Parents fight for children's inclusion...

Advocating for a child with special needs often means working to ensure the child is accepted and not treated any differently than typically developing kids. Right? Well, not always. A portion of parents demand special treatment when it suits their needs.

then they want
special treatment

Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

When I asked a forum of parents who have children with Down syndrome whether they’d ever “played the Down syndrome card,” I expected crickets. I thought people wouldn’t admit to it.

Not only was I wrong, I uncovered an underground parenting system of justifying a list of children's missteps and moments of downright misbehavior.

According to parents who bravely responded honestly to my questions, the act of seeking preferential treatment often falls into three categories:

1. What feels right
2. What feels wrong
3. What feels like it would leap-frog lines at Disney World

“I have witnessed it,” Jenn says. “It annoys me till no end. I don't give [my son] a pass because of his Down syndrome the same way I don't give [my daughter] a pass because blondes have more fun and she's a brunette.”

“In my book, it's totally OK [to expect special treatment] when there are thousands of dollars worth of damage,” Jenn says with a smile and a wink. “And I still lie and tell restaurants [my daughter] is 3 if [that means] she eats free.”

Jill has a toddler with Ds and flinched the first time she heard another mother mention leveraging her child’s disability to get special treatment at Disney World.

“My gut reaction was that it was wrong,” she describes, “but then several parents have put it to me that children with Ds go through so much more than other kids. For one day or one week, if they could breeze through the lines — wouldn’t it be nice? I can wrap my head around that… I can see once in a blue moon, everybody wants it a little easier.”

“I'm ashamed, but yes. I've done it,” Lucy admits. Over the holidays, her family stayed at a rented cabin. With five children between ages 4 and 8 years, the family opted for insurance.

“[My son, who has Down syndrome] got a hold of a dry erase marker and proceeded to color all over himself, the furniture and a wall in the kids' room," Lucy describes.

“While attempting to explain to the rental company, we may have mentioned that the guilty child has a disability,” she shares.

“We were let off the hook.”

What about when others offer parents the Down syndrome card — a moment where the parent hadn't considered looking for special treatment because of her child's disability, but someone else offers the option?

“I get embarrassed when [my son is] coloring booths at the diner and someone comes over and says, ‘Aw, I have a special needs [family member] so I understand,’’ Jenn says. “I've gotten to the point of wanting to scream, ‘He's coloring the booth because I wanna eat in peace and he's 2!"

Dr. Brian Skotko has dedicated his career to Down syndrome research and treatment, honoring his younger sister, Kristin, who has Down syndrome, the most common genetic condition.

“I certainly pine for a day when people with Down syndrome are accepted and valued for who they are by everyone in our society,” Dr. Skotko shares. “Research has demonstrated that people with Down syndrome make great strides when benefiting from inclusionary classrooms. But, I certainly do know that when parents want the best for their child, they sometimes look for special treatment in certain circumstances,” he adds.

“Then again, how is that different than parents of typically developing children?”

At a party, Tamara once watched a child race to the cookie table and begin stuffing a bag full of treats.

“Sure, children could eat as much as they wanted,” she says, “but the hoarding was a bit much.”

Even more shocking? “The parents did nothing!” she exclaims. “When a volunteer asked the child to not touch all the cookies , the parents jumped in with, ‘It's OK, he has autism.’“

Tamara was incredulous. “Really?! [My son] may get away with more than he should, but it is not because he has Ds. It is because he is so darn cute!”

Overwhelmingly, when offered the hypothetical option to bypass lengthy lines at popular amusement parks like Disney World, parents said they would leverage their child’s disability.

Larina has a daughter with Ds and explains, “I would use the Disney pass because [my daughter] tires easily, and part of that is because of the Ds.” Children with Ds often have low muscle tone or hips that are out of place, which would make lengthy stands uncomfortable.

“After four years, I've decided to be honest,” Larina explains. “If something is especially difficult with [my daughter with Ds], I ask for help ... She has Down syndrome and it does affect her, and it does affect our family... Sometimes a simple ‘can you help us help her’ is enough to make a difficult thing much easier.”

Remember Lucy, whose son wrote all over walls and furniture in the family’s rented cabin? No regrets.

“Would I do it again? Yes,” she insists. “The truth is, we cleaned the furniture. The wall, however, would need to be repainted even after hours and multiple cleaning methods. That's what you purchase insurance for! It just so happened, in this case, that [my son with special needs] was the culprit, and not one of the other four kids.”

More about diversity and inclusion

Teaching kids to embrace diversity and be inclusive
Real Moms Guide: Teaching kids about diversity
Raising courageous, compassionate kids

When I first became pregnant, I know that my biggest change was not being able to get wrinkle-freezing treatments on my forehead! I came up with a quick fix by asking my hairdresser to cut bangs. Thanks to pregnancy hormones, my hair was long and thick and bangs added a chic and fun change to my look! The advice from real moms ranged from treating pregnancy-related issues, like stretch marks and melasma, to adding simple ways to perk up their look while pregnant.

