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If my breastfeeding grosses you out, well that's just too darn bad

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Dear people who saw me breastfeeding in public and were horrified by it,

There are a few things I would like to go over with you, since it appears you don’t have much experience with brand-new humans. Babies have an incredible ability to need attention at the most inconvenient times. They require diaper changes while we’re going 70 mph on the highway in high traffic, fall asleep when we need them awake and demand to be fed only when we’re trying to get something done that isn’t conducive to a relaxing mealtime.

More: 28 essentials to treat the new mom in your life

Those of us who breastfeed our babies learn to accept that this is a truth and figure out ways to tactfully whip out a nip to quiet our hangry offspring as efficiently as possible. This is no big deal until one of you Judgy McJudgertons feels it is your duty to get in our faces and tell us to stop immediately or go elsewhere to finish the job. That’s when we normally kind, loving maternal figures begin to feel a red, red rage blossom in your general direction.

I remember a time when I was a brand-new mom at a steakhouse for dinner with extended family. My son cried out for his next meal, and in my sleep-deprived state, I was somehow whisked away from the table before I could properly pull on my nursing blanket, ushered into the ladies' room to the hum of muttered assurances that this was for the best and put in a hard chair by the trash can to feed him.

It took the flush of a toilet to wake me from my stupor and realize what had happened: I had been physically removed from my meal at the table by the waitstaff because my baby needed his meal from my breast. Staring at the stall before me, I was pissed off but couldn’t think of a good comeback to this behavior until I was halfway through the nursing session, and then I was too distracted by all the food waiting for me when I got back to the table to remember to chew someone out for making me leave my seat to nurse in a lavatory (dude, I was starving).

More:6 things I wish I'd known about breastfeeding

This wasn’t the only time people like you took it into your own hands to make sure I knew how unwelcome I was while lactating with a purpose. I have had people move away from me while muttering nasty remarks, walk by to loudly tell their companions to look away lest they see the horrors before them and straight-up tell me what I was doing was wrong. I’m not the only one who has experienced this, so for all those times I was too tired or busy to come up with a response, and for all the women who will be in that spot some day, I would like to give you, buttinskies of the world, the comebacks you deserve.

To those of you who say it is gross: Feeding a child milk that our bodies naturally make with the sole purpose of using it to keep him alive is not gross. Your angry face spewing hate spittle at a woman who has brought life into this world is gross. Have you ever chosen to take your meals into a public bathroom, between a line of fart-scented, half-flushed toilets and overstuffed silver boxes of secreted menses? No? Well, I can tell you from experience that that is gross, as is suggesting a sleep-deprived woman take her shiny-new baby in there for lunch.

To those of you who say if it isn’t against the law to do it in public, it should be: I think being a poor-mannered, inconsiderate, jerkface poopy head should be against the law too. Doesn’t mean it will be, so I guess we’re going to have to call this a lucky time for both of us, m’kay?

To those of you who say it is indecent exposure that makes people think of sex: I don’t know what whets most peoples’ appetite for a little wink-wink time, but I doubt it’s a peek of cracked nipple coated in baby burp. If that does it for you, far be it from me to cramp your style, sister, but I have a feeling you’re in the minority, so back off.

To those of you who say it’s embarrassing for those around us: The only thing embarrassing here is your utter lack of humanity.

More: Why I'm definitely going to breastfeed in public

So how about the next time you see a mom breastfeeding her baby in a public place, you refrain from focusing on your selfish opinions and think about why she’s there in the first place? Maybe she is the one being inconvenienced. Maybe she is the one having a gross day. Maybe she is just trying to do the best she can for herself and her family and deserves kindness from those who pass her by — a smile, an encouraging nod — rather than your cutting, unhelpful words.


10 tips that have helped me as a chronic migraine sufferer

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As I sit here typing this post it feels like there is a knife stabbing straight through my right eye. The pain comes in waves. It is intense, throbbing and debilitating. If you have ever suffered through a migraine then you know it is just about the worst pain imaginable. Even thinking hurts.

Chronic migraine sufferers feel this pain 15 or more days every month. For me, it is a migraine which began Monday night and does not leave until Thursday morning. Or even worse, an early afternoon aura hits (for me that means there's a metallic taste in my mouth, I can't think straight and I have a general sense of unease) and by nighttime when my sweetheart is ready to hit the town, I am in bed wishing the pain would just go away.

For the past 20 years I have lived with chronic migraines. A traumatic brain injury at the age of 18 'blessed' me with this curse. In these 20+ years I've learned a few tips and tricks to get through the worst parts:

1. Reduce stress however possible.

2. Meditation makes a world of difference. It doesn't cure the migraine, but it does get me out of the mental loop of "I'm dying, I'll never get over this migraine, this always happens, why can't I just be normal?"

3. Getting out of bed and slowly continuing on with life is much better than laying in bed listening to the crazy talk soundtrack going on and on in my head.

4. A hot shower or even better, a hot Epsom salt bath can help ease tense muscles and soothe the mind.

5. Stretching. Gentle stretching to release the tension that builds up in the shoulders, neck and head while in the midst of a migraine.

6. Try to not make any important decisions or have deep intense discussions while in the midst of a migraine. For example, don't lay into your sweetheart because he has not taken out the trash once again. This just gets your blood pressure elevated and causes your head to pound relentlessly. Wait until you are over the migraine to have those serious discussions.

7. Lavender oil or peppermint oil are known for their beneficial properties for headache sufferers. I've tried both many times and have found it can take the edge off at times while other times there is no benefit whatsoever. If you've never tried either it's worth giving a shot! Two - four drops rubbed into your temples can be beneficial while the gentle massage helps tremendously.

8. Try a homemade ginger root tea. Mix a tablespoon of grated ginger root with a cup of hot filtered water. Once the root has steeped for 5 minutes, strain into a coffee cup, mix with a tablespoon of raw honey and the juice from 1/2 a lemon. Drink and enjoy! This helps with the pervasive nausea that usually accompanies a migraine.

9. Massage is great anytime but especially while in the midst of a migraine. Even when I don't want anyone to touch me because my head hurts so badly, a good scalp and face massage can relieve the tense muscles, making a world of difference.

10. Self-compassion. The more you talk badly to yourself while in the middle of a migraine the longer the pain seems to last. Give yourself compassion as you would any friend or family member with a knife stuck in her head. Replacing the negative self-talk loop with "It's going to be ok, you can get through this, you've gotten through it before, you're going to survive. . . and so on."

I'm always looking for tips on how to survive a migraine attack. If you've got a trick up your sleeve that has worked for you, please do share in the comments! I'd love to add to my repertoire! And if you are one who suffers from chronic migraine, please know I feel your pain. I understand how hard it can make your life and the lives of your loved ones. You have my empathy and compassion.

How to use dry ice to make the ultimate spooky Halloween punch cauldron

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You don't need eye of newt or wing of bat to brew a batch of toil and trouble this Halloween. All you need is some dry ice. This magic ingredient turns an ordinary punch bowl into a bubbling, smoldering cauldron that's perfect for parties.

More: Make this blood-red Halloween punch and pretend you're a vampire

Dry ice is basically frozen carbon dioxide. Adding water changes it from a solid into a gas, creating a dense fog. It's a cheap and no-fuss special effect. Most grocery stores sell blocks of dry ice, although some carry pellets instead. Either will work.

