Back in July, when he was promoting Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Henry Cavill told GQ Australia that he was worried about the #MeToo movement making it harder for him to flirt and that he had concerns about flirting and then being called a rapist. Seriously. As I said at the time, no, dumdum, nobo…

Auli’l Cravalho starred as Moana’s voice in both Moana and Ralph Breaks the Internet. She’s 18 years old Moana was her first film and she has since gone on to the TV series Rise. Beyond that, I don’t know anything about her. Except that her Instagram is adorable and I hope we see a lot more of her. Seventeen interviewed Auli’i (pronounced ow-lee-ee, according to her Instagram bio). The photos are really fun, very youthful and all the dresses are beautiful, if not a bit bland color-wise. My favorite is the strapless polka dot dress below, primarily because of her styling. The interview sought Auli’i’s advice for prom and getting ready for it vs. a red carpet. Beyond clothing and makeup tips, Auli’i suggests taking the pressure off yourself and having your best friend be your date.

On her number one rule for finding the perfect dress: “Even if it looks crazy on the hanger, try it on. You never know!”

On wearing heels—and sneaking in flats (or slippers!): “When I’m standing in heels, I feel like a lady boss. A chunky heel is definitely more comfortable, but I think it’s easier to dance in a skinny one. I’ve actually started taking the bath slippers from hotels because they roll up and fit in your bag. So after I’ve taken all my pictures, I slip off my heels, put them under a table, and bring out the slippers. It’s a look!… You need to be comfortable in what you’re wearing. If heels aren’t your thing, don’t wear them!”

On making memories (hint: ditch your phone): “I believe in leaving your phone in your bag. You can use a Polaroid camera to take pictures—they really capture a moment in time. There’s no editing or instant upload. You can have friends sign one and tack it on your wall.”

On boosting your confidence for prom: “I get nervous before most events—you’re just wondering what everyone is thinking. So I tell myself, ‘This night will be what it’ll be, but it’ll be what I make it as well.’ Even if my heart feels like it’s going to leap out of my throat, I’ll make the best of it. It’ll be a positive experience if I will it to be so.”

On prom dates (besties FTW): “Your date can definitely be your best friend—guy or girl. I went to prom with my best friend Lauren, and we just danced and ate cupcakes all night! If I were tied to a traditional date, I’d be wondering if they wanted to take a break.”

On her dream arm candy: “Tom Holland. He can dance, he’s a gentleman, he dresses well, and he has the cutest British accent.”

[From Seventeen]

I also went to prom with my best friend, although it was a bit more elaborate than what Auli’I suggests. I went as a foursome. My boyfriend at the time was in college and had not gone to my high school. He also did not like to dance and I love to dance. We had a mutual friend who had gone to high school with him and mentioned she wanted to go to another school’s prom. I had a best friend at my school who didn’t want to bother with finding a date but was on student government with me and we were supposed to go. So, my bf and I connected those two and it resulted in my boyfriend having someone to talk to, because our mutual friend didn’t dance either, I got to dance with my buddy all night and nobody got jealous. It sounds complicated but it was actually very smooth and we all had a blast.

Most of her prom advice is really solid. I would add to finding a dress, if you are in a dress shop with qualified staff, ask their opinion and at least try whatever they suggest, they’ve seen these outfits in motion and know what body types they flatter. I don’t understand the Polaroid solution, though. How is a Polaroid a better option than a phone for photos? Isn’t that just something else to lose that night? Although I understand what she’s saying about people who have to edit and post immediately – let that wait, for sure.

And heaven help me, I’d love to have Tom Holland as my arm candy too. I am far too old for him so I have to say this is a maternal thing but he really is so charming.

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When mom says you don’t need anything for Christmas:

A post shared by Auli’i (@auliicravalho) on Dec 13, 2018 at 5:10pm PST

Photos credit: Eric Ray Davidson for Seventeen, received via Hearst promotional email and Instagram

Sandra Bullock has been promoting her Netflix film Bird Box for weeks now. It’s interesting to see even the biggest old-school movie stars like Sandy and Julia Roberts hopping on the streaming train, and as they’ve found out, they still have to promote their Amazon or Netflix movies or projects like any theatrical release. Which means that there are premieres and screenings and tons of interviews.

