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Bethenny Frankel's got a new boyfriend and this one could really stick

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When Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel puts her mind to something, there's a 100 percent chance it's getting accomplished. That's why it's no surprise that she's got herself a summer boyfriend. According to E! Online, she's dating NYC banker Dennis Shields. The two are even going out in public.

More: Bethenny Frankel's jawline looks different because it is different

Shields is the CEO of a company called LawCash, says the New York Post. According to LawCash's website, they provide "litigation funding for thousands of potential plaintiffs, plaintiffs, and attorneys." As someone who's watched Frankel for years, I think she needs a powerful man by her side. Dennis, is it you?

More: Every fight on RHONY seems to start with bad advice from Ramona Singer

Insiders report the pair is getting along swimmingly in these early stages of their relationship. “Bethenny and Dennis seem happy together and have traveled together,” a source spilled to Us Weekly. “They have gone out with Carole [Radziwill] and Adam [Kenworthy], and have hung out with each other’s friends." Since Radziwill and Kenworthy are also RHONY co-stars, that sounds like just as much of a filming opportunity as a double date, but we'd never put it past Frankel to kill two birds with one stone.

And although Frankel is still embroiled in her never-ending divorce from Jason Hoppy, that may not be as much of a problem. Shields is allegedly still just separated from his wife as well. They sound like birds of a slightly dysfunctional feather, and we'd better get to see them on the next season of RHONY.

More: Bethenny Frankel introduces a new way to think about marriage

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Real Housewives slideshow
Image: Bravo

5 tips to keep your spirits up during pregnancy bed rest

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The house was eerily quiet. From outside, I heard squeals of children being shepherded into their cars for the last few days of school before summer vacation. This was the first time I had been home on a weekday, and I had no idea what to do with myself.

More: I had a double placenta and it almost killed me after I gave birth

I was six weeks pregnant when I was prescribed bed rest. I agreed to it wholeheartedly because I wanted to do whatever I could to protect my baby, but the emotional impact that bed rest took was something I wasn't prepared for.

As someone who was always on the go with a full work and social calendar, I loved being busy. I thrived on being busy. So sitting at home every day staring mindlessly at the TV and worrying about what could happen, while my friends and family went about their lives, was pure torture on the best of days.

As the weeks went on, the isolation grew, my stress shot through the roof and I didn't recognize myself anymore. I quickly realized how little support there is for women with high-risk pregnancies and who are on bed rest. So after my son came home, I used my training as a child and family therapist to become a perinatal wellness counselor to help women who are bored, worried and feeling helpless while they give their baby the best chance at a healthy start to life.

Here are five things I did on bed rest that I now teach my clients to help curb the boredom and fight off bed rest blues.

1. Create a schedule

Wake up and have your meals around the same time every day. Set times for making phone calls, catching up on Netflix or working. This will give your day some structure so the days don't bleed together. This will also motivate you to find activities to fill your day and help with the boredom.

2. Do something with your hands

When you're on bed rest for weeks on end, constantly watching TV or movies can get boring and feeds into the feeling that you aren't accomplishing anything. This can be especially hard for moms who are used to being productive and busy.

Whether it's doing art, teaching yourself how to knit or sending handwritten notes, find something to keep your hands busy. You will feel accomplished at the end of the day when you see how many envelopes are stacked high with personal notes or how much bigger your baby blanket is getting, which can help boost your mood.

More: My fifth home birth turned into a surprise hospital water delivery

3. Schedule get-togethers

Organize a juice and cheese night with your girlfriends or a game night with other couples. The isolation that you feel on bed rest is prime breeding ground for antepartum depression, which is linked to pregnancy complications and preterm birth. Do your best to stay as social as your body can tolerate, even if you can't leave your house.

4. Indulge in what makes you happy

Now is not the time to hold back. Find what makes you happy and add more of it in your life. Whether it's spending time with your best friend, ordering a special treat online or getting a backrub from your partner, ask for what you want. Doing things that make you happy will lower your anxiety, which is important for your health and your baby's health during a high-risk pregnancy.

5. Get support

You are going through a very difficult time, one that is not meant to be endured alone. Talk to your doctors about your fears and concerns. Stay in touch with friends and family who are supportive. If you're struggling with keeping your mood up or managing your anxiety, reach out for professional support from someone who is familiar with coping on bed rest so you can learn tools to feel calmer and more hopeful as you fight for you baby.

More: Creating a parenting village has been crucial for my family

Parijat Deshpande is a Perinatal Wellness Counselor who works with women experiencing stress and anxiety during their high-risk pregnancy and while on bed rest. Combining her professional expertise in clinical psychology and women's wellness with her personal experience with a very high-risk pregnancy, Parijat guides moms to manage their overwhelming feelings so they can feel calmer, more confident and more hopeful and have a healthier pregnancy. Parijat offers emotional, health and wellness support through private virtual sessions with women during their high-risk pregnancy and during the postpartum period.

5 recipes that prove teriyaki sauce is more than a marinade

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If you're anything like most people, you have a bottle of teriyaki sauce that's been sitting in your fridge for... forever? It tends to last a long time when the only thing you use it for is to top Chinese takeout and create the occasional marinade.

It's time to buy a new bottle or two, though. These five recipes are just a start to how much you can do with this diverse ingredient.

Image: SheKnows

Ramen salad with teriyaki dressing

Ingredients:

(For the salad)

  • 16 ounces coleslaw mix
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 1 cup diced cucumber
  • 6 ounces Ramen noodles
  • 1 (11-ounce) can mandarins, save drained juice
  • 1/2 cup cooked and shelled edamame
  • 1/4 cup diced green onions
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

(For the teriyaki salad dressing)

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the salad, then set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the teriyaki salad dressing.
  3. Pour dressing over salad and mix well.
  4. Serve immediately.