As long as you're careful, you won't run into any problems using dry ice. But it's about -110 degrees F, so dry ice can cause injuries if you touch or ingest it. Be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area and keep it out of reach of pets and small children.

More: Brew a dark and mysterious punch for your Halloween party

This method is safe and easy — it keeps the dry ice separate from the punch while still creating a dramatic boiling and smoking effect. You'll have the spookiest party on the block.

Dry ice punch bowl recipe

Total time: 10 minutes

Supplies:

  • Work gloves
  • Plastic or metal tongs
  • Dish towel
  • Hammer
  • 5 pounds dry ice
  • 1 large plastic or metal punch bowl (or cauldron)
  • 1 smaller plastic or metal punch bowl

Directions:

  1. Put on the gloves.
  2. In a well-ventilated area, wrap the dry ice in a towel and break it into chunks using a hammer.
  3. Use tongs to transfer chunks of dry ice into the larger of your 2 bowls, creating a flat space in the center.
  4. Place the second, smaller bowl inside the larger one.
  5. Pour your punch into the small center bowl, making sure no dry ice gets in.
  6. Fill a pitcher with warm water, then pour it on top of the dry ice.
  7. Add more dry ice chunks and water to the larger, outer bowl, being careful not to get any dry ice into the smaller punch bowl, throughout the night to keep the fog going.

More: Steal your imaginary BFF Elizabeth Chambers' brilliant Halloween party tricks

Some tips:

  • Wear thick work gloves when opening the package of dry ice. (Kitchen gloves are too thin.)
  • Place the block of dry ice on a towel. Use a wooden or plastic work surface, as dry ice can crack tiles.
  • Wrap a towel around the block, then break it into chunks using a hammer.
  • Be sure both of the bowls you use are plastic or metal since dry ice can crack glass. Put any unused dry ice in an open plastic container and store it in a cooler filled with ice. Never store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
  • Five pounds of dry ice will last about an hour. Keeping a nearby fan on low will intensify the effect.

9 sweet and scary Halloween crafts to make this season

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Halloween is just around the corner! From creepy crawlers and spooky skeletons to cute pumpkins and friendly ghosts, there are many ways to get your home in the Halloween spirit. Dress up your front door with an eerie wreath or add some color to your living room with a festive pom-pom garland. Whatever suits your style, decorate every room in your house with DIY Halloween-themed crafts.

More: 7 DIY signs to add some fall flavor to your walls

Get ready to spook up your home for Halloween with these easy crafts from the blogger community at Porch.com that are great for all ages!

1. Vintage frames wreath

Image: Craft-O-Maniac

Wrap a standard grapevine wreath with burlap, lace, plastic spiders, and vintage frames to complete this haunted Halloween wreath. Spooky and stylish, this crafty wreath is perfect for your front door or above your fireplace!

2. Skeleton drink bucket

Image: Giggles Galore

Gearing up for a big Halloween bash full of treats and drinks? Pick your poison with this festive DIY skeleton drink bucket! See how easy it is to make your own by following this quick tutorial.

3. Candy-filled balloon pumpkins

Image: One Little Project

Create these candy-filled balloon pumpkins to give out as a cute party favor at your next Halloween party! With orange balloons, tissue paper, tape, a Sharpie and candy you can make these adorable balloon pumpkins in just a few minutes.

4. Mummy mason jar luminaries

Image: A Little Claireification

Light up the night with DIY mummy mason jar luminaries! Use gauze bandage to wrap around clear mason jars, then add googly eyes and a flameless votive candle to complete these fun Halloween lights.

More: Gorgeous DIY wreaths to add the perfect touch of fall to your home

5. Halloween treat bags

Image: Home Stories A to Z

DIY treat bags are a creative and inexpensive way to say thank you to guests for attending your Halloween party. Follow this step-by-step tutorial to learn how to make your own spooky-cool Halloween treat bags.

6. Candy corn pom-pom garland

Image: Live Laugh Rowe

Top off your Halloween display with a festive garland! Orange, yellow, and white yarn mix together to create this cheerful candy corn pom-pom garland. Get all of the details on this easy DIY garland to create your own this season.

7. Halloween chalkboard art

Image: The Shabby Creek Cottage

Have a haunting Halloween by decorating your home with fun Halloween wall art. Download this free printable, plus three other chalkboard art printables to hang in your home this season.

8. Halloween candy jar

Image: A Pumpkin And A Princess

You can never have enough candy around Halloween! Store your extra sweets in cute candy jars around the home. Learn how to make your own Halloween candy jar by following this easy tutorial.

9. Pumpkin apple stamps

Image: Frugal Mom Eh!

Celebrate the festive season with this creative craft that’s perfect for kids! With cut apples, paint, and paper you can create these adorable pumpkin apple stamps to hang on your fridge or frame as wall art.

More: 5 ways to give your stairway style a real step up

The epidural I never had but desperately wanted

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It seems like there’s no such thing as “too personal” anymore. Nowadays, it seems like people feel free to ask anyone anything without regard to how sensitive, invasive or straight-up none of your damn business it may be.

You would think asking a stranger — yes, a total stranger — about her birth plan in the grocery store would be considered off-limits. “Hi, can you hand me that little bar thingy so the cashier doesn’t accidentally ring up my stuff on your order? Thanks! Ooh, you’re pregnant! Natural childbirth, I assume?” 

Like that’s not awkward.

But seriously, why do we place so much emphasis on the goodness of natural childbirth and how women attach some kind of sancti-mommy badge of honor mentality to squeezing a watermelon out their hoohah without the benefit of any sort of pain-relieving drugs?

More: First-day-of-school photo ideas that will up your Insta game

It’s been about 25 years since I’ve been pregnant. I don’t recall anyone asking me about my birth plan at the grocery store, but I do remember being super annoyed that everyone seemed to think I was cool with their touching my stomach (this was back before we called it a baby bump). I don’t remember anyone in my circle being concerned about my loudly publicized plan to have an epidural and whatever other narcotics I could legally get my hands on. This was pre-social media, but if you came within earshot of me during my third trimester, you knew all about how I planned to have a pain-free birth and be really nice to the nurses.

This was a quarter of a century ago. Nobody talked about natural parenting or baby wearing. Most of my friends who were having babies weren’t planning to breastfeed. New moms today are probably shaking their heads in horror about how much we didn’t know back in the Dark Ages of motherhood.

As it turns out, I was kind of an ass to my nurses, and when I think back to this pain-free birthing experience I’d planned to have with the help of modern science, I have to laugh. It’s been long enough to where I can laugh, but my birth experience was anything but pain-free. Twenty-five years is a long time, but I still remember the pain and the epidural I didn’t get.

My doctor offered natural childbirth as an option. I’d never had a baby, but I knew I didn’t want to do it drug free. I’d heard childbirth compared to stretching your bottom lip up past your nose and over the top of your head. That didn’t sound like my kind of jam. She explained how an epidural worked, and I decided the risk of having a needle threaded between my vertebrae was worth the potentially scary things that could happen. See also that I never fully read that paper before I signed it. My doctor also mentioned a shot of narcotic painkiller to “take the edge off” if I needed it.

More: Teen Mom star Chelsea Houska has an addictive pregnancy habit

So I kind of imagined childbirth as this event where I wouldn’t be able to feel my vagina and that narcotics would make me feel like I’d just had a triple margarita. How bad could this be?

