Break free from your standard salad and toss up something a little different! This Meatless Monday recipe for spinach salad with avocados and strawberries is colorful and fun, not to mention delicious! The dressing brings together a sweet-and-tangy flavor that enhances the salad. This salad makes a great lunch or light dinner. For an added bite, toss in a few blue cheese crumbles.

Spinach salad with avocados and strawberries recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 4-6 ounces spinach leaves, cleaned and torn into bite-size pieces
• 4-6 strawberries, cleaned and sliced, divided
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges, divided
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, as garnish
• 2 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles

Directions:

1. Combine the sugar, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves.
2. Toss the spinach and strawberries in a medium bowl and divide between two serving plates.
3. Gently add several avocado wedges to top the salad on each serving plate.
4. Drizzle with the dressing and garnish with the sesame seeds and optional blue cheese crumbles.

Toss up this salad!

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As if we weren't already picking apart her every move, Miley recently scored a new tattoo that has sent many gossip hounds over the edge as they've tried to piece together a meaning.

Miles' new tattoo was done by the uber famous tattoo artist Kat Von D. After the ink was in place, the artist tweeted, "Just did the RADDEST tattoo on @MileyCyrus -a miniature rendition of a daVinci anatomical heart!"

10 Better reasons to talk about Liam>>

While many seem to think the tattoo represents two hearts, they're sadly mistaken. The daVinci work was actually a representation of one heart with two sides. What could this mean? The age-old philosophy of "two hearts beating as one" might play a part in the tattoo. It could also be a reference to her "other half," Liam.

If that's the case, Miam supporters will be able to breathe a sigh of relief to think they might actually still be together. There have been plenty of rumors saying just the opposite recently.

Multiple sources have told People that Liam had fled home to Australia to get away from Miley's wild ways. Others say cheating might have been involved in the separation. On the other hand, when one of her dancers recently tweeted that she'd sent out her engagement ring to be resized, Miley lamented that she'd done the same thing and now everyone was assuming she and Liam had broken up. Not exactly a denial... but pretty close. Could this new tattoo, which certainly must represent something to her, be a sign that everything with Liam is fine?

What the rumor mill is saying this week>>

It's entirely possible. Other reasoning is possible, too, though. Maybe Miley just liked the image. Or maybe she thinks the two sides of one heart represents to two sides to her heart?

We may never know the real reason behind the tattoo. So, what do you think it represents?

Photo credit: WENN.com

Taylor Swift may have scored The Big Help Award at last year's Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, but with a little inspiration, your kiddos can also give back to the community.

Kids' Choice Award-worthy projects

From organizing kids' community service projects like food drives to picking up litter in your neighborhood, discover five ideas for Big Help projects that kids can do, even on their own.

Organize a food drive

One way to join in with Nickelodeon and The Big Help movement is to help your child contact a local shelter or food pantry and coordinate a food drive to fight back against hunger. Find out what the shelter or organization's needs are and set up drop-off dates and locations. Then, your youngster can get the word out by handing out fliers at school , telling friends, asking local stores to post leaflets and utilizing social media with your supervision.

Volunteer at a fire house or police department

For teens, your local fire department and police department likely offer explorer programs, where kids can get hands-on experience serving your community. Contact your city's respective departments for volunteer opportunities for your child.

Discover 20 ways your family can give back>>

Plant trees

Encourage your kiddos to engage in a Big Help project they can watch grow by planting trees! While each community views rogue tree planting differently, kids can typically raise money to donate a tree, help pick the tree's location and attend a tree dedication ceremony when it is planted. Or, contact a local arbor organization like Caseytrees.org to apply for a community service project or to volunteer to plant trees in parks, gardens and private properties in your community.

Aid the animal shelter

Although many animal shelters require volunteers to be 18 years of age or older, with adult supervision, your youngster can still ask friends and neighbors for items on your local animal shelter's wish list. Animal shelters often are in short supply of items like kitty litter, canned and dry cat and dog food, pet treats, newspapers and towels and blankets, so check your local shelter's website for their needs.

Run a fundraiser

Does your youngster feel that something's missing in your community? Your kids can start a fundraiser worthy of a Nickelodeon Award's mention. From a new bike rack at the library to a new slide at the park, raising money for an item that adds convenience or safety to the public is a tangible way for kids to give back to the community.

Check out these kids' clothes that give back>>

Pick up trash

Armed with gloves, plastic garbage bags and an adult, your kids can help clean up the community by ridding it of discarded litter. Pick a park, community center or local lodge parking lot and remind them to leave the sharp items for an adult to handle.

Nickelodeon would love to hear how kids are giving back to the community, so go to nick.com/thebighelp to register these five ideas for Big Help projects or whichever your kids' community service may be. Just be sure to bring your camera and capture your child's efforts like the red carpet paparazzi; you may see your kiddo's good deeds in the spotlight on The Big Help website or during the next Nickelodeon Awards ceremony!

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“Do you know who you remind me of?” a friend asked me the other day. “Forrest Gump?” I immediately answered. The days of people saying I remind them of Gwyneth Paltrow or Jennifer Aniston or even Tanya Harding! — you know, if seen at a certain angle with a certain hair style in a certainly very, very dark room by someone visually impaired — are long gone.

