Quantcast
Channel: What's New
Viewing all 33701 articles
Browse latest View live

Loretta Lynch: 7 badass moves that came before she waged war on N.C.

0
0

Yesterday many men and women became acquainted for the first time with our nation's attorney general, Loretta Lynch. She delivered a beautiful, powerful speech in North Carolina to announce the complaint the Department of Justice is filing against her home state of North Carolina after the "bathroom bill" was signed into law, and condemned discrimination against trans people in no uncertain terms.

"This action is about a great deal more than just bathrooms," she said. "This is about the dignity and respect we accord our fellow citizens and the laws that we, as a people and as a country, have enacted to protect them — indeed, to protect all of us."

Though she is the United States Attorney General, until yesterday, her name was unknown to many, which is unfortunate, because Lynch has been kicking ass and taking names under the radar for years. Yesterday's speech on behalf of the transgender community was just one in the long line of her trailblazing career.

More: I've run three Republican National Conventions — and it's nothing like you think

Here are seven things you need to know about Loretta Lynch:

1. She's the United States Attorney General

And she has held this position for a year. She was sworn in as the 83rd attorney general of the United States by Vice President Joe Biden on April 27, 2015.

2. She has a law degree from Harvard Law School

She graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1981 and received her Doctor of Law degree from Harvard Law School in 1984. So yeah, you could say she's got some brain power.

3. Bill Clinton elected her United States Attorney

In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed Lynch as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Lynch was only the second African-American to be named to that post, and in a historic speech in 2000, she said something that got everyone's attention: “I took office last summer, and as I did, I am sure that a long line of dead white men rolled over in their graves. But at the same time, I am sure that just a stone’s throw away from here, in the African burial ground, a long line of people for whom the law was an instrument of oppression, sat up and smiled.”

More: There are apps that will pay you to use your iPhone (nope, not a scam)

4. She's got a long history of working civil rights cases

In 2001, Lynch was a member of the team that prosecuted a New York City police officer who had brutalized a black Haitian immigrant named Abner Louima. The trial was highly publicized, and that same year, she was quoted as saying that black officers and prosecutors “often face a dual challenge — trying to improve a system that traditionally was one of the harshest to us.”

Lynch also offered her assistance pro bono for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, established to prosecute those responsible for human rights violations in the 1994 genocide in that country. Her role there was to investigate allegations of witness tampering and false testimonies.

5. She's prosecuted terrorists

In 2010, President Obama asked Lynch to resume her previous position at the United States Attorneys Office in Brooklyn. While she was there, she led her team to prosecute numerous terrorists, corrupt public officials, cyber criminals and human traffickers.

More: Domestic violence is trapping women in more than just bad relationships

6. She's also prosecuted big banks

In 2013, she collaborated with then Attorney General Eric Holder in the Justice Department investigation that forced Citigroup to pay a $7 billion fine for having helped trigger the financial crisis of 2008.

7. She's fought racial injustices her entire career

After the acquittal of four policemen involved in the infamous beating of Rodney King, Lynch stood before a Baptist church congregation in South Carolina and reprimanded a society in which racial minorities were routinely targeted and abused. “There is a poverty of spirit afflicting America that is crippling it,” she said. “Los Angeles has been burning for a long time, but no one noticed it. New York City is burning right now. Chicago is burning. Atlanta is burning. No one notices until the fire inside builds and strikes an outer match, and the flames rise above the skyline.” 

That speech may have been her first notable public speech pertaining to the sad and often crooked injustices of our country, but it was hardly the last. She's spent her entire career attempting to right the wrongs of those that have devalued the lives of men and woman based on meritless and often degrading accusations. Yesterday she stood up for the transgender community like she has for so many others throughout her career, and if her history is any indication of her future, she will continue to fight for those who aren't given a chance to fight for themselves.


Try to stay calm, but Häagen-Dazs Free Cone Day is here

0
0

The weekend isn't quite here yet, but this free ice cream deal is basically the next-best thing.

Today, Häagen-Dazs will be serving up free scoops of ice cream from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its stores around the country. Guess I know what I'm having for dinner! Um, I mean, dessert. Like a regular grown-up. Ahem.

More: 17 ways ice cream cones will improve your desserts

They'll be doling out scoops of ice cream in a cup, cake cone or sugar cone for the masses. It's a no-brainer to stop in and get yours — the question is, which flavor?

Dulce de Leche? Green Tea? Java Chip? Or, for the truly adventurous, will you cobble together a series of disguises from your leftover Halloween costumes and get back in line so you can try them all? Not that I would ever do something like that for free ice cream. Nope, not me!

You can find your local Häagen-Dazs shop here. Ice cream happiness is only a few hours away!

More: 12 Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors inspired by celebrities

Epic gender reveal is explosive in more ways than one

0
0

There's nothing we love more than a super-unique gender reveal — which gets harder and harder as parents-to-be step up their game.

More: This mom's crazy unique gender reveal will have you 'dyeing'

One expectant couple, Jamie Indiveri and her army officer fiancé Keith Batchelder, had a fabulous idea, and with the help of professional photographer Anna Elizabeth, they captured their own gender reveal moment in a series of beautiful shots that have been making the rounds on social media.

The couple asked a friend to go to the hospital and collect the envelope containing their baby's gender, then fill a box with tannerite and chalk dust in the color matching the gender (pink or blue.) They then took the box next to a secluded area, and Batchelder pointed a rifle at the box, fired a single shot and watched a cloud of blue (it's a boy!) chalk dust erupt into the air.

Unfortunately not everyone is down with the fact that Batchelder fired a rifle while he was lying beside his unborn child.

Shooting a gun to reveal gender
Image: Anna Elizabeth Photography

More: If you're afraid of pooping during labor, you probably shouldn't give birth

Shooting a gun to reveal gender
Image: Anna Elizabeth Photography

“That’s messed up, how he’s shooting the gun," wrote one person. "What a horrible ‘father’ thing to do, shoot a gun like that right in front of your unborn...You can just open it."

"A Dr. Told us that the concussion may not be good for the baby," said another. "He was a customer at the range one day. Please dont take my word for it. Go ask a Dr for yourselves. Im just being a concerned person. Thought you should know."

However, plenty of others thought the reveal was amazing, and the photographer herself called it "the most epic gender reveal" she'd ever photographed. "Keith is in the special forces, so of course there had to be guns and explosive," wrote Anna Elizabeth on her Facebook page.

