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It's official — Chicago P.D.'s Burgess is finally getting a promotion

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It's only taken four seasons, but Burgess is finally getting a much-needed, much-deserved promotion on Chicago P.D.

More: Next time a real creep won't leave you alone, refer to Sophia Bush's letter

On Wednesday's episode, Burgess approached Voight and again voiced her interest in joining his Intelligence team. Now that Antonio is leaving P.D. for Chicago Justice, this would be the perfect opportunity for her to do so. If viewers thought that was only a tease and it will never happen, break out the bubbly to celebrate, because it's definitely happening.

While chatting with reporters at NBC's One Chicago Day event, executive producer Matt Olmstead said, "That’s one of the things we’re dealing with in the fall finale," about Burgess officially working her way up the ladder. "In [Episode] 8, the fall finale, we have this kind of double move where Antonio’s going to Justice, there’s a spot open, and that’s when Voight basically says, ‘Welcome aboard.’ So, she is going to be moving up to Intelligence."

It's about time, right? Not only is Burgess fantastic at her job, but she's been working hard on patrol and knows what it takes to be a successful police officer. Plus, she's an all-around badass. You know what else this means? Lindsay won't be the only woman in Intelligence anymore, which also means more Lingess. Voight's task force has been way too male-oriented for so long, it'll be nice to see another woman showing the men how it's done.

More: Sophia Bush loves Amy Schumer so much, she went topless for her (PHOTO)

Lindsay and Burgess
Image: Tumblr

Who knows whether Burgess' promotion means she will get back together with Ruzek or whether it'll just be awkward, but Marina Squerciati is happy she gets to play a single Burgess. "I think for some people it’s important because they want to see a woman not talking about a man all the time," Squerciati told reporters at the One Chicago Day about playing Burgess without a man in her life.

"You know, just being a whole person without a man, and I think that’s great and I think it’s important. I do like working with [Patrick John Fleuger, aka Ruzek] just as an actor, and I do like the Burzek story lines, so I do miss that," she said. "Also, with Atwater being best friends with both characters, there’s something fun to play. I like being established without him, but I’d like, to be honest, to go back a little."

Chicago P.D. airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on NBC.

More: Sophia Bush on starting a new chapter and distrusting other women

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

One Tree Hill slideshow
Image: sophiabush/Instagram

Bill Cosby's new defense will only work if the legal system fails us

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We just can't with Bill Cosby's newest defense.

More: The speculation can stop — Bill Cosby admitted to drugging teens for sex

His lawyers just submitted a brief in Cosby's sexual assault case, claiming that because he's "legally blind" and his memory has "substantially declined," he faces hardships in building a case to prove his innocence.

"How can a 79-year-old blind man defend himself against a claim that he sexually assaulted someone he supposedly met once, half a century ago?" the brief reads. "The answer is simple: He cannot, and the Commonwealth knows he cannot… Without his eyesight, Mr. Cosby cannot even determine whether he has ever even seen some of his accusers, let alone develop defenses and gather exculpatory evidence. Moreover, Mr. Cosby’s memory has substantially declined in the last decade."

More: Bill Cosby TV appearances that made everyone uncomfortable (VIDEO)

Although Cosby faces sexual assault allegations from more than 50 women, he only faces charges related to one of them. The district attorney in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, charged Cosby with three counts of indecent aggravated assault nearly a year ago in relation to claims made by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand that Cosby drugged and raped her in 2004.

Cosby's attorneys argue that the case should be dismissed because so much time passed before he was arrested. However, Constand actually came forward soon after the alleged rape, but prosecutors at the time declined to charge Cosby. It wasn't until dozens of women came forward years later to accuse Cosby of sexual assault and rape that the case was reopened.

More: Someone hug Judge McHugh — she's sending Bill Cosby's rape case to trial

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

Britney Spears
Image: WENN

10 funniest tweets from parents this week

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When you're a parent, sometimes you just need a good laugh. Enter Twitter. From tales of bad eyebrows to arguments about which day it is, these 10 hilarious tweets from moms and dads will have you rolling on the floor and thanking the good Lord that you're not alone on this crazy ride.

Here are this week's best parenting tweets.

1. Seems accurate

accurate

accurate

2. We all make sacrifices

sacrifices

sacrifices

3. Stay strong, ladies

official ribbon

official ribbon

More: These cute girl names will make you wish you were having twins (OK, almost)

4. Get on that, Dad

hoa notice

hoa notice

5. Consequences

no tv

no tv

6. #Truth

not a real parent

not a real parent

More: Co-sleeping mothers are lying about sleeping with their babies

7. Sometimes you've just gotta walk away

day of the week

day of the week

8. Hard to pick

lobotomy

lobotomy

9. Thanks, kids!

playing in the yard

playing in the yard

More: High heels, wigs and other ridiculous items you should never buy your baby

10. The ultimate sanity-saver

kids alcoholics

kids alcoholics

Dermatologist tips to keep Halloween from effing up your hair and skin

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Whether you choose to dress up as Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, or even your favorite emoji, there's a good chance your costume will require you to experiment with products that might wreak havoc on your skin and hair. I turned to three leading dermatologic surgeons — New York City-based Dr. Sejal Shah and Dr. Jessica Krant, and Omaha-based Dr. Joel Schlessinger — for tips on what to look for in Halloween makeup and hair color. They also dished on how to prevent a post-Halloween breakout, which products are safe for sensitive skin, and how to detox your skin after an indulgent night out.

1. No matter what, wash makeup off before bed

"By far, the biggest mistake people make is not taking their Halloween makeup off before going to bed," explains Dr. Schlessinger. This can lead to clogged pores, irritation, breakouts, and infections. Make sure to check the packaging to verify whether there are special instructions for removal.

It's important to know what kind of makeup you're wearing. Water-based makeup is generally a lot less stubborn than oil or grease-based formulas. Whatever you opt for, never use harsh scrubbing motions on skin. Your regular makeup remover should wipe clean most Halloween makeup.

Once the bulk of makeup is removed, follow up with a second cleanser to eliminate any pore-clogging residue.

More: The latest lip plumping trend requires surgery

2. Just say no to last tear's makeup

Makeup generally expires within a year, especially if it contains low-quality ingredients. "Not only will you not get the best results, year-old makeup could be harboring bacteria, fungi or even staph, all known causes of potentially dangerous skin infections," explains Dr. Schlessinger.

3. Choose costume makeup wisely

Costume makeup isn't formulated with skin health in mind. This type of makeup often contains artificial dyes, fragrances, waxes and oils, all of which can clog pores, cause breakouts and irritate skin. Low-quality Halloween makeup can even contain ingredients that aren't approved by the FDA, such as certain fluorescent dyes. They may also contain chromium, nickel, cobalt or lead, four known skin irritants.

If costume makeup is a must, Dr. Schlessinger recommends looking for oil-free, alcohol-free cosmetics with a water base. "Ointment-based makeup is much more likely to clog pores," he explains. "You'll also want to do a patch test on your neck or the underside of your arm with any new formulas to be sure your skin can tolerate them."

If you have sensitive skin, it's better to skip costume makeup altogether and stick to the same makeup you use every day. Eye shadows, bronzers and blushes can play double-duty to create bruises and other creative effects on the skin.

More: Does insurance actually cover cosmetic surgery?

4. Halloween hair: Opt for a wig

"A wig is a far better option than any type of hair color because it's mess-free, contains non-toxic ingredients and doesn't require any extra shampooing," Dr. Schlessinger said. The colorful hair sprays available during the Halloween season are typically very low-quality, contain harsh chemicals and can be highly flammable.

Test any synthetic material you're wearing on your scalp or skin first. Similar to makeup, wigs and other fabrics can irritate. "Masks may contain paints with heavy metals like lead or chemical plasticizers that can potentially be absorbed by the skin," Dr. Shah said. With anything — makeup, fabrics, masks, wigs — it's best to test it on the skin before leaving it on for long periods of time.

