Etsy roundup

Not romantic? No problem!

Let's face it — not all guys were born with the innate ability to be romantic. If your guy needs a little help this Valentine's Day, send him on over. You may still need to make the dinner reservation, but at least you'll receive a gift you'll love.

More Etsy goodness

Etsy roundup: Royal-inspired nursery decor
Etsy roundup: Aprons
Etsy roundup: Heart-inspired decor

Ding!

Some episodes of Girls can be a little too much to bear. This was not one of those episodes.

In Dunham's world, you see a lot of actions and not many consequences and a lot of frivolity without anything to back it up. Characters live in sweeta** apartments while working at coffee shops and galleries. They do awful things to their friends only to go out to dinner with them the next week. And they use their exes as cuddle buddies after crushing their hearts. This time, though, we saw some more realistic moments.

Round 1: Shosh vs. butt plugs

This episode must set some record for the number of times the phrase "butt plug" has been used in a single episode of a show. This moment was great for multiple reasons. Most importantly, it was great to see Hannah's pull for attention with the butt plug confession completely turned on her by Shoshanna's questioning of what, exactly, a butt plug is and why it's important. Not all girls spent their college years hooking up with a gay guy... or even working on being experienced. Shoshanna's naiveté is precious. It's always nice when not every character on the show acts like a completely skeeze.

Round 2: Marnie vs. Audrey

This confrontation was amazing! Marnie is so stuck up, but who didn't scoff at the mustard business? Audrey is the epitome of a hipster, and it was great to see Marnie's sarcasm take her down a notch. Then again, it was also great to see Audrey verbally abuse Marnie. We especially liked the part when she made Marn clarify the "hostess" gig. Audrey was also right about Marnie's feelings/self-centeredness toward Charlie.

Round 3: Jessa vs. Thomas-John

Can we talk about how emotionally awful all of Jessa's scenes were? They were almost too much to take. Jess tried, as best as she knows how, to be decent at dinner. Clearly, her mother wasn't the greatest example. Instead, she was accused of using Thomas-John for his money. When they finally escaped his crazy parents, she expected him to be there for her, and instead he accused her of the same thing. We really think Jessa loves T-J — in her own weird way. She's just a blunt, sarcastic and defensive person. When he laid into her, of course she was going to throw back the insults.

Her final scene? Gross. First, co-bathing with your friend? Do people do this? Mostly, though, the snot rocket was beyond disgusting. At the same time, she was super hurt, and — once again — Hannah wouldn't allow her to just sob it out... she had to ruin things.

Round 4: Ray vs. Life

Here's what we love about Ray: He's real. Life sucks 90 percent of the time, and Ray doesn't get to escape it because he has rich parents or is a slut. He takes the kicks and deals with them... by kinda sorta moving in with his adorably innocent girlfriend. There's nothing wrong with being 30 and feeling like you're still floundering. Trust us. We know. Welcome to life. He does have one good thing going for him, though, and that's Shosh. Their confession of loving one another, during a dark, depressing moment in the subway, was neither overly romantic nor so nonchalant it seemed fake. It was real and relatable, and we approve.

And the winner is...

All in all, Dunham turned out a decent episode this week. We saw the characters not necessarily change but at least be impacted by the choices they've made and the words they've spoken. It was refreshing to see something a little more real and hope it stays this awesome.

Images courtesy of HBO

More on HBO's Girls

Girls mixes dating and politics
Girls kicks off Season 2 with a bang
Howard Stern apologizes for his Girls comments

Go ahead, spoil your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. But consider making one of these romantic treats with lower calorie counts!

Healthier options
for Valentine's Day

When it comes to romance, SheKnows really takes the cake! This year, instead of treating your sweetie to the usual romantic goodies that can be high in calories, try one with fewer calories. That’s got love written all over it!

Swooning over sundaes

A sundae on a Monday with your sweetie can be a lovely treat. However, if you indulge in a medium-sized sundae from your local frozen treats shop, get ready for more than just a brain freeze: You’ll be adding about 234 calories to your day. Now is that really swoon-worthy?

Instead, DietsinReview.com suggests this recipe for frozen hot chocolate. It’s a version of one served at a popular New York restaurant. The good news: Instead of 340 calories like you’d get in the Big Apple, this version is only about 140 calories.