We can't actually believe people are getting their knickers in a twist over this. The guy fired a single shot at a box. He wasn't taking aim at random targets while a bunch of toddlers ran around him in circles. The couple wore ear protectors during the shoot, and, well... the unborn baby has plenty of protection right where he is. Also, isn't it common knowledge that before a baby is born, it has absolutely no clue what's going on in the world it has yet to enter?

Hopefully these crazy comments haven't spoiled what was a precious moment for the couple, who only wanted to create a really special gender reveal.

More: Latest SIDS news has parents in a panic

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

weird pregnancy photos
Image: Hill Street Studios/Getty Images

Yes you can eat your way to better sex

0
0

Whether you currently feel the need to revitalize your sexual energy or you already have a strong drive and would like to further enhance it, you can powerfully transform your sex life with a little nutritional know-how. The key? Understanding the relationship between nutrients, minerals and sexual organ function.

More: 16 Drugs in your medicine cabinet right now that are killing your sex life

Aphrodisiacs are a real thing, many with storied, cultural histories, but we don't often talk about the nutritional science behind them. I tell my patients that overall health is itself a potent natural aphrodisiac, so keep in mind that the effects of many edible aphrodisiacs depend on your overall well-being. Fortunately, these foods, as well as herbs and supplements, are the kind that boost your wellness, so you can't go wrong no matter where you are in your sexual health journey.

Here are the top five aphrodisiacs I recommend to my patients looking to boost their sex drive.

1. Cordyceps

In traditional Chinese medicine, cordyceps is considered a potent sexual tonic. It has a unique ability to build your sexual energy over time by enhancing both your yin and yang energies, making it an ideal aphrodisiac for women. Modern research confirms that cordyceps has antioxidant properties, can improve your immunity and — for our purposes — increases blood flow to your organs.

More: 13 Sex-ed books that show you how to get it on like a sexpert

2. Chili peppers

Your mouth feels like it’s aflame when you eat chili peppers because they contain capsaicin, a chemical that accelerates your metabolism, increases your heart rate and energizes you. Keep in mind, though, that the affect of the chemical varies widely form one person to the next, so chili peppers' aphrodisiac potential could be a matter of individual reaction.

3. L-Arginine

An amino acid that's essential for your body to function optimally, L-Arginine can also be an effective, natural sex-enhancer for both women and men. It works by increasing nitric oxide and promoting blood flow to your sexual organs. A study at the University of Hawaii, reported in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, showed that over 70 percent of women who took the product ArginMax For Women — which contains L-Arginine, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, damiana, vitamins and minerals — experienced increased sexual desire, higher frequency of sex and orgasm, enhanced clitoral sensation, decreased vaginal dryness and improved overall sexual satisfaction — with no significant side effects.

4. Chocolate

The flagship food aphrodisiac, chocolate is chock-full of love-conducive, pro-pleasure ingredients. No wonder so many people choose chocolate for Valentine's Day! It's another excellent source of L-Arginine.

5. Sweet potatoes

Including sweet potatoes in your diet can support your sexuality. They're especially high in vitamin B5, because it's important for your adrenal gland health, which promotes production of your sex hormones. Sweet potatoes are a perfect complement to meals, and they also make great snacks for great sex.

More: Why you can blame hormones for the dreaded belly bloat

Step aside, rainbow bagels — there's a crazy new concoction in town

0
0

Rainbow bagels? So last month. These days people (at least me) are going crazy over a new trend — Oreo Bagels.

It sounds a little strange, but bear with me. This is a food craze worth getting worked up over.

More: 11 Oreo hacks that create the flavors you've been dreaming of

The bagels, made at The Bagel Nook in Freehold, New Jersey, are a dream. Oreos are kneaded into the bagel dough itself, and once it's baked, the bagel is smeared with Oreo-flavored cream cheese and then stuffed with more Oreos for good measure.

Oreo bagels

Oreo bagels

It totally makes sense to my taste buds. Oreo cheesecake is one of the best desserts of all time, and my aunt used to make a dessert called Dirt Cake, which featured Oreos, cream cheese and pudding. Stuffing an Oreo Bagel with cream cheese and cookies doesn't sound like sacrilege to me— more like destiny.

More: Oreo’s Filled Cupcake is the latest crazy cookie flavor

Lest Oreos aren't your favorite (what's wrong with you?), the store offers other insane combinations too. Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs and Cap'n Crunch are just a few of the mix-ins you can get with your bagel.

I never thought the humble bagel would become a canvas for such innovations, but here we are. And I'm excited to see what's next!

More: 17 things you never knew you could do with Oreos

Below Deck: Mediterranean's crew is already falling apart

0
0

That didn't take long! After one relatively peaceful expedition, the cast members of Below Deck: Mediterranean are already beginning to turn on one another. There was a fair amount of griping during the first half of tonight's episode, but the real drama emerged near the end, when, following a successful first expedition, the crew was allowed to take the night off. Unimpressed by Tiffany Copeland's behavior both on and off the yacht, Hannah Ferrier began griping. Copeland did not respond well to this, and although she's not always super professional, it's easy to see why she was upset — after a tough few days, she just wanted to unwind.

Hannah Ferrier
Image: Bravo


More: Below Deck: Mediterranean crew crosses the line of professionalism

Several cast members came to Copeland's defense, including most notably Bryan Kattenburg. Although he can be tough when diisciplining the deckhands, Kattenburg believes that they should be given the occasional opportunity to relax and not think about work. Thus, he was very displeased to see Ferrier trying to discuss work matters with Copeland. His attempt at intervening took a bad turn, however, with Ferrier recommending that he butt out and stick to his own department. Kattenburg took issue with this, for, as first mate, he believes that the entire yacht is his department.

Bryan and Hannah
Image: Bravo


More: Below Deck: Mediterranean's Tiffany Copeland should get off her high horse

It didn't take long for viewers to choose sides in the stew versus deck battle. Opinions regarding the show's drama-prone reality stars are already quite strong, as evidenced by these tweets:

Hannah Ferrier bully

Hannah Ferrier bully

Below Deck first officer

Below Deck first officer

Bryan Below Deck

Bryan Below Deck

If there's good news, it's that some of the stars have already resolved their differences, or at least, their social media accounts make it look like they have. In one especially telling photo, Copeland and Ferrier looked downright chummy.

More: Below Deck's Rocky Dakota claims that Eddie Lucas still loves her

In the world of reality television, the best of friends can become enemies and the most bitter enemies can develop close relationships. It will be interesting to see how the crew's dynamic evolves as the show continues. I expect a whole lot more drama before any chumminess emerges.

