Jimmy Kimmel is taking girl power to the next level on Tuesday night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. He'll meet with two of the loveliest ladies in the biz tonight when he interviews Jessica Alba and showcases the stunningly voiced Ellie Goulding.

Jessica Alba is currently on a press tour for her new movie, Escape from Planet Earth. Alba voiced the part of Lena Thackleman, a blue, big-headed alien trapped inside Area 51 with a bunch of other aliens captured by earthlings and kept for experimentation. The movie looks pretty cute, and the emphasis on all the various aliens working together toward a common goal should be really inspiring as classrooms continue to diversify. Alba, whose daughters and voice are featured in the new Windows phone commercial, isn't just a pretty face. She can also be rather funny. She and Jimmy should get along swimmingly.

Jimmy Kimmel nabs Emmy host gig >>

Closing the show is the latest import from Britain, Ellie Goulding. Goulding, with her bleach blonde hair and sometimes helium-voiced songs, is slowly but surely creeping into the American music scene. Her last major single, "Lights," saw decent success on this side of the pond, and her new song, "Anything Could Happen," off her new album, Halcyon, continues to hold steady on Spotify charts. Though her voice is angelic, her music is often fun and club friendly. She also puts on one heck of a show. Whether she's singing her cover of Elton John's "Your Song" or belting out one of her own magnificent works, her powerful voice is sure to carry her far.

Listen...

Rather lovely, huh?

Jimmy Kimmel gives an emotional goodbye to Uncle Frank>>

Make sure to tune in to Jimmy Kimmel Live Tuesday night for your chance to see Jessica, Ellie and sexy superstar chef Bobby Flay.

Images courtesy of WENN

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If Taylor Swift's new album is any indication, the singer gets what she wants in a relationship.

"I'm pretty sure we almost broke up last night, I threw my phone across the room at you," she sings in her new song "Stay Stay Stay" from her album Red.

From that lyric, and many others, people might think that Swift is a tough person to be in a relationship with. But the singer said that's not the way it really is.

Did the Grammys just start a Taylor Swift/Katy Perry catfight? >>

"I don't think I've ever yelled at an ex-boyfriend. Ever. I'm not a yeller. I'm not a fit thrower," she says in the new issue of Elle, according to MTV. "If something is done, it's done."

The tone of her music about exes, plus the rumor that her performance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday included a dig at ex Harry Styles, makes Swift seem like a bad breaker-upper. But Swift said she likes to be the girl in relationships and lets the boys chase after her.

"I'm sure if I looked up the latest Google Alerts rumor, it would say I'm chasing somebody who doesn't like me as much as I like him — people love that angle on me," she said. "They're like 'Oh Taylor, coming on too strong again, chasing boys.' I never chase boys. They don't like it!"

Michael J. Fox warns Taylor Swift to stay away from his son >>

Swift also seems to be defending her songs, since she is getting a reputation for writing about every bad relationship she has had. But she wants people to know why she does it.

"To me, it's just writing songs the way I always have. It's me sitting on my bed feeling pain I didn't understand, writing a song, and understanding it better," Swift said. "If people want to dissect the lyrics, that's their right, but it's all coming from the exact same place as where I started. It's just something I do to feel better."

Swift's cover issue of Elle will be out on Feb. 19.

Photo courtesy of Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

Sunday night, The Walking Dead returned with its midseason premiere. The AMC series is the highest-rated drama on the network's roster. Mad Men and Breaking Bad may get awards, but The Walking Dead is the people's choice.

What's ahead for Walking Dead? >>

According to EW, its latest outing pulled in 12.3 million viewers and a 6.1 rating in the ages 18–49 demographic. It had the highest demo rating for any basic cable series. Not only that, but on average, it beats broadcast juggernauts like The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family and NCIS.

The Walking Dead recap: Rick's losing his mind>>

If a show scores a 3.0, it's considered decent. The Walking Dead doubled that number. Charlie Collier, AMC's president, released a statement regarding the show's latest triumph:

"When you look at numbers like this, the first thing that comes to mind is how grateful we are to the fans of this show. They embrace The Walking Dead in a way that we wanted to believe was possible but we never take for granted. The cast and crew put everything they have into making this show. They're a phenomenally talented group who truly give their all. We congratulate everyone involved."

Walking Dead Season 3 premiere is a ratings monster!>>

Overall, The Walking Dead delivered 16.6 million viewers thanks to repeats. The episode "The Suicide King" picked up immediately where the finale left off. Both Rick and The Governor sank further into madness, while their respective clans are in disarray.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9/8c on AMC.

Did you watch The Walking Dead's premiere?

Photo credit: Daniel Tanner/WENN

Do you need a new meatless meal option? This taco might not have any meat, but it still packs tons of flavor! Sweet red onions, colorful bell peppers and meaty mushrooms are all roasted until soft and perfectly cooked. Top with minced cilantro, queso fresco, avocado and a squeeze of lime. You will love this dish!

