It’s not something you’d expect to talk about at your typical pre-natal class, but the doula and birth photographer from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula swears that "clitoral stimulation" was, for her, key to a manageable birth free of medical interventions.
In her post, Gallo revealed that as she reached the transitional part of labour, she "felt incredibly fragile, hopeless, and overwhelmed", and at that moment "masturbation made the most sense" to her.
For Gallo, clitoral stimulation shifted the focus to her vagina, to the "energy brewing" inside her. She described how it made her feel connected, and like she had some control over what she was feeling. As a result, the pain was much more manageable, and the pain-free moments so much more enjoyable.
It's her decision to masturbate during labour that Gallo credits with having a birth free of medical interventions. It lasted for six hours, very short in comparison to her first birth (involving an epidural and described by her as "highly medicalised") which lasted for 45 hours.
So, what are the three reasons Gallo thinks more women should consider masturbation during labour? Firstly, "what gets the baby in, gets the baby out" i.e. oxytocin — the feel-good hormone released during nipple, vaginal and clitoral stimulation, kissing, intimacy and affection. Also known as the "love hormone" or the "bonding hormone", oxytocin acts as a stimulant to contractions during labour.
Then there's the issue of pain relief — which all mums or mums-to-be will agree is a very welcome aspect of labour. Gallo cites a 1988 study by a man called Komisaruk, published in the Journal of Sex Research, that explored the idea that when "women stimulated their vaginas or clitori, they became less sensitive to painful stimulation".
Finally, there's the simple feel-good factor. Who says the mood-boosting, stress-relieving properties of an orgasm wouldn't be a welcome addition to the birthing suite?
Gallo's post may be controversial to some — as is the case with most topics mainstream culture deems as taboo — but she's not alone. One woman commented: "I actually did this and it got my contractions going full swing. I wasn't progressing, and because of low platelet levels, wasn't allowed pain meds. So I thought back to what my body can do naturally, and this was it."
What do you think of masturbating during labour? Let us know your thoughts below.
The entire premise of the show is businessmen who struck it rich manufacturing duck calls, but who didn’t move out of their hometown in Louisiana. The brothers still have the same interests they did before the business took off, but they certainly don’t have the same lifestyle. They’re multi-millionaires and everyone knows it. But as we watch the show, we are all supposed to magically forget that fact.
In Wednesday’s episode, Willie and Korie take their son John Luke and his wife to tour John Luke’s college campus. Since the 19-year-old is married, he wants to be able to live with his wife when he starts school. Obviously, the university will not allow for co-ed living in the dorms, so the young couple must figure out somewhere to live while they wait for their house to be built.
First, no average college freshman is building their first house. But more than that, it doesn’t make sense that this couple would spend time slumming it in the dorms if they didn’t have to.
Willie’s solution to the young couple’s living situation is for John Luke and his wife to live in an RV parked on the lot of the house they are building.
I’m fully aware this family loves to camp and spend their time outdoors, but are we really supposed to believe the young couple isn’t going to temporarily rent a house or an apartment while their house is being built? And if that is in fact what the showrunners want us to believe, my question is: Why?
Is there a reason we’re supposed to forget these people are multi-millionaires?
MTV producers did it during The Hills and it’s happening now with Duck Dynasty. It doesn’t make sense and it distracts from the plot of the show. Maybe it isn’t important, but I would get a lot more out of the show if they would acknowledge their financial situation and create story lines based on that instead of a fantasy that they’re just like everyone else.
This is the 22nd season of the super-popular dancing competition, and perhaps the best one if it’s good enough for Marissa Cooper. Barton, 30, may be best known for her role on The O.C., but she also had roles in Notting Hill and The Sixth Sense as a child. None of these roles including dancing, however, so it will be interesting to see her skills.
Other celebrities confirmed for the upcoming season of DWTS include Fuller House star Jodie Sweetin and The Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kim Fields. Unfortunately, there will be notable absences in this season as well. Six-time champion and fan-favorite Derek Hough will skip this season in order to train for his role in the upcoming Broadway musical Singing in the Rain. His sister, Julianne Hough, who has served as a judge on the past few seasons will also be missing this season. But Len Goodman, who didn’t judge last season, will return. So all is not lost.
The entire cast of Dancing with the Stars Season 22 will be revealed on Good Morning America on March 8.
But what we should all focus on now is how we can get an official O.C. reunion. There has to be a way to have Ryan and his famous grey hoodie in the audience or on the dance floor. I’m not the only one who thinks this, right?
Jordann Weingartner, owner and designer for the popular online company I Love Jewelry, says Witherspoon totally ripped off the magnolia design she uses as her own company's logo as the logo for the Draper James line of clothing and accessories.
"She literally stole my magnolia," Weingartner told Page Six. "I drew the design for my Magnolia collection back in 2008. The flower isn't a traditional magnolia flower, it is my artistic take on a magnolia. My design actually looks nothing like a magnolia, and Draper James not only took the design, but also decided to call it a magnolia."
Coincidence? Weingartner says that's impossible, because Witherspoon was made aware of the design when she was sent a necklace of the same design from the Magnolia collection.
I Love Jewelry is a multi-million dollar business with 30 employees and over 640,000 Facebook fans. Draper James had raised $17 million in investment money as of October 2015, according to Forbes, and has approximately 67,000 Facebook followers.
Witherspoon's publicist and legal team did not respond to Page Six's request for comment.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have repeatedly made it crystal clear that they will not be appearing on the inaugural season of the reboot of the show that made them household names and international stars as mere tots. However, just because we don’t see them this season doesn’t mean we won’t see them on any season.
