Modern Family Stars Stuck In Elevator

By Sarah Michaud

03/02/2013 at 01:00 PM EST

Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Courtesy of Jesse Tyler Ferguson

It was a Friday night to remember for a few members of the Modern Family cast – they spent an hour of it trapped in an elevator.

Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen and Jesse Tyler Ferguson were on their way to headline a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City – Stonestreet's hometown – when the elevator at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center stopped.

"Stuck in an elevator for 35 mins," Ferguson Tweeted, sharing a video of the crowd of 15 asking firemen to "Get us out!"

Rescuers worked their way from the 40th floor down to the third to free everyone, the Kansas City Star reports.

"After a quick hour trapped in the service elevator, we were rescued," Bowen Tweeted.

"That's my mom in blue," Stonestreet writes, sharing the above photo before joking, "I honestly handled being stuck in an elevator better than I thought. All Jesse did was pass wind."

The trio finally hit the stage at about 10 p.m. and closed with the line, "Have a great night – don't use the elevators!"

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Bonnie Franklin Dies at 69

Breaking News

By Stephen M. Silverman

03/01/2013 at 01:35 PM EST

One Day at a Time star Bonnie Franklin, who announced last September that she was suffering from pancreatic cancer, died of complications of the disease on Friday, her family told the Los Angeles Times. She was 69.

Franklin died at her Los Angeles home, and is survived by her mother, Claire Franklin, and stepchildren Jed Minoff and Julie Minoff, said the paper.

On the long-running CBS series, which was developed by Norman Lear and on the air from 1975-1984, Franklin starred as divorced mom Ann Romano, alongside Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, who played her teenage daughters.

Franklin and Bertinelli reunited on the small screen in 2011 when the Franklin played the mother of Bertinelli's character's boyfriend on Hot in Cleveland.

When Franklin's disease was first revealed, Phillips Tweeted, "Sending out love and sweet prayers to my 'mom.' The incomparable Bonnie Franklin."

A California native, Franklin was born in the beach city of Santa Monica but moved to Beverly Hills as a teen. Her father was a Russian-born investment banker, and her mother was born in Romania – and they remained her most ardent fans. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts and then transferred to UCLA.

Acting since childhood, Franklin first appeared on TV at the age of 3 (reciting Shakespeare) and in movies – including Alfred Hitchcock's The Wrong Man, starring Henry Fonda. In 1970 she sang the title song in the Tony-winning Lauren Bacall Broadway musical Applause. Franklin played a sunny chorus gypsy, and stopped the show twice.

From 1967 to 1970 she was married to the playwright Ronald Sossi, and then from 1980 until his death in 2009, to producer Marvin Minoff. Speaking to The New York Times about their marriage in 1980, Franklin said that she had promised Minoff that their years together would be many things, "but I promised him they weren't going to be boring."

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Rob Kardashian Tweets His Way to Fitness

By Cara Lynn Shultz

02/28/2013 at 01:30 PM EST

Rob Kardashian in Feb. 2011 (left) and in Dec. 2012

Scott Kirkland/Getty, Seth Browarnik/Startraks

Breaking up is hard to do. And if you're in the public eye like Rob Kardashian, it's proven to be a weighty issue.

The reality star is looking to shed 50 lbs., reportedly gained after his breakup with singer Rita Ora. He's now hard at work to take off the weight, sharing his progress (and frustrations with his "fat boy" breakfasts!) with his fans on Twitter and Instagram.

See what his workout soundtrack includes, and check out his best pics of his healthy meals and workouts below.

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Kathy Bates Joins American Horror Story, Ron Livingston Joins Boardwalk Empire

By Andrea Billups

02/27/2013 at 01:45 PM EST

Kathy Bates and Ron Livingston

Retna; WireImage

Two familiar stars will join the casts of American Horror Story and Boardwalk Empire for the shows' new seasons.

Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar for her frightening role as Annie in the horror film Misery, will join season 3 of FX's American Horror Story alongside fellow Oscar-winner Jessica Lange, EW reports.