Frozen hot chocolate

Recipe courtesy of DietsinReview.com

Ingredients:

• 1 cup low-fat chocolate milk
• 1-1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 1/2 cup prepared fat-free dairy whipped topping
• Garnish: marshmallows, cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Put chocolate milk, cocoa powder, sugar and ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour into 2 glasses. Top with about 1/4 cup whipped cream on top of each.
3. Garnish with a marshmallow and cocoa if desired.

Reconsider eating your cake

Most of us want to have our cake and eat it, too. This romantic and tasty cake might break your heart, though: One serving of chocolate molten lava cake has approximately 390 calories !

Avoid a breakup and try this smooth and rich SheKnows dessert that allows you to indulge wisely. Not only is this recipe for warm chocolate pudding easy to make, but the calorie count is relatively low: 164 calories . Serve this with fresh fruit or even a bit of shaved chocolate on top for an extra-special treat.

More healthy treats

How not to gain weight on Valentine’s Day
30 aphrodisiac foods
Healthy treats for women on the go

Classy gifts for teens from teens

How to... Help a teen pick a gift

Young love is inevitable and Valentine's Day is a holiday that teens feel pressured to celebrate at a young age. It's OK to get into the spirit of Valentine's Day if you don't let it set the tone of your relationship and physical expectations. Help your teen select a gift that isn't too grown up and doesn't have a sexy spin.

When teens are infatuated, it's hard to dial down their enthusiasm. Valentine's Day is a time for grand gestures and big expectations, but it's important to keep teens from overdoing it on this love-focused holiday. Help your teen select a Valentine's Day present that's age-appropriate and reasonable.

Discover 10 Tips to establish rules for your teen>>

Try these strategies for tough conversations>>

More on teen relationships

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Teen girls and breakups: Helping them move on

Johnny Depp will play a menacing felon in the forthcoming movie Black Mass, which plumbs the depths of Boston's gangster culture.

Depp will take on the role of Whitey Bulger, a real-life Irish godfather who was a fugitive from justice for 16 years before being arrested in 2011.

Black Mass, adapted from the book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, is one of three — count 'em, three — Whitey Bulger projects that have been floated in the media in the last couple of years.

Ben Affleck told GQ in 2011 that he was making a Bulger movie with fellow Bostonian Matt Damon as Bulger, Affleck directing and Terence Winter writing the script. Wondering why we mentioned the scriptwriter? It's because you may know some of Winter's other little projects, such as, oh, Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos.

"There are a couple of competing movies and I don't think it's been announced yet that we're doing it," Damon told GQ. "But the sooner it's announced the better, just because everyone else will back off, hopefully."

Hopes? Not realized.

Johnny Depp's new role: Guitarist for Alice Cooper>>

Peter Facinelli has also been working on his own Bulger project, an adaptation of the book Street Soldier: My Life as an Enforcer for Whitey Bulger and the Boston Irish Mob, Zap2it reports.

Sorta makes sense that so many people want to jump on the Bulger story, which had cinematic twists. The criminal was about to be indicted for federal racketeering charges in 1994 when he fled Boston and went into hiding. It was later revealed that Bulger had been an FBI informant since 1975, and that he was tipped off about the racketeering indictment just before it came down.

The fact that an 81-year-old Bulger was arrested in 2011, bringing the story full circle, just makes it more dramatically compelling.

Who wants to see Johnny Depp in age makeup? We do, we do!

Image courtesy PNP/WENN.com

It seems like Valentine's Day is all about the ladies. This year, choose one of these date-night packages and turn the tables by planning a special evening that's all about him.

Time to turn the candlelit tables

The thing to remember about planning a special Valentine's Day date for your man is that usually they think of different things as romantic. It's not that they don't want any romance. They probably wouldn't even mind chocolates . You have to tailor your date to the man. We've come up with a few ideas to get you started. Mix and match or create your own!

If your man's into sports, he'll love this sports package, which you can customize for any game.

The treat: Young's Double Chocolate Stout

He'll likely roll his eyes if you hand him a fancy box of truffles. Skip the candies and go straight to the beer with the malty, dark-chocolaty goodness of Young's Double Chocolate Stout .

The gift: Full-sized dual-tap Kegerator

You'll never tire of hearing him brag to his friends about this dual-tap Kegerator his awesome girlfriend bought for his man cave .

