It's not like we weren't already squealing over Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's relationship — but now we have photographic Instagram proof that they are freaking awesome together.
The beautiful singer and her equally beautiful actor boyfriend are spending quality time together in Cannes and attending events as part of the Cannes Film Festival. When Perry and Bloom walked the red carpet separately at the amfAR Gala in Cannes, where Perry performed, some might have questioned whether they were even still an item. Throw in all of those recent rumors about Selena Gomez cozying up to Bloom, and it seemed as if they really were over and out.
And then, in one adorable and funny photo, the couple proved everyone wrong.
Perry and Bloom posed in their white bathrobes on the steps of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, and her caption is everything:
Perry and Bloom have reportedly been dating since January, when they connected at Harvey Weinstein's 2016 Golden Globes after-party. True, they haven't been an item for very long, but sources say they are crazy about each other and are only too happy to be moving full steam ahead with their relationship. Bloom, who was previously married to model Miranda Kerr, reportedly took Perry with him to England to meet his mom and family. There's also sweet talk of Perry bonding with Flynn, Bloom and Kerr's 5-year-old son.
Perry deserves happiness and a stable relationship (she was married to actor Russell Brand for two years before their divorce in 2012). She and Bloom seem incredibly happy and sweetly private about their relationship. Here's hoping they continue to open up just a wee bit more so we can get more fantastic photos like this one.
When you're cooking out, it's always a good idea to have a few things on the menu that are quick to prep and guaranteed to impress. That's why I love these booze-soaked watermelon slices. It takes about 10 minutes to prep, and then you just toss them into the fridge.
I think my favorite part of this recipe has to be the dash of vermouth. Vermouth is essentially a mixture of brandy and either dry or sweet wine. A mere tablespoon in the vodka simple syrup is all it takes to add a load of depth without making the watermelon taste more like booze than fruit.
In 2 – 3 shallow baking dishes, arrange your watermelon slices in a single layer, and set aside. If you prefer, you can use a spoon to gently remove as many seeds as you can (if you didn’t buy seedless).
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the sugar, water, vodka and vermouth to a boil, and cook it, stirring frequently, until the sugar is completely dissolved (about 1 minute). Allow it to cool slightly.
Pour the syrup over the watermelon slices.
Cover, and place them in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (longer if desired), flipping them halfway through to ensure both sides are equally soaked.
Carefully remove the watermelon from the syrup, allowing excess syrup to drip off, and arrange them on a platter. Squeeze a bit of lemon over each slice. Garnish with Himalayan sea salt and a bit of lemon zest.
Before you toss that super-stained (and super-cute and super-expensive) top out, give it one last shot. Whether it was a cup of coffee dumped on your chest in rush hour, a barbecue hand print courtesy of your kids or even a few drops of blood, we've put together the complete guide to saving your favorite clothes.
For all of your clothes
The earlier you catch a stain, the better. If you're out and about (and the item isn't dry-clean only), pre-treat the affected area with something like Spray-n-Wash's Stain Stick, Shout Wipes or a Tide Pen. (If none of these are available, you can at least wet the stain to keep it from setting as completely. An ice cube from your drink is the perfect way to wet the spot. Careful to just dab — don't rub the stain into the fibers of your clothes.) Then wash the item as soon as you get home.
After washing an item with a stain, check your wet laundry before drying it to make sure the stain is gone (the heat from the drying process will often make the stain permanent). If the mark is still visible, pre-treat as before or try another stain treatment process and wash again.
Dye stains: Fresh dye stains are the easiest to remove but very hard to get out once they've set in. If possible, right when the stain happens, run it under cold water and then wash it in the hottest possible setting for the fabric. Dye stains are naturally occurring vegetable dyes found in many plants and acidic foods. If you can't get the stain out yourself, try the dry cleaner. These same cleaning methods should work for coffee, tea and ink stains — which are also dye stains.
Protein stains: Organic in nature, protein stains include things like vomit, sweat and blood. Treat them with alkaline stain removal solutions which will digest the proteins. Enzyme presoak products can break down protein and help dissolve fats. Most detergents contain enzymes and can be used to clean protein stains.
Combination stains: Combination stains are stains from things like sauces (barbecue sauce, ketchup, hot sauce), makeup (lipstick, foundation, eyeshadow) and crayons. They are a combination of the other types of stains. First, rinse off any excess from the stain with cold water. Gently rub a detergent into the stain. Rinse out the detergent, apply a stain stick and launder.
Ice cream and other dairy product stains: Dairy stains are protein stains because they are organic in nature (i.e., from an animal). Fresh stains should be soaked and agitated in cold water before washing. If the stain has dried, scrape or brush off any crusted matter. Soak for up to several hours in cold water with a detergent or an enzyme presoak (which breaks down protein-based stains like egg, grass and blood so your detergent can work more effectively). Launder in warm water. If the stain remains, soak an additional 30 minutes and rewash. If a colored stain remains, launder with bleach safe for the fabric.
Fruit and fruit juice stains: Fruit stains are a dye stain. Launder with detergent in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Do not use soap (bar, flake or detergents containing natural soap) since soap-based products could make the stain permanent. Soak tough stains for 30 minutes in 1 quart of warm water and 1 teaspoon of enzyme presoak product. Removal of old or set stains may require washing with bleach that is safe for that particular fabric. If all the sugars are not removed, a brown stain will appear when the cloth is heated in the dryer or is ironed as the sugar is caramelized. This effect is great for crème brûlée... not so wonderful for your favorite white blouse.
Grass stains: Grass stains are also a dye stain — a combination of protein and other organic matter mixed with chlorophyll, xanthophylls and carotenoids. For stubborn stains like grass, soak in a solution of cool water and a laundry product containing enzymes, like Shout Advanced Ultra Gel Brush, for at least 30 minutes (and several hours for aged stains). Don't use hot water, as it will coagulate the protein and make the stain more difficult to remove. If stains remain, soak an additional 30 minutes, then rewash. (Follow product instructions, and note that some laundry detergents already contain enzymes.) After soaking, launder in warm water as usual.