You see where this is going, right?

I was prepared for an epidural and painkillers on demand. I didn’t attend one single birthing class. I didn’t learn how to breathe through a contraction. I didn’t learn how to “read the signs of my body.” I never bothered to ask the question, “What if for some crazy reason I can’t have the epidural?” No one ever said, “If X happens, no epidural for you.” 

There was no plan B, because it never occurred to me to make one.

The anesthesiologist took my blood pressure before he got ready to do his magic with the numbing drugs that would shoot directly into my lumbar region. I guess the blood pressure check was some kind of precautionary step, and unluckily for me, the nice man in the green pajamas regretfully shook his head and told me he’d have to wait until my blood pressure went down. They had me lie on my left side and told me to relax. Riiight.

My blood pressure finally dropped enough to where the anesthesia man felt comfortable going forward with the epidural. It was unfortunate timing that my nurse chose that moment to pop her head between my legs and cheerfully announce that I was about 8 centimeters dilated and too far gone for an epidural.

My friend and his bag of pain-relieving goodness left the room. I got totally ripped off.

More: When celeb parents posted these photos, the internet blew a gasket

When my nurse reminded me to “remember your breathing, sweetie,” my response was, “I don’t know how to breathe. I want my epidural. Or morphine. Or maybe general anesthesia. I didn’t take the fucking class. I can’t do this. You can’t make me.” 

Of course I did do it and, not surprisingly, decided it was all worth it when I held my daughter.

If I could have a do-over, I’d still choose the epidural. Childbirth hurt like a mofo, and although nature has a way of making us forget the pain over time, if given the choice, I’d still choose less pain and feel zero guilt. Even though I proved to myself I can survive natural childbirth, I don’t really need to prove anything to anyone else. I say, if you want the epidural, get the epidural, and don’t be a hero.

If you’re expecting, you might think that epidurals are evil, unnatural and bad for your baby. Maybe you think, “If I have to push a small hippo out of my nether regions, I’m getting drugs.” It’s your choice. If I see you at the grocery store, I promise not to ask. Or touch your stomach.

I don’t give out unsolicited advice very often, but here’s one thing: Have a backup plan. You always need a backup plan.

Olivia Wilde gives her new baby a boss botanical name

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Congratulations to Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, who just welcomed their baby girl.

More: Olivia Wilde's gender reveal made a strong political statement

The actress shared a sweet picture on Instagram Saturday to announce the happy news and to introduce Daisy Josephine Sudeikis to the world.

Olivia Wilde new baby

Olivia Wilde new baby

Daisy was born on Oct. 11, which also happened to be International Day of the Girl, a U.N. initiative campaigning for the rights of girls worldwide — something her activist mom was quick to point out.

More: The epidural I never had but desperately wanted

Originally a diminutive of Margaret ("Marguerite" is French for the flower), Daisy is now a popular baby girl name in its own right, ranking at No. 183 in the U.S. baby name chart in 2015. It's even more popular in the U.K., ranking at No. 24 in England in 2014 and No. 38 in Scotland in 2015.

Literary and pop culture references to Daisy are plentiful, from Daisy Miller in Henry James' novella of the same name and Daisy Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby to the blonde bombshell in The Dukes of Hazzard and the independent elderly widow in Driving Miss Daisy.

Other celebrity parents who've chosen Daisy for their daughters include actresses Meg Ryan and Joely Richardson and chef Jamie Oliver.

Wilde and Sudeikis, who married in 2011, are already parents to 2-year-old son Otis Alexander.

More: What your first friend with a baby wishes you knew

Gorgeously unique Welsh baby names for your baby girl

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Welsh is a language spoken in Wales, which is part of the U.K., and a few other locales around the world. Although it is situated right next to England geographically, Welsh is not very similar to English at all. As a Celtic language, it's closer to languages like Irish and Gaelic than to what many of us speak, which lends an unusual flair to those of us who are not familiar with it.

More: This printable guide is about to solve all your baby-naming squabbles

Unsurprisingly, there are a ton of gorgeous, unique baby names that spring from the Welsh language that would make an awesome name for your little girl. You'll note that many of the following 32 names include "wen" or "wyn" as part of the name — that translates to "white," "blessed" or "fair." We've included the meanings of these great Welsh girl names, which might help steer you toward a future favorite.

welsh girl names
Image: Design: Terese Condella/SheKnows; Image: Getty Images

More: 15 pregnant-mom freebies you need to snag ASAP

  • Aderyn: Bird
  • Afanen: Raspberry
  • Alis: Welsh form of Alice
  • Anwen: Very beautiful
  • Bethan: Welsh form of Elizabeth
  • Blodwen: White flowers
  • Brownwen: From Welsh elements meaning "breast" and "white, fair, blessed"
  • Caron: To love
  • Catrin: Welsh form of Katherine
  • Dilys: Genuine
  • Efa: Welsh form of Eva
  • Eira: Snow
  • Eirwen: White snow
  • Elin: Welsh form of Helen
  • Enid: Soul, life
  • Fflur: Welsh version of Flora
  • Llinos: Greenfinch
  • Lowri: Welsh version of Laura
  • Mair: Welsh form of Mary
  • Mared: Welsh form of Margaret
  • Megan: Welsh short form of Margaret
  • Meinir: Maiden
  • Meredity: Sea lord
  • Morgan: Comes from an Old Welsh boy name Morcant, possibly means "sea" and "circle"
  • Nerys: Related to the Welsh word for "lord"
  • Nesta: Welsh form of Agnes
  • Olwen: White footprint
  • Rhiannon: Great queen
  • Seren: Star
  • Sioned: Welsh form of Janet
  • Tegan: Fair
  • Tesni: Warmth from the sun

More: Here's what happens when a mom takes photographs of herself giving birth

Before you go, check out our slideshow below:

Photos to take on baby's first day
Image: Monet Nicole Births

Anna Duggar's very brief appearance on Counting On sparks pregnancy rumors

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The latest episode of Counting On was all about Jeremy Vuolo's sweet marriage proposal to Jinger Duggar, but viewers were much more focused on Anna Duggar's brief appearance on the show than Vuolo and Jinger's romantic moment. The Duggar wife's cameo left fans wondering: Is Anna pregnant again?

More: Jeremy Vuolo's proposal on Counting On was well worth the wait

Anna revealed on the Oct. 11 episode that she is still understandably distraught over her husband Josh Duggar's cheating scandal. She also shared that Jana Duggar, her unmarried sister-in-law, has been a major source of support for her during these tough times.

"Jana has been such an encouragement and such a rock this past year of my life," Anna said on the show. "She is such a treasure, and she will make an amazing wife one day. But selfishly, right now, I'm so thankful I've had her as a shoulder to cry on."

More: The Duggars made one helluva bold move sharing this photo of Josh & Anna

While Anna didn't mention anything about being pregnant, some viewers speculated that she appeared to be sporting a baby bump. Fans took to social media to share their thoughts.

anna is so pregnant tweet counting on jill and jessa

anna is so pregnant tweet counting on jill and jessa

tweet number 1 counting does anna duggar look pregnant

tweet number 1 counting does anna duggar look pregnant

I could see the tabloid rumors being true....Anna looks

I could see the tabloid rumors being true....Anna looks

Oh dear... Yeah, Anna may be pregnant again counting on

Oh dear... Yeah, Anna may be pregnant again counting on

During an interview with People magazine back in 2015, Anna got candid about pregnancy, saying, "Some people think I'm not happy unless I'm pregnant. Marcus just celebrated his first birthday and I was thinking, 'My baby is growing up.' There is a desire to have more children, but also keep the balance of enjoying what God has given you and enjoy the children we have."