The meal: Smoky paprika pork calzones

Special enough for Valentine's Day, but easy enough to eat while you're watching the game with your arm around your best girl, these calzones are the way to his heart .

Your BF can quote any episode of Firefly, including the Mandarin — he's a nerd and proud of it. This is an evening he'll never forget!

The treat: Nerd Beer

There are plenty of nerdy beers on the market, from blue Romulan Ale to Star Wars Imperial Stout Trooper, but he'll love the scientifically brewed concoctions from Nerd Beer, the only brewery with nerd in the name .

The gift: Polk Audio Blackstone TL 1600 home theater speaker system

Whether he's watching the latest installment of Star Trek or playing Ghost Recon, he'll enjoy a more immersive viewing and playing experience with this home audio system .

The meal: Ultimate nacho grilled cheese

This clever sandwich combines two things nerds love: nachos and creativity. He'll appreciate this clever sammie much more than a fancy steak dinner .

We said boys don't usually think of romance the same way we do. Some like it just as much. But that doesn't mean a box of Godiva's and long-stemmed roses, either. He's a man of sophisticated tastes who doesn't shy away from candlelight serenades.

The treat: 2009 Morse Code shiraz

This affordable, masculine selection offers a healthy dose of black licorice, spice and blackberry for the more discerning tastes of the true romantic. Enjoy it fireside or by candlelight .

The gift: David Yurman men's black onyx chevron ring

This stunning onyx ring from the David Yurman Chevron collection is set in sterling silver and doesn't rely on flash or bling. The understated chevron design along the side sets off a masculine black onyx. It's equally appropriate at the office or a black-tie affair .

The meal: Tomatoes caprese, peppercorn-encrusted steak, ricotta mashed potatoes and crème de menthe mousse

The centerpiece of this easy and delicious meal is a perfectly cooked filet mignon topped with fried onions over a bed of ricotta mashed potatoes .

It's hard to know what to do on Valentine's Day when you're in a new relationship. You want to give him something special that doesn't say, "So when do I get the ring?"

The treat: Chimay

No matter which Chimay you choose, you'll show him you're thinking of him by gifting this sought-after Trappist monk-brewed beer. Bonus: All the revenue the monastery makes from this brew is devoted to social service, so even if the relationship doesn't last, you'll always have that .

The gift: Fandango gift card

You want to give a gift that has the potential to be romantic, but remain nonthreatening. Give him a Fandango gift card with a fun Valentine's Day card that simply reads: "Free pass to make your girlfriend watch a movie she doesn't want to see." That lets him know the intent is that you watch the movie together, but because he gets to choose the flick, it's still about him.

The meal: Basic pasta with meatballs

For a meal that feels special in a nonthreatening way, stick with plain old spaghetti and meatballs. This basic recipe is easy for a novice cook who wants to impress .

More gift ideas

Gift ideas for him in the new year
Last-minute gift ideas for your guy
Sentimental gifts for him

The great thing about this craft is that you can customize it completely. The hearts and tags can be made from any kind of fabric, cardstock or wrapping paper you have lying around, and you can use any frame or canvas you have available. Spend the day making this cute calendar with your kids and create a fun way to count down to February 14th!

Supplies:

Instructions:

Wrap the burlap around the canvas and cut a piece to fit .

Tape the burlap overhang to the back of the canvas. Stretch the burlap when you do this so it's nice and tight.

Lay three pieces of twine on the canvas horizontally. You want enough overhang on the twine to tape to the back of the canvas. You want plenty of space between each piece of twine so you can hang the hearts and the tags. Tape the backs of the twine to the canvas so they stick.

Add 14 clothespins on the twine, place them so the clamp side is facing down.

We arranged them in rows of five, four and five, so they were spaced out with plenty of room to spare. After the pins are on, add the lace doily hearts to the top of the burlap in a fun pattern. We added six hearts to the top, alternating the rotation.

Using the heart cookie cutter, trace out hearts in the patterned cardstock, fabric or paper. We traced on the back of the pattern so there were no visible pen marks on the front.

We traced 11 hearts and three tags. Once they are traced, cut them out.

Cut out your printed numbers . Glue the numbers directly to the cutouts or glue them onto other fun patterned cardstock for a unique look.

