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Gwyneth Paltrow, who recently gave the performance of her life (by not laughing) during that recent ski-collision trial, appears to be completely done with Hollywood. That’s the message coming from her new Bustle interview to promote the new “accessible” (i.e. less expensive) “good. clean. goop” beauty line that will sell at Amazon and Target.

Goop has actually come a long way since launching as a weekly newsletter that saw Gwyneth recommend expensive, “aspirational” things for her followers to buy. She has never pretended (for long) to understand what the wealthy masses go through in order to afford consumer goods, but she must now recognize that a lower price point would be beneficial for both her and goop readers. As well, goop seems to be piloting her empire with plans for an eventual sale. After that, she plans to flee from the public eye. Here’s that exchange with Bustle:

So who’s going to buy Goop and make you hundreds of millions of dollars?

I have no idea. We’re not ready to sell yet. I need a few more years.

Maybe you could make a dramatic exit on your 55th birthday.

I’d be happy with that.

Sail off into the sunset.

I will literally disappear from public life. No one will ever see me again.

You think that’s true?

Yes.

You don’t get any pleasure from having to do that side of it?

No. I don’t.

The struggle is goop-y, as they say. In the interview, Paltrow also claimed that “[m]oney has never been my thing. It’s never been my driver,” but presumably, she cannot be upset to actually have that money. Otherwise, Gwyneth claimed to have lightened up on her militant workout routine, and she claims to simply want to hang out with friends and family, hence the desire to “disappear” from society. Only time will tell if that happens, but who knows, she might actually do that reality-show stint first, and ski with less resulting drama, too.

(Via Bustle)

A group of 105 homeless people gathered at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Each of them was given a disposable camera and told to take pictures that represent “my London.”

The photos were entered in an annual contest run by London-based nonprofit Cafe Art, which gives homeless artists the chance to have their work displayed around the city and, for some of the photographers who participate in the yearly challenge, in a print calendar.

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“Some people have had experience, and others have never picked up a camera before,” said Paul Ryan, co-director of Cafe Art.

The program, Ryan explained, includes mentorship and training from professional volunteers at the Royal Photographic Society, including winners of the contest from previous years, many of whom are ultimately inducted into the society.

The goal of the challenge is to help participants gain the confidence to get back on the job market, search for housing, re-engage with their social circles, or even activate dormant skills.

“I really enjoyed it. And I started to get involved in my art again, which I’d left for years,” a 2015 participant said in a video for the organization’s Kickstarter campaign.

These are 11 of the top vote-getters from this year’s contest:

1. Ella Sullivan — “Heart Bike Rack”

2. Alana Del Valle — “London Bus with Sculpture”

3. Beatrice — “Out of the Blue”

4. Laz Ozerden — “What Now?”

5. Leo Shaul — “The Coffee Roaster”

6. Christopher McTavish — “St. Paul’s in Reflection”

7. Hugh Gary — “London Calling”

8. Keith Norris — “Watching Mannequin”

9. Siliana — “After the Rain”

10. Saffron Saidi — “Graffiti Area”

11. Jackie Cook — “Underground Exit”

Ryan, who has been developing the program for seven years, said that while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for individuals who are homeless, for some who are too used to being “knocked back,” the experience of seeing their work on display or in print — and of success — can be invaluable.

“Everyone is helped in a different way, to get up to the next step in whatever way they need to.”

This article originally appeared on 08.17.16

There’s nothing like preparing for a new baby. The excitement and anticipation take hold and before you know what’s happening, your baby registry is five pages long full of things you’ve probably never heard of. I’ve been there before, and now, four kids later, I can tell you with absolute certainty that there are tons of things you actually don’t need. It’s easy to get carried away when everything is so tiny and cute, especially ’cause marketing around baby stuff is bananas. The following offers some alternative items to the ones you’ll likely only use a limited number of times before practicality takes over.