What did you think of the first big fight on Below Deck: Mediterranean? Are you Team Hannah Ferrier or Team Bryan Kattenburg? Comment and share your opinion below.

Todd Chrisley doesn't seem so controlling once you understand why he's doing it

0
0

Todd Chrisley’s parenting style is, at best, involved. But at its worst, it may be downright crazy. But in tonight’s episode, he opened up to his daughter, Savannah, about why he acts the way he does, and it made him the endearing, protective dad most people hope to have.

More: Todd Chrisley may be a little too close to his family

During a talk about Savannah getting back together with her ex-boyfriend, she mentioned that she doesn’t expect her dad to agree with all of her choices, just that he love her always. Todd said his love isn’t conditional and the only reason he meddles is because it’s painful for him to see his daughter walking into what he knows will be a heartbreaking situation. He explained that knowing she’s going to hurt in the future makes him hurt right now.

There is a bit of him that’s making her relationship pain about him, but when you really get to the heart of what he’s saying, he’s being incredibly sweet and kind-hearted. If you’re Savannah, I can certainly see how any of his actions, especially the invasive ones, could be annoying. But the reason that all the kids put up with him is because of moments like this when he’s being just the best dad.

More: Todd Chrisley overreacts in a big way to son's tattoo

And fans of the show agree that Todd’s heart is always in the right place. The reaction to the episode included everything from older generations saying he reminds them of their own fathers, to one fan simply saying, “Todd Chrisley adopt me, please.” If anyone thought he was out to ruin his children’s lives, they certainly wouldn’t beg him to welcome them into the family.

More: Todd Chrisley lays down the tough love with his family

All that being said, I don’t think Todd really cares either way if fans, or his own children, understand him or his motives. He rarely asks for permission from his own wife. But I think it is important to point out that even though he has boundary issues, he’s got a heart of gold and he’s a great father.

Newlyweds act like ungrateful jerks over wedding gift

0
0

Weddings are expensive — and not just for the bride and groom. As a guest of the happy couple you need to budget for travel, an outfit (fancy hat optional), spending money and, of course, the wedding gift. Deciding how much to spend on the gift can be tricky but isn't it the thought that counts?

More: Getting married at 20 was no walk in the park but it was worth it

Um, not always. It's depressing but some newlyweds will be majorly pissed off if you don't push the boat out when shopping for their wedding gift. And then there are some who actually call out guests for not being generous enough.

One wedding guest shared her experience of this on Mumsnet after the bride — a former colleague — said she was unhappy to receive a cash gift of £100. The guest, an anonymous poster known as Puzzledandpissedoff and believed to be from the U.K., asked fellow Mumsnetters for advice after she received an email from the bride reading, "We were surprised that your contribution didn't seem to match the warmth of your good wishes on our big day. In view of your own position, if you wanted to send any adjustment it would be thankfully received."

More: Basic wedding planner secrets that make them the Yodas of nuptials

"For someone who's not easily shocked I confess I'm utterly gobsmacked by this," she wrote, explaining that her "position" probably referred to a recent inheritance she had received. The woman received over a thousand responses within three days, with many people suggesting she cancel the cheque altogether.

She said the cheque had already been cashed and later revealed she had replied to the bride's email with one sentence: "I assume this was some sort of mistake?" Several days later she returned to the forum with an update — still no response from the bride.

Sometimes silence speaks volumes. Here's hoping this particular couple have realised that what's important about a wedding is the celebration of love in front of your closest family and friends and not the figure on the cheque inside the Congratulations card. It shouldn't matter if someone gifts you £10, £50 or £2,000. And if you think it does you're a jerk of the highest order.

More: Get ready to pin this Friends-themed bridal shower on your secret board


Lea Michele's new man might finally break her bad boy streak

0
0

Lea Michele’s dating history can be summed up in one word: scandalous. Her longtime boyfriend Cory Monteith tragically died of an overdose, which left her reeling. When she finally re-entered the dating world, she found herself in a long-term relationship with an ex-gigolo. But it looks like she has finally found a nice, normal guy in Robert Buckley.

The two were spotted on a date recently in Santa Monica. They cozied up to a bar together, and according to insiders, couldn’t keep their hands off each other. The most notable observation, though, was how much of a gentleman Buckley was. Onlookers all commented on his chivalry throughout the date.

More: How Kate Hudson saved Lea Michele during her darkest days

Now, I’m not suggesting that a person can’t be both an addict and a gentleman. Friends of Monteith’s had nothing but glowing things to say about him and how nice he was. But I am saying that it’s probably good for Michele to find a partner who doesn’t have gigantic skeletons in his closet. She has been through enough for her 29 years. A man like Buckley who doesn’t demand the spotlight or have a sordid past will give her a chance to enjoy an easy relationship.

More: 4 reasons we love seeing Lea Michele move on from Cory Monteith

His past and current employment is also very easy to confirm. Buckley spent several years as one of the stars of One Tree Hill, The CW’s hit drama starring Sophia Bush, and is currently on the show iZombie. So definitely no sketchy professions in his past.

Fans have noticed the two liking each other’s Instagram posts lately and have suspected a relationship budding, but this recent date has confirmed their suspicions. Neither actor has confirmed what’s going on, but Instagram official is basically all we need at this point.

More: Lea Michele finds love again

We’ll have to wait and see if this relationship takes off, but I’m rooting for them. Michele deserves something easy for now.

One-pan roasted lemon salmon with asparagus, because you forgot about dinner

0
0

There are some nights I'm driving home from the gym around 8:15 p.m. and thinking about how much of an idiot I was to not think about dinner before this very moment. This moment in which I could eat my entire pantry because I just lifted all the weights in the gym for the past two hours of my life. Yeah, that one.

More: Chili-orange salmon tacos

That's the same moment when the pizza place precisely 1 mile from my house suddenly becomes incredibly convenient, and I play the "well, you totally just worked out for two hours, you deserve it" vs. the "don't do it, those two hours of working out will have been for nothing!" game in my head.

More: Saffron poached salmon

It's nights like these when one-pan dinners are literally a lifesaver. After ordering 40 pounds of Alaskan salmon to split with my brother recently, I really have no excuse to let the pizza place win that game for quite some time. This lemon-roasted asparagus and salmon dinner is ready in just about 20 minutes. Serve it with rice (those minute microwave bags are the best), and you've got a complete meal.