Step 5: Customize with glitter and patterns

Using the Mod Podge, add glue to the center of the doilies on the top. Add glitter and blow the excess off. Add additional glitter to other tags as well, if you'd like.

Then, hang all the tags and hearts from the clothespins in numerical order and hang or position the masterpiece in your favorite room!

More DIY crafts for kids

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Add some fun Valentine's Day flair to your tired mantel with this easy, cute and flirty DIY. Not only is this craft cute, it's super budget-friendly, costing less than $25 to make and assemble! That leaves you more money for some sassy lingerie or fancy French champagne!

Supplies:

Instructions:

Cut the burlap into even-sized rectangles, using the first one as a template for the rest. Make sure the rectangle is large enough for the heart to fit comfortably in the center.

Mix the glue with the colored glitter in a shallow bowl .

Paint the center of the hearts with the glittered glue. Then, immediately sprinkle the glue with additional glitter.

Paint glue to the back of the heart and stick to the burlap. Hold the doily down so it sticks to the burlap, then let it dry.

Lay the hearts out as you would like them to appear on the twine.

Using a hot glue gun, glue the burlap to the twine, holding it down so it sticks.

You might want to do this part outside so the glue doesn't get on anything else. Repeat until all of the hearts are hung. Then, hang your banner on your mantel and enjoy!

More Valentine's Day DIY crafts

DIY Heart candles
DIY Valentine's Day mantel decorations
DIY Chocolate milk bath for Valentine's Day

Education is the best way to become proactive and empowered and in doing so, you'll know you're doing all you can to beat infertility. These 10 books will answer questions you may have and inspire you.

After being in the trenches of infertility for close to three years, I have read countless blogs, books, journals and studies on all things infertility. I'm always searching for the next puzzle piece, the next cure-all, the next answer. I love reading moving memoirs of heartache and ultimate success and devour books on Eastern philosophy and healing from the inside out.

I believe these 10 books should be on every infertile couple's bookshelf.

Without a doubt, communication is crucial to good healthcare, especially when dealing with infertility. When people take an active role in their care, research shows they fare better — in satisfaction and in how well treatments work. A passive patient is less likely to get well or reach their desired results. In an ever-changing field, the more you know, the better.

More on infertility references

5 Books for infertile couples
Best infertility blogs
The TTC dictionary: Conception and fertility terms and definitions

This Valentine's Day, skip the roses and give the foodies in your life a gift they'll love. They'll remember it forever, and you'll earn extra points by being so thoughtful and considerate. It's a win-win!

Give the gift of food

Though receiving a beautiful bouquet of red roses for Valentine's Day is sweet, let's face it — it's expected and cliché. This year, go above and beyond and give your loved one something thoughtful and sentimental. Give them a gift they'll cherish and remember forever. If your valentine is a foodie, you're in luck. We searched high and low to come up with the best Valentine's Day gifts for foodies everywhere.

Click here for more on planning a romantic dinner date at home>>

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Butterflies symbolize the beginning of spring with their beautiful and bright colors. Create a Valentine's Day butterfly with your child to welcome the upcoming season and celebrate the day meant for love.

What you'll need:

• cardboard toilet paper roll
• red and pink construction paper
• 1 pipe cleaner, any color
• scissors
• markers
• craft glue

What you'll do:

1. Decorate the toilet paper roll by drawing on it with markers.
2. Cut two medium hearts from the pink construction paper.
3. Cut two larger hearts from the red construction paper.
4. Decorate the four hearts by drawing on them with your markers.
5. With the scissors, carefully poke a small hole through the top of the toilet paper roll.
6. Thread the pipe cleaner halfway through the small hole.
7. Bend the pipe cleaner so both ends are sticking up.
8. Twist the two pieces together near the toilet paper roll .
9. Twist the top pieces of the pipe cleaner around your finger to create antennae.
10. Glue the two large red hearts to the upper backside of the toilet paper roll .
11. Glue the two medium pink hearts to the lower backside of the toilet paper .

How to make soda bottle butterflies>>

This easy craft is a perfect gift for grandparents! With your child's help, create a sweet love poem and document your child's growth with his or her handprints. If you have more than one child, surround the poem with one handprint from each child.

