When I told my coworkers I planned to vote for Trump, it cost me. I work in an all-female office. Everyone else is voting for Hillary because of Trump’s 2005 Access Hollywood video and his threat to sue female harassers infuriated them.
I don’t like Trump, but after weeks of keeping my feelings to myself, I told my coworkers that I disliked Hillary more than I didn't like Trump. I also told them that because I didn’t want to waste my vote on a third-party candidate, I planned to vote for Trump.
Reach out. Remind your coworkers that you and they have common ground – many of us feel disappointed by our candidates to an extent.
Appeal to your coworkers’ higher values. Ask them if they agree that we need to return to civility in the political discussions. We can’t hope that will happen on the national stage with two candidates who loathe each other, so we’ll have to make it happen for ourselves.
Polish your skills. Our best hope, in our personal lives and at the workplace, lies in learning to handle difficult personal conversations.
Here’s how. Start any difficult conversation with context to affirm the relationship. For example, you might say, “I like working with you. I value your views and working relationship. I don’t want to lose your friendship.” Context helps smooth things out when emotions run high.
Next, make sure you don’t unleash toxic energy by directly or indirectly judging others’ choices. If you call Hillary a liar or Trump a bully, you insult those voting for either candidate. If you know your coworkers’ triggers, avoid them.
Finally, keep your focus on reality, and don’t attempt to convert your most convicted colleagues. While you can explain your views and reasoning to those open to hearing what you say, arguing with those absolutely convinced you’re wrong only drives a wedge between you. Instead, realize that listening to those who hold diametrically opposed views may give you insights you’ll need to navigate our increasingly politically divided nation.
Let's be real, sometimes a good head scarf is a major life saver. Whether you're running late or have a mean cowlick that just doesn't want to be tamed, tying your head up in that simple piece of material can magically transform you into a totally stylish diva.
From retro to boho, there's a million different looks you can create with a scarf. It can be hard to figure out a good wrap on your own, but an easy step-by-step guide can make all the difference.
1. Forehead scarf
Image: Allison Pynn/SheKnows
Begin by folding a scarf, longways, so it's about 3 inches in width.
Wrap the scarf around your forehead.
Tie the scarf to the back of your head, not on the side, to avoid looking like the Karate Kid.
Bring the ends of the scarf around to the back of your head.
Tie off the scarf in a firm, but comfortable, bow in the lower back of your head (the scarf should rest at the nape of your neck). This separates the chic look from the pirate look.
3. Banded scarf
Image: Allison Pynn/SheKnows
Run a long scarf through a clear elastic band. The band should be in the middle of the scarf.
Spread the ends of the scarf.
Wrap the scarf around the top of your head along the hairline.
Tie off the scarf at the back of your head. Bring one end of the scarf around to rest on your shoulder. It adds more pizzazz to the whole look.
4. Head wrap
Image: Allison Pynn/SheKnows
Fold a long scarf, longways, and wrap it around your hairline.
Tie off the scarf at the nape of your neck.
Pull the end of the scarf to one side of your neck so you can see it when you look straight into the mirror. Tie the ends into a bow for an extra-cute look.
Tuck the remaining loose ends back into the scarf.
10. Loose twist
Image: Allison Pynn/SheKnows
Fold a large scarf in half and wrap it around the back of your head. Make sure some of the scarf is hanging out loosely (some of the scarf should be hanging on your neck).
Bring the ends forward and tie them off at the hairline.
Take the remaining loose ends and twist them tightly.
Bring the twisted ends to the back of your head and tie them off above the nape of your neck.
Originally published Aug. 2014. Updated Oct. 2016.
I’m sitting in my living room with my mom and my sister anxiously biting my nails. I’m holding my breath because even though we’re ahead with only ten seconds left in the game, I’m from Cleveland. We know that losing is still a possibility.
I’m cautiously optimistic but I can’t allow myself to feel anything more than that. I’ve been disappointed too many times.
It’s June 19th, the night the Cavs won the NBA Finals. We’ll be telling our grandchildren, “Down 3-1, with Lebron James at the front, we clawed our way back to win for the first time EVER. You know kiddies, in Northeast Ohio, nothing is given everything is earned.”
For the first time in my entire life, I felt what it was like to collectively win something.
Now the Indians are in the World Series and it’s a huge freaking deal.
I don’t really care about sports. I never spent Sunday afternoons watching football with my mom. I don’t feel nostalgic about going to baseball games.
So why, for the first time ever, am I writing about sports?
Because this is bigger than sports.
It’s about Ohio. My home.
It’s about every, single time I told someone I was from Ohio and they said, “I’m sorry.” It’s about every time someone called us “the mistake on the lake.” It’s about every time someone came to visit and I said, “See, it’s not so bad,” because I had a mentality of mediocrity. Because I believed they wouldn’t love Ohio the way I loved it. They wouldn’t see the colors of the leaves in the fall and appreciate a bonfire with friends. They wouldn’t want to go sledding or make snow angels because they’d be too cold. I worried that they would be too distracted by the weather to recognize some of the nicest, kindest people in the whole nation. People that pick you up at the airport at 4 am and bring coffee and doughnuts. People that have your back and love you when you’re impressive or not.
I so desperately wanted visitors to love Ohio because I loved it. I was born and raised in a suburb outside of Akron, graduated from Kent State, and worked in Cleveland. My formative years were spent in NEO, which means that Ohio is a part of my identity. Although I currently live in New York City, I’m still an Ohioan. No matter where I live, I will always be an Ohioan in my heart. That’s the kind of hold Northeast Ohio has on you. When the timing is right, I’m certain I will move back there eventually.
I’m not delusional, Ohio isn’t perfect. I wanted to write this because Cleveland and I have a lot in common. Growing up I looked exactly like George Costanza. I was overweight and nerdy, no one paid me much attention unless they were making fun of me. I wasn’t cool like New York, I wasn’t sexy like Los Angeles, I wasn’t chill like San Francisco. I was just there in my yellow windbreaker. I was considered worse-than-average on the popularity scale. I had to prove to everyone, but mostly myself, that I had something to offer. That I had something to say. I had to believe that I was a person who deserved a seat at the table.
It sounds crazy to say but when the Cavs won, there was a shift in energy. We started to believe that we could be winners, that we too deserved a seat at the table. Sometimes you need to see it to believe it.
Now the Indians are in the World Series. The freaking World Series. I didn’t think I’d see it again in my lifetime. We’re playing the Cubs, and to be honest, I’m glad it’s them. They’re underdogs too. They probably would have been one of our only friends at the uncool kids table.
Whatever the outcome, win or lose, I’m proud of you Cleveland. You're a winner no matter what because when people said you weren’t good enough, you didn’t listen. When you got knocked down, you still got up, again and again. “There’s always next year,” you’d say hopefully.
Cleveland, THIS is your year. You showed up. You worked your ass off. And here you are, about to make history.
So from one fat kid in a yellow windbreaker to the state that raised her, I love you.
Blinded by love. Jessica "Figgy" Figueroa will forever be remembered as the girl who fell in love with the snowboarder "bro" on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X. But was it true love? During our one-on-one interview with Figgy, she unleashes behind-the-scenes, post-game secrets about why she and Taylor are no longer dating. In fact, they're not even talking. What went wrong? Plus, she explains why Taylor doesn't even deserve to win the game. This is a great interview, so sit back and soak it in.