Bates, 64, won an Emmy Award in 2012 for her guest turn on Two and a Half Men. She also appeared on Harry's Law and The Office. Bates announced last September that she had undergone a double-mastectomy for breast cancer after surviving ovarian cancer nine years earlier.

While he charmed on Sex and the City and Band of Brothers, Ron Livingston is set to play a wealthy businessman who shakes things up on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, working on season 4 of the Prohibition-era drama alongside star Steve Buscemi.

Livingston, 45, an Iowa native whose TV anchor sister drew praise over a bullying flap last year, gained fame in the film Office Space. He had previously starred in HBO's political drama Game Change.

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Kim Kardashian & Kanye West Get Hot & Heavy in New Photo Shoot

02/26/2013 at 02:00 PM EST

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Nick Knight for L'Officiel Hommes (out March 4th)

Kim Kardashian is turning up the heat in her latest magazine cover.

The expectant mom, 32, recently sat – well, stood? – for a racy photo shoot with boyfriend Kanye West for the March 4 issue of French magazine, L'Officiel Hommes.

The couple hold each other passionately, while Kardashian's facial expression makes it seem like she's in the middle of an intimate moment.

Although this cover may prove to be one of the reality starlet's most sensual photographs, she is no stranger to showing skin.

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Still Got It! Seven PEOPLE's Sexiest Men Alive Hit Oscar Red Carpet

Years have passed for some of our favorites, but that didn't stop Ben Affleck, Richard Gere, Denzel Washington and more from looking stunning

Credit: George Pimentel/Getty

Updated: Monday Feb 25, 2013 | 01:30 PM EST

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You're Invited to PEOPLE.com's Oscars Party!

02/24/2013 at 08:40 AM EST

From left: Bradley Cooper, Oscar, Jessica Chastain

AFP/Getty; Wireimage; Splash News Online

Oscars host Seth MacFarlane isn't the only one gearing up for Hollywood's biggest night – we are too!

Be a part of the glamour and excitement Sunday starting at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT when we roll out the red carpet for our PEOPLE.com VIPs.

Here's what you can expect:
• Tune in to our live red carpet preshow for exclusive A-list interviews
• Be the first to see the gorgeous gowns – and make your own best-dressed list
• Download your own play-along ballot – and vote on your Academy Awards picks
• Tweet with our editors at #PeopleOscars, and watch the conversation on our homepage. We'll be joined by DKNY PR Girl (@dkny), model Coco Rocha (@cocorocha), the hilarious Go Fug Yourself (@fuggirls), @WhoWhatWear and blogger @Possessionista!
• Take our up-to-the-minute Oscars polls

And come back the next day for so much more ...
• See the night's best dresses from all angles with our 360º slideshow
• Come inside the most exclusive Oscars after-parties
• Relive the most memorable quotes of the show
• Get the scoop on the night's biggest shockers and funniest moments everyone is talking about

We're looking forward to a fun, fashion-filled night – see you then!

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Beyoncé & Blue Ivy Made Readers Smile

By Andrea Billups

02/23/2013 at 01:35 PM EST

What's on the minds of PEOPLE readers this week? We love getting your feedback, and as always, you weighed in with plenty of strong reactions.

From your love of a new photos of Beyoncé's growing daughter Blue Ivy to your sadness over the suicide of country star Mindy McCready, readers responded to what made them mad, sad and also what kept them laughing out loud.

Check out the articles with the top reactions on the site this week, and keep clicking on the emoticons at the bottom of every story to tell us what you think!

There is no doubt the baby Blue Ivy is a Daddy's girl as new snaps of the child and her mother Beyoncé revealed this week. While her famous parents have kept her out of the spotlight, a photo of Blue Ivy, now 1, was apparently leaked from Beyoncé's HBO documentary, showing mom and daughter sharing the same photogenic smile.

Meanwhile, seeing Taylor Swift in a very Beyoncé-esque costume at the Brit Awards drew some amusement from readers who wondered if Sasha Fierce now has a pop-country cousin.