Next: Grilled salmon teriyaki

This post was sponsored by Kikkoman.

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Image: SheKnows

Grilled salmon teriyaki

Ingredients:

  • 6-ounce salmon filet
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 5 ounces Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce
  • 1 apple, cored and sliced into 1/4-inch slices

Directions:

  1. Warm up the grill.
  2. Combine sliced apples, butter and teriyaki sauce in small saucepan, cooking until apples are caramelized.
  3. Place salmon on grill at an angle for about 4 minutes.
  4. Rotate salmon in opposite direction to create great grill marks for 1 – 4 minutes.
  5. Flip and do the same to the other side.
  6. When salmon is finished grilling, add to your plate, top with caramelized apples, and drizzle sauce across.
  7. Serve immediately. We like to serve ours with wasabi mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.

Next: Bacon-wrapped teriyaki pineapple bites

This post was sponsored by Kikkoman.

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Image: SheKnows

Bacon-wrapped teriyaki pineapple bites

Ingredients:

  • 1 fresh pineapple
  • 1-pound thick hickory smoked bacon
  • 1 cup Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce

Directions:

  1. Cut off top and bottom of pineapple, core it, and remove skin.
  2. Slice pineapple into thick 1-inch slices.
  3. Slice the rings into 1-inch-wide pieces.
  4. Cut bacon strips in half.
  5. Wrap each piece of pineapple in a half piece of bacon.
  6. Place on rimmed cookie sheet that is lined with parchment paper.
  7. Brush on Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce.
  8. Turn oven to 350 degrees F right before you place your bacon-wrapped pineapple in the oven. It is very important to not pre-heat the oven to prevent the bacon from burning.
  9. Cook for 45 – 50 minutes until bacon reaches desired level of crispiness.

Next: Teriyaki turkey lettuce cups

This post was sponsored by Kikkoman.

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Image: SheKnows

Teriyaki turkey lettuce cups

Ingredients:

  • 1 head butter lettuce
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 cup finely chopped broccoli
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup diced mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup shelled edamame
  • 1 cup Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce

Directions:

  1. Add oil to the pan.
  2. Warm pan to medium-high.
  3. Sauté onions and mushrooms.
  4. Once onions become translucent, add turkey.
  5. Once turkey has started to brown, add broccoli, carrots, garlic and edamame.
  6. Once the turkey has barely any pink left, turn the heat to medium-low, add the Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
  7. Spoon mixture into lettuce cups and serve.

Next: Grilled teriyaki wings

This post was sponsored by Kikkoman.

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Image: SheKnows

Grilled teriyaki wings

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 pounds chicken wings
  • 2 cups Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat your grill.
  2. Place wings on grill without the wings touching.
  3. Cook for 8 minutes and turn.
  4. Cook another 8 minutes and baste teriyaki sauce on the wings before turning.
  5. Cook for another 3 – 4 minutes and re-baste the wings and turn for another 3 – 5 minutes.
  6. The wings should be fully cooked after about 25 minutes.

This post was sponsored by Kikkoman.

No matter what Liam Hemsworth says, a wedding is going down

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Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are planning to tie the knot Down Under on a beach with kangaroos and boomerangs, maybe? Definitely a lot of tongues sticking out.

Cyrus and Hemsworth reunited last winter and she was later spotted flashing her old engagement ring oh-so-subtly on Instagram, understandably leading to rumors that they got re-engaged. Despite Hemsworth's denials that they were planning a wedding, the rumors have not abated — and now the nuptials seem much more certain.

"They're getting married on the beach," a source close to the couple told Us Weekly, adding that the ceremony will be held in Hemsworth's native Australia.

"Their parents are doing most of the work. It's been easy!"

The insider said they hope to have a summer wedding, but since summer in Australia is winter here in the U.S., fans might have a while to wait to see what sort of white sequined leotard Cyrus will wear for her walk down the aisle.

More: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's wedding might be sooner than you think

Hemsworth did recently spill that he and Cyrus are back together — at least, he kind of did. In an interview with GQ Australia, he said of their relationship, "I guess when I feel something, then I just feel it and I go for it. I make my decisions about what's going to make me happy, what I think is right and what I want to do — and I don't worry too much outside of that.

"People will figure it out, they already have ... They're not dumb."

Meanwhile, Cyrus is all

Miley Cyrus middle finger IG

Miley Cyrus middle finger IG

to the haters who say weed is not an appropriate wedding favor to give guests, or that kangaroos dressed like the Thunder Down Under are not proper wedding entertainment.

More: Dolly Parton spills the beans on Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's romance

No, it’s not rude to bring your own food to a restaurant when you have kids

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When my son was first born, dining out was easy. Titan slept soundly in his car seat, while my husband and I enjoyed the restaurants we craved — Japanese hibachi, seafood and Mexican. We ate anywhere we wanted without a second thought. But as Titan got older, eating at the places we enjoyed diminished dramatically. Our choices revolved around kid-friendly restaurants. I'll be honest: I can only have Red Robin, IHOP and Olive Garden so many times.

Suddenly, my husband and I found ourselves avoiding going out to eat altogether. Which is how I became that mom who brings her child's dinner to a restaurant.

More: Kids attempt to draw their dads and, well, you gotta see this

It began a few years ago, when my husband and I first built our dream house in Swansboro, North Carolina. The area is dotted with adorable locally owned restaurants up and down the downtown waterfront. Up to our eyeballs with French fries and burgers, we decided to stop into an Italian place named Trattoria's.

When the server came to take our order, I asked for a child's milk. "I'm sorry," she said, "we only have cream." Not a single sauce recipe called for an ounce of milk (or as my family calls it, gravy). Here were our choices: Leave and find another place, or run to the store and return with a few small milks.

We chose the latter.

