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If You'll See Your Ex At Homecoming, Here's How To Avoid Awkwardness

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Going back to your alma mater for homecoming can be a surprisingly emotional experience. You're revisiting the place where you learned so much about yourself. Seeing your ex at homecoming is an added stressor that you might be worried about this year. Whether you ended things on bad terms or you've become old friends, homecoming has a sneaky tendency to drum up nostalgia where you least expect it. If you're nervous about what to do when you see your ex at homecoming, try not to stress too much. I asked dating coach Erika Ettin and breakup expert Kate Galt about what someone should do in this situation, and their answers were seriously helpful.

Homecoming is about celebrating your old school and, by extension, your old life. Amid the weekend of festivities, there's time to reflect on the person you were when you were a student and the person you are now. Consider how much you have grown since college, and especially since your breakup. There are likely so many great things about the life you lead now, and focusing on those can help dial down the anxiety you might feel about facing your ex again.

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1Plan Ahead Now

No matter the scenario, it's common to feel uneasy about seeing an ex, Ettin explains. The good thing about homecoming is that you have anticipation on your side. If you know that your ex is going to be there, you can emotionally plan ahead by practicing mindfulness and focusing on the good things about the weekend. You don't have to interact with your ex if you don't want to. If they're in your friend group, you can maintain a cordial demeanor with them but you don't have to spend any one-on-one time together.

Another thing you can do when planning the weekend is let a friend or two in on your stress about the situation. They can make sure to keep an eye out for you and any awkwardness that may occur.

2Send A Brief Message Before The Game

You can do even more to prepare before you arrive on campus. For instance, Ettin says that you could even message your ex about the coming weekend and explain that you'll be there and you don't want anything to be awkward. It depends, though, on how things ended, Ettin specifies. If you ended things mutually, a brief message about how you don't have any hard feelings and want the weekend to be fun could suffice. If it ended badly and there is still a soreness in your heart, consider saying that you'll be there and you want to have a good time, so you need some space from them.

3Don't Skip It Simply Because Of Your Ex

Ettin's main suggestion when it comes to what not to do is simply that you shouldn't skip the weekend because you want to avoid your ex. You can definitely have a great time at homecoming, even if your ex is there too. Even if seeing your ex causes negative emotions momentarily, they don't have to ruin the entire experience for you. Remember that healing isn't linear; if you feel fine one moment, but later need to cry in the bathroom about your ex for a second, that's OK.

College is a time when you make formative decisions and it can be really emotional to revisit the physical place where everything happened. Remember it's not a failure to to feel your feelings, even if your breakup was a long time ago. There's always room to grow and reflect; if you get upset take some time time to recollect yourself. Then, take some deep breaths, splash cool water on your face and get back out to the people celebrating.

4If You Want To Hook Up...

If you and your ex are on good terms and you find yourself wanting to hook up during homecoming weekend, Ettin encourages people to first consider if their ex is single. There's no shame in hooking up with an ex if that's what you want, but Galt recommends that you consider the effects of doing so very carefully. It's important to note, Galt explains, that you reflect on whether or not you will regret this later. If you don't feel like it will be detrimental to your heart later on, hooking up is a totally valid option. And, hey, the weekend is about having fun and revisiting your past.

5Focus On The Silver Lining

Focus on the differences that exist now, Ettin explains. Something that could even be a positive about seeing your ex at homecoming is that you could realize a lot about the people you've become. It can be liberating, according to Ettin, to consider the positive changes in your life and realize that you wouldn't want to date this person today if you were given the option.

Homecoming is a time to celebrate with old friends and enjoy the nostalgia of college for a short, school spirit filled time. Try not to let an ex cloud an otherwise fun-filled moment with friends. You might even find that your relationship being in the past is a reason to celebrate. You and your ex may even end up commemorating old times together.

Check out the entire Gen Why series and other videos on Facebook and the Bustle app across Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

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Millie Bobby Brown Defended Her Friendship With Drake On Her Instagram Story

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C'mon world, why are you making Millie Bobby Brown upset? Don't you know that she is an international treasure and should be protected at all costs? Apparently, some people have yet to get the memo, and decided to question Brown's super adorable relationship with Drake, who Brown assures is strictly just a good friend. And now, Millie Bobby Brown defended her friendship with Drake and clapped back at all the haters on social media, and I am living for it.

It all started when the 14-year-old Stranger Things star revealed that she turns to 31-year-old rapper Drake for relationship advice in an interview with ExtraTV back in February 2018. According to Brown, the pair's friendship began when they met in Australia back in 2017. "We met in Australia, and he asked me to go to his show, and it was probably the best live performance I've ever seen," she said. "You think he's like Drake like, 'I know when that Hotline Bling', but he's just Drake and he's great. I have great people around me guiding me through this and he's one of them."

Then, while interviewing with Access Hollywood on the red carpet at the 2018 Emmy Awards, Brown mentioned that she and Drake stay in touch regularly. "You know, we text," then mentioned that the pair just texted each other.

Brown went on to tell Access that Drake texted her the other day saying, "I miss you so much!" And she responded "I miss you more!" adding, "he's coming to Atlanta so I'm definitely gonna go and see him. I'm so excited."

I'd imagine MBB reacting something like this at the thought of seeing her bestie again:

Cute.

One of the reporters interviewing Brown then asked what sort of advice Drake gives her. "About boys," Brown responded. "He helps me... He's wonderful. I love him."

When the reporter asked what type of relationship advice Drake had for her, she said, "You know, that stays in the text messages," while laughing. Playin' it cool, Millie. I like it.

Access on YouTube

But now, a lot of fans are taking to social media to express their thoughts on Drake and Millie Bobby Brown's friendship, speculating that Drake, who is 17 years her senior, is "grooming" the teenage star:

Elite Daily reached out to Drake's team regarding the backlash, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Well, our girl is having none of it, you guys, and took to her Instagram Story on Thursday, Sept. 20 to defend her friendship with Drake. She wrote,

Why u gotta make a lovely friendship ur headline? U guys are weird for real. Im lucky to have people in the business extend their time to help me further my career and offer their wisdom and guidance. Im very blessed to have amazing people in my life. U dont get to choose that for me

She continued, writing,

Its nice to have people who understand what I do. Now get back to talking about real problems in this world other than my friendships jeez.

You tell 'em, Millie.

And, despite the slew of negative comments that the pair's friendship received, there are others on social media have stood up for it:

At the end of the day, if both Drake and Millie Bobby Brown are happy chatting and being buds, who are we to judge?

Michael Cohen Has Reportedly Been Talking To Robert Mueller, So It's Getting Serious

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The Michael Cohen drama just got a little more serious. According to multiple reports, Michael Cohen has been talking to Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into possible collusion between members of President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The news comes just weeks after Cohen pleaded guilty to a series of financial crimes and admitted that he paid two women to keep quiet about affairs they allegedly had with Trump ahead of the election. He claimed that he facilitated the payments at the direction of Trump himself, which could spell bad news for the president (Elite Daily reached out to the White House for comment on the claims at the time, but did not hear back). Needless to say, people can't stop talking about it all online.

On Thursday, Sept. 20 ABC News reported that Cohen, Trump's former longtime attorney, has spent hours over the past month being interviewed by investigators from Mueller's office, mainly focusing on Trump's financial and business dealings with Russia, and Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election. Investigators reportedly also questioned Cohen on whether Trump or any of his associates discussed the possibility of a pardon. Elite Daily reached out to both the White House and representatives of the special counsel's investigation for comment, but did not immediately hear back. While the full details of the reported conversations have yet to be revealed, Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, wrote on Twitter late Thursday evening that his client had provided investigators with "critical information." He wrote,

Good for [Michael Cohen] in providing critical information to the #muellerinvestigation without a cooperation agreement. No one should question his honesty, veracity or loyalty to his #family and #country over @potus [Donald Trump]

Of course, Twitter is having a field day with the news.

The report comes just under a month after Cohen pleaded guilty in a federal court in Manhattan on Aug. 21 to charges of financial fraud and campaign finance law violations relating to the payments he facilitated to two women who claim they had affairs with Trump in 2006, which the president denies. After the plea, Davis suggested that Cohen, who once vowed that he would take a bullet and do anything to protect Trump, would cooperate with investigators. He told ABC's Good Morning America on Aug. 22, What he knows that he witnessed will be of interest to the special counsel. He will tell the truth to everybody who asks him about Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Trump has routinely claimed that the Mueller investigation is a "witch hunt" that is based on bias against him. Upon Cohen's guilty plea, Trump slammed his former associate, suggesting in an interview with Fox & Friends that the practice of cooperating with investigators "almost ought to be illegal."

