Broccoli for dessert? Yes, please! Both kids and adults will beg for more “broccoli" once they take a bite. Made from Tootsie Rolls and a simple no-bake cookie recipe, you can surprise everyone with a fun, delicious plate of chocolate broccoli-shaped cookies.

Chocolate "broccoli" cookies recipe

Yields approximately 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 48 Tootsie Roll Midgees
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 3 cups quick oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Unwrap 48 Tootsie Roll Midgees.

Tear 24 Tootsie Rolls into 4 sections per piece. Roll each section into thin, rope-like pieces of varying size. If your Tootsie Rolls are hard or difficult to roll, you can heat them in the microwave for 8-10 seconds to soften.

Attach 3-5 of the rope-like pieces to the outside of 1 whole Tootsie Roll Midgee. Attaching the rope-like pieces at different levels with varied spacing will give it a more natural broccoli stem appearance. It will look like a little tree with branches.

Roll between your fingers to soften and secure the pieces to the broccoli stem.

On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, place each of the 24 finished broccoli stems in rows, allowing room for the broccoli floret cookie later.

In a large saucepan over high heat, mix together sugar, cocoa powder, butter and milk. Boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter, oats and vanilla. Mix well and allow the mixture to cool until it becomes slightly lumpy, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Using a large teaspoon, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the tops of the Tootsie Roll broccoli stems on the parchment paper.

After you've given each stem a scoop of cookie mixture, go back and add extra, smaller dollops to a few. Use your fingertips to shape the broccoli florets and push them firmly onto the tops of the Tootsie Roll stems.

Allow the cookies to dry and cool for an hour.

When plating your cookies, use another sheet of parchment paper or lightly dust the bottoms of each cookie with cornstarch. The Tootsie Rolls can stick to the plate if the room temperature is warm.

More food crafts

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Getting life back on track after goodbye

After deployment, it's important for military families to get back into their regular routine as soon as possible. The structure and predictability can provide kids with the emotional stability they need.

I'm a stickler on having a fairly solid routine in life. This is almost an oxymoron considering you have to quickly learn to 'roll with it' in military life — but there is always a basic routine to life you can set up for yourself and follow.

When a big family and life changing event happens — like deployment — I think it's especially important to have a solid routine that you can get back to quickly.

Ours is pretty simple. My son is in kindergarten and my twin girls are still at home with me — so the biggest things I have to worry about are school and nap times. These are things that happen every day that are dependable and never missed or skipped. When you have something huge that changes in your life, I think you need as much dependability as possible.

Saying goodbye: The beginning of deployment>>

Structure and stability

I was grateful that my husband's deployment started on a Sunday. Monday we were able to slip back into our routine. My son and I are always the first ones up together in the morning, which means we get some extra quality time together.

He gets ready for school while I get his snack and lunch ready. Next I get the girls up, and soon we're out the door enjoying our morning walk to school. When we get back, the girls and I have breakfast together and go about our day with activities like puzzles, nature hunts, reading books and of course a good round of tag or hide-and-go-seek. Soon it's time for lunch and nap, followed by a snack and picking up their big brother from school.

After school we work on homework, then move on to dinner, bath and bed. All of these things are very basic parts of our day — and pretty much the norm in the homes of most families.

Family time

We look forward to park visits on Wednesdays, and Friday evenings are always family movie night — complete with a pizza party, carpet picnic dinner and popcorn during the movie.

These are the ongoing parts of our days and weeks that my kids can look forward to and depend on. It's not much, but it's what helps to create that sense of security and stability in their world.

Of course I understand that life happens. Not everything can be kept within perfectly straight lines, and we do love to be sporadic. But when there are curve-balls thrown into the game I try to provide as much of a routine as I can to allow them to have some predictability.