Chaz Bono has quickly followed through on his goal to lose significant weight, and readers were wowed by inspirational photos that saw him significantly trimmer and 43 pounds lighter. "I've been sticking to a really strict diet," he tells PEOPLE. "It's not any type of starvation thing. I'm just cutting out a lot of stuff and eating primarily protein and vegetables and fruit."

Readers told us they were angered by Kim Kardashian's maternity style as she continues her habit of wearing tight-fitting fashion, even as her pregnancy has moved into its second trimester. Mom-to-be Kardashian, 32, defended her hourglass shape and its limitations with clothes. "I think because I have big boobs it could make me look heavier if I don't, like, show off my waist or something," she told Du Jour magazine.

Country singer Mindy McCready's tragic suicide at 37 saddened readers. After years of dealing with addiction and legal problems, McCready killed herself at her Arkansas home, leaving behind son Zander, 6, with her ex Billy McKnight, and son Zayne, just 10 months.

Check back next week for another must-read roundup, and see what readers are reacting to every day here.

Taylor Swift at the Brit Awards (right) and Beyoncé at the Super Bowl

Getty; PictureGroup

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Josh Duhamel: Seeing Fergie's Ultrasound Makes Pregnancy Real

Mom & Babies
Celebrity Baby Blog

02/22/2013 at 11:00 AM ET

Stefanie Keenan/Wireimage

Josh Duhamel is ready for fatherhood, but says seeing wife Fergie‘s ultrasound makes the precious expectation of having his own child ever so real.

“It’s very exciting. Seeing that ultrasound is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. You’re like, ‘Wow, it’s mine,’” the actor tells Yahoo! omg! during a press junket for his new film Safe Haven.

The couple, who married in January 2009, announced their happy news via simultaneous Tweets on Monday.

Duhamel, 40, plays a father in his new film, but says time spent with family and friends’ children have opened his eyes to the joys of parenting — even though he knows he has a learning curve ahead.

“I think that I’ve always had an affinity for kids. There’s something about me and kids that just clicks,” explains Duhamel, who is anticipating learning the daddy ropes on the job once the Black Eyed Peas frontwoman delivers their baby.

“I don’t know if it’s because I am a kid, but it does prepare you whenever you’re around them,” he adds. ”I’ve got nieces and nephews and all my friends have kids. All that stuff is a learning experience for when it actually happens, but I don’t think you’re ever truly prepared until it’s your own.”

– Andrea Billups

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Scott and Lauren Sterling Adopt Five Peruvian Siblings

Heroes Among Us

By Ken Lee

02/21/2013 at 01:45 PM EST

Left to right: Gershon, 15; Joel, 11; Lauren, 30; Scott, 43; Sibila, 9; Yhonson, 17; Betsi, 12; Laney, 3; and Logan, 19

Courtesy The Sterling Family

Two years ago, Scott and Lauren Sterling were sitting in their Blue Springs, Mo., home when an email landed in their inbox with an eye-catching subject line: "Hi, we need a daddy and mommy."

That email, sent a world away from a small orphanage in Pacasmayo, Peru – and written by a fellow member of the couple's church where Scott, 43, is an associate pastor – introduced them to five siblings, then ages 7 to 15, who had lost both parents to tuberculosis about eight years ago. Because the children refused to be split up, the kids' chances of finding new parents were slim.

"Our first thought was, someone rich ought to adopt these beautiful kids," says Lauren, 30, a job recruiter who was already a mom to daughter Laney, now 3, and stepmom to Logan, 19, Scott's daughter from a previous marriage. "But over the next few months, we realized, why not us?"

The Sterlings began a year-long process to legally adopt the five siblings, which involved Skype chats with the kids, reams of paperwork, and $20,000 raised by the Sterlings' church to help with adoption fees. "It's very unusual to find a family willing to take in so many siblings," says Pat Baldwin, director of international programs at Villa Hope, which oversaw the adoption. "What the Sterlings have done is a true act of love.

In Nov. 2012, the Sterlings flew down to the orphanage to meet Yhonson, now 17, Gerson, 15, Betsi, 12, Joel, 11, and Sibila, 9, in person for the first time and to bring them back to the States.