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Many of us have been there, standing in the baby aisle looking like we’re smuggling an oddly shaped beach ball under our now-too-small maternity shirt contemplating between the many styles of pacifiers and different types of bottles. You’d be forgiven for spending an insane amount of money on bottles shaped like a deflated spaceship that guarantee your baby will never burp, when two weeks after they’re born you find out your baby actually prefers the $0.98 ones from Walmart. Figuring out what you really need is tricky enough, so let me help you out. Hold on to your bellies or shiny new babies folks, this list might blow your mind.

1. Put the Pee Pee Teepee down and back away slowly.

Aside from the word “teepee” being highly inappropriate for non-Indigenous people to use, you can go ahead and take this bad boy off your baby registry. If you’re not familiar with a “pee pee teepee,” it’s a cone-shaped item that goes on top of your little guy’s business so he doesn’t accidentally pee in his eyes or on the unsuspecting diaper changer. Here’s the thing, baby wipes or a baby washcloth work just as well. When my boys were little I’d just throw a wipe over their baby business while I changed the diaper, and once the dirty diaper was off, it’s easy to toss the used wipe in before trashing the diaper. Easy peasy and it’s one less thing to put on your list.

2. Diaper Genies are unnecessary and it’s easy to forget they exist.

I had such high hopes for my Diaper Genie as a first-time mom. They’re so cool, you shove a dirty diaper in there and twist. That’s it. It locks in the odor and makes a weird-looking segmented snake of dirty diapers. Alas, when your diaper pail is in one room and you’re changing a diaper on a wiggly baby in another, most times the diaper just winds up in the closest trash can. So just buy some small cheap trash cans to put in different rooms and then empty them at the end of the day. There’s only so much odor a diaper genie can hold and they only take special expensive trash bags. Save your money. Get some small trash cans and those little smell good bags to toss the smelly diapers.

3. You can buy a swaddler but you don’t actually need it.

I know this might be a controversial statement, but honestly those swaddlers are really expensive and babies quickly outgrow them. You can do the perfect swaddle with a receiving blanket for a fraction of the price and just as much energy. You know how babies come all bundled up when the nurse brings them in from the nursery? Yeah, that’s a really good swaddle that will give your snuggle bug the same coziness as an expensive swaddler.

4. You don’t have to be fancy and get a Baby Brezza.

Honestly, I had never heard of a Baby Brezza until I had my youngest, so I’m assuming its a newer invention. They’re certainly cool and also really expensive and unnecessary. These little doodads are like baby Keurigs but for formula. They hold powdered formula and water, you press a button and it supposedly perfectly mixes up a warm bottle of sustenance. The price tag on these things are about the same as a larger much more needed baby item, like a car seat-stroller combo. There have also been some concerns raised by pediatricians due to some bottles not getting enough formula added.

Take the guesswork out of it and just fill the bottles by hand. You can even put water in the bottles in advance and leave them out at room temperature and use a portable formula container to put premeasured scoops in. I know it’s no Baby Brezza, but you’ll be $200 richer and know exactly how much formula is going into your baby’s bottle.

5. Your baby doesn’t need fake grass to dry their bottles on.

Don’t laugh, a fake grass bottle dryer is something that actually once sat on my kitchen counter. That’s about all it did because I dang sure didn’t use it for more than the first week. When you’re sleep deprived, you want the easiest thing available and oftentimes that’s the top rack of the dishwasher or the dish rack that’s already on your countertop. The things we get suckered into buying is laughable sometimes. Besides it being esthetically pleasing, you don’t actually need it and a regular bottle rack, in fact, works better because there are no removable trees holding the nipples.

6. Side eye anyone that says you need embroidered burp cloths.

Don’t fall for it. Yes, purpose-made burp cloths can be super cute but they’re literally used to catch baby puke. These things are too small to cover the area needed to prevent your back and shoulder from becoming a casualty of a little guy eating too fast. Remember those receiving blankets we talked about earlier? Yeah, they are much more absorbent and cover more of your body to spare you having to change clothes. Those flannel blankets are versatile. You can use them for swaddling, to cover a car seat or stroller, for burp cloths or even a clean area to change the baby on. There’s no such thing as too many receiving blankets. I’ll make it easy for you, grab a pack here.