Roasted vegetable taco recipe

Yields 6-8 tacos

Ingredients:

• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
• 1 large red onion, sliced
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• Toasted corn tortillas
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Add bell peppers, red onions and mushrooms to a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt and ground pepper. Mix with your hands to cover all the vegetables equally with olive oil and seasoning.
3. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are soft and fragrant.
4. Remove from oven and assemble tacos.
5. Take toasted corn tortillas and add about 1/3 cup vegetables. Top with a little diced avocado, crumbled queso fresco and chopped cilantro.
6. Serve with a slice of lime if you'd like.

More taco recipes

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Dressing the stars

Mark Badgley and James Mischka's gorgeous gowns have graced some of Hollywood's leading ladies including Taylor Swift, Helen Mirren and J. Lo. But they say they've got their sights set on Jennifer Lawrence!

We caught up with designing duo Badgley Mischka backstage before their New York Fashion Week fall runway presentation, where they said they still get nervous on show day.

"We do. We wake up and my stomach is always in knots," James told SheKnows Wednesday morning as models got dressed beside us. "When the girls are all lined up in their first looks and they're all here and their hair and makeup's done, then I can relax and enjoy. It's like putting on a wedding, we always say, twice a year. You work on it for six months and it's over in 10 minutes."

And there's no time to kick back and relax, since Oscars are this weekend. Badgley Mischka dresses some of the biggest names in Hollywood and many celebs request gowns straight from the runway last minute.

"I think that the red one over there is going to get called in this afternoon," Mark explained, pointing to a beautiful burgundy beaded peplum gown. "I could see Kate Hudson in a lot of these dresses. We were fortunate enough to dress Jennifer Lopez for four years. She always calls in our gowns."

James said they'd love to see another Jennifer wear one of their gowns on the carpet. "Jennifer Lawrence, of course, would be good in anything. She's amazing," he shared. "That body type... she's like the modern day Charlize Theron. She just looks good in clothing," Mark added.

And while they love seeing Hollywood A-listers in their dresses, Badgley Mischka say their proudest moment is seeing everyday women wearing their designs. "Truly the most fun and gratifying [part] is when you see a woman you don't know who paid retail in one of our dresses and you can tell she's happy and you can tell she feels gorgeous, and that's kind of what it's all about," they tell SheKnows.

But their runway show certainly had no shortage of glamorous stars: Selita Ebanks, Petra Nemcova, Carmen Electra and Kelly Bensimon were all front row to see the the beautiful fall collection, which goes on pre-sale online this Friday.

More New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week day 6 recap: Matt Damon and his wife have a date with fashion
New York Fashion Week day 5: Alice + Olivia presentation
New York Fashion Week day 4: Victoria Beckham, Rachel Zoe and Chelsea Handler bring their boys

Photo credits: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN , Badgley Mischka

Rosewood's all grown up

Our beloved Pretty Little Liars show is starting to age gracefully. Tuesday night's episode was filled with life lessons that the PLL crew needed. Spencer realized she can't be composed when her heart is in pieces ; Hanna  realized that some things are better left alone; Emily's curiosity almost killed a "friend"; and Aria realized that when you play with fire you will get burned. Interested yet? Get your fix below!

Spencer needs to lose it

The PLL crew no longer seemed upset with Spencer, but now they are fearful for her decline. Throughout their friendship, she was the one who had her life together, and it's fair to say even though they knew she would be sad about the breakup, they didn't expect her erratic behavior.

She was cut from the decathlon team before a competition, and her fury over it was fair handiwork). She did not leave quietly and when her friends tried to calm her down, Spencer wasn't welcoming. In a true-to-"A" style, a warning was etched on Spencer's sunglasses: "You rat out T, I take down 1 of your 3."

Spencer did seem concerned for her friend's safety and this obviously meant she couldn't discuss Toby. This was the first emotion other than anger that we saw on her face in a long time.

She ended up inviting Andrew   over in hopes of changing his mind about his swing vote. What incentive does she use? Her body. In a raunchy series of events, Spencer initiates strip trivia . Oh Spencer, you dirty little bird. Andrew's bod was jaw-dropping, and who knows where this would have ended up if Emily hadn't interrupted. She shows up at the door with cupcakes, sees Andrew half-naked, and spits out: "Should I have brought more cupcakes?"Ha!

Emily tries to convince Spencer she was acting crazy, but Spencer tries to get Emily to back off. Emily merely wanted Spencer to open up, and ultimately Spencer fires back with: "This is the new me!"

The "new" Spencer also makes Wren's night when he shows up to her house because Mona had called him because she was concerned for Spencer's mental health. Spencer tactfully requests they go to a dinner/movie where she knew the decathlon competition was happening. While they were there, she sneaks off to go put Mona in her place. When Mona responds with jabs at Toby and how Spencer has no friends, Spencer physically pounces on her, causing a ruckus. It was an epic Mean Girls moment!

Life lesson No. 1: Perhaps this outburst will finally make Spencer realize she needed the time to mourn her loss, but it's time to revert to normalcy.