John Stamos, who plays the eternally hot Uncle Jesse to the Olsen twins’ Michelle Tanner, teased a future appearance during a morning TV appearance. He says the door is always open, and implied that the success of the show might be what gets them to change their minds.
"They're totally welcome," Stamos told Today co-host Matt Lauer. "I was going to see Ashley last night and beg her to be on the show. We would love to have them. I know everyone would love to see them. I have a good feeling about it."
"I was nervous. We did the shows, and they were very sweet and cute. I was worried because the anticipation really built up from the time we finished to the time we aired," Stamos told Lauer. "People are happy with it. It's so sweet. I'm very grateful. It's comfort [for people]."
Executive producer Bob Boyett revealed the twins’ true reasoning for not returning to the sound stage in a January interview with People.
"Ashley said, 'I have not been in front of a camera since I was 17, and I don't feel comfortable acting,'" Boyett explained. "Mary-Kate said, 'It would have to be me because Ash doesn't want to do it. But the timing is so bad for us.'"
Neither Mary-Kate nor Ashley have commented since their initial statement when the show was announced, denying they were approached.
A winter storm is coming, and the kids are ready, sleeping with spoons under the pillows and their pajamas inside out. Surrounded by their excited — and adorable — superstitions, I somehow forget that I have work to do in the morning.
1. My phone buzzes with email notifications and voice mails
After being informed of the impending snow day by seven different sources, including Facebook groups and smoke signals, I turn off my morning alarm and pour a glass of wine. No lunches to make in the morning! I quickly glance into our craft supplies and at the freshly checked-out library books. Time for a cozy day with my sweet — and currently sleeping — angels.
I smugly pour cereal when the sun comes up and open my laptop on the kitchen table, patting myself on the back for getting in two hours of work before I normally begin. What could possibly go wrong when I'm already a few steps ahead of schedule?
3. Marvel at their sweet imaginations
They're so creative! My organized craft suggestions are met with something dangerously bordering on eye rolls and exasperation. I remind my daughter 14 times to bring back the good scissors and briefly wonder how many pieces of pipe cleaner and confetti-sized bits of paper it might take to break my vacuum cleaner.
4. Wonder if they're in the middle of a massive growth spurt
I calmly say no to a snack at 9:00 a.m., 9:05 a.m. and 9:07 a.m. By 9:08 a.m., I give in and let them have an apple. At 9:14 a.m., I toss Peeps across the table in an attempt to commit a single thought to the keyboard without interruption.
The kids are going to love learning a few HTML codes! Fine, yes, living room gymnastics sounds like a stellar idea. If I don't listen too closely, I won't hear what sounds suspiciously like a herd of elephants jumping on the couch.
6. Drown out their noise with more noise
Music makes gymnastics more fun, and I've always thought that I'd make a killer DJ. Five minutes later, I'm gritting my teeth. I've gone back and forth between the same three Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber songs 48 times before lunch.
7. Send them outside to play in the snow — the cause of this crazy day
Happily, I notice that my kids changed into real clothes sometime around 1:47 p.m. I usher them outside and only have to yell four times before someone runs back to close the door separating me from the frigid air.
I wonder if this counts as a failure or a major win for minimizing laundry. Approximately four minutes later, the kids are inside, shedding wet snow pants, gloves, hats and possibly fourteen pairs of socks. They quickly change into — clean — pajamas so they can "be cozy," and my laundry pile is suddenly the size of Mt. Everest.
9. Forget any and all screen time rules
TV? Sure! A computer game that's somehow considered "problem solving" even though it seems to be a car driving across various bridges? Sounds great. A movie, complete with popcorn and more Peeps? That works if I can just, for the love of snowplows, press send on this email.
10. Admit defeat and maniacally check the streets for signs of plowed snow
By 3:00 p.m., when I'm normally getting ready to welcome the kids home with a smile and a — nutritious, well-planned — snack, I'm singing along to Justin Bieber, alone, surrounded by 487 LEGO pieces, a keyboard spattered with mac and cheese dust and my own tears.
When there's corned beef, you have to have cabbage, right? These taquitos come with shredded cabbage pico de gallo, and if you like, some cubed avocado and lime juice can be added to the mix.
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
In addition to the tortillas being crispy, so are the edges of the corned beef, which is super tasty.
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
For a quick and easy guacamole dip, smashed-up avocado can be mixed in with the cabbage pico de gallo. Guac, pico and overstuffed Irish taquitos are so good you may completely forget that they're made with leftovers.
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
Corned beef taquitos with cabbage pico de gallo recipe
3/4 cup canola oil (amount may vary depending on size of pan)
Directions:
For the cabbage pico de gallo
To a medium-size bowl, add the onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, cilantro, green cabbage, salt, pepper and lime juice. Mix together, and set aside.
For the taquitos
Heat a medium skillet on medium heat, and add the canola oil.
Using tongs, dip a tortilla into the oil for just a moment, then quickly remove it, and put it on a large plate.
Starting at about 1-1/2 inches from the edge of the tortilla that is closest to you, lay some of the shredded corned beef (about 1/4 cup per taquito) in a horizontal line, with some of the meat extending over both sides of the tortilla.
When the tortilla is cool enough to touch, carefully roll it as tightly as possible. Set aside, and repeat the process with the rest of the corned beef.