7. Skip the bulb syringe and splurge on the NoseFrida.

The hospital will give you a useless bulb syringe that only the nurses know how to work, because I swear no matter how hard you squeeze the bulb you barely get anything out. Bulb syringes even come with many newborn essential sets. I’m sure they work, but they seem to take way too much effort for the little bit of mucus they pull out. Get the NoseFrida—yes, it’s a little more expensive but it’s worth it, even though it seems gross. I promise the hygiene filter that goes in the tube will spare you from getting baby boogers in your mouth. You can literally use that thing well into the toddler years until your little one learns to blow their nose. Can’t speak highly enough of this thing and here’s a link to it here.

8. Do you really need a Pack ‘n’ Play that turns into a rocket ship?

OK, maybe it doesn’t turn into a rocket ship but some of those things are so outrageous that you might need to be a rocket scientist to put it together. Pack ‘n’ Plays are really convenient and a great investment for new parents, especially if you like to travel or have family out of state. You can use it so your baby can sleep in your bedroom until you’re ready for the switch to sleeping away from your little one. Just try not to get distracted by all the bells and whistles and stick to the basics. A Pack ‘n’ Play with a bassinet is really all you need. It’s much cheaper and you’ll use the bassinet piece much longer than the ones that come with other parts.

9. Expensive teething jewelry is overrated.

Fancy teething jewelry is cute and has become quite popular lately, but babies don’t really need it. They are perfectly happy with the normal water-filled teething rings or rubber ones that can be thrown in any diaper bag. They’re tried and true, plus they’re designed specifically for teething. While the jewelry is marketed for teething babies, doctors have warned that they’re not safe enough to use for that purpose. Besides, having a baby is expensive enough, no need to add to it when you can pick up teething rings at just about any store for a reasonable price.

The idea that everything for babies has to be the most expensive top-of-the-line things is just marketing. When it comes down to it, babies need very basic things: a safe place to sleep, food, diapers and lots of love. Everything else is extra and you can be as extra as you’d like but it should never feel like it’s a necessity. Your baby will love you whether you have the Baby Brezza or mix their bottles by hand, promise.

This article originally appeared on 9.16.22

When we think about gifted conversationalists, we’re more likely to think of great talkers—those who wow us with their insights, wit, and charm. However, communication experts believe that if you want to make a great impression on someone, knowing how to listen goes a long way.

Those of us who love being verbose may think the world loves us because of how well we can talk. But the person sitting in front of you has a lot to say, and nothing makes them feel better during a conversation than your undivided attention.

As the old saying goes, we never quite remember everything someone has said to us, but we’ll never forget how they made us feel. When you actively listen to your conversation partner, they feel that you value them and are receptive to their needs. It also eases any feelings of conflict or resentment.

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After a good conversation, the person you spoke with should think, “Wow, that person really gets me,” instead of, “It was like I didn’t even exist.”

A study from 2016 on sales calls did an excellent job of quantifying the amount we should speak versus listen during a conversation. A marketing director at Gong.io analyzed 25,537 sales calls using artificial intelligence and found that the interactions where the salesperson talked 43% of the time and listened 57% of the time had the highest sales yield.

This finding has come to be known as the 43:57 rule.

Even though the study was conducted on business calls, the reason that it works should apply to social conversations as well. Paying more attention helps a salesperson identify the client’s needs and makes them feel comfortable spending money because they know it’s with someone who understands their interests.

It’s the same as a social situation where the person you speak to wants to know they are valued and you respect what they say.

This is excellent advice, but sometimes it’s hard to listen when you’re in a fun conversation and have a lot to say. Kate Murphy, author of “You’re Not Listening,” says it’s all about staying calm.

“Deep breaths are always good. They’re always good. Because it…calms down that fear response. It helps you get more centered,” Murphy told WBUR. “But also to develop your curiosity. Like I said, make it more important to be curious than to be right. And to go into every conversation with that mindset of how could I be wrong? Instead of, let me prove how I’m right.”