5. Wash out temporary color ASAP

Temporary colors can take a toll on your strands. Halloween hair color has the tendency to stick to the ends of hair because those ends are the most porous, points out Dr. Schlessinger. It can also stain sensitive skin on the scalp and depending on the formula and your hair type and color, it could take two to three washes before color is completely removed.

The less time the color is in your hair, the easier it will be to wash out. Save this step for right before you walk out the door and plan on washing your hair as soon as you get home.

When it comes time to remove Halloween hair color, choose a mild, clarifying shampoo. Don't forget to lather, rinse, and repeat until the water runs clear. To restore lost moisture, he recommends a rich conditioner and a moisturizing, reparative mask like Peter Lamas Youth Revival 5 Oil Hair Treatment Mask.

6. Beware of sugar

"It's finally becoming clear within nutritional science that sugar is a bad actor," Dr. Krant said. Sugar is proinflammatory, which can lead to long-term stress on blood vessels and organs, but can even cause short-term stress on the skin.

According to Dr. Krant, inflammation can lead to breakouts, flares of rosacea and even dandruff.

"It's hard to say how much candy you'd have to eat in a single night to notice a difference the next day, but since Halloween can come along with a few weeks of eating more candy than usual, it's worth a mention," she said.

Once that sugar is in your system, it's not easy to prevent your body's natural reaction. Dr. Krant suggests drinking a few glasses of water before you go to sleep to help dilute and flush the sugar out of your body.

7. Go easy on the booze

"Drinking alcohol causes dehydration overnight and into the next day, which can lead to an increase in dullness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," Dr. Krant said. It can even be associated with more rashes and breakouts.

To avoid or minimize alcohol-induced skin issues, limit the number of drinks you have and choose drinks with less sugar. Dr. Krant suggests mixing alcohol with club soda and a lemon twist rather than tonic water or cola.

When it comes to wine, Dr. Schlessinger recommends opting for red. Skip the white, which has more fructose.

More: 6 Big mistakes you’re making when trying to better yourself

A return to GH isn't totally out of the question for Kimberly McCullough

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One of the most exciting returns on General Hospital is when Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough) stops by Port Charles. Her latest visit began on Thursday, Oct. 27 with a short arc revolving around Morgan Corinthos' (Bryan Craig) funeral.

More: Soap fans hate product placements, but General Hospital doesn’t care

Whenever McCullough makes a cameo on GH, fans welcome her back with open arms. It always begs the question: Would McCullough ever return to the ABC soap full-time?

SoapHub.com recently conducted a poll about her character and GH fans want more McCullough on their TV screens. But since her departure from a full-time role on the show in 2012, McCullough has been successfully pursuing a career behind the camera.

More: General Hospital's Kimberly McCullough writes emotional blog about miscarriage

Besides attending New York University's film program, she was also a part of ABC and the Director’s Guild of America’s Creative Talent Program, which is an organization that is “instrumental in identifying and developing creative talent with multicultural voices and perspectives.”

She’s been a huge part of the ABC fold directing episodes of Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars and Disney Channel’s Shake It Up! and K.C. Undercover. Why doesn’t ABC Daytime give her an opportunity to direct episodes of GH?

More: Soap operas constantly tackle social issues — and often before other TV shows

If McCullough took on a role like this on GH, it could be huge. She has the experience with the cast and crew, she understands her role as a legacy character on GH and she has perspective on what the daytime audience is looking for in a soap.

In addition to her directing skills, McCullough is also a talented writer. We think her multifaceted career makes her a perfect fit to join the GH team in a larger capacity.

It makes you wonder if the ABC Daytime has looked at the talent that’s right under their nose. Have they even given it a thought?

Would you like to see Kimberly McCullough directing episodes of General Hospital?

Here's what you should know before asking your partner to get a vasectomy

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You and your partner are raising a happy house filled with children, and the idea of getting pregnant again doesn't make fiscal sense right now. Or maybe your sex life is off-the-charts hot and you can't imagine how your explosive bedroom behavior isn't going to result in two blue lines one of these days — even though you're using condoms and birth control pills because you are determinedly child-free. Whatever your reason for exploring one of the most no-nonsense contraceptive procedures of them all — we're talking vasectomy — there are a few facts you need to know before booking your husband or boyfriend's doctor's appointment and then surprising him over breakfast (kidding).

Although there is still research being done on male birth control pills, a vasectomy is the most common and scientifically proven male sterilization procedure, with about 500,000 being performed in the United States each year, according to Dr. Philip Werthman, urologist and director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Vasectomy Reversal in Los Angeles. But just as there is more than one women's birth control pill on the market, Werthman says all vasectomies are not the same and all vasectomy doctors are not the same.

More: Doctor offers vasectomy special to give men PTO during March Madness

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that blocks both sperm ducts, which are called the vas deferens. Naturally, few men want to imagine a scalpel within 10 feet of their penises or testicles, which is why it's important to debunk the first vasectomy myth: Not all procedures require a scalpel or even a needle. Using local anesthesia (which is pressure-injected through the skin and the vas and not the testicle), Werthman says no cut is made and no stitches are necessary. The procedure is performed through a small perforation, takes about 10 minutes to complete and men are encouraged to recover by staying off their feet for 24 hours and not ejaculating, engaging in heavy-lifting, swimming, bathing or playing golf for one week.

Now, here's where things get tricky. The act of blocking the sperm ducts doesn't automatically make a man infertile. You can still get pregnant — even three months after a vasectomy — and following up with a doctor after the procedure is a must.

"Sperm live in the reproductive tract upstream from where the vasectomy is performed and it can take from six weeks to three months for these sperm to be flushed out of the system or die off," Werthman says. "We recommend that you have a minimum of two semen analyses starting around six weeks after the vasectomy or after 20 ejaculations. You must have two consecutive semen analyses that show no sperm in order to be considered sterile and you must use some form of birth control until that time."

You've probably heard about a vasectomy reversal, called a vasovasostomy, and maybe even thought: Great! If we ever want more kids, we'll just head right over to the doctor's office again. No big deal. Well, yes and no. A vasectomy reversal is an outpatient procedure that restores the free flow of sperm, and it's one that Werthman says is highly successful when performed by an experienced male infertility microsurgeon. But it's important that you choose your specialist with great care.

"Unfortunately, other doctors without these special skills will often attempt to perform the surgery themselves, rather than referring the patient to a male infertility specialist," Werthman says. "To have your best chance for success, you should see a specialist."

The closer your partner is to the time of his vasectomy, the easier it will be for a surgeon to reverse it, though Werthman says in hands of a skilled microsurgical specialist who is experienced in vasectomy reversal, even men who have waited 15 years and longer since their vasectomies can enjoy a complete reversal and fatherhood.

If you're worried about your chances of getting pregnant in the future, Werthman says some men choose to have their sperm frozen and stored just in case they change their minds and want more children in the future. "Having frozen sperm would mean that they would not necessarily need a vasectomy reversal or have to do in-vitro fertilization, both of which can be costly," he says.

More: A vasectomy is your husband's payback for childbirth

And, as with any medical procedure, there are risks to keep in mind before getting a vasectomy.

Complications are rare when a no-scalpel vasectomy is performed, Werthman says, but can include pain, bleeding, swelling or infection, failure of the procedure, sperm granuloma formation, injury to the blood supply of the testicle resulting in the testicle getting smaller (atrophy) and chronic testicular or epididymal pain (post-vasectomy pain syndrome).

The more we can understand all aspects of procedures like vasectomies, the better our chances of choosing the right contraceptive method for ourselves and our partner.

The 8 best highlighters that will make you glow, not sparkle

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There are personal staples in everyone’s (beauty) bag of tricks. Some swear by mascara; others refuse to leave home without a red lip or the perfectly arched brow. If you’re all about skin, however, you might want to consider adding the best highlighters known to man to your arsenal.