But nothing on the menu came in a kid's portion, and nothing was served family style. I wanted calamari. My husband wanted mussels in a white wine sauce. Titan would only touch the baked ziti with meatballs. Surprise, surprise: He ate about seven bites of a massive adult plate. Save it for leftovers? That would be a good idea, if we all liked red sauce.

The bottom line is, it was a meal neither of us would have ordered in the first place.

"So much for trying new places," Eric said, disheartened.

More: Oh good grief: Room sharing is not a parenting trend

When the next weekend arrived, he dared to ask if I wanted to go out again. "Olive Garden? IHOP? Red Robin? Outback?" Without realizing it, he was letting our son's palate dictate where we dined out as a family. It was habit. Again. And dear God, I was tired of it.

I want hibachi, I declared. Immediately, Eric suggested we call our babysitter to check her availability before making any further plans. But I wanted to bring Titan with us. I wanted to experience the places we enjoyed as a couple, as a family. And I was already thinking ahead to when our second son, Tristan, begins eating solid foods.

I don't want to be confined to restaurants where the hostess gives crayons with our utensils.

That night, I took our small insulated travel container and packed Ty's favorite in aluminum foil: grilled cheese. I added a travel milk (the same as we had to buy when we went to Trattoria's), pickles and apple slices. To me, it felt no different than, say, packing a balanced snack for t-ball practice. Go ahead, call me rude. Preach to me the foodie gospel, you should broaden your son's horizons and make him experience new foods, now.

I'll say the same thing I told my husband when he (at first) crinkled his brow towards my solution. Pick your poison: an irritated and vocal child with an empty stomach, or this?

I do realize that as Titan gets older he'll have to, well, suck it up. You won't spot me placating his picky eating when he's 12. But he's only four. Dinner is not that serious right now. What is important is spending quality time together without being stressed out over the menu. And why should it bother others anyway? I'm not at their table unwrapping sandwiches and sides under their noses and over their plates.

More: Her breastfeeding photo went viral, then came the death threats

At restaurants, I get a handful of stares, a few dirty looks. But here's the reality: That first time, Ty sat sweetly, respectfully, and ate every bite. And Mom and Dad? We indulged in a meal taken for granted during our dating years. I was even able to slip bite of shrimp dipped in tangy white sauce into Titan's little mouth. There was no anxiety, no yelling EAT THIS OR GO WITHOUT! More than that, there was no pressure. Titan tried it on his own terms and then chose to go back to his beloved sandwich. In our own way, I am teaching him new food can be good.

Together, we created a new pleasant memory with food we adore.

strong>Before you go, check out our slideshowbelow:

walking dead
Image: Mother Hubbard Photography

Lamar Odom's alleged relapse takes a frightening turn

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Everyone thought he hit rock bottom — but Lamar Odom has reportedly relapsed hard, and now he's taking his anger out on Khloé Kardashian.

While many hoped he was scared straight by the overdose that nearly killed him last fall, Odom started drinking again before Easter and, even more heartbreaking, a group of friends say they found drug paraphernalia scattered around his apartment when they attempted to stage an intervention.

More: Looks like Khloé Kardashian's had enough of Lamar Odom's antics

Kardashian had been by his side for most of it, but there is only so much a girl can take, and as she has started pulling away, Odom has started freaking out on her.

"He's totally lost it, calling her every name under the sun and yelling at her for breaking promises she made to him on his death bed," an insider told Radar Online.

"It's pretty vicious," continued the insider, adding that Odom "has been bombarding her with bitter texts and drunken rambling messages that are starting to scare her.

"She's now considering a restraining order against him because he's been threatening all kinds of crazy things, from spilling all her secrets to hoping she drops dead.

"He's broke and desperate and she's his last remaining source of cash — he's so out of control he's capable of anything."

More: Khloé Kardashian may have just shared her saddest tweets yet

It's a very sad situation, considering how hopeful his future looked when he appeared happy and healthy at Kanye West's New York Fashion Week show.

Since Kardashian's new tough love approach has garnered such a dramatically bad reaction, Odom's east coast family is trying the opposite tactic. According to TMZ, his aunt, cousin and other family members spent Friday showering him with love in an attempt to talk him into voluntarily checking into a rehab program. So far, no dice.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Khloe and Lamar timeline slideshow
Image: WENN

We don't blame Audrina Patridge for excluding The Hills costars from her wedding

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Things in Audrina Patridge's life are going pretty well right now: She's engaged to the love of her life, Corey Bohan, they're expecting their first child later this month and they're also busy planning their wedding — but Patridge's nuptials are not going to be as big or as extravagant as you may have thought.

More: Splitsville for The Hills alum Audrina Patridge and her beau

During an interview with Fit Pregnancy and Baby, Patridge gave some insight into her wedding plans and why the couple chose to wait until after she gives birth to tie the knot.

"I didn't want to rush getting married, because stress is bad for the baby. I was a little worried about people judging me for it, but Corey wasn't," Patridge told the magazine. "He said, 'Stop caring what people think. Their opinions don't matter.' Anyway, we've already been together for so long, it's like we're already married. It's just a title at this point — and a ring."

More: So Lauren Conrad's not returning to reality TV the way we were hoping

The pair plan to get married in November and there definitely won't be a huge crowd in attendance.

"We just finalized the guest list, and it's about 130 people, mostly family. As far as friends go, we only invited the ones who've been there for us in the past year and who will continue to be there for us for the next 30," Patridge revealed.

As for her former costars? Don't hold your breath. Patridge's comments about her The Hills costars confirm that she has successfully left that part of her life in the past.

"So, no one from The Hills made the cut. If we were doing a really big wedding, I'd invite them, but we're keeping it intimate," she admitted.

More: Spencer Pratt calls Lauren Conrad a "cold-hearted killer" in new interview

We're glad Audrina Patridge has found happiness, but are you surprised that she chose not to invite her The Hills costars to the ceremony? Or was it to be expected? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

My two Muslim kids can't help but notice they're 'different'

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“Is this our holiday or Grandma’s holiday?”