More: A photo of Anna Duggar unbelievably has people assuming Josh abuses her

Anna and Josh have four children between the ages of 7 and 1. We guess time will tell whether the couple will welcome baby No. 5 amidst the fallout from Josh's cheating drama.

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Anna Duggar slideshow
Image: Josh Duggar/Twitter

After 11 years of marriage, ET host Nancy O'Dell & her husband call it quits

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It's a strange moment when a news reporter is the one making the news. Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O'Dell is getting a divorce from her husband of 11 years after a crazy week of media attention thanks to Donald Trump.

More: Looks like Billy Bush's sexist conversation with Donald Trump was career suicide

O'Dell made major headlines last week when the Washington Post published old tapes of Trump and O'Dell's former Access Hollywood co-host Billy Bush where she was the subject of a crude discussion. Now, it's been revealed that O'Dell filed for legal separation from husband Keith Zubchevich last month, long before the #TrumpTapes media firestorm.

nancy o'dell and husband instagram photo at emmys red

nancy o'dell and husband instagram photo at emmys red

"Nancy filed for legal separation in early September. It's very amicable and they talk every day," a source told Page Six. "Their main priority is their three children."

More: Nancy O'Dell reveals the Special Olympics moment that brought her to tears

O'Dell and Zubchevich have one daughter together, Ashby Grace, 9. Zubchevich also has two sons from a previous marriage, Tyler and Carson. The couple married back in June 2005.

nancy o'dell and husband instagram river photo fourth

nancy o'dell and husband instagram river photo fourth

While O'Dell hasn't commented on her divorce, she did speak up regarding the hot topic of the exchange between Trump and her then-Access Hollywood co-host Bush.

More: Billy Bush's "locker room" talk with Donald Trump officially cost him his job

"Politics aside, I'm saddened that these comments still exist in our society at all. When I heard the comments yesterday, it was disappointing to hear such objectification of women. The conversation needs to change because no female, no person, should be the subject of such crass comments, whether or not cameras are rolling. Everyone deserves respect, no matter the setting or gender," O'Dell said in a statement. "As a woman who has worked very hard to establish her career, and as a mom, I feel I must speak out with the hope that as a society we will always strive to be better."

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebrity breakups 2016 slideshow
Image: FayesVision/WENN.com

Your adulting guide to planning a proper Thanksgiving dinner

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Thanksgiving is almost here, and if you're hosting, now is a good time to start preparing. It can be a daunting task to make such a huge meal, especially if you're doing the work by yourself. Like, if I can't consistently plan out my lunches for the week, how am I supposed to keep track of a turkey, side dishes, pie and booze for five people?

The secret lies in careful planning. Don't save everything until the last minute, or you'll be, well, screwed. Instead, follow this guide to ensure your Thanksgiving Day meal goes off without a hitch.

More: 22 turkey recipes to suit any taste this Thanksgiving

A month before

Decide on a menu. Figure out how you want to cook your turkey; talk yourself down from five to three side dishes; and ask yourself if you can choose between apple, pumpkin and pecan pie, or if it's a priority to have all three.

Select and invite your guests. Having a huge family bash or a simple friendsgiving? Now's the time to decide and to give people a little advanced notice. Once you know how many people are attending, you can figure out just how much food you'll really need.

A few weeks before

Make a shopping list. After you've decided on a menu and selected the recipes you want to use, take stock of your cupboards and fridge and write down what ingredients you'll need to purchase for your Thanksgiving meal.

We recommend any of the following apps for managing a menu with grocery shopping:

How do you even know how much food you need? Use our handy holiday dinner party guide to figure out how much food to plan based on how many guests you're expecting.

Take stock of your kitchen. Make sure you have the following equipment:

  • Roasting pan big enough for your turkey
  • Nonstick roasting rack
  • Pots and pans for every dish you plan to serve
  • Meat thermometer (yeah, the pop-up ones that come with your bird are basically useless)
  • At least two pot holders, preferably silicone
  • One set of nesting bowls or at least one large and one medium mixing bowl
  • One set of cup measurers
  • One set of measuring spoons
  • One serving dish plus serving utensil for each menu item you're serving
  • Gravy boat or other container for pouring gravy (even a Pyrex liquid measuring cup will do)
  • One large chef's knife
  • One large cutting board, preferably with a trench
  • One place setting for each guest plus two more in case of last-minute guests
  • Paper or cloth napkins for everyone
  • Nice to have: Large platter for the turkey, but in a pinch, you can plate in the kitchen or serve sliced turkey on a cutting board, juices drained in a sink first
  • Also nice to have: Carving set with knife and fork, but honestly, you can just use your chef's knife and a table fork

If you're missing anything, you can pick it up now, before things get too crazy. Or you could borrow it from friends or family.

Plan your tablescape/decor. Whether you're going country chic or minimalist and modern, now's the time to do your Pinterest-ing and decide how you want to decorate.

Buy booze. As long as you leave wine and beer in a cool, dark place, you can buy it, along with any hard alcohol, a few weeks before Thanksgiving. It's one more thing to knock off your to-do list.

Order your turkey. Whether you're getting your bird at the supermarket or from a specialty grower, now's the time to reserve your bird. How big a bird? Here's the formula:

  • Just dinner: 1 pound per guest (add two guests just in case)
  • Dinner plus leftovers: 1-1/2 pounds per guest (again, adding two guests)

The week before

Make room in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. You'll be storing tons of food in the next week, and you want to make it as easy on yourself as possible.

Buy nonperishable groceries. Seasonings, potatoes, onions, garlic, canned pumpkin, nuts, etc. — all of these can be purchased up to a week in advance. You can also purchase items like paper towels, dish soap and any other nonfood items you think you might need.

Set a cooking schedule. Decide what to cook when. Include things that you can cook ahead of time, as well as a breakdown of what is going to be in the oven or on the stove and when the day of.

Some of us are not above creating a spreadsheet for this planning. Here's how you could lay it out.

  • Column 1: Dish
  • Column 2: Amount of prep time
  • Column 3: Amount of cooking time
  • Column 4: Make-ahead, yes or no?
  • Column 5: Means of cooking (stove, oven, slow cooker, pressure cooker, etc.)
  • Column 6: Time slot for prep and cooking (make sure you don't have too many things on the stove or in the oven at the same time)

Keep in mind your turkey will need to rest about 30 minutes before serving.

Start cooking. You can start cooking a few things now. Cranberry sauce lasts for up to two weeks, so you can make it now and keep it in the fridge. You can make homemade stock to use in your gravy and freeze it until the day before Thanksgiving. You can even make and freeze an entire apple pie.

Purchase or make any decor items you don't already have. Other than flowers or other live foliage you're using, you can finish up your decor now.

More: 21 slow cooker recipes for the easiest Thanksgiving dinner ever

A few days before

Defrost your turkey. It takes about five hours of defrost time per pound of turkey, and usually about three days does the trick.

Buy veggies and perishable foods. Store them in the fridge until you're ready to start cooking.

