red carpet appearance (PHOTOS) 

The photo includes Teresa's husband Joe enjoying one of the last few family celebrations he can before he is due to report to prison himself in March to serve his own sentence for bankruptcy fraud — a whopping 41-month term.

While Joe's prison nightmare is just beginning, Teresa will soon be able to put hers completely behind her. Although she is currently under house arrest, that ends this Friday. But for the next few days, she will still need to ask the permission of her probation officer to go anywhere off her property.

"She asks permission to go places," a source told People. "The probation officer then gives her the parameters of that. He will ask her which stores she is going to and then says, 'You can go from this time to this time.' She can go to work, go to the doctor or go see her lawyer — all with the officer's permission."

More: Teresa Giudice is taking skills she learned in prison to pursue a new venture

Of course, quiet nights at home are probably right up Teresa's alley after the way she described the activities in her prison cell in her new memoir Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again.

Writing that fellow inmates called her cell "the Boom Boom Room" because of the sexual activities of her cellmates, she explained, "I could see two women... writhing around... I cannot believe this is happening!"

A quiet birthday party at home does sound preferable, indeed.

More: A startling look at how much time moms spend online

This is what happened today when BT's broadband network left various parts of the U.K. without internet: temporary issues with their broadband services left customers totally stranded. If you're one of the unlucky ones you probably won't even be seeing this (unless mobile data is saving you), but in the future when something of this apocalyptic magnitude happens, these are some things you can do instead.

1. Steal your neighbours' Wifi

Right, your Internet has deserted you, so the first thing you can do is try to steal your neighbours' internet. Better start hoping you remember the name of their pet pooch or their first love.

2. Call up your bestie

And tell her your woes.

3. Refresh your browser every 10 minutes

Just in case something changes!

4. Whip out a board game...

...or play Solitaire (which is basically the only time the game will ever be appealing).

5. Even better, open up a bottle of wine

You don't need to stop at one glass either.

6. Call your gran

Warning: She may be shocked to see you without your head buried in your laptop.

7. Use your cat as a source of entertainment

Because this is hilarious!

More: Women remind us that online dating profiles don't always reflect real life

8. Destroy your mobile phone's data allowance

Come here, Facebook!

9. Read a book

If you don't have any books in the house (because all your time is devoted to reading online), try out option #1 again.

10. Cry

It's not fun, but it sometimes works as a last resort.

Did we leave out anything? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Abraham is no stranger to controversy, and seems to meet criticism at every turn, whether it's for her choice to get plastic surgery or her parenting skills. However, at first glance, this photo of her dogs seems completely innocuous. So why is this pic...

...making people so mad?

Well, it turns out that Abraham's dogs are pregnant, which means that Abraham is acting as a dog breeder. As evidenced by the feedback on Twitter, some people are less than thrilled with Abraham's decision to breed her dogs, as there are so many dogs that already need to be adopted from animal shelters. They think that she is adding to the problem by putting more puppies in the world, which could ultimately take away from dogs who are already born and need a home.

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

While that is a totally valid point — the amount of dogs who are up for adoption should break the heart of any dog lover — the comments on Abraham's post extend well past concern for homeless animals. Many of the comments that Abraham has received on this picture attack her, criticizing her past sexual history and recent porn video (a video that she alleges she was coerced into making) as well as her inabilities as a parent. Several people have brought up her ex and the father of her child, who is deceased, stating that he would be "disappointed" and "ashamed" of Abraham's behavior.

More: Farrah Abraham sex tape drama: James Deen weighs in

Truthfully, Abraham could post pretty much anything on Twitter and it would be met with hateful comments, but it's shocking that a simple photo of her dogs could be met with so much venom. Abraham may be able to shake off the haters, but frankly, many of these comments are downright disturbing — not to mention sexist. There's absolutely no reason why a woman should be called a whore on Twitter, no matter what her past. Like Abraham or loathe her, but these comments are horrific and something no one deserves.

More: Rare dog breed looks virtually identical to a raccoon

And this adorable raccoon certainly added something different to Toronto Transit Commission's commuters Tuesday morning. Much to the surprise of the city's morning commuters a raccoon found its way not only onto the platform of the Spadina station, but also onto the train.

