Lawman Jack Lamb just shot and killed dangerous mobster Johnny Rizzo. It was all in self-defense, so the next obvious step would be to tell his brother, the Sheriff, what happened. Right? Unless you're dating the mobster's daughter and it would end your relationship if she found out.

Then you have to flee the scene, lie about it, and turn into a shady criminal. But a girl as beautiful as Mia Rizzo is probably worth all the moral compromising this guy is about to do.

The first wrong move

There are a few things Jack did to cover up the shooting that is going to be hard to come clean with later. First, he left the scene of the incident and took his gun with him. From all the Law & Order marathons I've watched with my mother, I know that's a sign of guilt.

He was probably trying to play it off like the dead junkie and Rizzo got into a confrontation, but that story's not going to fly with professionals like Ralph and Katherine.

In a shell-shocked comatose state, he goes straight to Mia to deliver the news of her father's death. When she crumbles to the ground in tears, he doesn't have the heart… or the courage to tell her the truth. Then, he goes to Savino and they both agree to keep the secret together. Bad ideas all the way around.

Bad move No. 2

Refusing to tell Ralph and Mia the truth is an ongoing bad move, but on top of that, Jack allows someone else to be considered for Rizzo's death. Ralph and ADA Katherine come up with "the third man" idea that simply explains that there was a third person in the room. It's not a genius idea, it's just pretty obvious. So, they call in the junkie's boyfriend and Jack actually lets the blame fall on him!

Downward spiral at this point

The problem with lying is that it never stops at just one lie. You have to tell another lie to cover that lie, and soon things get out of hand. Jack really crosses the line when he intentionally tampers with evidence. He switches out his fingerprints on the murder weapon with the junkie's boyfriend's!

Oh Jack, you're a man of the law. You're straight-edged Ralph Lamb's brother! You're an example of honor to a corrupt city and you're framing someone for murder to save your relationship with your mobster girlfriend! S!@T just got real.

Later, in bed with his beloved Mia that he just stomped on his moral compass for, she tells him he's the only man he trusts. His heart is beating through his chest, he's sweating buckets, but he still just can't tell the truth.

This show is getting good.

Photo courtesy of CBS

Recommended links:

Vegas recap: Someone will die
Vegas recap: Love and other confessions
Vegas recap: Indecent Proposal

Food can get in the way of your toddler’s busy play schedule, so it better be worth their while to take time out for a meal or snack. Appeal to your picky little eater’s appreciation for make-believe by getting clever with your food presentation.

Make fun food
for toddlers

You may think, “I don’t have the time, energy or imagination to be creative with food.” Good news: You don’t need a degree in art to create a recognizable figure, animal or scene on a plate. But there are certainly tools that can help your cause.

Use small plastic cookie cutters to add cute cheese, fruit, veggie and lunch meat embellishments to a plate, recommends Jill Dubien, who itemized all of her Fun Food Friday supplies on her Meet the Dubiens blog. You might get the most mileage out of metal cutters, which make it easy to give sandwiches a shape, or opt for sandwich punches which give the basic lunchtime staple a funky personality without much waste.

But most of the time, you don’t need fancy gadgets or incredible vision to whip up some fun food for your toddler. Resourcefulness and good intentions can be just enough to get your toddler to gobble up whatever you put in front of her, or at least give it a taste-test which, as all moms know, can be considered a battle won.

Baa, baa, baa

"Serving fun, creative lunches for your children teaches them to delight in eating healthy and wholesome foods, explore their own creativity and think outside the box,” says Amy Hudson of Creative Kid Snacks. This adorable lamb makes ho-hum cottage cheese an in-demand snack.

This little puppy pot pie

Nothing says home-cooking quite like a pot pie, but you’re unlikely to convince a toddler of that sentiment. On her blog, Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons, Jill Mills features over 250 fun food ideas including these Puppy Pot Pies, which are anything but woof and every bit of edible cuteness.

Taste the rainbow

Bri K.’s craft experiment resulted in seriously cool rainbow spaghetti. Simply add a generous blob of food coloring to the water you cook your pasta in, preparing separate pots of pasta per color. Serving up a plate of multi-hued spaghetti may just jump-start your child’s appetite. Add butter or olive oil, some spices, throw in a protein and you have much more than just plain old spaghetti with sauce.

Bunny hop to the table

An English muffin and peanut butter make up the base of Dubien’s bunny snack, and it’s easy enough to pop on apple slices for ears, blueberries for eyes, carrot whiskers and a strawberry slice nose. Cute, delicious and irresistible. Serve this snack with a side of milk and some functional foodstuff, the clever new Plum Kids Fruit Straws.

5 Fun ways to get kids to eat healthy foods>>

Healthy foods your kids won’t hate>>

More about fun food for toddlers

Fun finger food ideas for family night
5 Fresh kid-friendly breakfast creations
Food art for kids

Join the party whether you go all-out with a big celebration or you're simply making dinner for the family. Mardi Gras is a fun time to enjoy a dish or two you might not normally make. Try one of these festive dishes to celebrate Mardi Gras and let the good times roll!

Light and spicy remoulade sauce recipe

There are all sorts of remoulade sauce recipes with either oil or mayonnaise as the base. Lighten things up with this version, using plain Greek-style yogurt instead of mayo. Use the sauce as a dip for shrimp, a topping for crab cakes or as a spread on a po'boy sandwich.