Make piecrust. Form it into thick discs, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate it until you make your pies.

The day before

Chop and prep your veggies. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge. You can also toast bread for stuffing or leave it out overnight to grow stale.

Bake pies. Store fruit and nut pies at room temperature and custard pies in the fridge.

Make side dishes. Most side dishes are easily reheated. You can make your stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls and many other dishes the day before Thanksgiving, reheating them the next day while the turkey is resting after you've taken it from the oven.

Set the table. Setting the table the day before Thanksgiving may seem kind of weird, but trust, it will save you a ton of time and unnecessary hassle on the day of.

Chill white wine, beverages and beer. Just pop them in the fridge.

The day of

Roast your turkey. Plan on it taking three or four hours for a 10- to12-pound bird.

Make gravy. After your turkey is out of the oven, use the pan drippings and homemade stock to make your gravy. You should have enough time because the turkey will be resting.

Finish your sides. Whether you're reheating side dishes you made yesterday or making them the day of, now's the time to finish up your side dishes.

Enjoy! See what happened there, thanks to all your planning? The day of Thanksgiving you're left with plenty of time to focus on the things that matter the most — friends, family and of course, the turkey.

More: 21 simple last-minute recipes that will save your Thanksgiving

Enough with healthy snacks at school parties

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Once upon a time, I hosted playdates featuring three different types of banana bread to accommodate every dietary preference: gluten-free, vegan and sugar-free, of course. I labored over Halloween party appetizers, drawing faces on mandarin oranges to resemble jack-o'-lanterns and turning string cheese into ghosts. When the winter holiday party came around, I brought in trays of homemade (non-GMO, thankyouverymuch) popcorn balls wrapped in cellophane and tied with a jaunty red bow.

Those days, like my youth, are over.

I'm not sure when I first began to suspect that I was wasting my time and money on a bunch of stupid food. But last year, all of a sudden, I decided to quit. No more perfect Pinterest food on my dinner table or for class parties. When the next class party came around, I ran to the grocery store on my way to the school party and threw a few bags of mandarins and popcorn into my cart. There wasn't a single jack-o'-lantern face in sight. But when I set down my gauche offerings among a sea of homemade, festive treats, instead of feeling guilty, I felt surprisingly… free.

I wasn't the mom who stayed up until 3 a.m. making dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free cupcakes frosted to look like animals. I was the mom who went to bed at the ripe hour of 9 p.m. and hit snooze at least three times. I was the mom who DGAF.

I was a goddamn genius.

I'll admit that my first few forays into crappy class party snacks were still organic and purchased at the local food co-op. I couldn't go from crunchy to crappy all in one fell swoop. But one day, as I eyed the $8 bag of organic apples, I snapped. Those kids aren't even my kids, so why the heck was I blowing my budget to feed them organic? Even my own kids get pesticide-laden death foods when my budget is tight! I threw the apples into my cart with relish, and then I ventured into the most hated aisle of all: the juice aisle.

Many a battle has been waged by moms over those tiny little boxes of kid crack. They are empty calories and full of sugar and carbs, even the supposedly "natural" ones. No decent mom gives her kid juice, am I right? Capri Suns were on sale, so into my cart they went. They probably don't even contain juice among all those chemicals. Bad-mom achievement unlocked.

Now, I know that healthy foods are important. Believe it or not, I actually ran a Paleo blog for a few years, and I feed my family a mostly healthy diet. But over time, food has become something of a religion, and I'm just not interested in obsessing over every bite of food my kids or I consume. Health is about balance, and that includes mental health too. There's nothing healthy about essentially turning food into a cult, and I'm sick and tired of everything about motherhood being so damn serious.

Class parties are supposed to be parties. That means they are supposed to be fun, and part of having fun is eating delicious and completely bad-for-you food. Class parties are about sugary cupcakes and laughing about the mustaches left behind by unnaturally red punch. Food brings people together, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with our kids bonding over their shared love of potato chips and juice boxes. In fact, that's pretty much what being a kid is all about.

I tried really hard to be the perfect mother, until I finally realized there's no such thing as a perfect mother. The more sanctimonious you are, the more you're probably convinced you're failing at motherhood — and that's OK, I get it. Every single one of us has been there. But all this competitive motherhood has made it harder for us to actually enjoy being mothers.

I, for one, am done trying to be the perfect mother. If that means my kids eat a Happy Meal once in a while or I bring Capri Suns to a class party, then so be it. No one has ever died from enjoying junk food once in a while, and I hope that watching me relax and enjoy life a little more will help them learn that it's OK to not be perfect too.

So when this year's class parties roll around, I'll be happy to sign up to bring snacks. Gluten-laden, sugary, delicious snacks that all of our kids will enjoy.

I banished my mid-life crisis by embracing everything that scared me about turning 40

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Prior to turning 40, I was never the type to experience any angst about my age. My twenties were great. Turning thirty was uneventful, because I was so busy – married for five years and pregnant with my third child.

But the Big 4-0: Well, that was a different story.

The prospect of turning 40 didn’t sit well. 40 is old. 40 is sore muscles, mom jeans, sensible haircuts, and reading glasses. I didn’t want my forehead wrinkles to belie my youthful vigor. I didn’t want to think that I hadn’t made my mark on the world, in the way that we as young idealists envision that we will.

The problem was, the approaching chronological number didn’t gel with my internal age, which I'd estimate to be about 23. I am still footloose and fancy-free, on the inside anyway.

I suppose it was a typical mid-life crisis moment, but as the day of reckoning approached, I began to take stock of my life. How did my twenties fly by so fast? I remember watching Friends way back in 1994, marveling at how sophisticated and mature they appeared to be. I admired their apartments, jobs, relationships, and their hours of lounging in trendy NYC coffee shops. It was so glamorous and “grown up.” It looked ideal, yet was also completely foreign to me. My twenties held very little of these ideals, instead consisting of minimum wage jobs through college, marrying young and squeezing our domestic bliss into a tiny, basement apartment with nary a single Pottery Barn item. We were young, broke, and too busy working to slack off in coffee shops.

And then my twenties flew by

Thirtysomething, circa 1987, was a show that I assumed also depicted "real adult life," despite the fact that I couldn’t even fathom being that old. Mortgages? Marital tension? Balancing work and home life and kids and adult friends – it was all pure fantasy to me. And when my thirties arrived, they consisted of an avalanche of children, rent rather than mortgage payments, a transition from teaching full time to permanent stay-at-home mothering, the reality of hefty student loan payments on a limited budget, and a variety of curve ball life challenges hurled at us along the way. Thirtysomething it was not.

And then my thirties flew by

It’s a cliche, but time really does fly by. I was melancholy for a bit, realizing how fast it’s all gone by. I began to feel like I’d lost myself in the midst of being married, and in the flurry of building a home and a family. I had invested so much of that period of life into my family that I wondered: Have I really been living my life, or was I merely living it for everyone else?

(Chalk it up to the mid-life crisis angst that comes with turning 40.)

I’m not going to lie. Yes, I spent a few hours bemoaning my lost youth, worrying about losing my youthful appearance, and mourning the things I’d never done, and might never do.

But, my 40th birthday celebration was comprised of a fantastically fun dinner out with friends and family at my favorite restaurant, followed by a backyard BBQ the next day, with even more family and friends. I was surrounded by people that love me so much and were happy to celebrate this milestone birthday with me.