In our household, we used to hear this question repeatedly throughout the year. Jake and Sam are now old enough to remember which is which, but for a while, this was the big question. Christmas? Grandma’s. Ramadan? Ours. Easter? Grandma's. Eid? Ours. Diwali? Neither, but it’s still fun to go to the festival, isn’t it?

One of the biggest challenges we faced as parents was teaching religious tolerance from a young age. Young kids think in absolutes, yes and no, right and wrong. The idea that something is OK for me but not for you is one that takes some emotional maturity.

More: Her breastfeeding photo went viral, then came the death threats

But right from a young age, we were explaining that no, we don’t celebrate Christmas because we weren’t Christian. And we didn’t celebrate Hanukkah either because we weren’t Jewish. No, Allah wasn’t mad at other kids for celebrating those religions. And, yes, it was OK to play with toys Grandpa sent as Christmas presents. Yes, you may work on Easter pictures for Grandma and wish her a Happy Easter.

The boys wondered a lot about what was right. As they learned to pray and recite prayers in Arabic, they asked how Grandma and Grandpa prayed. When we went to a family member’s funeral in a church, they compared the experience to another funeral they’d attended in a masjid. When Ramadan came around, they wondered if their cousins on their father’s side even knew what fasting was.

And the inevitable question: “If we do this because Allah tells us to, isn’t it bad that they aren’t?”

One of my favorite verses in the Quran helps me answer consistently and without hesitation: “To you be your way, and to me mine.” Allah told us we don’t need to worry about what other people are doing so long as we stick with what he told us to do.

The boys already knew that each family had different rules. Their cousin was allowed to eat dessert even if he didn’t eat dinner. Their friends got to watch scary movies at night. In our family, we always gave a hug when we said we were sorry, but it was OK if someone else didn’t give us a hug when they were sorry. This came in handy answering religion questions. We pray on Fridays, and some other families pray on Sundays.

More: The scary truth about school lunch that has nothing to do with the food

It’s easier to notice the differences, the "we do this but they don’t," but it’s much more satisfying when we emphasize the commonalities. Sam was in kindergarten when he learned that the Orthodox Jews in our neighborhood observed Sabbath on Fridays; he was excited. “We have the same rules!”

There is a lot of rhetoric about Islam that we try to shelter the boys from.

No, it’s not true that Muslims want to kill Christians, or that Muslims hate everyone who lives in the United States. You know plenty of Muslims — is that true of your camp counselors, the cashier at the supermarket, your family and friends? No, it’s not true that Muslims can’t be friends with people of other faiths, that Allah will punish us if we go outside our own group. We want you to have a wide group of friends. Your family is already diverse. The current political situation doesn’t help, but we try.

Over dinner recently, Jake told us that his soccer team recites a prayer before every match. Since he plays in a Catholic school league, I said, “Oh, the Lord’s Prayer? Does it go like this? ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’”

When he nodded, his father asked, “What do you do when the team is praying?”

It turned out he and two of his teammates stand behind the team and just wait for the rest of the team. When I expressed surprise that one of the boys wasn’t Christian based on the name (a mistake I routinely make and am teaching myself to stop), Jake said the boy's family didn’t believe in God. I braced myself for questions about why some people didn’t believe in God.

More: You may think these 'mom-isms' are funny, but your kid doesn't

Sam shrugged and said, “Lakum dinukum, waliyadeen.”

“It’s up to their family to decide what they believe. Not mine,” Jake added.

We are doing something right.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

trips for kids
Image: Tomwang112/Getty Images



Kate Upton's body 'transformation' is not an invitation for your opinion

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Kate Upton is in the troubling situation of being a woman who has publicly changed her body. She's lost weight recently, and thanks to a new article in People on her "regular sweat sessions," we get to learn how she did it. No doubt Upton is proud of what she's accomplished — her trainer Ben Bruno, let's hope with her permission, shares that she has worked to "deadlift over 200 lbs., do sled pushes with 500 lbs., and do bear crawls with 300 lbs."

kate upton bday

kate upton bday

More: Kate Upton's Met Gala dress has got nothing on her huge engagement ring

What that means is the floor is now open for internet commenters to weigh in on Upton, who has rejected the term "plus-size model" in favor of the more inclusive "curvy." Did she look better before she lost weight? Is she hotter now? Are these pictures edited?

I shouldn't have to say this, but the only opinion that matters here is Upton's.

More: Get the look: Kate Upton's MTV Movie Awards hair

People commenters are going to town with arguments for and against her new look like: "I think she looked better with some more curves before. Now she looks too skinny, like everyone else in Hollywood." We also have the lovers: "Wow! She looks great and is very strong. Good for her." There are fans on both sides of the coin. Unfortunately, this isn't a debate, it's a person. Let's all try to remember that.

More: Kate Upton can't keep her clothes on... and now we know why

The Peach Palmer cocktail pairs well with flip-flops and a tan

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Arnold Palmers (mix of iced tea and lemonade) are a staple summer drink that go great in many boozy mixes. Monarch Rooftop Lounge master mixologist Genese DeBeaux took that idea to the next level with her Palmer-inspired cocktail with fresh peaches.

More: 18 Iced tea cocktails that are seriously refreshing

Peach Palmer recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 ounce Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
  • 1/2 ounce Deep Eddy Peach Vodka
  • 1 splash lemon juice
  • 1 splash simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup club soda
  • 3 – 4 fresh mint leaves
  • 2 – 3 slices fresh peach

Directions:

  1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the vodkas, lemon juice and simple syrup.
  2. Shake, and top with club soda.
  3. Garnish with peach slices and mint leaves.

If you can't find these vodkas, then mix up your own batch of iced tea with lemonade, and add club soda, plain vodka and fresh slices of peach and mint leaves.