"The girls came running to us from a distance and jumped into Scott's arms," recalls Lauren. Adds Yhonson, who speaks limited English: "We were so happy. It was very emotional. We waited so long to be together."

The new family returned to Missouri just a few days after Christmas and were greeted by friends and neighbors who had stocked the Sterlings' kitchen with food, repainted their bedrooms, and set up a Christmas tree loaded with presents for the kids.

"Our home is now a mixture of Spanish, English and Spanglish thrown in and we use Google Translate a lot," says Lauren. "People say these kids are lucky to have us, but we're the ones who're lucky to have them."

Know a hero? Send suggestions to heroesamongus@peoplemag.com. For more inspiring stories, read the latest issue of PEOPLE magazine

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Scarlett Johansson Is Not Engaged to Romain Dauriac

Buzz

By Maggie Coughlan

02/20/2013 at 01:50 PM EST

Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac

Elder Ordonez/INF

Is Scarlett Johansson headed down the aisle?

After the Hitchcock actress, 28, was spotted wearing a pear-shaped diamond ring in New York City on Monday, rumors began to swirl that Johansson and her French journalist beau, Romain Dauriac, may have taken their relationship to the next level.

But a rep for Johansson says she's not walking down the aisle.

"Scarlett is absolutely not engaged," her rep tells PEOPLE.

Even Johansson has said she isn't rushing to tie the knot, as she recently told ELLE UK that marriage is "really not important" to her.

"The only time I ever think about it is when people ask me, 'Would I get married again?' " she said at the time.

But Johansson – who was married to Ryan Reynolds for just over two years before divorcing in 2010 – recalled fond memories of her previous relationship.

She explained, "I got married when I was young and it was incredibly romantic and I liked being married, actually. But it is different. It's hard to put into words."

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Jenna Bush Hager Honors Her Grandfather for President's Day

Caught in the Act

02/19/2013 at 01:35 PM EST

Henry Hager and Jenna Bush Hager

Courtesy Sea Island

Both Jenna Bush Hager's father and grandfather served as Presidents of the United States, so it comes as no surprise that President's Day weekend holds special meaning for her.

This year, the NBC news correspondent – who will become a first-time mom this spring – headed to Sea Island, a five-star resort on the coast of Georgia, with her husband of nearly five years, Henry Hager, to honor her grandfather George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara, who honeymooned there in 1945.

George H.W. and Barbara Bush

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

On Saturday night, the former First Daughter and her husband represented her grandparents at a special President's Day dinner, featuring favorite dishes of U.S. Presidents who have visited Sea Island – and they even cut a cake reminiscent of the one her grandparents served at their wedding.

For the rest of their stay, the Hagers turned the trip into a mini-babymoon: while Jenna relaxed at the spa – and took a prenatal yoga class with a pal – Henry and his friends played golf on the resort grounds.

– Lesley Messer

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Downton Abbey Heartthrob Spoiler Alert - for Next Season

TV Watch

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/18/2013 at 01:20 PM EST

Tom Ellis, with Michelle Dockery (inset)

Bauer-Griffin

No moss grows under Lady Mary, that's for sure. The Merry Widow may already have a new suitor.

British TV heartthrob Tom Ellis reportedly had an impressive audition for the producers of Downton Abbey, to become what is being described as season 4's love interest for Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery.

According to the U.K. Mirror, an ITV source said of the 33-year-old, married father of three: "He really showed his versatility, and he's also incredibly popular with the female viewers."

Born in Wales, Ellis, whose wife is former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite, appears in the comedy series Miranda. Neither show has made it to the U.S.

Sunday night during Downton's season 3 finale, America learned that Mary's husband Matthew Crawley, as played by Dan Stevens – who asked to be released from the series for professional reasons – came to a bloody end by crashing his sports car only minutes after meeting his newborn son and heir.

Apparently, the new mother and widow will not be lonely for long. Series' writer-creator Julian Fellowes drops a strong hint to that effect in Monday's New York Times, telling its TV writer Dave Itzkoff: "We begin Series 4 six months later. We don't have to do funerals and all that stuff. That's all in the past by then."