Hanna needs to mind her business

Hanna played Nancy Drew with Caleb's  paternity problem. While Aria and Emily were worried for Spencer, she tried to find Caleb's "uncle," who she firmly believed was his dad. After tracking down the uncle, Hanna was proved right. She asks the obvious question of why he abandoned Caleb, and he blames it on a shady past. It didn't seem plausible then, but oh, did it foreshadow for something later. She tries to coax Caleb into meeting his father, which he initially refused to do, but later shows up at the 11th hour.

When Hanna and Caleb arrive to meet his father, the absentee father is, well, absent. He does show up at the last minute , and they bond. Hanna goes home beaming to her mom, and begs her to get Caleb's dad a job at the church. While Hanna's mom coordinates the meeting, Hanna and Caleb wait patiently in the sanctuary of the church.

When good news arrives that he got the job, Hanna gives an offering with cash she had that had ominous dice stamped on it. Later, when they return to celebrate with pizza and beer at Hanna's, Caleb's dad goes to pay, and she witnesses him paying with the same dice-imprinted bill she had put in the offering box. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Life lesson No. 2: Maybe Hanna shouldn't have pushed so stubbornly for something she thought was good. It sounds like it may end up being too good to be true, and that Caleb is the one who is going to get hurt the most from it.

Emily needs to be more discreet

Emily takes on the responsible role and tries to calm Jason down after the big reveal over Ali's pregnancy. She quickly learns he already tried to contact Detective Wilden  to confront him over the news. She discusses how it was a picture in the police station of Wilden that made her realize he was the culprit. He inquires about a boat, and she mentions the picture she saw at the police station was at a dock. Possible connection? I think so.

Jason tells Emily he remembered a picture from a collage Ali made that summer — and remarks she was on boat and how that boat could be Wilden's. They go to his house to retrieve keys to the office where the picture is. The porch is covered in bottles of whisky and "A" texts Emily to tell Jason to save a few because he may need it. She doesn't listen, and they go to the office to retrieve the picture. They find the picture — it has Ali, Wilden and Cece in the shot! Looks like darling CeCe wasn't as innocent and unknowing as she claimed!

When they take the picture to go, the elevator jams and they are stuck inside. Jason is able to pry the doors to get Emily out in time, but then the elevator drops and she screams. Jason is trapped inside.

Later, Jason was in a neck brace at the hospital. He requests some water and admits that someone is out to get him. Emily obliges and closes the curtain. The PLL crew apparently just know to appear at the hospital after an S.O.S. text from Emily, and she catches them up. A nurse then comes by, noting Jason has disappeared. They run over, and the neck brace was left behind. Did they get conned? Or was he scared for his life and ran?

Life lesson No. 3: I'm guessing Emily finally learned her lesson about being more careful in who she trusts and talks to about her valuable developments on "A" and Ali's death.

Aria needs to be more disciplined

I saved the most predictable situation for the end. Aria and Wesley kissed. I want that to be the extent of the recap because that's all that matters. That Vampire Diaries reference last week? Yea, it happened. One girl, two brothers. Awkwardly hot.

Cece lures Aria out one evening to take photos of her store. Aria obliges and asks to bring along an assistant: Wesley. Wesley was on the run in this episode because his mother had found out he was hiding at his brother's apartment and she was not OK with that. He was prepared to leave and was going to go stay with a friend for the night. But, I guess she didn't take his plans that seriously and they ended up at CeCe's store.

While there, they flirt and he also ends up revealing that he's going to sleep in his car . She is against it and invites him to stay on her couch . Meanwhile, CeCe is nowhere to be found. We later see her call Aria and claim she's delayed since her car got towed, but was she sitting in it with a suspicious look on her face?

Aria doesn't pick up on that, and she and Wesley leave the store to retire for the night. They end up bonding over books and later kiss, but Aria stops it. But let's face it, she wanted it.

Life lesson No. 4: It's fair to assume that Aria learned her lesson about being flirtatious with the brother of the guy she's dating. Not to mention that just because your boyfriend is not paying you attention and you're insecure doesn't mean it would be OK to snuggle up to someone else!

What do you think, readers?

Did CeCe almost kill Jason? Is Cece the lady in the red hood who Hanna and Emily said they saw? Or are CeCe and Jason working together to scare the PLL crew into submission? Will Aria and Wesley move forward or are she and Ezra over? When are we finally going to see Toby return? Is Caleb's dad a thief and is he going to start robbing Rosewood? There is never a simple answer, is there? So many questions, so little time!

Check out the preview for next week!

Photos courtesy of ABC Family

Surprise, surprise! Comedian and banjo player Steve Martin has been a dad since December!

We still don't know all the deets, but we do know he's a proud papa and that the baby was a long time coming.

Martin, 67, and his wife Anne Stringfield, 41, were married almost six years ago in a surprise ceremony. They invited some of their closest friends, including big names like Diane Lane and Tom Hanks, to a dinner party and then surprised them by getting married with everyone gathered around. Before marrying, Martin and Stringfield dated for three years. After nine years, it sounds like their new bundle of joy was exactly what they needed to complete their family.