More: Tea time: 4 summery iced tea cocktials

If you thought ghosting was shitty, benching is it's older, meaner sibling

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Sam was everything I wanted and I just knew we were meant to be. After all, he and called me all the time — this was 2002, before texting was even a thing — and always wanted to hang out. No matter that he would literally disappear every time he found another girl, only to act like nothing happened a couple of weeks later when it ended (and it always ended). I took this as confusion on his end — surely he liked me, right? That's why he kept coming back.

More: Revenge sex is said to bring closure but sexperts have a better way

Nope. Not at all. Not even a little.

It turns out there's a name for what he was doing to me — benching.

That's the term New York writer Jason Chen gives to the sorta-kinda-not-really dating process where you'll text with a love interest and flirt back and forth, but he or she will never actually make concrete plans — or will cancel them at the last minute. A little time passes and you get over it, only to have them reel you back in with a sweet "hey honeybun, how've you been?"

There are a few reasons it happens, but mainly it's because the person likes the ego boost that comes with keeping someone on the bench in case Plan A doesn't pan out. Others do it because they don't want to be mean and shut a person down.

More: 4 self-care tips for surviving a Taylor Swift-level breakup

"Conor, a 28-year-old law student in New York, says he’s often ignored advances from females in his life — but will continue to text and 'spend time' with them while at school or in the workplace," Chen writes. "'I won’t actually hang out one-on-one because I want to avoid any confusion for her about my interests,' he says, 'but I’ll still text with her, often a few days after those botched plans. She’ll say something like, ‘You’re too busy for me,’ and I’ll laugh and change the subject. Maybe it seems like I just don’t want to be an asshole, but to me it’s just polite.'"

Mainly, it's just one way of leading someone on, instead of being truthful about not wanting a relationship. It may seem harmless, but let me tell you that ghosting is a lot more kind. At least that's easy to get over. Instead, the person getting benched — like I was — definitely gets hurt, like death by a thousand cuts with salt then poured in the wounds.

Hindsight is 20/20 and I'm glad it happened this way, because he was a real douche. Still, don't bench another person; just be real. It stings to be rejected (and do the rejecting), but at least it makes things crystal clear.

More: No, I'm not afraid to be single in my 40s

Jessica Alba, Ellen Pompeo, Pink, Ayesha Curry and more celeb mom photos

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We have rounded up the sweetest, most heartwarming and hilarious celebrity mom photos from social media this week, starting with Jessica Alba, who celebrated her daughter Honor’s 8th birthday. Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo shared a rare photo of her daughters, while Kourtney Kardashian’s daughter was twinning with grandma Kris Jenner. Pink, Ayesha Curry, Tamera Mowry and Katherine Heigl all make the list of the trending celebrity moms on social media.

Kourtney Kardashian

Kourtney Kardashian and kids

Kourtney Kardashian and kids

It looks like Kris Jenner and Penelope Disick are Beyoncé fans! Kourtney Kardashian posted this cute photo of her mom with her daughter, Penelope, wearing matching lemon-printed dresses. Kardashian joked that “this is what happens when I leave town,” as the reality star was spotted in London hanging out with Lindsay Lohan.

Ayesha Curry

Ayesha Curry

Ayesha Curry

Ayesha Curry posted this fun family selfie as she and her husband, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, take a road trip with their adorable daughter Riley and their baby daughter Ryan. Curry recently joined up with Freshly Picked to release a line of colorful baby moccasins.

More: Baby names for your future sports star

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba’s husband, Cash Warren, shared this sweet snapshot of their daughters Honor and Haven. “Honor turned 8 today and I must say ... I'm super proud of her. She's badass and she has a heart of gold,” he captioned the photo, which shows Honor holding a bouquet of balloons.

Jessica Alba's birthday crepes

Jessica Alba's birthday crepes

Alba made the birthday girl these yummy Nutella crepes, along with a unicorn card for her birthday.

Next up: Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo posts a rare picture of her daughters

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Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Pompeo

Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo shared this photo celebrating the historic nomination of Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. In the caption, Pompeo thanked Clinton for showing her daughters, 6-year-old Stella and 2-year-old Sienna, that “they are capable of anything.”

More: Hillary Clinton running for president is the best thing for my sons

Pink

Pink's daughter Willow

Pink's daughter Willow

Pink’s daughter Willow has a huge crush on Matt Damon and loves his movie, The Martian, so it was only fitting that she has a Matt Damon-themed 5th birthday party.

The singer shared this Mars-inspired birthday cake, which included a photo cutout of Matt Damon perched on top.

Perfection.

Next up: Katherine Heigl and Tamera Mowry

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Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl

Katherine Heigl

Ellen Pompeo isn’t the only Grey’s Anatomy star to make our list this week, as Katherine Heigl, who played Dr. Izzie Stevens on the hit show, shared this sweet photo with her two children, Naleigh and Adalaide.

Tamera Mowry

Tamera Mowry's family

Tamera Mowry's family

Tamera Mowry just shared an epic throwback picture as she and her husband, FOX News correspondent Adam Housley, hung out with Michelle Obama. In the photo, Obama is holding their daughter Ariah, while her husband holds their son Aden.

More: Celebrity baby bumps —Olivia Wilde, Candice Swanepoel, Behati Prinsloo and more pregnant celebs

How to grill if you don't actually have a proper outdoor grill

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Ah, grilling season. The perfect time of year to add the smoky flavor of the open grill to your favorite foods. Unless you live in an apartment or in an area with less-than-predictable grilling weather. Have no fear. You can enjoy the flavors of the outdoors rain or shine even if you live on the 14th floor and, at the time, skipping out on the unit with a balcony to save on rent seemed like a good idea.