And since this is a series with a strongly devoted following that does not care for spoilers – which immediately started crossing the Atlantic once episodes started airing in its native country last fall, ahead of America's January 2013 season premiere on PBS – Fellows acknowledges, "I would vastly prefer that we all saw it together. The world is much more global. And so I look forward to the day when it changes, as I'm sure it will."

Good show.

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Kennedy on Auction

Fifty years after JFK's death, a cache of rare mementos from his closest aide goes on sale Feb. 17 at John McInnis Auctioneers

Credit: David F. Powers Estate/John Mcinnis Auctioneers

Updated: Saturday Feb 16, 2013 | 06:00 AM EST

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The Bachelor: Sean's Hometown Date with Desiree Gets Interrupted - By an Ex?

The ex who pops back into the picture has been a common storyline in recent seasons of The Bachelor. And this season is no exception.

In this exclusive preview of Monday night's episode, Sean Lowe meets more of Desiree Hartsock's loved ones than he bargained for.

"As Des and I are getting dinner ready for her parents, I feel like we're a couple," says Sean. "And I'm excited for her family to get here because I want to meet these people."

Instead, the ex shows up at the door, asking if he and Des can talk. An awkward, you've-got-to-wonder-if-it's-scripted dialogue ensues. A sampling:

Ex: Des, I love you, OK?

Sean: Whoa.

Ex: I've been texting, calling, where they hell have you been?

Des: [Gestures toward Sean] "I've been busy.

Ex: We're together for two years and all of a sudden, just nothing? I love you more than anything.

Sean: I'm thinking, 'Maybe I just need to leave.'

Ex: You're going to be with this actor? This isn't real.

Sean: First of all, I'm standing right here. You want to talk to me, talk to me ... [To Des]: Do you want to talk to him? [To Ex]: Then leave please.

Ex: Can you give us a minute?

Sean: Don't put your hands on me …

The fireworks air on the new episode of The Bachelor Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Looking Good! See Shakira's Post-Baby Body!

Mom & Babies
Celebrity Baby Blog

02/15/2013 at 12:30 PM ET

7pix/Face to Face

Caliente!

Just three weeks after welcoming son Milan Piqué Mebarak, new mom Shakira stepped out for an appointment in Barcelona, Spain Thursday looking comfy, casual — and rocking an incredible curvy figure.

With her blonde tresses tied back in a loose bun, the singer showed off her slim postpartum body in a white tee and sweats.

Following her baby boy’s Jan. 22 arrival, Shakira and her beau Gerard Piqué introduced their firstborn to the world with a sweet snapshot of father and son cuddling close.

“Thank you for sharing this unforgettable moment with us,” the couple said at the time.

More recently, Shakira, 36, took Milan to his first soccer match, posting a picture to Instagram of the two cheering on Piqué, who is a central defender for FC Barcelona.

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Oscar Pistorius's Nike Ad Calling Him a 'Bullet' Pulled from His Website

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/14/2013 at 01:30 PM EST

Screen grab of Nike ad on Oscar Pistorius website as of Feb. 5, 2013

A Nike ad with Olympian Oscar Pistorius in his trademark blades – and bearing the tagline "I am the bullet in the chamber" – was yanked from his personal website on Thursday.

The South African athlete's ad disappeared as he was charged with the fatal shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, reports the U.K.'s Mirror.

Pistorius, 26, was also featured with fellow athletes in another commercial for Nike, called "Weapon." The international sportswear and equipment company is one of Pistorius's five major sponsors, and he has appeared in a number of commercials for the brand since 2008.

In the aftermath of Pistorius's arrest, Nike SA spokeswoman Seruscka Naidoo declined comment on the Paralypian champ's future with the company.

"We're not commenting on our sponsorship or relationship," she told Agence France-Presse. "At this moment, it's a matter that's being investigated. [There is an] issue at hand here which is much bigger than a sponsorship."

The rep also said, "From Nike we extend our condolences to everyone affected by this."

Steenkamp, 30, was shot dead in Pistorius's home in Pretoria on Thursday morning. Pistorius remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

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Ryan Reynolds Punches Costar Scott Speedman on Set of New Film

By Maggie Coughlan

02/13/2013 at 01:50 PM EST

Ryan Reynolds and Scott Speedman

AKM-GSI

Don't mess with Ryan Reynolds!