Yields approximately 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plain, Greek-style yogurt
• 3 tablespoons deli-style mustard
• 2 tablespoons horseradish
• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon green onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
2. Refrigerate for about an hour before serving.

Muffuletta sandwich recipe

This is a hearty, Italian-inspired sandwich with origins in New Orleans. It's typically made with layers of meats and cheeses and thick Italian rolls, but the key to these massive sandwiches is the olive salad that adds the zestiness!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

For the olive salad

• 1/2 cup green pimento-stuffed olives, chopped
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
• 1 cup prepared hot giardiniera , plus 1 tablespoon of the packing oil
• 1 tablespoon capers, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the sandwiches

• 8 ounces prosciutto, sliced thin
• 8 ounces Genoa salami, sliced
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 8 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
• 4 round, large, Italian-style bread rolls

Directions:

1. Mix together all of the ingredients for the olive salad in a medium-sized bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to mix.
2. When ready to make your sandwiches, slice the bread rolls in half. Add about three tablespoons of the olive salad to the bottom half of each roll.
3. On top of the olive salad add 2 ounces of prosciutto, 2 ounces of fresh mozzarella, 2 ounces of salami and 2 ounces of provolone, for each sandwich.
4. Add another 2-3 tablespoons of the olive salad as the final layer of the sandwich and top with the remaining portion of the sandwich roll.
5. Slice in half and serve.

Shrimp etouffee recipe

This is a Cajun-style dish that is often served over steamed white rice. Thick and hearty like a stew, this is an easy dish to make and a great way to celebrate Mardi Gras!

Recipe inspired by Paula Deen

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound frozen medium-sized shrimp, peeled and thawed
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/3 cup diced yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup minced green onion
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt to taste
• 3 tablespoons butter
• Steamed white rice

Directions:

1. Make a roux using the oil and flour. Over low heat, add the oil to a Dutch oven and add the flour to form a paste. Mix the two together and whisk constantly for about 7-10 minutes.
2. Add the celery, green bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Cook over low heat until the onions soften.
3. Add the parsley, green onion, hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the mixture.
4. Add the tomatoes and broth. Mix well, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
5. At this point, if your mixture is thicker than you'd like, add some water and mix well. Start by adding a small amount at a time. After adding the water, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
6. Add the shrimp to the mixture and cook for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter. Mix the butter until it's incorporated.
7. Serve hot, over steamed white rice if you'd like.

Let the good times roll!

More Mardi Gras recipes

Easy jambalaya
Gluten-free sausage and shrimp gumbo
Hurricane cocktails recipe

Lucy Lawless' Greenpeace activism is going to cost her — a relatively small amount. A judge has gone easy in sentencing the Xena: Warrior Princess actress for her Feb. 2012 role in a protest aboard an oil-drilling ship.

Lucy Lawless and seven other disobedient do-gooders, who all pleaded guilty to trespassing charges, have been ordered by a New Zealand judge to pay $547 to a port company and complete 120 hours of community service.

Xena actress joins ranks of surprising celebrity offenders>>

The fine is a far cry from the $545,000 in reparations that was sought by oil company Shell, whose vessel the Noble Discoverer was delayed after the 44-year-old spent four days atop the 174-foot tower, camping and blogging about her cause.

"I'm blocking Shell's Arctic drillship because I believe passionately that renewable energy is the way of the future," the aptly-named Lawless explained at the time. "We don't have to go to the ends of the earth to suck out every last drop of oil. Instead we need to smarten up and begin the transition to a clean, green, sustainable energy future and right now that means keeping Shell out of the Arctic."

U.S. military takes a cue from Xena: Warrior Princess>>

"I consider it a great victory that the court has struck down the reparation demand from Shell, which I think was absolutely ludicrous," Lucy Lawless said in response to the sentencing.

The Associated Press noted the actress said she was happy to clean toilets, pick up litter or do whatever else was required for her community service — and that she has no regrets about taking part in the protest.

Breaking the law and helping highlight concerns about oil exploration in the Arctic is all in a day's work for Lucy Lawless!

Image via WENN

Don't have a fondue pot? Great news, you don't need one for this recipe! All you need is a simple stainless steel saucepan and some skewers. This creamy, decadent and festive dessert only takes 10 minutes to prepare and tastes just as good as The Melting Pot .

Red velvet fondue recipe

Yields about 1/3 cup fondue

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 4 ounces premium milk chocolate
• 1 tablespoon Patron XO Cafe Dark Cocoa
• About 4-6 drops red food coloring
• Cheesecake, biscuits, fruit and cake for dipping

Directions:

1. Heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat on your stovetop. Once simmering , stir in chocolate and liqueur. Stir the mixture continuously until all of the chocolate melts.
2. Serve the chocolate immediately and enjoy! If you're eating a little late, prop the pan up over a candle.

More romantic dessert recipes

Romantic, non-chocolate desserts for Valentine's Day
Romantic chocolate pots de creme recipe
Three romantic chocolate desserts for Valentine's Day

If your child can sit through a movie, she can sit through a musical. These four kid-friendly stage shows are great for introducing young children to live theater. Get all dressed up and have a special date with your child as you attend one of these hit Broadway musicals.