Elton John becomes a dad, again!>>

According to an unnamed source for the New York Post, the couple is extremely happy.

"They are thrilled," the source revealed. "They worked hard to have that baby."

Yay! Throughout his movie career, Steve Martin has played a father numerous times. We all remember his role as the loving and over-protective father on Father of the Bride. Later, he brought us all to giggles as a coach and father of twelve in Cheaper by the Dozen. Being a real father for the first time ever is no doubt a role he was excited to land.

Alec Baldwin adding to the geezer/hot chick May-December baby boom?>>

As for the little Martin, there's still no word on the gender or the name. As if the top-secret wedding didn't spell it out, Steve Martin is a very private person. When he first began appearing on television and movies, the paparazzi weren't quite as vulture-like as they are now. As their lenses became longer and the photogs became ballsier, Martin seemed to become an overnight master of avoiding their prying. We support him in his quest for privacy and we won't sulk if he doesn't sell his story to People. But, we hope a statement is released soon so we can at least know a little more about the comedian's long-awaited baby!

Stay tuned.

Image courtesy of WENN

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Movie Review: The Big Year

O.J. Simpson is a popular guy in prison.

Simpson — who is locked up in Nevada for over 30 years — flexed those popularity muscles by throwing the best Super Bowl prison party ever. Simpson even joined in on the consumer tradition to upgrade the television in his cell for the big game between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers.

Super Bowl ads: The GoDaddy vs. Calvin Klein controversy>> 

The Super Bowl was Feb. 4, 2013, and reports are just now surfacing that O.J. Simpson decided to throw a Super Bowl party with several of his closest inmate friends. Probably tough to get an invitation.

The New York Post explained just how Simpson managed to catch the game, prison style. "If you have the money, you can buy a TV at the inmate store and put it in your cell," said Norman Prado, a close friend of O.J. Simpson. And obviously Simpson had no trouble arranging the Super Bowl bash. "He's like the Godfather of prison now," explained Prado.

Just how close are the Kardashians to O.J. Simpson?>>

O.J. Simpson made his NFL debut in 1969 and had a stellar 10-year career; his last season was with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. In 1995 he was acquitted of charges for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her alleged boyfriend Ron Goldman. In 2008, Simpson was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping, along with other felonies, and sentenced to 33 years in prison.

While O.J. Simpson won numerous football awards through his career, including the Heisman Trophy in 1968, he never played in a Super Bowl.

Photo courtesy of David Livingston/WENN.com

Matt Damon

Admit it. Sometimes when celebrities take on a cause, although we want to be charitable and understanding, we often roll our eyes because we feel like the celebrity comes off as a bit self-righteous and condescending. Aside from the humor aspect, that is what makes this video so genius. Matt Damon somehow figured out a way to use his celebrity status to further a cause he’s passionate about without coming off as holier-than-thou . We love the reporter whose question is “Whaaaaaaaa?” and when Damon closes out with “Reporters are d*cks. No, I mean other reporters.” Good, clean fun. Speaking of which, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to donate $25 to water.org.

Rihanna

We’re going to take a brief departure from the humorous to check out Rihanna’s latest celebration of her nudity. . We have just a couple of questions. What does Rihanna mean by the lyrics, “Oh the reason I hold on, oh 'cause I need this hole gone, funny you’re the broken one, but I’m the one who needed saving?" Is she filling a void left by the broken Chris Brown? Very cryptic indeed. Our other question is why is Mikky Ekko fully clothed in this video? He seems a bit overdressed for his performance. Just sayin’.

Chris Brown's bad week: Car crash, Grammy woes>>

Zach Galifianakis

Even though we had to add Zach’s impossible last name to our Word dictionary, it’s possible he's becoming the most skilled comedian of our time. To substantiate this opinion, I offer up Zach’s “Between Two Ferns,” where he interviews Oscar-nominated actors. He butchers their last names, has them escorted off the stage, books the wrong celebrities and pisses off Bradley Copper to the point that he has an on-camera Stage 5 meltdown. Since you’re wasting time anyway, watch this one a couple times. It’s worth it.

Inside the Oscar nominees luncheon>>

Image courtesy WENN.com

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for school parties or grown-up dinner dates — it can be fun for the whole family. The relationships in your family are the most important. Show them how much you love them by making the holiday of hearts just plain fun.

A special day for
family fun and love

While Valentine's Day isn't a "real" holiday, it can be a fun one. Put aside the pressure of romance — or save it for after the kids are asleep for the night — and focus on a day of family fun.

Start the day with a fresh attitude

The tone of Valentine's Day really starts with a positive attitude. If you dread it, the kids pick up on it and there goes the fun! But if you start with a light, somewhat silly and affectionate attitude towards your hubby and your kids, you can prepare for a day of smiles and giggles. Although you may have to consciously project that light attitude at first, it's going to be reflected back at you — and soon it will take no effort at all.