Mud stains: Mud stains are a protein stain. Let mud stains dry. Brush to remove the soil. Soak in a solution of 1 quart of warm water, 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar for 15 minutes. Rinse with water. Let stand for several minutes. If the stain persists, sponge it with rubbing alcohol, then rinse with clear water and wash. You may also soak the stain for 30 minutes in an enzyme presoak, and you can add chlorine bleach to the load of laundry if the label says it's safe for the fabric.
Barbecue sauce stains and other tomato-based sauce stains: Barbecue sauce is a combination stain. Soak in cool water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar for 30 minutes. Rinse. If stain remains, pre-treat area with a pre-wash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or a paste of powdered detergent and water. Then wash in warm water. Air dry. If the stain remains, soak in an enzyme product for anywhere from at least an hour to overnight. Some detergents contain enzymes. Launder in warm water. Do not use hot water or hot air drying or iron the garment until the stain is gone as heat will set it.
Coffee stains: A coffee stain is a dye stain, but the cream or milk in the coffee is a protein. Therefore, you will want to treat the stain as both if you like a little cream in your morning cup of joe. If the stain is fresh, immediately rinse with cold water. If you are at home (or once at home), remove the clothing and add laundry detergent directly to the stain and rub together with cold water. Soak in the water for 30 minutes, rubbing detergent together every five to 10 minutes. Next, wash clothing on the hottest setting. Ensure stain is out of clothing prior to placing in the dryer. If the stain has not been removed, try repeating the steps. For older stains, apply white vinegar directly to the stain and mix with cold water. Rub stain with a sponge until removed. You may also use baking soda as an alternative solution, applying with a wet cloth to scrub away the stain.
The key to removing stains from white clothing is to attempt to remove the stain immediately. Scoop up or scrape food items off while blotting up liquid spills from the outside in. Apply a liquid dishwashing soap directly to the stain and rub gently with a light-colored cloth or your fingernail. Do not use a darker colored cloth or terry towel as this may darken the stain. Soak garment in cold water for 10 to 15 minutes prior to washing.
New and older stains may also be removed with the use of corn starch or baking soda, gently scrubbing the powder into the stain with a cold, wet cloth. White vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are also great pre-treatment solutions. With any white clothing, it is recommended that you wash separately and pre-soak in 1/2 cup of bleach and cold water.
Removing stains from darks
Like white clothing, it is important that you attempt to remove a fresh stain immediately. Scoop up any food residue while blotting away liquids. Avoid using bar soaps or terry cloth towels on stains. Soak in 1/2 cup of white vinegar and cold water prior to washing the clothing on a regular cycle. If it is a tough or set stain, soak garment directly in 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1/4 cup of water for 30 minutes prior to washing. Rinse item out prior to washing on a warm cycle to sterilize clothing.
To remove stains from jeans, apply hydrogen peroxide directly onto stain and allow to soak for 30 minutes prior to washing on a regular cycle. Grass stains can be removed by applying petroleum jelly directly to the stain and spreading with your finger. Wash on a regular cycle after five minutes.
Remove set and new stains on delicates with the use of a salt-and-lemon-juice solution. Gently rub with the use of a non-invasive cloth or finger, and rinse with very hot water. Never rub garment harshly or with a rough cloth. Allow to dry in the sun. If the stain has not been removed, attempt to soak the item in 2 parts warm water, 1 part detergent and 1 part oxygen bleaching agent. Wash as recommended per garment instructions.
Another method of removing delicate clothing stains is by hand-washing the garment with the use of borax, baking soda and regular detergent. Lightly scrub the item together with its own fabric. Rinse with cool water and air dry to prevent the stain from setting in.
Believe it or not, it's totally possible to get even the oldest jewelry looking as good as new again. With the help of a few common cleaning ingredients, you'll remember why you bought that pretty ring or bracelet in the first place. (Hint: If you've got aluminum foil and vinegar in your cabinets, then you're already halfway there.)
Just remember: Methods using chemicals or other harsh and abrasive cleaners are not recommended for soft stones like opals and pearls — use soap and water only. For the rest of your baubles, you can shine them up with one of these handy jewelry cleaning hacks:
Ammonia
That diamond isn't going to keep its sparkle all on its own. Soak diamond jewelry in a solution of 1 cup warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia for about 15 minutes, then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away any remaining grime, especially in the crevices of the setting and underneath the diamond.
Cleaning your gold and gemstone jewelry couldn't be easier with white vinegar. Simply drop the jewelry into a jar of vinegar and let sit for 10 to15 minutes, agitating occasionally. Remove and scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush, if necessary.
The fizzing power that works to soothe your stomach can also clean your jewelry. Drop two antacid tablets into a glass of warm water, followed by your baubles. Let sit for about two minutes in the effervescent solution, then remove and rinse.
Use aluminum foil to clean your tarnished silver jewelry much like you would your silverware. Line a tray with a piece of crumpled aluminum foil and place your jewelry on the foil. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the jewelry, then pour boiling water over it. The tarnish will transfer from the jewelry to the foil. You may need to flip or move the jewelry around so all sides come in contact with the foil. Remove and rinse with water.
For soft and porous materials like pearls and turquoise, you need nothing more than soap and water to get them looking their best. Clean your string of pearls by dipping them quickly in a solution of 2 cups warm water and a few drops of mild detergent (like Woolite). Wipe each pearl with a soft, dry cotton cloth and lay flat to dry. (Pearls actually stay polished from frequent wear, so don't be afraid to accessorize!) Turquoise doesn't even need soap to come clean. Simply dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into warm water and scrub the stone clean. Dry with a clean cloth, then let air-dry for several hours before storing.
Seeing Crash for the first time was truly love at first sight. I volunteer at a local animal shelter and Crash was surrendered to the shelter by his previous owner. A friend at the shelter asked me to help rehome him because she did not want to put him into the shelter system. Owner surrenders do not get much time — no one is coming for them. I gladly offered to foster Crash until he could be placed in a forever home.
From the beginning, he was playful and almost too smart — typical of the Australian cattle dog breed. He did have intestinal worms, which concerned me. Did his previous owner make any effort to take care of him? When I took him to my vet to get a physical I got the bad news: Crash was heartworm-positive and it was already advanced to stage 3. I knew it was not the end of the world, but this was a major financial blow.