SheKnows: You were definitely the victim of a blindside, so walk us through what was going through your head once the votes started falling against you.
Jessica Figueroa: I kind of knew the 2-2 tie vote was gonna come, I just didn't know about Adam flipping. I knew the vote was coming toward me because I was more of a threat in the game than Taylor was. I think he thought we were in Alaska because his mind was all about snowboarding. His mind was not in the game for the most part. Mine was. I knew that if the vote was gonna come between Taylor and I, they would take me out over him because at that point, he would be at their mercy. I would never be at anybody's mercy, so they had to take me out while they could.
JF: Yeah. I hate him! No, I'm kidding. I commend him. Adam is like a Cochran on Survivor fandom-level. I am not at that fandom level, but I'm a huge Survivor fan. When I watched the move, I think it was brilliant. I said it before and I said it when I got voted out — if they didn't take me out now, it would've been bad for them in the long run because I would've came after them. I would have. Some people laugh online saying it's a joke. No, I am a force to be reckoned with. My cover-up was the whole relationship that I had on the show. I understand why Adam did what he did. I don't hate him for it. I applaud him kinda-sorta in a salty Mari way, and will toast a margarita to him.
SK: As a self-described fan of the game, do you respect Adam for taking you out? As a viewer, how do you respond to the move?
JF: I totally respect Adam for that move. You take out a power couple, but was it smart for your game? You could've kept the power couple in to keep the target off your back long-term. It could be a bad thing for Adam in the game or it could be a good thing because he now has Ken and Jess at his mercy. He also has Zeke who hates Figgy. Michaela doesn't really want to work with anybody but Jay, but she'll eventually come back to him. It could be a really good thing for Adam and that's the only reason I will commend him. Obviously, because it was me, I'm bitter about it. I didn't like watching it on TV. If I were in his shoes, that would be a tough decision. I probably would've done the same thing or taken out Taylor.
Image: CBS
SK: While in the game, would you have ever voted Taylor out despite your flirtatious relationship?
JF: Yeah. If it came down to the merge and people were saying it was either me or Tails, I obviously would write Taylor's name down. Taylor was just my 100 percent. That was my buddy out there. We've seen it before. It was Andrea and Matt Elrod [Survivor: Redemption Island] and she was shocked when he was voted out. Matt was her No. 1. That's how I felt with Taylor.
Image: CBS
SK: Are you and Taylor still interested in each other?
JF: What do you think?
SK: I don't know. It's been a long time since you filmed that episode. I'm gonna say "yes."
JF: Wrong. The legend of Figtails has come to an end. When you're on an island, it's completely different from real life, and you find some things about people in their real life that you didn't know on the island. It leads to a downfall, and it's for good reasons we're not together. It's for the better. If we would've gotten married at Tribal Council, it would've been the world's quickest divorce.
Image: CBS
SK: Well, since you bring it up, let's talk about that marriage offer. Jeff Probst is an ordained minister, so he suggested holding an impromptu Millennial-style wedding right there at Tribal Council between you and Taylor. You said you were willing to go for it, but were you serious?
JF: Yeah, man — I was a Survivor first! Why not do it? I mean, hell, I would've divorced his ass afterward anyways. I'm a Millennial. I'm all about doing things for the first time and being that person who says, "Let's friggin' do it." It's kind of a joke. I wasn't in love with Taylor at that point. I felt for him, and I did love Taylor at some point. In that moment, I didn't realize that I actually did love him. I was just like, "Let's do it! Give me some margaritas, Jeff!" It's a joke. It would've been funny. I'm definitely glad it did not go through. Thank you, Jeff, for talking some sense into everybody and just changing the subject.
Image: CBS
SK: So you would have said "I do" that night.
JF: I think it would've been fun. I don't know. It would've been funny [laughs.]
SK: Do you blame your early game demise on Taylor? Is it his fault for being so open about your bond?
JF: That's a tough question to answer regardless. I'm gonna take it all the way back to Episode 2. I think if Taylor and I wouldn't have been together, I would have been in trouble when Jay went up to Michelle and revealed it was me that night. Michelle said "no." If Taylor and I weren't together, I think it would've been easier for them to take out Figgy. I think that Taylor may or may not have helped me survive that first vote. I think because I paired off with someone who was thinking he was in another state like Alaska snowboarding down a mountain versus in Fiji playing a game for a million dollars was my demise. He was completely infatuated and wanted to make out the whole time. I wasn't about it. I was like, "No. Don't hug me. Don't touch me. Don't talk to me." He couldn't stop. I think my demise was just working with someone who was a 12-year-old boy.
Image: CBS
SK: Do you regret playing so closely with him?
JF: I don't regret anything in my life. It's a lesson. Definitely a lesson learned on who I will work with in the future when I do play again. I will redeem myself one day.
SK: So you say you found some things out about Taylor after the game. Are you guys even talking now?
JF: Nope [laughs.] We are not talking. Yeah, we're just not talking. Come the reunion show, things might change. We'll see. We will obviously have to be in communication there, but we're not friends.
Image: CBS
SK: Are you dreading seeing him again?
JF: I don't give a fuck if I'm his friend right now. I'm not dreading the reunion show. I think the fact that I love our season so much, I can't wait to give Jeff a huge hug and see everybody again — other than him. I think that overpowers anything I have against him. I'm excited. It will be a good show for you guys to watch.
SK: I know this may be a bit personal, but can you tell us anything about what went wrong with Taylor?
JF: [Laughs] You will have to watch the reunion show. Just know that there are things that I found out about Taylor and they led to the demise of our relationship.
Image: CBS
SK: But you were dating after the show?
JF: Yeah, we dated for a couple months after the show. We tried to make it work, but ultimately it just could not happen.
SK: If you could give your $1 million vote to anybody right now, who would it be?
JF: This one's tough, honestly. I have three people I love to watch: Michaela, Jay and David. I could go with Michaela just for shits and giggles of her hating me and her being a beast. I could go with Jay for being in an alliance with me, but I think my vote would have to go to David. He is just what the game of Survivor is about. He is literally the person nobody would expect to be finding these Idols, playing them for people and doing all these things. He's getting outside of his comfort zone, playing the game and adapting. It's beautiful to watch.
SK: On the flip side, who does not deserve to win at this point?
JF: The person that does not deserve to win is Taylor. No, that's mean of me. Other than Taylor, it would be Jessica. I just think she was saved by grace when David played his Idol. People are saving her and she's not doing enough for me. She should've gone home instead of Lucy. She owes her life to so many people in this game. I don't think she deserves right now to win. Same thing for Taylor.
Image: CBS
SK: How did you get on the show?
JF: I applied last year for the first time. I had always been a fan and always wanted to apply, but I'm a workhorse. I'm work-work-work-work-work-work-work. If I have time, sure, but I never really had time, the camera or equipment to do anything. My sister gave me a Survivor buff from her office that she had because she knew I was a fan of the show. I wear it out in public all the time. This little girl asked me if I'd ever been on and I said, "No, but I'd probably be really good at it." I told my mom that and she told me to apply. I did and here I am talking to you.
SK: For all the geeks out there, which buff is it?
JF: I love it. It's a buff that has all the seasons on it. It's one of the orange anniversary buffs.
Image: CBS
Are you surprised to find out Figgy and Taylor aren't even friends anymore? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!