In between wrapping the tortillas, add a couple of taquitos to the skillet, leaving enough room to dip the remaining tortillas in the oil (for rolling the taquitos). Watch the oil closely, and if it gets too hot, turn the heat down slightly.
When the bottom sides of the taquitos in the pan turn a golden color, turn them over.
Continue to cook the taquitos until all sides are a golden color.
Remove the taquitos from the skillet, and lay them on a paper towel-lined plate.
Serve while warm with cabbage pico de gallo and avocado (optional).
SheKnows: With this season being labeled as the toughest ever, do you feel any sense of relief that you were voted off early and you don't have to endure the punishment?
Elisabeth Markham: [Laughs.] I got my share of the punishment. I had an infection that was pretty bad. I spent a few days in the hospital after I was voted out. That was no fun, but I'm OK. I didn't die.
Image: CBS
SK: What kind of infection was it?
EM: A staph infection. Quite nasty. There was a bunch of skin on my shoulder and back they had to cut out. I had these big, gaping wounds that were kind of atrocious.
SK: So do you have permanent scars from this?
EM: I do have some scars. I had a pretty good plastic surgeon in America close up the wounds after I got home. I'm never gonna be completely scar-free, but I actually think they look kind of cool.
SK: Let's discuss your elimination. Was it a true blindside?
EM: Yeah. It was not what I expected to happen. I felt a shift before we left for Tribal that something was wrong, but I still believed it was Peter going home and not me, up until the second-round votes were read.
Image: CBS
SK: What made you feel uneasy?
EM: We noticed a lack of contact. Joe sort of stopped making eye contact with me and Peter. Neal was evasive and avoiding us. I think Debbie and Aubry were better at playing like everything was OK, but it was Joe and Neal that sort of tipped us off.
SK: Peter comes across as arrogant and overconfident on the show. Did you see that in him at all when you were out there?
EM: That's sort of how I felt the first couple of days when I first met him. I didn't think I liked him that much, but he grew on me. I saw another side of him, a more humble side. I viewed his posturing sort of like a surface-level thing whereas underneath, he's filled with self-effacing humor and maybe even insecurity. He just seemed like somebody I could talk to more genuinely than the other four people in my tribe.
Image: CBS
SK: What was your end-game plan? Was Peter a part of it?
EM: You have to play it by ear. I think I wanted to go to the end with Aubry and Debbie. Based on the way these relationships happen, that didn't really become likely since Aubry clicked so strong with Neal and Debbie clicked so strong with Joe. I couldn't just take my pick of these people. I didn't want to plan everything out too much. I thought being aligned with Peter, if we got the merge together, he would give me some cover if people were trying to take one of us out — that it would probably be him and not me.
SK: Early on this season, we saw Aubry struggling with dehydration. Was she struggling a lot more than we actually saw?
EM: Not really. I think just the novelty of the experience, the suddenness of having to build a shelter and gather bamboo in 100-degree heat was just unsettling for her since she had not done a whole lot of outdoor things before. I guess it was like an anxiety attack. She talked about quitting. Debbie and I talked her out of it, thank goodness. She has a lot more left in her to give. She had medical come check on her health, but she was definitely struggling emotionally. She wasn't severely dehydrated or anything.
Image: CBS
SK: Do you regret talking her out of quitting? Had she done so, it would have meant one less person there to compete against.
EM: [Laughs.] It didn't seem like a good idea to go into the first challenge down in numbers.
SK: Tell us a little bit about Debbie. Her kooky character is driving some viewers a little bit crazy. What was it like living with her?
EM: I think the first day or two, the way I saw Debbie is probably similar to the way you feel now watching her. She's getting portrayed kind of as a one-dimensional kooky person with all these bold claims. But when you actually get to know her, when they're real situations, she reacts well. She's so smart. She's savvy. She's aware of what's going on. I guess even in the first episode, you see her comforting Aubry, which shows a little softness and awareness. In the third episode, I'm glad we finally got to see her being smart, being strategic and being more than the kooky person who Peter wonders if she has 30 or 40 cats.
Image: CBS
SK: Who do you think does not deserve to be in the game?
EM: Geez. I think the people on the Brawn who are left, like Jason and Scot, aren't coming across very nice, but they're playing well. Cydney is playing great. Alecia is fighting for her life very well and doing a great job of playing from the underdog position. Beauty tribe? We haven't seen any fractures, really. I think that's because they haven't been to Tribal. Pretty much any of them could do anything at this point. On the Brains, I think of the remaining five people that Peter is probably playing the worst game. I guess maybe him? Hopefully, Brains don't lose the next challenge and he can make it to a swap and hope things improve.
Image: CBS
SK: We haven't really seen the Brains tribe searching for hidden Idols. Give us some insight on why some of you believed Neal had an Idol and explain who was actually looking.
EM: Everybody was searching for Idols all the time. People talked about them all the time. There was discussion of whether they might be special Idols, and whether they might not be in the game at all. When we got back from the first challenge, we had this massive fire-making kit we won as a Reward. Neal dumped the entire thing out on the ground and went through it looking for clues for Idols, which is a pretty smart thing to do, but very conspicuous. There wasn't a sense that if you were looking for an Idol that maybe you were somehow a devious person or something. It was kind of a thing you should do if you're playing. Peter and I sensed that Neal was going Idol searching less often. He would disappear for whatever excuse less often. He would usually use "getting shellfish" as an excuse to go off by himself. Sometimes he would be actually getting shellfish. Well, a lot of the time. It made it convenient for him to be away for long periods of time.