Heartworm treatment is expensive. This was most likely the reason they surrendered him. I see it all the time at the shelter: owners getting rid of their heartworm-positive dogs because they can’t or won’t pay for the treatment. Crash was dumped by his first family and was not even a year old yet. I couldn’t do that to him again. In the few short weeks I had been fostering him, he'd already become a beloved member of our family. I have kids, but my dogs are like my kids too. Crash immediately bonded to my other dog as well. It was settled — he was part of the family. I decided to officially adopt him and pay for his treatment.
Not only is heartworm treatment expensive, it’s hard on the dog. The treatment plan my vet proposed was the slow-kill method. Crash had a stage 3 heartworm. That meant he had adult heartworms present in his heart and some damage to the heart muscle. The slow-kill method would last approximately three months and required three sets of intramuscular shots, antibiotics, steroids and sedatives. All this set me back about $1,300.
After his first injection, he was a miserable sight to behold. My hyper cattle dog slept all day and yelped in pain when he tried to move. This lasted for a few days. The hardest part after that was to keep him calm. If you know anything about Australian cattle dogs, you know they are high-energy dogs that get bored easily. I needed to keep his blood pressure from rising for three months. You have to keep them calm or they risk throwing a blood clot. The sedatives they prescribed him made little difference.
Four weeks in, we developed a routine and Crash grew used to — although begrudgingly — a sedentary life. He had no adverse reactions to the medication and all in all, he did well. After three months of treatment, we got the good news: he was free of heartworm. Best of all, the damage to his heart was a non-issue and he’s as hyper and active as he was before the treatment. Now he’s free to live life to its fullest with a healthy heart.
The best advice I can give if you ever find out your dog is heartworm-positive is to know that there are options. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s a treatable disease. If it’s affordability that’s a factor, there are organizations that can assist you with financial help.
The best way to treat heartworm is to prevent it. Make sure you are giving your pet their monthly preventatives and get them tested yearly. If you are looking for a special fur baby and see that a rescue has an adoptable heartworm-positive dog, please don’t pass them by. Many heartworm-positive dogs recover without any lingering side effects. I didn’t give up on my heartworm-positive dog. I’m glad I took a chance on him. He brings me joy, as well as an occasional chewed-up slipper. I wouldn’t trade him for the world.
Frozen Stiff by LJ Vickery, new from Wild Rose Press, tells the story of an immortal god who can't find love until his Chosen shows up and rocks his world.
About the book:
Enten, the god of winter, has spent centuries avoiding rejection from women. He might be cold to the depths of his very soul, but one woman — his Chosen — holds the key to melting his permafrost. To keep her, though, he must embrace the heat sweeping through his heart — and his body. Unfortunately, he and the group of gods he calls brothers are trapped on Earth's plane by a malevolent force that could bring violence to his Chosen's doorstep.
Gloria Wingfeather lived through hell, physically and emotionally singed by the viciousness of her ex-husband. For years, she's dedicated her time and her heart to making a life for herself. The sexy god of chill has the potential to heal those charred wounds or to set her ablaze with passion.
"You're awake." The female's soft voice washed over Enten like gentle waves.
"I am." He almost swallowed his tongue, getting his first glimpse of the woman poised above him. Holy shit. He didn't know where to look first. Her mahogany eyes, fixed to his, were large in her dusky brown face and surrounded by the longest, thickest lashes he'd ever seen. But her mouth... pink as a conch shell's secret whorls, pouty and plump, begging to be kissed. His eyes traveled to her long and regal nose, which had Enten believing the angel astride him had been born of kings. Her whole visage, surrounded by the softest looking riot of dark curls, held him spellbound.
"Glorious," he whispered, and color rose on her cheeks.
"No. Actually, my name is Gloria," she corrected. "Glory for short."
Glorious. Glory, Enten revealed to his fellow gods. She is mine, he cried. My Glory. He wanted to roar it to the heavens. He had heard everything his fellow gods said, and now knew ― because Lahar shared Glory's blood ― that she was not his relative but his Chosen.
He drew in several deep breaths, his eyes on the vibrant woman. He needed to calm the fuck down, because really, he should be apprehensive. Once she got a load of who he was, and what he was, she could just as easily reject him as accept him. He scowled at the realization. What could he possibly do to make this warm, lovely bundle atop him consider an eternity as his mate? Just because his amulet would eventually declare "keepsies" on her, didn't mean she would necessarily be on board. Short of kidnapping, there was nothing he could do to force her to be his other half.
Back in ancient Mesopotamia, all goddesses had steered clear of him physically, labeling him a freak, even amongst gods. Only in the vicinity of the Zagros Mountains of Asia, where the summer temperatures could reach 130 degrees, was he considered slightly useful — not as a fuck but as a cooling system. And even there, in the winter months, he was shunned once again. The goddesses weren't trying to be mean; they simply found themselves drawn to gods of normal body temperature.
When Enten had finally lost his virginity at the age of 2,710 in Merrymount, it had been to a stunning Abenaki woman coming down to trade from Maine. He thought he'd found his perfect match. But after professing an interest in his coldness, even a woman from the most frigid state in New England had moved on to seek warmer robes. He had been severely hurt by her leaving and grown even colder thereafter.
Enten fought back his fears. Maybe it wouldn't be that way with his Chosen. But so far, Gloria seemed hearteningly curious.
"How do you feel? Did you hurt yourself? Where did you come from? Hey. You speak English." She regarded him with wide eyes, her face not 10 inches from his own.
Enten wasn't sure where to begin, but he was happy she had so many questions. It would give him an excuse to keep her snug up against him for a longer period.
"I'm fine. I don't think I'm hurt, and yes, I speak perfect English. I'm from Quincy, which is right across the bay.”
He saw puzzlement wash over her face. "Then why are you dressed like..." She started to look down at his loincloth, where their hips joined, and must have thought better of it. He could swear she almost blushed.
Enten had to think quickly before she moved away. He needed to explain his dress and his current position, but it couldn't include anything about gods. At least not yet.