I married my husband when I was 40. I’d already made the decision to not have children, and most of the time, I’m 100 percent fine with that. I never regret it, knowing the realities of parenthood. However, there’s one time I get a pang I can’t explain except to say it’s basic biology.
Marriage made me a stepmom. My husband had a daughter who was 8 years old at the time we met. Most of the time when she’s with us, it feels like we are a family even though it is only temporary. But occasionally they launch into a conversation that separates me.
“Did I tell you about the night you were born?” he’ll ask.
She loves to hear that story. It’s the typical “rush to the hospital in labor” story that most parents have. But every time the conversation starts, I feel squirmy, and I can’t explain why. As I get older, I’ve begun spending more time analyzing that feeling and trying to put a name to it.
On the surface, it’s simply a story I'm not in. We can talk about the things we’ve done together and even things that happen when she isn’t with us. But it goes beyond that. There are plenty of stories about the years before I was around, and none of them make me squirmy.
So I’ve come to the conclusion it’s biological. When you love someone, nature dictates you have a child together. If you don’t have a child together, even if you have no interest in it, you can still have a pang thanks to Mother Nature. Raising a child is hard work, requiring complete dedication and sacrifice. You can know that in your mind, but there’s still something that stirs inside you when you realize you will never create life with the person you love.
I wonder if moms who remarry and don't have more kids feel this way. Do they feel some biological pang when they realize they won’t have a child with the person they love? What happens when child-free women reach their senior years and marry a man with children? Do they still feel that pang?
Interestingly, I only briefly had a desire to have children. It was in my late 20s, when everyone else was saying that was what I was supposed to be doing. “Better get started soon, or it will be too late,” people told me over and over. After replying for a while that I didn’t want children, I started to wonder if maybe I did and just didn’t realize it.
But as I’ve gotten older and seen how my friends’ lives are, I know that it wasn’t the life for me. I would have adapted, of course, and I probably would have been a great mother. But the long, sleepless nights, the constant worrying and the responsibility of it all sound terrifying to me. I completely admire everyone who chooses motherhood and does a great job at it. I simply am not that person.
While I’ll never regret my choice to remain child free, there are times when nature takes over. The good news is, those pangs pass very quickly, and soon I’ve forgotten all about it. Even better, once you reach 40, nobody asks you when you’re going to have children. That may be one of the best things about getting older.
This week, both couples meet with friends to discuss where they are at in their relationships, but it's Nick and Sonia I want to focus on. Nick’s friends seem to be questioning his relationship as Nick discusses the changes he is trying to make to improve things with Sonia.Sonia is also at dinner with her friends and describes the relationship as a "roller coaster."She tells them that "he is trying but he can do more."A friend asks if she has feelings for Nick and her answer is “I do not know."Her friends do not appear to think the union will work.
The evening before the final decision, Nick and Sonia getting along well and talking about the relationship.The two are sharing gifts with each other which appear thoughtful and heartfelt. They're laughing a lot, which is promising.Nick tells the camera that he likes the direction they are going in.
Finally, decision day. Sonia says that they've overcome things and is able to forgive.Nick says that he wants to stay married.Sonia says she still doesn't quite trust Nick, but decides to stay married, too.I am a bit surprised as I thought Sonia might have chosen divorce. But she appears to be an optimistic and positive person.She sees the good in people and I think while she may have doubted Nick’s hurtful language in episodes before, she chose to forgive him.
Hopefully the two can continue to grow into a healthy relationship and they will be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings.Nick appeared to be making more effort to connect and I hope this continues.
Next week is the reunion episode and we'll get to see if the couple stayed together after that final scene.
It's not because we didn't love Glenn — I mean, really, who wasn't attached to the character that Steven Yeun so artfully crafted — it's just that TWD has been teasing us with his death for so long, we really saw it coming. That, and we also knew from Robert Kirkman's comic books that it was Glenn's time to join that great, non-zombie spirit in the sky.
But what if Glenn and Abraham hadn't been the anticipated Season 7 premiere deaths that everyone's been agonizing over since the Season 6 finale? It's not just a rhetorical question — it could have been real. And now there's supposedly leaked footage that proves it.
A YouTube account posted the footage this week that shows Maggie meeting the end of Negan's bat as Glenn screams in agony. Um, what? As already stated above, we're still not over seeing Abraham go, but if it had been Maggie, it might have been time to abandon the series.
Walking Dead alternate scene
Walking Dead alternate scene
Now, there's obviously a problem with this footage. It's so freakin' grainy that it's hard to even tell what's really going on, or if Maggie is dead after being beaten by Lucille. The fact that the video looks so bad has raised some questions about it's authenticity. In other words, it's totally possible this TWD death scene was actually filmed in someone's basement.
On the other hand, we do know that the makers of The Walking Dead did shoot alternate death scenes to help keep the premiere a surprise. And it obviously worked, since fans were left reeling after Sunday's episode.
Do you think the allegedly leaked footage is real or fake?
By now, fans of Rehab Addict's Nicole Curtis know that the HGTV star is pretty private when it comes to her personal life. She was able to hide her pregnancy while still remaining in the spotlight of her show, after all.
But in her new memoirBetter Than New: Lessons I’ve Learned from Saving Old Homes (And How They Saved Me), Curtis is finally opening up about her pregnancy that has rolled over into a fight for custody with Shane Maguire — the father of her second son, Harper.
"I’ve had good relationships and positive experiences and I wish they were all like that, but unfortunately they aren’t," Curtis told People of Maguire, who she refers to as "Chad" in her book. "I’ve always been a proponent of co-parenting and children first and it’s just kind of backfiring right now."
But her on-again-off-again relationship and bitter custody with Maguire isn't getting Curtis as heated as much as the court system is.
"Right now, our court are seeing children as simply possessions," she said. "Like, you get house, and you get the kid on Christmas and Halloween. It's ridiculous. So, really I'm just trying to use this torturous experience right now, and just put it to good use so that we can change the way that people think about children in custody battles."
And for Curtis, that focus means helping other women who are in her same position.
"The other thing is that — I had no idea this stuff went on in family courts and everything — so I'm really trying to use a negative experience and really be an advocate for women who don't have this," Curtis added. "I mean, I have my own money and I can afford different things and make this all easier. There's woman out there who can't. It's really, again, women supporting women."
Mary's barely been back and she's already breaking hearts. In Thursday's Supernatural, Mary did the unthinkable and left. That's right, she returns from the dead and then leaves Sam and Dean all over again. It's as devastating as it sounds, but before you start hating on Mama Winchester, hear her out.
It's no secret that Mary's been struggling since Amara resurrected her. She's returned to a completely different time period, her baby boys are all grown up, her love John Winchester is dead, her family is still a hunting family and the world around her is something she just doesn't understand.
Dean has pretty much been living in denial and has even been somewhat naive about it all. Although, Sam recognizes Mary's struggles. He even told Dean that their mom is trying to bury herself in hunting so she doesn't have to deal with her issues. Sam has been there, done that, so who better to relate to Mary?
Despite realizing their mom is having a hard time adapting to her new life, I'm pretty sure Sam and Dean never thought that their mom would leave them all over again. Granted, the first time wasn't by choice, because she was killed by Azazel. However, the second time was completely Mary's decision.