One pan salmon asparagus dinner
Image: Gina Matsoukas/SheKnows

One-pan roasted lemon, asparagus and salmon dinner recipe

Serves 2

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 salmon fillets, skins on
  • 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
  • 2 lemons, sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper, and grease with baking spray.
  2. Place the salmon fillets skin side down in the center of the baking sheet.
  3. Arrange the asparagus on each side of the salmon.
  4. Season the salmon generously with salt and pepper and then with the onion powder and ground mustard.
  5. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper as well.
  6. Place 2 slices of lemon on each salmon fillet and a few slices on the asparagus as well.
  7. Roast for 10 – 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your salmon, until cooked through.
  8. Remove from the oven, and serve hot.

Minerals are the new vitamins, but don't get supplement happy just yet

0
0

Move over, vitamins A, C and E. You've had your time in the sun. Health-conscious folks are turning their attention more and more these days toward minerals such as magnesium, calcium and zinc. Instead of relying solely on nutritious foods to ensure we're getting a well-balanced diet, it's easier than ever to do a bit of online research and self-diagnose a mineral deficiency — whether that's the reality or not.

Unfortunately, it's also all too simple to visit a health food store and stock up on supplements, and experts say that's the last thing you want to do without first visiting a doctor or nutritionist.

More: A letter to the woman who weighs herself every day

"Minerals are far more tricky to work with than vitamins,” says Dr. Barry Sears, a leading authority in anti-inflammatory nutrition and president of the nonprofit Inflammation Research Foundation. “This is because of their variability in absorption and potential toxicity. Minerals in supplements have very different absorption rates depending on their formulation. As a result, unlike vitamins, their potential toxicity is higher.”

Here's why Sears says minerals are "trickier" than vitamins: Unlike vitamins, which will be excreted in urine if you take them in excess, minerals usually work in pairs. “This is why the sodium-to-potassium balance is more important in maintaining a healthy blood pressure than simply lowering sodium,” Sears says. “Likewise, the magnesium-to-calcium balance is more important in bone health than simply increasing calcium. Therefore, taking a supplement of one mineral may actually cause an imbalance that is worse than the perceived deficiency in the mineral.”

More: How low magnesium is affecting your hormonal balance

Sears says the amount of minerals you need should come from blood testing — something the average person shopping at a health food store likely has not done. “The therapeutic zone of minerals is much more limited than with vitamins,” Sears says. “Zinc is important, but at slightly higher levels of the RDA, it can begin to have toxic effects. Furthermore, you need a zinc-to-copper ratio for optimal health as opposed to more zinc.”

The only mineral Sears says he feels is truly deficient in the American public is magnesium, and the only two supplements he recommends taking (without a doctor's advice) are refined fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and refined polyphenols to get enough to activate critical genes.

If you're feeling run-down and want to be sure you're getting all of the nutrients you need from your diet, Rebecca Lewis, in-house registered dietitian at HelloFresh, says to keep the following in mind: "If we are eating the recommended amount of fruits and veggies (five a day) and whole grains (half of all grains should be whole grains) with lean meats and there is variety in the types of foods we are eating, then this would constitute a balanced diet," Lewis says. "This type of nutrient-dense diet is sufficient to ensure that we get all the minerals we need from the food we are eating."

More: 8 reasons you should pee in the shower today

Lewis provides this handy guide to foods that are rich in seven key minerals you need to keep healthy.

  • Iron — apples, green beans, brown rice, beans, melons, potatoes, salad greens and peas
  • Zinc — oysters, red meats, poultry, beans and fortified cereals
  • Iodine — iodized table salt, sea vegetables, strawberries, cheese and potatoes
  • Calcium — apples, green beans, citrus fruits, melons and salad greens
  • Selenium — Brazil nuts, brown rice and mushrooms
  • Magnesium — green beans, citrus fruits, cucumbers and salad greens
  • Copper — beans, citrus fruits

RHOBH's Kyle Richards is pretty much done trying with Yolanda Foster

0
0

Sometimes it's hard to keep up with the constant drama on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and while there are many friendships that are being contested, Kyle Richards and Yolanda Foster appear to have remained close — or have they?

More: RHOBH's Yolanda Foster's involved in yet another friendship feud

The friends clashed during the Season 6 reunion of the show (and it's most certainly not the first time that they've butted heads), and speaking during an interview with Us Weekly, Richards revealed that her friendship with Foster is not all rainbows and flowers. In fact, they are currently just on "OK" terms.

"She's been very hard to get close to," Richards explains. "I tried and made an effort, and I felt like it was never reciprocated. It’s very hard to get close to her."

Should we even be surprised at this stage?

More: Kyle Richards reacts to Lisa Rinna's 'unbelievable' accusations on RHOBH

However, Richards doesn't seem to be holding any grudges and had nothing bad to say about Foster as she simply referred to her as a "nice person" — although that doesn't mean they are going to become BFF's anytime soon. Besides, Richards has bigger issues to worry about, mainly her relationship with Brandi Glanville.

Or shall we say lack of relationship, as you may remember the drama the two women got into on Twitter recently — which happened because Richards corrected the spelling on one of Glanville's tweets.

"She spelled it L-A-D-Y-S, and she tagged Andy [Cohen]!" Richards explains. "And I tweeted back, 'LADIES.' And she has me blocked on Twitter! So we can't see each other."

More: Kyle Richards responds to accusations that she skipped a family funeral

Do you think Kyle Richards and Yolanda Foster will put their differences aside in the future and continue to be friends? Or is their friendship slowly turning toxic? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Real Housewives slideshow
Image: Bravo

Why my long-distance relationship worked when most don't

0
0

It’s safe to say most long-distance relationships don’t end well.

My long-distance relationship started out reluctantly when my best friend Danielle kept pushing me to meet the man who would become my future husband. She wouldn’t shut up about her boyfriend’s friend, Ethan, whom she insisted was perfect for me. I didn’t want to be in a long-distance relationship, especially with someone in New York (I was in Los Angeles) and neither did he. So, Danielle did what any best friend would do. She lied to him by saying I was bicoastal and then annoyed me relentlessly until I accepted his friend request on Facebook.

More: All hail the couple who made it through 24 hours handcuffed together

One afternoon, I was busy organizing my closet by color (I don’t Kondo) when I received a message from Ethan. I explained to him that I was in the middle of a very important project and needed my hands free, so if he wanted to talk, he’d have to give me a call. I was shocked when the phone rang. It turns out that Ethan grew up just a few blocks from where I did on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. When I asked him if his family also ordered from the same local Chinese food restaurant, he recited the phone number. From that moment on, I was in love. One year to the day of that call, he asked me to marry him.