EM: I know Stephen Fishbach from Survivor: Tocantins and Second Chances. He put the idea in my head of playing the game. At some point, it just seemed like a reasonable thing to do. He put me in front of casting and it worked out.
Image: CBS
SK: How do you know him?
EM: We met on OkCupid. It was like three years ago. We went on two dates or something. It was fun. He was very conversational. We hit it off more as friends than as, like, romantic partners. We still talk and stuff, so that's cool.
SK: It has been nearly a full year since you filmed this season. What has it been like for you waiting all this time for it to finally be here?
EM: Kind of annoying to wait so long. The fact that I couldn't really talk about it. Once the cast was official, or even when it was leaked by the spoilers online, people all wanted to know. People would build up such high expectations and think I did so well. I wanted to be like, "Eh, not so much." I just couldn't really talk about it, and I wanted to.
Image: CBS
SK: Would you do it again?
EM: [Laughs.] I think so. The game was so much fun. I really enjoyed playing. The injury is not really something I would want to repeat, but I don't think it's very typical. It was a lot of fun and a really cool experience.
Image: CBS
What do you think of Elisabeth's comments in this interview? Did you think she had potential to win the game? Are you surprised to learn she got on Survivor after meeting Fishbach on a dating site? Join the conversation and leave a comment now.
Since rekindling their long-off romance back in January, Cyrus is apparently doing everything she can to avoid another breakup, including acting like Hemsworth's housewife, an insider told Us Weekly.
The source also said that Cyrus has been spending almost all her time at Hemsworth's house, a $6.8 million mansion in Malibu.
It's been years since Cyrus' increasingly wild lifestyle led to her breakup with Hemsworth, to whom she was engaged. But she apparently claims to have matured a lot since they split in 2013, and she's eager to prove it to her beau by spending her time with him instead of with her party-loving friends.
"She either doesn’t answer their calls or says she’s not going out," Us Weekly's source explained. "Liam never liked that she got crazy, so Miley’s making big changes. She doesn’t want to screw it up."
Cyrus and Hemsworth reunited in his native Australia over New Year's, and, according to Us Weekly, they've been completely inseparable ever since. Even though they had their past issues, sources close to the couple say this time, they're confident in their better compatibility and think their love will last.
"Miley and Liam are picking up exactly where they left off," a source said. "They know what they have is real. Miley needed some time to grow up, but she feels ready for this now."
An orphan in her native Russia, she had a marketable skill as a seamstress when she came here, enough resources to get her second-class passage (as opposed to steerage) and some contacts on New York City’s Lower East Side, then a teeming Jewish Ghetto. She learned English, and through her own diligence and determination, for a short period of time she became a well-respected hat designer.
My grandmother didn’t talk much about these early experiences, and unfortunately I never pressed her for information. I do know she married and stopped working in 1915, when she became pregnant with her first child (my uncle) and then my father in 1918. Like many women of her generation, she became a full-time wife and mother. It seems she lived a charmed life for a very brief period of time.
However, her husband — my grandfather, a very successful real-estate executive — died after a protracted illness in 1929, just prior to the stock-market crash. Left with huge medical bills, no life insurance and two young children, my grandmother was forced to work in a factory to support her family.
Her losses became tragic when her firstborn son drowned in 1938 at 23 years old. He was her favorite, and his death was devastating for both her and my father. When I was a child, I never stopped hearing stories of what a shining star my uncle was — smart, handsome and ambitious. My father not only lost his only brother, whom he adored, but he could never measure up in my grandmother’s eyes. They both became depressed, didn't get help for their grief and began to drown in their sadness.
My father never achieved success in his life and struggled to earn a living. He married my mother against my grandmother’s wishes, and thus a lifelong antipathy existed between them. My grandmother thought he deserved better, that my mother came from lower-class stock and was not on his level.
When I was born, I was a disappointment. They had hoped for a son, a “replacement child” to fill the void left by my uncle. Thankfully, my grandmother got over her ambivalence toward me and instead tried to instill in me her own thwarted ambitions and those she had for her dead son.
A self-educated woman, she read many of the great books of the Western world and took me to art museums and concerts. She wrote sad poems that she would recite whenever she had a captive audience. She stressed the importance of being fashionable, educated and successful. “You have to make something of yourself — you have to be a professional," she repeatedly said to me.
My grandmother’s joy and happiness were very short-lived. She ended up poor and alone in a roach-infested apartment — way before Washington Heights was gentrified — until she was 93 years old, bitter and angry about the hand she had been dealt. My father had remarried and lived on Long Island. His ambivalence toward her was apparent in the way he ended up not caring for her. I also neglected her, to my own shame, though in my defense, I was struggling to keep my own life going.
My grandmother’s life here was sad and difficult. Her grief filled her with bitterness and hate, so that although she loved and nurtured me, her criticism of my mother created a lot of conflict for me. The end of her life filled me with terror about what can happen to old people who live a long time without financial resources.
Nevertheless, despite her shortcomings and the spillover effect of her suffering, I did take my grandmother’s advice to heart. I have made something of myself, and I did become a professional. I think she would have been very proud.
I don’t think I fully appreciated the devastation caused by my uncle’s death until I found his gravesite and paid him a visit. Both my father and grandmother were dead at that point, so I had to do my own research. Standing there reading the gravestone and thinking about such a tragic loss hit me very hard, and I was able to understand both my grandmother and father in a more compassionate way.