Tools of the trade

Grilling doesn't require propane or charcoal. It doesn't even require an actual flame, for that matter. It just requires high, dry and direct heat. Which is good, since we don't really recommend the use of propane or charcoal indoors.

Unless you can afford to (and have the authorization to) get a stove with a grill surface built in, there are two main options to substitute for an outdoor grill: stovetop grill pans and countertop grills.

More: How to grill the tender, sweet shrimp you're craving in 4 easy steps

Countertop: Most people assume the countertop grills are the best option. That may or may not be true depending on the specifications of the model. If you're committed to a countertop model, make sure it has the right options:

  • Full temperature controls
  • Temperature goes above 450 degrees F (an outdoor grill can get as hot as 700 degrees F)
  • Lid that doesn't cause your food to steam

Stovetop: Grill pans, on the other hand, are limited only by the maximum temperature of your stovetop. They're also easier to store. These are the features you should look for:

  • Cast-iron, because it more closely mimics the outdoor grill's finished product, gets screaming hot and maintains a consistent temperature
  • Single-burner grill pans, because cast iron needs full contact with the burners for even heat

I like this reversible grill-to-griddle model from Lodge.

I also like using a single-burner induction cooktop for indoor grilling because I have a glass cooktop on my stove, and I do worry about it cracking either due to high heat or because I drop a heavy cast-iron grill on it. That's obviously optional.

More: 10 brilliant hacks for your Memorial Day cookout

Get that grill screamin' hot

Whether you're using a countertop model or a stovetop one, your indoor grill has to be preheated just like an outdoor grill. For a countertop model, consult the instruction manual, as different grills will take different amounts of time to preheat.

For a cast-iron grill, place it in an oven preheated to the temperature you need to cook at for about 15 minutes. When it's done, using heavy-duty oven mitts, put it on a preheated burner, carefully oil it up, and cook just like you would outdoors. Barbecuing traditionally uses lower temperatures at some point in the process (if not all the way through), whereas traditional grilling (burgers, steaks, etc.) may need higher temps for searing the outside of the meat.

More: Complete summer grilling guide for BBQ enthusiasts

Outdoor grill flavor hack

While it's true that you don't require an open flame to accomplish grilling scientifically, the lack of the smoke that comes with that flame will affect the flavor. There are several ways to mimic that smokiness when you have no choice but to cook sans fire:

  • Add smoky spices to your rubs: smoked paprika, ancho chili powder, chipotle powder, cumin, smoked salts.
  • Rub the outside of meats with about 1/8 teaspoon of liquid smoke before grilling.
  • Use bacon grease as your fat instead of oil or butter.
  • Add smoky liquids to your barbecue sauce: liquid smoke, smoked beer, adobo sauce, molasses.

Can grilling indoors ever taste exactly like outdoor grilling? Maybe not, but you might just find that some of these flavors make indoor grilling your preference.

Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello tells how Taylor Swift is really doing post-breakup

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While the entire world may be heartbroken that Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris split up, the two of them actually seem to be doing OK.

More: Apparently, all Kanye West wants for his birthday is Taylor Swift's love

And while Swift hasn't spoken out personally about how she's doing post-breakup, her friends have it covered, including Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello.

Cabello opened up to E! News at this week's CMT Awards in Nashville about how Swift is handling the split, saying, "She's good. She was just in Nashville."

Swift has been spending a lot of time with friends, family and even fans since she and Harris called it quits, and she's been photographed leaving the gym looking genuinely happy. According to sources, she's doing very well despite her high-profile breakup.

More: Quit calling Taylor Swift a failure simply because she's single again

"Taylor is extremely upbeat when she works out. She always really takes her workouts seriously and has a smile on her face while pushing through," a source said about how her workouts are keeping her happy amid the drama. "Her body is in amazing shape."

The source continued, "She did not speak about Adam [Calvin Harris] or mention anything about the breakup. Overall, she was really happy and seemed like nothing was bothering her."

The only public statement that's been made was a tweet written by Harris, saying, "The only truth here is that a relationship came to an end & what remains is a huge amount of love and respect." Swift retweeted his words.

Other insiders have said the breakup was no one's fault, but that Swift and Harris simply were "very different people" and "were just not very compatible in different areas in their relationship." Ultimately, insiders said, they "seemed like they were more friends than lovers."

More: Taylor Swift pulled off one of her epic Swiftie surprises at a wedding

Happy Friday — Kim Zolciak is electrocuting her daughter

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I'll be generous and call Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann's parenting techniques "experimental." They've been known to post hospital visits, mother-daughter bikini pics and teenage twerking to Snapchat. This week, Zolciak's Snapchat video revealed the couples' latest tactic: putting an electric dog collar on their 14-year-old daughter Ariana.

More: We're with Kim Zolciak: We wouldn't mind seeing Kroy Biermann as the Live! host

In exchange for spending time with her friends, Ariana's father zapped her with the electric dog collar. "She'll do anything to hang out with her friends," Zolciak commented on the video. These two must not remember how real teenage peer pressure is. I can't think of much I wouldn't have done at age 14 to hang out with my friends. Thankfully, I had parents who didn't take advantage of that to publicly humiliate me. The main question here is just... Why?

Ariana Biermann
Image: Snapchat

Ariana seems totally trusting of her parents, even as they're putting an (I repeat) electric dog collar around her neck. She even says ,"I really like this" as she feels the shocks. "But you can't cry," her dad tells her. Father of the year, anyone?

More: We try to defend her, but this time Kim Zolciak took her Snapchat too far

Zolciak films away for Snapchat while rebuking her family. She says, "You like getting shocked, you psycho? You two are not right. Are you guys idiots? Who does this? These two are not right, I'm not even playing."

Ariana Biermann
Image: Snapchat

It's harsh to say, but with Zolciak's caption, "Eat poop," we may have gotten to the bottom of how she feels about her daughter.