And that’s when I realized what my forty years were really about: love, family and friends.

I had the good fortune of spending my younger years being raised in an amazing family, and I’ve been privileged to spend my adult years raising an amazing family of my own. There are certain things I haven’t done, some I’ve yet to do, and some I may never do. But instead of being hung up about those things, I realized that I’ve been given:

  • 40 years of being a daughter of loving and dedicated parents.
  • 38 years of being a big sister to the wackiest, funniest brother and sister on the planet.
  • 35 years of treasured friendship with my two best friends.
  • 18 years of letting God lead the way, while meeting more of my best friends on that journey.
  • 15 years of being married to the love of my life.
  • 13 years of being a mom to six hysterical and loving kids that are beautiful inside and out.
  • 6 years of advanced education, investing in my love of language and writing.
  • 4 years of teaching and sharing my love of literature and writing with countless students.

While the idea of being 40 still feels odd to me, I’m no longer hung up on the number. Forty used to represent a loss to me of a golden youth that disappeared down the road. But now, I can see that 40 represents a good deal of quality living. And while I still feel like my internal maturity level is that of the average 23 year old – that will likely not change – I’m thankful that I’ve enjoyed so much in this life so far.

For all parents, it’s easy to lose yourself in the day-to-day minutiae of building and supporting a family. I’ve chosen to invest in my family for most of my adult years, and while that can require a good deal of self-sacrifice, I now see that I actually have been living my life the way that I want to, with and through the people that I love. I’m literally surrounded with people that love me and want to be loved by me, and for that, I am so grateful. It’s investing in the people in our lives that matters, whether you’re a parent, or a loyal friend, or an adult caring for aging parents.

While I can’t always preserve a youthful exterior or stop time from hustling along at a fast clip, I know that loving the people in my life to best of my ability is my true legacy.

I might lose a promotion because my coworkers are threatened by my productivity

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Today we're talking about coworkers holding you back from a promotion.

More: How to power through a crisis of confidence at work

Question:

I like my job. I want to get ahead and I work hard and fast.

This irritates two of my coworkers. When I pass their desks, I overhear them make comments like, “Don’t get in the way of the speed demon.” I don’t understand why they resent the fact that I work fast. I’m not doing it to make them look bad. I pretend I don’t hear their comments.

Although I’m the youngest in the department, I thought doing a good job would be my route to a promotion to team lead. Two months ago, my supervisor told me that I was a front runner for the next opportunity since our current team lead is planning to move out of state in two months.

This morning, I heard through the grapevine that my supervisor is uneasy about promoting me because these coworkers dislike me, and team leads have to have good relationships with coworkers. I plan to go talk to my supervisor about this. What should I say?

More: One of my coworkers is stealing money out of purses and my boss won't do anything

Answer:

If you go to your supervisor with this issue as a problem, you present him with an unresolved problem. If you instead try to first solve it or come to him with a potential solution, you increase your chances of gaining the promotion you seek.

Start by learning what you’re up against. Do you irritate your coworkers with your speed or do they snipe at you because they dislike you for another reason? Do you threaten them with your youth or brains? Could part of the problem be you act superior because you speed through projects and thus infuriate coworkers who work more slowly?

In short, you need more information which these two coworkers possess. The next time you hear a comment, stop dead in your tracks and say, “OK, what am I doing that irritates you? Just tell me, so I can fix it.”

The good news, you have a month to figure this out as your current team lead is in place for the next two months. Also, you’re learning two valuable lessons. First, while pretending to not hear comments works temporarily, it doesn’t resolve anything. Second, it takes good relationships with coworkers as well as hard work to get ahead.

Finally, if you try to diplomatically figure out and resolve this problem, when you present the situation to your supervisor, he may realize the problem isn’t with you, and it lies with your coworkers – and thus it is his issue to solve.

© 2016, Lynne Curry. If you have a career questions you’d like Lynne to answer, write her @ lynne@thegrowthcompany.com. Lynne is an executive coach and author of Beating the Workplace Bully, AMACOM & Solutions. You can follow Lynne through her other posts on sheknows.com, via www.workplacecoachblog.com, www.bullywhisperer.com™ or @lynnecurry10 on Twitter.

More: I'm bored by my new job but scared if I leave it will look bad on my resume

Is it really 'normal' for kids to engage in sexual play?

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There’s an uncomfortable question lurking in many parents’ minds, yet few are asking it. That question, covered in layers of uncertainty and shame, is one that needs to be addressed. Is it truly normal for siblings and childhood friends to engage in experimental sexual play with one another? At what point does it cross over from curious kids to sexual abuse?

Sex play, defined as any interaction between children that mimicks sexual behavior, including kissing, touching, or other more explicit acts, is often mentioned in hushed tones between adult family members as "natural and "normal," yet rarely is it discussed outside of the confines of home. This leads to a strange taboo that has parents too embarrassed to ask professionals if this behavior is indeed "normal."

In 2014, shortly after the release of Lena Dunham’s memoir Not That Kind of Girl, in which she wrote about sexually charged experiences with her younger sister, Dunham was slammed by critics for openly admitting to what they claimed was sexual abuse. Dunham and her sister denied the accusations, but the fury opened the door for people to finally begin discussing this sensitive issue. Is the behavior, from a psychological standpoint, actually normal at all, or something more troubling?

To understand this more clearly, SheKnows spoke with child and adolescent family therapist Darby Fox, who has more than 20 years of experience providing individual and group therapy for families, children and young adults.

SheKnows: How common is sex play between children?

Darby Fox: Sexual play is not common. Touching and acting out a kiss is very normal. Most children go through a time where they play as Mom and Dad or curiously explore, but sex play is not normal.

SK: Is sex play between children and siblings normal, or something parents should be concerned about?

DF: Curiosity about anatomy is normal, but it is very important to establish boundaries regarding privacy at the earliest age possible. Parents need to be very clear about touching someone else's private parts or having their own bodies touched. Siblings do not need to touch each other in any way that could be deemed sexual, ever.

SK: What should a parent do if they discover their child is engaging or has engaged in sex play?

DF: If a parent discovers their children engaging in any kind of sexual play, they first need to stop them and find out where they learned the behavior they are imitating. It needs to be stopped, and you must explain why what they’re doing is not allowed. Your children should quickly move on to something else. If it is repeated, you need to explore further what their fascination is. It is important to enlist the help of a professional if the behavior persists. You do not want to take the chance of a child exerting pressure on a younger child or sibling. This is a dangerous slope. Parents should be very clear about the boundaries.

SK: Is there a difference between sex play and sexual abuse?

DF: Again, let's be clear: Sex play should not exist. No child should be engaging in this type of behavior. Sexual acts are not “play.” Curiosity about anatomy, playing doctor or hugging like boyfriend and girlfriend is normal, but your children should not know what sex is at the age they are engaging in imitative play. This is not normal or OK. Sex play is a form of sexual abuse because it is not appropriate to explore in this way before puberty sets in and we become sexual beings. If it is taking place, it is likely that pressure is being put on someone to participate, and that is not acceptable. Sexual abuse is any form of sexual behavior that one is coerced into by another and can be mild or extreme.

SK: Does this experience traumatize children or cause lasting harm?