The second half of Season 5 has focused on Mike's investigation and whether or not Harvey Specter could actually save his friend from prison. Well, the Season 5B finale delivered an answer. In a surprise turn of events (because when don't Harvey and Mike usually get their way?), Mike Ross is going to prison for two years.
Rather than having faith in the jury like his fiancée Rachel wanted him to, Mike decided to take Anita Gibbs' two-year prison deal, with one exception: after he pleaded guilty and signed his confession, she could not go after Harvey, Jessica, Louis, Rachel, Donna or anyone else who knew his secret. Basically, Mike turned himself in and saved everyone else.
If Mike would've just waited for the jury, he'd still be roaming free and possibly practicing law. Harvey sought out the jury foreman to see if they would've found Mike innocent or guilty. Guess what? They were going to find him innocent.
Even so, Mike going to prison is the right move for Suits. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see Mike serving time (hey, he was guilty, after all), but it will make the series even more interesting, not to mention even better than it already is.
Here are just a few reasons why Mike heading to prison was the best thing for the show.
1. It gives the series a reboot
When Suits returns for its sixth season, it will be like an entirely new show. There is no more Mike trying to protect his secret. There is no more Mike and Harvey being badass lawyers. There is no more Pearson Specter Litt, since everyone left the firm at the end. Now what? It's like Suits is starting all over and was just given a reboot, which is never a bad thing.
2. Mike can now breathe a sigh of relief
Yeah, I'm sure Mike is going to be stressing out in prison. Or, maybe he'll be able to work the system and get along with his fellow inmates. Whatever the case, now that his secret is out in the open, he no longer has to worry about who will find out or if he'll get in trouble.
3. Fresher faces and new storylines
Since Season 1, Mike being a fake lawyer was a major part of the series. Now that it's not, this gives the drama more opportunity for newer storylines, like showing Mike in prison. Plus, now that Pearson Specter Litt is starting from the ground up, I'm sure there will be fresher faces, like new lawyers and clients.
Suits executive producer Aaron Korsh told TV Line when the series returns for Season 6, it will pick up right where it left off. "As a matter of fact, we actually pick up that very night, and the entire episode, as it currently stands, takes place that night," he said. "It’s sort of a back-and-forth between Mike’s first night in prison and our first night dealing with coming back to an empty firm." That said, will it show Mike serving his full two years in prison? The series might only show part of his sentence and then do a time jump. If so, then there would be opportunities for flashbacks and keeping fans intrigued about what they might've missed during that span of time.
5. It is even more unpredictable
The one thing I love about Suits is that you never truly know what's going to happen, like Mike going to prison. Since the series actually sent him to prison, it has become even more unpredictable. There is nothing more exciting than watching a show and having no idea what is going to happen next.
6. Proves the show isn't afraid to take risks
In keeping with the above point, Suits is one show that isn't afraid to take risks. I can only imagine how it will push the boundaries come Season 6. Bring. It. On.
While our first reaction when we read a Dance Moms star will be on a special edition of So You Think You Can Dance next season to help pick the next winner was that it would be controversial dance instructor Abby Lee Miller, it turns out to be someone a bit… younger.
Thirteen-year-old Maddie Ziegler is joining the show to help find, well, the next Maddie Ziegler. The teen has experienced a huge surge in fame after appearing in Sia's critically acclaimed music videos for “Chandelier” and “Elastic Heart,” but she got her start in showbiz by appearing on Dance Moms for several seasons.
Ziegler will judge a special edition of the show called So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation, featuring performers between the ages of 8-16, and will "lend her expertise as a young dancer to critique and praise the contestants as they battle it out during the studio shows this summer," the Fox network said in a statement.
Joining her will be returning judges Nigel Lythgoe, Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo, as well as host Cat Deeley.
The show will feature the young dancers paired up with SYTYCD all-stars who have yet to be announced.
"Through the Dizzy Feet Foundation, I've had the great privilege of working with incredible young talent who will eventually shape the future of dance in this country," Lythgoe, who is also the show's cocreator and executive producer, said in a statement. "By evolving the So You Think You Can Dance format this season, we can showcase the very best junior dancers out there and open up the world of dance to a whole new generation."
So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation will premiere Monday, May 30 at 8 p.m. on FOX.
Sexy married mom Eva Mendes once tweeted her belief that sweats are the number one cause of divorce, and while, yes, always wearing sweats can be indicative of a bigger relationship problem, they can in fact contribute to an even stronger connection.
Again, comfort is very different from not caring. Comfort is essential to a relationship because it shows you trust the other person and can be yourself around them. Wearing comfy, even sexy or cute, sweats can in fact be a major turn-on. On the other hand, nasty, holey, unsexy, smelly sweats are indeed an indicator that you no longer care, as evidenced by the fact that you are unwilling to put in any effort.
It can be one piece of a bigger picture — a picture that includes not shaving, not wearing makeup, not brushing your teeth, always wearing period panties, not caring about your body shape or health, not showering and not putting in the effort to turn on (or at least not turn off) your partner. That can turn into not wanting to have sex, which can create resentment, insecurity, even cheating.
The real relationship killer is your lack of effort.
Yes, people say relationships take work. But work tends to have a negative connotation. Sometimes simply a change of word choice can make for a complete attitude adjustment. For instance, change the word work for effort. Relationships require effort. You're busy, you're tired, you have things to do, places to go, people to see. Plus, you desperately need some "me" time. You also need to make the decision to put energy and time into your man. Sometimes that energy and time means shaving your legs, brushing your teeth or putting on some makeup. Don't find the time — make the time.