More: 101 Tips for Getting the Clearest Skin of Your Life

If you’re an expert at the art of Kardashian-style contour, you’re already familiar with highlighter makeup’s magical properties, but if you live in fear of looking like you fell face first into tub of glitter, relax. These highlighters are subtle and radiant, like the best kind of real-life Instagram filter. Promise. So sit back, relax and scroll through this roundup of the best highlighters on the market, and get ready to glow.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators

Anastasia Beverly Hills Illuminators
Image: Anastasia Beverly Hills

No matter how you feel about the Kardashians, you have to admit that their makeup game is pretty unparalleled: those girls glow. They've got this very special highlighter to thank—each of the shades imparts a ridiculously luminous finish that shines without any sparkle. No wonder they're constantly selling out. (Anastasia Beverly Hills $28)

2. BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed
Image: Becca Cosmetics

The liquid version of this silky powder is the stuff of legends, but we prefer the "pressed" take on it—so much less mess, and fewer opportunities to waste product. They have an almost creamy bounce to them, and they reflect light like nothing else we've ever tried. (Becca Cosmetics $38)

3. Kevyn Aucoin 'The Celestial Powder' in Candlelight ($44)

Kevyn Aucoin 'The Celestial Powder' in Candlelight
Image: Nordstrom

You can use this in the same old places you’d put highlighter—cheekbones, brow bone, temples—or you could branch out and try a hint of this shimmery, apricot-colored powder on your collarbone or shoulders. The glow it casts is so lovely that we’d hardly want to restrain it to just the face. The possibilities here are endless. (Nordstrom $44)

4. NARS The Multiple in Copacabana

NARS The Multiple in Copacabana
Image: Nars Cosmetics

This is the shade that works for every fair complexion. This product wins awards for good reason—it’s the gold (or "shimmering pearl") standard for a multitasker. Use it on your cheekbones for a supernatural glow, blend it into your lids for a subtle pick-me-up, or dab it on your temples and blend well. (NARS Cosmetics $39)

5. Benefit Watt's Up! Cream Highlighter

Benefit Watt's Up! Cream Highlighter
Image: Benefit Cosmetics

Packaged in a handy stick format, this highlighter is a little glitzier than the other options here. Used sparingly, it enhances golden and olive toned complexions the best, but can be used for a more dramatic look if you’re fair-skinned or have pink undertones.(Benefit Cosmetics $30)

6. Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer

Josie Maran Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer
Image: Sephora

With a distinctly golden cast and a slew of natural, good-for-you ingredients like argan and grapeseed oil, this liquid works best on olive and golden complexions. For a more subtle, all-over glow, mix a drop or two with your favorite foundation or moisturizer. To amp up the radiance, apply this anywhere on your face where the sun naturally hits.(Sephora $26)

7. RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
Image: RMS Beauty

A staple of beauty editors everywhere, this golden balm imparts the right amount of luminescence on every skin tone. Formulated with ingredients like coconut oil and rosemary extract, it feels good on the skin and blends easily for the most natural-looking glow money can buy. (RMS Beauty $38)

8. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
Image: Hourglass cosmetics

This palette features three finely-milled luminizing powders in varying shades, perfect for every skin tone. Meant to mimic the natural light of the sun right before it sets, or a candlelit room, the Hourglass palette creates a natural, lit-from-within glow that livens up any look. Brush some anywhere you’d use bronzer, and ready yourself for compliments. (Hourglass Cosmetics $62)

Originally posted on: StyleCaster.com

When little boys discover their penis: Moms spill the hilarious tales

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I remember it like it was yesterday. My family was sitting in a church pew while the entire congregation had their heads bowed in prayer. In the celestial silence I heard my 2-year-old son scream.

“Mom! My penis is really big!”

He was standing on the seat beside me, pointing to his newfound erection, and I couldn’t help but laugh. So did everyone else sitting within earshot of our family. Sacrilegious or not, it was hilarious.

Any parent can attest that when a little boy discovers he has a penis, all social norms go out the door. They will grab, pull and point out their private parts in public with the greatest of enthusiasm. (They also tend to be completely confused when you explain that not everyone has one.)

For every mom who wonders if her son is the only one obsessed with his genitalia, never fear. These 10 hilarious stories prove every boy is the king of his own penis party.

Marking his territory

A mom of three shared that her youngest son, just a tad over 2, had recently discovered the joys of being a nudist — along with his ability to water the plants with his penis. She’d just dressed her little one and turned around to talk to me, when he peeled off his clothes and started urinating on the front lawn. “Stop it!” she yelled. His response: “But Mom, I want to pee on everything!”

Band-Aid emergency

One mom of two recalled how her 3-year-old, wanting to decorate his penis, wrapped a Jake and the Neverland Pirates Band-Aid around it. She was completely freaked out, which caused him to also panic. Upset, she called her husband, who had absolutely no chill either. She finally calmed down and realized warm, soapy water would solve their sticky problem quickly and painlessly (even though her husband was already on his way home to save his son’s manhood).

No shame in his yanking game

A first-time mommy diligently taught her then-1-year-old the correct terminology for his body, including his boy parts. She remembers the first time he used the proper word for his genitalia while sitting in the tub, pulling and stretching himself so vigorously she worried he might seriously do some damage. All fears were cast aside when her son announced, "Mommy! My penis feels great!"

Private dancer

A mom of two remembered the time her young son thought his penis was doing performance art. “He stared at his penis and proudly told me, ‘Look, Ma! He's dancin’!’”

Peekaboo penis

An aunt and mother shared the time she heard her nephew refer to his privates as a ballpark favorite. “He said his ‘hot dog’ hides in the bath when the water gets cold. My sister and brother-in-law have no idea where that came from!”

Not on the train, son

A mother of a now fully grown, adult son laughed while sharing her fond memory of his public masturbation on an Amtrak train. “We were headed to San Diego, and I had to tell my son, who was wrist-deep in his own shorts, [that] that sort of thing is totally OK in the privacy of his own bedroom but isn’t appropriate for public display.”

Missing equipment

One mom realized her son thought everyone had a penis — or at least needed one. “When our daughter was born, her older brother inquired about why she didn't have a penis. When we told him she didn't have one, he said, ‘That's OK, she'll grow one when she gets bigger.’”

Sibling rivalry

A mother of two adult sons shared her eldest son’s humorous misunderstanding about peeing on the floor. “When my second son was born in my mother's spacious bathroom, I sat on the heated tile floor, holding him in my arms. We were surrounded by friends and family who cheered as my newborn peed a nice arc in the air. The next morning, my 3-year-old stood and peed on the living room floor. He seemed bewildered by the lack of comparable enthusiasm by those same adults seated nearby!”

Peeing out of your butt

One 3-year-old asked his mom why girls peed out of their butts instead of their dinkles. "He was so confused!" she recalls.

The incredible growing penis

Imagine hearing your son scream, "Mom, it's growing, it’s growing!" from behind the shower curtain. One mom rushed to see what the commotion was about and found her son standing up with his penis in his hands, with a look of complete shock.

Clearly boys begin their fascination with their penises from an early age, and from what I've gathered now that my sons are nearly 16 and 18, that excitement about their genitals never fades away.


It sucks dining alone, but please don't spend the whole time on your phone

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As a travel writer we often get sent on assignments alone, so sitting in a fine dining restaurant and ordering delicious plates of food on my own has been something that I've had to come to terms with. Recently I was sitting alone at my table admiring the wine and looking out at the most incredible view. The sun was setting, and the sky was transforming from yellow, to orange with hints of blue and purple. Alone at a mountain luxury escape with a beautiful lake and trees and mountains surrounding me, I was so relaxed that even dining alone was not going to phase me.

However, on this night I noticed another solo dining woman... who talked on her cell phone through the entire meal.