If this sounds like a fairy tale, it’s because our relationship kind of is. Our life circumstances were incredibly unique and this is how we managed to skirt the inevitable long-distance relationship doom.

We didn't count texting as communication

If you and your partner aren’t good at communicating, you might as well break up now (or, you know, work on it). At the time Ethan and I started dating, he was actually a communications professor, so he knew what he was doing. One challenge we faced was the time difference between New York and Los Angeles. Three hours doesn’t seem like that big of a deal... until you hear your partner snoring at 9:30 p.m. in the middle of a deep conversation about Real Housewives.

Whether it was for hours or minutes, Ethan and I spoke every single day we were apart. It doesn’t matter how busy you are because everyone has a few minutes. And no, texting doesn’t count as a phone call, but you do get bonus points for Skype and FaceTime.

Our relationship took place IRL most of the time

Sexting is not sex. You need to see each other as much as possible. Ethan and I never spent more than five weeks apart. We could only do this because I’m a freelancer, so I can work from anywhere. I was able to go to New York for weeks at a time. If you added up all the hours we spent together, it was probably just as much, if not more than couples in traditional relationships with full-time jobs.

If our love was not meant to be, we would have realized rather quickly. Dribs and drabs of visits can be fun and wonderful, but they can’t determine if you are really compatible. Unfortunately, this is a characteristic of most long-distance relationships.

Our visits didn’t feel like vacations

Getting away to see your partner is so nice. You get to try new restaurants and explore a new place. It feels just like a vacation (at least for one partner), but nothing like real life. Here’s the problem: Relationships don’t live on vacation (though, wouldn't it be nice?).

Seeing Ethan never felt even remotely like a vacation. We worked, bought groceries and did laundry. Our lives in New York were much like our lives in Los Angeles now, but with less sunshine and more coats.

Relocation was inevitable

Long-distance relationships fail unless they just become relationships. Or perhaps you can figure out which airline has the best food. After all, who doesn’t love TSA lines and washing their hands in tiny sinks? At some point, someone has to move and very likely change jobs. That’s just the way it works. As with all relationships, there is compromise. The good news is that after relocating, deciding between pizza and sushi for dinner will feel really easy.

More: I moved across the world for love — and it failed

Ethan and I were actually both willing to move. The caveat was that Ethan was waiting for a promotion at work. If he got it, I would move to New York City. If he didn’t, he would move to Los Angeles. This process took months and for a while, we really had no idea where we going to live, except for with each other. He ended up getting his dream job in Los Angeles. I ended up getting my man and the preferred climate. But, the lesson here is that you have to be patient and work with each other for the sake of the relationship.

We made the best of our time together

As unrealistic as it sounds, Ethan and I treasured every moment we had. Whether it was a romantic walk in Central Park with our dogs or a fancy dinner out, we realized how important it was to live in the moment and create moments while you have the chance. Although we’ve lived together for a while now, this has stayed with us and made our relationship stronger.

My grandparents thought they were done raising kids... then I showed up

0
0

By 1978, my grandparents were done having children. Their fifth child was 6 years old, and they were in their early 50s. The years of changing diapers and getting up in the middle of the night were over. They embraced their salt-and-pepper hair. They were just a few years away from retirement. My grandfather, who owned a successful construction business, was tiring of long hours and even longer months. They had two children living at home, their fourth and fifth children. The fourth child was my mother. She was 19 in 1978 when she got pregnant with me.

She was a self-described wild child. Children one through three were all boys. My grandparents weathered poverty, a house fire, moving across the country, car accidents, drugs, rock and roll with the first three. There wasn’t anything the last two could do that wasn’t already done... except get pregnant.

When my mother found out she was pregnant with me, she hid it from them. She was ashamed and lost; she was 19 and scared. When it came time to admit she was pregnant, the silent treatment was unleashed. Alone, without support from my grandparents, my father or her friends, she decided her only course of action was to put me up for adoption.

More: Sheryl Sandberg thinks she finally gets single moms, but she doesn’t get me

October 31, 1978, I made my debut into this world alone, with just my mother. The papers were signed; the nurses and doctors knew that I was not meant for her. They knew I was headed to a nice orphanage in the middle of nowhere. They knew that this young woman would have to carry the burden of carrying and then losing a part of her. She was released from the maternity ward without a baby. She was given some mesh underwear and hospital pads as a reminder of what she gave up.

The story from here is a bit hazy, as three people have different memories on how I ended up back with my mother and grandparents. My father says he didn’t even know I was born; my mother says he did; and my grandmother always maintained that she was the one that couldn’t bear the thought of someone else raising me. The story of how perplexed me for years, until I realized it just doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that someone did come and get me from the middle of nowhere. One of three decided that I was worth fighting for, so they did.

My mother spent time finding herself, and by the early 1980s, my grandparents were raising their sixth child. Back to first steps, potty training and sleepless nights. Even after my mother married, they were still the parents I felt most comfortable with. As my mother started a new life with a man whom she barely knew, I felt I belonged with my uncle, my grandmother and my grandfather. She married a man to give me a family, but what she didn’t realize was that I had a family. I had all the love, attention and safety I needed to grow.

As the years moved on, I spent less time with my grandparents. I guess because they were getting older, and so was I. I now had two half-sisters and a half-brother. I had school and friends and a part-time job. I was getting ready for prom. I had been accepted to West Virginia University. I didn’t think the time with my first parents would be cut short. At 18, you have nothing but time. If I could go back, I would have visited them more often; I would have told them how thankful I was to have them in my life. That they were my first parents.

More: These parents have 52 child-free weekends a year — jealous?

That’s the thing with time: When you have it you never think it’s going to get cut short. My grandparents were strong, resilient and active. My grandfather got into the hobby of renovating and selling homes, and my grandmother was the epitome of the doting grandparent. She went to the beach three times a week in the summer, always with grandkids in tow. They weren’t going anywhere. Until my grandmother died on the floor of a bathhouse at a local park. They say she was dead before she hit the floor, she didn’t suffer and she died doing what she loved. She had just finished swimming at a beautiful, quiet lake nestled in the Pine Barrens. And on that day, she decided it was the perfect place to die. I have never been there. I can’t bring myself to stop at the place that took my first mother from me.

With each year that passed, my grandfather became a little less mobile. He had suffered a few strokes and a heart attack by the fifth anniversary of my grandmother’s death. He wasn’t the strong, able-bodied man I had looked up to for most of my life. He now relied on his daughter and grandchildren to get him out of bed, to help him use the bathroom and function through life. My mother took most of this burden on herself. She didn’t feel it was a burden, though; it was a lesson in love for her. Maybe with her power of love we could all have had more time with him than we'd had with the matriarch of our family. But by the 10th anniversary of her death, it became too much for her and her children.