Centered around an athletic performance by former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby, this kid-friendly musical covers all of the familiar territory kids come to expect from the tale of Peter Pan. It’s hard to believe that lead Rigby is almost 60. She brings a youthful energy to the performance in this lively musical. Kids will love knowing how the story goes and won’t be too scared of the over the top, primarily silly Captain Hook. You can only catch Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan on tour, so keep an eye out for a stop near you to experience all of the magic and wonder.

Discover 6 video games you can play with your kids>>

Kids who love the classic Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast will adore Disney’s Beauty and the Beast onstage. With the songs from the film and additional songs added to flesh out the musical, this is a colorful, exciting show that’s perfect for little ones. Whether you have a child who already loves the film or you want a creative way to introduce her to the story, this is a good choice for a first musical. For younger children, this is the most appropriate of the four, but keep in mind that it’s a love story. If your child isn’t into tales of love, she may not keep up.

Based on the hit film Billy Elliot, this Tony Award-winning musical features stunning music by Elton John. While it involves a little profanity and issues of bigotry and violence, it’s appropriate for kids with parental supervision. If you’re concerned about the content, try viewing the movie first. This musical is an amazing experience for kids and teens who feel marginalized in any way. Billy Elliot is led by a talented young dancer and gives any kid an amazing role model to look up to when it comes to dedication and commitment to identity. Bring tissues when you bring your child to this powerhouse musical.

Learn how to create a family bucket list>>

If you loved any previous version of The Addams Family, you’ll love this highly energetic musical that features an all new story centered around Wednesday Addams. When Wednesday’s new “normal” boyfriend visits for dinner, it gives the audience a chance to experience the strange Addams Family. The all new touring production brings this award-winning Broadway musical to audiences around the U.S. The current tour of The Addams Family features the original Broadway Wednesday Addams, and the entire cast brings a dose of Broadway talent and glamour to local performing arts centers. Bring kids who are resistant to musical theater but love comedy.

Image credit: Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan:  Isaac James Creative; Beauty and the Beast: Joan Marcus; Billy Elliot: Doug Blemker; The Addams Family: Jeremy Daniel

More activities for kids

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Creative everyday play ideas for kids
Ways to volunteer as a family

No one quite knows yet what Steven Soderbergh's latest film, Side Effects, is. A medical mystery? Psychological thriller? While the Jude Law and Rooney Mara-led flick looks promising, promoting it is apparently a big pain.

"Press junkets are a very specific form of psychological torture for everyone involved,"Stephen Soderbergh recently told Yahoo Movies when he sat down to talk about Side Effects.

New Side Effects poster revealed >>

"It's really bad. There's no scenario once you don't hate yourself. It's impossible," the 50-year-old continued.

"Matt [Damon] and I talked about that when we were doing The Informant. We're talking about waterboarding, and he was like, 'F*** that. You get the worst terrorist zealot and junket him for three days and we'll break him. We will totally break him.'"

Thankfully, for Steven Soderbergh, he's about to have a reprieve from the junket torture, as his self-imposed deadline for retirement has arrived.

Liberace biopic was "too gay" for every studio, except HBO>>

"Five years ago, as we were finishing Che, I said, 'OK, when I turn 50, I want to be done. I'm going to jam in as much as I can, but when I turn 50, I want to be done,'" he explained. "This movie is done. Liberace is done, delivered. So, other than doing press like that, I've already started working on other things."

Sounds like there's not much actual retiring planned for Soderbergh's retirement! Here's a look at Side Effects, in which the anxiety-ridden Rooney Mara turns to the new drug Ablixa for help.

Image via WENN

Does the thought of thick, chocolaty, fudgy brownies topped with a raspberry cheesecake layer sound delicious to you? If the answer is yes, then this is a great recipe for you! You can always make homemade brownies from scratch but let's face it not all of us have the time or patience. Using a simple boxed brownie mix saves a lot of time and the cheesecake layer is fail proof. The raspberry preserves add just a hint of fruity flavor to make this a wonderful and unique dessert.

Raspberry cheesecake swirl brownies recipe

Yields 12 brownies

Ingredients: 

For the brownies: 

• 1 family-size box brownie mix  

For the cheesecake layer:

• 12 ounces cream cheese , room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup raspberry preserves  

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven as directed on the box of brownie mix. Prepare the brownie batter as instructed on the box and pour into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie batter and smooth with a knife or the back of a spoon to cover the brownie batter.
3. Drop dollops of raspberry preserves into the cheesecake batter. Gently swirl the batters together with a butter knife . Bake the brownies for 40-45 minutes or until the center is cooked completely and the cheesecake layer is set.
4. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour. Slice into bars and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to several days.

More fun brownie ideas

Mini no-bake brownie batter cheesecakes
Oatmeal raisin brownies
Vanilla brownies

Pattie Mallette

Just like her pop-star son, Pattie Mallette has a story that tugs on the heartstrings. She struggled as a single teen mom to raise Justin, relying on the generosity of her parents and others to get her through. So are we really that offended that she's parlaying her son’s fame into her own 15 minutes? Nah. Bless her little heart, she’s just looking for a break. Of course, she would talk about her superstar son during her appearance on the TODAY Show this morning — the woman gave birth to the Biebs, of course it merits mentioning. She may be meddling in his love life, but only so far as to hope he and "sweetheart"Selena Gomez reconnect.