Check out these party recipes for kids>>

Do we have to wear red? Yes!

Most members of your family already have red or pink clothing. Make sure it's clean and ready for wear. Many retail stores sell inexpensive Valentine's themed apparel each year — so there's no excuse for not dressing the part. If your kids don't have something that suits the holiday, pick up a cute new shirt or pair of fun socks and surprise them.

Breakfast food fun

Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to make both heart-shaped and red. Cranberry muffins? Sliced strawberries? Heart-shaped pancakes with raspberry syrup? What better way to say "I love you" than with a delicious, filling meal? Serving a fun Valentine's Day breakfast is a great way to start your family's day.

Hiding hearts

A few minutes with scissors and some red and pink construction paper and you can have a pile of hearts to hide all over the house — and in pockets, backpacks, briefcases, pillows. You can take the extra time to write on each for your own personal non-calorie version of candy hearts. Kids love a surprise, and hunting around for hidden hearts adds a bit of fun to the holiday. You can even create a scavenger hunt with the hearts, leaving clues on each one.

Great ways to say I love you to your child>>

Lunch box surprises

What lunch box treats can travel with your child to school on Valentine's Day? Think heart-shaped PB&J, berry yogurt, strawberries, chocolate kisses or a heart-shaped note. As mortified as your teenage son might be — or claim to be to save face with his peers — your feelings for your sometimes challenging adolescent will be clear with a Valentine's-themed lunch.

Romantic dinner — everyone or just you two

Whether Mom and Dad are heading out to a special meal — or even if you aren't —plan something a little out of the ordinary and special, a little more than your usual Monday pasta night. Whether it's a favorite dish you don't make very often or something all new, wrap up a fun Valentine's Day with a delicious dinner. Don't forget to include a dessert!

Valentine's Day advertising may focus on high romance, but it really is a fun and loving holiday for the whole family. Start the day with a good attitude, and Valentine's Day can be fun for everyone this year.

More Valentine's Day fun

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The month of February is devoted to celebrating snack food, so there's plenty of time to whip up one of these healthy and satisfying recipes! When you're looking for something to curb your hunger, give one of these snacks a try.

Kale dip

What a versatile veggie! You can use kale to make "chips" , add it to stews and soups like you would spinach or even include it in a dip. What a great way to get in your serving of veggies, too! Use baked chips or fresh veggies like carrots, snap peas or red pepper strips to dunk into this dip!

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 cups packed kale leaves, washed, pulled from stems, and torn into small pieces
• 3/4 cup plain, Greek-style yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 green onions , chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then blend a bit more.
3. Chill for at least 30 minutes until you're ready to serve.

Butternut squash hummus

You'll enjoy the pretty color and slightly sweet flavor of this healthy snack. Spread butternut squash hummus on a bagel with cheese, on celery or endive spears, or dip toasted pita bread in it. We used prepackaged butternut squash for this recipe. If you're using a fresh squash, you'll only need about half of one for this recipe.

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked, cubed butternut squash
• 1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil to start , plus more to drizzle
• Juice from half a lemon
• Zest from half a lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking the fresh butternut squash

Directions:

1. If you're using prepackaged butternut squash, microwave it for about 5 minutes, then allow it to cool.
2. Otherwise, you'll only need about half of one butternut squash for this recipe. Cut off the ends of the squash, peel it and cut it in half. Use a spoon to scrape out the stringy insides and seeds, then cut the squash into cubes.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat. Add the cubed squash and cook for 7-9 minutes, or until soft. Remove from the heat and allow the squash to cool.
4. When the squash is cool to the touch, add it to a food processor with the other ingredients.
5. Blend until smooth. Taste the hummus and adjust the seasonings, if you'd like.
6. Place in a serving bowl and drizzle with a bit of olive oil.

Cucumber "crackers"

Just about anything you can put on a cracker can go on a cucumber round! Slice cucumbers and use them as a base for a variety of toppings, just as you would a cracker. Top with hummus, cottage cheese, diced roasted beets or olive tapenade.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, washed and sliced into thin rounds
• 6-8 ounces of the topping of your choice

Directions:

1. Dollop your favorite topping onto a cucumber slice and serve.

Snack smart with these tasty treats!

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The Face

Meet Margaux Brooke

Margaux Brooke is a lifelong professional model and a contestant on Oxygen's new reality contest The Face. She will compete on one of three teams led by supermodel coaches Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha through assignments like photo shoots and commercials for the big prize: becoming "the face" of a major brand. Each week she'll share her experiences with SheKnows — the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.