More: 4 ways I justify my luxurious solo trips

I was at one end of the restaurant, and she was at the other, and I could hear her laughing and talking the whole time. The waitress would go by to check on her, and she would be ignored as the woman continued her phone conversation while waving her off.

I wondered, Was this how she coped with dining on her own?

In our defense, the awkwardness of dining alone starts at the door of the restaurant. There is that hanging question mark in "Table for ooooone???"

Then this repeats when the waiter comes to your table and says it again. "Dining aloooone?" This question is almost always followed by the uncomfortable removal of the extra plates, cutlery or drinkware at the table.

More: 6 things that hotels do that immediately ruin my vacation

I know that I am not the perfect solo diner either. At my table, there will often be a large camera, a notebook and my phone. Eating alone is my job after all, and I have to take photos of the table, each entrée and sometimes share some posts throughout the meal on social media. I do not take pictures of other diners (unless they are blurred out in the background) and I try to do this as efficiently and quickly as possible as I know it is distracting.

Dining alone is uncomfortable at times, but this woman's loud laughter and constant talking felt like it crossed a line. Here's what we should all keep in mind when we find ourselves dining alone:

1. Don't let the staff or hosts get to you. There is absolutely no shame in eating a meal alone. Own it, be proud of it and know that there are thousands of people on business, travelling alone, or who just want to go out and enjoy a good meal.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for a window or a table with a view. Just because you are dining alone doesn't mean you have to sit hidden in the corner of the restaurant.

3. Stop and enjoy your surroundings. Don't be afraid to look around and take it all in. It may just lead to some chit chat with a nearby table, and if they know the restaurant, you may just get some great meal recommendations.

4. Bring a distraction but don't be a distraction.A tablet, book, notebook or phone can all provide something to do in between courses. Remember to turn devices to silent and try not to disturb the people around you.

It took my husband going out of town to realize I was a really good mom

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"They only throw up when you’re gone," I tell my husband. At this point, I should leave bowls at the side of my children's beds just in case because it never fails that someone will end up vomiting while dad is away. The most serious illnesses our three kids have ever experienced have all happened while he was gone on business.

But as much as I hate the fact that my husband has to travel for work, leaving me in charge of our three rambunctious young (and all too often sick) children, I have to admit, I’m a stronger mother when my husband is gone.

More: 4 Things that scare moms a hell of a lot more than pedophiles

When he took a job that required him to travel frequently, right before the birth of our third child, I was understandably nervous. I couldn't imagine being left alone with three kids under the age of five, fending for myself day-in and day-out, since my family lives in another state. I felt like I was prepping for the end of the world as he set off on his first international business trip — stocking my freezer with frozen microwaveable meals and writing out our schedule but still feeling like I must be forgetting at least a hundred things.

Then mere hours after he left, my oldest started throwing up. By nightfall, his brother and sister were throwing up too. It was the first time all three of them had been sick at the same time. I took my daughter’s vomit-covered comforter outside to rinse it with the garden hose and recoiled at the sight of the black widow blocking my way. It was early in the night, and I was already spent. I broke down in tears on the back stoop.

Normally, I would have checked the clock, started counting down the minutes until my husband would return and continued wallowing in pity. But his return was not on the horizon. Not for days. So, I sucked it up and went back inside, tending to my sick children. I ran laundry all through the night and we still ran out of sheets. But I kept going, because I had no other choice. The baby was vomiting in the bathtub at 3 a.m. on the third night of illness, and I remember thinking to myself, "at least now I know I could survive the apocalypse."

More: Neighbors called the cops on these parents for their unusual punishment

Even though I was exhausted beyond belief, a sort of calm washed over me. I realized the other two had stopped throwing up. The worst was over. I had survived this on my own.

By the time my husband returned home, everyone was well again. While I resented that he didn’t have to deal with the hell I had been too, I was secretly glad for the experience now that it was behind me. The hardest moments of parenting alone had also been the most liberating. I never would have known the sort of strength and grit that lay dormant inside me until I was pushed to my limits.

When my husband is home, I am allowed to fall apart. I don't have to be strong every second of every day, because I know my solo shift will end, and I'll have the emotional and physical support I'm so desperate for. I'm grateful I don't have to be at my best all the time, but I'm glad the harder moments of parenting have shown me what my best looks like.

My children still often throw up when my husband is gone on business trips, but after a year of getting used to part-time solo parenting, I feel like dealing with catastrophic illness on my own has become second nature.

More: These dangerous car seat mistakes can happen to any parent

I feel like a warrior when my husband is away. Knowing what I have survived before makes me confident that I will continue to survive and even thrive during my time parenting alone, because I have been shown time and again just how tough of a mother I am.

Dear son, please don't think all elections are like this

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My son is 13 years old, and the current election will likely be the first one he remembers into adulthood. There are therefore a few things I want to make sure he understands.

Dear Son:

Not all elections are like this. Most of the time, despite impassioned debates and even negative campaigning, candidates have not descended to the level of name-calling and overt racism and sexism of Donald Trump. Our democratic process allows for multiple voices and opinions, but our country’s values urge respect.

Bullying and name-calling are wrong. Trump’s speeches and tweets include frequent use of “dumb,” “dopey,” and other insults. If I hear you using such words in public about people, you’re going to spend a long time banned from your video games. If you ever use the word “deplorable,” as Hillary Clinton did when referring to half of Trump’s supporters, apply it to a specific action by someone, rather than to the person themselves or a group of which they are part. If you slip up here, apologize as she did.

More: My boss has a Donald Trump personality, and I don't know how to defend him

Racism is wrong and still exists. Although Barack Obama is the only president you remember, his achievement does not mean all is good for people of color in our country. Neither is it all bad, despite Trump’s conflation that Black communities are all impoverished and crime-ridden inner cities. Trump’s view of races, religions, and ethnicities other than his own is a skewed one. The vast majority of Mexican immigrants are not criminals, drug dealers or rapists. Muslim citizens have died defending our country, and not all Muslim women cower behind their husbands. Not all people of a certain race act or think the same way, and it is wrong to talk about “the Blacks” or other groups as if they do. Do not tokenize your friends of color as Donald Trump did at a rally, saying of one attendee, “Look at my African American over here.”

Women are not objects for your pleasure. You are entering the age range when you might start dating, and you seem to be straight, so this is important. I know talking with your moms about dating makes you squirm, but hear me out. (Trust me, I feel weird, too, thinking about the boy whose diaper I changed being old enough to date.) Any girl (or later, woman) you touch must first consent to be touched. If you ask and she says no, then don’t. If she is drunk, high, asleep or otherwise incapacitated, then don’t. Don’t, regardless of your physical size or any celebrity you may achieve. With power and privilege comes responsibility. And if you see one of your friends trying to kiss or touch someone without permission, stop them.

More: It's worth being brave and talking to your family about politics

You often hint at the sometimes off-color lunchtime conversations you have with your friends. I don’t pry too much; I’ve been rolling my eyes at fart jokes since you were much younger. Know this, however: There is a boundary even to lunch table and locker room conversations, a line of human decency that should not be crossed. Donald Trump crossed it. I trust you to know better.

Women should not be judged solely on their looks. Know that there are many standards of beauty. Trump has denigrated the appearance of many women, from former Miss Universe Alicia Machado to comedian Rosie O’Donnell, and even suggested former Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina was so unattractive no one would vote for her. We each have our own standards for what we find personally attractive, but we shouldn’t belittle anyone for their looks or confuse appearance and competence.

Women can be leaders. You have perhaps had a leg up here, being the son of two moms who have tried to set good feminist examples for you. You told me the other day that some male classmates said they supported Trump because they didn’t want a “girl” to lead the country. I was gratified you were shocked by this. We are better as a country — and as a global society — if we don’t discount the leadership potential of half the people in it. I also suspect that attitude may serve you well in your personal relationships with women other than just your moms.

Remember your own roots. You are the great-grandson of immigrants on both sides of your family. On my side, you are Jewish, part of a people who have suffered persecution and ridicule and who were framed as an inferior race by Hitler. Think of those things every time someone makes blanket statements about immigrants or people of a certain faith, race or culture.