He resisted a nursing home for fear that we would forget about him. How could I forget the man who I measured all other men against? The short answer is, I couldn’t, and I wouldn’t. The long answer is, I wish that I visited more. I wish that I carved out more time to play checkers and talk about baseball. I wish that when he said no more hospitals, no more dialysis, I didn’t feel the guilt of missed time.

More: I finally found a church that loves my lesbian daughter as much as I do

We all knew what he meant. He was ready to meet my grandmother again. As I watched hospice come and go, and I watched him struggle to breathe, the tears rolled from my eyes. His room was quiet, but the memories playing in my mind were so loud. The piggyback rides and the snuggles screamed through my brain. I begged God not to drag this out, to send him into that dark night quickly, painlessly. Help him find the light on the other side because Lord knows he deserves peace. And God did.

I love with every part of myself because my grandparents chose to love me with everything they had. They were my first and, some might argue, my most important parents of all. They took care of me when my own parents couldn’t. They did it without malice or judgement. They showed me what love and compassion look like.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

birth photos
Image: Liz Jennings Photography

Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller gave the Zieglers the send-off they deserve

0
0

It would be an understatement to say that Melissa Gisoni and Abby Lee Miller parted on bad terms during last week's Dance Moms season finale. Previews for the show's reunion made it look as if the bad blood was bound to continue right until the very end. It certainly wouldn't be the first time (and probably not the last) that an important member of the ALDC and her mother left the show filled with sadness, confusion, and, most of all, anger. For most, departing the ALDC has been a negative but decidedly necessary experience.

Dance Moms reunion
Image: Lifetime

More: Dance Moms' Areana Lopez overshadows the Zieglers' exit with emotional solo

Despite the indications of the previews (and Abby Lee Miller's petty behavior during the first half of the reunion) the show ended with everybody singing the praises of Gisoni and her two amazing daughters. This seemed nothing short of amazing given how much everybody on the show has scorned Gisoni in the past. Even Miller was able to set aside whatever bad feelings she had about her favorite students' departure and wish the original Dance Moms family the best.

More: Jessalynn Siwa's trash talk on Dance Moms was out of line

The show's most touching moment occurred at the very end, when Miller — who had been clearly annoyed with Gisoni and Ziegler girls in the aftermath of their big announcement — offered up some top-notch words of advice. The whole time she was speaking, I was holding my breath for some back-handed compliment or, worse, an outright insult. Fortunately, neither ever arrived. Instead, Miller advised Gisoni and her girls to remember everything they'd learned at the ALDC, because those lessons would later come into play. She added, "With my whole heart, I say, 'This is just the beginning.'"

Melissa Gisoni
Image: Lifetime

After getting the moms to recite, "We are Abby Lee!" together, Miller gave Gisoni a big hug. This was a big moment, and even the most adamant Dance Moms haters were forced to admit that it was nice seeing Miller and Gisoni once again getting along.

Dance Moms sad tweet

Dance Moms sad tweet

Dance Moms hug

Dance Moms hug

More: Brynn Rumfallo isn't and shouldn't be the new Maddie Ziegler

The moms are finished bickering — for now — but the reunion fun isn't over just yet! Next week, the kids will say their final goodbyes to Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, and that send-off will surely be even more emotional than the one viewers witnessed last night.

What did you think of the first half of the Dance Moms reunion? Comment and share your opinion below.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

dance moms abby lee slideshow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

Can we all just get over the fact that Kaley Cuoco falls in love fast?

0
0

Kaley Cuoco is a great actress, but her personal life tends to hit the headlines more often than her acting career.

More: Kaley Cuoco's new boyfriend brings out the haters – but they're all wrong

Cuoco wears her heart on her sleeve, and she has proven to the world time and time again that she isn't afraid to love, something which has unfortunately earned her a lot criticism — but she should really be applauded for being able to love so freely. And now she's speaking out about her very public relationships.

Hot on the heels of her divorce, Cuoco revealed during an interview with CBS This Morning, via Us Weekly, that she doesn't regret the way she loves.

"You know what, I'm not ashamed of anything that happened. I fall in love really hard, I do. I go deep. That person is it for me. And I love hard, and when it's over, it's over, and some people make mistakes," she confessed.

More: Kaley Cuoco's divorce is finalized and her ex-husband is SOL

"[I] wouldn't call it a mistake, it just is what happened in my life, so I'm excited to see what the future holds," she continued. "It happened, and now I have to say I'm happier than I've ever been."

These are powerful words, not only because Cuoco has been able to heal and find love again but also because she is unapologetic for the decisions she makes in her personal life, as so she should be.

We know Cuoco has taken heat for her relationships, but do you agree with her outlook on love? Is nothing really a mistake but rather a lesson? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

More: The reason behind Kaley Cuoco’s new hairstyle is kinda deep

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

kaley cuoco and ben higgins slideshow
Image: Charlie Steffens/WENN / Nicky Nelson/WENN

We've seen the light: Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert don't belong together

0
0

This week everyone's been talking about Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani's amazing duet, "Go Ahead and Break My Heart." The emotions in the song are so raw that it's clear both artists have drawn inspiration from personal experience. But Shelton shared further very personal experiences on another one of his tracks, "I Bet You Still Think About Me."

More: OK, fine – Miranda Lambert & Anderson East sound like a good match

According to E! News, Shelton recently spoke about the track while performing in Los Angeles, saying, "It's basically what it sounds like. At some point, whether you go through a divorce or a breakup or whatever, once you get past the anger and the frustration of it all, you kind of go into the sad part of it where it's just like, 'Gosh, how come that didn't work out?' And that's what this song is about. Even though stuff didn't work out, I bet you miss me a little bit. It's a sad song."

Fans have speculated that the lyrics are about his relationship with ex-wife, Miranda Lambert. And while we imagine it would be tough having sad lyrics written about you, Lambert is apparently not upset.

More: Miranda Lambert and Anderson East are so dang adorable together

"Miranda is aware of what country artists do when creating new music," a source shared with E! News. "She is not upset at the lyrics because she knows it's just how it goes, especially as a country artist."

"She is always thinking and currently working on new lyrics and song ideas and many of those ideas stem from the past, present and future experiences," the sourced continued.

Another reason Lambert isn't concerned whether the lyrics are about her or not is because, well, she's over Blake Shelton. And she's found happiness again, with Anderson East.