SheKnows: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Margaux Brooke: My name is Margaux Brooke, I'm 22 years old and I was raised in Roswell, Georgia. I started modeling when I was 9 years old for an agency in Atlanta, Georgia. I would shoot for clients like Target, Macy's, Robinsons-May and Neiman Marcus. Modeling has always been a huge part of my life but I've never really dropped everything to pursue it. I still go to school; currently I'm a student at Fullerton College in California, where I now live. I'm majoring in journalism, a path I never thought I would take academically but one I'm so glad that I've discovered. I love meeting new people and writing about their lives — it's a very inspiring and fulfilling job to me. I also enjoy rock climbing; it's my biggest hobby and when ABS [American Bouldering Series] season starts I climb competitively. I'm not an insanely strong rock climber or anything but I compete to see how far I can push myself. Competitive rock climbing is as much about battling the other competitors as it is about battling your own mental and physical self. I really enjoy it.

SK: What made you want to audition for The Face?

MB: I follow one of the mentors, Coco Rocha, on all of her social media accounts and she posted that they were casting her new show called The Face. I'd never heard of it and I'd never really aspired to try out for other model competition shows like America's Next Top Model before, but it was an opportunity to learn from my personal idol, so I said, "What the heck," and signed up.

The Face's Margaux blogs: The claws weren't out yet>>

SK: How have you practiced or prepared for the competition?

MB: It's not like I posed in the mirror for eight hours a day leading up to the show. I've been modeling for over eight years — that was my practice.

SK: What are you most nervous about?

MB: I'm most nervous that I won't be able to pick something up as quickly as I'd like. There are elements of being the Face, like acting and being a spokesperson, that I don't have much experience with, and I hope I can learn what I lack in experience from Coco fast enough for it to make a difference.

SK: What are your strengths?

MB: My strength is probably posing. I have always idolized Coco, who everyone knows is the queen of posing, so of course I've tried to mimic that in my own work over the years. I can change my poses pretty drastically at the drop of a hat. They won't necessarily all be a perfect shot like Coco's, but I'm not a stiff model by any means.

SK: What are your weaknesses?

MB: I haven't walked in too many shows before. I know how to walk, and the basics of it — shoulders back, lead with your hips — but I know my walk is something I need to improve.

SK: How do you feel about working with Nigel Barker, Naomi Campbell, Karolina Kurkova and Coco Rocha?

MB: It's every aspiring model's dream to work with any of the supermodel coaches, and Nigel has made peoples' careers with his photos. It's a huge opportunity and I want to learn everything I possibly can from all of them while I'm here.

SK: What's your strategy going into the competition, to make sure you make it through to the end?

MB: My strength is my drive. I'm not going to give up. This industry is very tough, you have to be thick-skinned. You have to be able to take criticism and rejection and know that anything the coaches say, even if it sounds negative, it's to help you. I'm professional and hardworking but I'm also humble and willing to learn. I know that I don't already know everything, and that this is an opportunity to better myself as a model, an actress, a spokesperson and as role model. I'm truly ready for this to be my career and my life, and I don't know if I can say that for the other girls.

Photo credits: Oxygen

More and more families are turning to home education to meet the special needs of their struggling learner. Homeschooling a struggling student can be challenging, leaving you wondering if you are capable of giving your child a proper education at home.

Is home education the best option for you?

You are not alone, and you can successfully homeschool your struggling learner. Many are finding that parents could very well be the best teachers for a child that is struggling to learn or has special needs. Who knows your child better than you?

You can offer your child a safe, loving environment with the benefit of one-on-one schooling. You can create a customized curriculum to meet the specific needs of your child. You will have the flexibility to alter and make changes to curriculum when necessary.

Do your research! Study your child's learning style, their struggles and/or special needs. The most natural learning environment for your child will be the best learning environment. The more informed and educated you are, the more confident you will be in your ability to meet the needs of your child.

Research curriculum and the many options available to find a good fit for your child. Some curriculum is more hands-on and/or visual such as Handwriting Without Tears, Math-U-See and Time4Learning. Work to minimize stress in the areas that your child is struggling; feed and nurture the areas in which they are gifted. This could mean different grade levels or curriculum for different subjects; this is the beauty and flexibility of homeschooling!

You will need a solid support system to get through the homeschool journey with your child. Form a small group of fellow moms of struggling learners, hire a tutor, join a home-school co-op, or find an online support group. It will be helpful to have the support of homeschool moms that have walked in your shoes and can offer sound advice.

There is an abundance of online resources, supplementary materials and programs available to assist you on the road to home educating your child.

• BrainBuilder
• Home Schooling Children with Special Needs by Sharon Hensley
• Learning Through Listening
• PACE program
• Provisions in the 50 States for special needs students
• Sylvan Learning
• Using Technology to Support Struggling Learners

Deciding to homeschool a struggling learner or a child with special needs can be extremely difficult. However, many families have proven that it can be done. You can successfully teach your struggling learner at home with the proper tools, resources, patience and support.

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Elle magazine thought Kim Kardashian was enough of a fashion icon to put her in their pages this month, but that apparently doesn’t mean the world of fashion agrees.

Celebrity stylist and designer Nicola Formichetti styled Kardashian for her photo shoot, but admits he had a bit of a problem finding clothes for the shoot.