We are stronger together. Hillary Clinton’s campaign slogan hearkens back to what the founders of our country knew when they declared our motto E pluribus unum. Throughout your life, whether in the classroom, workplace or neighborhood, welcome and seek out people of various identities, experiences and skills as friends, colleagues and partners. Know that almost any human endeavor benefits from the support and assistance of others.

More: What women still need to hear from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

When they go low, we go high. These words from First Lady Michelle Obama are one of the true gifts of this campaign. Not everyone in your life will be nice to you. Stand up for yourself, but don’t stoop to their level or your behavior is no better than theirs.

Bluster and bullying will only get you so far. This, I hope, will be the final lesson of the campaign — along with a reminder of how important it is to vote.

Dana Rudolph writes at Mombian: Sustenance for Lesbian Moms.

Originally posted on BlogHer.

A guide to makeup brushes: Every kind you need and how to use them

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There is a unique terror attached to attempting to seek out just the right makeup brush in a world of so very, very many. This is understandable — sure, you can tell what brushes are for, but determining the correct ways to use them is a different story entirely.

Brushes for your face, brushes for your eyes, brushes for your brows: They’re all out there, and they’re all pretty much essential for getting your makeup on just right. So, as a public service, we’ve rounded up a guide to makeup brushes you’ll want to get your hands on post haste. (And, of course, how to use all 18 of ’em.)

More: 11 Cheap Makeup Brushes to Buy ASAP

1. Fan brush

Fan Brush
Image: Elf Cosmetics

The unassuming fan brush has several key purposes: You can use it to sweep on blush, blend other makeup, clean up excess powder, and brush a light layer of highlighter along the cheekbones. (e.l.f. Fan Brush, $2)

2. Brow brush

Brow brush
Image: Ulta

Necessary for filling in your brows with powder — a good brow brush should be angled so that you can tackle even the thin tail-ends. (Japonesque Pro Angled Brow Definer Brush, $14)

3. Powder brush

Powder blush
Image: Drugstore.com

The most ubiquitous of all brushes, the powder brush should be in every makeup collection—use it to apply any type of powder product. (Real Techniques by Sam & Nic Chapman Powder Brush, $7.99)

4. Eye blending brush

Eye blending brush
Image: BobbiBrown Cosmetics

The name is a dead giveaway: This brush is a must-have for blending eyeshadow into your lids. (Bobbi Brown Eye Blender Brush, $34)

5. Lip brush

Lip Brush
Image: Charlotte Tilbury

Use the tiny squared-off tip of a lip brush to get a crisp, defined line of color. (Charlotte Tilbury Lip Brush, $26)

6. Kabuki brush

Kabuki brush
Image: bareMineral

With its wide rounded bristles and super soft feel, the kabuki is perfect for applying everything from loose powders to bronzer and highlighter. (bareMinerals Full Coverage Kabuki Brush, $28)

 7. Angled eye brush

Angled eye brush
Image: Target

Use a small angled eye brush with gel liner or powder shadows to get a perfectly defined eye look. (Target  $5)

8. Eyeshadow brush

Eyeshadow Brush
Image: Jane Iredale

The tapered but soft bristles of this brush make it perfect for precise shadow application. (Jane Iredale $20)

9. Angled face brush

Angled face brush
Image: Ulta

The easiest way to add definition to your face—just sweep on some bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks using a fluffy angled brush. Perfect for applying blush or highlighter, too. (Ulta $26)

10. Concealer brush

Concealer brush
Image: Nordstrom

Firm, narrow, and tapered at the end, concealer brushes are the best way to put concealer exactly where it needs to go. (Nordstrom $25)

11. Smudge brush

Smudge brush
Image: Nordstrom

Score a smokey eye with a soft-bristled smudge brush. (Nordstrom, $24)

12. Brow brush and comb

Brow Brush and Comb
Image: Sephora

You can use this multipurpose tool for grooming both your lashes and brows—comb through your lashes to get mascara clumps out, and use the brush to perfect your brows. (Sephora, $15)

13. Blending sponge

Blending Sponge
Image: Beautyblender

Not technically a brush, but an essential tool nonetheless. Perfect for using with liquid foundations, concealers, and pretty much anything, it leaves skin with a smooth, flawless finish. (beautyblender, $20)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.com

Your dog's not misbehaving – she's talking to ghosts

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Did you know that animals can see dead people?

They do. More than most humans, pets are very aware of the spirit world. They sense energy, extra sensory phenomenon and other worldly beings.

I often encounter an animal that is having a problem with ghosts in my work as a professional animal communicator (pet psychic). Sometimes they tell me the ghost is unhappy, afraid, unsettled, lost and lonely. They just need a little help to find their way home.

Sometimes the animal is worried and scared because the ghost is angry, vengeful and seeking retribution for what happened to them. Those hauntings are the hardest to find closure with because the ghost has to accept the truth about what happened to them, forgive and let go before they can go on. Other times they are happy and content, peacefully watching out for their loved ones until they are ready to cross over completely into the next life.

More: Do our pets get angry at us? We asked a pet psychic to find out

Cassie is a wonderful border collie dog I visited who was behaving very oddly. She and her human mom, JoAnne, had just moved to an old farmhouse in a new city. Shortly after they got there, Cassie would bark wildly, staring fixedly at what appeared to be empty space. Nothing her mom did would calm her down. She carefully watched the ceiling and corners of the room for hours before wandering off to go do something else.

Cassie acted like she was following someone around the house and even out into the yard around the house. Sometimes she would sit down, cock her head to the side, ears straight up and listen attentively... but to what? What did she hear? What did she see? What did she know that we didn't?

Worried, JoAnne contacted me for help. Was her dog suffering a brain tumor? Going crazy? Why was she behaving that way? And even more importantly, what could be done to help her?

When I spoke with Cassie, she told me about a young girl with blonde hair who appeared in a simple grey, dirty, torn cotton dress. The ghost girl talked to the dog because only the dog could sense her presence and hear her thoughts. She had been isolated and lonely for a very long time.

More: My foul-mouthed dog is having a territorial dispute with the ghost upstairs

When I tuned into the ghost girl, I learned her name was Sarah Jane. She was born in 1885, the only girl among five boys. Her mother had died shortly after she was born. Her father was a gruff, stern alcoholic who raised his family with a strong and often brutal hand. Her father and brothers abused and beat her just for fun when the mood struck. One day she went to town for supplies and a woman approached her, asking her name. The woman was concerned about her, having heard about her situation. She encouraged Sarah Jane to have faith and to say nothing. She would be in contact as soon as she could figure out what to do.

Sarah Jane went home that day hopeful that something might change, but before she could find her freedom, she was beaten badly, and died when her head hit a log.

Her family didn't mourn her. They only found a rough spot to bury her on their property and went on about their business. There wasn't even a marker to show for her life lost.

Sarah Jane's spirit continued as a ghost. Because she had no one on the other side who could welcome her and guide her through, and because she didn't know what to expect in the afterlife, she found herself stuck on the property. For years she simply observed the people coming and going as day by day went by... until one day the nice lady and lovely dog moved into the old farm house. For the first time the dog's person paid close attention to what her dog was telling her.

More: Do dogs dream? And if so, what about?

That day as I shared Cassie and Sarah Jane's story with JoAnne, something even more extraordinary happened. In a remarkable moment of clarity and remembrance, JoAnne flashed back to a past life. She knew beyond a doubt that she was in fact the woman from the town who had been trying to help the girl. She remembered grieving, feeling sad and guilty that she and her friends had not acted quickly enough to save the girl.

JoAnne told me that she wasn't even sure why she had moved here to this place. Now that she knew the rest of the story, she realized that she had been called back to make good on her promise to help the child. With tears in her eyes, she greeted the ghost girl with love in her heart. They connected and began a deep loving conversation which I helped mediate.