Here's what they shared:

Mom favorite: Clarisonic system

Kerrie Thompson, mom of four boys

I was not able to use any retinol, glycolic or vitamin C products during my pregnancy. I made sure to exfoliate my skin and I bought the Clarisonic system. I also had a few microdermabrasion treatments to keep the texture of my skin in good shape.

Romy Schorr, mom of one and blogger at RomyRaves

I had to lay off my go-to, more aggressive anti-aging products like retinol and hydroquinone because they could possibly have damaging side effects during pregnancy.

Jennifer Brandt, mommy and blogger at Perfectly Disheveled

Lotion! I used more lotion than I ever had in my life on EVERY. PART. OF. MY. BODY. Other than that, I wore as much makeup as I do now and still did my hair… In fact, I wouldn't leave to go to the hospital until I had fully blow dried my hair when in labor.

Molly Skyar, mom of two and parenting blogger at ConversationswithMyMother.com

I had never had a facial before I was pregnant, but during my first pregnancy, I developed terrible acne. Gigantic undergrounders that would come out of nowhere and were mostly concentrated on my face. It was awful. About half-way through, my girlfriend suggested I get a facial to change the PH balance of my skin. I couldn't imagine that would help, but at that point, I was desperate! I got a facial and she was right — it cleared up the acne and I had a lot less of it to deal with for the rest of my pregnancy.

Shelby Barry, mom of two

Well, it was actually nothing that I even tried to do, but I think my hair and skin were the best ever when I was pregnant. I slept a lot earlier so I got more than enough sleep. I didn't drink caffeine or alcohol so my skin looked better than ever and just naturally your hair is longer and shiny because of the vitamins. I felt better than ever when I was pregnant .

Charli Eaton, mom of one

Using all-natural based products. No chemicals, no animal testing.

Beauty for pregnant women should include products or treatments that do not involve harsh chemicals. Good options include microdermabrasion instead of a glycolic peel, blowouts for your hair, manicures and pedicures.

In terms of skin care, try a skin care line targeted toward pregnancy, such as Belli Cosmetics. If acne is a problem, try Belli’s Anti-Blemish Facial Wash, which contains lactic acid and lemon peel oil .

For those who color their hair, this can be a big challenge as well. Most doctors will advise you to wait until after the first trimester to color your hair and to stick with semi-permanent hair colors, such as highlights . Any treatments should also be done in a well-ventilated area, to reduce inhaling any chemicals or fumes.

For manicures and pedicures, try a nail polish brand like Zoya , which has more than 240 colors and doesn't contain toxins like formaldehyde and toluene. If you find your skin looking blotchy from hyperpigmentation, apply a corrective concealer to problem areas with a concealer brush. One to try is Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer .

More beauty

Shopping with Summer: Moms on the go
Shopping with Summer: Playdate time
A pregnant gal's guide to hair

Poor Rach. The girl can't catch a break. She and her boyfriend of two years, actor Michael Sheen, have officially called the whole thing off.

McAdams met Sheen in 2010 on the set of Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. However, McAdams remained adamant that the two didn't hook up until after the film was over.

McAdams finds love on set>>

"Michael and I didn't get together while we were filming Midnight In Paris, which I feel strongly about not doing when I'm working. We became quite good friends, which I think is a great way to start," she told Stella magazine in January 2012.

Starting out as friends wasn't the only thing that helped solidify their relationship for as long as it lasted. McAdams also spoke of how the two never went more than three weeks without seeing each other, really racking up the frequent flyer miles. At the end of the day, though, that still wasn't enough to keep their relationship afloat and the two have now parted ways.

Spotlight on: Rachel McAdams>>

Before dating Sheen, McAdams had another serious relationship with a co-star. She dated Ryan Gosling for two years, who co-starred with her in The Notebook. They even had a brief engagement before the two eventually called it off. Meanwhile, before McAdams, Sheen's most public affair was his eight-year relationship with the stunning Kate Beckinsale. The two have a daughter together, 14-year-old Lily.

We can't wait to see Rachel's newest on-screen romance>>

In McAdam's newest project, A Most Wanted Man, she stars alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe and Daniel Brühl. Maybe one of these co-stars will end up as her next new thing? No matter whom she or Sheen end up with, they'll have plenty of frequent flyer miles to help keep them together with their newest loves, right?

Here's wishing our girl Rachel finds real love real soon!

Photo credit: WENN.com

The Bachelor's Sean Lowe is down to his final two girls. Should we have seen it coming from a mile/week away? Probably.

Since he met their families last week, it seemed pretty obvious that Lindsay would be hanging around. Sean clicked so well with her family, especially her little brother.