Kris Jenner

When it comes to overbearing parents, Kris Jenner may just be Hollywood’s reigning stage mom. As the matriarch of the Kardashian clan, she has been accused of everything from selling family photos to directing her own daughter’s sex tape. She serves as “momager” to nearly her whole reality-TV-starring brood, so Kris has ample opportunity to make the most of her stage-mom persona in the public eye. Rumors constantly circulate that she takes her role too far — already trying to call the shots with Kim and Kanye’s unborn baby? — but they always seem to blow over as quickly as they crop up.

Mama June

Apparently, becoming a full-time stage mom makes for a bangin’ diet. The mother of that deep-fried-pageantry-ball-of-fun known as Honey Boo Boo, Mama June recently told TMZ that she’s shed more than 100 pounds since Here Comes Honey Boo Boo began airing. And why not? Before becoming a monolith of reality TV, Mama June rarely ventured out for anything other than making cashiers miserable with her countless coupons or hitting up the latest glitz pageant. Now, in addition to appearing on talk shows with her well-known offspring, she’s constantly “running around and going different places” as part of the show.

Dina Lohan

Dina, Dina, Dina. You’ve been accused of pushing Lindsay too hard to become a celebrity. You’ve been accused of using your daughter’s many public meltdowns to get you more time with the media. Now you're campaigning to get producers from Dancing With the Stars to let you take the spot Linds turned down. We think you should quit while you’re still… well, still behind, sweetie. You got the stage-mom makeover — designer duds, bleached hair, Malibu Barbie tan — now it’s time to walk away from the cocktails and tabloid offers. That tell-all book you've been shopping around would be the ultimate telltale that you’ve officially reached super-stage mom status.

Any mother from Dance Moms

Heaven have mercy on us for being sucked in by the drama-mongering stage moms on Lifetime’s surprisingly popular series, Dance Moms. When it comes to stage mom-dom, these ladies wrote the book. Not only do they subject their daughters to the dictatorship of instructor Abby Lee Miller in the name of dance, but they actually also stick around practices and watch from a spectator’s box. Between arguing over whose kid currently curries the most favor with Abby Lee to storming into rehearsal to challenge their kids' rank in “the pyramid,” these moms serve up almost too much stage-mom madness to watch. Almost.

More on famous stage moms

Did Kris Jenner beat the hell out of Kim Kardashian?
Lindsay Lohan is a mess because of dad, says mom
Honey Boo Boo to mom: You'll never be as pretty as me

Images, top to bottom, courtesy of: FayesVision/WENN.com, AndresOtero/WENN.com, JosiahTrue/WENN.com, WENN.com, Lifetime

Kelly Clarkson is one happy fiancée. The bride-to-be has already shared every minute of her engagement details, her "earthy" theme for a fall wedding, and now she's promising, in an interview with People, that she's "not going to be a bridezilla."

Famous last words, Kelly. We kid, we kid.

She actually told the entertainment magazine, "I'm going to be like, 'Oh, the cake fell off the porch, that's fine. Cool, something's on fire, cool, whatever, we'll move it. We'll get married over there.' I'm going to be that girl."

Clarkson got engaged in December to her boyfriend of a year, Brandon Blackstock, a country music talent manager. Blackstock is the son of Clarkson's own manager, Narvel Blackstock. The elder Blackstock is married to country superstar Reba McEntire.

About a month before her engagement, the 30-year-old singer knew an engagement was pending and she already had a wedding ceremony in mind.

She told Ellen DeGeneres, "We will totally, probably elope."

It looks like the American Idol Season 1 winner's plans have changed. Now, the couple is scheduling an outdoor fall wedding at the home they share in Nashville, Tennessee. Clarkson hopes to honor her home state of Texas with yellow roses as a part of the decor.

Whether Clarkson elopes or marries in front of family and friends doesn't really matter. What matters is the Grammy winner is happy and in love.

As she told People, "I didn't know life could be this happy."

Catch triple nominee Clarkson performing live at the Grammys this Sunday, Feb. 10.

Image courtesy of WENN.com

Click,
Flash Fun!

Thinking of having a party this year to celebrate all of the awards shows? Well, there's absolutely no excuse not to, because I am about to show you how you can make a completely awesome DIY award show photo booth by using things that you probably have around the house. Think I'm kidding? Just wait and see!

I'm slightly obsessed with photo booths, mostly because they are extremely fun and family friendly — my favorite combination. This particular idea is great for any age range!

Ready to get started and to accept your award for being such a crafty DIY-er?

• Butcher block paper or bulletin board paper
• Red poster paint
• Paint brushes and/or rollers
• Tape
• Hot glue gun and hot glue
• Paper
• Cereal box cardboard
• Wooden dowels, or medium-gauge wire
• Wire cutters
• Ribbon
• School glue  
• Glitter
• Marker
• Sunglasses

If you use butcher block paper you will need to roll out two long lengths of about 3-4 feet long.

Carefully edge the pieces next to one another and tape together. If you use bulletin board paper, you can skip this step.

Using poster paint, you will create your Oscar-worthy curtains. You can paint your curtains on with a roller brush or a regular paint brush. I found that the regular paint brush was actually easier to use than the roller.