Not only does Mary miss John and the Sam and Dean she remembers, but she also misses their home. As she told her boys, "I'm still mourning everyone as I knew them." Of course she loves Sam and Dean, but it's also hard for her to be around them, because each moment she spends with them reminds her of all the moments she lost with her baby Sam and her little boy Dean.
Mary admitted she thought hunting would help alleviate the pain and emotions she's dealing with, but it hasn't. So, her temporary solution is to leave for a bit. She just needs "a little time" to find herself, her place and figure out where she belongs. Not to mention, Mary surely needs time to come to terms with everything that's happening and all of the changes she's experienced.
Don't get me wrong, Dean's heartbreaking look at seeing his mom walk out of the bunker was exteremely difficult to watch. Then, to see Mary hug Sam goodbye was heartwrenching. I would love for Mary to stay with Sam and Dean, rather than go off on her own. They just get their mom back after so many years and to be without her again? Well, it doesn't seem fair.
That said, I totally get where Mary is coming from. If she doesn't find happiness within herself and begin her healing process, then she is not only going to be miserable, but she won't be any good for Sam and Dean. This is the way it has to be done. Also, the way Mary's handling all of this is realistic as well, so I applaud Supernatural for not just making Mary this flawess character who is 100 percent perfect after being dead for 30 plus years. This is how most peope would probably deal with this type of situation.
Let's just hope Mary can begin living a happy life and eventually start doing it with Sam and Dean by her side.
Ah, Taco Tuesday. It's simultaneously the worst and the best night of the week. It's the worst because, let's face it, Tuesday is the pits because you've still got a way to go until the weekend, and the best because, well, tacos.
But what's a girl to do when she gets a little crazy and makes entirely too much taco meat for her whole family to finish in a single taco night? She keeps the party going, of course.
There are amazing recipes for leftover meat that are just as tasty as night one — and won't have you feeling sick of tacos (as if that could ever happen).
1. Soft tacos with ground beef
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
I started with this delicious recipe for soft tacos with ground beef, but you can re-create your taco night leftovers by adding different spices and toppings.
Although ground turkey is used here, I think these taco lettuce wraps are just as tasty with ground beef. Remind you of P.F. Chang's famous lettuce wraps, don't they?
Another way to re-create your taco leftovers is by turning up the heat and making some sloppy Joe tacos. What's better than a true marriage of flavors?
Maybe you're throwing a party this weekend. Or maybe you're just dying for an excuse to eat a whole bag of tortilla chips. Just say hello to this creamy Mexican dip! No judgments.
Our love affair with tater tots will never die. And what's better than having your tots along with your leftovers? Loaded tater tots are just what we've all been waiting for.
Although this recipe is technically vegetarian, I say skip a can of beans, and load this cheesy taco casserole with some of that leftover ground beef instead. Yum!
If you're really looking to impress some guests this weekend or simply love stuffed zucchini (and who doesn't?), these taco-stuffed zucchini are simply irresistible.
Carnitas, schmarnitas! I'm loving this taco tamale pie much better with the addition of my ground beef leftovers. I can't resist an excuse to make an easy dinner.
Macaroni and cheese. Need I say more? OK, fine. This cheesy chili mac and cheese uses all the ingredients to make a chili, but it'll go great with your taco leftovers too.
You've got two options here: Take your taco meat, and turn it into these adorable cheesy lasagna cupcakes, or go wild, and use the recipe for quinoa enchilada cupcakes, but sub the quinoa for meat. Voilà!
I am unabashedly a huge pizza lover. As a New Yorker, I basically have to be. So when I saw this recipe for a taco pizza, I basically turned into one of those cartoon characters with hearts in my eyes. True story.
Another appetizer winner is these taco crescents. I simply love the idea of using simple croissant dough to re-create leftovers in a truly unique way. Plus, they make a fantastic snack!
Sometimes in life, the answer to anything is lasagna. Whenever I'm thinking of cooking on Sundays, I always think of making this hearty dish. And why not spice things up with a taco lasagna this time?
Although this recipe technically calls for leftover chili, I think it's just as lovely with leftover taco meat. After all, it wouldn't be a taco salad without some taco flavor, right?
Who says leftovers can't turn into a fantastic breakfast? That's the idea behind this Tex-Mex Egg McMuffin. It's simple and delicious, the only things breakfast should ever be.
Last, but definitely not least, is the magic that comes from transforming your taco leftovers into truly delicious and easy chili. All you need is some extra seasoning, and you're set!
Originally published April 2015. Updated Oct. 2016.
Ever since a Gilmore Girls revival was announced, fans have been trying to determine who Rory will end up with. Will it be her first love, Dean? Will it be bad boy, Jess? Will it be the man who proposed to her, Logan? Will it be no one? Will it be someone completely new?
Let's hope it's not the latter, because that would just be beyond disappointing. She has to end up with one of the three guys who had her heart at one time when the series aired. It appears Twitter is convinced Rory and Jess will end up together based on the revival's trailer, but are we so sure he's the right choice?
Did Jess have more lines in the Gilmore Girls trailer (watch below, if you've yet to see it) compared to Dean and Logan? He sure did, though that doesn't mean anything. Maybe Netflix is trying to mislead fans and convince them Rory and Jess are the endgame by featuring him more heavily than Logan and Dean. The fact that both Dean and Logan were only seen for a brief second actually speaks volumes. That could be the show's way of avoiding spoilers because either of them could be Rory's OTP.
So who is? It's definitely Logan. Don't get me wrong. Jess is great, but Logan makes way more sense. As for Dean? He can just go away and stay away. Now, back to the man who deserves to end up with Rory.
Gilmore Girls revival trailer
Gilmore Girls revival trailer
Like both Dean and Jess, Logan definitely had his flaws, was a jerk at times and was nowhere near perfect. That said, he had some really great qualities, which is why he's the best fit for Rory — and here's why.
1. He evolved
Out of all three of Rory's loves, Logan is the one who evolved the most and the one fans got to watch grow as a person. He started off as this rich and selfish boy who turned into a man who not only wanted more for himself (he even walked away from his life of privilege), but also wanted to see Rory succeed. Logan evolved positively by the end of the series and proved he deserves to be with Rory forever.
2. He pushed Rory to take risks
On more than one occasion, Rory went out of her comfort zone thanks to Logan. Though, let's forget about that time she got arrested for stealing a yacht. When a significant other pushes you in ways that makes you feel uncomfortable, but also fearless at the same time, then you know he/she is right for you. Who wants to be with someone who is exactly like them and where nothing fun or spontaneous ever happens?
3. He's a combination of both good and bad
Logan was a nice mix of both a "good guy" and a "bad guy." As for Dean, he was just annoyingly good all the time and Jess, well, he was definitely the quintessential "bad boy." Who wants someone who is one or the other when you can be with someone like Logan, who is a mix of both?
4. He has a lot in common with Lorelai
They may not always have seen eye to eye, but Logan and Lorelai actually have a lot in common. Mainly, they both grew up in a world of privilege and both chose to leave it to do things their own way. After Lorelai got pregnant with Rory, she left home to raise her daughter by herself and succeed without her parents ruling her life. Logan came to the conclusion he wanted to work hard and become a success all by himself, which was truly admirable. It's sometimes said that we'll end up with someone similar to our parents, and seeing as Logan and Lorelai have so much in common, that's just another reason Rory and Logan are meant to be.