The Scottish DJ, who has been dating Taylor Swift for more than a year, was a passenger in a Cadillac SUV when a 16-year-old female driver in a Volkswagen Beetle convertible reportedly crossed over the center divider and hit Harris' vehicle. The girl, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from her seat and is being treated for a broken pelvis. There were other passengers in her car at the time, but their conditions are unknown.
Harris was taken to a hospital and treated for, among other injuries, a cut to the nose. He has since been released and is recovering.
A representative for Harris, whose real name is Adam Wiles, released this statement about the incident: "Adam was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck in a serious collision last night in Los Angeles. He was examined by doctors and sustained a number of injuries. He has since been checked out of the hospital and is now recovering. We wish all the other passengers involved in the incident a fast recovery.
"As a result, he was not able to perform in Las Vegas at his OMNIA residency and will be unable to perform tonight at Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama."
Harris was set to headline the Hangout Festival and was on his way to the airport when the accident took place. And with the Billboard Music Awards happening on Sunday, May 22, we likely won't see him there either.
No word yet from Swift, but you can be sure the singer will rush to be by his side. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for everyone involved in this scary incident.
Slow-cooking dried chickpeas gives your hummus an extremely smooth texture and flavor you can't get from using canned chickpeas. You start by soaking your chickpeas overnight, then cook them on high in the slow cooker for four hours, and then you use the chickpeas to make hummus.
In a large bowl, cover the chickpeas with water, and soak them overnight.
To your slow cooker on high heat, add the drained chickpeas, hot water, salt and pepper. Stir to combine, cover, and cook the chickpeas on high for 4 hours until the chickpeas are tender.
Remove, and reserve the chickpea liquid from your slow cooker and 3/4 cup of the cooked chickpeas to top the hummus.
To your food processor, add the slow-cooked chickpeas, garlic cloves, tahini, lemon juice, parsley and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Process the chickpeas on high until a smooth dip begins to form. Stream in the reserved chickpea liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until your hummus has reached your desired consistency.
Spoon the hummus into a large bowl, sprinkle with paprika, the reserved chickpeas and a drizzle of olive oil, and serve.
This week's SNL finale with host and alumnus Fred Armisen was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise disappointing season. The episode addressed everything from race to politics to jokes the cast was afraid to say earlier and featured a Lonely Island digital short.
One of the best skits of the season hilariously critiqued the kind of pseudo-activism done by some groups of young, privileged people. The skit featured a group of high school students who put on a play called "America the Beautiful?" consisting of 82 acts. Each act was a short skit with a very blunt message like "Being queer is good" or "We've actually all been Asian this whole time." At the end, it was revealed that this performance allowed the high school theatre troupe to get into NYU.
Within 10 seconds of the show starting, Larry David got up and left, realizing that the show was ridiculous and would be frustrating to watch. His response was one I have often wished I could have with seemingly radical but actually elitist groups of people I met in high school and college.
The first part of the skit rang especially true when the students walked through an imaginary checkout line and named items like iPhones and iPads but were unable to recognize flowers. The message was "How about less TECHnology and more NATUREnology?!" The hilariously empty assertion had no acknowledgment of how and why people benefit from using technology but rather needlessly cling to nostalgia for an earlier time. I have seen arguments like this one against technology too many times to count, from the very rich, upscale bookstore in my neighborhood that is above having Wi-Fi to the clubs on my campus that urge "disconnecting," as if the majority of the world that needs cell phones is all idiotic.
I also liked the part where the actors attempted to challenge visual stereotypes. A character's parent asks her who her date is, saying they are excited to meet him, and she tells her parent that, actually, she is a lesbian so her date is a woman. A chorus in the background says, "That's good!" Then, the date assumes that the parent is a man and the parent informs her that she is actually a transgender woman, to which the chorus again says, "That's good!" Finally, everyone in the skit says they have "actually been Asian this whole time!" Everyone says, "That's good!" after this "revelation."
While talking about homophobia, transphobia and racism is incredibly important, of course, this skit shows how many activists attempt to address these issues without doing them justice, merely saying the words queer or race without acknowledging that with these identities come immense struggle. There is not always a chorus to say "That's good!" when one comes out, and it is certainly not possible to claim one has secretly been Asian as a way of winning some kind of oppression Olympics. Essentially, when activism is done by very privileged people who are unable or unwilling to acknowledge that perhaps their perspectives are limited, the work often becomes empty, as caricatured in this skit.
Ultimately, when the mother of one of the performers lamented that the after-party was at her house because last year everyone stayed up until 6 a.m. complimenting one another, she perfectly summed up how self-indulgent this particular breed of activism is.
What did you think of SNL's activism skit? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s no news that domestic violence often involves much more than cuts and bruises. Sometimes, there’s no physical violence at all — but that doesn’t make the behaviour any less abusive, destructive and frightening.
Legislation to make "coercive and controlling behaviour" a criminal offence was introduced in the U.K. in December 2015 — and not before time. It’s crucial that people in this type of relationship know they have justice on their side, and the recent case of Gemma Doherty and her abusive partner Mohammed Anwaar is encouraging.
Sheffield man Anwaar, 27, is one of the first people to be convicted under the new legislation. He was jailed for almost two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour as well as nine counts of assault and criminal damage. His controlling behaviour, which continued for around two years, included telling 30-year-old Doherty what she could eat and wear, deciding when she could see her friends and family, and making sure he was with her at all times.
Apparently Anwaar loved Brazilian model Gracyanne Barbosa and wanted Doherty to have a shape like Kim Kardashian. So he forced the mum of two to eat nothing but tuna and beetroot, run for hours on the treadmill and do endless squats and sit ups. If she failed, he would hit her. He also told her that he had paid men to watch her at her work to make sure she didn't flirt with male colleagues.
For far too long, the term "domestic violence" has been used to describe incidents of physical abuse, not ongoing controlling and threatening behaviour. But according to the Home Office, coercive control is "the most common context in which [women] are abused, it is also the most dangerous."