“That’s how you develop creative ideas. It’s how you cooperate. It’s how you find middle ground, or at least a peaceable existence,” Murphy added.

The idea that to be a great conversationalist one should master the art of listening is a bit counterintuitive. But, if you feel that you have a lot to say in conversations and can be interesting to listen to, imagine how great that’ll make others feel when you show that you enjoy listening to them as well. It’s a virtuous cycle where everyone wins.

This article originally appeared on 3.7.23

There are few things more comforting than seeing a baby with their comfort object—a blankie, a stuffed animal or a favorite toy. Or, in the case of Baby Violet, a creepy demon doll that looks baby Shrek possessed by Beelzebub.

TikTok creator Brittany Christiana (@brittikitty) shared a video of her older daughter Lily in a Halloween store, holding the demon baby and asking if she could get it for “Baby Violet.” Her mom doesn’t even hesitate, responding, “Of course!”

Then we get a closer-up look at the creature, and phew, it’s really something to behold. Not only is it demonic-looking but it’s huge—about the size of Baby Violet herself.

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If you’re wondering if such a gift might be met with fearful tears or at least some slight hesitancy, nope. Watch how Baby Violet reacts when she’s handed the demon child:

@brittikitty

Lily is so thoughtful 😂😂

Adorable, right? People in the comments loved her joyful reaction.

“It’s like the Addams Family 😂,” wrote one commenter.

“They’re definitely gonna have the best spooky costumes growing up,” wrote another.

Followers already knew of Lily’s love for Halloween, and seeing Violet share her sister’s joy was a relief. A big sister who loves horror combined with a little sister who hates it could create some problematic childhood memories.

Some people shared their or their kids’ comfort items that others would find unusual (or terrifying).

“When I was like 5 I had this rubber sewer rat from Halloween and I kept it and slept with it til I was 10 and then my mom hid it from me,” shared one person.

“My daughter’s favorite toy is an old Halloween skeleton she calls “guy.” Over time, he has lost his limbs so now guy is just a skull and torso,” shared another.

Lily and Violet’s love for the demon baby is reminiscent of Creepy Chloe, the Halloween doll that won 3-year-old Briar’s heart at the Spirit Halloween store. Briar loved Chloe so much she took her everywhere and even had a photoshoot done with her at Disneyland.

You just never know what kids are going to love or hate. One thing’s for sure, though—no scary monster stands a chance against Lily and Violet.

There’s one thing you can say about little kids that’s pretty consistent no matter who the kid is, and it’s that they’re brutally honest. Whether you have something stuck in your teeth or you’ve gained weight, a small child will inform you – loudly, and usually in front of others. But one preschooler’s moment of honesty is going viral for how relatable it is.

An exhausted and cranky 4-year-old named Jude has had enough. The little boy had just gotten home from school when he must’ve been asked something before the camera started rolling because his response was a #same moment.

“Listen. No, do you hear me? I’m cranky, I’m tired, I worked hard at school,” Jude says to his dad.

Jude’s mom, Amber Tinker uploaded the video to TikTok where it went viral with over 14 million views and over 1.5 million likes. The tiny grumpy human was clearly not interested in whatever shenanigans his dad was up to and he let him know it.

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Jude’s dad, Justin Tinker was attempting to tease the boy about messing with him later but Jude was having none of it. The preschooler quickly repeated that he was cranky and tired after working hard at school. He mumbles something as he walks towards a barn when his dad stops him.

“I’ve already got everything fed and watered. I already got the eggs, I did your job cause I knew you was tired,” Justin calls out.

Though his dad did his chores for him, Jude still didn’t feel like he got his point across because later in the video he repeats how cranky and tired he is. Both of his parents explained they also worked hard today and were tired but it was obvious that Jude out tired them all. In the end he declared he was getting a bath tonight. Maybe his mom will bring him a cold Capri Sun and light some candles while he soaks in a bubble bath. Preschool must be rough these days.