A little control for the kids

At an age and stage when there's very little of it, I also like to provide them with a sense of control over some of the things going on around them. Each night all three of my children pick their own story to be read to them. My son helps decide what goes in his lunch, and together we discuss what we're having for dinner during the week. These are all very basic routines that make up our everyday routine — however, I feel strongly that these securities are what have helped my kids not go completely over the emotional edge when dealing with the absence of their daddy.

Sure, we've had plenty of moments where we've talked about how much we miss him — and shed a lot of tears — but the next day is new again and life resumes as it always does. Routine. Secure. Cozy.

Image credit: Laura Crawford

More about military families

Military moms: Parenting from a distance
Military families: Survival guide
Military families: How to cope with moving

It has been a rough couple of weeks for Seth MacFarlane. First, his hosting gig at the Oscars was received with very mixed reviews. And now, it appears the 39-year-old funnyman is single again.

Seth MacFarlane on hosting the Oscars again: "No way">>

MacFarlane has been dating 25-year-old Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke for the past nine months, but it looks like they just couldn’t make it work.

"They are no longer dating," a source told E! News. "It was really a location challenge. She has been in Europe shooting Game of Thrones and he is based in California, so it was hard to make it work despite the distance. They have remained friends."

Tina Fey as next year's Oscars host? Nuh-uh, she says>>

MacFarlane and Clarke were first suspected of dating after they were seen together at an Emmy after party in September. Clarke showed up alone Monday on the red carpet for the third season premiere of Game of Thrones.

According to Kat Giantis with MSN, the couple were very rarely spotted out together, and enjoyed keeping a low profile. They were last seen out together during a rare appearance at this year’s Golden Globes.

"I will say, she is an incredibly kind, supremely talented person, and one of the hardest-working people I have ever met," MacFarlane told Entertainment Weekly before the Oscars, according to Giantis. "It's a pain in the a-- because if you date, at a certain point you're in a relationship and at a certain point you're playing the field. It becomes this thing of trying to find places where you can have some privacy, where you're not going to be accosted by people and suddenly linked to someone as if you're in a serious relationship."

Actresses upset over "We Saw Your Boobs"... or were they?>>

MacFarlane continues to work on his three shows, and Clarke will soon appear on Broadway in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Rumors have linked MacFarlane to actress Charlize Theron, but he insists they are only friends.

Photo courtesy Apega/WENN.com

For New Girl fans, the Nick and Jess chemistry and awkward relationship will never get old. In the most recent episode, writers cranked up the tension to 11 and let Nick and Jess loose. Did it work? Of course it worked, but only because it's Nick and Jess.

The episode started off with an unbelievably accurate portrayal of how even grown-up girls have a tendency to treat the guys they want. What? Nick's saying something? But, he's also flexing his arms and doing that cute thing with his face. The only possible way for Jess to deal with it is to go into confession mode in the bathroom with her BFF. When Nick walks in? Freak out!

The two soon find themselves in a hardware store where a distracted Jess ends up taking a 2x4 to the jaw. Here's the thing: Yes, it's exaggerated. The likelihood of the timing being that right could only happen in a six-take America's Funniest video. But it's TV. It's the amped-up version of that time you were staring into your crush's eyes and ended up tripping over a curb and dumping your iced chai all over yourself. It's the equivalent of the time I walked straight into my best friend's back because I was too busy staring down at my feet and thinking about what kind of flowers we'd have at our wedding.

The guys of New Girl tell us what's in store for their love lives>>

Slightly more unrealistic was the fact that Nick stuck around to take care of Jess after her hardware store fiasco. Sure, he felt slightly responsible. Yes, he was going through a phase where he was trying to be more responsible. Certainly, Nick is a real gent who has feelings for his roommate. But, he's also a dude. Can he even run the can opener to get that soup out of the can and into a bowl?

A real life guy would take you through the drive-through pharmacy for your meds and, if you looked at him with just enough pain in your eyes and didn't complain too much about his crappy choice of music, he might hit up Mickey D's for a Dr. Pepper to help you wash down the painkillers.