According to CP24, the raccoon was spotted at the station at around 8 a.m. and his presence caused a "brief commotion" as one woman jumped onto her chair in fright at the sighting. However, most passengers appeared excited by the visit and took to Twitter to happily tweet about their sightings.

Does this sort of thing happen anywhere else in the world?

And do raccoons travel for free?

It's unclear how the raccoon got into the station, but he was not worried about commuters and eagerly approached them in search of a delicious treat — even rummaging through purses.

More: 10 Raccoons you should be following on Instagram

"We have no idea how it got on the train. TTC facilities are fenced and secure against human intrusion, but animals do sometime make their way onto TTC property," Toronto Transit Commission spokesman Brad Ross told the outlet.

But it's not just the passengers who are tweeting about the Raccoon, because someone has even created a Twitter page for the animal @TTCRaccoon pretending to him. We think it's safe to say that the subway raccoon has created quite a bit of excitement for today.

More: Raccoon takes a ride on an alligator, because Florida, of course

Were you fortunate enough to spot this little critter on your way to work? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

So, here are four easy things to say or do to make sure your spouse knows how grateful you are to have him or her.

1. What do you want to do?

Planning and spending time together is essential in a relationship. The more years you’re married, the more you understand what your spouse likes and dislikes. You understand which places to avoid and which places are appealing to you both. However, it is important to occasionally ask them where they would like to go. This allows your spouse to realize that his or her opinion is valued, and he or she may have a fun, new idea that you both would enjoy.

More: 5 New Year's resolutions for your marriage

2. I can’t wait to see you

You should always let your spouse know that you long to be with him or her. On Marriage.com, we've written about how longing keeps relationships alive and exciting. A relationship without longing has lost its spark. Consider sending a text here or there throughout the week to let your partner know you love being with him or her.

3. Our relationship is the most important one I have on this earth

No doubt, the person you chose to marry should be the most important person in your life. Even after the wedding, having having children — which is life-changing, as we write about on Marriage.com, launching careers and all the other distractions that come with building a life together, your spouse should still be a top priority. Your marriage should always be cherished.

More: How to adjust to married life after the wedding frenzy

4. Thank you

This one sounds simple, I know, but sometimes we forget to thank the people that mean and do the most for us. Those two little words show good manners, of course, but they also display gratitude and appreciation. Saying thank you to small things like unloading the dishwasher or putting gas in the car can go a long way to making your spouse feel loved. It doesn’t take much time to say, but “thank you” can have some powerful benefits for your marriage.

More: What you don't know about marriage therapy–but should

Historically, our revulsion over underarm hair seems to partially stem from religion. In the Islamic tradition, men and women were required to pluck their armpit and pubic hair in order to be observant Muslims. While they believed such hair removal was necessary to maintain good hygiene, today we know those little tufts don't carry any really harmful bacteria.

More: Miley Cyrus' fans leave horrible comments about her dyed armpit hair (PHOTO)

The tradition appeared in several other religions as well, but somewhere down the line, men were let off the hook, while women continued to achieve hairlessness. One theory behind why both women and men seem particularly disgusted with female underarm hair has to do with the pheromones we emit from that area. Yes, pheromones are supposed to light up the attraction sensors in our brains, but too much pheromone stimulation can actually stir up the opposite effect — as in, disgust.

According to a 2014 New York magazine article, the scent coming from male armpits has a relaxing effect on women, whereas the scent from female armpits results in sexual excitement in men. Armpit hair works like a scent diffuser, allowing more pheromones to affect surrounding males and females. And while inhaling more male pheromones may be soothing to women, inhaling too many female pheromones can result in tipping the scale from being aroused to being grossed out. Apparently there's a very thin line between arousal and disgust, and armpit hair on women is what pushes our pheromone level over the edge — hence women's obsession with keeping their pits bare.

More: You can still be a feminist and shave your armpits

Despite all this scientific mumbo jumbo, women are becoming more and more frustrated about being held to this sexist double standard. One reporter from Buzzfeed decided to take to the streets to get the average person's take on armpit hair on women and see if this long-held stigma might be changing.