It's great that you’re comfortably in love and within that love you are comfortable wearing pajamas, putting your hair up in a messy ponytail and being completely, authentically you. That's liberating! It allows your walls to come down and for you to truly be seen, appreciated and loved for who you are. More than that, it shows your partner you feel safe with him, that you trust him with you.
All that being said, comfort isn't a replacement for sexy. It's a complement, an addition, an opportunity for a deeper, more substantive connection that can even allow for more sexiness. Because once you're that comfortable, your sexy opportunities are limitless — because you trust each other — which means you can really get wild.
Let your comfort and your “knowing” that your man loves you and would never cheat on you liberate your sexy side. Snuggle in, hold his hand, kiss his cheek. Flirt with him. Just because you're in a relationship doesn't mean he's suddenly blind and forgets how good it feels to have someone make an effort to make him feel sexy — yes, he also needs to feel sexy. Why do you think there are so many workplace affairs? Because that woman in the office who flirts and puts an effort into her appearance makes your man feel interesting and smart. Then he comes home to you, and you're still in your ratty sweats, you haven't brushed your teeth, and you all but ignore him.
Sweats can be very sexy! The right sweats. As can a baggy sweater — the right baggy sweater. I talk more about it on KTLA Morning News here.
He’s still a man, he still has eyes, and he is still a visual creature — one who wants to be turned on by his partner. I'm not saying you always have to be dressed up, hair and makeup done and lounging around in lingerie. But you should at least make the effort to look decent, and even sexy on occasion. Even better if you wear sweats that are comfy and sexy. Then you both win!
Thursday was Duggar's 28th birthday, which he spent still separated from his famous family as he continues treatment at a faith-based rehab center.
But his family took to the official Duggar family Instagram to wish him a happy day anyway — and to point out that his future will hopefully be a little brighter than his past.
"Today is our son Josh's birthday. The heartache of the past year cannot surpass the joy 28 years ago on this day when we first became parents!" the message, written by Duggar's parents Jim Bob and Michelle, read. "We love you Josh and believe your best days can be ahead of you. We continue to pray for you every day."
Duggar has been in the rehab center in Illinois since last August, when he checked in in the wake of multiple family scandals, including his admission to molesting his sisters as a teen, the revelation that he held multiple accounts on Ashley Madison and his admission to cheating on his wife, Anna, and being addicted to pornography. He and Anna share four children: 6-year-old Mackynzie, 4-year-old Michael, 2-year-old Marcus and 7-month-old Meredith Grace, who was born after Duggar checked into rehab.
The family's wildly popular reality TV show, 19 Kids and Counting, was canceled amid the scandals, but Duggar's sisters, Jessa and Jill, discussed all the family drama when they starred on a spinoff series, Jill and Jessa: Counting On.
"Family is everything," Jessa said on the show. "2015 was a very difficult year."
Last week, the episode ended with poor Lyle heading back to his hometown to collect his belongings.
After weeks of his housemates trying to convince him Santana was bad news, Lyle has apparently seen the light and decided to call off the engagement. Predictably, the housemates are relieved by this change of heart, but mostly everyone just feels bad Lyle's been nursing a broken heart all season.
Image: CMT
According to Sally Ann Salsano, 495 Productions president, and founder and creator/executive producer of Party Down South, the decision to let Lyle leave was an easy one.
"It was a never-ending circle," she explained to SheKnows via an exclusive interview. "He just wasn't sleeping, so one hour he would want to go home to break up and one hour later he just wanted to make sure she was OK. The next hour he didn't want to go because he was fine. Twenty minutes after that he was crying and needed to go. For everyone involved, we knew he just needed to go and work it out, no matter what he wanted to do."
The mood in the house is somber after his departure, so the housemates decide to do what they do best — hit up a local bar and drink their blues away. OK, OK. In their defense, Tiff, Walt, Lauren, Cody and Hott Dogg actually just headed to Moon River Brewing Company to have lunch.
Happily, things did get wild once the crew got there, albeit not in the typical way they've been known to get wild while at a bar (there was nary a pretzel in sight).
Rather, they find out the building Moon River is housed in is supposedly super haunted. So, naturally, Tiffany is intrigued and all too eager to sign the house up for a paranormal tour. Then a moment of genius strikes: They're not going to tell Daddy it's a ghost tour.
Image: CMT
Ha! God love 'em.
Before the evening debauchery can begin, though, Mattie calls her sister Meggie and, well, it's not good news. Not only did Meggie learn there are pre-cancerous cells on her ovaries, but the girls' grandpa is set to undergo a major surgery.
Understandably, Mattie — who has been such a rock all season long — is visibly distraught. She really does decide to drink away her blues, and the poison she picks is shots. Before long, she's feelin' some type of way.
You know who else is feelin' some type of way? Lyle. In a surprise twist, his transit home included a rambling confession via text message from Santana.
Bits and pieces of the truth come popping out as Lyle reads through it out loud: "At Mudfest, we was both drunk when we went in the camper... because I did f*** up; I know I did... he told me he loved me and a girl would, in a way, want..."
Hold for one minute while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
OK, I'm back. Did this chick really just deny anything happened, accuse Lyle's housemates and best friends of being liars and stage elaborate cover-ups roping in her best friend? Why, yes. Yes, she did. Sadly, everyone was right to suspect her — even if she does still insist they didn't have sex, but basically did.
As my grandma used to say, you can't put lipstick on a pig. A betrayal is a betrayal, no matter how you dress it up, girly, and this was a big 'un.