I don't, however, question the validity of Jess's confession of liking Nick while she was high on painkillers. After three shots, I once told a guy that if he was too tired to walk across the parking lot to his apartment, he could sleep in my bed. I didn't even like him . A girl with hard-core feelings like Jess has for a guy with eyes like Nick's is bound to say far more embarrassing things.

Our chat with Max Greenfield, Hollywood's biggest flirt>>

Part of the reason Nick was so smokin' was due to his new bout of ambition. One problem: That ambition was caused by the super hot new owner at his bar whom Nick has been hooking up with from time to time. When Jess shows up to support Nick's "Guys' Night" event, she witnesses the boss girl behind the counter getting handsy with Nick and you can almost see the heartbreak in her eyes. It only gets worse when Nick describes her as his "roomfriend." Ouch.

Back at home, Nick explains he didn't think their kiss in the hallway, the night after they played True American, meant anything to Jess. He tells her, in essence, that he was just trying to move on. The next thing you know, Nick and Jess are locked into a seriously irritated make-out session . In their passion, they crash into Schmidt's fish tank.

"Fish tank?!" you say.

Oh, yeah. While Nick and Jess were experiencing the awkwardness that comes with being "roomfriends," Schmidty dealt with his own issues. The man is still crushed about Cece's engagement.

Winston takes him to the aquarium to help him take his mind off losing his soul mate. Instead, Schmidt becomes obsessed with owning a rare, tropical breed of fish that he, at one point, describes as having "fish breasts."

It takes him all episode and a jelly fish sting on the face to realize it, but that fish represented his desire to have Cece... something everyone else knew from the beginning.

We leave the roommates in only slightly better places than we found them. In an effort to help his friend, Winston tells Cece she should keep her distance for a while. Schmidt throws back the exotic fish he thinks he caught . And Nick and Jess are making out in the hallway. I approve.

Images courtesy of Fox

5 ways
to fix
your
sex life

Congratulations, you're unusually blessed to be among the ranks of the happily married. You and your husband are best friends and great parents together. You enjoy spending time doing so many things with your husband — except for sex, which politely stated is the low score of your marriage profile. Hey we all know that marriage is about a lot more than sex, but can you really just stuff such a basic urge under the rug?

That's the kind of thing devastating affairs are made of. Yet the alternative is equally untenable — breaking your lifelong commitment to your best friend over sex. The solution to this major problem is simple: Fix the sex. But can terrible sex improve to the point that it meets your needs? The answer is a resounding "Yes" and here's how.

Be honest

If your sex life has always been this bad, chances are you haven't truly been honest with your spouse about the degree of your dissatisfaction. Who wants to kick their guy directly in his err… self-esteem by telling him that he's a lousy lover? But the time has come to be very direct about the issue because the alternatives would be far more hurtful to him than knowing the truth.

Broach the subject by saying something such as, "Listen, we both know sex is not the greatest highlight of our relationship, but I don't think you realize how much distress and frustration it's causing me. And we need to put our heads together to figure out how to fix it." No doubt, this will hurt his feelings to hear it, but it offers the reassurance that you believe it is remediable, and that you will do so as a team.

Be specific about what turns you off

If you never orgasm during intercourse, tell him. If you have had to fake it, as embarrassing as it will be for both of you, be honest about it. If the way he kisses turns you off, you need to say it, but delicately. Even if the reasons are completely anatomical and the size of his penis doesn't stimulate your G-spot, yes, you still have to tell him the truth about it. This is the time to let it all out. How can it improve unless you communicate about the details?

Be specific about what turns you on

Criticism is only constructive if you offer viable alternatives. That means you never just tell your hubby he's a bad lover. You have to verbalize exactly how you want him to kiss, touch, fondle and thrust. And don't offer these instructions like your crotchety sixth grade math teacher. Do it with all the eroticism you can muster, so that expressing your explicit desires becomes integral to the lovemaking.