What you'll need:

• 1 piece of light-colored cardstock paper
• washable red craft paint
• fine tip marker

What you'll do:

1. Apply paint to both hands, stamp on the far ends of the cardstock paper.
2. Let dry.
3. Create or look up a Valentine's Day poem.
4. Write the poem in the middle of the cardstock, between the handprints.

This craft is a great way to create an indoor garden or for making Valentine's Day flowers for Mom.

What you'll need:

• 3 pieces of red tissue paper
• 3 pieces of pink tissue paper
• 1 green pipe cleaner
• 1 yellow pipe cleaner

What you'll do:

1. Lay each piece of tissue paper in a neat stack, alternating the colors.
2. Lengthwise, fold and gently crease the stack of tissue paper accordion-style .
3. Twist the yellow pipe cleaner around the center of the folded tissue stack.
4. With scissors and while still folded, round each end of the tissue paper stack.
5. Secure the green pipe cleaner to the yellow pipe cleaner to make the stem.
6. Turn the flower right side up and gently pull each layer up and toward the center, one at a time.

Make a tissue paper heart decoration>>

Image credit: Molly Smith

More Valentine's Day crafts for kids

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The Boy Scouts is an organization famous for their character building, educational activities and leadership. The group is also known to openly discriminate against gay members.

POTUS' Position

In a CBS News interview during the Super Bowl, anchor Scott Pelley questioned the President about his opinion on the situation asking him point blank, ”Should scouting be open to gays?” President Obama immediately answered ”yes.” When pressed for details, President Obama said:

”My attitude is that gays and lesbians should have access and opportunity the same way everybody else does in every institution and walk of life,” Obama said. ”The Scouts are a great institution that are promoting young people and exposing them to opportunities and leadership that will serve people for the rest of their lives. And I think nobody should be barred from that.”

”Don't ask, don't tell”

As recently as this summer, ”The Boy Scouts of America has reaffirmed its longtime policy of barring openly gay boys from membership and gay or lesbian adults from serving as leaders .”

Currently the Boy Scouts has a ”Don't ask, don't tell” type of rule. The official policy reads, “While the B.S.A. does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers or members, we do not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the B.S.A.”

Boy Scouts uphold ban on gay members and leaders >>

As President of the United States, Obama is the honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America. When the organization reaffirmed its discrimination policy this summer, the White House responded in a statement to the Washington Bladesaying:

“The President believes the Boy Scouts is a valuable organization that has helped educate and build character in American boys for more than a century,” White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said in the statement. “He also opposes discrimination in all forms, and as such opposes this policy that discriminates on basis of sexual orientation.”

Time for a change?

In recent years the organization has gotten some heat not only from gay rights groups, but from parents who question whether or not they want their sons to be under the influence of a leadership group that openly discriminates.

The controversial policy is now under review.

In a media statement issued by the Boy Scouts on Monday, January 28, Deron Smith, director of public relations, said that the organization is discussing the possibility of removing the national membership restriction on sexual orientation. The proposal does not necessarily eliminate the widespread discrimination entirely, but instead leaves it up to each individual unit to decide how they would like to proceed regarding membership based on sexual orientation. ”The Boy Scouts would not, under any circumstances, dictate a position to units, members, or parents.”

The Boy Scouts' national executive board is scheduled to meet this week in Texas to vote on the issue.

Girl Scout calls for boycott over inclusion of transgender child>>

Values worth fighting for

The open dialogue on the issue is encouraging to gay rights supporters, but the issue remains controversial as some heartily believe that the organization should uphold their current stance.

Associated Press reported that on Saturday Texas Governor Rick Perry said that the Boy Scouts should not soften their strict policy banning gays from the organization. The governor addressed hundreds of members at the Texas Scouts’ 64th annual Report to State. Perry is himself an Eagle Scout and in 2008 wrote the book On My Honor: Why the American Values of the Boy Scouts Are Worth Fighting For.

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Looking for a simple yet delicious Valentine's Day sweet treat? This easy dessert can be put together in the afternoon and is ready to impress by dinner. We made it even easier by using a dark chocolate brownie mix. But don't worry, we still made our own frosting. We used frozen berries that we defrosted but if you can get your hands on some fresh berries that will work, too. These little "sandwiches" will be sure to impress!