Allow your paint to dry. It will take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour to dry completely.

You are finished! Now, hang your Photo Booth backdrop and the next step is to make your props!

To make your props you will begin by cutting up the cardboard from a cereal box.

If you don't want to run to the craft store for wooden dowels, you can create holders for your props out of wire covered in ribbon. Simply cut the bottom length of a wire coat hanger off in two snips with your wire cutter. Then cover the piece of wire with ribbon, by twisting it around the wire from beginning to end.

Using a marker, draw the shape of your props using simple lines.

Glue the paper onto the cereal box cardboard with school glue. then allow to dry completely. Once dry, cut out the shape of your prop.

Once you've finished cutting out your prop, use your hot glue to glue on your ribbon-covered wire or wooden dowel.

Use glitter to cover your Oscar Award and make a star covered in glitter as well to attach to your camera for a "flash".

Glittered props look great in photo booths. To glitter your props, draw the shape of your prop directly on cardboard, then cover completely with a thin layer of school glue. Sprinkle with glitter and allow to dry.

Guess what? You are finished! Your props are complete, your Photo booth backdrop is complete and you are now ready to accept your Academy Award and pretend that you are shocked that you won!

Who me?

Now, go and have a blast!

More award show party ideas

Grammy's cocktail party menu
From dining to decor: A sneak peek at the Governors Ball
Glitzy Oscar party tips and recipes

Asher Monroe Book: Increasing the caliber of creativity

What you see before you is not just another pretty face. You may have seen his charming good looks around, ranging from the small screen to the big screen, but do you really know Asher Monroe Book — who now chooses to go by Asher Monroe?

Unlikely. At the mere age of 24, he has a solid resume which began at age 11, according to the IMDb. His work — spanning from appearances on The Mentalist and Parenthood to the movie Fame— will now expand to include a musical career.

He became a YouTube sensation seemingly overnight with the release of the track "Like I Do," and we hope to see him parlay the success into a full-fledged album. We sat down with him for an intimate and informative glance into where he comes from, what his plans are and who inspires him.

SheKnows: Born in Arlington, Virginia, moved to New York City, then to L.A. — how did your roots help you as a musician?

Asher Monroe: Growing up in Virginia, I was listening to oldies in the car. Roots are important, especially to me in this industry. I was in a national Broadway tour and wherever you can you pull culture from people. All those kind of things definitely help you write music.

SK: I've read some of your other interviews and you mention that Stevie Wonder is an influence ― how does he affect your music?

AM: Stylistically, I love his melodies... I love the way he sings. I'm inspired to pick up the piano. The music you listen to today possibly hints of it. Some of my music is inspired by a baseline in his song.

SK: Parenthood, the movie Fame,The Mentalist... you've had countless other appearances, but do you think you love acting as much as you do music?

AM: Acting is all a part of that creative level and I am a creative person at heart. When I can become a character that a normal person wouldn’t, I like doing it. Acting is a lot of fun. It is hard to compare it to work; when you are in it, you just enjoy every moment. At the same time, I was supporting myself and I was also helping support my family so it helped put food on the table.

SK: Congrats on your prestigious Billboard cover! What was running through your head when you were shooting that?

AM: Thank you. Oh man! It's a trippy experience with any musician, to come true, to be on the cover of such a prestigious magazine. I was just honored to be on it and be a part of something so amazing. Proud moment. Great moment.

SK: What’s your favorite song on the new album?

AM: [I] Have so many favorites ― I am continually trying to push myself farther and step out of my comfort zone. It has been a lot of fun in the past year just making this music. And I am constantly evolving. For me, it's hard to put one song as a favorite, each one is a favorite to me. I have a lot of songs recorded and written.

SK: OK, let's narrow it down further. What song on your new album would you dedicate to a special someone?

AM: Good question. I'm not sure. I would dedicate “Goodbye.” It's a heartfelt, amazing song. Basically, I would say "goodbye" to everything except you. When I perform I could dedicate this. I do have people in mind when I write these songs.

SK: Well then, fans gotta know: Do you have a special someone?

AM: Maybe. I definitely keep my love life on the DL. Don’t want to unveil too much. Already being in the spotlight so much, you gotta keep a few things in secrecy.

SK: Who did you enjoy collaborating with more, Chris Brown or Sean Kingston?

AM: I didn't have as much time with Sean Kingston in terms of collaboration. Chris Brown spent more time helping create these songs, and vocally produce. My work with him was more hands-on. I really enjoyed working with someone with so much talent. Chris has been an amazing person to work with.

SK: Your smash hit “Here With You” was co-produced with Ryan Tedder [of One Republic]. What kind of influence and direction did he give to it, in regard to style or execution?

AM: He’s given it versatility, I'm a huge fan of One Republic. Not only did I love his band, it was similar to the stuff I was doing. We could get together and we could really come up with something cool. He is just so open â€• when we were in the room together the energy really works, synergy totally worked. I was just privileged.

SK: Why was "Here With You" important enough to you to make it the leading single?

AM: It had an anthem vibeʉۥ it was a song people could [play] just driv[ing] in a car, blast in the radio and be with their friends. It's not directed to one person but could be anything, it could be all across the boardʉۥ with a general theme.