Yes, people in general still seem to find armpit hair on a woman off-putting. Women are more accepting of the idea, but when pressed, some said they weren't thrilled by the thought and would never think of growing out their own. The guys, on the other hand, were not afraid to be blunt — many think it's "super disgusting" and "gross." When the reporter asked a few of the men if they think it's a double standard, they plainly said, "No, because women need to be more clean than men."

But why? That's the reigning question.

It all comes back to the hygiene thing. But there's one problem with that — there's nothing really unhygienic about armpit hair. People only blame their disgust on hygiene because it's an easy answer. The real answer is much more complicated. When I did my own crowdsourcing, I received a much more varied response:

Sander, a playwright from the Pacific Northwest, said, "I'm into it, but then I'm from Oregon, land of mist and drum circles."

Jena, a teacher and sociologist from California, said,  "I'm a fan ... but I hate to shave."

More: Covering your armpits in glitter is a trend now

Meanwhile, one New York composer hated on all armpit hair, both male and female. "Aren't all hairy armpits pretty gross? I don't want to see men's hairy armpits, and I don't want to see women's hairy armpits. It's not a double standard, it's just a standard. Men are so disgusting that we have to cover up everything but our heads and hands — at least in the workplace. Why? [Because] we're hairy. It's gross."

So there you have it. Some are starting to change their tune with regard to female armpit hair, while others remain staunchly opposed. However, I think there's one thing we can all agree on — shaving is a pain in the ass.

More: How to cope with losing a pregnancy

The National Early Miscarriage Centre will consist of specialist clinics at the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick and Imperial College London, giving 24,000 women per year access to treatment, support and the chance to participate in Tommy's research studies.

Tommy's aims to halve the number of miscarriages by 2030 by looking into why it happens, whether it is likely to happen again, how to prevent it and how to provide appropriate aftercare.

Miscarriage is the most common pregnancy complication — 200,000 mothers and their partners are affected every year, with 85 percent of miscarriages occurring within the first 12 weeks — but it is also the least understood. Many women experience recurrent miscarriages in early pregnancy but are offered no further tests to try to determine the reason or whether it might happen again.

Jane Brewin, CEO of Tommy's, said, "Medical science doesn’t fully understand miscarriage, which is why funding and research is so critical. Through pioneering medical research, Tommy's clinicians will save babies' lives by turning their discoveries into screening tests and treatments and launch clinics for pregnant women who are most at risk, giving them the latest improvements in care. They'll share their work in national clinical guidelines, preventing miscarriages and developing better care across the country.

"Through the National Early Miscarriage Centre, we'll raise the profile of early miscarriage research and encourage other organisations to invest and help break the silence around miscarriage. To help make it a priority for the government, the team will highlight the economic cost for the NHS. They'll also grow and lead a network of specialists and work closely with other Tommy's centres and researchers across the U.K. and internationally."

More: How to handle a friend's pregnancy after you've miscarried

In the centre's first five years, Tommy's is committed to researching:

• Genetic causes of miscarriage, including a possible connection to damaged DNA in sperm.

• Role of bacteria in miscarriage — and new understanding of the role of the oral, gut and vaginal microbiomes in shaping early pregnancy outcomes.

• Predicting the risk of miscarriage by developing sophisticated computerised risk-prediction models that pull together clinical data from across the U.K.

• Identifying the best ways to support women who have experienced miscarriage.

According to the NHS, one in six pregnancies will end in miscarriage, and many more miscarriages occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Currently, the NHS only refers women for investigation after they've gone through three early miscarriages.

Zara, who did have three early miscarriages in the last 18 months, welcomed Tommy's announcement, in particular the need for greater emotional support for women who have gone through miscarriage.

"After I was told my baby had no heartbeat, I was taken through a ward of women waiting to give birth," she said. "I was devastated, looking for answers, and felt completely alone. I wasn't offered counseling or given any advice on how to cope with the aftermath of miscarriage. This just isn't right, and I hope the National Early Miscarriage Centre will be beginning of change across the U.K."

Find out more about the National Early Miscarriage Centre and the work carried out by Tommy's here.