For the first time, Sarah Jane felt loved and cared for. Cassie calmed down and settled peacefully, knowing everything was okay.

And when Sarah Jane was close by? Cassie would tell her mom. And all was well.

Val Heart - The Real Dr Doolittle™ & Animal Communicator to the Stars. Internationally known as an expert animal communicator, teacher, author & master healer; Founder of the Heart System for solving problems with pets, Founder of The Heart School of Animal Communication and Host of the AnimalTalkCoachingClub.com. Free eBook: Hidden Secrets to Communicating With Pets at LearnHowToTalkToAnimals.com.

Dear random man, I am not my husband's trophy

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I like to dress up, do my hair, wear make-up and paint my nails. Those are some of the rituals I do to feel pretty. I like to feel pretty.

I like when my husband, my family or my friends tell me I look nice or compliment my shirt, for instance. But I've solidified my feelings around what I don't like: Random men commenting on my appearance.

Perhaps I'm still feeling triggered by Donald Trump and all of the horrors his recorded conversation with Billy Bush has unearthed for me. I've been taking daily trips down a trauma-filled memory lane, as forgotten violations I somehow categorized as "normal" are recalled. I know I've been traversing this terrain alongside just about every woman I know. For lack of a better phrase, it has really sucked.

The male gaze has always been a big part of my life. As a young teenager, I actually used to like being cat-called. I was desperate for attention and outward validation from anyone and everyone, in any form. My opinion on this quickly changed, however, and by my late teens/early twenties, I had racked up enough unwanted physical encounters with men to cringe at cat-calls and feel fearful around men in certain situations.

More: It's worth being brave and talking to your family about politics

Now I'm in my mid-30s. Recently I was at an event with my husband and we were catching up with an old acquaintance of his that he hadn't seen in several years. Out of nowhere, the man said to my husband, "Your wife is beautiful, man. You scored, dude." Then he turned to address me directly and said, "That makes you feel good, right? Knowing I think you're pretty?"

Before my husband or I had a chance to respond, he turned again to my husband and said, "You're a lucky man. She's really hot."

The conversation quickly returned to whatever we were previously talking about, but I felt frozen, stunned into silence. I was deeply offended. Maybe some of you will think I'm overreacting or ungrateful. Maybe some will think this guy was well-intentioned and simply trying to pay me and my husband a compliment.

Not me. Not only did this man's opinion not matter to me, his comment cannot even be considered a compliment. He reduced me to an object of consumption, in this case for my husband. That is not a compliment. That's dehumanizing.

More: What women still need to hear from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

It's not a reach for me to believe that this man meant no harm. It's not a reach for me to believe he'd be shocked to learn I was offended. His intent doesn't matter. It's this type of mentality and language that plays into rape culture and toxic masculinity. Men feel empowered to comment on women's bodies and to touch women's bodies without consent or remorse. The banality of the above encounter is what upsets me most. This guy thought he'd make me feel good by letting me know he thought I was pretty. The stranger who grabbed my crotch while I was running thought he was paying me a compliment by touching me. The strangers who rubbed up against me uninvited at nightclubs thought I'd like that they wanted me.

They were wrong.

I grew up hearing my mother reject comments from family, friends and strangers about how my sisters and I looked. Statements like, "Isn't she pretty?" were met with, "She is so smart. That's what makes me most proud." At the time, I thought my mom went overboard. At the time, I craved those types of compliments. I didn't understand why she deflected against them every time.

Well, I get it now.

As a parent, I find I'm following in my mother's footsteps. I'm trying really hard to not place too much value on physical looks with my son or my daughter. Like everything with parenting, I hope to strike a balance. I want my children to feel beautiful and confident in their appearance. But more importantly, I want them to know their self-worth stretches beyond how they look and that ultimately, it's their opinion of themselves that matters most.

This piece was originally published on BlogHer.

More: Trump's comments showed me that words really do matter

7 Things no one ever tells you about baby formula

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Sorry, but that's a trick question. You've just been duped. The correct answer lies somewhere between "formula is evil" and "breast is best." Formula is not the equivalent of feeding your baby rat poison, but it's not perfect either. Breastfeeding can provide a great many health benefits, proven by science, but studies also show that many of these benefits may be overblown.

When you're trying to make this big decision between baby formula and breast milk, a decision that parenting experts and pediatricians claim will affect your baby for the rest of his life (no pressure!), it helps to know that there is only one right decision for you. Do your homework, read the research, check baby formula ingredient labels and make a choice that works best for you and your family.

More: Why diluting breast milk can be dangerous

What's missing in the "breast is best" campaign is more information on baby formula. Most moms shy away from formula feeding or even supplementing because they just don't know enough about it. Hospitals are showing their bias by offering less free baby formula to new moms than ever before. So where are you going to get this balanced information about formula feeding?

If you're a mom who has questions and needs answers to make an informed decision, this article is for you. Here's what no one is telling you — the good, the bad and the in between about baby formula.

The good

1. It may help your baby sleep

This is a classic baby formula old wives' tale that many moms still swear by: Supplement your breast milk with some baby formula (or switch altogether) and that nugget might just sleep through the night, finally. Researchers say infant irritability has been linked to breastfeeding. When scientists from the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge observed 300 3-month-old babies, they discovered that formula-fed babies cried less and were easier to put to sleep.

More: 10 Mom-approved tips to get sleep with a new baby at home

2. It could boost gut health

One of the biggest benefits of breastfeeding is how it can influence a baby's inner ecology, aka a baby's gut health, from birth. Having diverse gut bacteria can provide innumerable health benefits including stronger immunity and a reduced risk of disease. What does this have to do with baby formula, you ask? Scientists are always looking for a way to make formula better. Researchers found that this breast-milk-gut-bacteria benefit, which is absolutely essential for a healthy baby, could be used as a prototype to design better baby formula — possibly working as a pre- and probiotic to improve gut health.

The bad

3. It may contain high fructose corn syrup

Before you pluck that can of formula off the shelf, take a moment to read the label. Most moms are surprised to discover that many conventional baby formulas contain high levels of high fructose corn syrup. Dr. Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., medical advisory board member for the Nutritional Magnesium Association, says, "Many commercial baby formulas use high fructose corn syrup, instilling a sweet tooth in babies before they cut their first teeth." For more information, consult Processed-Free America's helpful guide to choosing the safest baby formula.

4. It can be hard to digest

Specialty formulas, like soy formulas recommended for babies allergic to cow's milk, can be harder on a baby's digestive system than many parents realize. "Soy formula is actually very difficult to digest and full of plant estrogens that may be unsafe for infants, especially males," explains Dr. Dean. If your baby seems fussy and constipated, consider switching to a soy-free brand or ask your doctor for hypoallergenic formula recommendations.

More: Bottle vs. breast: Does how we feed our babies really matter?

The other

5. It can sit on the teeth

Just like you brush your teeth after a hearty dinner, formula-feeding parents need to remember to wipe down a baby's mouth after a big meal, says Dr. Greg Cumberford. Dr. Cumberford, a dentist who provides free dentistry for children in a mobile bus dental program, explains that since many commercial formulas contain sugar, it's dangerous for this sweet milk to sit on a baby's teeth for too long. He advises, "What I recommend to parents is wipe the baby's teeth and gums clean with a soft wet washcloth, begin brushing your child's teeth with children's toothpaste when his or her teeth come in, floss the teeth and have regular dental checkups — the first checkup should be at 1-year-old."