DF: Yes, it can be quite harmful, and because a child doesn't understand sex or the responses they may be having, it likely becomes suppressed and surfaces later when they are in real, age-appropriate, intimate relationships. It is very serious and can have very far-reaching effects.

When a child is exposed to sexual behavior before they are mentally or physically ready, they will likely not understand the full implications of the acts they are so keen to imitate. It’s OK to talk about this behavior, and more important, it’s crucial that parents address it with their children and possibly a qualified mental health professional so they can work on helping the child process their experiences and move forward.

Donald Trump's first presidential action would probably be canceling SNL

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Well, if Donald Trump somehow pulls it out and is elected president, we now know what his first order of business might be — and it's not good news for SNL.

If you saw Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live a couple weeks ago, you know that his Trump impersonation was damn near perfect and amazingly hilarious. Celebs and regular people alike came out of the woodwork to praise his mock debate opposite Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton in the Oct. 1 episode, though the performance was not without its critics.

The sketch was so popular, in fact, that SNL brought Baldwin back for an encore in the Oct. 16 episode, and he and McKinnon killed it once again.

Baldwin as Trump part II

Baldwin as Trump part II

Trump may not have responded to Baldwin's debut a couple weeks ago, but he was incensed by the second round and took to Twitter to voice his opinion about Baldwin's imitation — and to call for the cancellation of SNL itself.

More: All of Donald Trump's recent scandals that make him unfit for the White House

"Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!" Trump tweeted.

Trump tweet about SNL

Trump tweet about SNL

Trump also seized the opportunity to unload his feelings about the current state of American media and how it is influencing the 2016 election.

"Polls close, but can you believe I lost large numbers of women voters based on made up events THAT NEVER HAPPENED. Media rigging election!" he wrote.

Trump tweets about the media

Trump tweets about the media

Baldwin caught wind of Trump's review but didn't seem to be fazed. He retweeted Trump's tweet about his performance along with earlier posts from his other account, Alec Baldwin Foundation.

More: Donald Trump's joke about dating a little girl is creeping everyone out

"There is plenty of mud to sling on both sides," @ABFoundation tweeted in an Oct. 13 post. "And HRC was there for the taking, but Trump just doesn't have what it takes. He just doesn't."

ABFoundation tweets

ABFoundation tweets

In fairness, we can kind of understand why Trump might worry that the SNL sketch could have a negative influence on his campaign. But Trump is certainly not the first political figure to be lampooned on the show.

What did you think of Alec Baldwin's impersonation of Donald Trump? Does Trump have the right to be upset, or was the skit all in good fun?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Donald Trump could learn a lot from MacGyver — just hear us out
Image: CBS/WENN

Kanye West may have a lot of fans, but Nicki Minaj ain't one of them

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Kanye West's "Gold Digger" came out in 2005, but Nicki Minaj still has a bone to pick with both West and his lyrics.

In a recent interview with Marie Claire, Minaj brought up the old hit and explained why she feels the song paints relationships between black men and women in an extremely negative light.

"I'm so tired of black women feeling that when our men get rich, they’re going to leave them for a woman of a different race," she said in an interview for Marie Claire's upcoming November issue. "It wasn’t funny when Kanye said [in his 2005 hit ‘Gold Digger’], ‘When he get on, he’ll leave your ass for a white girl’ — and Kanye happens to be with a white girl now. It wasn’t funny when he said it; it was the fucking truth."

More: Apparently Nicki Minaj is growing really tired of Drake's sour grapes

Speaking of gold diggers, Minaj also spoke about her irritation with our current culture, which she feels celebrates the idea of women striving to marry for materialistic reasons.

Nicki Minaj Marie Claire 2

Nicki Minaj Marie Claire 2

"Nowadays, I feel like [young women] see marrying into money — I think that's a big thing now," she said. "I don't want that to be a woman's goal in life. I want your goal in life to be to become an entrepreneur, a rich woman, a career-driven woman. You have to be able to know that you need no man on this planet at all, period, and he should feel that, because when a man feels that you need him, he acts differently."

More: Nicki Minaj makes it very clear in new interview that she wants a kid ASAP

So who should our next generation look up to, then? Minaj feels she and fellow rock star Beyoncé are just the go-getting type of role models that young women should aspire to be like.

Nicki Minaj Marie Claire 1

Nicki Minaj Marie Claire 1

"Every time Bey and I do something together, I see how women are inspired, and it has nothing to do with how we look," Minaj said. "It has to do with how we are owning who we are and telling other women you should be the boss of your own career and the brains behind your life or your decisions or your art. I just love that feeling."

More: So Nicki Minaj left Demi Lovato out of her picture, so what?

Which current pop icons do you think are good for young women to model their career goals and relationships after?

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

bey and jay family slideshow
Image: WENN.com

Hilary Duff makes her relationship with hot trainer, Jason Walsh, Insta-official

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Has Hilary Duff finally moved on from her ex-husband, Mike Comrie, with her trainer? We may finally have confirmation after some conflicting reports.

First, rumors surfaced that Duff is dating her personal trainer, Jason Walsh, after the pair was reportedly spotted on a hot and heavy date earlier this week.

Hilary Duff's trainer, Jason Walsh

Hilary Duff's trainer, Jason Walsh

More: Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie reunite for the sweetest family portrait with their son

A witness said the couple went on a dinner date and could not keep their hands to themselves.

"They sat at the bar next to each other and couldn't keep their hands off one another. They seemed very happy and were enjoying themselves," the source said.

The pair was later photographed leaving the restaurant together on Walsh's motorcycle, with Duff's arms wrapped around his waist as she sat snugly behind him.

More: Hilary Duff is heartbroken over the death of her "naughty boy"

However, a source close to both later denied the claim, saying that while the two are indeed close friends, there is no hanky-panky going on.

"They went to dinner. They weren't all over each other. He's her trainer and they hang out," the insider told E! News. "They are not dating. They hang out and they are friends."

But where does Duff fall in all of this? She finally weighed in during an interview on Good Day New York and seemed to kinda, sorta confirm her relationship status.

"The last time you were here you were talking about going on Tinder.… And then I see pictures of you and some guy named Jason… have we found a little like in our life?" the host asked Duff, who blushed.

"We have [found a little ‘like’ with each other]. We’ve known each other for a really long time and he’s a great guy and we have a lot of fun together," she admitted. "It’s nice to have that excitement in my life."

And when the host asked Duff if she's "back in a relationship," she just giggled and shrugged. It looked an awful lot like a "yes."

In case that left any lingering doubts, Duff got serious about her relationship status in October, making it Instagram-official that she and Walsh are an item.

Hilary Duff and Jason Walsh are Instagram official

Hilary Duff and Jason Walsh are Instagram official

"Date night with J," she captioned a black and white photo of the two of them kissing, with a heart emoji added for good measure.

This is awesome for Duff, who though still friends with her ex Mike Comrie, has definitely moved on from any romantic feelings. And Walsh is a huge catch! He owns his own gym; he loves dogs — what's not to love about him?

More: Hilary Duff admits she has a dirty hookup secret

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebs tinder slideshow
Image: WENN

Have parents lost their minds when it comes to the tooth fairy?

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Back in my day, when I lost a tooth, I put it under my pillow and it was replaced with a shiny gold coin while I slept. No frills, no fuss, and it was absolutely fine. Certainly, there were no trails of glitter from the windowsill to my bed. No letters in swirly writing telling me what a big grown-up girl I was for losing a tooth. My tooth fairy was the no-nonsense sort — she did what was expected of her and I was cool with that. My tooth fairy certainly never played the bad guy, which seems to be a pretty common approach of present-day tooth fairies.