More: When friends "solve" your miscarriage by telling you to try again

A witness spotted celebrity chef Flay getting cozy with TV star Chelsea Handler at the Blue Plate Oysterette in Santa Monica, California, last Wednesday.

And while the source did not observe any obvious hanky-panky, they did say the pair arrived in the same car and sat alone together at a corner table.

"It looked like a date," the insider told Page Six.

Handler herself may have hinted at the romance during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, which taped the same day as the reported date.

More: Chelsea Handler wages a full-on war against Heather McDonald (VIDEO)

More: 10 Topics Chelsea Handler will discuss in her new docuseries

While she never named names, she told DeGeneres that she was going out on a first date with someone that very night, and that he was famous in "an extension of this business," aka show business.

"A friend set us up," Handler continued. "I've never met him, but I know of him… You'd know him."

Oh, we're pretty sure we do know him!

More: Chelsea Handler starts an ass war with Kim Kardashian and Instagram (PHOTOS)

The timing is interesting for Flay. He is in the midst of a contentious divorce from former Law and Order: SVU actress Stephanie March, and was rumored to not only have had a fling with fellow celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis but also to be the mystery father of January Jones' baby. Busy guy.

In the past, Handler has been linked to various entertainment types, including hotelier André Balazs, TV producer Dave Salmoni, comedian David Alan Grier, rapper 50 Cent, and NBC Broadcasting chairman Ted Harbert.

More: Chelsea Handler branded "not funny anymore" over new underwear joke

If you don't already know Ms. Atkins, she's been touted as one of the world's most influential hairstylists because of her awesome online tips and her work with always smokin' celebs such as the Kardashians. She has more than 900,000 Instagram followers because she knows how to reel in her audience with gorgeous hairstyle photos and easy-to-follow hair tip videos.

More: 10 Different ways to tie a scarf in your hair

Now that she has a new product line, Ouai, you can buy her awesome, incredibly reasonable hair essentials and learn to use them with several great styling tricks trademarked by Atkins herself. One of our absolute favorites is her "clip trick" for effortless waves.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try every one of her styling tips on my own hair. If you don't hear back from me, it's because my head was swallowed up by an excessive amount of mousse.

More: The sunset-hair trend is back, and it's bolder and more beautiful than ever

That's right, folks. In case you forgot, flu season is upon us, and it's just waiting to creep up on you when you least expect it. For many, that will be on Super Bowl Sunday. And while I hate to cast a shadow over one of the more fun days of the year, I think you'll thank me for this warning in the end.

Researchers at Cornell University actually found a link between cities with an NFL team playing in the Super Bowl and a rise in flu cases. They analyzed countrywide data from 1974 to 2009, paying particular attention to the cities that were home to the teams playing in the Super Bowl each year.

Specifically, they saw an 18 percent increase in flu-related deaths in people over 65 in these cities. The reason for this seems to be pretty simple — a city boasting a team in the Super Bowl will have more Super Bowl parties, and more parties result in more people being in close contact. Since the flu virus is spread via direct contact (shaking hands, kissing, hugging or chest bumping, as the case may be this weekend), football parties are the perfect incubators for it.

More: 7 Secrets for flu prevention from doctors and nurses

"You have friends over for a Super Bowl party. You all go out to a bar to watch the game. A bunch of people are cramped in a small space, and they're all touching the same napkins and grabbing the same chips. If your team wins, you're all out in the street celebrating. It's that kind of disease transmission that we think might be a driving factor," said Nicholas Sanders, assistant professor of economics in Cornell's Department of Policy Analysis and Management.

While this wasn't all that surprising to the researchers considering how the flu is spread, what was unexpected was the lack of increase in flu cases in the cities that hosted the Super Bowl. The only explanation they could come up with for this was that locals often stay home when their city hosts.

More: Cold and flu prevention steps you're not taking but should

However, even if you're not from Charlotte or Denver, and you're going to a Super Bowl party this year, you should exercise precautions to avoid catching this nasty bug. Wash your hands often, don't take food from a communal bowl, don't share drinks with your buddies even if you think they're healthy, and try to keep high fives and chest bumps to a minimum, as hard as that may be. Sure, getting the flu may not kill you, but it'll definitely make for a miserable Monday, even if your team wins.