Near the end of the final season, remember when Logan visited Stars Hollow with Rory? She was trying to decide whether to go for the fellowship at TheNew York Times or take the job at the Providence Journal. Rather than telling Rory what to do or tell her what he wanted her to do, Logan told her to make her own decision based on what she wanted for herself. Then, they could factor each other into wherever they ended up. Did anyone else just swoon all over again?
6. He loved Rory for exactly who she is
Despite their different backgrounds and views, Logan never factored any of that into how much he loved Rory. He loved her for her mistakes, her quirkiness, her love of junk food, her pros and cons lists, her upbringing and everything else that made Rory so lovable.
After Logan proposed to Rory and she said no, he said something that proved how much he wanted their relationship to be healthy and succeed. Rory wanted to do long-distance, but Logan refused. He didn't want to live that kind of life with the woman he wanted to spend forever with. By Logan wanting all of Rory or none of Rory, it showed he really did want them to thrive as a couple. It also showed maturity. He stayed true to what he wanted, just like Rory did by not wanting to get married at that point in her life. Long-distance can be hard and he recognized that. Who knows if he regrets his decision? But based on that choice, Logan clearly wanted only the best for both of them.
Here's hoping Logan and Rory find their way back to one another in the revival because it's the only 'ship that makes sense.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Lifepremieres Friday, Nov. 25 at 12:01 a.m. PST on Netflix.
Welcome back to Parental Advisory, where I answer all of your social media and IRL parenting etiquette questions. This week, let's talk about parents of kids with peanut allergies and their concern over Halloween candy.
Question:
Hi! I have a Halloween-related question. A neighbor and I are both members of a local community Facebook page, and a couple of weeks ago she started "campaigning" that everyone who is passing out candy this year not distribute candy with peanuts in it, because her daughter has a peanut allergy. Her kid’s condition isn’t life threatening, but even if it was…I’m not sure her allergy should make three neighborhoods’ worth of homes restrict what gets passed out for Halloween. This has never been a problem before, and no one else has made this request. A few people have volunteered not to pass out candy with peanuts, but other neighbors have told me in person that they don't think it's a fair request and are just planning to stay out of it.
My question is, do you think she's justified for asking everyone to accommodate her child, or is she crossing the line and making an unreasonable request? For what it's worth, I haven't commented on the Facebook post, and I'm still kind of confused about what happens when she and daughter go trick-or-treating since I doubt every single page member has seen her post. If someone tries to give her kid Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, I guess it's possible she'll make a big deal of it? Also, I have three kids of my own and one of them is lactose intolerant, but it's never occurred to me to ask everyone not to pass out chocolate on Halloween. Do I have to stop buying mini-Snickers (my son's favorite) because my neighbor asked everyone to?
Thanks,
V.
Answer:
Happy early Halloween, V.! What you're describing is an increasingly common predicament that parents of allergic kids have around Halloween. In fact, "according to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies among children increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011." Whoa. That's scarier than a pack of 10-year-olds dressed up as Donald Trump.
Regardless of the reasons kids are being diagnosed as having more (and stronger) allergies, what that means for everyone else is that in the past 20 years, things have been shifting. Peanuts are not allowed at most schools, airlines have been criticized for continuing to distribute free packs of nuts (I ate some on a Delta flight last week), and the national conversation around EpiPens has sparked some lively debate and a massive lawsuit.
Whenever I receive a new STFU, Parents submission about something peanut allergy-related, it's usually a parent losing their shit because someone is "contaminating" a public space (like a movie theater or a park) with peanut dust and "putting children at risk."
Image: STFU Parents
To be sure, peanut allergies are very real, and for the small percentage of people who can go into anaphylactic shock and/or die, that's a frightening proposition. More frightening than the Halloween after Frozen came out when parents were frantically searching for $300 Elsa costumes on eBay, even. And yet, I think there's something to be said for the way people are perceived by parents of allergic kids, as though they're purchasing candy with peanuts to thin out the neighborhood herd by sending children to the hospital. Unless your neighbor is a true bogeyman who relishes in poisoning kids, that's highly unlikely to be the case.
The reality is, most people distribute candy based on a number of guiding principles beginning with "deliciousness" and ending in "price." If I see a large bag of mini Snickers at the grocery store, I'm apt to buy it because I like Snickers bars, and I want to give kids treats that I think they'll enjoy.
There is no sinister ulterior motive — just an appreciation for giving candy treats to excited neighborhood children. To a parent of a kid with an allergy, I might look like a monster, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not my job to determine which neighboring children have allergies, just as it's not my place to remind kids that sugar is the devil. On Halloween night, I want the focus to be on fun — not on a family's strict veganism or poor child labor laws or the distress of peanut dust.
I can't cater to one parent's rules because it could lead to more modifications for other parents in the future, and that sounds more complicated than I (or most people) care to entertain. Some kids have diabetes or are allergic to wheat or eggs, and accommodating for each of them on an individual basis doesn't seem like the most practical solution. If the dietary preferences for all parents and kids were factored in, candy would be limited to lollipops and breath mints and/or get replaced with bags of organic lettuce.
Typically enough, right after I posted a recent column about uptight parents on Halloween, someone on Twitter sent me a message about how kids can die, and therefore I must be heartless and not care. I responded that "kids are going to come into contact with peanuts forever. Halloween isn't and shouldn't be about banning peanuts," and a few minutes later, a mom sent me this reply:
Image: STFU Parents
This is actually a response I hear frequently. Many parents don't want anyone to cater to their children's food restrictions, because they want their child(ren) to learn how to avoid the agents that cause an allergic reaction. It's more effective for a parent to teach their child to read labels and not to eat anything with peanuts — or to wait to eat candy on Halloween until after their bag has been sorted — than to ask everyone else to alter their candy purchases, especially if it's to accommodate one child with a known allergy.
People shouldn't feel a sense of shame for handing out Butterfinger bars; rather, parents should parent their children and do what works best for them. If that means not accepting candy with peanuts or putting that candy in a separate bag, so be it, but Halloween isn't necessarily the time to educate everyone on peanut allergies and how they can impact a child's enjoyment of holiday snacks. Chocolate and peanuts go together like ghosts and goblins, and a lot of the best treats on Halloween involve that tasty (but occasionally lethal) combination. Besides, if kids aren't careful, they could wind up with a mouthful of something far worse: vegetables.
With that being said — and my pro-peanut Halloween candy stance made clear — I do think there are some good alternative solutions to this ever-growing problem.
1. Parents can have two bowls of candy — one with peanut candy and one without — for children (or their parents) to choose from.
2. Parents can eliminate giving out candy altogether (occasionally crushing children's hopes and dreams) and participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project, which was launched a few years back by Food Allergy Research Association. The project aims to distribute teal-painted pumpkins (or encourage parents to make their own), which when placed outside a home's front door on Halloween, symbolize a home that isn't giving out food as treats. Parents are encouraged to give out glow sticks, small toys, pencils and erasers, toothbrushes or other items kids can use and/or collect.
3. Parents of kids with allergies can distribute "allergy-friendly" candy to parents in the neighborhood in advance and request — not demand — that they give that brand of candy to their kids when they come by on Halloween.
4. Parents of kids with allergies can hold their own Halloween party (ideally with a haunted house component; don't disappoint me, parents) and distribute whatever snacks and treats work for their family (and neighboring children).