“No,” he said with dismissive annoyance, at once making clear he interpreted my honest and earnest reply as sarcastic, “You remind me of Bruce Almighty.”

First of all, what’s so terrible about Forrest Gump? Forrest clearly understood his intellectual limitations, as do I. At his core, Forrest was kind, decent and was incredibly lucky in life. So, why did I remind him of the down-on-his-luck lead character in Bruce Almighty?

“Please elucidate,” I said.

He continued, “Bruce Almighty was blessed with the gift of making people laugh and smile. He felt like the victim of an unjust God. In the end, he discovered that his unique talent gave others and himself joy; the talent of bringing laughter to others in a dark world.” Oh.

Before you shake your collective heads in disbelief about my narcissism, self-centeredness and/or arrogance, know this — I am all of those things. But I never based my self-worth or self-esteem on whether I was the smartest… or most educated… or prettiest… or wealthiest… or skinniest… or best dressed. My self-worth and self-esteem was based on my ability to make others laugh. My sense of humor was, somehow, someway, going to be “the great equalizer.”

The New York Times Magazine recently ran an homage to noted journalist, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer and director Nora Ephron entitled “Nora Ephron’s Final Act.” The piece, written by Nora’s son Jacob Bernstein, lovingly showed his mother’s attitude toward illness and death:

“When you slip on a banana peel, people laugh at you; but when you tell people you slipped on a banana peel, it’s your laugh,” she wrote in her anthology I Feel Bad About My Neck. “So you become the hero rather than the victim of the joke.”

I’m not Forrest. I’m not Bruce. I’m not Nora. What I am is a mother with a son who slipped on a metaphorical banana peel. Through a sense of humor and the many opportunities afforded to me because of my son, I intend to tell everyone about that metaphorical banana peel and the 1 in 88 banana peels just like him. Oh, and if you don’t think that’s humorous, let me tell you the one about a priest, a rabbi and a imam who walk into a bar…

Image credit: Allison Ziering Walmark

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What to wear to impress the teacher!

When it comes to meeting with our children's teachers, impressions can mean everything! This is one meeting you definitely want to put some time and effort into!

When meeting with my kids' teachers, generally I want to appear that I have it all together.   So, when it comes to conferences, I toss my yoga pants and old T-shirts in the closet and instead try to dress it up a bit. For this look, I took a printed maxi skirt , sandals and a cute little cropped jacket to complete the outfit. It's a super easy outfit to put together and it makes me feel a little less like a tired mom and more like one who knows what's up.

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To make your dating life as successful as possible, we've pulled together a top tier list of dos and don'ts to flirtexting etiquette, or as we call it, flirtextiquette.

Flirtexting experts

As best friends and co-founders of Flirtexting, our journey began four years ago when we noticed how much we found ourselves copy editing one another's flirty texts to potential suitors. Traditional girls at heart, we had questions like, "Should I throw in an emoticon so he knows I'm kidding,""Did he just invite me to a fart party or frat party?" and "What's the latest I can send this text before it becomes a late night booty text?"

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Quinoa is making its way into every meal and now we've got breakfast covered. This time it's baked into a deliciously healthy carrot cake muffin that will fill you up and help you start your day off right.

Quinoa carrot cake breakfast muffin recipe

Yields 6

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove excess water from grated carrots by pressing them between 2 paper towels to drain.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, quinoa, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, applesauce, honey, egg and vanilla until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Add the carrots, raisins and walnuts and stir until just combined.
4. Grease 6 wells of a muffin tin . Pour the batter evenly into the wells, about 2/3 full.
5. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until the top springs back when touched.

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Cut the
Cable cord

Are you overpaying exorbitant prices for extended cable? We hear you! That's why we rounded up the best alternatives to shelling out $100 or more a month to watch a few shows and see movie channels play the same movies over and over and over again.

Cable television is expensive. The worst part of it is, for the hundreds of channels you get, you really only watch a few regularly. But with a little patience and a few monthly subscriptions, you can reduce your reliance on cable TV for good without sacrificing your entertainment needs.

Network television — Cost: $0

If a lot of your favorite shows are on NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox, you’re in the clear. These channels are broadcast free whether you have cable or not.

Depending on your area, they may not come in as HD , but some of the most popular shows are posted the next day for free viewing on the network website. Those that aren’t posted free are usually available through one of our other alternatives.

Netflix — Cost: $8/month

Netflix lets you watch an unlimited number of movies and TV shows streaming from any device that’s Netflix-compatible. They have a variety of older content, plenty of kids' content, foreign programming and current TV shows and movies, many of which they get within weeks of release on DVD.

The drawback here is that you will have to wait for the latest season of most of your favorite shows until after the season ends, and not all shows go to Netflix. However, those that aren’t available on Netflix are often available somewhere else, like Hulu .

Unless there’s a specific show you just can’t live without and it happens to be one of the few that aren’t offered on Netflix, you may not need anything else. And you can literally take the content with you anywhere, since it runs on mobile devices, as well. Most shows have no advertising.

Hulu — Cost: $8/month

Hulu works much like Netflix, but all shows do have limited advertising. Many of the shows that aren’t available on Netflix can be found there. The overall selection isn’t as good, but we recommend using Hulu and Netflix together because the content is a bit different. Between the two of them, along with things you can watch free online, they’ll cover most of your viewing needs.