Now that the Criminal Justice System is acknowledging psychological abuse, police will be able to respond to the reality of domestic violence for the majority of victims, and support those who are brave enough to speak out.
Doing anything against the rules is not who I am. However, there are some times in life when you have to stand up for what you believe in. The new SATS tests for primary school children pushed me to that point.
I have a 7 year old and he is doing well at school. When I met with his teacher to discuss the new tests and she told me to expect his grades to go down, I was appalled. She showed me what the expected level of written work should look like and it was equivalent to year six. My son is intelligent, but he can’t produce work to that standard, so how can I assess his progress at school if these new tests show him to be at or below expected level?
My son doesn’t worry about school, cares little about homework and does the bare minimum without concern. I don’t mind because he is 7 years old. He shouldn’t have to worry.
I have two older children though and I’ve been through very stressful and worrying times with my eldest in particular. She found primary school stressful and spent most of her time comparing herself to her peers and never feeling good enough.
When the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign started and I began to follow other people’s experiences, I realised my daughter was not alone in her attitude towards primary school. I had at the time thought she was just prone to anxiety. Stress counselling and a change of school was the only thing that helped her in the end.
Yet here I was, witnessing other children around the country going through the same anxieties and worries. This is a real concern. My daughter may have moved on to secondary school now, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t support the campaign to have the primary testing system overhauled. And with my son due to sit these new ones, we were right in the middle of this whole controversy.
I called for the support of my peers but none came. That caused me to wobble a little. Am I the only one doing this? What is the point? I could hear my inner conscience calling me out on the whole idea until I went on the Facebook support group and found other people voicing my fears: "I think I’m the only one at my school doing this."
So there we were. Little beacons of light on our own, but all supporting this cause.
That gave me the courage to go for it and I handed in the pre-written letter to my son’s school.
When I was called in to see the head and informed it would be an unauthorised day off and that the local council could in fact enforce a fine upon me, I almost caved again. But by then I’d committed myself. As scary as that was, I was determined to go through with it.
Those little beacons of light shone across the whole country on that sunny Tuesday, ours included. They added up to thousands and gave a collective voice in support of teachers; a voice that enabled them to stand up and say we don’t agree with these tests and neither do the parents of the children we teach.
We didn’t stand on a picket line that day. Instead our day was filled with activities from start to finish.
This is what we did.
Built a volcano out of mud and made it erupt
Image: Nicola Young/SheKnows
Made soda fountains to see which went the highest
Experimented with cabbage leaves and coloured water
Image: Nicola Young/SheKnows
Made butter using jam jars and marbles
Image: Nicola Young/SheKnows
Made a story box for creative writing ideas
Built a Lego mini-figure display
Image: Nicola Young/SheKnows
It was exhausting but we loved it. I also gained a whole new level of respect for teachers and home-schoolers. My son was fully behind everything we did during the day. He marvelled at the experiments, asked questions and threw himself in to each task. It was a joy to spend that time with him, watching him learning and absorbing all the information.
Image: Nicola Young/SheKnows
Many people didn’t agree with the Kids Strike. It took courage for me to do it and I wouldn’t have gone through with it without doing something educational as an alternative. I wanted to show the government (and the trollers) that we weren’t skiving. We weren’t having an extra day off after the Bank Holiday. We spent the day learning in the most fun way. It didn’t cost a lot of money and my intention to send the message that there is more to school than passing grammar tests.
You only have one staff member and deal with most of your business from your family's dining room table, scrambling to get everything done while keeping tabs on your three children. This scenario probably sounds pretty familiar to most entrepreneurial moms trying to launch a start-up business, only this is the reality of Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau and this is no start-up enterprise — it's Canada. The responsibilities she's juggling entail mingling with foreign heads of state alongside the prime minister, while working with multiple charities supporting women and girls across the country. Yet, when she told Canadians she felt stretched a bit too thin, they were far from sympathetic.
Grégoire-Trudeau recently suggested, in an interview with Le Soliel, that she struggled trying to do everything all at once and could use a little extra help. "I’d love to be everywhere but I can’t," she said. "I have three children and a husband who is prime minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve the people."
Regardless of your political leanings, the appropriate reaction to this statement doesn't involve resorting to sexist bullying of Grégoire-Trudeau on social media. Yet, using the tongue-and-cheek hashtag #PrayForSophie, Internet commenters attacked Grégoire-Trudeau for her desire to take her role seriously and her suggestion that she may need more support to meet Canadians' demands.
Prayforsophie
Prayforsophie
Sophie Trudeau is spoiled
Sophie Trudeau is spoiled
Sophie criticism
Sophie criticism
As Canada has no official "First Lady" position like the United States, many point out that we don't owe Grégoire-Trudeau anything. And while they may technically be right, there are problems with that line of reasoning: elected or not, we still have a very specific set of expectations of the prime minister's spouse, regardless of whether or not we make them explicit. For example, if the prime minister's spouse decided that she wanted to return to her former job as an entertainment reporter on etalk, Canadians would likely find that inappropriate given her public role.
While Grégoire-Trudeau may have no official title other than "wife," we still expect her to make Canada look good on the international stage and devote all her energy to supporting the prime minister, while simultaneously telling her she doesn't actually have a job.
Grégoire-Trudeau's request is especially reasonable when you consider the fact that Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney's wife Mila Mulroney had three staff members working under her when he was in office. When you compare Grégoire-Trudeau's setup to those of other spouses of foreign leaders, it's relatively modest. Take Michelle Obama: the American First Lady has a staff of about 24 serving under her. And in France, it seems to vary on a case by case basis but Carla Bruini-Sarkozy reportedly had eight staffers. And like Canada, the U.K. prime minister's wife Samantha Cameron has one staff member working under her, though this makes more sense in the U.K. when you consider the fact that the Royal Family perform many of the activities often left to foreign leaders' spouses in countries without a monarchy.
Grégoire-Trudeau spoke to Le Soleil about the fact that she couldn't respond to as many of Canadians' requests as she'd like to: "It’s hard to choose, because it’s touching when people ask for your help. People really lay out their suffering in some of the letters I receive."