In what could have all been part of Santana's big plan (I can't decide if she's just shady or an actual evil genius), this revelation sends Lyle's head spinning.
"I would say hurt, relieved, betrayed — all of it," Salsano said of Lyle's mental state in that moment. "The biggest thing he kept saying was that he was just glad he knew. Now that he officially knew, he could make an informed decision and move forward for a change, instead of this insane vicious circle he was forced into dealing with."
Back in Savannah, local paranormal expert Ryan from Savannah Ghost Research Society has begun the housemates' tour of Moon River Brewing Company. And, you guys, it takes Daddy a solid 10 minutes or more to actually catch on this is not a pub crawl of some sort.
Once the "hunt" is underway, it gets creepy real fast.
Image: CMT
Meters start beeping, the girls start screaming. So did they really see something?
Possibly. "The boy's didn't... except for Daddy, maybe. Hannah thinks she saw something, but she is for sure the scaredy cat of the group, which I find endearing about her. She's a sucker for a good scare or a good prank," revealed Salsano.
Meanwhile, Lyle is dealing with the skeletons in Santana's closet. He is now at her place to see if she'll come clean to his face.
Image: CMT
To be honest, I don't think she thought the end game out here. Maybe she assumed Lyle wouldn't read the text message out loud for the camera? It still seems like she is trying to cover her tracks when the cameras are up close and personal.
Lyle seems to see through it and, even though it obviously guts him, he calls for a break. He manages to hold onto a little hope, however, saying, "Sometimes when things are falling apart, it might be falling into place."
Atta boy, Lyle — don't quit us yet! We need to see our good ol' duck-calling, lobster-fartin' buddy back in full force before we bid Party Down South adieu for the last time.
At the house, Mattie isn't faring much better than Lyle emotionally. The brush with the afterlife was enough to push her over the edge, and she starts to lose her shit a bit.
But in yet another sign our sweet Mattie girl is all grown up, she doesn't go full Martha and start wrecking stuff. Instead, she calls everyone together and tells them she has to go home and handle her family affairs.
The next day, Mattie is gone, it's pouring rain, Cody is leaving (with their little dog, too) and life is basically just the worst.
Realizing everyone is in dire need of a distraction, the Terror Twins decide to use the recent paranormal activity experience to their advantage. Daddy is all in as well, hoping to get revenge for the haunted tour prank.
Murray runs distraction while Daddy and Walt run fishing line — all over the place, attached to lamps and all sorts of stuff sure to scare the ever-lovin' life out of the girls.
Interestingly, Daddy is weirdly good at rigging the boo-by traps. (Dayageddit? Boooo-by traps?) He's like a savant of sabotage.
As everyone is chilling on the porch later, the Terror Triplets seize the moment. A string of buoys behind Tiffany start rattling and she is sure they've brought home a rogue spirit. Just as she starts to poke around, potentially spoiling the gag, Mattie gets back and everyone runs off to see her.
Image: CMT
Undeterred, Tiff resumes her investigation when they get back to the porch. Only, then Lyle walks in. At that point, the girls are glad to forget about their ghosts for a second and talk about what's been haunting Lyle.
"I got a full-fledged, detailed, point A to point B message," he told his housemates. Everyone seems slightly shocked by this news, but mostly vindicated. Plus, you know, relieved for Lyle... they think.
When he calls he and Santana's break a "trial run," no one seems convinced he's ready to exorcise Santana just yet.
One thing's for certain: We're bound to see how everyone's ghosts shake out "in due time," hints Salsano. This of course includes what becomes of those boo-by traps Walt, Daddy and Murray rigged all around the house.
Image: CMT
"This was the best prank season yet," Salsano gushed. "The Terror Twins went all out! You'll see how it pays off shortly."
That's not the only drama and intrigue in the near future, either. "Does DJ come back? Maybe, maybe not. Can Tiff and Bubba's relationship last the whole summer?" teases Salsano. "The gang takes a road trip to NASCAR and, as we all know, when these guys hit the road, it gets pretty crazy."
Though Adam's parents, Claire and John, are ecstatic to have their long-missing son back, not everyone is convinced that Adam is who he says he is. As Adam's brother Danny put it, Adam is different from the kid who went missing a decade earlier. Are these changes due to the trauma that Adam suffered, or is it because he's a different person entirely? Here are a few clues from the premiere episode that hint Adam might not be who he claims.
This is a small clue, but it's one reason Danny is so suspicious of his returned brother. Adam hated eggs as a kid, but the new Adam can't get enough of them. Personally, this hint seems a little unfair to Adam — any home-cooked meal would be appealing to someone who has suffered so much — but it does show a serious shift from the kid Danny used to know.
2. Adam had no idea how the ships got in the bottle
Adam's favorite hobby was building ships in bottles — in fact, Detective Nina Meyer put away Hank for Adam's murder because they found Adam's ship in a bottle at his house. While most people would ask how the ship gets in the bottle, someone who loved making them as a kid would definitely remember that fact.
3. Adam was mimicking his old videotapes
It's only natural for Adam to want to watch old home movies, but watching him mimic his own voice and expression from his childhood birthday party was unsettling. Why would Adam feel the need to do this? Is he worried he's not the same kid that his parents remember, or is he hoping he can fake being the real Adam for as long as possible?