6. It's gotten much better over time

Today, we conveniently mix up a bottle with a scoop of powder like it's no big deal. But this concept of "artificial feeding" with a substance other than breast milk can be traced back to ancient times. Alternative methods of bottle feeding can be found in historical text from the Roman era to the Renaissance. Way back when, people were trying to get their babies fed when breastfeeding didn't work out for one reason or another (a mother died in childbirth, for example). Far before the bottle was ever invented, terra-cotta pots with spouts were used to feed babies and were also found in infants' graves. By the time the Industrial Revolution rolled around, bottle feeding was an accepted norm and hygienic sterilization methods were put into practice. The next time you go to make a bottle, appreciate how easy it is to pick up a can of formula at the grocery store: If you lived in 16th to 18th century Europe, you might have had to use a pap boat to feed a baby who wouldn't latch — a device made from a hollow spoon that fed babies bread soaked in milk or water.

7. It doesn't have to be all or nothing

There's a little secret that every new mom soon figures out: You don't have to pick a team. You can ride the fence and supplement formula to extend your breast milk supply or give yourself a break as long as you damn well please. This pick-a-little, take-a-little attitude has its benefits: It can give you the best of both worlds by promoting breastfeeding longevity. University of California San Francisco researchers discovered that 79 percent of babies who had been given formula in the first days of their life, along with breast milk, were still breastfeeding at three months, compared to 42 percent of babies who were breastfed exclusively.


Hilary Duff offended an entire culture with her Halloween costume

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It's 2016, and you'd think most people would know by now that certain Halloween costumes are going to cause backlash – especially if you're dressing up as someone from another culture.

Unfortunately, Hilary Duff and her new boyfriend, Jason Walsh are the latest celebrity couple to make the mistake. The pair dressed up as a Native American chief and a sexy Pilgrim for the Casamigos Halloween party on Friday night.

More: Chrissy Teigen's daughter doesn't just get one Halloween costume — she gets four

And it wasn't just the fact that Duff and her boyfriend are caucasian dressing up as Native Americans – their costumes were even more problematic due to the history between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Some Twitter users were not happy, calling the pair's costumes "insensitive" and "ignorant," with many wondering why the actress just didn't know better.

Traditional dress is not a costume and you being dresse

Traditional dress is not a costume and you being dresse

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND BE PROBLEMTIC

WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO AND BE PROBLEMTIC

while your boyfriend wears a Native American costume to

while your boyfriend wears a Native American costume to

hilary duff you should know better tweet halloween cost

hilary duff you should know better tweet halloween cost

why the offensive costumes? I like you...so very sorry

why the offensive costumes? I like you...so very sorry

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

Duff isn't the first and likely won't be the last celebrity to blindly wear an offensive party costume. Just last week, Chris Hemsworth publicly apologized for dressing up as a Native American for a Lone Ranger-themed New Year's Eve party last year.

The controversial nature of the new couple's costumes overshadowed the fact that this was their first public appearance together as an item. Duff started dating Walsh, a trainer, after divorcing her husband of three years.

More: Hilary Duff just can't quit ex Mike Comrie, despite their divorce

Before you go, check out our slideshow below.

celebrity costumes slideshow
Image: Taylor Swift/Instagram

I learned the hard way that my mom instincts weren't always right

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My sweet youngest child was cross-eyed from birth. I took him to the doctor many times when he was young to make sure nothing was wrong. The doctors all said it was normal and that eventually his eye would straighten out.

My husband had the same issue as a child, so I believed his wayward eye was a normal, hereditary event. As he grew, he never seemed to squint or struggle to see, and that was all the proof I needed to validate my assumption that he was growing and developing normally. Eventually, as the doctor’s promised, his side-eye straightened out, and I never thought twice about the matter.

More: 35 things kids simply don't need

Then, when he was in first grade, I found a letter from the nurse in his after-school folder informing me my son had failed his vision pre-screening test and that he was required to follow up with an optometrist within 30 days.

The letter felt accusatory and slightly threatening. “Take your child to the eye doctor, or you’ll be in parent jail!” OK, it didn’t actually say that, but it was the first time as a parent I’d been bossed around by the school. Was I worried? No. I was with my son every day and knew, without a doubt, he had perfectly fine vision. Still, to avoid capture by the school police, I made the perfunctory appointment for my son’s vision to be tested.

“It’s really important you don’t lie during the test,” I warned my son. “They need you to tell the truth so that they can find out if you actually need glasses.” 

My son nodded, giggled and smiled. During the test, he seemed to misidentify every damn letter on the chart. I immediately thought he was pretending to be blind. He had always been the household jester, doing everything he could to elicit a laugh from us.

“Stop playing around,” I told him. The optometrist said nothing. She must know he’s faking, I figured. There were a few more tests, of which I had zero understanding, and in the end, she said my son definitely needed glasses, all day long.

I might have rolled my eyes and silently called “bullshit,” but in the end, I bought him the nearly $200 glasses and left with a copy of his exam to give to the school.

More: Our whole family sleeps in the same bed, and we love it

That night I told my husband the results were “obviously fake” and that our son should consider a career as an actor because he had the doctor convinced he was practically blind. I was exaggerating. He wasn’t practically blind — but his vision test showed his impairment was enough to make sight without glasses extremely difficult.

I was in denial. I didn’t consider that my son actually needed glasses. I'm his mom. I would have known if my son couldn't see three feet in front of him, right?

I so thoroughly believed that my son was joking the entire time that it never dawned on me that maybe he wasn't. So when he forgot to wear those expensive new glasses, I didn’t remind him to put them on. In fact, I soon forgot about them, too.

When we moved the next year and my son complained about having headaches, I decided to make another appointment with a new optometrist. Once again, I warned my son to be honest and once again, he giggled his way through the exam where he managed call out all the wrong shapes, letters and numbers. Like the last time, he had his eyes dilated and the doctor performed additional tests that I didn't understand other than they were "necessary."

More: Why I let my kid play violent video games

The new doctor gave my son another prescription. This one was stronger than the last. For some reason, my head was so far up my butt that I still didn’t believe he needed glasses. After scolding my son during the exam, I tried to debate the results with the optometrist.

“I really think he’s faking it,” I said.

“Well, that would be pretty hard to do, since we also did a retinoscopy exam, which can’t be faked.” 

As the doctor explained the test in further detail and how he knew that my son did indeed need glasses, I realized, like a total jerk-face, that I had been wrong about my son for the past year.

He hadn’t been faking. He wasn't pulling our legs to get a laugh. He just thought the tests were funny. Hell, maybe having his upset mom standing nearby giving him a sour look made him feel nervous. I felt like such an asshole.

All along, my son really needed those glasses. Because I didn’t understand this, he spent the first seven years of his life struggling to see.

Before long, we were seeing the optometrist every six months (sometimes even more frequently than that), and for a few years, my son’s vision continually worsened. Now, at 16 years old, he wears stronger prescription lenses than even his grandfather does.

The moral of my story is simple: Don’t fail your child the way I did, and not believe them (or the doctors) when something might be wrong. I was convinced I knew my son so well that the only possibility was that he was pretending to need glasses when he wasn't.

Yes, we should always trust our guts — but sometimes we have to own that we don’t always know what the heck we’re doing.

By the way, those early vision screenings they do at the school are awesome, even if I didn't think so in the beginning. Most states require them by law and obviously, even for dumb parents like me, they really do make a difference.

These 50 majestic baby names come straight from the mountains

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Mountains can be majestic, snowy, showy and grand. They also are the proud owners of a ton of different names. Most reflect the local culture; and while some do not, many have been permanently ingrained into our social consciousness.

MoreThe East Coast of the US is a surprising source for baby naming inspiration

This is what makes their names great names for your baby boy or girl. Everest, from Mount Everest (the highest peak on planet Earth) would make a really kick-ass baby name. So would Denali, a mountain in Alaska (its name has recently been restored to its original moniker of Denali after being known as Mount McKinley for decades). There are tons of others too. From other mountains we're all familiar with to ones that are a little more obscure, we picked out 50 mountain names that would look amazing on your own baby name list.

In cases where the word "mount" (or its equivalent) would normally appear before the name (as in Mount Everest), we've scooted that word to the end and placed it within parentheses. All other names appear as they normally would on a map, and all are accompanied by their location, including the continent you'll find them on.