While it's totally fine if a prime minister's spouse decides against pursuing public life as actively as Grégoire-Trudeau does, why fault her for trying to work more closely with Canadian groups requesting her involvement? Why resort to calling her a "princess" or insinuate that she's spoiled when her request is reasonable given past political precedents set in Canada and abroad?
You don't have to agree with everything our prime minister's wife says or does, but the extreme degree of backlash against a woman requesting support to properly fulfill her professional responsibilities is unfair— It's time to accept that being the prime minister's wife is an actual job.
If you were ever unsure as to whether Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton had a lot of fun together, well, this new photo of them sums up their relationship perfectly.
Stefani decided to photobomb Shelton's picture with her brother, Todd Stefani, and boy, are we glad she did. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Stefani shared the hilarious shot, which shows the two men in the foreground and Stefani's head poking out in the background. She captioned it, "@blakeshelton @toddboy01 selfie w Blake Gx."
Gwen Stefani Instagram
Gwen Stefani Instagram
Fans are clearly loving the picture. It's already been liked over 40,000 times, suggesting that Stefani may indeed be the queen of photobombs.
"Ha!!! Not the selfie we wanted but still cute you guys are adorable," a1evy wrote.
"Omg I love you you are so awesome I am going to see you in August in Chicago love you Gwen stefani!!!!" deelykatt shared.
However, this isn't the only Shelton and Stefani news that you can look forward to this weekend. The two have been rehearsing for their upcoming performance at the Billboard Music Awards tonight, where they'll be singing their duet "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" — which many fans will be tuning in to see.
One such fan is tnswyers, who commented on Stefani's Instagram post to let the couple know how excited they are for the upcoming performance: "can't wait to see your duet tomorrow night.!! May you both be blessed together of lasting healthy relationship. True love is real when you find the right one.!!"
We love how goofy Shelton and Stefani are with each other, but what do you think? Are these two great together, or are you still holding out for Shelton to rekindle his romance with ex-wife Miranda Lambert? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Rory Feek has been on an emotional roller coaster over the last few months, and when his wife, Joey, died in March after her battle with cervical cancer, he was left heartbroken. Luckily, a decision Rory made in the past has managed to bring him some solace.
Taking to his blog, This Life I Live, on Saturday, Rory penned an emotional post about how he captured their lives on film — and the dramatic effect it has had on him in the present day.
"I filmed our lives for two-and-a-half years. I don't know why, I just did," Rory began the post. "Like writing this blog, something told me that I needed to capture that time of our lives on film. To have it forever. To be able to remember it and share it with others. I had no idea how important it would be."
After Joey died and Rory returned home from Indiana, he thought he would be able to "remember the good times" and all the beautiful memories that he and his wife had made together over the last 13 years. But he couldn't.
"All I could remember of her was the end," he wrote. "The five months of dying. The Joey that had no hair and couldn’t get out of bed. The mother that could barely hold the baby she loved. And the life we held together by a song, in the brick house by the Gaithers' pond."
His whole world had changed, and try as he might, Rory was unable to remember Joey when she was healthy.
"I could not remember her alive. All of the pictures on our mantle and music videos online seemed like something from a photo album. Ours, I guess. But long ago," he confessed.
But all that changed when Rory recently uncovered a hard drive "that held 6 terabytes of our lives – hundreds of hours of footage," and once he started to watch it, for him, Joey "came to life."
"In full color on the big screen of my iMac, Joey became alive again... filled with love and joy and hope and passion for me and for the life God had given us," Rory wrote. "And I remembered how incredibly beautiful she was. How kind and how special of a person she was. For days, I watched and I watched. And pretty soon... I could not remember the Joey that was on hospice in Indiana. The one that was frail and dying. 'That' Joey had been replaced by one that is alive and well..."
Rory has made the decision to document much of his life and share his thoughts on life without Joey, something which has served as a healing process not only for himself but for his fans, too.
The post has over 900 comments on it already, and fans are grateful to Rory for sharing it.
"Rory, just wanted you to know that I read your story that you share with world. You are a blessing to me. As you are with others," Tammy Davidson commented. "I'm not good with words I wasn't blessed like others are. You and the girls are still in my prays. God bless!"
"As always I am thankful that you share some of these special moments with your family of fans. Somehow, it helps us all I think," Noreen Maine wrote. "There is a lot to think about in these special moments — about life, about circumstances, about our own loved ones and those we love who are gone now. About Joey and what a special soul she was and still is. God Bless You Rory."
Taking to Instagram, Riley posted a video of herself in which she relayed an important message for all her haters. Looking into the camera, Riley said that there were "some things that her sober mind keeps her from sharing," but that was all about to change.
Amber Riley Instagram
Amber Riley Instagram
"Why does me being fat offend so many people? Is it because I'm confident and I'm fly and I'm sexy?" Riley asked. "Do my thighs offend? Does my stomach offend? Does my big juicy ass offend? Why? Why?!"
Riley then tells critics that they need to let her live instead of discriminating against her because she loves her body just the way it is. But perhaps the most powerful line of her entire video is toward the end, when she states, "When you come on here and call me fat, it's not an insult, dummy." And she delivered her message with the perfect amount of sass and confidence.
Riley captioned the post, "I got some things I need to get off my chest, and my thighs, and my stomach" — and fans have applauded her honesty.
"Wish I was as confident as you. Btw, don't listen to them, you're beautiful inside and out," bechloe_saga commented.
"this made me so confident. this made my day," jacquelynskye wrote.
And diamondessencex3 agreed, writing, "Yes Bae!!! and believe me we love you so continue to ignore these idiots, you are absolutely gorgeous and you sing like an angel."
Let's hope that Riley's empowering words not only make her haters back off but also serve as inspiration to others and a reminder that it's OK to love your body, no matter what size, shape or color it is.
The "Circus" singer walked the red carpet at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards looking absolutely amazing — so amazing, in fact, that we had to double-check and make sure these photos weren't from 2002 instead of 2016.
Image: Lester Cohen/BBMA 2016/Getty Images for dcp
Spears slayed in a black lace Reem Acra mini, complete with sheer sleeves, a train and plenty of embellishment. She completed the look with black heels, fishnet stockings that fit right above the knee and jewels from Jacob and Co.