Be supportive

It is very important that you express pleasure when your mate gets anywhere close to the target. No matter how 'evolved' he may be, he's still a guy. He's likely dealing with his own insecurities about not being able to please you sexually, and the positive reinforcement will keep him from feeling demoralized as he ascends the learning curve. It doesn't have to be solely physical pleasure you're expressing, but rather the emotional satisfaction that he is pushing way out of his comfort zone to come through for you, and that you are reaching an entirely new level of intimacy as a couple in the process.

Outside of the bedroom, make sure you take the time to express these feelings of heightened closeness and admiration for him. Be extra conscious of validating and supporting him in general during this time. Remind him how strong your relationship is, how critically important he is to you and how amazing a husband he is in a million ways.

Be open to professional help

If the two of you give it 60 days to improve your sex life and can't seem to make much of a dent, consider getting professional help. Find a certified sex therapist with specialized training and experience in sexual counseling by visiting www.aasect.org. If the biggest impediment you're facing is erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, find a urologist with excellent credentials and patient reviews. Most men function best sexually when their testosterone levels are at the high end of what is considered normal, so make sure your husband's is tested regularly.

More relationship advice

Why being right can make everything wrong
Survey reveals the state of dating in America
The day I learned my boyfriend was still on Match.com

Acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr will make his first foray into the D.C. hospitality scene with the opening of Le Diplomate in Logan Circle. Slated to open in late March, Le Diplomate is inspired by Starr's Philadelphia restaurant Parc, and will offer Parisian brasserie-style dining. Chef Adam Schop will serve approachable French fare like omelets, steak frites and quiche, as well as escargots, rabbit rillettes and shaved veal tongue with mache for more adventurous palettes. The restaurant will also feature an in-house bakery as well as seasonal indoor/outdoor seating for 260.

More about Washington, D.C.

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A summer getaway to Washington, D.C.
What to see in Washington, D.C.

Scent of Darkness
Margot Berwin

We've all heard about how pheromones partially determine our attractiveness; after all, it's how we attract our mates. Now, what happens if a perfume is created that makes a woman absolutely irresistable? That's the premise of Margot Berwin's second novel, Scent of Darkness. Evangeline's grandmother is a scent maker, and when Evangeline turns 18, she is given a small vial. Inside is a perfume created specifically for her, but there's a warning on the label: If Evangeline opens the vial, her life will change irrevocably. Well, of course Evangeline opens it , and the results are life changing.

The Secret of Chanel No. 5:
The Intimate History of the
World's Most Famous Perfume
Tilar J. Mazzeo

From the author of the biography of the Widow Clicquot comes a history of Chanel No. 5, the timeless scent of the world of the wealthy. Not only does Mazzeo explore the life of Coco Chanel and how this classic perfume came into existence , but she takes the reader through the physical journey of the perfume as well. What's more, Mazzeo looks at the status of Chanel No. 5—why exactly is it so popular? There's a reason this perfume is so iconic — it's the best-selling perfume of all time — and after you read this book, you'll understand its origins and its endless appeal.

Season to Taste: How I Lost
My Sense of Smell and Found My Way
Molly Birnbaum

Few people realize how intimately the sense of smell is tied to our ability to taste. Without smell, our taste buds lose their sensitivity. When Molly Birnbaum lost her sense of smell after a hit-and-run accident, she also lost her sense of taste. While this would be devastating to anyone, Birnbaum worked in a restaurant kitchen, was planning to attend the Culinary Institute of America and eventually wanted to become a chef. Losing her sense of smell threatened to ruin her life, and she fell into a depression. Writing this book, an exploration of the sense of smell in the hopes of regaining that crucial sense, helped her to find new purpose in life.