Audrina Patridge

Even though Audrina Patridge shared a bikini photo last week, she posted this photo and wrote that this was the real “debut” of her bump for all of her fans who have been asking to see it. The Hills alum, 30, and her fiancé, BMX bike rider Corey Bohan, are expecting their first child together.

“So far, I haven’t had any morning sickness, I just feel very tired and like I have a major hangover when I wake up, which is a change for me because I’m constantly on-the-go!” she wrote on her blog. “As far as finding out the sex of the baby… We just want it to be healthy:) Girl or boy, we will be ecstatic either way!”

More: Check out Audrina Patridge's pregnancy announcement (and positive pregnancy test!)

Jenni “JWoww” Farley

Jenni “JWoww” Farley dressed her baby bump in a cream sweater as she hung out with Snooki and Food Network star Anne Burrell. The Jersey Shore alum and her husband, Roger Mathews, are expecting their second baby together. They are already parents to a daughter named Meilani and are expecting a baby boy this time.

“My baby bump has really popped!” she wrote. “I've been eating lots of lean meats and veggies to keep my baby boy nice and strong like his daddy! but this mama also loves her sweets!” 

Anne Hathaway

Actress Anne Hathaway showed off her growing baby bump in a mod black-and-white dress at the LA Art Show and Los Angeles Fine Art Show in Los Angeles last week. The 33-year-old Intern star and her husband, Adam Shulman, are expecting their first baby together.

More: Emily Blunt is pregnant with her second child (PHOTO)

Hathaway hasn’t spoken out much about her pregnancy; however, she did post a bikini shot of her baby bump on Instagram a few weeks ago. “So, posting a bikini pic is a little out of character for me, but just now while I was at the beach I noticed I was being photographed. I figure if this kind of photo is going to be out in the world it should at least be an image that makes me happy (and be one that was taken with my consent. And with a filter),” she wrote.

Next page: More celebrity baby bumps

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Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen bared her baby bump in a workout top and leggings as she left the gym. The 33-year-old model and talk show host is expecting her first child, a baby girl, with her husband, singer John Legend.

Teigen told InStyle Australia that she took maternity advice from Kim Kardashian.

"She told me to go stretchy," she said. "I always wanted to be the person who showed off the bump because it looks beautiful and I think you should embrace it. Kim does that well and I love seeing that belly of hers and I know Kanye does too — we're lucky to be with men who find pregnancy sexy. Thank God!"

Ali Fedotowsky

The Bachelorette alum Ali Fedotowsky shared her baby bump debut on her Instagram page, writing in the caption that she is in her second trimester. This is the first baby for the reality star and her fiancé, Kevin Manno.

“I remember our first ultrasound appointment around 6.5 weeks. We were so nervous because I read that sometimes doctors don’t see the baby and just an empty sac,” she wrote on her blog. “I remember holding my breath, terrified that we wouldn’t see a baby. Then we see this little peanut appear on the screen with a fluttering heartbeat. It was incredible! Of course I cried. The first thing Kevin said is, “Can you tell if there's just one in there?” Ha! Yes, there is just one. By the second ultrasound at 9.5 weeks our little peanut-shaped baby had sprouted arms and legs and was wiggling like a little dancer!”

Heather Morris

Glee alum Heather Morris, who played the cheerleader Brittany on the hit show, shared this hilarious pregnancy shot of her “big tummy.” Morris and her husband Taylor Hubbell are expecting their second child together. The couple is already parents to a 3-year-old son named Elijah.

More: The best celeb mom photos of the week

When you're settled and happy in a long-term relationship, it sometimes feels as if you and your partner have covered every inch of ground, as far as conversation goes. What is there left to talk about after you've discussed your childhood, hopes and dreams for the future, and your hopes and dreams for your children?

Plenty, actually. It isn't that you've run out of things to say, it's that you're not considering a universe of questions left to ask that will help you both get inside of each other's minds, hearts and souls. Instead of turning on the television tonight, make the decision to improve your relationship through simple talk — these six questions will help you get there.