Brownie heart sandwiches with raspberry buttercream recipe

Yields 3-6 brownie sandwiches

Ingredients:

• Dark chocolate brownie mix for a 9 x 13-inch pan
• 1/3 cup defrosted frozen raspberries
• 1 teaspoon raspberry liqueur
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Make brownies according to box directions. Line the pan with parchment before adding mix to the pan. This way you can easily pull the brownies out of the pan to cool and cut.
2. One brownies are cool, cut out into heart shapes. Your sandwich count will depend on the size of your cutter.
3. To make the frosting, add raspberries, raspberry liqueur, salt and butter to the large bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on medium until blended.
4. Slowly incorporate powdered sugar until fluffy. If your mixture is too loose, simply add a little more powdered sugar. If your mixture is too thick, you can thin it out with a little milk.
5. Spread frosting on top of one brownie heart and top with another brownie heart. Enjoy alone or with ice cream.

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The Ricki Lake Show is once again a thing of the past. Despite much hype surrounding the relaunch of the show that initially ran from 1993 to 2004, low viewership numbers have landed it in the canceled pile.

"I am so proud of the shows we completed this season, sparking important conversations about everything from raising children to mental illness to suicide prevention to coming out,"Ricki Lake said in a statement as news of the show's cancelation spread.

"I will continue to be an active and passionate voice for subjects that are close to my heart through a variety of platforms."

Star spotlight: Ricki Lake>>

While that sounds promising for fans of the 44-year-old's The Business of Being Born series, she won't be furthering that work stateside! Lake, who exchanged vows in April 2012, has revealed plans to take her husband, Christian Evans, and sons abroad.

"We are relocating [to Ibiza] as soon as we possibly can,"Contact Music quotes Lake as saying of plans for their family, which includes 15-year-old Milo and 11-year-old Owen, born during her first marriage to Rob Sussman.

''We got engaged there, we went on our honeymoon there — it is our paradise. And the best part is, nobody in the US knows about it, and nobody there even knows me."

Ricki Lake eloped after too much DWTS princess time >>

Jeff Probst's talk show faired only marginally better than Ricki Lake's, and it's not expected to return either.

Meanwhile, Katie Couric's Katie has been renewed for a second season, and The Steve Harvey Show will also be back. While Anderson Cooper will end its two-year run in May, USA Today reports the fall will bring new ventures from Arsenio Hall and Queen Latifah.

Are you sad to see The Ricki Lake Show go?

Image via WENN

Want a super quick and easy dessert to impress your love for Valentine's Day? Here we share a cheesecake ball that is rolled in mini-chocolate chips and served with cookies of your choice — in our case vanilla wafers. The lovely red color will be a hit with your love.

Red velvet cheesecake ball recipe

Serves 8-10

Ingredients:

•  8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups red velvet cake mix, dry
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup mini-chocolate chips
• Assorted cookies and crackers such as vanilla wafers or graham crackers

Directions:

1. In a large bowl add the cream cheese and butter and mix until smooth. Add in the red velvet cake mix, the brown sugar and the powdered sugar. Continue mixing until everything is mixed well and looks smooth .
2. Pour or dump the mixture out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap and shape the mixture into a ball and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours.
3. Pour half of the bag of mini chocolate chips onto a plate . Remove the cheese ball from the refrigerator, unwrap and begin to roll the ball into the chocolate chips.
4. Once the ball is covered in the chocolate chips, carefully place it on a serving plate and garnish with cookies of choice. Serve immediately.
5. Note: If you make this ahead of time, please keep it chilled until you are ready to serve.

More red velvet recipes

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Red velvet cake

It was one of the greatest burns in breakup history: Justin Timberlake slammed his ex Britney Spears with his hit "Cry Me a River" after he dumped her for allegedly cheating with choreographer Wade Robson.

The star dusted off his 2002 hit last weekend for his first live performance in five years, but it was his commentary that got tongues wagging.

Why David Bowie is classier than Justin Timberlake>>

"Sometimes in life, you think you found the one," Timberlake said before breaking into song. "But then one day you find out that she is just some b****."

Oh snap! Was that a Britney burn? Not so fast, he says.

Timberlake is simply shocked and appalled that we would think he'd bash his ex .