"My favorite member of Lindsay's family may have been her brother Marcus," Sean wrote in his blog for People."He was the sweetest kid I've ever met and he made it clear he wanted me to be a part of their family."

Spoiler alert!: Will Sean score the girl he wants most?>>

Meanwhile, those same family visits left things with Catherine very uncertain. Her sisters told Sean about Catherine's big plans to move to New York to pursue her career and it was the first time Sean had ever been told her plans. Yet, despite those somewhat secretive plans, Sean wouldn't let go of Catherine. He said it just seemed harder to lose Catherine than Desiree.

That might have had something to do with Sean's visit to meet Desiree's family. Boy, was that a disaster. Just like Lindsay's brother helped seal the deal, so did Desiree's... but in a much different way. When Sean showed up to meet Desiree's family, her parents were awesome. Sean even admits he even "fell in love with her mom and dad." Her brother, though, turned her home into Drama Central. He accused Sean of being a playboy and a fake.

Top 10 Reality TV Bachelors>>

"Her brother didn't affect the way I looked at Des, but it did make me wonder if I could be in the same family as her brother," Sean blogged.

In her post-show interview with People, what did Desiree think of her brother's influence on the decision? Was that what kept her from going to the final three?

"I don't think that my brother helped my chances," she said. "I think that did have some to do with Sean's decision. But, ultimately, he made the best decision that he could."

Sean dishes on kids >>

After Desiree was kicked to the curb last week, Sean was left with three women: Catherine, Lindsay and AshLee. With Catherine and Lindsay seeming like sure bets since the family dates, the fantasy trip to Thailand seemed like a wasteful episode. They should have just dropped AshLee last week, too. They chose to string her along for another episode, though. The result? One bitter girl when the rose ceremony came and she wasn't offered a place in Sean's final two. All she gave Sean in return were two seriously evil death stares. Ouch.

Did AshLee really think she'd make it to the final two? The only way to find out will be to watch The Women Tell All, which airs next Monday at 8/7c on ABC.

Image courtesy of ABC

This super-tasty dip is so simple to prepare. Not only can this dip be baked in the oven, if you have a slow cooker on hand it works just as well if not better! Great for parties or as a fun appetizer, this hot corn dip never disappoints.

Spicy hot corn dip recipe

Serves 12

Ingredients:

• 2 cans Mexican corn, drained
• 2 cans chopped green chilies, drained
• 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup grated white American cheese
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup peach salsa
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Diced tomato, red onion, sliced green onions and fresh cilantro for garnish
• Tortilla chips for dipping

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch baking or casserole dish with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the corn, chilies, cheeses, salsa, spices and salt and pepper. Mix well and spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish. Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
3. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for several minutes. Top with the diced tomatoes, red onions, sliced green onions and cilantro. Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Quick
tip

You can also make this in the slow cooker to keep it hot for a gathering or party.

More fun dip recipes

Funfetti dip
Buffalo chicken dip
Fabulous queso dip

After news broke that this year's Academy Awards host Seth MacFarlane wouldn't take on the job again, speculation turned to Tina Fey, whose winning tenure at the Golden Globes with Amy Poehler gave the Globes its highest ratings in six years.

But despite being at somewhat loose ends after the end of 30 Rock, she's not up for it.

"I just feel like that gig is so hard,” she told the Huffington Post. "Especially for, like, a woman. The amount of months that would be spent trying on dresses alone… no way."

Any chance at all? One chance in a million?

"I wish I could tell you there was," she said.

MacFarlane, who garnered mixed reviews for his hosting stint , has already said there's no way he'd host the Oscars again, though it was "fun to have done it."

He also tweeted on Tuesday that "The Oscars is basically the Kobayashi Maru test."

Which means? It's a Star Trek reference. Viewers find out in the opening scenes of 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan that the Kobayashi Maru test is one that forces test takers into one of two possible terrible outcomes. In other words, no one can win.

Seth MacFarlane Oscar backlash: Tasteless and self-centered>>

William Shatner seemingly counts himself amongst the many who would love Fey to do time at the Oscars podium: In an amusing time travel bit in Sunday's telecast, Shatner pleads from the future for Fey and Poehler to host.

MacFarlane also told CNN that Poehler and Fey are critic-proof: "If I had one review for anything in my career as good as their worst review, for that I would be a happy man," he said. "I thought they were fantastic, but they are also beloved by the press … there are certain people who have a carte blanche. You're awesome, we love you no matter what you do."

MacFarlane also called the Oscars a tough and "thin-skinned room."

Poehler hasn't publicly commented yet on the speculation. So there's still hope there!