1. Do you feel loved?

Of course you love your partner — and he or she probably knows it. But it's one thing to be able to rationalize feelings and another to feel them with an intensity that you can't explain in words. By asking your spouse or partner if he feels loved, you're inviting him to share with you the actions and words you contribute that bring him a sense of security, peace and passion — and you're also asking him to help you become a better lover. The key here is to not take his criticism personally or allow it to affect you negatively. We can all be better partners, but the only way to get there is by accepting that we aren't perfect.

More: I was in an abusive marriage and my husband asked me for a divorce

2. What’s on your bucket list?

Sounds like a morbid question, right? But let's be real: No one is immortal and the ability to speak freely about this fact and ensure you're on the same page in terms of your life goals will only bring you closer together. "Couples can be together for decades and still not know everything about each other," says April Masini, a relationship and etiquette expert who gives relationship advice through her Ask April advice column. "If you don’t ask, you’ll never know, and a bucket list item not achieved because it wasn’t obvious or known, is a regret you shouldn’t have. You can always say no, but it’s a lot better to know what your partner really wants to do in this lifetime — and it gives you an opportunity to share your bucket list, as well."

3. How do you want to die?

Again, it's important to get past the idea that death is bad or a negative or even avoidable. It's a natural phase of life and a frank discussion about it will help you both know how you wish to be treated and handled when the time comes (the understanding here is that you are working toward becoming a couple that stands the test of time). "This seems morbid, but if you’re in a long-term relationship, and you’ve never had this discussion or had the opportunity to because you’ve never had a parent or loved one pass away, it’s a worthwhile conversation to have," Masini says. "There’s a good chance you will be each other’s power of attorney in an emergency, and if you don’t ask, you’ll never know if someone wants extreme measures taken to keep them alive, wants no extreme measures or wants to avoid a hospital at all costs. Simply asking opens up what seems like a morbid conversation, but is actually a very loving and intimate way to get to know each other and feel closer."

More: 9 Questions you should ask someone before you sleep with them

4. What stresses you out most in life?

It might be obvious: Your spouse freaks every time one of the kids gets sick or when he so much as catches a sniffle. But there could also be stressful situations he experiences that you aren't aware of — or that you'd never suspect affect him the way they do. Gaining insight into the everyday scenarios that cause you both grief will help you to understand why, for example, he's always grumpy right before he heads out the door to work (he may feel anxiety about getting to work before his boss arrives) and why you become irritated when he leaves a pile of dirty dishes in the sink.

5. How can I help you become a better parent/partner?

Lots of us feel insecure about our parenting abilities — something we can blame on having far too many responsibilities, not enough time on our hands and simply being human. Unfortunately, we also sometimes fall into the trap of criticizing our partners for not doing enough without taking into account how hurtful it is to have your spouse chastise you for poor parenting skills. Show him that you have his back (he should return the favor) by asking what you can do to help him become the parents he dreams about being. Perhaps it's as simple as giving him 10 minutes to decompress when he gets home for work before he jumps in and plays with the kids (which can, in turn, give you 10 minutes to decompress).

6. What do you want for your birthday?

Good news: Not every question has to be so heavy! "This seems so banal, and yet, it’s one of the most discussed issues on my relationship advice forum," Masini says. "The wrong gift for a birthday, Christmas or an anniversary, creates an avalanche of discussion. Something well meaning, like a beautiful watch can become the beginning of a fight — 'We can’t afford this, what makes you think you can buy something this expensive without discussion, etc.' Many times couples will suffer through years of bad gifts and ill feelings because they never have a discussion about what they want, and how it affects the other person. She may keep buying him cashmere sweaters, when he’d really like a camping trip, just the two of them. He may keep buying roses for her birthdays, when she’d much rather be able to skip Christmas at his mother’s house just one year. Ask the question, get the conversation going, and improve your relationship."

If you're worried that your chocolate cravings are allowing a little too much overindulgence, good news. Those cravings may be keeping you — and your baby — healthy. According to new studies, eating chocolate during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and improves placental function.

And that's not all! It turns out there are plenty of good reasons to eat chocolate during pregnancy. So don’t feel bad sending your partner out at midnight for a chocolate bar that you need right this very second. It’s good for the baby. It’s science.