Watch the whole video below:

@judemywildchild

This boy has had enough! #HeyJude #Cranky #Tired #kidsoftiktok #Funny #Viral

Bad Bunny is hosting Saturday Night Live this weekend, in support of his new album, and it seems he’s already getting in on the laughs. In a new promo video on social media, it pokes fun at a wrestling format as an announcer (played by James Austin Johnson) greets Bad Bunny as his “normal” self Benito.

“How we feeling, Benito? Nervous?” Johnson asks.

“Hell no,” he responds.

Then, he is interrupted by none other than himself, as the Bad Bunny image. “Shut up, dummy,” his alter ego says. “I’m here.” He walks into the room wearing dark sunglasses and a wrestling belt slung over his shoulder.

“I’ve got a weekend update for you, amigo,” Bad Bunny tells his normal Benito counterpart. “You suck… You put the ‘L’ in SNL.”

“Please turn on my subtitles,” Benito tells the crew, before speaking in Spanish. “Thank you, because this idiot doesn’t know how to read… I’m gonna break your face, asshole!”

Benito and Bad Bunny exchange jabs at each other, similar to the roasts that happen on a regular wrestling night. At the end, the two stand face-to-face for a staredown, as Johnson encourages viewers to tune in this weekend.

Check out the promotional teaser for Bad Bunny’s SNL hosting gig below.

Following the disbandment of hip-hop collective Brockhampton last year, Kevin Abstract is gearing up to release his new album, Bleach. Last week, Abstract dropped a trailer for the album in the form of a short film called Gum. Today (October 18), Abstract has shared a new song, “What Should I Do?”

On “What Should I Do?,” Abstract rap-sings over a breezy, guitar instrumental, recalling the feelings of a budding queer love.

“I’m floatin’ through space, in the darkness I see your face between / You and me, my friend, my partner, my spot in the shade / We’ll drive around this town, pretendin’ like we got it made / Then let’s stay up all night, long ’til tomorrow turns to today,” sings Abstract on one of the song’s verses, before later asking, “What should I do to get my mind off of you?”

“What Should I Do?” is accompanied by another short film called Slip N Slide. In the clip, a young boy slides down a rainbow slip-n-slide, which leads him through a city, a forest, and ultimately, to a bleak, empty room.

You can listen to “What Should I Do” and see the Slip N Slide short film above.

Blanket is out 11/3 via RCA. Find more information here.

It’s a good time to be a fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the fact that the team’s postseason run ended with a whimper, Cleveland had an excellent regular season last year, as the team won 51 games and secured the 4-seed in the Eastern Conference. Built around one of the best 4-man groupings in the league and spearheaded by a legitimate superstar in Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs can (and should) feel like they can go blow for blow with just about anyone in the NBA.

And yet, last year’s postseason defeat was humiliating — this quote sums things up well. Learning how to turn regular season success into postseason success is a normal step for young teams, and as we move closer and closer to the start of the 2023-24 campaign, Cleveland is in a position where they can show that they’re ready to take that next step.

Biggest Question: Can They Balance Enough Shooting With An Elite Defense?

The Cavaliers seemed to take joy out of being an absolute chore to play against last season. No team played at a slower pace. No team had a better defensive rating. They were better than anyone else at preventing teams from attempting shots from behind the three-point line. They were very good at defending around the rim. While their offense was not perfect, it was ninth in the league in offensive rating, spearheaded by a pair of guards in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland who are capable of making magic happen.

And then, they ran into the Knicks. Despite winning 51 games — their most in a season without LeBron James on the roster in 30 years — Cleveland got repeatedly punked by New York in their limp, five-game defeat in the first round. Their defense generally held up outside of a quite frankly shocking inability to grab defensive rebounds, but the biggest problem was their offense, which had the worst offensive rating in the postseason. They struggled mightily from three (32.7 percent) and turned the ball over more than anyone (15.8 turnovers per game).