Photo credit: WENN.com

City of Thieves
David Benioff

In the midst of the Nazis’ siege of Leningrad, the young Russian Jew Lev Beniov is jailed for the crime of stealing a knife from a dead German. His cellmate is a deserter from the Russian Army, the anti-Semitic Kolya Vlasov. Both men are sentenced to execution, but are offered a stay if they can complete one not-so-simple task; they must find a dozen eggs so that the daughter of a powerful Soviet colonel can have a cake at her wedding. With his story of the young men’s quest, Benioff creates almost a fairy tale in the midst of a war, there is a lightness and humor even despite the horrors of the siege.

The Winter Palace
Eva Stachniak

Barbara is the daughter of a Polish bookbinder living in Russia, who has enjoyed the patronage of Empress Elizabeth. When her parents die, there is nothing for her to do but throw herself on the mercy of the court, where she is assigned the role of a maid in Elizabeth’s wardrobe. When a new young princess arrives in Russia as a possible bride for Elizabeth’s heir, Barbara is assigned to her, to act as Elizabeth’s spy. The more time Barbara spends with Princess Sophie, who will take the name Catherine after her Orthodox conversion, the more her loyalty begins to shift to this young woman who will one day rule Russia.

The Winter Palace is the first book in a planned series on Catherine the Great’s rule. For more on Catherine the Great, try Robert K. Massie’s biography Catherine the Great.

Enchantments
Kathryn Harrison

Originally a peasant, Rasputin is perhaps one of the most famous people in Russian history. Kathryn Harrison’s lyrical Enchantments follows not Rasputin himself, but his young daughters. After the brutal murder of their father, Masha and her younger sister are placed in the care of the Tsar, who is busy with problems of his own. In an attempt to protect Tsarevich Alexei, a hemophiliac, Masha is assigned as his companion. After all, her father allegedly kept him well, so perhaps Masha has similar powers. Masha may not be able to keep Alexei from bleeding, but she does have the gift of keeping his spirits up with the nearly magical stories she tells of her father, Alexei’s family, and the Russia Alexei will never truly know.

The Mirrored World
Debra Dean

In The Mirrored World, Debra Dean recounts a fictionalized version of the story of one of Russia's most beloved saints, St. Xenia. Narrated from the point of view of Xenia’s cousin, the reader follows Xenia from her youth in a family of Russian minor nobility. Never one to adhere to convention for its own sake, Xenia falls deeply in love with and marries a soldier and singer in the Empress's choir. Xenia’s life seems to be perfect — between her husband and her daughter she is a happy woman. Unfortunately, she is also prone to prophetic dreams, and one of her very worst dreams comes true, leaving her almost completely without reason. Half-crazed, Xenia disappears from all who love her, only to reappear years later as a soothsayer and healer.

Debra Dean has also written a book about Russia during World War II called The Madonnas of Leningrad.

The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar
Robert Alexander

After Tsar Nicholas was deposed, he and his family were moved to the “House of Special Purpose,” where they would eventually be executed in the cellar. They were able to take only five servants with them, people who would become very close to the family. Leonka was just a young boy when he was chosen as one of the servants to accompany the Romanovs, frequently used by the royal family to deliver notes to someone they hoped could save them. These notes form the basis of Robert Alexander’s The Kitchen Boy, detailing the last days the Romanovs had on earth.

More reading

Read it first: February's book-to-movie picks
Now in paperback: February's red-hot reads
Red carpet worthy reads

While we don't normally spend 90 minutes making one component of a recipe, we happily make an exception for roux. After all, that's where most of the flavor of this gumbo comes from. Throw on an apron, grab a glass of wine and get ready to stir.

Chicken, sausage and shrimp gumbo recipe

Yields 8 large portions

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 green bell peppers, diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, divided
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 pound bone-in chicken pieces
• 1 pound Polska Kielbasa-style sausage , cut into half moons
• 1/2 pound peeled shrimp, deveined and tails removed
• Cooked white rice

Directions:

1. Fill a large stockpot with about 10 quarts water and bring to a boil.
2. While the water comes to a boil, make the roux. Melt the shortening over medium heat in a cast-iron skillet until it's melted, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Once melted, add the flour and stir to form a paste.
3. Stir the roux continuously with a wooden spoon as the roux changes color, about 90 minutes, until dark.
4. Once the roux is dark, turn off the heat and carefully add a ladle of the boiling water to the roux to loosen it up. Stir carefully to get as much of the water and roux to mix, then pour the roux into the pot of boiling water and stir to combine.
5. Add onions, celery, green peppers, parsley, bay leaves, 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to the pot. Add the chicken and boil the gumbo until the chicken is cooked through. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pot and take the meat off the bones. Return chicken to pot and add the sausage. Remove from heat. Let the gumbo cool and chill overnight.
6. When ready to serve, bring the pot back to a simmer, add the shrimp and cook until just done, 5-10 minutes depending on size. Add more crushed red pepper flakes to taste and reduce heat to the lowest setting until serving.
7. Remove the bay leaves before serving. Serve with hot white rice.