He also suggested that people who do flip aren't actually being honest, telling the hosts that they just "make up" lies, without any apparent evidence. "Ive seen it many times," Trump explained. They make up things and now they go from 10 years to theyre a national hero."

Eh, who knows. But with things seemingly heating up this much, hopefully Trump is prepared for whatever comes next.

This 'Game Of Thrones' Foreshadowing Theory Is So Freaky, It Might Be True

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With Game of Thrones Season 8 still months and months away, this is the season for the hardcore fans to begin doing re-watches of the show to help tide themselves over. Watching the early seasons with fresh eyes is always a joy, especially now when so many of the show's shocking plot points have been revealed. But it also creates new theories, as fans discover moments that could be foreshadowing of things to come, or could have just been happy accidents. The latest Game Of Thrones foreshadowing theory is based on one of the iconic scenes from the pilot episode, and how it presaged the fate of the Stark clan.

One of the most effective moments in the early pilot was the introduction of the entire Stark family in the courtyard when King Robert Baratheon arrives. The scene defines many of the characters early on, from Ned and Robert's brotherhood to Cersei and Jaime's supercilious behavior, not to mention a perfect excuse to line up the Stark children who will become so important later, and introduce them one by one.

But fans rewatching the scene took note of how Robert interacts with each member of the Stark clan, and apparently his connections with each line up to how they fare down the line.

Darth Kenobi on YouTube

As Reddit user dnspartan305 notes, pay attention to who Robert Baratheon touches, and who he doesn't:

I'm not sure if all of this has been pointed out before, but it is worth bringing up. When Robert greets the Starks, he touches Ned, Cat, Robb, and Rickon. All of them die. He calls Sansa a pretty one, and she is later kept on and tormented by Joffrey as a trophy. Robert has Bran show him his muscles, and Bran becomes a cripple. He asks Arya's name, and later on, she becomes No-One. Jon is behind a wall of Starks...

This is a fascinating insight into this interaction. It's subtle enough the actors involved probably don't even realize this foreshadowing is happening. The Starks who die are all the ones closest to the Robert, a kind who will fall before the first season is over. The Starks who Robert stereotypes live to experience how those stereotypes will work both for and against them. And the one Stark who is kept as far away from Robert as possible rises and will perhaps rule the Seven Kingdoms by the story's end.

So is Robert meant to play the angel of death when it comes to the Stark clan? As far as the actor knows, none of this was deliberate. At the Winterfell Festival event this summer, actor Mark Addy (who plays King Robert) was asked about it and seemed taken aback at the idea.

Well, erm, ha! I don't think that was a conscious decision. That's just the way it fell. That's an interesting conspiracy theory though! You'll have people thinking that King Robert was responsible. Oh blimey! I think that's just the way it worked out though.

Game of Thrones Season 8 will return to HBO sometime in 2019.

Are Quick Workouts Effective? A Few Minutes Of HIIT Will Do More Than You Think, Study Shows

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"Let's just do a quickie workout," you say to yourself as you think of the 10 million other things waiting to be checked off your to-do list after you leave the gym. Some days, you simply don't have time for a long workout, no matter how much you're craving the endorphins that's just life. But are quick workouts really effective? Like, can a 10-minute, intense bout of exercise really compare to an entire hour of moving your body? Because, honestly, that would make my life so much easier.

Rejoice, my friends, because according to the results of a new study, a quick workout might just have the same benefits and effects as a longer, less intense workout. For the study, which has been published in the American Journal of Physiology, researchers recruited a group of eight active young adults and had them try different types of cycling workouts at varying intensity levels. According to ScienceDaily, the volunteers tried moderate-intensity cycling (which was defined by the researchers as 30 minutes of exercise at 50 percent peak effort), high-intensity interval cycling (five four-minute sessions at 75 percent peak effort), and sprint cycling (four 30-second sets done at maximum effort with about five minutes of rest in between each session).

In order to measure the amount of energy the volunteers exerted during each workout, the researchers analyzed and compared changes in mitochondria (remember from high school, the powerhouse of the cell?) in the volunteers' thigh muscles both before and after they completed each cycling session.

Ultimately, the researchers found that both the shorter cycling sessions and the longer workouts produced similar changes in mitochondria. "A total of only two minutes of sprint interval exercise was sufficient to elicit similar responses as 30 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise," the experts wrote in their study, according to ScienceDaily. In other words, if you only have a few minutes to spare for a quick, intense home workout, no worries science says your body will likely respond in more or less the same way it would to a longer, less intense bout of exercise.

Of course, it's definitely important to point out how small this study is, and as the study's abstract notes, the eight volunteers were all "recreationally active individuals," so it's tough to say whether these findings can be generalized to a larger population. Still, according to Ron Moodey, a fitness general manager and master trainer at TRIBE Fitness, quick workouts certainly have their place in a healthy, balanced fitness routine.

"Short workouts have great value, and can be done several times throughout a day, or can be a great way to utilize 10 to 20 minutes of time, rather than wait for 60-minute blocks that may never happen," he tells Elite Daily over email.

If you want to try squeezing some shorter exercises into your workout routine, here are some of Moodey's suggestions.

Try As Many Rounds As Possible Of This Circuit In 10 minutes

Start with five slow push-ups; if you need to modify, says Moodey, a plank position works, or feel free to keep your knees on the ground.

Next, the trainer says, transition to five very slow sit-ups emphasis on slow. "Stay tight in the abdomen," Moodey tells Elite Daily. "For help, put your feet under something solid."

To finish, bang out 10 high knees per leg, running in place with your knees above your waist. "Modify [this] as needed by lifting [your] knees only as much as you can control," Moodey explains.

You Can Also Opt For 20 Minutes Of Running/Walking Intervals

"Run (or walk [quickly]) for 30 seconds, followed by 90 seconds of medium walking," Moodey suggests. Try this out for 20 minutes total, or as long as you have to spare.

Or Try As Many Reps As Possible Of This Circuit In 15 Minutes

Start with five towel rows: "Wrap a towel around both knobs of a door. Hold the towel, sit in a squat, and use only your arms to pull yourself to the door," Moodey explains. Household objects FTW who needs a gym?

Next, the trainer says, do five slow push-ups, followed by 10 slow bodyweight squats, and finish the circuit with 20 mountain climbers.

Moodey recommends doing any of these workouts about two to three times a week, and pushing yourself to increase the number of intervals and rounds over time, as your body allows. Sounds pretty doable, right?

Here's Everyone Travis Scott Has Ever Dated, & Some Of These Are Unexpected

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Over the past two years, I'm sure you've heard the name Travis Scott left and right. Apart from welcoming his adorable baby girl Stormi with Kylie Jenner in February (and flooding our social feeds with the cutest pictures of that sweet, sweet little munchkin), Scott also just released his (amazing!) new album, AstroWorld. So naturally, because of all the buzz around the rapper these days, I want to know everything about him, starting with everyone Travis Scott has ever dated. TBH, he has truly impeccable taste.

Scott made a name for himself before he became Jenner's boyfriend. He had several popular songs that you've probably heard at least once, like "Antidote," "Pick Up The Phone," "Goosebumps," and "Butterfly Effect." Aside from his music, you may have heard his name in connection to a couple of big-name celebrities, but more on that later. He's been connected to models, actresses, singers, music video costars, and of course, a reality TV star. So, if you're as curious as I was to find out who lingers in Scott's past, read on.

Elite Daily reached out to Scott's team for comment on the unconfirmed relationships but did not hear back by the time of publication.

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1Rubi Rose

Back in 2014, Scott was linked to model Rubi Rose. The two dated for eight months, according to Life & Style. Rose has starred in several music videos, including Migos' "Bad & Boujee." Besides Scott, she has also been reportedly linked to Cam Newton, 21 Savage, Soulja Boy, and Lil Yachty.

2Dascha Polanco

Does this beauty look familiar? It's probably because you've binge-watched every season of Orange Is the New Black; she plays Dayanara "Daya" Diaz on the Netflix show. Dascha Polanco and Scott were linked after a blind item post (a story in a gossip column that doesn't reveal the identities of the people involved) was published on Crazy Days and Nights, Life & Style Mag reported. The post read, "This OITNB actress believed this A-/B+ list rapper when he said he was single. So, she hooked up with him and watched him 12 hours later hook with up with this A+ list singer." Hopefully this entire situation was merely just a rumor, because ouch.