SK: Dance/Pop music is a tough genre to stand out in. What do you think will make you stand out?

AM: I think it helps with the Ryan Tedder collaboration. Working with him can definitely help and radio stations think, "Well, he loves it." People love good music to dance to, great lyrics, feel-good songs ― for me I see this as a introduction breakout. I wanted a song in the beginning to get everyone's attention.

SK: This song will open doors. Who would your dream collaboration be with?

AM: I had always looked up with Chris [Brown]. One day, maybe Bruno Mars? I have other producers and writers on my list but I am still happy so far. People like the ones I already worked with are big people I wanted to.

SK: Who do you have a musical crush on?

AM: Musically I would say Adele. She's a powerhouse and has amazing vocals. Girls that can really sing kill it.

SK: You're big on social networking, but it comes with its share of downsidesʉۥ how would you cope with any negativity or gossip spread on these platforms?

AM: I think it will happen regardless, there are haters out there, it's easy to comment at home. Just 'cause they don’t like it, I don’t really let it get to me, at the end of the day it's me and it's what I want to represent. There [are] pros and cons — it's out there and it’s the music I like.

SK: One message to your fans about pursuing their dreams would be?

AM: I really encourage my fans all the time to pursue it with all [their] heart, a lot of times it can't be done. There have been endless worries of famous people that have been rejected and they were told they wouldn't amount to anything. Greatest thing about it, it encourages us to push even harder â€• if it's your craft you have to do it with your full heart and get better.

Be competitive as hell â€• man, so many different things... but don’t give up, that’s the easiest way out. And if they give up on it they will never know.

Check out "Here With You:"

Photo courtesy of Andres Otero/WENN.com

Whether you've found Mr. Right or are still on the hunt, Valentine's Day is a great reason to get together and celebrate love and friendship! Here are sparkling cocktail recipes for every occasion, from a romantic dinner for two to girls' night in.

Cheers to love
and friendship!

Cran-pomegranate mimosas

Curl up on the couch with some popcorn and chick flicks and celebrate the beauty of friendship with cran-pomegranate mimosas and your best girlfriends.

Yields 4-6 mimosas

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pomegranate juice, chilled
• 1 cup cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 1 cup orange juice, chilled
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur
• 1 bottle Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
• Chilled pomegranate arils for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine all juices and orange liqueur in large pitcher.
2. Slowly add Cordon Negro Brut and stir.
3. Pour into Champagne flutes garnished with a few pomegranate arils.

Raspberry mint rosé bellini

Even if you plan on eating dinner out, why not have dessert at home? Fresh and lightly sweet, this raspberry mint rosé bellini is the perfect end to a romantic dinner.

Yields 1 bellini

Ingredients:

• 1 spoonful raspberry sorbet, softened
• 1/2 ounce vodka
• 4 ounces Freixenet Cordon Rosado
• 2-3 frozen raspberries for garnish
• Mint for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine the softened sorbet and vodka into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
2. Add the Cordon Rosado to the shaker and stir to combine. Strain into a Champagne flute and garnish with raspberries and mint.

Barcelona mule cocktail recipe

If pink and red aren't your thing, try this on for size. This rustic sparkling wine cocktail is a relaxed way to enjoy a drink together without all of the hype of Valentine's Day. You could even surprise your sweetheart with some copper cups to enjoy it in!

Yields 1 mule

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
• 2 ounces ginger-infused vodka
• 4 ounces Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
• Splash of fresh lime juice
• Mint for garnish
• Lime wedges for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine the simple syrup and ginger vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds and strain into a glass with a few ice cubes.
2. Fill the rest of the glass slowly with Freixenet while stirring.
3. Add a splash of lime juice. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Combine both ingredients in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer on the stove for 15 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved and the water has reduced a bit.
2. Let cool and use for cocktails.
3. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups vodka
• 4 to 5  1-inch pieces of fresh ginger, peeled

Directions:

1. Place vodka in a glass container and add ginger pieces.
2. Cover with plastic wrap or lid and let infuse in the refrigerator overnight or up to 3 days. Use in cocktail recipes.

More Valentine's Day cocktails

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Valentine's Day martinis
Cocktails for Valentine's Day

After forcing Burt Reynolds into the hospital, keeping Meryl Streep away from the Golden Globes ceremony, and being a part of Hugh Jackman's Golden Globes acceptance speech, the flu is the latest accessory in Hollywood.

In fact, the flu has claimed another celebrity victim. This time, it's shock-rocker Marilyn Manson.

During a Wednesday night concert in Saskatoon, Saskatchewen in Canada, Manson was busy singing his 1996 hit, "The Beautiful People" when his stomach troubles decided to rear their ugly head. After vomiting during the song, he eventually collapsed while the band was still playing.

The town's local paper, StarPhoenix, was there to review the show when they witnessed the musician's collapse.

The reviewer wrote, "It was dark and creepy, but so much fun - from the costume changes to the moment where he threw a birthday cake into the crowd. Then it all ended rather abruptly with an encore of 'The Beautiful People,' where the 44-year-old rocker barely sang and then collapsed on stage. Maybe it was more theatre, but it did seem strange when four roadies dragged him offstage. The house lights went up after just an hour, a very loud, sometimes sublimely odd, hour."

What the audience didn't know was that Manson had been suffering from the flu all day, but as they say, the show must go on.