More Daily Flavor

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Products

mum + bub is a naturally-derived pawpaw fruit infused skin care line that's gentle enough for use for baby, but the entire premise was designed for the sophisticated mom. Formulated with the help of Ellen Gendler, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, the line contains a soothing ointment, hair and body lotion and bath goodies.

Pawpaw has been known in Australia for decades as a fruit with great skin care benefits , and the proof is in the lotion. aden + anais has really produced a line that any woman would be glad to buy complete with an extremely gentle, effective and natural fragrance.

The Soothing Ointment is one of my personal favorites and has a lovely scent of freshly fermented pawpaw fruit. It can be used as a diaper ointment, to soothe nicks and cuts or to generally hydrate. It has a light vanilla scent and comes in a single tube or tub version, and if you apply it to your skin or lips, it simply melts and feels gooey in a good way without feeling slick. This was an aspect I really loved about the ointment: Many baby products including the standard Johnson's baby oil and jojoba baby oil end up feeling way too slick on the skin, and not in a good way. Sometimes, you need a thick, creamy consistency to really get the skin nice and soft, and this ointment does the trick. The ointment worked wonders for my baby's wind burned skin.

Another good product to try is the Ultra Gentle Lotion , which is formulated with an Australian Sandalwood scent. It's non-greasy but boy, is it fragrant! The Sandalwood can be a little overwhelming — especially for a baby — so if you veer toward the side of products without fragrance, then this is not for you. However, the lotion is creamy and does a great job of hydrating tender skin. My baby felt so fresh and happy after using the lotion and it did not seem to irritate her skin at all, nor did it make it red or tender.

The ointment also is a multitasking wonder, doing everything from healing nicks, cuts, scrapes and also acting as a diaper rash treatment. Who knew that pawpaw could be so magical? For more products , visit the site.

If you're a new mom, you can use the products too... my 7-month-old daughter responded beautifully to this line. As always, with anything involving your baby, check with your pediatrician first before use.

More beauty reads

6 Makeup tools you need
Baby products that double as beauty products for mom
The 5-minute face

Out of the Easy
Ruta Sepetys

February is a huge month for sequels. In fact, there's only one book on our list this month that isn't part of a series! Ruta Sepetys made waves with her debut novel, Between Shades of Gray, a heartbreaking story of a 15-year-old girl who was part of the forced relocation of Lithuanians by the Soviet Union during World War II. It's brutal and horrifying but also beautifully told. Now Sepetys has released her eagerly anticipated second novel, Out of the Easy. This time, she brings the story closer to home, to New Orleans in the 1950s. Whatever, wherever, and whenever Sepetys chooses to write about, we can guarantee we'll be reading.

Unravel Me
Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me was the talk of the YA community. Set in a dystopian future, it's about a girl named Juliette who can kill people with her touch. It drew eyes for its unique writing style and the high level of sensuality contained within its pages. Now, Mafi's back with the sequel. You can be sure the drama will be high and the story intense; plan on reading this in one sitting.

Pandemonium
Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium, the second book in the Delirium trilogy, releases in paperback on the heels of some great news for author Lauren Oliver and for fans of this trilogy: FOX has ordered a pilot starring Emma Roberts based on the trilogy. It's set in a dystopian world where love is considered a disease and has been banned; at age 18, everyone is required to go through a procedure that removes love — not just romantic love but love for children, for parents, for siblings... Lena is on the cusp of her 18th birthday when — you guessed it — she falls in love. That's the premise of the first book, Delirium, and the world has expanded and grown from there.

We'd be remiss if we didn't have a few honorable mentions this month:

• Sever  by Lauren DeStefano
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
• Homeland by Cory Doctorow
• Fragments  by Dan Wells

Basically, if you aren't reading YA by now, what are you waiting for?

More YA reading

New year, new titles: Hot YA reads for 2013
Winter's hot YA reads
October's hot YA reads

When Joan Rivers stopped by the Late Show to pay a visit to David Letterman, the topic was Oscars, Oscars, Oscars. The star of Fashion Police brought the laughs right up until one joke about Adele landed her in hot water with the audience.

When Letterman mentioned Adele and described her as a "lovely woman," Rivers made the tasteless gesture of puffing out her cheeks and holding out her hands in a silent but crude way of indicating Adele's size. Rivers went on to completely ignore the boos from the audience, saying, "What's her song? 'Rolling in the Deep?' She should add fried chicken."

Crude.

Quick! Someone give Adele a Tony and an Emmy so she can have an EGOT!>>

This isn't Rivers' first time attacking Adele. When Adele gave birth, we reported about Rivers' nasty post-birth tweet. After hearing the birth announcement, Rivers' tweeted, "Congratulations to Adele on the birth of her 68 pound 8 ounces bouncing baby boy."

She also tweeted another jab at Adele about the Oscars. She wrote, "On Sunday night, you could easily pick Adele's Oscar statuette out of a lineup. It was the only one wearing Spanx."