More: What moms think it really feels like to give birth

While it’s not recommended to overdo it with chocolate, a little bit of dark chocolate has plenty of benefits for pregnant women. Here are seven important reasons to eat chocolate during pregnancy:

A happier baby

Looking forward to having a happy, bouncing baby after delivery? You may not want to pass on the chocolate. According to a study conducted in Finland, women who ate chocolate during pregnancy reported having “happier, livelier babies.”

Less stress

Between raging hormones to an ever-morphing body, pregnancy can be a seriously stressful situation. One way you can lower your stress levels is through a little chocolate. Researchers found that eating dark chocolate daily significantly reduced stress levels. So put your feet up, and enjoy that chocolate bar sans guilt.

Decreased chance of miscarriage

Although there is nothing you can do to prevent a miscarriage, women who eat chocolate daily were found to have 20 percent less chance of suffering a first-trimester miscarriage.

Boost your health

Chocolate is full of flavonoids, a powerful antioxidant that has some seriously great health benefits. Eating flavonoid-rich dark chocolate can help improve your immune system and cardiovascular health as well as reduce your blood pressure.

More: 14 Hilarious Valentines kids would write... if they could

Healthy weight gain

Chocolate may just help keep those unnecessary extra pregnancy pounds at bay. Eating dark chocolate can help maintain healthy weight gain and lower cholesterol.

Lower chance of preeclampsia

In a recent study, women who consumed chocolate daily had a lower risk of developing preeclampsia, a serious medical condition that can cause premature birth, blot clots, convulsions and even death. Eating chocolate reduced this risk by a whopping 50 percent.

Better fetal development

In the same study, women who consumed chocolate during pregnancy also benefited from better placental and fetal growth and development, so eating chocolate could mean an all-around healthier baby come delivery day.

More: Dad passes out cold after learning sex of 5th child (VIDEO)

And, not one to ever blame myself, I say thanks to the holidays for that. I was born with the willpower of a flea, so when you put eggnog, shortbread cookies, any cookies, popcorn tins, sea salt caramel-filled chocolates, Bailey's Irish cream or anything else considered to be horrible for you in front of me, Imma eat it — and will probably take seconds.

So, as I enter January, my brain and my body are worlds apart: my head launching forward with the gusto of Hyperbole, while trying to drag my lethargic, eggnog-nostalgic metabolism along with it. So maybe the secret to a fresh new year is a tip-top metabolism?

A plummeting metabolism

Let's look at this: "There are many signs that show the metabolism has plummeted. The most obvious are weight gain, not been able to lose weight, sugar cravings, dry skin, hair loss, loss of elasticity of the skin," says Dr. Brian Garrett — a certified chiropractic sports physician with the American Chiropractic Association Council (who works with MMA fighters and is a sixth-degree black belt!).

He explains that some of the top reasons for a slowed metabolism are thyroid problems, cortisol levels (stress), adrenal gland issues — and poor diet and lack of exercise (which sums up the holidays for me). Consider these slow-metabolism instigators as well:

• Dehydration
• Low muscle mass
• Age
• Hormone changes
• Lack of sleep
• Medications
• Genetics

Reversing the damage

The good news is... drum roll... our metabolisms can change! Or, more specifically, our metabolisms can change if we smarten up our lifestyles. "Metabolism is not necessarily set in stone," Dr. Lynn Anderson, yoga instructor, naturopath and author of Sex Matters, explains. "We may just need to 'trigger' our genes. We can, through lifestyle choices, trigger our metabolic rate to work more effectively and efficiently. Eating healthy and exercising are two ways to improve metabolic rate."

Health expert Peter Bedard, M.A., C.Ht., agrees, explaining, "The number one way to increase your metabolism is to build muscle. Any strength training exercise, whether it is yoga, weight training or simply doing a few push-ups, will speed up your metabolism." Essentially, more muscle mass requires more heat and fuel, which causes muscle to burn more calories and, in turn, increase metabolism.

But, you don't have to become a professional weight lifter and bulk up to reap the benefits of muscle mass. Anderson notes, "When you aerobically exercise you trigger your metabolism to continue to burn calories at a faster pace for the next fourteen hours after a vigorous workout? It’s called the 'afterburn effect.'" So, roll out your yoga mat, head to the gym or drop and do 20 push-ups. Even just a little bit of effort can make a big difference.