5. Parents can refrain from handing out candy with peanuts and skip the parental drama altogether since that is very possibly the direction society is moving in and just accept that a Halloween without peanuts is still a fun Halloween — especially if they buy a big bag of candy with peanuts for themselves and their kids to enjoy in the privacy and "safety" of their own home.
Whatever people decide to do about candy distribution this Halloween, I hope parents of allergy-afflicted kids are able to keep their judgment and skepticism of their neighbors to a cauldron's simmer. And please, don't drive your kids from house to house if they have functioning mummy and Pokémon legs to walk on. Peanuts or not, they're gonna have to come down from their sugar highs sometime, and running around scaring their friends is their best bet.
Do YOU have a question about parenting on social media? Send whatever is on your mind to stfuparentsblog AT gmail.com!
Our world has been filled with fad diets since practically the dawn of time, and the advent of the worldwide web has made their presence even more widespread. The cabbage soup diet, the lemonade diet, paleo, low-fat — some of us have tried them all. However, every now and again, an eating regime comes along that isn't a fad, but actually makes real sense. The low-FODMAP elimination plan is backed by science and can bring considerable relief to people who suffer from digestive issues.
The only problem? Low-FODMAP is kind of confusing, which can make it tricky to follow.
What is the low-FODMAP diet?
First developed by researchers at Monash University to control symptoms of IBS, the FODMAP "diet" is not a diet but a lifestyle change that's necessary and beneficial for those who are in excruciating pain on a daily basis. I encourage you to read this article to learn more about FODMAPs to see if this way of life is right for you.
Once you're armed and ready to take on this challenging way of eating (it's not that easy of a transition), you'll scour the internet for recipes that are FODMAP-friendly and maybe join some Facebook groups. There are also lots of FODMAP-friendly recipes available on sites you might already frequent, though they aren't necessarily marketed as such. Here are 21 recipe options for you to get cracking in the kitchen.
I love this recipe because it combines your protein with your side dish and tastes better than a crabcake. (Sigh... Remember crabcakes?) Since you're following a low-FODMAP diet, you won't be able to partake in the tartar sauce side, so try some FODMAP-friendly mustard instead.
This egg salad recipe calls for a great combination of dill, mustard and mayo flavors. As with any products, please make sure your mustard and mayo have only low-FODMAP ingredients before using them.
I love these bars because you can eat them as breakfast, a snack or even dessert. Make sure you use either Enjoy Life chocolate chips or over-70-percent dark chocolate chips. The serving sizes are small enough to not hurt your belly. (Just don't eat the whole batch in one sitting!)
Quinoa is an extremely versatile food. If you can't tolerate a large amount of oats, then using quinoa in your morning meal is a great alternative. Add in a mix of maple syrup and berries, and breakfast is served.
These bites let you indulge your sweet tooth while keeping things healthy. It's a great snack before or after a workout. I love them as a dessert option too, especially when I'm hosting a dinner.
This FODMAP-friendly recipe uses just three ingredients and looks delicious when plated. Serve with your favorite breakfast sides for a nice Sunday brunch option.
This recipe is interesting because it teaches you how to make and use potato water for gluten-free baking. This bread lasts a few days in a Tupperware container, so you can enjoy the leftovers — if there are any.
If you're looking for a way to use your leftover chicken for lunches over the course of a few days, look no further. This combination of ingredients with a nod to Greek flavor is great over a bed of greens or on some gluten-free bread.
This one-pan, healthy dinner recipe is perfect when you're in a rush (and hate to clean up). Be mindful of your serving size of the broccoli to keep it FODMAP friendly.
This FODMAP-friendly roundup wouldn't be fair without the mention of zucchini pasta, or zoodles, as they're affectionately named. Since the vegetable is gluten-free and packed full of nutrients, it is a lighter option than gluten-free pasta.
Whether or not it's pumpkin season, these delectable pancakes make for a yummy breakfast or snack item. They're perfectly paired with maple syrup or a bit of peanut butter.
If you're having a summer barbecue and craving some healthy side salads, go straight for the cucumbers and the squash. The squash and cilantro salad uses the same citrus dressing as the cucumber one, so you won't have to spend too much more time creating both dishes.
Making a soup on a low-FODMAP diet can prove to be difficult, since most broths call for onion or garlic. This bone broth recipe can act as the base of many of those soup recipes and even stands as a soup on its own. Add some FODMAP-friendly veggies, and you've got yourself a meal. Note: The acceptable portion size for an avocado is 1/8, so be mindful of that.
These "fries" are made as easily as cutting, brushing, sprinkling and baking. You can buy the premade polenta at your local supermarket, making this side dish or snack an easy option during mealtime.
I like this recipe because you don't need to fire up the grill to enjoy a nice piece of steak. It calls for chili powder, so make sure you purchase one that is FODMAP-friendly, as some packaged spices have garlic added. The green onions are OK, but only the green parts, so don't eat the white.
Take all the fixings of a proper salad, add quinoa and feta, and congratulations: You have a protein- and vitamin-filled meal. Remember, when using the green onion, you can only eat the green parts — no white.
I love these muffins because they keep for a while in Tupperware, making them last for days. Have them in the morning with your tea or coffee or as a nighttime snack before bed. The serving size of almond flour should be fine if you don't have five muffins in one sitting, but if you're sensitive to almond flour, try using rice flour instead.
These stuffed tomatoes pack a mouthful of flavors in every bite. I love to make these as an appetizer option when I'm hosting a party or to bring them to a party I'm attending. To keep it FODMAP friendly, be sure you're buying plain bacon and not honey smoked or any other flavors.
Breakfast is the kickoff point to your entire day. When you start it off right, the rest will unfold in your favor. This recipe keeps you fueled up for hours thanks to its high-quality plant protein and abundance of fiber.
20. Pop-Tarts recipe
Image: Jennifer May/SheKnows
Yes, you read that right: Pop-Tarts! These gluten-free and low-FODMAP treats will bring back the nostalgia of morning breakfasts past. Be sure to use milk you can tolerate (rice and almond are options).
Four ingredients and 15 minutes give you these pork chops, served with a kick. Pair with steamed green beans or a side salad. When I make these, I'll double ingredients so I have leftovers. I've also substituted the pork for chicken, and it's just as yummy!
An important note: Portion sizes and ingredients that might be OK for one person might not be OK for another. When starting the elimination part of the low-FODMAP diet, it is essential that you are educated, that you follow portion size rules and that you consider consulting a professional to help you through the process. As mentioned, updated research comes from Monash University, and they are one of the best online resources to visit. Keep in mind that these recipes were not necessarily created by those who follow a FODMAP diet but who happen to be low-FODMAP. Therefore, some ingredients and portion sizes will have to change accordingly.
Image: Karen Cox/SheKnows
Originally published May 2015. Updated August 2016.
Zach Galifianakis and Jon Hamm's new film Keeping Up with the Joneses is all about a superspy couple (Hamm and Gal Gadot) who enlists the help of their nosy, average Joe neighbors (Galifianakis and Fisher) to help them take down a technology crime ring.
In the film, Hamm and Gadot's secret-agent characters have to lie to their new neighbors in order to fit in with the small-town crowd. Of course, it doesn't last very long.
So we wondered: Can the stars of Keeping Up with the Joneses hide the truth better than their characters in the movie?