Adele dethrones Taylor Swift>>

Everyone loves to laugh and we can all enjoy a few jabs now and then, but to continually poke fun at one person about the same thing is beyond cruel. It's called "bullying" and it's something we've tried really hard to teach children not to do. How can you expect kids to take it seriously when someone who is their grandmother's age is out doing it and making money from it?

We think Adele is confident enough not to let someone else's immature taunts bring on body issues. But it's still not nice and extremely unnecessary for those insults to fly in the first place.

For what it's worth, we think Adele is absolutely gorgeous!

Photo credit: WENN.com

Make
a day of it

Let’s vow to get off the couch and have some fun this spring break! Even if you can’t afford a Disney cruise or a trip to Mexico, there are plenty of sights you can see and things you can do all around you.

Spring break is one glorious week off from work and school. If you have kids or are in school yourself, make a promise that you won’t waste this week indoors. Let’s get outside, get some fresh air and have some fun. Spring break comes once a year — this year, let’s make it one to remember with these fun, fresh ideas sure to bring a smile to your face.

Click here for a complete list of theme parks and amusement parks in your state>>

More on spring break

Spring break safety: Travel tips for teens and college kids
Best spring break travel destinations for everyone
Checking In: spring break

Spiced-
up style

It can be rare that you and your man get a night out without the kids, so take the time to pamper yourself and get all dolled up. No matter how tired you may feel, putting in the extra effort will make your night that much better!

Date nights with your man are quite possibly the most important nights out you may have. It's a special time to reconnect and shed the mommy/daddy title for a few hours.

On this night, it's all about the two of you! So, when choosing what to wear, make sure you take into consideration what your guy likes to see you in. And then combine that with what makes you feel cute and sassy to create the perfect date night outfit!

Summer's outfit

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE my boots. I wear them all year-round in every color, shape and style. So when there's a date on the calendar, it's more than likely I'll be busting out a pair of my favorite boots. And while I change up my date night outfits depending on the event, this is definitely a go-to dress that makes me feel less like a mom and more like the girl my husband knew in the good ol' dating days.

More style

Shopping with Summer: GNO
Shopping with Summer: Playdate time
Shopping with Summer: Moms on the go

Earlier this week, Morrissey was scheduled to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He canceled the day before he was scheduled to perform. Sure, he's unreliable, but at least he's standing up for something? His problem with performing on the show was that Kimmel's other guests were the stars of the popular hunting show Duck Dynasty.

"As far as my reputation is concerned, I can't take the risk of being on a show alongside people who, in effect, amount to animal serial killers," Morrissey said, explaining why he left Kimmel hanging.

Nothing new here: Morrissey gets overly dramatic about meat>>

Mostly unaffected by the cancellation, the show quickly booked the band Churchill and carried on. Still, Kimmel had a few things to say about the cancellation.

"While I respect [Morrissey's] stance on this, I really do, there's a very good reason why I didn't dump the Duck Dynasty guys for [him] — and it's because they have guns," Kimmel teased.

Later, Kimmel had the Robertson family do a skit about hunting for "yuppie food." The skit included "broccoli traps" and "carrot calls."

Morrissey gives his opinion >>

While everyone else thought it was funny , Morrissey got his panties in a twist. Now he's railing against the show. On Wednesday, he issued the following statement:

"I was disappointed with last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Show wherein our smiling host managed to ridicule depression . He then found time to ridicule healthy eating , and he also ridiculed the notion that animals should be entitled to the possession of their own lives. Furthermore, he found time to jokingly promote gun-ownership — hugely amusing for the parents at Sandy Hook, no doubt. He also promoted his special guests Duck Dynasty — who kill beings for fun. None of the above issues are, of course, as important as Jimmy Kimmel himself, who has finally revealed his show to have an overwhelming loss of meaning. Tune in and relive the intellectual fog of the 1950s."

After recently canceling shows due to a bleeding ulcer, someone should tell Moz that so much anger really won't help his health. Then again, can you imagine that finally stopping him?

Photo credit: WENN.com

The weather might still be cool, but it doesn't mean you can't have a delicious frozen drink! These simple and flavorful recipes are packed full of flavor and a breeze to make. Plus, the kids will love helping to make these fun frozen treats.

Frozen milk chocolate hot chocolate recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ice
• 1 envelope milk chocolate hot chocolate
• 1-2 cups whole milk
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate syrup

Directions:

1. In a high speed blender, add ice, hot chocolate packet and 1 cup of the milk.
2. Start blending and stream in more milk until you reach desired consistency.
3. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Frozen white chocolate hot chocolate recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ice
• 1 envelope white chocolate hot chocolate
• 1-2 cups whole milk
• Whipped cream
• Chocolate syrup

Directions:

1. In a high speed blender, add ice, hot chocolate packet and 1 cup of the milk.
2. Start blending and stream in more milk until you reach desired consistency.
3. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

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by Rachel Hope
as told to Julie Weingarden Dubin

I’ve suffered from chronic, complex post-traumatic stress disorder most of my life. I was badly abused and neglected as a child and experienced serious trauma. I was raped at age 4 and at age 11 I was in a horrible accident. A truck hit me while I was riding my bike. I barely survived, and endured many reconstructive surgeries.