More: ACM Awards infuriated fans into a Blake Shelton vs. Miranda Lambert debate

"Miranda and Anderson are talking about moving in with each other," the source revealed. "It's getting pretty serious. They want children and have shared their thoughts with each other on that subject."

That sounds super serious, but if the report is true, then we're glad that Lambert has found someone who makes her so happy. Do you agree? Do you think Anderson East and Miranda Lambert make a great match? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

One small act of generosity from a stranger forever changed my life

0
0

I was a seasonal employee in Glacier National Park when I met Kelly Tufo. Kelly was a tourist who’d come seeking peace for his broken heart. I needed to leave to heal my own wounds, but I had neither the will nor the money. I’d quit my job as a cook, but the property manager was a friend, so she allowed me to stay on in my cabin. Kelly was tenting indefinitely in the campground next door. We were both in limbo.

More: My lifelong dream came crashing down, and I'm still OK

For three years after college, I’d relied on the same group of friends. We worked summers in Montana and winters in Colorado. In spring and fall, we traveled to Mexico, Europe, Alaska. We’d spend every penny, then return to employee housing and service industry jobs. I wanted to go to graduate school. I wanted to stop obsessing over my ex-boyfriend, whose bed I could see from my own. But my bank account was empty, and I didn’t know how to say goodbye.

Kelly was openhearted and gregarious. He listened as much as he spoke and observed his surroundings even as he moved quickly through them. When most tourists asked for hiking suggestions, we directed them to Iceberg Lake or Ptarmigan Tunnel, trails that while beautiful were sure to be packed with others who’d gotten the same advice. When Kelly asked, we took him with us, rock scrambling on ancient goat trails with no other humans in sight. We shared our best secrets with Kelly. Despite his heartbreak, I’d never met anyone so alive.

More: Domestic violence is trapping women in more than just bad relationships

One afternoon, we sat in a patch of wildflowers, feet dangling in a waterfall pool. My friend Andrea and I fantasized about having $2,000 — a grand sum at the time. “I could live like a queen for a year in Mexico,” Andrea said. That night, Kelly took me aside. He thanked me for reminding him how lucky he was. “I have $2,000 in the bank, and then some. I have a business that allows me to earn more and to retreat into wilderness when I need it. I have everything,” he said.

The following day, park rangers noticed that Kelly had overstayed his 14-day limit in the campground, and I returned from a hike to find a new employee in my bunk. “I’m not ready to leave yet either,” Kelly said. He rented a room in the motel and left me a note with an extra key. “I got two beds,” it read. “Make yourself at home.”

The motel cushioned my imminent departure. It allowed me to say goodbye on my own terms, not just to the people I loved but to the community we’d built over the years, to a lifestyle, to the wilderness that had become home. At first, I was apprehensive. I worried briefly that Kelly might expect something, might crawl into bed with me after nursing his sorrows at the bar. But I rarely saw him in those days, save a passing hello or a note of encouragement and a granola bar left on my nightstand. Kelly was out saying his own goodbyes.

One morning, he handed me an envelope. “It’s time for us both to go,” he said. He made me promise not to open it until I’d crossed state lines. Then he scrawled his address on a scrap of paper and tucked it into my pocket. Kelly had given me the gift of time and now he was giving me another gift — a push out the door. The last time I saw him, he was standing at a bank of pay phones at the edge of the road, a receiver in one hand and the other waving goodbye.

That night, I read Kelly’s letter. He’d given me another gift: $300 to get home. “Pay me back when you’re a famous writer — or pay it forward. It’s up to you,” he’d written. When I reached into my pocket for his address, it was gone.

More: Spiritual bucket list: 15 simple steps to a happier life

For years, I searched. I scoured California telephone books. I asked people if they knew him. Eventually, I Googled and Facebooked. Finally, in 2007, I found him. Kelly Tufo died in a rock climbing accident in the San Jacinto Mountains at 32 years old.

Although I’d known him only briefly, I mourned. Kelly had given selflessly to a stranger. Now I’d never be able to tell him that I got over my ex, went to graduate school and published my writing. I’d never be able to pay him back. So I took Kelly up on his alternative.

When I adjusted for inflation, the debt grew to $500. I wanted to give someone the full amount, but I was paralyzed by choice. Besides, I couldn’t afford to give that much at once. Instead, I bought groceries when the mom in front of me in line fell short, and I paid for the elderly man behind me at the coffee shop. When the gas station cashier complimented me on my necklace, I gave it to her. Each time I paid it forward, I deducted from my debt and said a silent thank you to Kelly.

Kelly used to say that he always found what he needed in the wilderness. When I do have larger sums of money, I’ll sponsor wilderness trips for urban youth in Kelly’s name. I’ve stopped keeping track of my debt, but I still pay it forward. And I still thank Kelly Tufo, who didn’t just help me up when I was down but made me a more observant, more generous person in the process.

OUAT is a total mess and needs to give the right characters a happy ending

0
0

Since the beginning of Once Upon a Time, the series has been about happy endings. Even in Season 4, one of the major plot lines focused on the villains writing their own happy endings. Isn't that what fairy tales, or TV series based on beloved fairy tales, are all about? The same can be said for any book being read or movie or TV show being watched. You want to see the characters succeed and find happiness. But sometimes that just doesn't happen, including several deserving ones on OUAT who just can't seem to catch a break.

More: Once Upon a Time star was as blindsided by Robin Hood's death as fans were

Regina Mills
Image: Giphy

As OUAT continues to air, it sure seems like many characters are having their happy endings ripped away over and over again. Granted, the series is about heroes and villains and the struggles they face in achieving happiness. The series wouldn't be interesting without conflict, including the inner conflict many of the characters face. Admittedly, I definitely wouldn't tune in if everyone was happy 100 percent of the time and living a life filled without worry or struggle.

That said, it would be nice to see a shift in the characters who are rewarded time and again with happy endings. Don't get me wrong: I am a huge Emma Swan fan. If I ever needed a bounty hunter or a badass savior to come to my rescue, she'd be the first one I'd call. However, it's starting to get a bit old that she continues to find the light in the darkest of times, whereas many of the other characters repeatedly find themselves trying to climb to the top of the happiness chain.

Has Emma faced tough times? Absolutely. I mean, she was the Dark One and even had to leave Hook behind in the Underworld. In the end, it all worked out for her. No matter what she faces, she always seems to find her happy ending. Basically, viewers know going in with each new season that despite any hardships or heartbreak Emma may or may not face, everything will most likely work out in the end for her. And, yes, that's great, but it's a little frustrating when the same can't be said for someone like Regina, Mulan or Zelena.