Redbox — Cost: $1/movie

Redbox is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a red box-like device about the size of an old arcade game that sits outside convenience stores all over town in most major metropolitan areas. You can simply stop by a Redbox and check out their vast selection of recently released movies on DVD and Blu-ray. Just use your credit or debit card to “check out” the movie and pay $1 a day to rent it. There are no late fees and you can keep the flick as long as you want .

They also rent out video games, which makes it a one-stop shop for gamers to check out the latest titles on the cheap before investing $50 or more to purchase it. You can set up an online account and actually put your movies and games on hold and whichever location is most convenient for you, then return it to any Redbox in the city.

Sports — Price varies

You can actually catch most sports streaming live. Football fans will want to purchase NFL Sunday Ticket, which costs $300 for the whole season and gets you access to any game and lots of extra coverage. While that sounds pricey, the reality is, depending on who you root for, you’d likely have to pay for NFL Sunday Ticket even if you had cable because of NFL-required blackouts of certain games in some areas.

ESPN also streams a lot of college and pro football, basketball, tennis and more, in addition to their most popular shows, like SportsCenter and SportsNation. However, some of this programming may be subject to blackout.

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Great airline seats on a budget

Traveling is supposed to be fun and relaxing, but getting to and from your destination via airplane can sometimes be more than you bargained for. Next time you fly, reduce some of the stress by getting better airline seats without spending a fortune.

You’ve probably noticed that while it’s possible to find good airline prices, it’s not always possible to find good airline seats. You score a deal on the tickets, but wind up cramped in a middle seat with your family members randomly spread out throughout the plane. If you have small children, this is not an option, since they need adult supervision. When this happens, the airline often forces you to pay more money to get the luxury of sitting together, thereby negating the good deal on the tickets. Next time you fly, utilize these tips to get better airline seats for you and your family!

Book as early as possible

We know, sometimes plans arise last minute and you have to book just a few weeks in advance, but when possible, always book early. Booking early means you’ll have choices when it comes to choosing your seats. If everyone likes the aisle seats, give everyone an aisle in rows as close to each other as possible. As with anything, the more you plan ahead, the better off you’ll be.

Check the flight daily

If you only have one option as far as the flight is concerned , check the flight daily to see if other seats have become available. Plans change, business meetings get cancelled and some passengers decide to fly first-class. Use this to your advantage in getting the seats you want!

Check the flight 24 hours before departure

This is typically when online check-in starts and better seats become available. We recommend being ready to go 15-20 minutes before this begins. If you get online to check in even 10 minutes after the online check-in has begun, you’re chances of getting an ideal seat are drastically reduced.

Arrive early to check in

Some airlines, such as Southwest, seat passengers based on a first-come, first-served basis. This is where it pays to be early! Arriving at your gate early gives you the chance to be at the front of the line and claim your seat. If you’re really picky about your seat, you can pay extra to board the plane before everyone else.

• Decide what’s most important to you when traveling. If comfort on the plane ranks high, consider spending the extra money to upgrade to a better seat and stay at a less-expensive hotel instead.
• Bring things to do on the plane. Bring a book, watch a movie or read a magazine. If your mind is occupied, you’re less likely to be thinking about how cramped and uncomfortable you are.
• Try to relax. If you really don’t want to spend the extra time or money fighting for the perfect seat, take what you get and relax! Most flights within the U.S. are only a few hours, so take a little nap and you’ll be there before you know it.

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ladies who
popped the question!

For every traditional girl, there's one who lives by no rules whatsoever. Some women dream and imagine over and over again how their proposal will happen and others... well, others just go out and do it on their own! Our bold readers share their bended knee proposal stories.

With National Proposal Day on March 20, conversations are abuzz, as brides-to-be start thinking about their wedding day. But who has time to wait for the man to ask the woman? It takes a lot of chutzpah for a woman to get down on one knee and do the asking. Right?

Just like the movies

Julia Stern is a 34-year-old teacher from Ohio. She had been dating her boyfriend for about three years and hinted enough times that she was ready. Finally, she couldn't wait anymore.

One evening after dinner, Carl and I were sitting on the couch trying to find a movie to watch. After scouring the On Demand options, we ventured into the indie films and came across one called Will You Marry Me? We looked at each other, laughed and decided to hit play. As soon as the movie started, I paused it. I looked at him and I said, "No really, Carl... will you... marry me?" He immediately started blushing and thought I was joking, but I wasn't. I popped the question and was awaiting the answer with baited breath. "I'm not joking, Carl. I love you. We've been together for a while now. You are my life and my partner. Will you marry me?" Tears started to swell in his eyes as he said "Yes!"

Two weeks later, when I was absolutely not expecting anything at all, Carl surprised me with a gorgeous ring and a 'real' proposal. He said he just had to be traditional about it, but I love our story. I always tell people I was the one who asked him!

International love

When travel partners Ken Sohi and Tricia Maxx got together seven years ago, they were expecting surprises and adventures of a different kind!

My now-husband Ken and I were really fortunate for a short period of our lives to be able to travel and not work. We went around the whole world — from Africa to Australia, and even made our way down to Antarctica. As you can imagine, spending time together was a full-time job. It takes two very specially-bonded people to be able to be together through every waking moment of their lives.