3Rihanna

And the A+ list singer Scott reportedly hooked up with mere hours after Polanco? None other than Bad Gal RiRi herself. After being spotted together during New York Fashion Week in September 2015, Scott and Rihanna reportedly dated for about a month. Multiple sources confirmed their relationship to E! News, saying, "Travis and Rihanna are dating, officially. It's already very serious. He's very into her." Another source told E!, "Rihanna likes Travis a lot and hopes it develops into something more. All of her friends think he is gonna be the keeper." He wasn't.

4Karreuche Tran

New York Fashion Week: Bringing couples (?) together again and again. During NYFW in September 2016, Scott and Karreuche Tran sparked dating rumors after being spotted kissing and hugging at a Vera Wang event, according to MediaTakeOut.com. Tran's rep reportedly told Hollywood Life that it was a lie, and the two weren't dating. But, if MTO's "spies" really did see Scott and Tran cuddling up at NYFW, they may have at least been hooking up.

5Kylie Jenner

And now, that brings us to Scott's current flame, Kylie Jenner. The two sparked dating rumors in April 2017, when they were seen together at Coachella. At the Met Gala that year, Jenner posted a group picture with Scott in it, making their relationship somewhat Instagram-official. In June, Scott tweeted, "Legit happiest day of my life," which fans later connected to that possibly being the day he found out Jenner was pregnant with Stormi.

A few months later, multiple media outlets and fans began speculating that Jenner was pregnant, but neither Scott nor Jenner made an official statement about the pregnancy until Stormi was born this February. Now that they're a family, fans are questioning whether or not Jenner and Scott will take the next step and get married. While neither of them have completely shut that idea down, the young couple is taking their relationship one step at a time.

Check out the Best of Elite Daily stream in the Bustle App for more stories just like this!

Ellen Pompeo's 'Grey's Anatomy' Quotes About Meredith & Derek Explain So Much

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From a passionate "choose me" speech to a Post-It note detailing the terms of their marriage, nothing quite defines romance on Grey's Anatomy like the relationship of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd. Having a steamy hookup in the pilot episode before learning Meredith was a new intern at Derek's hospital, the two experienced a storybook romance culminating with Derek's heartbreaking Season 11 death. Since then, love hasn't come easily for Meredith, and Ellen Pompeo's Grey's Anatomy quotes about Meredith and Derek explain why the widowed mother just hasn't found a new partner yet.

Now more than three years after Derek's death from injuries in a car accident, it's totally logical for Grey's Anatomy to bill the upcoming Season 15 as the "season of love." Meredith has had enough time to grieve and in the past few seasons, she experienced enough fleeting flirtations to realize that her heart isn't out of commission just yet. But as any actual widow would probably agree with, moving on from your greatest love and the father of your children isn't easy. Pompeo explained to Entertainment Weekly why Meredith couldn't fall for someone else so quickly, saying:

Patrick Dempsey is a very tough act to follow, and it's challenging to get someone to come on a season 15 show. We're gonna find someone who makes an impact. That's our biggest challenge this year.

She has a point what kind of character could possibly ease the blow of Meredith being with someone other than Derek?

After a promising connection with patient Nick Marsh in Season 14 and losing Nathan Riggs to the return of his long-lost fiance, Meredith is definitely overdue for lasting romance. The Season 15 trailer teases her steamy, surprise makeout with DeLuca, but going by clues Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff has released, he's more of a rebound for Meredith than a strong relationship prospect. In an interview with TVLine, Grey's Anatomy co-star Camilla Luddington also offered the suggestion that the season will contain "experimenting" for Meredith rather than a relationship forming immediately. Cue DeLuca!

The return of romance for the show's leading lady comes after ABC reportedly tried to introduce a new love interest soon after Derek's death. Earlier this year, Pompeo told The Hollywood Reporter:

The truth is, the ink wasn't even dry on [Dempsey's] exit papers before they rushed in a new guy... and they're calling me, going, 'What do you think of this guy?' 'What do you think of this guy?' And they're sending pictures. I was like, 'Are you people f**king nuts? Why do you feel that you have to replace this person?'

Given that Season 15's theme promises tons of fluffiness and love, it finally feels right that Meredith will be on the lookout for a new guy this year. We can expect new episodes to kick off with Jo and Alex still in their newlywed bliss, so maybe some of their good vibes will rub off on Meredith sooner rather than later. We're not asking for a carbon copy of Derek, of course, but someone who can be Meredith's adoring equal would be nice.

Season 15 of Grey's Anatomy premieres on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. ET in a two-hour episode on ABC.

11 Photos Of Dogs' Halloween Costumes That Prove They’re Totally Winning The Costume Contest

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With Halloween around the corner, I'm officially starting to plan out my costume, but that's not even what I'm most excited about for the holiday. More important than decking myself out in a creative outfit is the opportunity to transform one of the dogs in my family into the cutest, most hilarious pup ever. Since the weather is usually pretty chilly on Halloween, I've gotten lucky because my dogs generally welcome the extra warmth of whatever I try to tempt them into wearing in honor of the occasion. Honestly, I think I could look at photos of dogs' Halloween costumes all day, and these 11 furry pups are some of the most fashionable canines around.

If you ask me, all of these photos of good doggos patiently indulging their owners' creative ideas in honor of Halloween simply prove my long-held belief that we as human beings do not deserve the cuteness (and patience) that fur babies bring to the world. Who can resist puppy eyes staring up at you from beneath a witch's hat? Who doesn't smile when your dog goes wild every time she hears "trick or treat" and expects you to pass her a tasty bone? Every pet that puts up with a costume is a winner in my eyes, but these pups are guaranteed to make you smile.

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This Dog Has The Most Bewitching Eyes

Sometimes it's all you can do to get a fancy hat on your pup, much less an entire costume. The fluffy green hair underneath this dog's adorable witch hat make the spooky look even funnier, IMO.

A Spooky Pup With His Foot In His Mouth

If you're more into the fright part of Halloween than the cuteness of a creative costume, you probably appreciate this horrifying animal-bone-turned-human-leg look. Maybe just make sure this little guy isn't around any super young kids, you feel me?

The Sweetest Pumpkin On The Block

This little fur baby patiently enduring his T-shirt-clad fate deserves a medal for being equal parts adorable and super good boy.

An Occasion For The Whole Family

Dog costumes with fake arms have to be one of the funniest things in the world, if you ask me. Sadly, though, not all of these puppy siblings seem to agree.

But I have to admit, putting your dog in a UPS costume just might teach her to stop trying to attack whenever you get a package.

A Bone-Shivering Pirate

Ignoring the desperation in this dog's eyes, I'm totally in love with the details on this costume, from the belt buckle to the tiny little hook hand. This little trooper deserves a treasure chest full of treats for such a creative look.

This Intergalactic Pup

I honestly cannot stop laughing at this super authentic hair and ears combo. If you're looking for ideas for what your pup should wear on Halloween, this creative dog is sure to Spock some inspiration.

The Pup Who Just Loves LION Around All Day

My mane complaint about this sweet girl's Halloween finest is that I haven't found the same exact costume for my dog yet! This get-up is sure to keep her ears nice and warm, but it also makes her look very wise, IMO. Of course, such a cute look like this is leaving me itching to lift her up above my head, Lion King-style.

A Literal Hot Dog

This doggone adorable costume is perfect for such a fetching fellow. You really have to relish any occasion that allows you to ketchup with your pup and snuggle him in a food-themed outfit, wouldn't you agree?

The Cutest Ranch Hand Around

A cowgirl hat would have made for an incredible costume on its own, but it's the addition of the two attached braids that puts this little lady in all-star territory not to mention the bright bows on the ends, which make this Halloween look super fashionable.

The Pups With The Most Patience

Hopefully these dogs found a little solace in the fact that they both were dressed to the nines as other types of animals.

I'll be honest: This precious unicorn outfit has me wondering whether I, an adult woman, could pull off something similar (I'm thinking 100 percent yes, yes I can).

A Bee-Youtiful Furry Pal

This little doggo looks as sweet as honey, softly smiling in the cutest bumble bee costume I've ever seen on either an animal or a person. And how could you say no to more treats when you're looking at that perfect face?