He addressed the growing controversy on Twitter, writing, "Ok. I see you. Wouldn't disrespect ANYONE personally. Ever. #Relax #ItsBritneyB**** I do love that saying though*with accent* #Respect."

Justin Timberlake's first single in 6 years: "Suit & Tie">>

After playing coy about it for years, the singer finally admitted he wrote the song about his ex in an E! True Hollywood Story episode about Timbaland.

"I was on a phone call that was not the most enjoyable phone call," he explained. "I walked into the studio and he [Timbaland] could tell I was visibly angry."

Timbaland recalled, "I was like, 'Man, don't worry about it,' and he was like, 'I can't believe she did that to me,' and he was like, 'You were my sun, you were my earth.'"

Britney may or may not be oblivious to the so-called diss that's making us long for millennium-era TRL, but if she knows about it, she's taking the high road. All she tweeted today was a made-up convo between her and her dog.

"I don't think so honey #VivaLasVegas :) RT @hannahspears Mommy, are dogs allowed to gamble in vegas? Gonna cash all my bones in for chips."

Image courtesy WENN

Read more Justin Timberlake

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On Monday in Beverly Hills, more than 160 nominees gathered in the Beverly Hilton ballroom for the last big event of the awards season before Oscars night. The annual Nominees Luncheon is an opportunity for all of the honorees to meet each other over a breezy meal in Los Angeles.

Each nominee is given a certificate recognizing his or her achievement in film and a coveted Academy Awards sweatshirt as a souvenir of their year. They also participate in the "class photo," which captures all of the nominees in attendance for one historic moment. The nominees won't all be in one room together again until Oscar night.

This year, the actors brought a lot of laughs and memorable quotes that made the media in interview room swoon and cheer for their favorite celebrities. SheKnows was there, and we have the inside scoop.

The first big celebrity to wake up the press in the room was the man of the awards season, Ben Affleck. Coming off of his DGA Awards win over the weekend, he entered to applause. When asked about the elephant in the room, no Best Director nod, Affleck took the whole snub in stride.

He said, "We got seven nominations, including Best Picture. I'm elated by that. I've had many, many years watching from home."

If the Argo director thinks he's going to win Best Picture, he doesn't seem overly confident. He said he's leaving any calculations to the "Oscarologists," who also want an increased number of Best Director nominees to match the number of Best Picture nominees.

From there, the room moved at a swift pace as nominee after nominee came in to greet the press and give their impressions of the awards season. Many of the ladies were asked about their dress choices for the big day, but it was Jessica Chastain of Zero Dark Thirty who gave the best answer.

She said, "Most little girls dreamed about their wedding dresses, but I always dreamed about my Oscar dress."

Jennifer Lawrence from Silver Linings Playbook said she might wear "sweatpants" but will probably "suck it up and wear a corset."

Although Anne Hathaway has had "no preparation" for her red-carpet gown yet, she mentioned that she enjoyed Sunday's Super Bowl and the "fried food" that goes along with the big sports day.

If you thought Hugh Jackman was going to cause the most swoon-worthy moment of the day, think again. It was Bradley Cooper who caused the ladies to squeal with delight when his name was announced and he walked into the room.

When asked if his role in Silver Linings Playbook was a career game changer for him, Cooper wittily replied, "I know that I wasn't here for The Hangover."

Also charming the room was 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, nominated for Beasts of the Southern Wild, who brought her beloved puppy purse that has accompanied her to all of the red-carpet events this busy season.

The showstopper wound up being The Master nominee Amy Adams, who walked in with the quote of the day: "Sorry, you just interrupted my flirting with Bradley Cooper and Christoph Waltz."

She kept getting cut off by the hotel's intercom music and the announcer letting everyone know that the luncheon was about to begin. Adams kept the media in stitches while she plowed through each interrupted question.

Finally, three cheers for Best Supporting Actress nominees Sally Field and Jacki Weaver for proving that there are good roles for women over age 40. They looked great, and both proved that their acting chops are still as sharp now that they're in their 60s as in their younger years. Weaver even revealed her age to the media, which was refreshingly honest. You would never know she was 65 years old, and frankly, it just shouldn't matter.

The nominees were then shuttled into the ballroom to enjoy the rest of the festivities and celebrate the fact that it really is great to be nominated.

If you don't believe us, believe Robert De Niro who revealed, "It's still a big deal."