The actor, 36, proved he knows how to pack a punch while filming a scene for Queen of the Night in Sudbury, Canada, on Tuesday.

On the receiving end of Reynolds's fist is his costar, Scott Speedman.

Directed by Atom Egoyan, the thriller is focused around a father trying to locate his kidnapped daughter.

In addition to Reynolds and Speedman, the movie also stars Rosario Dawson.

But it hasn't been all work and no play for Reynolds, who has been filming in frigid temperatures. Wife Blake Lively – donning lots of warm layers – recently joined him in Sudbury for a date at the movies.

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Julianne Hough: Ryan Seacrest Makes Valentine's Day Super Romantic

By Carlos Greer

02/12/2013 at 01:40 PM EST

Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough

Michael Buckner/WireImage

Who knew Ryan Seacrest was such a romantic? His girlfriend, Julianne Hough, tells PEOPLE he likes to go all out for Valentine's Day.

"[He likes] surprising me and ending up at a restaurant and having the place cleared out and rose petals and stuff like that," the actress, 24, said at Monday's Self magazine New York screening of her new movie Safe Haven. The gestures, she added, make her feel "so cute and special."

"Every year is really wonderful. The first two years were super romantic and like, over the top, because it was new," she said.

So, how will the Idol host, 38, who spent a romantic getaway with Hough in St. Barts earlier this year, make this Valentine's Day even more special?

"This year I think it will be more understated, like [celebrating] real joy of what we truly have. I have no idea, but I know there are plans. He likes to do Valentine's Day," she said.

Finally, asked if there will be a ring anytime soon, she responded, "Not yet."

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Tia Mowry-Hardrict: Cree 'Gets a Little Jealous' of Aden

Bret Hartman/AP

Tia Mowry-Hardrict and her twin sister Tamera Mowry-Housley couldn’t be closer, but the siblings have to work a bit harder to get their little boys on that same level.

“I will be honest, Cree [20 months] gets a little jealous [of his 3-month-old cousin],” Mowry-Hardrict, 34, tells PEOPLE Tuesday at Blushington in West Hollywood.

“When I was trying to feed Aden, Cree started crying. I have to just slowly introduce Aden into our world. It’s kind of hard on Cree, but he loves Aden. We really, really enjoy having him around.”

Luckily, the mommies give their kids plenty of opportunity to get acquainted.

“My sister and I try to see each other once a week,” Mowry-Hardrict, who teamed up with Puffs and Dress for Success’s Virtual Kiss program, says. “We actually just had a play date. We went to the Grove and hung out.”

Being a mom is tiring for the actress, who is working on a new sitcom, Instant Mom, but there are a few things that manage to keep her energized.

“I just look at my son,” she says. “When I’m away from him, I really feel it. I’m exhausted, I feel like a zombie. I’m like, ‘What am I going to do?’ But when I see him and I see the smile on his face, it just gives me this instant burst of energy.”

Adds Mowry-Hardrict, “I’m very into holistic living and very healthy eating, so I don’t run to coffee or caffeine. I think it drops you rather quickly. Instead I juice with my husband [Cory Hardrict] every single morning. I have kale, celery, ginger, a little bit of garlic, parsley and cucumber. I drink half in the morning and half in the afternoon. And that’s my energy drink.”

Luckily, her new hairdo also saves her from wasting any additional energy.

“I think it’s very practical for me because I am a mom,” she says. “Now I can just get in the shower and put some conditioner in my hair. I have curly hair, so this makes it easy to just go. But I also have a great stylist who can just [style] my hair in so many different ways. It does take a while when you want to do a straight look. But when I want to go au naturel, I just get out of the shower, and boom — I’m done.”

Clearly, motherhood is working for Mowry-Hardrict, because she’s already planning for more little ones.

“Cree’s almost two, and I really, really want him to be close with his sibling,” she says. “So I would say I’m having more kids sooner rather than later.”

– Dahvi Shira

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