Kevin & Astrid's Current Relationship Post-'Paradise' Will Make You Love Them Even More

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Remember when Astrid and Kevin broke up on Bachelor in Paradise? The couple appears to have come a long way since that heartbreaking bump in the road. One of BIP Season 5's most solid pairs may have hit a snag in the season finale when Kevin couldn't 100 percent commit, but the Canadian fireman is ready now. He and Astrid are taking things to the next level and they're more adorable than ever. Kevin and Astrid's current relationship post-Paradise is what reality TV dating show dreams are made of.

Kevin and Astrid were seemingly inseparable thoughout their Paradise journeys. Pretty much every shot of them looked like they were either laughing joyfully, cuddling on a day bed, making out in a pool, or looking longingly into one another's eyes. Astrid, who hailed from Nick Viall's Bachelor season, seemed willing to embark on the next chapter by the season's end. Kevin? Not quite. Having been burned from Bachelor experiences past, the guy had last-minute reservations about moving forward so quickly. Prior to getting the option to hit up the Fantasy Suite, Kev broke things off with Astrid, leaving her rightfully stunned.

Here's the good news: Astrid and Kevin found a way back into each other's hearts. The couple reunited at the reunion (which was filmed back on Aug. 28) to explain that they're making things work.

We care about each other but the trust is broken. Its weird weve been in limbo in a sense," Astrid noted.

Since that conversation, it seems that limbo stage has evolved into something solid and long-lasting.

As bad as the breakup was, it might have actually made our relationship even better, Kevin recently revealed to People. I feel a lot less pressure and Im excited about our future together. Everything seems lighter.

If you've been glued to Kevin and Astrid's social media, you may have noticed that they've been spending a lot of time together in Toronto. They snapped a cute pic at the town's famed film festival and shared pics of themselves doing everyday couple things like shopping for groceries and cooking dinner. They are currently vacationing in Indonesia.

So, what other changes are in the works?

Astrid is definitely falling in love with Toronto, Kevin also explained while weighing in on their future. That would be the place where we would live together. And were not going to just date for fun. Im 34, shes 28. Were at the no BS stage.

"I could get used to this place, eh," Astrid captioned a Sept. 12 Instagram of the duo.

"I'm originally from Germany so I've moved countries before. I would be the one to move for sure," Astrid remarked on the Sept. 10 episode of The Domenick Nati Show.

"I think we're going to kind of finish out this year and get through the holidays and then kind of start looking at when I'd be moving," she told Canada's CP24 on the status of her move.

If Kevin and Astrid can get through the awkward scenarios and isolated bubble of Paradise, they can probably get through a lot. Bachelor Nation is rooting for them.

The Photo Of Cardi B & Offset's Wedding She Shared For Their Anniversary Is So Romantic

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In case you missed it, Cardi B did a very un-Cardi B thing back on Sept. 20, 2017, and married her boyfriend, rapper Offset, in *total secrecy* without the public having any knowledge of it for months. The world finally found out about their secret marriage back in June 2018, after Cardi revealed to her fans that, despite getting engaged in October on stage in Philadelphia (technically after they were officially married), that the two have been technically hitched the entire time. I know, talk about a plot twist, right? So now that the news of their marriage is officially out and it's been an entire year since the date they wed, a photo of Cardi B and Offset's wedding has officially made it to her Instagram account in honor of their big day, and it is all sorts of adorable.

Exactly one year after her wedding date, the Invasion of Privacy rapper posted the sweetest throwback of her with Offset to celebrate an entire year of marriage. On Thursday, Sept. 20, she posted a photo of herself in a white and gold tracksuit holding hands with Offset, who was in jeans and what seems to be a black jacket.

"TBT ...September 20th," she captioned the photo, and my heart could honestly burst right now just looking at it:

According to Entertainment Tonight, the couple shared their nuptials "in their bedroom by a friend, because they knew they just wanted to be united immediately." Hey, when you know, you know.

TBH, I'm just pretty impressed that these two managed to keep their marriage private for almost 10 months, meaning nearly a year's worth of not letting anything slip. Kudos to you, guys!

Speculation that the two were not only engaged but married came about when Offset referred to Cardi as his wife at the BET Awards on June 24, after making an acceptance speech when Migos won the Best Group award. On June 25, Cardi officially let the cat out of the bag, confirming she and Offset had secretly gotten married months before.

Cardi screenshotted a lengthy note and uploaded it to Twitter, explaining why the couple didn't want to publicly announce their news. She wrote:

There are so many moments that I share with the world and there are moments that I want to keep for myself! Getting married was one of those moments! Our relationship was so new breaking up and making up and we had a lot of growing up to do but we was so in love we didn't want to lose each other

She continued, saying:

Was one morning in September we woke up and decided to get married. We found someone to marry us, and she did, just the two of us and my cousin. I said I do, with no dress no makeup and no ring! I appreciate and love my husband so much for still wanting for me have that special moment that every girl dreams of when he got down on one knee and put a ring on my finger and he did that for me!!

The ring she's talking about is, of course, the very blinding piece of bling Offset got down on one knee with in October 2017, asking for Cardi's hand in... marriage? Re-marriage? Marriage 2.0?

Here's a better picture of the rock, just so you can understand my utmost appreciation for this jaw-dropping piece of jewelry:

It makes me so happy that Cardi didn't even need that ring to marry her man, though she was excited to recite her vows with no makeup on, no wedding dress, and no crowd of people to celebrate with after. That's true love, y'all.

New York City's Diner En Blanc 2018 Location Was Basically On An Exclusive Island

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When I woke up on Monday, Sept. 17, I couldn't help but wonder where I was going to end up that night. It was the morning of Dner en Blanc, a secret picnic dinner party scheduled to take place *somewhere* in New York City. As always, the location wasn't revealed yet and it probably wouldn't be until an hour or so before the event. So, I spent the day preparing for the most outrageous picnic of the year. I hung my white-laced dress, painted my nails a creamy color, and broke out my pearls. Not before long, I was notified about New York City's Dner en Blanc 2018 location and let's just say I couldn't get there via taxi.

In fact, I couldn't get there by subway, either. Or Uber. Or Lyft. Why? Because Dner en Blanc 2018 was set to be held on Governors Island. If you're not familiar with geography in and around The Big Apple, just know that Governors Island is located in the New York Harbor nestled between Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can only get there by ferry, which meant I had to totally rethink my travel plans for the night. Still, I was up for the adventure.

Fast-forward to 6 p.m. at Battery Park, a ferry hub at the southern tip of Manhattan. My guest and I arrived to a sea of picnic-goers waiting for their boats to dock, and everyone was dressed in white. Side note: All Dner en Blanc attendees must wear white everything in order to partake in the annual event. It's been that way since the first gathering was held in Paris, France, nearly 30 years ago. Franois Pasquier and his friends started the tradition when they got together in an outdoor space and wore white so they could find each other. Of course, the tradition continued.

While I was sitting on the pier waiting for our ferry to arrive, I couldn't help but feel grateful to be a part of New York City's Dner en Blanc. Everyone around me was carrying carts full of prepared dinners that they packed for the evening, along with foldable tables, chairs, and white decorations. Like always, all attendees were advised to set up their own stations (like a true picnic), and I was super excited to see what Governors Island was going to look like draped in Dner en Blanc decor.

After admiring everyone's outfits and fully stocked picnic carts, my guest and I boarded a ferry that was set to depart Manhattan full of Dner en Blanc attendees. The journey to Governors Island took about 10 minutes, and when we arrived, the landscape was breathtaking. We walked through a winding road that led to the glamorous event site and were immediately overwhelmed by an ocean of tables draped in white cloth and glistening decorations. There were people laughing, dancing, eating, and drinking and you could see the bright lights of Manhattan sparkling in the background.

Needless to say, it was a sight unlike any other.

To be completely honest, it felt like a dream. Governors Island had totally transformed from a New York City tourist destination to a mystical party site for nearly 6,500 Dner en Blanc attendees. After checking in at the event's press tent, my friend and I ordered a glass of wine and walked around the seating area to admire everyone's tabletops and ensembles.

While walking around, I couldn't help but notice how delicious everyone's dinner looked. Some people made their own entrees, while others ordered meals through Le Dner en Blanc. Those meals were prepared by renowned chef and Michelin Star recipient, Marc Forgione. Luckily, I got to speak with Forgione before the event, and I asked him about providing dinner for tons of Dner en Blanc attendees. It seemed like he was totally up for the challenge.