I'm the kind of woman who, in the past, would get sick of her boyfriends very quickly and had to move on to the next one. After three years of travels with Ken, I knew that we'd continue our travel adventures into home-life adventures, once we were finally ready to settle down.

That ended up happening sooner rather than later, on account of a perfect little surprise by the name of Baby Angelique. I found out we were pregnant when we were in India. I decided to tell Ken at the same time that I'd propose. A proposal was never really that important to me because I just knew we'd always be together, so I didn't put a lot of pressure on the situation. But, I didn't want to go into a situation of having a child without being married. So, I took a trip to the market and created a makeshift ring out of some fun fabrics that were blue and pink colored.

When I came home, I brought back blue and pink flowers and Ken sort of knew what was up as soon as he saw that. I told him that we were going to be blessed with a baby and that I wanted to continue our life's adventure together... but now as three. I asked him to marry "us" and he loved it!

How to pick the ring!

Todd Ingwer, lead designer for Leo Ingwer, Inc., offers the following "4Ds" of diamond engagement ring design to complement the widely known "4Cs" — carat, color, cut and clarity.

Dream

Young girls grow up imagining their perfect wedding, and that starts with a spectacular diamond engagement ring, says Ingwer. In fact, research shows that nearly 80 percent of women receive a diamond engagement ring from their fiances. In a committed relationship, the dream of a perfect proposal, with a ring to match, gets closer to reality.

Discuss

Couples don't necessarily sit down together to discuss the specifics of a diamond engagement ring, but "d" is also for dropping hints, notes Ingwer, explaining that 65 percent of brides are at least somewhat involved in selecting the ring. Is the bride-to-be a fan of round center stones, chosen by more than half of all brides? What size stone? Platinum or yellow gold?

A prospective groom should visit a trusted retailer to discuss exactly what they want, including a realistic budget, advises Ingwer. A custom-designed diamond engagement ring has become a popular option for contemporary couples, and as Ingwer adds, is the optimum way to get the ring of her dreams.

In fact, whether they completely designed the ring on their own with a jeweler or made custom changes to an existing design, approximately two out of five grooms are choosing to add personal elements to the engagement ring. Customization is even more popular with the luxury ring segment as more than half of this market is choosing to incorporate custom design elements.

Draw

When handcrafting diamond engagement rings in tandem with couples and their local jewelers, custom manufacturers like Leo Ingwer, Inc. provide an initial sketch showing several views of the finished ring. The sketch will be what the craftsman uses to construct the ring. Todd Ingwer does many of the sketches for Leo Ingwer and has found that "the sketch itself becomes a keepsake of this special moment, and we specially frame them as our gift to our customers."

Develop

Once the drawing for the ring is approved by the client, a custom jewelry manufacturer such as Leo Ingwer gets to work in crafting it. The center stone is selected based on the 4Cs of cut, clarity, color and carat weight that the jeweler or client will have specified, and side stones are procured. The ring takes shape as the metals are molded according to very precise measurements. According to Ingwer, at the last stage, when the stones are finally set and they give the ring a final polish, the bride-to-be's dream ring becomes a reality.

There is actually one more, notes Ingwer — DAZZLE! Get down on one knee, , ask for her hand, and dazzle her with a diamond engagement ring that is as one-of-a-kind as she is.

Whether or not you propose or get proposed to on National Proposal Day, the most important thing is that you are happy with yourself and your relationship!

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Sadly, many of the tourists who stomp the 16th-century streets in search of the well-known sights of Venice end up missing the hidden alleys, mom-and-pop restaurants and true beauty of Venice that make it like no place else in the world. See the city through the eyes of someone who truly loves it — a Venetian.

Photo credit: The World Travelist

Where to stay

If you crave antique architecture and history in your hotel, check into the five-star Ca'Sagredo Hotel, which is actually a national monument in Italy. This 15th-century hotel looks almost untouched by history, with a grand ceremonial marble staircase leading to original paintings by Giambattista Tiepolo. You'll also notice a stunning 17th-century music room, where you almost expect to see the rich and famous of Italy’s past singing and drinking. If available, stay in one of the fourth-floor rooms, which have terraces overlooking the city’s canals.

If you’re not a fan of big, opulent hotels, book a stay at the B&B San Marco. Located just five minutes from the Piazza San Marco, this charming bed-and-breakfast only has three rooms, all of which share a bathroom, which makes your stay here feel more like a getaway with relatives. If you’d prefer something a bit more private, book their two-bedroom apartment, which is located off the courtyard. You can’t beat the location, and a stay in the coveted Nonni room offers breathtaking views of the canals and the rooftops of the city.

Where to play

There’s truly no better way to see the city than on the canals in one of the iconic gondolas. However, don’t think that every gondolier is going to sing. If you want a crooner, you’ll have to pay more. Another way to tour the Grand Canal, one of the largest waterways of the 150 found in Venice, is aboard one of the vaporettos, or large passenger boats. Onboard, you can buy single tickets for as low as six euros. Another gorgeous view of the city is offered on top of the Campanile, which is the city’s tallest building. The original building was built in 888, and unfortunately collapsed in 1902. It was rebuilt to reflect its earlier glory, and now offers a lift, which takes visitors to its peak.