According to TMZ, the rocker went straight back to his hotel to rest and sleep off his illness. He was not treated at the hospital as some early reports speculated.

Jennie Boddy, Manson's publicist, weighed in on the situation on USA Today saying, "He's fine. He had the flu and he threw up. He's recovering today, his day off. The tour goes on as planned tomorrow in Calgary."

Let's hope the audience in Calgary brings a lot of hand sanitizer.

If you must, TMZ has the video.

Image courtesy of FayesVision/WENN.com

Community is to NBC what Cougar Town was to ABC. After a long break, Cougar Town jumped networks and has been back for the past few weeks. Community is just now making its season four debut.

NBC finally pulls Community off the bench>>

The cast and crew put their hiatus to good use. A lot has happened since they've been away. Series regular Chevy Chase left the show, but still appears in most of the episodes. Community creator and showrunner Dan Harmon also left and was replaced by Moses Port and David Guarascio.

Community: Chevy Chase is outta there!>>

Will all the backstage drama seep into this lighthearted comedy? According to TVLine, the cast is optimistic about the return. The writers pulled out all the stops to make it another memorable year at Greendale Community College.

They're bringing on notable guest stars like Malcolm McDowell and James Brolin. The latter plays Jeff's absentee father. In last year's finale, Jeff took the plunge and decided to face his daddy issues head-on.

When it came to Brolin's casting, McHale says, "He took pity on us and accepted being on the show — and he was great. He really nailed the part. You always hear people gushing about that stuff, but I really enjoyed him and I hope he’s back again."

James is the real-life father of actor Josh Brolin, but lately he's been spreading his paternal love. He'll also appear on ABC's Castle as, you guessed it, Nathan Fillion's dad. He's everywhere!

Community premieres tonight at 8/7c on NBC.

Photo credit: Nikki Nelson/WENN

Brett Ratner's taking one of the most addictive social media games and bringing it to television. He's producing a TV adaptation of Zynga’s Farmville.

Farmville and Farmville 2 attract millions of players daily. The gameplay includes legitimate farming tasks like growing food, plowing the land and raising livestock. It's prominently featured on Facebook and MSN Games.

Step Away from Farmville Before You Kill Your Newborn>>

According to the Wall Street Journal, Ratner's excited to take the property to the next level.

"Farmville is one of the most exciting brands out there today and its cross-platform opportunities are endless. I am thrilled to be expanding the brand with existing fans and also engaging a whole new audience," Ratner said in a statement.

He'll bring the show to life alongside executive producers Kirk Schenck, Charles Bishop and Nina Gelb. They plan to make Farmville a half-hour animated series. This is a surprising change of pace for Ratner. He's no stranger to TV, but this is like nothing he's ever done before.

Prison Break bids goodbye>>

Ratner's best known for producing the former Fox series Prison Break, which ran for four seasons. He also directed the Rush Hour film trilogy, X-Men: The Last Stand and Tower Heist. Next up, he'll join forces with Dwayne Johnson for Hercules.

Even though Farmville is backed by Canadian production company Six Eleven Media, no network is attached. Therefore, it may or may not air. But considering its popularity it could be on our screens sooner than later.

Will you tune in for the Farmville series?

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN

Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood always gives us serious fashion envy when she shows up at awards shows. Case in point? The 2012 Grammy Awards. The former American Idol winner looked every bit a country queen in her sparkly Gomez-Gracia gown and perfect teeth. So jealous.

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland has one of the best bodies in the business — and she showed it off with a peach-toned Alberta Ferretti gown at the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele is one of those women you'd never expect to be a sexpot, but she always brings it when she shows up on red carpets. Take the 2011 Grammy Awards for example: The Glee star looked incredible in her Emilio Pucci dress by showing lots of leg and cleavage.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria is one of those celebs who isn't afraid to take a risk on the red carpet. Take the black-and-white Ashi dress she wore to the 2011 Grammy Awards, for example: It's short and full of ruffles, which could spell trouble, but Longoria pulls it off with ease.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman looked like a tall, toned drink of water at the 2010 Grammy Awards in her Prada gown. Love the sideboob, too!

Katy Perry

Katy Perry successfully pulled off the nude look — as in a nude gown — when she wore this Zac Posen creation for the 2010 Grammy Awards. It's really not fair that she looks so gorgeous in, well, everything she puts on.

Photos: WENN.com

Even though Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, broken hearts and broken relationships are actually a common theme this time of year.

Tips to take
care of Y-O-U

The major holidays are over, and many people take the opportunity to end a relationship and start the new year fresh and single. Is your heart broken right now? If so, there is hope. The following tips can help the healing start today.

Consider an animal

Pets are instant stress-relievers and great companions. If you are feeling lonely and upset about your breakup, consider getting a pet. Dogs and cats are great companion animals, and even guinea pigs or gerbils are fine. Taking a dog for a walk or cuddling up with a cat is a great way to relax. Pets don’t give us advice like friends and family, they just listen. Children who are dealing with parents' breakup or divorce often do better with transitions when they have an animal to help them.