Sandra stepped out in New York for a screening of Bird Box last night. This was her look – a stiff, taffeta-looking Martin Grant gown in a shade of orange-red. I really, really dislike this. I mean, I appreciate that she got all dressed up, but bless her heart, she’s never been a Fashion Girl and it’s just never going to happen for her. The sculptural sh-t at the waist is killing me. Also: I always give Gwyneth Paltrow a lot of crap for never changing her hair beyond the ‘90s, but we could say the same about Sandra too. She’s been doing this flat-ironed, center-part look for years. It’s kind of tired.

Sandra was on The Late Show last night and she explained Bird Box a little bit. It sounds like a very odd film.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Brad Pitt’s Make It Right NOLA foundation is being sued by dozens of homeowners. Many of the homes built by MIR were and are defective, from bad construction, to shoddy materials, to water damage and more. All of the people who lived in MIR homes had to purchase them, often at a discount, but through loans and FEMA grants and such. They had to spend their own money on these “charity” homes. And so when their homes became unliveable, they went to MIR for help. MIR barely helped at all. So the homeowners filed a class action lawsuit against Brad and Make It Right. Only now Brad Pitt wants the judge to say that he (Pitt) had nothing to do with MIR. “Make It Right? I don’t know her.”

Brad Pitt is defending himself against accusations he only helped out New Orleans residents following Hurricane Katrina for good press, denying the claim and demanding a judge let him out of the class action lawsuit filed by Katrina victims. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Pitt is seeking to be dismissed once and for all from the class action lawsuit against the actor and his Make it Right Foundation accusing the charity of selling them “defectively and improperly constructed homes.”

Pitt claims the lawsuit “does not otherwise contain a single factual allegation that Mr. Pitt made any promise to any putative class member, that he entered any contract with any putative class member, or that he made any misrepresentation to any putative class member. ” The actor is responding to a recent motion by the victims who claimed that “Mr. Pitt gladly accepted responsibility for his personal participation when the publicity was favorable … [He] received incalculable marketing and publicity benefits from his involvement with the Foundation and the Lower Ninth Ward… But when it surfaced that these homeowners, who are burned with 30-year mortgages on homes that may not last another five years, defendant seeks to be dismissed from legal scrutiny by conveniently ignoring his personal participation and plaintiffs’ allegations of fraud.”

The plaintiffs claim Pitt “personally participated in the tortious and fraudulent acts and omissions alleged in Plaintiffs’ Petition. He promised he would build quality, sustainable, green, safe and healthy homes designed to withstand hurricane force winds, promises upon which the homeowners detrimentally relied.”

In his newly filed court docs, Pitt says, “While plaintiffs attempt to allege a myriad of purported wrongful conduct, they do not supply any specific facts indicating that Mr. Pitt was personally involved in any of them.” Pitt argues, “While plaintiffs urge in the Opposition that certain generic and innocuous statements Mr. Pitt allegedly made to the press somehow give rise to claims against him individually, this is simply unsupportable.”

[From The Blast]

I can’t wait for the plaintiffs to offer up all of the proof that Brad was super-eager to take credit for MIR and all of the MIR work – he was on the cover of Architectural Digest, he did multiple TV interviews, he headlined fundraisers, and on and on. Make It Right was used as proof that Brad was just as charitable/serious as Angelina Jolie. And then he lost interest, and discarded those people like a child discards a toy they no longer want to play with. Is Brad’s argument really that he wasn’t super-involved in MIR and that he never made ANY promises about what MIR would do?

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Over the weekend, animated superhero movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse became the number one movie in North America—the thirteenth number one weekend for a Marvel character this year and the biggest December animated opening ever—with $35.3 million, once again proving that audiences are not ti…

Keith Richards has transitioned from wild rocker to…the doting husband, father and grandfather who remembers to take out the trash. Some people just manage to survive all of their wild, drug-haze days and Keith is one of them. He’s 74 years old and he’s probably going to live forever. Keith has said in previous interviews that he stopped doing hard drugs years ago – no more heroin or cocaine or any of that. I seem to remember something about how he might smoke a joint every now and then, but not often. As it turns out, Keith has also stopped drinking. Except for the occasional beer or glass of wine.

The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, who has long been known for his hard-partying ways, says he stopped drinking.

“It’s been about a year now,” Richards, 74, told Rolling Stone magazine during a recent interview. “I pulled the plug on it. I got fed up with it,” Richards, who once revealed he snorted his father’s ashes mixed with cocaine, continued. “It was time to quit. Just like all other stuff.”