Image courtesy of Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

Next year marks the return of the Autobots and Decepticons. Michael Bay will once again direct the latest sequel in the Transformers franchise. This time around, there's a major twist: The film will have a new look and a new cast.

Mark Wahlberg confirmed as next Transformers star>>

Last year, it was confirmed that Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg would headline Transformers 4. That's quite a shift from the young Shia LaBeouf. The actor will star alongside relative newcomer Jack Reynor to kick off another trilogy.

Michael Bay confirms new Transformers trilogy>>

Bay recently spoke with Forbes about his Transformers transformation.

"We're going to start off smaller. There's a brand-new cast," Bay said. "To freshen the franchise we've redesigned everything from top to bottom. The history of the first three movies is still there — we start four years later and there's a reason why we're meeting a new cast."

Despite the makeover, Bay insists the film isn't a reboot. He wants to nip those rumors in the bud.

"No, that's wrong. We keep the Transformers the way they were — it's just four years later," he explained. "There's a reason the Transformers are redesigned. We're trying to broaden the franchise and give it more places to go."

He's right. The series will need something to keep it interesting. Transformers: Dark of the Moon felt redundant and uninspired. Hopefully, its successor will be bigger and better.

Before Bay tackles robots again, he'll work with Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson in Pain & Gain, an action comedy that debuts this spring .

Transformers 4 is scheduled to hit theaters in 2014.

Photo credit: Patrick Hoffmann/WENN

Brenda Strong currently plays Ann, the new wife of Bobby Ewing on TNT's Dallas. Last week, the network kickstarted its second season, delving further into Ann's mysterious past.

Dallas Season 2: More turmoil's brewing>>

Viewers learned that she'd been deceived about her daughter's disappearance. For over 20 years, Ann was under the impression the child was kidnapped.

It turns out, she was abducted by her own family. Bobby discovered that Ann's ex-husband, Harris , and his devious mother, Judith , took the girl and raised her overseas.

TNT confirms more dirty Dallas to come >>

In a Q&A with TV Fanatic, Strong revealed that there's no love lost between Ann and her former mother-in-law.

"It's very safe to say they don't get along. In fact, talk about female rivalry — they are very much at odds," Strong explained. "One of the main reasons why Ann has such a tortured past was because of this woman."

It sounds like Judith has some Mommie Dearest tendencies. With a mother like that, no wonder Harris turned out the way he did. Strong hints that we'll find out more about his background, which isn't all sunshine and roses.

"What's great is as you get to know more about his past and his relationship to his own mother and his relationship to me and, at some point, believe it or not, and I know this is going to be hard to believe, you may actually feel sorry for him."

Sympathy for Harris? That's something we'd like to see. So far, he's been in a thorn in our side.

Dallas airs Mondays at 9/8c on TNT.

Photo credit: Daniel Deme/WENN

Bill Maher should be an example to everyone. He learned on Monday that you don't challenge Donald Trump to anything that has to do with either money or something his lawyers can prove in court. And especially not both.

Back in October, during the presidential election, Maher made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The taping took place soon after Trump had said he would donate $5 million to charity if President Obama released his college transcripts and passport history to the public. After that announcement, Maher said he would donate $5 million to charity if Trump "could prove he isn't the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan," according to TMZ.

Trump didn't get what he wanted from the president, but it looks like he has not forgotten Maher's promise — and he is willing to take the comedian to court over it. The real estate magnate has produced the birth certificates of both parents.

"In his suit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Trump says he formally responded to Maher's challenge with a copy of his birth certificate, proving he is, in fact, the 'son of Fred Trump'... who is not a member of the Great Ape family," said TMZ.

Trump said he felt it was silly to take up Maher's challenge but he felt he had to do so, for all the charities involved.

“I don't know whether I will win or lose the Bill Maher lawsuit but had an obligation to sue for charity," Trump said in a statement on Monday, according to the Daily Mail.

He continued his rant by going calling into Fox and Friends.

"He promised me $5 million for charity if I provided certain information," he told the show. "Well, I provided the information. He didn't pay. So today I sue Bill Maher for $5 million for charity."

Trump added that five "worthy charities" are now without the $5 million because of Maher, and he expects him to pay up. Maher has not yet responded to the lawsuit.

Photo courtesy DJDM/WENN.com