The best dogs for women who live alone>>

More ways to heal your heart

Broken heart: When it’s time to get help
5 Easy ways to feel happier every day
6 Ways nature can boost your mood

CURE Champion

Lose the weight and donate

Need a reason to get in shape or reach that fitness goal you've been dreaming of? CURE International has given you just that. You can become a CURE Champion and help a child in need find their dream as you work towards a fitness dream of your own.

CURE International has teamed up with world-class trainers to help you get in shape and send aid to children in need around the world. With their amazing new campaign, you can sign up to reach your fitness goals, and the money you raise will help a child around the world receive the life-changing surgery they need. Andrea Metcalf, best-selling author of Naked Fitness and NBC Chicago fitness expert, is part of the team of celebrity trainers ready to help you reach your fitness goals if you become a CURE Champion. She sat down with SheKnows to tell us more about the campaign and how you can be part of it all.

SheKnows: CURE International is such an amazing organization, can you tell us a little bit about what they do?

Andrea Metcalf: Cure International helps provide life-changing surgeries and help to children with disabilities. Cleft lip or untreated burns can scar a child's development by looking different. In some countries these conditions are thought to be evil, and families are banned from the community.

SK: The CURE Champion campaign is an innovative way to help people get in shape while helping children in need. How does the contest work?

AM: The contest helps those wishing to get in shape with fitness advice and motivation with four top coaches while raising money to help disabled children. Once they apply to be a "champion" they pledge their fitness, weight loss or sports team goals and are placed on a team. Teams then are under a coach who helps set their fundraising goals. Participants can ask questions and seek leadership from the Cure Coaches every day.

SK: What made you decide to become a Champion Fitness Coach, and what can your team members expect out of having you as a coach?

AM: I am behind this program because of the lives it can change; it brings together the motivation to help others and yourself. I have experience in online coaching and have had hundreds of successful weight loss clients over the years, as well as helped people avoid surgeries from injuries with good training. I was honored to be asked to be part of this program and will do my best to share my expertise and enthusiasm with my team.

SK: Can anyone get involved or do they need to be at a certain fitness level to participate?

AM: Any fitness level can participate.

SK: If someone is ready to get started, what do they need to do?

AM: Get signed up online and start sharing your goals. You'll receive a starter kit and then get in the game and move forward knowing you'll be making a difference in more lives than just your own.

You sign can sign up at Cure Champion.

More on health and fitness

6 Must-have health and fitness apps for your iPhone 5
How to reach your health and fitness goals and more
Top 10 functional exercises for full-body fitness

Ideas for a no-couples-allowed bash

Singles only

Single this Valentine's Day? Awesome! That's the perfect excuse to put together a shindig for your single friends. We've got a few ideas for you and your crew.

Sure, you can go the anti-Valentine's Day route and throw a "black hearts" party where everyone wears goth clothing and snarks on couples, but we prefer a party that emphasizes the great things about hanging out together sans significant others.

If you've got friends, food and libations, you're off to a great start anyway, but for a party like this, try making a playlist with a cute twist on being single and psyched. Here are a few ideas:

• "Single Ladies," Beyonce — Obviously.
• "I Don't Wanna Be a Player No More," Big Pun — You're not a player, you just crush a lot, right?
• "King of Anything," Sara Bareilles — Here's to all the bad dates you wished you could have walked out of.
• "No Scrubs," TLC — A throwback with a message.
• "I Will Survive," Cake — Awesome cover of an awesome song.
• "Ridin' Solo," Jason Derulo — If this song is any indication of how sweet it is to be single, we never want to get into a relationship, ever.

It might be tempting to collect your crew and watch your favorite rom-com for the billionth time, but try to resist. Instead, arrange a screening that puts the focus on intense storytelling and layered characters. Hunker down with your friends on the couch and watch Claire Danes shine as a CIA intelligence officer in the first few episodes of Homeland, or have everyone meet at the movie theater for a showing of Zero Dark Thirty, starring Jessica Chastain as the woman who brought down Osama bin Laden, and then bring everyone back to your place for snacks and an easy-to-make, jauntily named signature cocktail, like...

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces vodka
• 1 ounce dry vermouth
• 1/2 ounce olive brine

Directions:

1. Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a fancy celebratory glass.
2. Garnish with olives . Done. But sip with caution — these babies are potent.

If you're like us, you usually pour glasses of vino for your friends without really thinking a whole lot about what you're drinking beyond a few basics . Try getting a bunch of the same types of wines, covering the labels, and having your friends rate which they like best. Then do the big reveal of everyone's fave at the end. For inspiration, check out our girls' night taste test.

Or, try the cool new product Wine Battles: You'll get two or more bottles of a certain type of wine , and then you pour dueling glasses for each person and rate them based on aroma and bouquet, body, acidity and sweetness. Then the really cool part happens: Go online to see if other people who've tasted it thought the same thing — you can even interact with the wine merchants themselves as well as other wine aficionados.

Stretch weekly battles out over several gatherings if you'd like, depending on the number of people you're entertaining. Drinking wine and learning something at the same time? Sounds like a pretty good night to us.

If you and your buddies are short on cash, consider having everyone bring a few articles of clothing so everyone leaves with something new. Tell your guests if there's anything left over, you'll donate it to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local women's shelter. New clothes, doing good, hanging out with your friends: Recipe for a great night.

More stories for singles

Single? Comebacks about why you're unattached
10 Things single people say
"Crazy"-proof your online dating profile