More: 10 Weight lifting exercises for beginners

Speed up by chowing down

To further support muscle mass and boost metabolism, Karen Owoc, a clinical exercise physiologist, recommends eating "foods that help build muscle and offset muscle loss." Here's a collection of foods — everything from muscle building to metabolism boosting — that our experts recommend:

Proteins:

• Egg whites
• Lean meats or fortified cereals rich in iron
• Salmon
• Milk
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Lentils
• Soy beans

Fruits and vegetables:

• Blueberries
• Citrus fruits, like lemons and grapefruits
• Chili peppers
• Carrots
• Spinach

Herbs, spices and other:

• Green tea
• Cinnamon
• Garlic
• Cayenne
• Ginger Cloves
• Turmeric
• Coffee

More: Lemon water should be your new morning coffee — Here's why

Owoc notes that it is important to eat "real" food and eat regularly (no skipping meals!). And, as mentioned earlier, dehydration can slow your metabolism down, so be sure to drink water throughout the day.

With the right mindset and opportunistic new year ahead (or impending January birthday), we can take the reigns on our slothful metabolisms and light the fire they need to get pumping. Hello, 2016!

This is totally sending me into a tailspin. Nothing gets me more emotional than ice cream. And nothing excites me more than when a major brand hops onto the vegan train.

A rep for Ben & Jerry's tells SheKnows they can't give us the exact dates the ice cream will arrive for each city and scoop shop. However, pints will definitely will arrive in February, most likely mid to late in the month. I know I'm going to start scouting basically every grocery store in a 50-mile radius for it on the daily. Until then, my brain is a hot mess as I try to process the stages of realizing vegan Ben & Jerry's is actually a thing.

1. We did it!

Yes! Ben & Jerry's vegan ice cream is finally here. Kirsten Schimoler, Ben & Jerry's principal food scientist, told Huffington Post that the brand was pushed to move forward with the vegan items after some vegans launched a petition that received more than 28,000 signatures. It's pretty awesome to see that signing all those petitions can actually pay off! And when it pays off in ice cream, the hard work tastes all the sweeter.

More: 21 Vegan copycat recipes of your favorite restaurant meals

2. Where are my stretchy pants?

This could be dangerous. When you haven't had one of your favorite foods in so long, it's hard to not indulge, and you know I'm going to try all four of the flavors. So I guess it's time to whip out my yoga pants, aka stretchy ice cream pants, and get ready for a food coma.

3. Disbelief

Is this really happening? Ben & Jerry's, the first "premium" ice cream I ever tried, is... vegan? It sounds too good to be true. But... maybe it's not?

4. Skepticism

OK, so they made a vegan ice cream. Big deal! There are tons of vegan ice creams on the market, and a lot of them suck. What makes this one any different? Sure, they make their own almond milk in-house. And yes, initial reviews are very positive. But I've been burned before (here's looking at you, frozen vegan breakfast sandwiches).

More: 20 Vegan cheesecakes that are every bit as creamy as the real thing

5. Not-so-tempered enthusiasm

OK, I mean these sound amazing: Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Caramel Fudge and P.B. & Cookies. P.B. & Cookies will actually be sold in scoop shops too, meaning that going out for ice cream doesn't mean I'll be left with a scoop of watery sorbet or nothing at all.

6. Where's my spoon?

Dreams do come true! Coffee Caramel Fudge, you saucy minx, I'm taking you home the minute I see you. Chunky Monkey, I love you because of, not in spite of, your blissful chunkiness. Chocolate Fudge Brownie, it's good to see you again, my old friend. And P.B. & Cookies, we haven't met yet, but I have a feeling we are going to be fast friends.

Thank you, Ben & Jerry's, for listening to us junk food-loving, sugar-craving, ice cream-obsessed vegans. I think this is proof positive that #VeganLife is about so much more than chia seeds and kale — when you can still nosh on Ben & Jerry's, there's practically nothing to lose.

More: 17 Oh-so-cheesy dishes you won't believe are vegan