Forgione tells me, "You have to keep in mind, this is for thousands of people and also, there's no kitchen. Basically, we have to figure out how to feed thousands of people... so that was a challenge in itself. But it was fun. I like stuff like that."

Forgione did not disappoint. He curated dinner options fit for all dietary needs, including one with meat, one with seafood, one for vegetarians, and one "for fun." He says, "I wanted to make sure that we had a little something for everybody."

Regardless of whether diners chose Forgione's meals or prepped their own, the tabletops looked spectacular.

After everyone was done with dinner, they migrated over to the main stage. There, a DJ played music in front of the Manhattan skyline, and Dner en Blanc guests danced in the grass of Governors Island until it was time to call it a night.

Around 9:30 p.m., my friend and I boarded a ferry and made the trek back to Manhattan. During the trip back, I couldn't help but feel proud of those who made Dner en Blanc a reality. If you attended this year's event and feel the same way, you can thank Sandy Safi, the Director of Development and co-founder of Dner en Blanc International. I talked to Safi about the history of Dner en Blanc, and she told me how she helped expand the dinner around the globe.

Safi says, "Seven years ago, my partner and I decided to launch the event in New York. And for New York, the press started writing about this event in the four corners of the world. And people started writing us emails."

Basically, people all over the globe started asking Safi how they could bring Dner en Blanc to their cities so she worked with her partner to create a template that folks could follow in order to bring the celebration to their town. She continues, "We decided to create a model where we allowed people in their own city that knew the city, that had a network, that had a passion for the event, a passion for their city spaces to take the event to replicate it in their own city. So we created a licensing model that allowed people to create the event."

The rest, as they say, is history. Safi and her partner worked together and eventually hired a team that helped Dner en Blanc expand internationally. Now, the dinner takes place in over 80 cities around the world.

If you end up getting invited to a Dner en Blanc in your favorite city, stay patient while you wait for the secret location to be revealed. Whether the dinner is taking place in a local park or on an isolated island, you're bound to have a blast.

Leighton Meester's Quote About Adam Brody Being Her "Soulmate" Is The Best Thing You'll Read Today

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If you, like me, spend every lazy night at home watching Gossip Girl re-runs, you've memorized Blair Waldorf's lip quiver when she tells Chuck Bass, "Three words. Eight letters. Say it and I'm yours." You know how Chuck hurt her. And that iconic blue beaded gown she wore to their Central Park wedding is probably pinned on your Pinterest board. It's tough to imagine Blair, or even the actress who plays her, being in love with anyone else. But Leighton Meester's quote about Adam Brody being her "soulmate" might just help you see her in a new light.

In an interview with Porter, Meester reflected on how her life has changed since her run on Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012.

"I wouldnt change anything [in the past] because Im happy where I am now, she said. And I think that thats one of the many wonderful parts of not only having a child and meeting your soulmate, but also I feel really lucky career-wise really in a place that I want to be.

Just in case you didn't catch that, she said she met her "soulmate." So, Brody isn't just her husband (Us Weekly reports they got married in a small, private ceremony in 2014) or her partner in raising their daughter Arlo (born in 2015), but also her soulmate. That's pretty swoon-worthy, no?

The couple met while working on the 2011 film The Oranges and "were always close and friendly," a source told Us Weekly. Of course, they have another connection, too: both happened to star in massively famous teen dramas co-created by Josh Schwartz for The CW in the 2000s. But while you and I might think that coincidence is kind of the most important thing to ever happen to 2000s pop culture, Meester and Brody seem to feel differently.

When an Entertainment Tonight reporter asked in 2017 if they think it's funny that Seth Cohen and Blair Waldorf wound up together, their responses weren't so straightforward.

Occasionally, Brody said. Once a year, randomly, on our Seth and Blair day. It's good for a laugh."

It doesn't excite us, I think, because we're just human beings... but it's exciting to us that it's exciting to you, Meester added. Its cool.

And both actors admitted that they didn't actually watch each other's shows. (My question to them: Then what, exactly, are you supposed to watch on Netflix and chill nights?!)

So, while Meester and Brody's real-life romance may have played out totally differently than the ones they had on-screen, it seems to fit them perfectly. After all, she calls him her "soulmate," and that's not the kind of word a person throws around lightly.

Forget about the three words and eight letters Blair wanted from Chuck. You know what else has eight letters? Soulmate. And it certainly sounds like Meester has found hers in real life.

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Who Is Grimsson In 'Maniac'? Owen's Imaginary Nuisance Keeps Popping Up

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As expected, Maniac wasted no time diving headfirst into a bunch of confusing, reality-warping questions. Even though it takes a couple episodes to get the mind-expanding drug trial at the center of the series, we already face questions of reality right away when Owen Milgrim (Jonah Jill) begins talking with an imaginary man named Grimsson (Billy Magnussen). So, just who is Grimsson in Maniac, and how does he play into Owen's story? Let's try to make sense of all of the nonsensical things he says.

Grimsson first shows up almost immediately after we meet Owen. We learn that Owen is the black sheep of his large, wealthy family due to being diagnosed with schizophrenia after a hallucinogenic episode. At the core of his hallucinations is Grimsson, an assertive man who happens to look exactly like his brother Jed the only difference is a pair of glasses and a mustache. Right away, we see Grimsson refer to Owen as "the chosen one," telling him that he is somehow meant to save the universe. He also loves to repeat the confusing phrase "the pattern is the pattern," which Owen does not seem to understand.

Later, Grimsson pops up again when Owen first sees Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone), urging him to form a bond with her.

Of course, Grimsson is the manifestation of Owen's schizophrenia. We soon find out that Grimsson had also driven Owen to a nasty breakup with a girl he once liked named Olivia. Grimsson had filled Owen's head with delusions that his family was paying Olivia to hang out with him, leading Owen to lash out at her for using him to make money.

It is also important to note that Grimsson is a clone of Owen's brother Jed, with whom he has an incredibly fraught relationship. Whereas Owen is the outcast of his large family, Jed is the golden child, rich, successful, and engaged to a woman named Adelaide (Jemima Kirke), whom Owen appears to have a crush on. It is easy to see that Owen is envious of his brother's life, but even more than that, he is also being forced into falsely testifying on his brother's behalf. At the beginning of the series, it is unclear exactly what crime Jed committed, but we know that he is facing some sort of serious charge, and the whole Milgrim family is pressuring Owen into testifying on Jed's behalf. But from Owen's reluctance, we also know that his statement would probably need to be full of lies to actually protect his brother.

So, clearly, all of this jealousy, distrust, admiration, and anger that Owen has for Jed are all wrapped up in Grimsson, except instead of putting Owen down, Grimsson constantly reaffirms that Owen is some sort of one-of-a-kind superhero on a mission to save mankind.

We all naturally assume that Grimsson is a figment of Owen's schizophrenia since he just seems to pop in and out of existence, but we should also note that in a show like Maniac, it is impossible to unequivocally say what is real and what isn't. So, could Grimsson be real? We will just have to keep watching to find out what is really going on.

When Does Kelly Clarkson's Talk Show Premiere? Fans Are Anxiously Waiting

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Sometimes on television, a miracle occurs. Such was the case in 2002 when a little summer reality competition series spun off of the UK's Pop Idol arrived on FOX, and immediately landed a 19-year-old girl from Texas named Kelly Clarkson. Idol ran 15 seasons on the strength of her out-of-the-gate success. Clarkson, meanwhile, has released 8 albums, won dozens of music awards, and is now making the transition to a full-time television personality. Her stint on The Voice has reinvigorated the show. So when does Kelly Clarkson's talk show premiere? Fans will have to wait at least a little while longer.

Clarkson's arrival in the judge's chair on The Voice last season turned the series into The Kelly Show within only a couple of episodes. She also coached the winner. She is the first celebrity to log a win on her first season as a coach since Adam Levine way back in Season 1. But even before the season was over, NBC was already eyeing a deal to bring her in as a full-time host of her own talk show. Less than two months after a test pilot for the straight to syndication show was filmed, NBC announced it was greenlighting the show for "2019."

The Kelly Clarkson Show has since clarified it will begin in the fall of 2019. But though Clarkson still has another year before it goes to air, there's no time like the present to start practicing.