Take this season and Regina. In the episode titled "Last Rites," Robin Hood died. I'm still frustrated with his death. More than the fact that I'm going to miss Robin and I was looking forward to seeing what he would bring to the table in future episodes, I'm beyond upset for Regina. Weren't Robin and Regina supposed to be endgame? Did anyone else think (thanks to Tinkerbell and her whole speech about the lion tattoo) that they were soulmates? If that's the case, then why kill him?

More: Did I really just witness Once Upon a Time's Cora become Mother of the Year?

Robin Hood & Regina

Robin Hood & Regina

Not to mention, this isn't the first time she's found herself sad and in pain over something in her life, including her contentious relationship with her mother and her first love, Daniel, dying. Has Regina done her fair share of evil things? Hello, she was the Evil Queen, but she has proven herself to be a good person and is even now considered a hero who works alongside other heroes. She has worked so hard to turn her life around and continues to get screwed.

Like Regina, Mulan has also struggled to find her happy ending. First, she walked away from Aurora, after falling for her. It was hard to watch Aurora stay with Prince Phillip, but fans held onto hope for Mulan's future, which many thought would become even brighter upon meeting Ruby. Many were rooting for Mulan and Ruby to end up together. Did they? No, because of course they didn't. Ruby just had to end up with Dorothy.

Obviously, I am thrilled for Ruby and Dorothy. They deserve to be happy, but Mulan has always been one of the heroes and deserves some type of happiness. Why can't she find love too? Obviously, Mulan or any other character's happy ending might not include a significant other and that's OK, but I just want these particular characters to be happy. I truly believe that Mulan will someday, but it better not come with the price of breaking her heart repeatedly or making her feel hopeless.

More: Once Upon a Time: Will leaving Neal behind come back to haunt the Charmings?

Ruby and Dorothy

Ruby and Dorothy

And don't even get me started on Zelena. Yes, she's been seen as the villain and has done horrible things, but who hasn't on OUAT? I mean, she was abandoned by her mother and pushed to live a life of wickedness. Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way, but sometimes there are villains, like Zelena, who I can't help but root for and see the good in. Remember, OUAT is about both heroic and villainous characters and their ability to change for the better. Zelena has a long way to go, but she has already made huge progress, and I hope she finds happiness along the way for proving she isn't only wicked.

It was hard for me to watch Hades string her along for his own benefit. Thankfully, Zelena opened up her eyes and ended Hades for good. Let's just hope this means she'll continue to take positive steps toward a lighter future, especially for her daughter's sake. I truly hope there is happiness ahead for Zelena.

With all of that said and my rant partially over, am I giving up on OUAT? No, not anytime soon. I still have faith in the show and enjoy it immensely, save for a few of the issues I find with it on occasion, including those who get happy endings and those who don't.

But I'm going to continue to have hope in the series because maybe the creators have some really great stuff in store for Season 6 and for Regina, Zelena and Mulan. Plus, maybe, just maybe, they'll give fans what they want and stop being selective in which characters get their happy endings.

However, if nothing changes soon — especially for Regina, who really deserves happiness more than anyone — then I just may have to succumb to a curse and wipe my memories of the show.

Once Upon a Time's two-hour Season 5 finale airs Sunday, May 15 at 7/6c on ABC.

More: Once Upon a Time: Wait, is [spoiler] really dead?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

OUAT Dark One slideshow
Image: Graphics provided by SheKnows; photos provided by ABC

Michelle Duggar called one of her kids the wrong name, because duh!

0
0

Well, it's finally happened. After years of everyone asking Michelle Duggar in regard to her 19 children — all with names beginning with J — "how do you keep them all straight?" Mama Duggs has finally done the unthinkable and called one of her children by another one of her children' names.

In a since-removed post to the Duggar Family Official Facebook page on Saturday, a picture of one of the younger Duglets messing about on a sewing machine was captioned with, "Looks like Jordyn is getting some practice." There was only one problem with that, as die-hard Duggar fans pointed out immediately — the picture wasn't of 7-year-old Jordyn.

More: Moms have their knickers in a twist over padded bras for kindergartners

It was of another Duglet, Jordyn's 9-year-old sister, Jennifer. The post stayed up for a while, which gave people ample time to panic about the long-term ramifications of what being called the wrong name will do to poor Jennifer and about just how terrible a mother this actually makes Michelle.

Of course, there are a few simpler explanations for how Mama Duggs was able to commit so grievous a parenting sin as calling a child the wrong name. The first, of course, is that maybe it isn't even her posting to the page. Perhaps it is, of course, but it's hard to picture Michelle click-clacking away when that task could be offloaded so much more easily onto a child, much like preparing tater tot casserole or watching a younger sibling.

Then there's the simplest explanation yet: the insidious mom brain that plagues us all.

More: Chrissy Teigen, Alyssa Milano and more celeb moms who aren't afraid to breastfeed in front of a camera

Whether or not science has officially dubbed mom brain A Thing, we all know what it is: the little bouts of mom-nesia, losing chunks of your vocabulary to make room for new words like "night-nights" and "lovey." It's definitely A Thing, and it's one that is exacerbated at different times by the number of children you have and their ages. For instance, you might be at the height of your mom brain when you have two under 2, and then once everyone can toilet themselves, you'll get your sanity back.

It's something about the mix of sleeplessness, scheduling and hormones that turns your brain into Swiss cheese, with things like your kids' names falling into the holes. Who among us has not called our own child by the dog's name or — if we have more than three of them — run through the entire roster until we land on the one we're talking to. If you grew up in a large family as well, then you know what it's like to be referred to simply as "you."

More: These parents have 52 child-free weekends a year — jealous?

Michelle Duggar may never recover from mom brain. Her oldest children have already moved out of the house, but her youngest are only just now heading off to kindergarten, which means it could still be decades before her recall is anything like it once was. And even then, who knows?

Certainly, giving every child a J name hasn't helped her to keep it all straight, but at the same time, she may be missing an opportunity to swap out a misnamed child's moniker or the ubiquitous "you there" for the simple nickname of J.

If Michelle did in fact write the post, then yeah, she called one of her kids by the wrong name. But it may just be the only thing you really have in common with the endlessly perky matriarch.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

celebrity baby names
Image: photo by Farley Baricuatro (www.colloidfarl.blogspot.com) / Getty Images
Viewing all 33701 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images