One of largest piazzas in Venice is San Marco, and it is an experience in itself. It was once referred to as the “drawing room of Europe” by Napoleon, and you can see three of the biggest sights in Venice in this one square. St. Mark’s Basilica, built originally in 882, is a top tourist destination. The Torre dell’Orologico is one of the most interesting pieces of architecture in the city, made up of a stunning blue and gold zodiac clock face and ornate lion and human statues. You’ll also notice the magnificent Doge’s Palace, which boxes the square in. Another popular sight is the 17th century Palazzo Pisani, which is a music conservatory. Film buffs will recognize this as the spot where the shootout was filmed in the James Bond movie Castle Royale.

Where to eat

Venice isn’t just home to some of the best seafood in Italy, it’s also home to some of the best fresh markets. The Rialto market is one of the largest and most popular fresh markets in the city because of its vast selection of fresh produce and seafood. The market is split into two portions — one for the vegetables and fruit, and one for the fish. Prices are really competitive, so it’s a great place to grab an on-the-go breakfast or lunch.

One of the best seafood spots in town is the Fiascheterria Toscana. There are only 40 seats and you are welcomed with a glass case showcasing the day’s fresh catch as soon as you walk in. The restaurant oozes Venetian charm, with blown-glass lamps and painted plates. The dishes depend on the catch, but if you can grab a plate of the black pasta with lobster, it’s divine. A lesser-known favorite is La Colomba. The food is true Venetian but has a bit of a “southern accent” that reflects in the owner’s upbringing. You can’t go wrong with a seafood risotto or the diced raw tuna , which is often updated with a nice citrus flair.

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Expert stay-slim tips

Losing weight is one thing, but keeping it off and maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you can be another battle entirely. That’s why we’re sharing some of our best tips for staying slim – for life.

For some expert insight we turned to health and fitness guru Jillian Michaels, who is currently set to launch Maximize Your Life, her first-ever speaking tour, for her best stay-slim tips.

Eat less, move more

If you really want to stay slim for life and avoid those frustrating weight fluctuations, you need to find a way to eat less and move more. “It’s that simple,” affirms Michaels. “There are many tips and tricks to accelerate your weight loss, but that is the universal rule. Don't believe anything else anyone tells you.” She shares some simple ways to start eating less and moving more.

• Don't skip meals:  Eat four times a day, which works out to every four hours .
• Know what you’re eating. We eat the same 20 foods for the most part over and over, notes Michaels. Look up the calories in that meal or dish so you know what you're eating. "Mindlessness plays a huge part in weight gain," she says. "Awareness is key."
• Move your body. Get moving as often as you can, but at minimum shoot for three to four 30-minute sessions a week. When you do engage in activity, make sure to work hard. Michaels advises working at 85 percent of your maximum heart rate so you make it count.
• Treat yourself within reason. When indulging, do it 20 percent of the time. The other 80 percent, make the healthier choice.

Make time to stay healthy

As a busy mom and on-the-go professional, Michaels knows the importance of prioritizing healthy living. If you don’t make time for it, you won’t stay slim. To balance a busy career with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Michaels uses the same 80/20 equation listed above, but applies it to creating a work-health balance. “I spend 20 percent of my time on me, working out, going to get my checkups, having a date night, and the other 80 percent is all kids and work,” she says.

It’s also important to ask for help when it comes to making time to stay slim, something Michaels is not afraid to do. “Reach out to the grandparents. They love your kids as much as you do. My mom is always good for a few hours on a Saturday so I can get some 'me time,' ” she says. “Trade off watching the kids with your partner or spouse so you can both get that workout in.”

Avoid common stumbling blocks

Some of the biggest stumbling blocks to being slim for life include finances, time and emotional eating. Michaels shares some advice for not letting these obstacles hold you back from the body you want.

• To avoid overspending on healthy food choices, save money elsewhere and reallocate it to your groceries.
• Clip coupons or go to a food brands website .
• Buy in bulk with a friend or neighbor and split the food. You both get the discount and you don't have more food than you can eat.
• Buy frozen and in season. Get thick-skinned fruits and veggies so you have less concern about cost and metabolism-disrupting pesticides, and so you can focus your dollars on clean meats and dairy.

• No time to work out? Try multitasking. Work out with your kids by hiking or taking them on a bike ride, do conference calls from the stepper and answer emails on the stationary bike.
• Ask for help. Work out a schedule with your friends or family where they watch your kids several days a week for a couple of hours.

• Before eating, check for actual physical signs of hunger. If you aren't actually hungry, assess what's really bothering you.
• Build a support system for when you are feeling low. Join an online community, get a weight-loss buddy, etc.
• Learn to communicate your needs so you don't feel depleted and disappointed, which drives you to the fridge.
• Give to yourself and love yourself the way you love others. If you do this you won't have nearly as much of that empty, lonely feeling that drives you to food as a treat or reward.

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Photo credit: Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

product review

Size matters

When a gloss meets the look of a super-sized crayon, you know there's fun to be had. Covergirl's new LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm is as efficient as it is fun. Read our review below!

Covergirl's new LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm is pretty chunky, almost as chunky as Clinique's Chubby Stick. But unlike the latter, which retails for $16, the Gloss Balm just costs $7.