During her appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, she admitted her biggest fear was: "How are you going to do a show where you don't shut up?" Meyers generously suggested they switch seats so she could practice listening.

Late Night with Seth Meyers on YouTube

Meyers then gave her some great advice:

You're great because since you're a talker, the problem when you have a bad guest is that you have to do the talking, but that's never gonna be a problem... I think ultimately what you should do is you should say something like, 'What's an embarrassing childhood memory?' and when they don't have one, then you go, 'Then I will tell you one of mine.'

Clarkson then proved she had the chops to be in the seat by asking Meyers a question fans have been wondering for ages now:

Seth Adam Meyers, would you ever run for public office?

When Meyers quickly demurred, she had a sharp follow-up. "Do you perhaps think celebrities shouldn't?"

Late Night with Seth Meyers on YouTube

If this is how she's going to be in daytime, I personally can't wait.

As for what time the show will be on, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

The Kelly Clarkson Show [will] air as a lead-in to Ellen on NBC Owned TV Station group stations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Francisco, Miami, San Diego, Boston, Hartford and Washington, D.C. (Clarkson's show will be the lead-in to Ellen in 10 of the 11 above markets, with Boston being the exception.)

The Kelly Clarkson Show will begin airing on NBC in the fall of 2019. The Voice's newest season premieres at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.

10 Lessons You Learn From Your Best Friend In Your 20s

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There's no denying that your best friend is one of (if not the) most important person in your life. She's the first person you text in the morning, your go-to sidekick for every adventure, and the keeper of all your secrets. It can be difficult to find a true best friend, and luckily, you've found yours. Not only is she your favorite human to marathon Netflix and hit up the coolest wine bar with, but there are so many lessons you learn from your best friend in your 20s that makes her invaluable to you.

It's not like life is a classroom and your bestie is the teacher who gives you tips on how to conquer the world. Theses lessons are ones you discover together as you're navigating your first decade into adulthood. I'm sure you've heard over and over again that your 20s are an important time in your life and it couldn't be more true.

When you're in your 20s, you're becoming more of the person you were meant to be. That means a lot of those life lessons you've heard thus far begin to actually make sense. Needless to say, some of these lessons might sound familiar to you, but it's not until your 20s when your best friend really shows you what they mean.

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1Having Someone Who's Always There For You Is Priceless

You really can't put a price tag on the fact that your best friend is always there for you. Even when you text her at 2 a.m., she will be there to respond ASAP if she's not already by your side. No matter the situation, there's no hesitation before going to your BFF.

2It's Better To Have One Best Friend Than Several Fair-Weather Friends

This is the whole "quality over quantity" concept you've heard over and over again, but now it makes sense. A lot of friends will come and go in your 20s. You'll soon come to realize that having a super close small group of friends is so much better than having a large group of fair-weather friends. When it comes down to it, you really only need your bestie.

3You Don't Always Have To Be Doing Something To Have Fun

The FOMO can be all too real when everyone's out at a bar Friday night and you're chilling at home. Though, when it comes to your BFF, you don't need to be doing anything with her in order to have a great time. Actually, the best nights with your bestie consist of cuddling up on the couch with some wine, and catching up.

4Sometimes, You Just Need To Listen

Being a good listener is a skill you work on a lot with your BFF throughout your 20s. Sometimes, she doesn't need you to talk at all. Instead, all she wants is someone to hear her vent out every frustration.

5Every Topic Of Conversation Is On The Table

You should feel so comfortable with your best friend that you can talk about absolutely anything. If you're going through a rough time with your family or job, you don't hesitate for a second to confide in your BFF.

6Being Honest Is Key

You are ultra honest with your BFF and never lie to her. You'll forever tell her the small things, like when she has spinach in her teeth, and the big things like when she's dating a jerk who doesn't deserve her. Some things may be a little more difficult to put into words, but she'll always appreciate the honest truth.

7Don't Compare Your Friendship With Other Friendships

It's a fact that every friendship is unique. Even though you know that, you may still find yourself comparing yours to others'. That could be on TV, in movies, or in real life. What you learn from your bestie is that even though you're not like Cristina and Meredith from Grey's Anatomy, or Blair and Serena from Gossip Girl, your best friendship is just as magical and worthy of a TV show.

8Put Your Ego Aside And Apologize

Apologizing is always hard. No one ever wants to admit they were wrong, but sometimes, you just have to put your ego aside and do it. Your best friend is the only person you'll want to apologize to, because you can't stand fighting with her.

9Even If You Can't See Each Other All The Time, You Text Every Day

Nowadays, texting is everything. You don't know how people maintained friendships before cellphones, because you text your BFF all the time. Even if you can't hang with her, you're at least sending Gifs back and forth on the regular. You understand that time and distance doesn't matter. She's always there with an emoji waiting.

10Fights Happen, But You Can Work Through It All

Even some of the strongest friendships hit a few rough patches along the way. You're not immune from the occasional disagreement. The thing that sets your friendship apart is that you are able to work through it all. Your 20s are all about improvement, and that means being a better person and not walking away from a fight. Instead, you work hard to make amends.


The 1 Thing You Should Do After A Breakup That Changes Everything, According To Therapists

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Breakups are hard and confusing, and chances are, if youve been through one (or 10), youve also been on the receiving end of a lot of advice. Lord knows Ive gotten and given plenty of it, most of it probably not very good or helpful. This made me wonder what the best post-breakup advice would actually be. So, I reached out to folks who actually know what they're talking about therapists and breakup specialists for advice on the one thing you should do after a breakup. Because, after all, how many of us couldn't use a little more help in dealing with heartbreak, am I right?

Honestly, their answers were some of the best advice you could ever hope to get, especially in the midst of a breakup, when the heartbreak is the most intense. Some of it is common sense, some of it is practical advice, but all of it is a reminder that what you are feeling is temporary and, by putting your self-care first, you will get through it. To help that healing process along next time you're going through the end of a relationship, remember what these experts suggest. Take notes, folks, because this is going to be life changing.

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Block them on social media for 90 days.

The first thing to do after a breakup, says Dr. Gary Brown, a prominent relationship therapist in Los Angeles, is to block or mute them on social media. "I would advise that you not see, talk to, or communicate at all including through any social media for a minimum of 90 days, Dr. Brown tells Elite Daily. By taking this digital break it will hopefully give you enough time to grieve the loss of your relationship without the inevitable complications of clinging to a false hope that it is going to work, says Dr. Brown, who adds, You are going to need that time to help you get over the initial and natural emotional hurdles we all go through when we experience a loss.

While it can be hard to cut someone off, even temporarily, it can help you move on more quickly and less painfully. Because, as Dr. Brown explains, Hanging on and dragging out the end of a relationship that you know, deep down in your soul has not worked, is not going to help you move on with your life.

Trust your choice to end the relationship.

When you break up with someone and you're hurting, it's common to wonder if you made the right choice in ending the relationship. Nicole Richardson, a licensed counselor and marriage and family therapist, says to resist that urge. You are going to second guess your choice. Your brain is hardwired to seek pleasure and when you do something big and hard, even if it is the right thing to do, your brain is going to fight you on it, Richardson tells Elite Daily. She also warns that one of the ways your brain will fight you is to bring up all the good times when you are working through the hurt of the breakup. It is important to have a list of all the reasons you broke up and remind yourself when your brain starts to play the tape of all the 'good ole times.' While it may feel impossible in the moment, she says if you can push through that, you can get to the other side and work towards the relationship that you really want.

Get up and out of the house even when all you want to do is lie in bed.

When I'm sad, all I want to do is crawl under a blanket with as many cats as I can pile on top of me. But according to Elle Huerta, CEO and founder of the breakup app Mend, thats actually the opposite thing you should do. As she tells Elite Daily, one of the most important things to remember during a breakup is that heartbreak affects your physiology and your neurochemistry... going through a breakup feels like going through withdrawal, so it's really important in the early days to take extra care of yourself make sure you're walking or getting a little bit of exercise every day to get happy hormones flowing.

Huerta also suggests that you spend time around people you love (another good source of happy hormones) and get some sunshine every day, which will help you sleep better at night and stay asleep. She reiterates that the worst thing you can do is lock yourself in your room and stay in bed, even though that's exactly what you want to do after a breakup. Just remind yourself that you will feel so much better, and you will mend faster, if you get up and out!

Be honest about what wasnt working in the relationship.