Does the dress look a little familiar? It stood out right away because it reminds us of the teensy lace mini Spears wore to the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards.
Image: Getty Images
Of course, it's not the same dress, but 2002 Britney and 2016 Britney look almost identical — complete with big, blonde extensions.
It's wonderful to see Spears looking so healthy and confident after the rough years she's had. She hasn't been shy about posting bikini photos and dance pictures on Instagram — and why shouldn't she? Her long-running Las Vegas residency definitely agrees with her, and it shows.
The 30-year-old singer shined — literally — on the red carpet at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in a silver Philipp Plein dress with matching silver Casadei heels.
The shiny gown is gorgeous, but people were more concerned about what the dress didn't cover, like sideboob and leg. The dress is definitely racy, but nowhere near obscene — we've seen plenty more on other celebrities during past awards shows.
Image: JB Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images
The side cut-outs on both the midsection and legs show that she is definitely body positive, which is something we'll always support.
This is going to be a rough week as people are being contrary for contrary's sake. It would be OK if you felt like they actually had a point, but they don't. And the worst part is they're hell-bent on picking apart everything you do. Clearly this isn't the time to engage anyone in a reasonable discussion. Nor is it a good time to try to pitch, sell, promote or enlighten. Your best bet is to table any sale or negotiation until Mars comes out of retrograde on June 30. That won't sit well with your schedule, but schedules have been known to change.
Trying to finalize a financial deal is like pushing together two magnets that repel instead of attract. It doesn't matter how many times you rework, reposition and renegotiate — neither side is finding a satisfactory fit. Should you just call the whole thing off? Weeks ago that might have been an option but you've both come too far to back off now. The best idea may be to give the other party some space since it looks like most of the problems are coming from his side of the fence. Be patient and you'll begin to see some forward movement again after June 12.
There are no escape routes. Saturn in Sagittarius has blocked them all off. That means you're going to have to make peace with your less than appealing circumstances. This could entail returning to a damaged relationship, re-embracing a family member you'd rather not see again or accepting the short end of the stick that's being handed to you. It will feel like defeat, but it's actually a victory in the making. Indeed, you're at your most inventive when resources are limited. Most people make lemonade when life hands them lemons. You're one of the special few who can turn a profit at it.
It's amazing how you will pour all of your energy into thankless tasks while ignoring your own natural talents. You say it's because you can't make a living doing what you love to do, but how do you know if you don't try? Sometimes in our pursuit of security we overlook the things we value most. We're ready to sacrifice our joy and creative fulfillment to our financial woes and apprehensions. All of this is to say that you are at a crossroads at work. You could continue the same old, same old, or plot a new course. Try something different. You might surprise yourself.
You could probably find a more lucrative job somewhere else, but what would you get out of it? Money, status and perks to start with — and probably more. Yet there's something that still appeals to you about your current job. Maybe it's making a difference, the feeling that you're sorely needed or the freedom to do what you want. You know your decision leaves friends scratching their heads, but that's because their jobs are jobs and not living, breathing expressions of who they are. You know what you have is special. You may not want to make the sacrifices it requires forever, but for now you will.
Oftentimes people focus on the lucky side of Jupiter while overlooking the fact that Jupiter is also the planet of higher purpose. When you have Jupiter in your sign, you answer to a higher authority: your conscience. This could present a moral dilemma this week when your conscience demands that you remain immoveable on a stand that's quickly losing momentum and support. You may think your job of raising questions and getting people to resist easy answers is over, but the Jupiter/Saturn square on May 26 says you're not finished yet. It could even be argued that your real work has just begun.
You are being pushed further and further into adopting positions that make you stand apart rather than stand with. It's understandably uncomfortable given your penchant to test the waters so that you're certain not to rock the boat. Nevertheless, you've always been a big believer in principles and given the way that some people are twisting their means in order to justify their ends, you feel that you can no longer support them in these endeavors. A compromise should never be compromising. Stand tall in what you believe to be right and you'll discover that you have more support than you initially thought.
Mars retrogrades back into Scorpio on May 27 and it will remain backwards until June 29. Retrogrades signal a time when the planet's energy is working against its natural inclination. Instead of rushing forward, for instance, Mars will be beating a retreat. This could signal a sudden loss of nerve, a panic response or a regression to past patterns where you pulled up stakes and moved rather than stared down an opponent. Some might say that discretion is the better part of valor, but not in this case. You need to keep on pushing on or you will always wonder what could have been.
Virgo is the zodiac sign of work and health and for the past year your ruling planet Jupiter has encouraged you to take these two areas of your life more seriously. No longer content to slave away for a paycheck, you're in the process of making changes that will align you with something you regard as your life's work; something in service to others that also expresses your higher purpose. As for your body? You might seek a career in the health industry. And if not? Then now's the time to start treating your body like the temple it is, rather than a rental.
This week you receive a calling card from your higher purpose. It won't be any great epiphany or revelation. It will arrive in the simple guise of an opportunity to do what you have always wanted to do. You may have to change your lifestyle, streamline commitments and maybe take a cut in pay — but you'll be happy. As a child of Saturn you have a healthy respect for time and you can't help feeling like it's passing you by. Don't be afraid to take the plunge. Not only is this new path more fulfilling — it's also a lot more sustainable than you imagined.
On May 27 Mars retrogrades back into that part of your solar chart that pertains to your career and its success. Mars is the planet of conflict and men and its backwards motion indicates that you have some unfinished business to take care of with a boss, client or backer. It's time to flex your muscles and if you won't do it voluntarily, then Mars will make you do it through some form of provocation. You need to step into the leadership position. No more power behind the throne, backseat driving or proxy partnerships. You need to be in charge. You, and you alone.
You can't continue traveling the path of least resistance when Jupiter squares Saturn on May 26. You're at the end of the road and must now commit to tougher terrain. This means making decisions (instead of ducking them), tackling challenges (instead of avoiding them) and doing whatever it takes to move your life forward. The irony is that you'll find that this is an easier way to live. If anything you'll wonder what took you so long to get with the program. Procrastination and diversion work to siphon off our energy, but now that you're focused and motivated you'll never lose your way again.