Major letdown: No Kim and Kanye E! baby special>>

"People wouldn't lend me the clothes," Formichetti said, according to Yahoo!. "But that's fashion snobbery."

Formichetti may be best known right now for styling Lady Gaga. He did finally get some takers, including Tom Ford and Roberto Cavalli, among others.

Perez Hilton even theorized about why stylists wouldn’t want their clothes in a major fashion spread in a major magazine.

“Like Kanye, they probs didn't want her to damage their reputation in the fashion world,” said Hilton.

Shakira has baby: Kicks off most anticipated births of 2013>>

But Kardashian doesn’t seem to mind the disses, because in the end, she loved how the photo shoot ended up.

"I love the way the pics turned out!!!" she said on her blog. "I love being transformed and I love, like your, vision of who you think I am. That's always so inspiring to me and so interesting to see someone else's take on me."

According to Hilton, back in 2011, creative director for Elle Joe Zee said Kardashian would never be on the cover of the magazine.

Kim and Kourtney Kardashian talk shared breast-feeding>>

“I just wish that she would do something, but she's not doing anything,” Zee said at the time. “If she actually did something, we would actually think about Kim for the cover. It's about new. It's not about, so much, a reality star. The idea is, are they newsworthy? Is it someone our readers want to read about?"

His words ring true today — Kardashian is not the cover model this time around either; Taylor Swift scored the cover of the issue.

Photo courtesyJP/JFXimages/WENN.com

As if we needed another reason to love Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the actor visited Sesame Street to help us all understand the world "reinforce."

No princesses allowed on Sesame Street?>>

In the three-minute clip below, watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt, nicknamed "Joe" in the skit, work with Sesame Street resident Murray as they demonstrate the word of the day with the help — or sacrifice — of JGL's favorite watch. The entire scene is totally adorable.

Celebrities who've stopped by Sesame Street>>

Clearly, Levitt is committed to this role and finds a great balance of acting and sincerity. Our favorite part is the wince at the end when —surprise! — Murray accidentally hits Joe on the foot with a hammer. Joe's response? "I should have reinforced my shoe." Ah, we see what you did there. Clever. Very clever.

Sesame Street was created in 1969 and is a staple of PBS since it first aired on the network in 1970. The educational children's series is widely popular: a 1996 survey found 95 percent of all American preschoolers watch Sesame Street and in 2008 a federal government report found over 77 million adults watched the show at some point as children.

You can watch the full clip of Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Sesame Street below.

Photo: © 2012 Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved.

Fresh blood oranges are best but many grocery stores sell bottled blood orange juice during the winter months.

Blood orange mojito recipe

Serves 1

Adapted from food.com

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup blood orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 ounce rum
• 1/4 cup sparkling water
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients and serve chilled with ice.

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Dancing with the Stars fans will be glued to their television sets Feb. 26. That's when cast members for Season 16 of DWTS will be announced, on that morning's Good Morning America.

USA Today reports that all of the contestants will be newbies, and some very interesting names are being proposed as potentials.

The New York Daily News writes that an "insider" was willing to name names. Top of the list: Victor Ortiz, the 26-year-old boxer who was famously sucker-punched into unconsciousness by Floyd Mayweather in 2011.

The boxer has gotten a reputation as somewhat of an eccentric in the sports world, once for claiming at the end of a fight that he didn't think he deserved "to be getting beat up like this." He also lends his name to a product called VO FaceLube, which possibly has the most unintentionally amusing product name since the iPad.

Honey Boo Boo's Mama June: "We don't represent rednecks">>

"It’s hard to imagine a less appealing name for this product," writes Eric Raskin at Grantland. "I’d take FaceOil, FaceGel, or FaceSchmear over FaceLube."

If Ortiz does take his footwork onto the DWTS stage, he'll be the fifth boxer to do so: Lailah Ali, Evander Holyfield, Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard have all competed.

Other famous names mentioned as possibles for the DWTS openings: Bachelorette Emily Maynard, Kourtney Kardashian and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo's Mama June.

Mama June made headlines recently with a 102-pound weight loss.

"I haven't done any surgeries... no diet pills... never went to the gym," she told People. "But with the show I've been more active."

Which show, Mama June? Which one?

USA Today reports the March 18 premiere will be a two-hour special, and will feature regular hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli will also return.

Image source Michael Wright/WENN.com

Search online for printable movie ticket templates, such as these free printable movie party ticket invitations, to invite friends and family over for movie night.

Print them on colored paper and customize them according to the movie. For instance, for a Twilight movie night, you could print them on red paper and sprinkle with glitter so they look like Edward's "sparkling" face. A Polar Express movie night could have small bells or snowflakes glued onto them. Get your kids involved by taking them with you to the craft store to help you pick out items for the movie tickets.

Create your movie tickets by cutting them out of construction paper or card stock using serrated scissors for a fun edge. Type out the date, time and place on a separate piece of paper, then cut it out and glue it to your movie ticket. Decorate the ticket with movie-themed stickers, then punch a hole with a hole punch and add some decorative ribbon for a little embellishment.