4. The doctor who confirmed his identity doesn't exist
This is the most bizarre element of the whole story. The doctor who confirmed that the person who claimed to be Adam was actually Adam isn't even a real person. That means we don't have any concrete evidence that this boy is really the one who was kidnapped all of those years ago — and that there is a larger mystery afoot in the town of Red Pines.
Do you think Adam really is who he says he is or is he an impostor? Sound off in the comments.
Kardashian posted a photo of Chyna sleeping on Instagram with the caption, "Love this woman right here so f*** y'all with your negative comments!!"
Rob Chyna IG
Rob Chyna IG
The declaration of love came after Kardashian posted a video of Chyna laying in bed laughing, with the caption, "Laugh n smile and then serious face lol @blacchyna."
Rob IG Video
Rob IG Video
Internet trolls don't seem to be the only people hating on Kardashian and Chyna's new relationship. Chyna has a child with Kylie Jenner's current boyfriend, Tyga, and tensions still seem to be high between the siblings.
However, for the most part, the family is reportedly now supportive of Kardashian's relationship with Chyna, especially since she's been helping him with healthy meal prepping and exercise in the wake of his type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
While Rob has avoided appearing with the Kardashian-Jenner clan on Keeping Up with the Kardashians for almost three years, rumor has it Rob and Chyna are now interested in having their own reality series, according to Us Weekly.
A reality show about the couple would get Chyna even more publicity for dating Rob and likely cause even more tension within the family, but would E! even be interested in doing a show with the pair?
In December 2013, Elizabeth Smith went to the Blowbunny Salon in San Diego to get her hair shampooed and styled. The 48-year-old was fine when she left the salon, but eight days later she started feeling numbness in her left arm and leg. It eventually went away, but the next week she had a massive stroke.
"I vomited, my head became hot and I couldn't stand. I had weakness in my arms and legs. They didn't think I was going to live," Smith told KGTV.
The cause? Her 10 minutes in the salon chair caused a "beauty parlor stroke," a condition that happens when the neck is overextended. Doctors who treated Smith said she hyperextended her neck, which caused her vertebrae to slice an artery that eventually created a blood clot and the resulting stroke.
"Several of Ms. Smith's neurologists confirmed with her that the stroke was caused by the vertebrae dissecting her artery during her hair wash," Smith's attorney Carree Nahama told the news station.
Though it's rare, it has happened to other women. One case study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1993 explored the cases of of five women between 54 and 84 who were hospitalized with similar neurological symptoms after receiving shampoos at salons.
"We believe the personnel didn't adequately support her neck or adjust the chair properly to compensate for the small frame of our client," Spencer Busby, another one of her attorneys, added.
Smith is hoping that her lawsuit will inspire change in the industry and cause salons to install reclining chairs and consult with their clients about any potential health problems.
"It's shocking to think such a benign activity can kill you," she said.
The simple visit to the salon ended up costing her over $250,000 in medical bills, along with residual vision and balance problems. She's also still worried about her future since a blood clot is still in her brain — if it moves, she could die.
"So I do live with that every night. I go to sleep wondering, will I wake up tomorrow?"
We all have some mementos from past relationships stuffed somewhere in our homes. And we all have different reasons for keeping them — for nostalgia's sake, clinging to hope that the person will come back, sentimental reasons.
Now you can get rid of those relics for good by donating them to a museum.
The Museum of Broken Relationships is opening near Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles in May and will feature items donated from locals.
"Some relationships end — with lovers, with loved ones, with dreams and with cities," reads an online donation form. "If you’ve wished to unburden the emotional load by erasing everything that reminds you of that painful experience by throwing it all away — don’t. Give it to us."
Founded in Zagreb, Croatia, by exes Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, the Museum of Broken Relationships started as a traveling exhibit and found its permanent home in 2010. The Los Angeles branch will feature about 70 pieces from the Croatian museum and 30 from American donors.
You can sign your items up to be considered — no one will know your name, except the museum curators. Sure, it might be difficult to part with your past, but it'll absolutely take a weight off your shoulders.
And besides, who needs love letters from 2005, anyway?
"I'm not against any opportunity that presents itself," Higgins told E! News. "I need to analyze if that option was there to say, 'OK is this the best thing for me?' I don't know, yet. I don't and I don't want to say, 'This is the way I'm going to go with it,' because I haven't decided."
Speaking of opportunities, would Higgins also be up for a televised wedding?
"If it's an option, we'll talk about it, but I like I said, I would be ready to marry tomorrow, but we still need to be public. We still need to date. I still need to treat her to some nice dinners," said Higgins. "We still need to sit on a couch together and talk life, so let's do that first and then we'll talk about, ya know, TV or not."
Since Higgins is engaged and ready for marriage, The Bachelor star also dished on whether or not the couple has discussed having children.
"I mean, it's always something you talk about, right? I think in any relationship you kinda joke about it or you talk about your dog or whatever's going on, whatever you want next," said Higgins. "I mean, kids are definitely, hopefully, in my future at some level and I want to have kids, I know she does."
As far as the DWTS rumors go, Higgins obviously wouldn't be the first Bachelor alum to continue their small screen adventures on a reality competition show. Soules competed in Season 20 of DWTS, while Sean Lowe and Jake Pavelka have also appeared on the show. Former Bachelorette Trista Sutter and The Bachelor contestant Melissa Rycroft also competed on DWTS. Rycroft even won the all-stars season.
So far, Jodie Sweetin is the only confirmed DWTS cast member for Season 22. We'll find out if Higgins will put on his dancing shoes when the DWTS cast is announced on March 8 on Good Morning America.