The fact that you keep running into a certain someone at the most unexpected places either means that he's a stalker or the universe has plans for you. Thankfully it's the latter, which means that you should ask him out. He's probably not your first choice — Venus in Gemini usually points to something complicated like he's the best friend of the guy you're crushing on or the brother of someone you used to date — but give it a shot. At the very least you'll have a good time and who knows? He might win you over despite your reservations. It pays to be open-minded.
A loved one is having trouble finding his way and Mars reentering Scorpio on May 27 shows that the backsliding will only get worse. It's hard to countenance because things are going so well for you and you just don't understand why he's struggling. And it's precisely because of this that you need to be patient and supportive. There are times when things come easily and times when they don't. It wasn't so long ago that you experienced similar frustrations, so take the expectations off the table and be there as a friend and confidante. His prospects will improve at the end of June.
What started out as a good idea — dating two guys so that you didn't get stuck on one — has become a headache. Both are interested in you and both are experiencing some very real problems. One can't get ahead despite his very real talents and skills while the other doesn't want to commit but spends a lot of time around your backdoor. What to do? Well, this is what they call a holding pattern in astrology so don't expect any answers until July. Meanwhile, some people might say that they should be so lucky as to have to decide between two men in their lives.
Mars re-entering Scorpio on May 27 means that you and a certain someone aren't through. You wish you were, but you aren't. For most people romance is all about the passion. Either they're hot for each other or they're not. Romance for you, however, is based on emotional history. You really treasure all the moments you shared together and you take that seriously. Sometimes more seriously than your partner, but that won't be the case in this instance. If anything he's warming up at the time that you've cooled down and that will result in some interesting conversations over the next four weeks.
We close the door when we don't want to be hurt anymore. And given how many times a loved one has broken your heart it makes perfect sense that you would rather not answer that knock. Nevertheless you will be hearing from this person in the next few weeks and this time it will be quite serious. Either he truly wants to make a fresh start of things or circumstances are so dire that you really do have to fly to his side. In any case, this isn't just another false promise. You really are being given a chance to set things right.
You get the answer you've been waiting for on May 26 when Jupiter squares Saturn. And even though it's a "yes," you can't help feeling as if you've lost in the long run. You haven't, but this particular planetary square is often connected to the loss of innocence, belief and faith. You want things to go back to the way they were, but they can't because that time has passed. What you're being shown, however, is the path to a better future, so pick up your wounded pride, bundle up your hurt feelings and marshal on. You'll find that the future will not disappoint.
You need to play responsibly while Venus is in Gemini (May 24 to June 17). Right now you're into see and be seen and you're collecting names and numbers like "likes" on a Facebook page. You're more emoji than emotional. That's not the case with someone who's enamored by you. He's been through the mill recently and you're the first patch of blue he's seen in an unbroken streak of gray. Obviously this is the most flattering kind of attention, but if that's all you're into these days, then it's best that you let him down swiftly and gently before anyone gets hurt.
Love has always been your weak spot. In every other area of your life, you maintain supreme control but when it comes to your one and only? Well, this is when you always make your most serious and costly mistakes. Right now that person who you would do anything for needs you to take the lead because he's flying blind — and not only is he flying blind, he's on a collision course with a large, looming and immovable reality. Overriding him, pulling the plug on a venture or simply saying "no" won't go over well, but your timely intervention will save the day.
Mars is the planet of fight or flight and right now you may find yourself at the center of several spats that you're desperate to escape. You need to ask yourself what you can do on your end to change the conversation for the better. That may require more listening, acknowledgement for your part in escalating matters and in some instances realizing that the person who's angry at you may be angry at someone else. In any event you need to stay put and take the heat. People will eventually calm down and see reason and when they do they'll thank you for it.
You'll notice a number of friends tumbling down some slippery slopes this week. There was a time when you would have been impatient with their mistakes and unmoved by their sob stories. Thankfully Saturn in Sagittarius has changed that. Not only have the past 18 months made you more spiritual, they've also made you more generous in spirit. Love and sympathy are in short supply nowadays which is why it's so important for each of us to exhibit and express them in our lives. You may not be able to change the world, but there's nothing saying you can't improve your own little corner of it.
You get uncomfortable when too many people like you. There's something about being popular that makes you suspicious and uneasy. Some might say it's because you were born under the zodiac sign of the revolutionary, but it's really about not wanting to lower your guard. You're afraid that if you believe the hype then you'll grow self-satisfied and lose that cutting edge and relentless drive that makes you fight for what's right. You need to know that it's working with people — rather than bossing them around — that makes you the effective and caring person that you are. It's why so many people like you.
Your relationship reaches a crossroads and you really must decide if you see any future in it. It's clear that one of you is going to have to make some pretty big life changes if this is going to work. This may require a change in location, a change in career or even a change in religion. It used to be a given that as a woman you would be the one to make the sacrifices to support your man, but that's not the case anymore. Continue your conversation and he might surprise you by meeting you more than halfway. Stranger things have happened.
Sharon was out shopping in Beverly Hills, while Ozzy was photographed boarding a private jet in LA. Sharon was spotted without her ring on just a day after she told her co-hosts on The Talk that she's doing well, despite deciding to end her marriage.
"I think I'm the strongest I've ever been right now and [with] everything that's going on with my life," she said during Tuesday's episode of the show. "I feel it."
After 33 years together, Sharon reportedly made the call to instigate a split from Ozzy after she discovered he had had an affair with a hairstylist. According to Us Weekly, Sharon even got the stylist fired from the salon where she worked, and then Ozzy supported her financially.
"She was upset that he was supporting this woman!" the source said. "She and [daughter] Kelly both called the salon repeatedly for about two weeks before the news broke, trying to get in touch with Michelle. They were really angry. Sharon is the reason Michelle was let go."
Other sources close to the family have given up details about Ozzy's alleged affair, saying he even disappeared for days at a time.
"Sharon thought he had gone on a walk and had some kind of medical emergency," an insider said about one time when Ozzy disappeared.