The Gloss Balm is a beautiful medley of shea and mango butters. It promises a smooth look with just a hint of color. The shea and mango butters give your lips a soft shine without a sticky feeling, and that's just a great idea, no matter what the product, what the season.

The Gloss Balm comes in 16 shades and definitely gives you the shine of a gloss, which is the biggest bridge to cross. We always knew that the balm component of this would do well but were a tad bit uncertain about the gloss aspect. Needless to say, our fears were irrational, and the Gloss Balm served us well.

The moisturizing aspect of the balm is important too: It held up nicely, especially in the drier months. It also has the color payoff of a rich lipstick but the color is sheer, so don't expect it to last through your salad for lunch. But of course, since it's so portable, you can slip it into your purse and use it for touchups all day long.

For me, my favorite aspect is the balm: I used to be a diehard Chapstick girl, but I must confess I'm addicted to the balms much more. It lasts a lot longer than most balms I've used , and it has a gorgeous shine to it.

Plus, the chunky look and feel is really nice and retro: It makes you feel as though you're taking Crayola to your lips, and that brings out the kid in you. The Gloss Balm comes in 16 different shades, and all of them sheer, from a lovely Ruby Twist to a more nude Mocha Twist. Don't expect the colors to be true to the cap shade though — they're a bit lighter than that, so choose carefully.

Two thumbs up!

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These incredible cupcakes only look complex. In fact, they couldn't be easier to make. All you need is your favorite cupcake recipe, buttercream and a piping bag. These cupcakes are perfect for spring bridal showers, weddings and birthday parties.

Beautiful flower cupcake recipe

Inspired by Glorious Treats

Yields 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

• 1 cup + 1 tablespoon flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• Dash of salt

For the frosting: 

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 4-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 tablespoons milk
• Red and blue food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all of the ingredients together until creamy .

Pour mixture into a muffin pan lined with cupcake liners. Bake for about 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Mix the butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Separate the two batches. Add red and blue to one batch to make a purple and add blue to the other to make a light blue. Stuff the frosting into piping bags and then pipe "petals" using the star or flower-shaped Wilton tip.

Repeat with the blue. If you want a multicolored flower bouquet, pipe a few purple and then a few blue and repeat until the cupcake is topped.

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Does your tween or teen use the Snapchat app? This hugely popular mobile app has taken over where Instagram left off — but with a twist that might take parents by surprise. Find out who’s using it and why you may want to think twice about letting your child download it.

Why parents should worry about this app

With all the media attention and concern surrounding sexting, most parents of teens have had a frank discussion about internet privacy, especially regarding photo sharing on Instagram. But what parents may not know is that many teens have moved over to Snapchat for their raunchy photo-sharing — and here’s why.

Snapchat has taken off

Now processing over 30 million messages a day, Snapchat has taken off like crazy. Snapchat is like Instagram in that it makes sharing images easy, but on Snapchat the images or video only remain visible for a brief moment before they are gone permanently. Users take a picture or short video clip, then choose how long it will be visible to the person they send it to — for anywhere from one to 10 seconds. Teens like the implied privacy of Snapchat, which has gained a reputation as the place to share racy images that will not come back to haunt you. Or will they? That’s where the problem comes in.

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When there’s a will

There is nothing preventing someone from grabbing a screen shot of your teen’s photos before they vanish from the screen. Although Snapchat does send a message when a photo has been grabbed, hackers have quickly come up with a work-around for that, too. Facebook has also launched a similar mobile app in conjunction with their “poke” feature, which also alerts you if your shared image is grabbed. Teens need to understand that even with this new technology, any inappropriate images they take or share can still make it out into cyberspace for all to see.

Sexting scandal at New Jersey high school

In a letter to parents of both middle school and high school students in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the superintendent of schools told parents that some Ridgewood high school girls had sent lewd images via Snapchat. These photos were intercepted by a male student, who took screen shots and uploaded them to an Instagram gallery. Students in the district were given an amnesty period by police, in which they could delete any images they had taken or shared, without penalty.

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein explained in the letter the seriousness of crimes related to sharing or taking illicit photos. “These incidents happened off school grounds and are being handled by the police," Fishbein said in an interview. "If it is determined that students broke school rules then we would handle that administratively as we do with all student issues."

What parents should know about teen sexting>>

Snapchat’s philosophy

What was the intention of Snapchat in the first place? According to co-founder Evan Spiegel, “I'm not convinced that the whole sexting thing is as big as the media makes it out to be. I just don't know people who do that. It doesn't seem that fun when you can have real sex,” he adds. He did say that the idea for the app — which he created with Bobby Murphy — was partially inspired by racy images shared on Twitter by disgraced former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner.

On their company blog, Snapchat shares a vision of how they see their app being used in daily life.

“We believe in sharing authentic moments with friends. It’s not all about fancy vacations, sushi dinners or beautiful sunsets. Sometimes it’s an inside joke, a silly face or greetings from a pet fish.

Sharing those moments should be fun. Communication is more entertaining when it’s with the people who know us best. And we know that no one is better at making us laugh than our friends.

There is value in the ephemeral. Great conversations are magical. That’s because they are shared, enjoyed but not saved.”