We played two truths and one lie with the cast, and well, it turns out they are pretty good at lying — or the cast members just don't know each other at all.
We pitted Zach Galifianakis against Jon Hamm, and Isla Fisher against Gal Gadot in a head-to-head battle to see who could sniff out the truth. Admittedly, our lies were pretty tough.
KUWTJ interview 2
KUWTJ interview 2
Galifianakis struggled a bit with his card.
"I don't know the answers to my own rounds," he admitted.
Good thing he had Hamm there because Hamm did guess the lies.
"Is there a prize?" Galifianakis wanted to know, and Hamm was very unimpressed with my offer of a high-five and some "pride and glory." Next time I'll remember to bring chocolate. Or, as Galifianakis suggested, some chinos that say "SheKnows." Who do I talk to about making that a reality?
Finally, Gadot and Fisher brought it home for the team. These girls had clearly gotten to know one another during their time on set. Watching them with their families before the interview, it was clear that these ladies were all about motherhood and had bonded over their shared love for their children. Gadot has a 4-year-old daughter, while Fisher has three children with husband Sacha Baron Cohen.
KUWTJ interview 1
KUWTJ interview 1
"We love games!" The ladies both said together when I presented the truth and lie cards.
Gadot didn't even know her own lies, though as she looked at her card she said, "It's all true."
Luckily, even she spotted the lies as we went through the rounds. We had to make it tricky, after all, since these actors had spent months together on set.
Some of the best tidbits we learned: Hamm's first role ever was as Winnie the Pooh in first grade. Galifianakis was fired from SNL after only two weeks. Gadot gained a shit-ton of muscle for her role in Wonder Woman. And Fisher is a baller who published two bestselling novels at only 18.
Check out Keeping Up with the Joneses in theaters now.
Watch the videos above to find out more fun tidbits about the cast, including which other spy movie Gadot almost starred in and just how much cash Hamm had in his pocket when he moved to Los Angeles.
Have you seen Keeping Up with the Joneses yet? What did you think about the movie?
Chances are, you've seen napa cabbage chillin' out in the produce section at your local grocery store. The long, oval-shaped vegetable is always in stock and serves as a staple in a lot of Asian recipes, but most shoppers pass it over because they just don't know what to do with it.
If your interest in napa cabbage has been piqued, we've got good news: It's actually quite versatile — not to mention it packs a pretty heavy nutritional punch.
With a texture somewhere in between celery and bok choy, you really can't go wrong using napa cabbage in these tasty recipes.
1. Napa cabbage soup
Image: MelindaChan/Getty Images
Warm up with a hearty bowl of napa cabbage soup. Add a few cups of chopped napa cabbage to your favorite vegetable, chicken or beef soup; it will give your soup a lot of body and for fewer calories than most other ingredients.
Instead of using green cabbage, try some of the larger, outer leaves of napa cabbage. Cut them in half, steam or boil them until they just turn soft, and then fill with a mixture of cooked white rice and browned mild sausage or hamburger. Top with tomato sauce, and bake until bubbly.
3. Napa cabbage taco topping
Image: wideonet/Getty Images
Traditionally tacos are topped with a healthy handful of lettuce. A better choice is napa cabbage, which is more flavorful and totes a crisper texture, which contrasts nicely with the taco fillings.
Kimchee is a spicy Korean side dish, sort of like the hottest coleslaw you've ever eaten. Traditional kimchee can take several days to make. However, for a quick at-home version, combine a few cups of chopped napa cabbage, a tablespoon of sambal oelek (an Eastern hot sauce), 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, 4 sliced garlic cloves and a healthy pinch of salt. Stir well, chill overnight, and then eat right out of the bowl!
5. Braised napa cabbage
Image: Kateryna Kyslyak/EyeEm/Getty Images
For a quick and easy side dish, add the cut-up white stems of the napa cabbage to a skillet, and cover them halfway with vegetable broth, ground ginger, garlic powder and a few teaspoons of soy sauce. Cook over medium heat for 8 – 10 minutes or until the napa cabbage becomes soft.
If you have eaten a Chinese dish with vegetables, you have probably eaten napa cabbage. Typically they are white squares that look like they should be onions but have not turned clear. To do your own napa cabbage stir-fry, peel off 20 – 25 leaves, and cut off the leafy green sections until all you have are the firmer white stems. Cut the white stems into 2-inch pieces. Heat some peanut oil in a wok, cook the napa cabbage for 3 – 4 minutes, until it starts to soften, and then add your favorite stir-fry sauce. Cook until the sauce starts to bubble. Serve hot over rice.
7. Napa cabbage spring rolls
Image: Prasit photo/Getty Images
Napa cabbage has a great crunch that's perfect for spring rolls. Simply slice napa cabbage into thin strips, and roll with cooked shrimp, rice noodles and fresh basil in a spring roll wrapper. Serve with a dipping sauce of soy sauce, chilies and fish sauce.
Got a favorite coleslaw recipe? Try it with shredded napa cabbage. Napa cabbage slaw has a subtly different flavor and texture than classic coleslaw and is particularly tasty if you add fruit. For your next slaw, combine 2 cups of diced mango, a finely diced jalapeño, 1 cup of mayonnaise, 2 cups of shredded napa cabbage and 4 tablespoons of rice or red wine vinegar. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight, and serve.
9. Napa cabbage salad
Image: Cate Alexandra/SheKnows
Spicy Vietnamese chicken, Thai chilies and a touch of cilantro make this napa cabbage dish extra delicious. The spicy chicken and cabbage salad, also called goi ga, can be made in a large batch for a party or halved to serve as a family meal at home. This is also the perfect dish to refrigerate and enjoy as a quickie lunch throughout the week.
10. Napa cabbage fried rice
Image: Nancy Foster/SheKnows
Cool and crunchy, napa cabbage can help balance out the flavors of any fried rice. While this fried rice recipe calls for green cabbage, we prefer using napa instead. You can also swap brown rice for white to make an even healthier main dish.
Originally published July 2009. Updated Oct. 2016.
We love our pets, but sometimes their bad behavior is just so cute — or surprising — that we forget to curb it.
We want to know: What bad behavior have you taught your pet — accidentally or not?
For example, maybe you accidentally gave your dog a begging habit because early on you wanted him to delight in your delicious cooking, too.
dog eating noodles
dog eating noodles
Perhaps you loved your dog's howls because it felt like they were talking directly to your soul - until they started doing it for 20 minutes whenever someone new walked in the door.
howling dog
howling dog
Or maybe you somehow taught your cat that your head was the best place to spend their day and now no messy bun is safe.
cat on head
cat on head
Whatever the bad habit is, share it with us in the comments below and we may feature it in a SheKnows post!
By the time the second presidential debate rolled around, my 2-year-old son Declan was sound asleep. However, there was part of me that wanted to wake him up because the second debate in particular seemed educational. I don’t mean “educational” in the sense that viewers learned about the major candidates’ stances on the important issues of the day. I found the second debate, and Donald Trump’s whole campaign in general, to be educational in that it did a spectacular job of teaching people, particularly toddlers like my son, how not to behave in public. Or private. Or at all. In that terrible, horrible, no good, very bad debate performance, Trump illustrated through example how not to treat anyone — man, woman, child, plant, vegetable or mineral. It was almost as if Trump was unconsciously teaching about etiquette, like a vagina-grabbing Emily Post. Here were the very basic etiquette/morality lessons Trump unwittingly doled out.