During a breakup, it can be really easy to idealize the relationship and forget about all the reasons it didn't work out, but breakup coach and host of the Breakup BOOST Podcast Trina Leckie tells Elite Daily, the most important thing is to not lose sight of the reality of the situation. When people breakup, so often they say I have no idea what happened! Everything was perfect! This is because they are basically panicking that the relationship has come to an end and are merely focusing on how to get it back even if they were really unhappy in it, she explains. The problem with this thinking, she says, is that if you don't accept why you broke up you are staying in a state of denial, which then only prolongs your healing. She adds, Not saying that healing doesnt still take time, but acceptance is the first step in moving on.

Remember that not all relationships are not meant to last.

Psychologist and wellness advocate Pax Tandons advice may be the hardest to take, but its potentially the most life changing, as well. She suggest you try to be OK with letting go after a breakup, because not every relationship is meant to last. But since that is easier said than done, she says to practice by repeating that to yourself like a mantra. What that means, she says, is that, many of the connections and relationships on our journey through life exist simply to help us learn and grow for a moment in time. This moment could be a few weeks, several months, or even years. These relationships can take the form of partners, close friends, and sometimes even family members. We must learn the art of detachment, of letting go, to recognize that it's all in the interest of our growth and evolution. If thats a lot to remember, she says to think of it like this: Don't cling, that just makes it sting. Be aware, makes it easier to bear.

Let yourself feel the pain.

Over the years, I have gotten very good at compartmentalizing my feelings. If something hurts too much, I just distract myself and set those feelings aside. It may feel like what I am doing is working, but the problem is, I'm just putting those feelings on layaway and eventually the bill comes due, which is why I agree with Pella Weisman, licensed psychotherapist and dating coach, when she says you have to let yourself feel the pain. Breakups can be heart wrenching and take us to the very core of our deepest wounds, Weisman tells Elite Daily adding, it is very challenging work, but if you can manage to allow yourself to be with the pain, and use the pain to help you heal... then the end of a relationship can be an enormous opportunity for growth. She adds that you should take this time to learn, with support, how to be your own best ally and friend.

Get back out there and start dating again.

For Dr. Fran Walfish, Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapistand author of The Self-Aware Parent, the best way to move on from a breakup is, well, to move on! There is only one way to finally let go of your beloved ex, Dr. Walfish tells Elite Daily, and that is to begin dating, enjoy the dating process, and replace your ex with someone who values you and treats you better. But when is the right time to put yourself back out there? Dr. Walfish says it's different for every person.

Some people avoid the pain of loss and grief and bed hop by jumping from one person to the next quickly," she says. "Others who have been deeply hurt may close the vault to their heart shut and lock it away under key. But the only thing that really matters, she says, is that you need to know yourself and respect your own personal timing. When you are ready to let go and try again, you will.

Even with the best advice, a breakup is not going to be painless, but there are definitely ways to ease the process. There's a lot of great advice here, so follow the one that speaks most to you and give yourself time. Dr. Walfish reminds you to allow yourself to grieve and mourn the loss of a significant romantic relationship, this opens the door for new possibilities to come. She couldn't be more right.

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8 Little Ways To Reduce Stress When It's Coming At You From All Angles, According To Experts

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Some days are so packed to the brim with stress that when I finally get home and try to relax, it seems almost impossible. Between anxiety-inducing stories in the daily news cycle and the stress of a fully loaded to-do list, cultivating a sense of calm can prove to be a serious challenge. Personally, meditation has been life-changing in helping both my body and my mind chill out a little throughout the day. These little ways to reduce stress, like practicing mindfulness, are so important to find and create in your own daily routine, and lucky for you, I've rounded up some of the best suggestions that experts have to offer on the subject.

The thing is, if you feel like life in general has gotten more stressful in the last year or so, you're not wrong: The latest results of Gallup's Negative Experience Index, which tracks people's reported negative emotions across the globe every year, showed that, in 2017, stress levels were worse than they'd been in a decade. Nearly 40 percent of people surveyed said they experience "a lot of worry or stress," up two percentage points from the year before, according to the report. In other words, pretty much all of us could use some tips on how to dial down our stress levels.

While all of these suggestions are recommended by experts, keep in mind that they may not work immediately, or they may not work for you at all. Take some time to see what works best for your individual body and mind, and if need be, don't hesitate to explore other, more professional mental health resources.

"I would encourage [you to] try a stress relief activity three times before you give up on it," Dr. Helen Odessky, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of the book Stop Anxiety from Stopping You, tells Elite Daily in an email. "If you are in a constant state of stress, your body will often resist practicing relaxation," she explains. "Trying it a few times gives you a chance to truly test it out."

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Figure Out Some Of Your Triggers

Before you start treating the stress in your everyday life, it's a good idea to identify what parts of your schedule might be making the stress worse. Lisa Diers, a registered dietitian/nutritionist and yoga therapist who specializes in eating disorder recovery, tells Elite Daily that taking a close look at your routine might help you handle things a little more easily.

"For example," Diers says, "if you notice that waking up late and rushing to work makes you feel stressed and affects your capacity to handle other stressful events that may happen throughout your day, you may benefit from waking up earlier and giving yourself more time in the morning." A simple switch like this really could make all the difference, she explains.

Focus Your Breathing

"Remembering to breathe is so valuable when we are feeling any strong emotion," Jennifer Rogers, Ph.D., an assistant professor and graduate program co-director at the Wake Forest University Department of Counseling, tells Elite Daily. "Slow down the 'out' breath if you can, like you were blowing out a candle."

Since breathing is something you literally do all day long, there's no need to make time for this tip. Just reach for it any time you're feeling particularly stressed, and be sure to pay attention to how the tension in your body melts away with each inhale and exhale.

Try A Tapping Technique

Mercola on YouTube

Andrea Travillian, founder of Aspirify and a life transition coach who specializes in emotional healing, suggests a stress-release strategy called the "emotional freedom technique," which is basically a series of gentle taps on targeted areas of the body.

"It calms the amygdala [a part of your brain that regulates your experiences with emotions], thus allowing you to calm down and see things from a different perspective," she tells Elite Daily. If you're interested in experimenting with the technique, be sure to follow along with the above video.

Keep Track Of Your Thoughts

"Remember that your internal mind chatter is not often logical, objective, or even true," personal development and wellness expert Bizzie Gold tells Elite Daily in an email. Instead of accepting each stressful thought as truth, she recommends writing down your thoughts, particularly when you notice they're especially illogical or negative. This way, Gold explains, you can let go of these toxic thoughts in a concrete way, and, if you care to, you can look back over them from a fresh perspective once the stress of the day has dissipated.

Get Your Heart Pumping

According to fitness instructor Cindy Brehse, getting your body moving can have a huge impact on your stress levels. "Exercise is nature's stress reliever," she tells Elite Daily. "It boosts endorphins, which instantly lighten our mood. The repetitive physical movements quiet our active minds and take our thoughts off our stressors."

Even if you're busy AF, opting for a quick workout might be just the thing you need to reset your state of mind and feel like yourself again.

Pay Attention To Your Body

I know for me it can be easy to think that stress only takes place in my mind, but as licensed clinical social worker Laura Federico tells Elite Daily in an email, "stress influences not only our thoughts, but our bodies in a major way."

So, in addition to caring for your mind during difficult times, remember to check in with your body regularly, too. Be intentional about relaxing each muscle in your body, especially your shoulders and your jaw; these stress-reducing stretches can help get the job done.

Tidy Up Your Apartment

I'm personally an avid stress-cleaner. There's just something so satisfying of having your personal space in order, even if it feels like your life is, otherwise, a total mess.

"The less stuff you've got, the easier it is to relax in your space especially for women," Pip Waller, a medical herbalist, holistic healer, and author of the book Deeply Holistic, tells Elite Daily. As Psychology Today pointed out in a 2012 article, having a lot of clutter around can make you distracted, signal your brain to feel guilty about not cleaning, and can even prevent you from expressing your full range of creativity.

So, when you're feeling stressed, put a podcast on and get to work on that bathroom, girl.

Eat Some Almond Butter (Yes, Really)

"What you eat can contribute to hormonal rollercoasters that can affect stress," Lori Miranda, a certified health and wellness coach, nutrition coach, and founder of Wellbody, tells Elite Daily. Instead of reaching for refined carbs and sugary treats, which Miranda says can lead to blood sugar crashes, she recommends snacking on a combo of protein and fat (ahem, almond butter, y'all) to help keep your mood stable. Stress relief and plenty of nut butter at the same time? Now that's my kind of winning combo.