Bottom line

Teens need to be told — and reminded on occasion — that any images they send to anyone, regardless of the medium, can be shared with others and wind up in cyberspace. To protect their privacy, teen should never send any picture to anyone that they wouldn’t willingly show a parent.

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Love dyeing Easter eggs with your kids, but hate the mess? Tired of having to hide your kids' purple and green fingers behind their pretty Easter dresses in your Easter brunch photos? Us too!

Keep your house
and your kids clean!

This year, use these tricks to have a mess-free Easter egg dyeing session. Well, as mess-free as it can be!

Scrambled Easter eggs

Any mom who's dyed Easter eggs with her kids knows that it's next to impossible to keep her hands completely dye-free. The most we can hope for is to minimize the mess and that starts with strategies to keep their hands out of the dye altogether!

It seems that things usually start out well — typically, boxes of Easter egg dye also include those not-so-helpful metal egg holders that your kids think are great... until they try to balance an egg on one! This year, toss those worthless contraptions from the get-go and grab your whisks from the kitchen instead. Metal whisks work best, as they won't pick up the dye, like plastic whisks will, but nonetheless, a hardboiled egg will fit perfectly inside of most whisks, then your kids can dip and dye without needing to dunk their precious little fingers into the dye!

Removing the eggs from the whisk may take some tricky finger work — throw on a pair of rubber kitchen gloves to assist and your fingers will stay dye-free too.

Pull out the party supplies

Keeping your house clean could be a harder task than keeping your kids clean — it's a toss-up, to say the least! Dig into that closet where you shove all of the extra party supplies and grab those old plastic tablecloths you bought for your daughter's princess birthday party three years ago — it doesn't matter that they're covered in crowns and hearts — they'll do the trick nicely. Cover everything in sight with plastic to protect your table, the floor and even the chairs .

No plastic tablecloths stashed away? They're cheap to pick up and well worth the expense of a couple of bucks each to be able to wrap up all of the mess when you're all done and toss the entire package in the trash . You could also use one of your old fabric tablecloths and dedicate it to Easter egg dyeing. Throw it in the wash when you're done dyeing — by itself, of course — and you should be good to go for next year too!

The best way to keep your house clean while dyeing Easter eggs? Take it outside. If you're in a warm climate, make an outdoor Easter egg dyeing station, or even take it in your garage if it's too chilly to dye outside. Just be sure to check the bottoms of shoes and feet for dye before letting your little Easter bunnies back in the house!

Go green... and red... and yellow

While all-natural dyes will likely stain your kids' fingers as well, at least you'll know that their purple fingertips aren't soaked with chemicals, right? Going "green" with your Easter egg dye this year can also play double-duty as a mini-science experiment for your kids! Think of different colorful foods and create your own dyes — blueberries, raspberries, red wine vinegar, cranberry juice, turmeric, cayenne pepper. Roam around the grocery store when you pick up your eggs and see what colorful inspiration might strike you and your kids!

Want to go chemical-free this Easter? Learn how to naturally dye Easter eggs>>

Always be prepared

No matter how careful you are, it's likely that your kids will still come out with a green-dyed fingertip or two. If things get out of control and you feel like you need to do some Easter egg dye damage control, mix a thick paste of baking soda and water and spread it on their hands . Let it sit as long as they'll tolerate, then scrub off like you would if you were washing their hands. Put on a silly voice and pretend that you're giving them a luxurious manicure in a high-end spa if you need to! The baking soda mixture won't remove everything and you'll likely still see some dye around their fingernails, but it should, at the very least, make them Easter-picture ready!

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We all started off 2013 in a haze of excitement over Justin Timberlake's new album. March 19th couldn't come fast enough! The summer tour needed to start earlier! We needed our Justin now, we got him now and, as it turns out, this time he'll be sticking around a while.

He has to, right? After all, he told his album release party that a second album was on the way!

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"Let me clear a rumor up," JT told Ryan Seacrest, the host of his CD release party. "The news that this is only the first half of the album, that's true. That's all I'm gonna say!"

And then the entire El Rey Theatre burst into a round of hallelujahs like the earth's largest angel choir. At least we imagine that's what happened.

It seemed pretty obvious, really. The new album is called The 20/20 Experience and yet it only has 10 songs. Not only did the numbers not work out right, but you also need two eyes to have 20/20 vision. It makes sense, then, that you'd need two albums to have a full 20/20 experience.

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While that announcement may have been the biggest shocker of the night, the rest of JT's album release party was pretty spectacular, too. To help everyone get into the festive spirit, "cigarette girls" passed out red bow ties and pocket squares to the guys and red lipsticks and neck kerchiefs to the ladies. Then Justin, decked out in his own slim-line suit and tie, came out to perform.

He was backed by the illustrious band The Tennessee Kids, who we also saw at The Grammys. Not only did he sing songs from the new album, he also let loose with a few oldies-but-goodies, too. He even changed one up a bit and turned it into a bit of a mashup!

Instead of ruining the surprise for you, we'll just remind you: The 20/20 Experience release party will be televised on The CW tonight at 8/7c.

Photo credit: WENN.com

A pregnancy after a loss is often called a rainbow baby. A rainbow baby signifies something beautiful that comes after a storm, and the term acknowledges that the storm, or loss, did indeed happen. Rachael is pregnant with her third baby, who will follow his two big sisters — the younger of which passed away when she was 5 months old. Here is her story.