When asked how life has been for him since giving up booze, the musician said: “I don’t notice any difference really — except for I don’t drink. I wasn’t feeling [right]. I’ve done it. I didn’t want that anymore.”

Richards later admitted, however, that he still has a “glass of wine occasionally, and a beer.”

[From People]

Is it weird to say that I stopped drinking for similar reasons? I didn’t think I had a drinking problem, and I was functioning okay in life, but I just got to a point where I didn’t like how I felt – I didn’t like feeling buzzed or drunk, and I hated the way I felt the morning after. So I stopped. But like Keith, I’ve had a glass of wine or a few sips of beer here and there. Those odd glasses of wine just reinforce the fact that my decision was the right one – I had one glass of port a few Thanksgivings ago and I was completely trashed. It was awful! As for Keith… who would have thought that he would have survived all of it and gotten to the point where he’s 74 years old and, like, 95% clean and sober?

Also: It’s Keith’s 75th birthday today! Happy b-day, dude.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Thomas Markle was putting himself back in the headlines again yesterday morning on Good Morning Britain. Today Piers Morgan bragged about the ratings – apparently Monday’s episode of GMB was the most watched in the show’s history in part due to Meghan Markle’s father. Thanks, dad! That blowhard keep…

When I was married I would buy a nice sweater for my husband every year and usually a watch. He collects watches and appreciated them and he acted like he liked the sweaters. He eventually told me to stop getting him sweaters as he had too many. Plus he loves shopping and prefers to pick his own sweaters. One year I got him those whiskey stones that are on every “what to get guys” list. They’re just square rocks. It can be hard to shop for guys. Here are some ideas for hard to shop for people. I put “people” in the title but I mean primarily men.

A t-shirt from their favorite show, book, place or movie

This is my go-to present for loved ones. Almost everyone loves t-shirts of their favorite things (if they’re a t-shirt wearer) and they show that you care and pay attention. Do they love the movie Bohemian Rhapsody (who doesn’t) or Queen? Get them a vintage look t-shirt. Are they a huge Breaking Bad fan? Get them a Los Pollos Hermanos shirt. Are there movies they regularly quote lines from, like Napoleon Dynamite, Monty Python and The Holy Grail or The Big Lebowski? Are they from a state or city that they talk about often? There are so many t-shirts to choose from which would make nice gifts!

A coffee table book or calendar of their favorite thing

Another easy present is a coffee table book or calendar. Are they really into a specific kind of motorcycle? Get them a photo book about it. Do they have a favorite band? Do they love a certain breed of dog? Do they post a lot about mermaids? Are they into shoes or sneakers? There’s a calendar for that. I know some professional organizers say not to buy calendars for people but I love them and put them all over my house. It just helps me stay organized and remember what day it is.

A cozy cashmere scarf

Ok now we’re into the standard gifts. I love scarves, especially when they’re cashmere, and there are so many options on Amazon which will come in time for Christmas. A scarf is perfect for anyone in that it seems personal like you care if they’re warm but not too intimate. This one has great reviews, it comes in so many colors and patterns and it’s less than $25. If you’re unsure of their style just get them solid gray it goes great with everything.

A merino wool sweater that can be worn alone or layered

I also love getting sweaters, that’s why I always give them, and some people actually appreciate that! This merino wool sweater comes in eight different colors and reviewers love it (some got it free but the non-free reviews are positive too). They say it’s not itchy, it’s comfortable without being too loose, and it’s better than a similar sweater from The Gap. If you want to splurge on a cashmere sweater for someone this one looks good.

A slim multitool card that fits in your wallet

I’ve had my eye on a wallet ninja for a while and I’m going to buy one for my son. I’m sure I will use it too! Reviews say it fits well in your wallet and that it has so many uses you don’t consider until you need it. You can even use it as a cellphone stand! Sold.

An powerful ceramic knife set

Knives are something most people need but don’t think to buy. People rave about these knives and they’re less than $18! You can also get a large individual knife as an easy gift. Keep one or two on hand for guests for whom you don’t have a present.

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Stock photos from pixabay via pexels.com

Donald Trump canceled the White House Christmas party for the press and WH correspondents. That wasn’t a huge surprise, considering he hates the fourth estate and he’s a wannabe fascist. I thought the cancellation was mostly about how Trump is petty and thin-skinned and he can’t stand it when the press criticize him. But what if there’s an added layer to Bah Humbug Bigly? What if he just HATES Christmas?