1. Don’t insult
This is a pretty easy one, even in our online era. Don’t call people horrible names. Don’t be negative and treat people you disagree with or are competing with like they’re sub-human. Then again, if Trump had taken this one to heart, it’s impossible to even imagine what his campaign would be like. Can you even imagine a Bizarro-world race where Trump takes to Twitter to compliment Jeb Bush on his grace and poise or Marco Rubio for his charisma and youthful enthusiasm? If Declan were to talk to his friends the way Trump addressed Clinton, we would forcefully tell him, “No thank you! You do not talk to friends that way!" But at this point, it's open to debate whether Trump even has any real friends since he seems to prefer to see most people as enemies — enemies it's OK to insult and degrade.
In Trump’s mind, the segment of the debate in which he threatened to throw Clinton in jail registered as a moment of triumph. To people who want leaders to behave like responsible adults and not belligerent children, however, it was a moment of horror and embarrassment. Here was a man who posits himself as a role model for children bluntly threatening his opponent in ways that would mortify me if I were to see my son mimicking him on a playground.
3. Don’t be a bad winner
In the debate and elsewhere, Trump has vowed to be the worst winner in American presidential history . He thundered to the crowd, “If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation because there has never been so many lies, so much deception. There has never been anything like it, and we're going to have a special prosecutor.” I want my son to think that winning isn't as important as playing fair and giving his best. I particularly don't want him to think that he must first defeat his opponent, and then further humiliate his opponent. This is a wonderful way to teach my son to win with grace and humility, by instructing him to never behave like the awful man on TV.
4. Don’t be a sore loser, either
Trump has vowed to be a vindictive winner, but he’s also established that he will be an even worse loser. He began the process of pre-blaming the electoral system for what even he must understand on some level will be his crushing defeat in the elections. And he hasn’t even lost yet! Imagine how petulant he will be post-defeat. I want my son to learn how to accept defeat gracefully, or at least as gracefully as he can. That’s called being a good human being, although I suspect Trump might consider it too P.C.
Trump has almost never taken responsibility for anything he’s done. To cite but a single example, during the debate, he denied telling the world to check out the “sex tape" of the Miss Universe winner who spoke out against him, despite the existence of a tweet reading, "Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in a debate?” Yet he continues to blame everyone and everything for his mistakes, particularly the Clintons, the media and the Republican establishment. When my son does something wrong, I want him to own up to his misdeeds. For example, when Declan hurls something on the ground, I want him to help clean up, not blame his actions on the liberal press or say that Bill Clinton threw even more spaghetti on the ground.
6. Don’t brag
Trump spends a lot of time bragging about all the amazing things he’s accomplished, yet the more he brags, the less impressive he seems, which is a good lesson for my baby and everyone else's. For example, my son could be incredibly arrogant about being, objectively, the cutest baby ever to live, but he's too modest for that. Donald Trump, who isn’t remotely as cute as my son, could learn a lesson from that.
It’s super-easy to form your #squad (that’s what they call it these days, right? Hashtag?) around parents who have kids the same age as yours — you share the ups and downs of preschool or hockey class or hapkido or whatever your kids are into. But all moms should make an effort to have regular encounters with moms of kids older than their own. Sure, your kids might have completely different tastes and dramas, not to mention clothing sizes, but there is a lot to learn from moms of older kids.
1. They will let you know what’s in store
I’m fascinated to hear from my friends whose middle school-aged boys do things like run around the neighborhood without supervision and possess their own smartphone. And I like learning what each of their philosophies and house rules are. For example, one mom told me that they maintain a “no secrets” policy in their house regarding the phone, and so she feels comfortable checking in on her son’s phone every now and then. I hope by the time my kids get to be that age, I’ve listened to enough policies and takes that I might have an idea of what type of future house laws we will want to enact that will be fair and realistic.
Our older son is 4 and sometimes a bit of a drama king. When we “make a fight” as he says, it’s exhausting and dispiriting. It’s always hard, with the first child especially, to imagine the future when the present can seem so intense and sometimes stressful. But women of older kids are living, breathing — even smiling and laughing — proof that apparently, you can get through your children’s lives and even emerge not looking like Large Marge from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.
3. They make you appreciate your little buddy
I try not to get too bogged down in mourning my children growing up. It is a privilege to have children who grow and thrive and I do not want to pin my whole life on their early years, only to feel empty when they are gone. But still, when I see the big kids that little kids turn into, I would be a fool not to be reminded to cherish this time when my children are uninhibited enough to run around naked, hug stuffed animals and to believe that my husband and I have any idea what we are doing.
4. They’re creating a community
It’s important to society in general that we get out of our proverbial lanes and take the time to speak with people who know more than we do, as well as those less experienced than we are. It wouldn’t be terribly helpful or healthy to only observe life as a parent or otherwise exclusively from our own place in time. When you make friends with a mom whose kids are older than yours, she’s letting you in on her knowledge, which ideally will set a pattern for moms to learn from other moms and to help one another out.
Luna, daughter of model Chrissy Teigen and Grammy winner John Legend, is no stranger to the camera, even at just 6 months old. And with Halloween right around the corner, it's no surprise that Teigen has not one, not two, but four costume options for her little girl, giving us inspo for our own costumes — and maybe a little baby fever.
1. Luna as a hot dog
Luna 1
Luna 1
While her facial expression says, "ugh, Mom, why me," I don't think we've ever seen a hot dog that we actually want to eat up as much as this little cutie. I mean, just look at those cheeks!
Luna looks cuter in this three-piece peacock costume than we ever would, even after following a peacock makeup tutorial on YouTube for an hour and a half.
Teigen's love of food is well documented on her Instagram and Snapchat accounts and in her Cravings cookbook, so obviously she had to throw two food costumes in there. Bananas are a classic Halloween getup, and it's nice to know she and Luna appreciate the same costume we wore two years in a row during college.
We think any of these costumes work for little Luna, and even if we are too old to trick-or-treat, these pictures of Teigen and Legend's daughter are enough of a treat to look at.
Which one of Luna's Halloween costumes is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Chandler Massey is one of Days of Our Lives' most beloved cast members in recent history. When he left in 2013 to return to school and pursue other acting opportunities, fans were heartbroken.
There’s a bit of a challenge in Massey returning because when Guy Wilson took over the role, the character of Will Horton was killed by the Necktie Killer in 2015. How do you bring Massey back for a cameo or as a contract player?
Well, we all know no one is ever really dead on daytime television. If DOOL writers want to bring Massey back, they will find a way. And if Sweeney is returning to the fold for an appearance, it’s possible that he could too.
Sweeney was vocal about DOOL writers killing off the character. She told TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan in June that she would “certainly consider” coming back to DOOL if her on-screen son returned from the dead.
“I can neither confirm nor deny that my former client and good friend, three-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning actor Chandler Massey will be returning to his role of Will Horton on Days of our Lives later this year,” Ballard wrote. “I guess you will all have to keep watching!”
Could all of the pieces be falling into place with the recent clues floating around the internet? Massey has several projects currently in post-production, but he isn’t tied to anything that might keep him away from returning to DOOL.
Let’s hope this is a positive sign Massey is stepping back into the daytime-TV fold.
Would you be happy if Massey was back on DOOL? Let us know in the comments below!