Perforated business cards are another great way to make movie tickets because they are the perfect size and the perforation makes them easy to detach and use. Customize them by printing out characters from the movie to glue to the card. On the ticket, include the name of the movie, time, date and address of your house or location where you will be showing the movie. Flash cards also work well for making movie tickets, and they are usually available in a variety of fun colors.

Make movie night extra fun by having guests or family members redeem their ticket by getting it punched with a hole punch or stamped with a colorful stamp. Kids will love taking part in this fun activity!

Take pictures of each member of your family and print them out on card stock using a colored printer. Cut their picture out and glue it to a piece of colorful construction paper. Add their name to the movie ticket using markers or rubber stamps, then decorate it with craft supplies and write the name, date and location of the movie.

Another fun idea is to customize your movie tickets by cutting them into fun shapes that go along with the movie. For instance, if you are watching How to Train Your Dragon, cut the tickets into a dragon on green construction paper, and use gems for the eyes and along the back of the dragon.

For The Karate Kid, cut the tickets into the shape of a karate belt. Cut one long rectangle out of construction paper to make the waist of the karate belt and two shorter pieces to make the ties. Glue the ties onto the waist piece, then cut out a circle to form the knot of the karate belt. Glue the knot piece on top of the ties, then use a marker to write the name of the movie onto the movie ticket. Other ticket shape ideas include cars, trains, animals, food or even a magic wand for Harry Potter fans.

It's easy to turn your movie tickets into a fun learning game. Write one word on the back of the ticket that you know will be used frequently in the movie , and have your kids count how many times that word is used in the movie. Another idea is to write a question about the movie that they will answer at the end.

Image credit: Amy Vowles

More tips for family movie night

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Tips for choosing movies for family movie night
5 Ways to make family movie night fun

Valentine's Day celebrates all things love, stemming from our hearts. Use this holiday as a reminder to keep your heart in tip-top shape — starting with the foods you eat.

Foods to improve
heart health

Our hearts are one of the most vital organs in our bodies and without them, we wouldn't be here. Heart attacks are the number one killer of Americans today, and it's time to start changing that. The foods we eat play a crucial role in how healthy our hearts are. By making small, subtle changes to our diets, we can significantly improve our heart health and live longer, healthier lives.

Oatmeal

Start each day off with a bowl of warm oatmeal to help lower cholesterol and keep your heart beating strong. Steel cut oats provide the most nutritional value, so opt for those and throw in a handful of blueberries for an added boost.

Check out these tips for using Greek yogurt>>

• Exercise. The heart is both an organ and a muscle, and muscles need to be worked in order to be more useful and productive. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car at the back of the lot or go for a walk each evening. Start small and remember that the little things do add up.
• Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk for both heart disease and cancer. Essentially, you're paying money to slowly destroy yourself.
• Visit your doctor regularly. Visit your doctor annually to check for high blood pressure and discuss your overall health. Know what's going on inside your body.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Studies show overweight people are more likely to experience cardiovascular disease, so eat right and exercise to keep your body at its ideal weight.
• De-stress. Finally, don't stress! Stress raises your blood pressure and heart rate. Go for walks, meditate or simply turn off the computer and phone every day for at least 15 minutes.

More on heart health

Characteristics of a heart-healthy diet
Take care of your heart — on the cheap
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In this recipe we transform a fruity summery drink into an equally delicious scone. Big plump strawberries, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest are added to a sweet scone dough and topped off with a lemonade glaze. These are great for Easter, baby showers or future summer pool parties.

Strawberry lemonade scones recipe

Inspired by munchkin munchies

Yields 8-10 servings, depending on size

Ingredients:

For the scones:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter or sweet cream butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• Fresh lemon zest from 1 medium lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup cold buttermilk
• 1 cup fresh strawberries sliced or cut into chunks

For the lemonade glaze:

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons raw or turbinado sugar as garnish
• Fresh lemon zest for garnish

Directions:

For the glaze:

1. In a small bowl add the powdered sugar, lemon juice and whipping cream. If you want to thin out the glaze add a small amount of whipping cream continuing to mix until you reach your desired consistency.

For the scones:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray, then set aside.
2. In a small bowl, add lemon zest, sugar, lemon juice, beaten egg, and buttermilk, mixing until combined.
3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter using a fork and your fingers until no large chunks of butter remain. Add in the wet ingredients continuing to mix until a stiff dough forms. Add in the strawberries and very gently fold them into the dough.
4. Turn out the dough on a floured board. If the dough is still very sticky add a little bit of flour and gently knead it until you are able to handle it. Pat or press the dough until it is about 1 inch in thickness. Cut into 8 to 10 pieces and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and tops are just slightly brown. Allow to cool completely for 30-45 minutes.
5. Spoon or drizzle the glaze over the top of the scones. Sprinkle with extra sugar and fresh lemon zest. Allow the scones to "dry" about 1 hour to allow the glaze to harden. Store in an airtight container for several days.

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