By the 26th, Donald Trump will have attended 21 Christmas parties, clocking in at more than 52 hours of festivities in total, or about ten percent of his waking hours this month. This is the life of a modern president of the United States in the month of December — and Donald Trump hates every minute of it. While he is known to enjoy hosting large social events and rallies, current and former White House staffers say he regards presidential Christmas parties with a special loathing and goes out of his way to escape early. Making Christmas great again may have been a pillar of his presidential campaign — “We’re going to start saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again,” he often promised — but the war on Christmas is now raging inside of him.

One person close to the White House told me, “it makes perfect sense” that Trump hates the entire production surrounding Christmas, “because it’s not about him!” This person added, “If it were about him, he’d love it. Christmas is not about him.”

“It’s just a lot,” a senior White House official told me. “They’re hosting all these people, half of whom they don’t know,” the official said. “He just gets impatient. He likes to go go go. Sitting through things, he gets restless.”

While shaking hands with guests and standing for photos at another party last year, Trump spotted Mike Pence in the crowd. According to a second White House official, he forced the vice-president to take his place. “He and Melania left and subbed in the vice-president for the photo line,” the second official said. To keep Trump’s Christmas spirit intact this year, few parties besides those held for the Secret Service and law enforcement feature a formal photo line. “He definitely gets impatient with the photo taking because that is literally, at times, two hours of standing there and taking pictures,” the senior White House official told me. “And because he is the ultimate host, he talks between clicks.”

“I wouldn’t characterize it like he’s a grumpy Grinch. I would characterize it that they are given a lot to do,” the senior White House official said, adding that the president has never complained about hosting or taking photos with members of law enforcement or Secret Service agents. The second White House official said that the parties are better without the line for pictures, anyway, and surely nobody could blame a person for preferring not to spend several hours greeting a procession of mostly strangers: “He’s kind of a germaphobe, so I heard that was a concern, too.”

[From New York Magazine]

I started out thinking “of course he behaves like an a–hole” and then when they kept going on and on about how many handshakes and photos any given president has to do, I’ll admit it – I can see how that would irritate even the most gracious of hosts. That being said, clearly Trump hates Christmas. Donald Scrooge, Ebenezer Baby Fists, The Ghost of Christmas Fascism, take your pick. Trump would rather be at Mar-a-Lago, eating a cheeseburger and ignoring his family.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red and Backgrid.

I barely recognized Jennifer Garner in the thumbnails of her appearance at the American Ballet Theatre’s Annual Holiday Benefit in Beverly Hills last night. I think it’s because she lightened her hair a little with honey highlights. She’s also gone lighter with her makeup. She looks so pretty! Her dress is kind of nondescript, but it’s perfect for the event and her styling stands out. We’ve learned through Garner’s posts on Instagram that she studied ballet as a child and is a fan. She’s surely thrilled to support the cause.

Garner also posted a video to Instagram (that’s below) where she’s in a nutcracker costume “helping” the dancers get ready for their performance. She’s acting goofy and out of place, as is her schtick, but it’s nice to see the dancers. I have only seen the Nutcracker once, when I was very little and found it boring. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again actually.

Last week there were photos of Garner and her boyfriend, restaurant technology CEO John Miller, heading to breakfast. They didn’t seem to be photographed together, and E! quoted a source who previously said that they want to keep the relationship “private and for themselves” and that Jen is “keeping things under wraps by going away with him and seeing him in private places.” OK thanks for letting us know.

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I take game day seriously. #numberonefan #snowflakesforsnowflakes #americanballettheatre . Thank you to all of the @abtofficial dancers and crew for letting me play along — I was in heaven being with all of you. Even more— I loved every minute of #ABTNutcracker @segerstromarts. @mistyonpointe was the dreamiest Clara. Alabama’s finest, @mbhoven, was the most regal prince. The mice made me laugh, the snowflakes made me dream, the bees made me tired… If you want to feel holiday happiness: find and see your local Nutcracker!! ???????? . ???? @stellaabreradetsky @betsymcb @courtney_shealy @laurencpost @alexbasmagy_diaz @remyyounggg @april_giange ????

A post shared by Jennifer Garner (@jennifer.garner) on Dec 17, 2018 at 1:27pm PST

Also points for getting this little venus flytrap all dressed up as a santa plant and then having it close around a beard. That’s clever!

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A post shared by Jennifer Garner (@jennifer.garner) on Dec 15, 2018 at 3:11pm PST

photos credit: WENN and via Instagram