I had most of the classic symptoms of PTSD — nightmares, chronic hyper-arousal, panic and anxiety, which led to persistent irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, chronic pain and other stress-related illnesses. I also had a sense that my loved ones were about to tragically die any minute. I had difficulty trusting others and, because I was defensive and reactionary, other people had a hard time trusting me. I got startled easily and often jumped and screamed from common things like the phone ringing or someone’s voice.

But despite my childhood trauma, I knew I always wanted a family. I had two children, Jesse, 22, and Grace 4, with “known donors” or elective “co-parents.”

Having spent more than 20 years trying every type of therapy for PTSD with little to no success, I had resigned to being handicapped for life. Although it sometimes seemed impossible to live with months of vomiting or sessions of panic that made it hard to leave the house, I began to accept my difficulties.

In 2005, an assistant at my rental property business researched and printed out all the clinical trials he could find online dealing with PTSD. He told me to pick one. He was disturbed by my predicament and was upset by my startle response — after seeing me hit the floor screaming because the phone rang. He felt that my then 11-year-old son was being damaged by my symptoms. I chose an MDMA clinical trial led by Dr. Michael Mithoefer in South Carolina. It showed the most promise, but it was unconventional. MDMA is the official term for the drug Ecstasy.

I had never taken recreational drugs. All the prescription drugs I had ever been given made me sick or they didn’t work. But after just two clinical sessions with MDMA-aided therapy, I had an immediate 80 percent reduction in symptoms and another 10 percent of my symptoms subsided that next year.

I’m a survivor and I’m able to pass my wisdom and knowledge to my kids. I don’t rob them of their own journey by telling them too much about my past. I don’t want to traumatize anyone with stories of my childhood. I look for ways to teach the essence of what I’ve learned by sharing insights and wisdom about their lives and the current events of our time.

The final stages of recovery from PTSD are about living in the now and not allowing the past to consume our lives. Raising my kids allows me to see what a normal healthy childhood is like. In some ways I’m experiencing the fun that I didn’t get in childhood and I’m playing in a safe zone for the very first time.

More mom stories

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Growing up in New England's bipolar weather, I've always been a big fan of boots. When you live in a climate that changes its mind this often, you've simply got to be smart about your footwear. Keeping that in mind, I've never been a big fan of shiny rain boots — sure, some of them are really cute, but I prefer a nice, sleek leather boot. That's why I've fallen in love with dav!

The genius brand offers chic and practical rain-proof boots that keep you dry whether it's raining, pouring or shining outside. So when Gilt City told me they were offering a fab deal for the brand this week, I was psyched to test it out.

These aren't just any boots!

My shoe of choice? The Moto Tall Solid Black Boot. It's sleek, stylish and oh so smart. I love the fact that you can go out on an unpredictable day where it might drizzle one moment and be sunny the next — and I had one of those just this week — and this shoe will go with the flow. The moto boot has a nice and firm sole so it gives you support but still looks like a pricey leather boot you'd wear on a sunnier day.

Get in on the deal

Regardless of my choice, there's really something for everyone on the site! The Gilt City dav deal runs through next week and you can choose from three neat packages:

• Package 1: English Solid Black Rainboot — bestselling offer. Original Price: $80; Gilt City Price: $40 — 50 percent discount
• Package 2: $50 for $100 credit on www.davrain.com
• Package 3: $25 for $50 credit on www.davrain.com

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It's the typical life of a rock star: Drink, drugs and mayhem. But for Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, it nearly destroyed him. The singer told Rolling Stone about the worst days of his addiction, and now he's sharing what happened after he hit rock bottom.

In September 2012, Armstrong had a breakdown on stage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, and his manager finally put his foot down and made the star get help.

"I was going through withdrawal. That was gruesome, laying on the bathroom floor and just feeling like… I didn't realize how much that stuff affected me," Armstrong told Rolling Stone, admitting he had been trying to get sober since 1997. "And it's not the stuff that is immediately in your system. It goes back to how long you've been using. It was working its way out."

"I was going through so much s***. Even in the second week, I was like, ‘I don't belong here. I'm not convinced.' The sick part of it is I wanted to get all of the narcotics out of my system so I could start drinking. But that's the insanity of the whole thing. You make excuses. You rationalize. You can take a s*** in a mailbox — that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do."