Lenore

Rachael’s first baby is named Lenore. Rachael was a young mom, and naturally had a lot of uncertainty before her girl was born. She and Lenore’s father weren’t together during her pregnancy, and she had to face the reality that she was going to become a parent without him by her side.

Lenore’s birth was overwhelming for her in many ways. “Her birth was rough,” she told us. “I was induced past my due date, had Pitocin for hours, no epidural, and I wasn't respected by staff at all, and I suppose that was because I was only 17.” She explained that having a baby was wonderful and scary at the same time, which is true for most moms, but her age made it even more unique. “Motherhood was nothing like I expected,” she said. “I had never held a newborn before, and there I was, just handed this little baby to take care of.”

Her biggest support came from her mother as well as a large online group of like-minded moms, which she is still a part of. She shared that she dealt with a lot of age-related issues as a young mom but that she was able to push through, grow up and learn a lot from her situation. “I grew up quickly, learned quickly, and Lenore is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” she shared.

Troy, and a new baby

Rachael met her husband, Troy, when she was still in high school, and reconnected with him when she moved back to the area through mutual friends. They became a couple and soon discussed having a baby together. “Since Lenore was already in the picture, we discussed children much sooner than I imagine most couples do,” she explained. “He was a natural with her, and after seeing that, I knew I wanted a family with him.”

They found out they were expecting a few months into dating. They had already made plans to move in together and Troy had taken on a parenting role with Lenore, so it all fell into place naturally for the young family. They found out she was pregnant together — during a phone conversation, she mentioned what she was eating, and he exclaimed that she must be pregnant. “We bought a test, took it together, and his face lit up!” she happily told us. “He was scared of course, this being his first baby, but he was so happy and excited for the future!”

Pregnancy was rough for Rachael this time around. She had severe morning sickness and a bad case of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction which made it difficult to be comfortable and stay comfortable, and walking became a very difficult task the further into pregnancy she got. “Taking care of a toddler while pregnant was much more difficult than I had anticipated, too,” she remembered.

Scarlette

Scarlette’s birth was wonderful, despite the difficult pregnancy. “Her birth was everything I wanted!” she said. “I had a water birth at the hospital’s birthing center, and she was born quietly, and peacefully and completely amazing. My water broke and I had her less than 45 minutes later, which really helped I think.”

During pregnancy, Rachael felt a connection with her baby that she hadn’t felt the first time, and speculated it was because Dad was in the picture and everything was really stable. Once she was born, “... she just made everything right,” Rachael said. “She completed the little family we had come to be, and it was like she was always there.”

Scarlette was very much enjoyed by her family, especially her big sister. “She wasn't very verbal, but the photos show the happiness and excitement in her,” shared Rachael. “Lenore wasn't a big fan of the crying, but in a few months she was the only one who could make Scarlette belly laugh and she loved — loves — her so much.”

June 6, 2011

On June 6, 2011, Troy had a day off. Rachael put Scarlette down for a nap in her crib and the rest of the family followed suit on their respective beds. “When Lenore woke us up, we found Scarlette had passed away in her sleep, never making a noise,” she explained.

The days that followed were from the pages of a nightmare, as any parent can imagine. “I screamed, and screamed and screamed some more,” she said. “I tore apart everything I ever did in my head trying to figure out where I went wrong, what I had done. Every day I spent wishing I would wake up and everything would be OK.”

Lenore kept them going, and they had amazing support from their family and friends. “Eventually we learned to take comfort in the 'diagnosis' of SIDS, which helped ease the guilt parents who have lost babies feel,” she shared.

Rainbow baby

Rachael and Troy decided to try for another baby after some time had passed, after they had worked through their own personal recoveries. “I knew I needed to have another baby right away,” she remembered. “I knew timing was never going to be good, and it was going to be hard, but I just knew it's what I needed to really heal. Troy agreed, but he needed more time.”

Rachael expected a quick conception, but when that didn’t happen, she spent a lot of time at the doctor’s office before she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and polycystic ovarian syndrome . She spent months working on regulating her thyroid levels and taking hormones, and 16 months later, she got her positive pregnancy test.

Her levels weren’t rising to the doctor’s satisfaction and she had to face an ultrasound before scheduling a D&C because they were sure the pregnancy wasn’t successful, but they got good news instead. “I would have been seven weeks along, and expecting to find nothing, there was a little heartbeat,” she fondly explained. “He was alive when they told me he wouldn't be, and I just knew he was in it for the long run.”

The next few months

Rachael believes that the rest of her pregnancy, and the first months of her baby boy’s life, will be a little more stressful than most new parents experience. “I expect they will be some of the most nerve-wracking months of our lives,” she confided. “I’m sure I'll be more anxious when he is here, but for now I'm at peace with how much harder it's going to be, and I'm planning on one day at a time.”

In the meantime, Lenore is wildly excited about her baby brother and has grand plans for all the stories she will be telling him when he gets bigger — “ … including about her baby sister Scarlette,” said Rachael. “Lenore really is the best big sister.”

If you’re facing a pregnancy after a loss, Rachael has these wise words of advice: “You are not alone. You will learn to live with this pain, and you will feel happiness again, and you are so much stronger than you think you are.”

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