More: Kim Zolciak is getting attacked for decisions Brielle's making as an adult


Please don't call my daughter a tomboy — she's so much more than that

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I used to describe my daughter as a tomboy. I thought it was enough that I celebrated the fact that she wasn’t into typical "girl stuff," and didn't try to shoehorn her into princess dresses and glittery shoes. "Tomboy" was a label I’d grown up with in books and in movies, and the natural way to describe a little girl who shuns fairies in favor of superheroes and would rather climb a tree or ride a scooter than push a doll around in a pram.

More: 16 potty training tweets that might make you pee your pants

Over the past 12 months, however, I’ve made a concerted effort not to use the word "tomboy." As my daughter (and her big brother) grow up and progress through the school system, deal with the inevitable friendship dramas and playground politics and begin to work out their place in the world, I’ve started to see life — real life — through their eyes.

From my daughter’s perspective, that’s life through the eyes of a little girl who is always drawn toward the "boy" aisle in the toy store, who really, really never wants to wear a dress, and who has very little interest in going to Frozen-themed birthday parties because she knows if she goes dressed as Olaf, all the Annas and Elsas will stare at her.

It was last year, when someone else referred to my daughter (now 5) as a tomboy, that I realized how wrong it is. "What’s a tomboy?" she asked me.

As I quickly ran through the possible responses in my head, it struck me how much bullshit they are. Whatever I said — "a girl who acts like a boy"; "a girl who likes boy stuff" — made it sound as if she were somehow doing something wrong, going against what nature intended for her. The best I could come up with — "a girl who likes to be active and have adventures and do exciting things" — was still completely flawed. There was no getting away from the fact that the label has the word "boy" in it, which suggests that my daughter is less of a girl than the other, princess-dress-wearing, non-tree-climbing girls.

More: The surprising summer danger for kids that's right in your backyard

Our tomboy conversation left me frustrated, and I sensed that she was a little confused. It’s no wonder, when everybody is telling her that girls and boys are different and have to conform to certain stereotypes, yet her mother is saying, "Nope, that’s rubbish, there’s no such thing as boys' stuff."

It’s the little ways these outdated stereotypes are reinforced that bug me. When my daughter was in pre-school, her class had two advent calendars in the buildup to Christmas. Each day, a different child would open a window and get the little square of chocolate. One calendar was Spiderman, and the other was Disney princesses. No prizes for guessing which was for the boys and which was for the girls. This might sound like no big deal to some people. But for me, as the mom of the little girl who was desperate to open the window in the Spiderman calendar, it was.

Another reason I hate the "tomboy" label is that my daughter is so much more than a girl who acts like a boy. She’s extremely nurturing and compassionate — typically feminine traits. She’s quiet and sweet-natured and loves to write, draw and invite me to tea parties.

I want her to know that all these different interests and parts of her personality can coexist, and that her version of being a girl is just as authentic as any other girl’s. She can be feminine when she’s chasing a football around the park or scrambling to the top of a tree — just as feminine as she would be if she were painting her nails or arranging her tiara collection.

More: The best grandparents on Facebook might just suck IRL

The last time we spoke about being a tomboy, I told her it was an old-fashioned word that people shouldn't use any more. It was the best I could do, and I think she bought it. So please, don't call her a tomboy — because she's just as much a girl as any other.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Books every girl should read
Image: Teresa Short/Getty Images

You need to make this sweet potato toast right now

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I know this sounds familiar, but stop what you're doing and... look at this sweet potato toast. In fact, don't just look at it — get thee to a grocery store, pick up a sweet potato, and make some of this magic happen in your own kitchen.

More: 20 grilled vegetarian recipes that go beyond boring kebabs

sweet potato toast

sweet potato toast

Kelsey Preciado of Little Bits Of came up with this idea we all now wish we'd thought of ourselves. All she does is slice the tater lengthwise about 1/4 inch thick, and then she toasts it — twice.

More: 10 trail mixes for when you're hungry like a wild forest creature

sweet potato toaster

sweet potato toaster

From there, the sky is the limit. Preciado tops hers with avocado (because of course), almond butter with banana slices or tuna salad. Which means the sky's the limit, people. What do you love on toast? Put it on a sweet potato, and give yourself some beta carotene love.

More: 20 heavenly golden elixirs made with turmeric

Sweet potato eggs Benedict, anyone? Totally making that for brunch.

H/T Well and Good

3 summery-light spritz cocktails for the slightest ladylike buzz

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Here's a conversation I keep having:

Me (after fumbling to locate my cellphone upon hearing a syncopated 1980s R&B star ringtone): "Hello?"

BFF: "Remember that guy from the jazzy day party?"

Me: "Yes, I do."

BFF: "I’m inviting him over before our dinner date. Girl, you know I’m always two sheets to the wind after an alcohol sip."

Me: "I have a solution."

A low-alcohol drink with heaping bounce is sweeping the warm-weather months. Wave hello to the Italian-born cocktail — spritz is having a moment in the land of red, white and blue.

New cocktail book Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes makes me waltz around the room. Part tome and the other half recipes, this book gives you the golden egg to impress your well-traveled guests. The authors lay out the anatomy: bubbles, wine, bitter and flavors.

Finally, a timeless go-to beverage your best girlfriend can handle. Lift your arm, clink the wineglasses, and spread the gospel with these three spritz cocktails.

spritz book cover

White spritz recipe

Glass: wineglass | Garnish: seasonal citrus, herbs or fruit

Ingredients:

  • 4 ounces dry white wine
  • 2 ounces soda water
  • 1/2 ounce lemon syrup*

Directions:

  1. Build the ingredients in a wineglass over ice, and add the garnish.

*Combine 1 cup of fresh lemon juice and 1 cup of sugar in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat, and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Bottle, and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Hugo spritz recipe

Glass: wineglass | Garnish: mint sprig and lemon wheel

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 ounce St-Germain
  • Mint sprig
  • 4 ounces prosecco
  • 1 ounce soda water

Directions:

  1. Add the St-Germain and mint sprig to a wineglass. Gently muddle together, and let sit for 3 minutes.
  2. Add ice, the prosecco and the soda water. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Add the garnish.