Editor's video pick: Green Day's "The Forgotten">>

Armstrong said he finally realized he could lose it all: His marriage, his sons, even his band.

"I think it's safe to say there were some choices she had to make," he said. "Am I going to get kicked to the curb? I'm sure the thought crossed her mind — that if I didn't get sober, I could potentially lose all of that stuff. I could have lost the band, too. I didn't realize how destructive I was. I thought everybody was in on the joke. But I was the joke."

With Green Day set to tour again this year, Armstrong said the band will have to sit down and figure out some ground rules to help their leading man stay on the wagon.

"We still have to talk about that," he said when asked about a "no alcohol rule" for the tour. "Everybody knows it's coming — what's going to keep me from falling off the wagon, but everybody is happy at the same time."

"Sometimes I'm not sure I'm ready," he admitted about touring again. "There is still the obsession for alcohol. There's also sleepless nights. But I have to work on it every day. Because I know what goes on out there. I'm hosting this giant party for people. At least 70-75 percent of the people in the audience have been getting a drink on. I've got to watch my step."

Read the complete interview with Armstrong in the new issue of Rolling Stone, available on newsstands now.

Photo credit: WENN.com

A new study says that eating the Mediterranean way could have great benefits for heart health. What is this diet and what could it mean for your health?

The way to a
healthy heart?

The Mediterranean diet is really a lifestyle. It encourages eating healthy fats like those found in olive oil, nuts, beans and fish. Those who follow it eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. And they indulge in a glass of wine with dinner.

Health benefits of the Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet isn't new — it's actually the lifestyle of folks in the Mediterranean region and has been for a long while.

"An abundance of greens, veggies and fresh fruit, coupled with healthy fats found in olives, nuts, seeds and fish, not only help to lower cholesterol and keep the heart healthy, but have amazing anti-aging benefits and contribute to longevity. It's the foundation of every healthy diet,” according to registered holistic nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos.

But new findings of a study show that this way of eating could have even greater benefits than anyone imagined. The study, published on the New England Journal of Medicine's website, found that the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and deaths. In fact, it could prevent 30 percent of them.

What is this Mediterranean diet?

This isn't a diet that will lead to weight loss, but rather to a healthier body. It focuses on healthy fats, and those who follow it avoid things like red meat and processed foods.

"It is such an incredibly fresh diet — you know exactly what you are putting into your body. And the high level of monounsaturated fats means it's heart-healthy," since studies suggest these fats may help reduce risk of heart disease, says chef Nisa Burns of Kitchenability.com, author of Kitchenability 101: The College Student’s Guide to Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Food.

Indeed, natural foods are the cornerstone of Mediterranean eating. And this can really improve your health.

“The Mediterranean diet is a very simple way of eating composed of the most natural and freshest of foods. Nothing processed, nothing refined," says Kotsopoulos.

Branzino with tomato and black kalamata olives

Recipe by registered holistic nutritionist Peggy Kotsopoulos

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 branzino fillets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1/3 cup pitted black olives, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet with a lid. Whack the garlic cloves, peel and mince them, and add them to the skillet. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, whack the olives, pit them and roughly chop. Add olives to the sauce, along with capers and oregano; adjust the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Slip the fillets into the sauce; make sure the fillets are covered with the sauce. Place lid on skillet and simmer until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
3. Serve on top of cooked quinoa or greens.

Recipe by Chef Nisa Burns , author of Kitchenability 101: The College Student’s Guide to Easy, Healthy and Delicious Food

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 Roma tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
• 3 leaves fresh, finely chopped basil, or 2 teaspoons dried oregano

Directions:

1. Preheat oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the cores, creating four pieces.
3. Fill each tomato with 1 tablespoon of cheese, making sure it’s fully packed in.
4. Sprinkle a little bit of chopped basil on each.
5. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet or the tray of the toaster oven. They may roll to their sides, but if packed correctly, the cheese won’t fall out.
6. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes. They are done when the tomato skins are slightly shriveled and the cheese tops are golden brown.

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Want to make a delicious dessert that is sure to impress? This fun and colorful pudding will bring a smile to everyone's face. The best part — it is a breeze to put together! All you need is some tasty vanilla pudding and food coloring. It's really that simple! Who needs gold at the end of a rainbow when you can be rewarded with this tasty pudding?

Layered rainbow pudding recipe

Yields about 4 - 6 layered pudding cups

Ingredients:

• 2 boxes instant vanilla pudding
• Red food coloring
• Yellow food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• Green food coloring

Directions:

1. Make pudding according to box directions. Once the pudding is cold and set, it's time to start dyeing the pudding.
2. Divide pudding between six bowls.
3. You want to make six different colors, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. In order to make violet you mix blue with red: three drops of blue with one drop of red.
4. After colors have been made, layer the pudding into your desired glass in the following order: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. Add some sprinkles on top for a little more color.

More pudding recipes

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