Their bet appears to be that more floor spacing will add a bit of variety into their offense and give defenses something to keep them honest while Garland, Mitchell, and Evan Mobley all go to work. The team brought in Max Strus and Georges Niang this offseason, both of whom are elite shooters who are eager to let it fly and should be really nice fits in the starting lineup (Strus) or off the bench (Niang). It’d be wise to lean on them heavily to juice the offense, and while neither are horrible defenders — both guys compete on that end of the floor — a guy like Isaac Okoro is more stout on that end of the floor. Maybe it’s possible that Mobley and Jarrett Allen (when he is healthy) are just going to be a top-5 defense no matter what, and if the shooting they brought in can give their offense a boost from “very good” to “elite,” Cleveland is going to win a ton of games.

X-Factor: Another Step Forward For Evan Mobley

The most optimistic Evan Mobley fans believe he’s a face of the franchise type of player. Even those who aren’t quite that high believe he has the potential to be an All-Star, and with good reason — he’s only 22 and he is already one of the most singularly destructive defensive players in all of basketball. His offense is still a work in progress, but if he’s building on top of his floor, he’s a guy who has averaged 15.6 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field in his NBA career. If that dude is your third-best player, you’re in a very good spot.

The thing that makes Mobley so interesting is that he has the talent to be much more than a third-best player on a team as good as the Cavaliers. His jumper is a work in progress, but it doesn’t look irreparably broken or anything. He flashes the ability to put the ball on the deck and create. Allen’s injury to start the year could end up forcing Mobley to play more center — which is probably his long-term position in the league — and could theoretically be the sort of thing that results in growing pains but is a long-term positive.

Mobley made his playoff debut and was, to put it bluntly, embarrassed. The Knicks shoved him around and completely minimized his impact, as he went for 9.8 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 blocks, and 0.6 steals in 37.6 minutes per game. He shot 47.8 percent from the field and missed the only three he took over five games. I’m a big believer in his talent, and we’ll see if last postseason was a wake-up call for him at all the things he has to do to become great. If he can, the Cavs are going to be a handful during the regular season.

It’s no secret that Taylor Swift is a pop-culture tsunami, washing over everything that she touches. When she recently appeared at a NFL game touting a massive entourage that notably included Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy, the rumor mill kicked into high gear with hopes that Swift would cameo in the film as Dazzler. In the X-Men comics, Dazzler is a mutant pop singer with the ability to convert sound into light and energy, and Taylor Swift is a pop singer with the ability to convert fans into mass hysteria, so this should be a no-brainer.

The calls for Swift to appear in Deadpool 3 were so strong that Levy couldn’t escape the subject during a new interview with The Wrap. His answer was notably coy:

“They sure are loud,” Levy said of Swift fans clamoring for her to play the musical mutant. “I’m going across the board. ‘No comment’ because that’s a double whammy. That’s Taylor-related. And it’s MCU-related. I’m no dummy. You’re going to have to wait and see.”

If all of this sounds familiar, that’s because Swift’s history of being dream-cast as Dazzler goes back nearly a decade to X-Men: Apocalypse. Thanks to her well-documented friendship with Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, Swift visited the set of the film, which naturally, kicked the Dazzler rumors into overdrive. While Swift doesn’t appear in the film, Turner’s Jean Grey and Tye Sheridan’s Cyclops do visit a record store where they find a Dazzler album. There was speculation that Swift posed for the cover, but a source squashed that rumor.

The Swift as Dazzler rumors briefly fired up again for the next X-Men film, Dark Phoenix, which did include Dazzler’s live-action debut. However, the role was played by The Orville star Halston Sage.

Could Deadpool 3 make the Taylor Swift as Dazzler fancast a reality? The chances are pretty high. For starters, Ryan Reynolds is some sort of powerful genie who already brought Hugh Jackman back as Wolverine. The guy is pulling all kinds of rabbits out of a hat. Deadpool 3 will also dabble in the Multiverse, which makes a Swift cameo even easier. She can simply play Dazzler from an alternate reality, freeing Marvel to cast another actress down the road.

Although, maybe Swift wants to be the official pop star of the MCU? Surely, Kevin Feige wouldn’t say no to that.

(Via The Wrap)