Americano recipe

Glass: Collins | Garnish: orange half-wheel

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 ounces Campari
  • 1-1/2 ounces sweet vermouth
  • Soda water

Directions:

  1. Pour the Campari and vermouth over ice in a Collins glass.
  2. Top with soda water.
  3. Add the garnish.

Reprinted with permission from Spritz: Italy’s Most Iconic Aperitivo Cocktail, with Recipes by Talia Baiocchi and Leslie Pariseau, copyright © 2016. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Shield actor Michael Jace sentenced for killing his wife — here's what happened

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Former Shield actor Michael Jace was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of his wife April Jace. After a trial in which he admitted to the shooting, Jace was found guilty of second-degree murder last week.

More: Michael Jace charged with wife's murder

The Los Angeles Times reports that April Jace's mother Kay Henry left the courtroom as Jace gave a statement claiming the murder wasn't premeditated. "There is absolutely no justification for my actions on that night. I am profoundly sorry for the pain that I've caused everyone," he said. "There was no premeditated anything."

Henry gave a powerful statement to the court about the loss of her daughter. "My first thought on my mind most mornings is, 'Your daughter has been murdered.' Then I wonder about how I'll do today without her. I think about how my grandsons will navigate their teen years... Will they remember their mother and how much she loved them?"

More: Actor Michael Jace allegedly confessed to 911: "I shot my wife"

Jace shot his wife three times. An avid runner, he shot her twice in the legs, and once in the back in front of their two children, who were 8 and 5 at the time. Their older son testified that he heard his father say, "If you like running, then run to heaven."

The trial revealed that April Jace was reportedly seeking a divorce, and Jace believed she was having an affair. He called 911 himself after the shooting.

More: Michael Jace pleads not guilty to killing his wife

No, the Kardashian curse is not a real thing, and it needs to die

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Scott Disick could be the latest man to fall victim to the Kardashian curse — or, at least, that’s what he wants us to believe. A clip from this weekend’s new episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians shows Disick visiting a psychic to confirm that he is, indeed, cursed. With Kendall Jenner by his side (because it would be wrong to bring a Kardashian to check on the validity of a Kardashian curse), Disick watches as the psychic tells him that he has "a load of negative energy," adding, "I would probably say you have a curse."

KUWTK

KUWTK

Disick might be cursed, but is it by the Kardashian curse? No. You know how I know? The Kardashian curse does not exist. Disick might want to blame his recent bad luck on his long-term relationship with Kourtney Kardashian, with whom he has three children, but the truth is that instead of looking to blame his ex, he should be taking responsibility for his own actions.

What is the Kardashian curse?

For those of you who don’t know, the Kardashian curse is a string of bad luck that believers say follows the Kardashian women’s exes. Essentially, it’s the belief that dating a Kardashian could ruin a man’s career. Some, like the good people at the NY Daily News, define the Kardashian curse as only affecting athletes, writing recently that dating a Kardashian could lead to "a dramatic decline in [the athlete’s] career."

More: Lamar Odom's alleged relapse takes a frightening turn

Who's rumored to fall victim to the curse?

Kardashian Curse, the men
Image: Chris Connor/WENN, C.Smith/WENN.com, WENN.com, DJDM/WENN.com

What evidence there is to back up a so-called Kardashian curse is, essentially, nothing more than flimsy speculation. The publication cites Reggie Bush, who famously dated Kim Kardashian, as patient zero of the rumored curse, noting that after Bush and Kim called it quits in 2010, a scandal from his college career forced him to return his 2005 Heisman Trophy. Should USC be blamed for the mishandling of college players resulting in Bush’s Heisman Trophy fiasco? Of course not. And what about Kris Humphries, who faded into obscurity off the court after his failed 72-day marriage to Kim? While we’re at it, why not blame Lamar Odom’s drug problems on his marriage to Khloé Kardashian? These allegations and more have all been written about as proof of the supposed Kardashian curse. One article from Hip Hop Wired even suggests that the Kardashian curse is so strong that it resulted in Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. "Maybe years of being henpecked by the Kardashian women eroded the last bit of masculinity Bruce had left before transitioning to Caitlin [sic]," wrote Lee Vann.

More: Angry viewers got Caitlyn Jenner's show I Am Cait banned in Africa

The absurdity of suggesting that Caitlyn Jenner transitioned because of the Kardashians, or that Odom’s recent troubles can be blamed on his relationship with Khloé astounds me. The Kardashian curse is nothing but a pathetic attempt to blame successful women for the failures of their significant others. Furthermore, the myth of the Kardashian curse perpetuates the sexist stereotype that sexually active women are somehow tainted.

It is impossible to separate the ridiculous notion of the Kardashian curse from the widely held belief that sexually free women can corrupt "innocent" men. Kim, Kourtney and Khloé are all known for being outspoken when it comes to sex. They speak openly about sexual relationships on their various shows and frequently pose for sexy photo shoots or even post naked selfies. Like it or not, the Kardashian name is synonymous with sex appeal in pop culture, and the notion of the Kardashian curse feeds into the idea that a sex-positive woman, like a Kardashian, is detrimental to the "innocent" men she meets.

More: Scott Disick has the perfect response to the rumors he's Khloé's baby daddy

The Kardashian curse implies that any ill ever to befall a man who has come into contact with the Kardashians is the fault of the famous family — and it needs to die. If Disick wants to do as the psychic tells him and set a rooster free to get rid of his negative energy, then more power to him. Just don't think for a second that your problems are due to a Kardashian curse.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

kourtney and scott through the years

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