More: 11 tooth fairy ideas that are actually brilliant

A letter from the tooth fairy posted online caused some heated debate a few months back, and it's circulating again after it was shared on the Love What Matters Facebook page. Courtesy of blogger Non-Stop Mom, it basically passes the parenting buck to the tooth fairy, letting her give the kid hell for having a messy room.

Bad guy tooth fairy

Bad guy tooth fairy

More: How the hell do we explain the mess that is Donald Trump to our kids?

It's a tough stance that's divided opinion. Some parents have found it funny, while others criticized the mom for attaching conditions to her daughter's deal with the tooth fairy.

Each to their own, and as tempting as it is to leave my son a note from the tooth fairy politely asking that he clear some of his LEGOs from his floor so said tooth fairy doesn't scream in pain as she tries to stealthily make her way across the room to his bed, this isn't an approach I'll be taking. Let kids have a bit of magic in their lives, and reprimand them for their messy bedrooms yourself.

Those who really want to ramp-up the tooth fairy shock tactics might be interested in a new monster doll called My Best Tooth Fairy Friend, who has wings and a creepy smile and comes with a book, which parents are encouraged to read to their kids every single day until the wobbly tooth finally falls out. And that's not all. On the special night, the fairy leaves pre-printed rhyming note cards and stickers in place of the tooth.

Call me a killjoy, but I see My Best Tooth Fairy Friend as The Elf on the Shelf's slightly deranged cousin, determined to grab some of that stuffed keepsake limelight for herself. (I'm not ashamed to say there have been no elves on the shelves of our house either.)

More: If my breastfeeding grosses you out, well that's just too darn bad

I see why many parents buy into these gimmicks for their kids, and I'm sure the kids love them. But what's wrong with keeping it simple? Take the tooth, leave a shiny coin and look forward to the next one wobbling. And don't turn the tooth fairy into the bad guy. It's just not a good fit.

The mum jury's out on chores for kids, but what do the experts say?

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At what age should kids start doing chores? That's a call for every parent to make for themselves, but one blogger is facing backlash for sharing a guide on her Facebook page outlining age-appropriate chores for kids and suggesting starting the practice from 2 years old.

More: My kids don't do chores — and I wouldn't have it any other way

Samantha Jokell (aka, "School Mum") deemed the guide "useful," but not all parents agree.

Age appropriate chores for kids

Age appropriate chores for kids

"Just remember, they are only little once! It’s great to help out, but not to become the slave," commented one parent, while others criticised particular suggestions, such as making 9- to 11-year-olds mow lawns and asking 12-year-olds to babysit.

However, some readers agreed that age-appropriate chores can benefit children in many ways by teaching them about responsibility and routine and giving them practical skills that will be useful throughout their lives.

More: Don't rule out co-sleeping just yet — it may actually be good for your baby

Julie Lythcott-Haims, the former dean of freshmen at Stanford, which is considered to be one of best universities in the U.S., gave a TED Talk last year on what she considers to be crucial elements of successful parenting.

She referred to the longest longitudinal study of humans of all time, the Harvard Grant Study, which found that professional success in life comes from having done chores as a kid — and she says the earlier you start it, the better: "That a mindset that says 'There's some unpleasant work, someone's got to do it, it might as well be me', that's what gets you ahead in the workplace."

According to some studies, chores for kids are definitely falling out of favour with modern parents. In a Braun Research survey of 1,001 U.S. adults released in 2014, 82 percent reported being given regular chores as kids, but only 28 percent of them said they gave their own children chores to do at home.

Why are parents ignoring the research that suggests chores are good for kids? Such as that carried out by Marty Rossmann, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, who analysed data from a longitudinal study that followed 84 children across four periods in their lives — in preschool, around ages 10 and 15, and in their mid-20s. Rossmann found that young adults who started doing chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to have good relationships with family and friends and to enjoy early academic and career success than those who didn't have chores as children or only started doing chores as teenagers.

More: If my breastfeeding grosses you out, well that's just too darn bad

Perhaps modern children are simply too busy for chores. After school, homework, and whatever the day's after-school activity is, they need some downtime. Chances are, your kids will turn out just fine even if they don't spend their evenings folding laundry or mowing the lawn. Even Lythcott-Haims acknowledged in her TED Talk that success and happiness are not the same thing. "The most important finding from the Harvard Grant Study said that happiness in life comes from love," she said. "Not love of work, love of humans. Our spouse, our partner, our friends, our family. So childhood needs to teach our children how to love."

Go ahead and have that extra cup of coffee – your workout will thank you

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Every morning, Katrina and I like to start our day with two shots of espresso over ice and a splash of almond milk. It’s part of our morning ritual that helps us take on the day and our workout. Coffee has been used to boost athletic performance for years by trained athletes, but it can also help you achieve your own fitness goals. Keep reading for all of the amazing reasons why you should have a cuppa before heading out to get your sweat session.

More: Want awesome abs? Hit the kitchen instead of the gym

Work a little harder

Sometimes we need a little kick in the booty to get into the workout mood – enter our friend espresso. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can help you push yourself a little harder during your next workout. Studies have found that your morning cup of joe increases your performance by 11-12 percent. Not only will you feel more awake for your early morning workout, you’ll also push yourself harder than you would without it! Win, win!

Feel good about going harder

Caffeine increases dopamine levels in your body for those feel good effects. This can help you feel like the badass you are while squatting, running, or curling at the gym! It works by binding to adenosine receptors which indirectly cause the release of dopamine and serotonin. These are the “feel good” hormones that give you positive and happy vibes about your workout, making you want to do even more!

Burn more fat

Studies have found that taking in caffeine prior to your workout causes the body to mobilize fat cells to use for energy. This increase in lipolysis – fat breakdown – causes your body to preferentially use fat stores as energy over other sources. In other words, your body is burning more excess fat than it normally would.

Nibble less later

Another pretty amazing side effect of sipping on your morning java pre-workout is that the caffeine helps you consume fewer calories later in the day. It does this by decreasing the cravings that you would normally have and reducing your need for that afternoon chocolate or candy bar.

More: What your body is really craving after your workout (spoiler: It's not actually doughnuts)

How it’s done

Depending on your own life specifics related to tolerance, genetics, height, and weight, exactly when coffee affects you the most will vary. But on average, studies find that its peak stimulatory effects are between 15 and 120 minutes after drinking. If you want to take advantage of the caffeine buzz for your workout, we recommend drinking your morning cup of joe 45 minutes to an hour before starting your workout.

We recommend black coffee or adding a splash of unsweetened almond milk to decrease the amount of calories. Adding in heaps of fat and sugar will counteract all of the incredible benefits of coffee! Also, if you choose to workout in the afternoon, we suggest skipping the espresso all together. Drinking coffee too late in the day can cause you to lose sleep later in the night.

Not a fan of black coffee? The Tone It Up Nutrition Plan has healthy espresso and coffee recipes like peppermint mocha latte, sweet maple, and cool and creamy cappuccino! We love alternating between all of the different flavors to keep it fun and tasty!

More: 5 ways to stay healthy and fit before your wedding day (even with the cake tastings)

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