So, if you have some special memories of these areas, or simply love these peaks, check out this list of 50 mountain baby names to see if any wind up on your baby's birth certificate.

MoreBaby names inspired by American states are perfect for your little patriot

  • Apo: Philippines, Asia
  • Augusta (Mount): Alaska, United States, North America
  • Boris Yeltsin Peak: Kyrgyzstan, Asia
  • Cayley (Mount): British Columbia, Canada, North America
  • Dena: Iran, Asia
  • Denali: Alaska, United States, North America
  • Doane Peak: Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Elbert (Mount): Colorado, United States, North America
  • Emei (Mount): China, Asia
  • Everest (Mount): Tibet/Nepal/China, Asia
  • Gannett Peak: Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Helen (Mount): Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Hoverla: Ukraine, Europe
  • Hunter (Mount): Alaska, United States, North America
  • Jackson Peak: Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Yunnan, China, Asia
  • Kennedy (Mount): Yukon, Canada, North America
  • Kenya (Mount): Kenya, Africa
  • Lalveri: Georgia, Asia
  • Leone (Monte): Switzerland, Europe
  • Lincoln (Mount): Colorado, United States, North America
  • Lindsey (Mount): Colorado, United States, North America
  • Logan (Mount): Yukon, Canada, North America
  • Makra Peak: Pakistan, Asia
  • Marcus Baker (Mount): Alaska, United States, North America
  • Mera Peak: Nepal, Asia
  • Olan: France, Europe
  • Olympus: Greece, Europe
  • Owen (Mount): Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Pumori: Nepal/Tibet, Asia
  • Quincy Adams (Mount): British Columbia, Canada, North America
  • Ranier (Mount): Washington, United States, North America
  • Roraima (Mount): Brazil, South America
  • Rosa (Monte): Switzerland, Europe
  • Ruby Dome: Nevada, United States, North America
  • Sidley (Mount): Antarctica
  • Stanley (Mount): Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa
  • Steele (Mount): Yukon, Canada, North America
  • Tate (Mount): Japan, Asia
  • Thor Peak: Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Tyree (Mount): Antarctica
  • Victoria (Mount): Papua New Guinea, Australia
  • Vinson Massif: Antarctica
  • Walsh (Mount): Yukon, Canada, North America
  • Walter (Mount): New Mexico, United States, North America
  • Warren (Mount): Wyoming, United States, North America
  • Whitney (Mount): California, United States, North America
  • Wilhelm (Mount): Papua New Guinea, Australia
  • Wilson Peak: Colorado, United States, North America
  • Yari (Mount): Japan, Asia

I conjured up a former president using a Ouija board

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What started out as an innocent slumber party on a stormy night with my sister and cousins at my grandma’s house, ended with screaming, wide-eyed, goosebump covered tween girls wondering what exactly had happened.

We had escaped to our bedroom for the night and my oldest cousin pulled out her brand new Ouija board. We turned out the lights and lit a single candle. We intended to find out the names of our future husbands, how many children we’d have and what their names would be just simple tween girl stuff.

More: The terrifying time I used a Ouija board and accidentally released a demon

We all placed our fingers on the planchette (a small, heart-shaped piece of wood) and begin to ask the board questions. At first, there were numerous eye rolls and much giggling. As we became more entranced with the Ouija board it seemed the planchette took on a mind of its own. An eerie stillness settled upon the room. It was then that we decided to have a seance. I don’t remember why dear old George came to mind, but he did. Remember, we were tweens.

The solitary candle flickered as the planchette rolled wildly across the Ouija board before ultimately spelling out, “I’m here!” My cousins and I were struck with terror as thunder boomed and lightning crashed. It felt as if a spirit had entered the room. Our teeth chattered as we were spooked beyond belief and then poof the candle went out and we were alone in the dark with the ghost of George Washington.

We screamed as we tried to feel for the light switch. After what seemed like an eternity in the dark, the switch was located and boom, there was light. With bated breath, quivering lips and shaking limbs, we sat staring at each other. No words were uttered. No one moved.

More: Eerie girl 'ghost' caught in bone-chilling photo

Personally, I was way too frightened to ever touch another Ouija board and to this day, I’ve never been in the same room with one. The experience my sister, cousins and me had was real to us and we were real scared.

I don’t know what ever happened to that old Ouija Board, but I do know one thing, that long-ago night still sends chills up my spine.

More: A real life ghost story that will scare you silly this Halloween

How to pack and move in less than a week without totally losing it

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Sometimes, life throws you curve balls you find yourself moving to a new house or apartment — fast. To help you deal with such an unexpected situation, here are a few tips to get you moving within a week, while maintaining your sanity and staying organized. To make the process easier for you, I've broken it down by each day to make your last-minute move a breeze.

Take a big, deep breath. Make yourself a huge mug of strong coffee. Then start making a list of the things you need to achieve.

Day 1: Planning and admin day

This is the day for you to deal with administrative tasks:

  • Contact your children’s school to have their records transferred to their new school
  • Get medical records forwarded to new providers if you are moving any distance
  • Move bank accounts to a new bank or branch
  • Ask for updated accounts from utility companies (electricity, water, gas, city taxes)
  • Ask inspectors to read meters a day or so before you leave so you can get as accurate a reading as possible.
  • Advise all your contacts of your new address
  • Arrange insurance for all your valuables and travel insurance for yourself and your family if you are moving abroad
  • Make plans for your pets. If they have to stay in a shelter for a few days, then make those plans now
  • Book a cleaning service both for your new home and your old one
  • If you’re moving abroad, make sure your passport is valid, that you can enter the country without a visa, and that you can apply for a visa once you are there
  • Hire a moving company
  • Buy just enough groceries, toiletries etc. to last you the week. Preferably plan on ordering take-out... or pop down to your local pizza place for your meals

Day 2: Materials day

Now that your administrative tasks are all taken care of, on day two you can start collecting packing materials (boxes, peanuts, tape, markers, labels etc.) Garbage bags are also good for emergency moves. Collect all your old newspapers, which make very good packing material, and ask neighbors for theirs.

Day 3: Sorting day

Sort through your belongings room by room and get rid of what you don't need or haven’t used for at least six months. Call up a local charity if you have stuff that you feel they could use — otherwise it’s time to be ruthless. Those table decorations you got from your great aunt for Christmas 10 years ago, and haven’t used since? Time to chuck ‘em!

Day 4-5: Packing days

Now, you can start packing! Start with the kitchen, as this is the hardest room to pack and it is best to get it out of the way. First pack all the things you don't use every day but maybe just seasonally; for example, the Thanksgiving turkey roasting pan and your electrical appliances. Then work your way down through the rooms according to their difficulty and the number of items you will need to pack — this way the job gets easier as you go.

This can be a huge job, depending on how large your home is and how much stuff you have, so be sure to enlist the help of everyone in your family. You can even make a kind of game out of it to increase everyone’s enthusiasm.

Make sure you have labelled all boxes clearly and keep a detailed inventory. You can use colored labels and/or pens to mark the boxes and keep a detailed chart with the same colors to keep things organized. It is best to label each box with the room it should go to and the belongings inside each one.

No matter if you’re moving abroad, long distance or locally, be sure to pack a day bag for the day of the move with your essential items: change of clothes, toiletries, medications, etc.

More: 

Day 6: Loose ends day

Now that you are all packed up, do a final walk through around the house or apartment checking for things that you might have forgotten. Check that all labels are intact and accurate. Get the cleaning service you hired up and running, say goodbye to your neighbors, and get everybody off to bed for a good night’s sleep in preparation for the big day.

Day 7: Moving day

Switch off the lights, hand over the keys and move!

While there may be some spill-over from day to day, at least you have a working plan that should help keep you organized, on track, and most importantly, sane.

Good luck and remember: don’t panic. It will all be over in a week!

Einat Mazafi writes for nyshipping.com.

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