Leighton Meester Wouldn't Return To 'Gossip Girl,' But Her Reasoning Makes Sense

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Leighton Meester has moved on from her days ruling the Upper East Side on the CW hit teen drama Gossip Girl. Since the series wrapped she's released an album, made her Broadway debut, married The OC's Adam Brody, become a mom, took on numerous TV and film projects, and she's headling a new series this fall. Of course, her iconic turn as Blair Waldorf lives on in the hearts of fans and Netflix binge sessions. Leighton Meester wouldn't return to Gossip Girl, though, given the chance. Would you go back to high school? Probably not. That's part of her explanation for why she's keeping the past in the past.

"I'm not haunted by that time, but it's been interesting and helpful for me to look at it and examine it as an adult and go, 'I don't know if it was the healthiest environment,'" Meester recently told PorterEdit.

Leighton was just 21 when she was started work on Gossip Girl and, as she pointed out to the publication, the hours were demanding and the pressure was on. Leighton noted that missteps in your early '20s are normal, but the public eye and judgment adds another layer of scrutiny.

"If you don't have the right perspective, you could definitely be confused by people being that nice to you or judging you for behavior that's typical of a 20-, 21-year-old, making mistakes but having to make them very publicly," she remarked.

Leighton additionally shared that she wouldn't trade her Gossip Girl chapter "for anything." But that doesn't mean she wants to be transported back to that era. The actress said:

It's sort of a time capsule. A lot of the questions that come from it are: 'Do you miss it?' 'Did you love what you wore?' And I understand that, butand I say this with nothing but loveit is like saying, 'High school was an amazing time for you. Do you wish you could go back?' And the truth is, it was so special and such a unique, amazing experience, but no, I wouldn't wanna go back to it. I was a kid!

Gossip Girl ran for 6 seasons from 2007 until 2012. With the reboot craze booming these days with no end in sight, the natural question raised of late is whether or not the series could make a comeback.

Last year, Leighton weighed in on if she would sign on for more episodes. She told Vanity Fair, "I guess I hear that in fits and starts here and there, but it's hard to say. If everyone was into it and the timing was right, you know? I don't want to say, 'No, never ..."

Penn Badgley, aka Dan Humphry, recently stated that he doesn't think a reboot would make sense for "maybe another 10 years" because the show is so freshly off the air, so perhaps the cast will all come around to the idea in 2028.

Until then, fans can catch their beloved Upper East Siders as they take on other entertainment endeavors. Blake Lively's A Simple Favor hit theaters last week, Penn Badgley's You is airing on Lifetime, and Meester's sitcom Single Parents premieres Sept. 26 on ABC.

The 3 Best Brow Powders

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Whether you have a thick set of brows that would make Brooke Shields jealous or skinny arches la '90s era Gwen Stefani, filling in one's eyebrows is a common step in many beauty routines. And while the convenience of brow pens make them the preferred tool for many, nothing blends quite as nicely as a powder, which is also easier to manipulate and oftentimes look more natural. To narrow down the best brow powders on the market, I took a few key things into consideration. Most importantly, they had to be offered in a variety of hues, so whether you're tawny-browed, ash-toned, or bleach-blonde, you should be able to find a shade that matches your hair color.

Additionally, having great eyebrows shouldn't have to be expensive (and let's face it, brow powder is a pretty basic product), so only one of these options from prestige brand Anastasia costs more than $10. And since favorite products don't exist in a vacuum, I scoured the Internet Reddit, Amazon, social media to find the most widely adored eyebrow powders from readers just like you.

From single pots of pigment to multi-piece kits, find the three very best brow powders below.

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1The Overall Best Brow Powder

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo

$23

Amazon

This best-selling powder duo from the crme de la crme of brow brands, Anastasia Beverly Hills, is offered in 11 shades, but you don't get any extras and it's the priciest.

The amazing thing about this pick from Anastasia Beverly Hills isn't that it comes in 11 shades it actually comes with a whopping 22, because each compact actually contains two different colored powders. You'll be able to mix the pigments to match your hair color correctly, for a change, and build up the depth as desired because some days, we're all about a demure brow, and some nights, we want to experiment with an ombre look. With this baby, you can do both and then some. The only rub is that this option doesn't come with an applicator, so you'll want to make sure you have a brush on hand. The high-quality formula can't be beat, however it glides on like velvet and blends to perfection.

2The Best Budget-Friendly Brow Powder Kit

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder

$6

Amazon

This cheap, solid brow kit comes in six shades and includes two powders, wax, a roundwand, and a slanted brush.

This five-piece kit from NYX comes with not one, but two shades of powder, wax, a roundwand applicator for brushing, and a slanted brush for drawing on brows with precision. Like the Anastasia Beverly Hills powder duo, the dual tones in this kit allow for buildable brow color and coverage, so you can customize the shade that's right for you without needing to buy multiple products. Additionally, the wax gives brows extra hold, making sure the powder stays set all day long. Whether you want to brush your brows up with the spoolie for some extra volume or create the perfect arch with the mini slanted brush, this kit has got you covered.

3Another Wallet-Wise Brow Powder Kit And It's Even Cheaper

Rimmel Brow This Way Sculpting Kit

$4

Amazon

The cheapest option on the list comes with powder, wax, a roundwand, and a two-sided brush but it's only available in three shades.

You simply can't beat the price tag on this four-piece brow kit from iconic British brand Rimmel. Included is a powder, a tinted brow wax, a spoolie brush, and a two-sided flat-tipped brush that's perfect for drawing on individual brow hairs. I know the fact that it comes in only three shades two browns and a blonde may be a dealbreaker for some of you, but if you can find your match, don't hesitate to buy it because it's so highly-reviewed and so dang affordable you have to try it out for yourself.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

Here's How To Go Back To The Old Gmail Format If You Don't Like The New Look

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I'll be completely honest: I absolutely cannot stand change of any kind. Whether it's something as basic as a haircut, or if it's a little more drastic, like a family member moving away, change always manages to get to me in the worst way possible. In terms of recent changes, Gmail decided to shock users nationwide when the company changed its format earlier in summer 2018. So, as you would probably imagine, it's been driving me totally and utterly bonkers. If you are also missing the old version of the website, here's how to go back to the old Gmail format. I am personally so relieved that it's possible.

You may have felt totally defeated or backstabbed when Gmail went behind your back and changed the format first for early adopters in April, and had a full rollout of the update in July 2018. Luckily, though, reverting it back is simple. First, according to The New York Times, you'll have to navigate to Settings, which you can find in the upper-right side of your Gmail homepage screen. Click on it, and select Go back to classic Gmail." Then, the old version should come up immediately. You may be asked why you decided to change back. Personally, I think it's OK if the only reason is that you just can't deal with change, because #same.

Make sure you take full advantage of being able to use the old version, though. According to Softonic, you reportedly won't be able to revert to it for long. By October 2018, using Gmail's old version won't be an option anymore, and everyone will automatically be forced to use the updated version. Users on the new version won't be able to opt out anymore, and users still using the old version will be forced to use the new format. Per the official update on the G Suite Blog in June 2018, the "opt-out option" will be removed "approximately 12 weeks after the GA announcement in July." So, you may want to use this sweet, sweet time to continue using the old Gmail. Hopefully, when you transition to the new one, it wont take you too long to get accustomed to it.

While the transition has been practically unbearable, there are a number of benefits from using Gmail's new format. If you're often late responding to emails, the new version will now remind you to follow up, and it includes a Smart Reply feature that crafts potential responses. It also provides a more "streamlined look," the ability to better organize attachments as well as Offline Mode and a Snooze Button so you can get some time away from your email.

In terms of safety and security, the new version also provides Confidential Mode and Design Refresh. These features are basically used for private information that you must send electronically. Confidential Mode makes emails expire and retractable, while Design Refresh warns you not to click something, in the event that it might be a scam. When push comes to shove, the new design is actually pretty cool.

Don't get me wrong the new Gmail format is honestly rad. It has a lot of really useful benefits and extremely hi-tech features. I, however, was all about the old version, and, in general, I really just can't handle change. Come October, though, both you and I won't be able to use the old version ever again, so please think of me during this time of hardship. I'll be fine.

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