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Crafty mysteries: A January roundup
Holiday mysteries for the cozy lover

Our fave trends for fall

Have you ever dreamt of visiting New York, London, Milan and Paris all in one month? Not to worry, here is your chance to do it all and see it all as I am giving you the scoop on the hottest makeup trends seen on the fall 2013 runways during Fashion Week month.

The bare face

Let's get right to it by reviewing the landslide impact the minimal chic look had everywhere. It is by far the look of choice by many designers such as Akris, Isabel Marant, Valentino and Haider Ackermann. In this case, skin was the word du jour as it plays a pivotal role in providing an effortless comfort and laissez faire that heightens the overall image projection of these women's styles. It says, "I am confident; I don't need a mask and I am strong and beautiful as is."

Tinted moisturizers, liquid base concealers or spot application of foundation are the best tools to achieve this bare effect, while leaving good skin untouched. Lightweight mascara and groomed brows are also de rigueur to sharpen up features without overwhelming them. I personally love pairing this makeup style with statement-ready clothes as the perception is that one did not have to work hard at all to look this chic.

More beauty

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The surprising beauty benefits of massage
Hairstyles successful women wear

Photo credits: WireImage, Getty Images, Getty Images

A rising indie star is set to team with the "Queen of Comedy."

Deadline is reporting that the multitalented Mark Duplass has signed on to appear in Melissa McCarthy's directorial debut Tammy.

Melissa McCarthy may appear in St. Vincent de Van Nuys>>

The comedy follows a woman , who after learning that her husband has been unfaithful and losing her job, embarks on a road trip with her hard-drinking grandmother .

The Bridesmaids actress is set to co-direct the film with her husband Ben Falcone. McCarthy and Falcone also penned the screenplay.

Duplass will star as a man who McCarthy's character meets along her journey.

It'll be great to see a force like Duplass bounce off McCarthy's impeccable comedic timing.

Duplass first gained recognition in the early 2000s when he and his brother Jay Duplass released The Puffy Chair. Since then, the two have risen to indie film royalty. Much of their work, like Baghead and Cyrus, have premiered at major film festivals.

In 2011, they co-wrote and directed Jeff, Who Lives at Home, starring Jason Segel, Ed Helms and Susan Sarandon. They also guest starred on The Mindy Project, the appearance marked Jay's acting debut.

During the past few years, Mark has appeared in a string of notable films.

The majority of the projects he chooses are comedies with an element of drama, such as Your Sister's Sister, opposite Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt, Safety Not Guaranteed, with Aubrey Plaza, Darling Companion and People Like Us.

Your Sister's Sister movie review: Awkward family photo>>

He also had a small role in Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Thirty.

Next up, he'll appear in horror flick Mercy, drama The One I Love and Parkland.

Photo credit: WENN.com

DirecTV's new thriller Rogue is not only an action-packed twist on the tale of a mother out for revenge, it's also the best place to catch sight of the lovely Thandie Newton.

All about Rogue>>

Who's that girl?

Her name may not ring a bell, but her face and her resume will. Thandie Newton has had roles in some of Hollywood's best films. Just look at this selection of awesome movies:

• 2012
• Pursuit of Happyness
• The Chronicles of Riddick
• Mission Impossible II
• Beloved
• Interview with a Vampire

That only scratches the surface of her work. She also played Condoleezza Rice in W. and earned SAG and BAFTA awards for her role in 2004's Crash. Or, perhaps you recognize her from her 14 episode run on ER? She played Dr. Carter's wife. She's also a spokeswoman for Olay.

Where'd she come from?

As actors go, Newton's backstory is, by far, one of the most interesting. According to IMDb, her unique name is actually short for Thandiwe , which means "beloved." The name is most likely African, from her mother's Zimbabwean heritage.

Newton actually spent the first part of her life in Zambia, until the political unrest in the nation sent her family fleeing back to the U.K. when she was a pre-teen.

Another perhaps surprising fact about Newton is that she went to Cambridge University, where she earned a degree in anthropology. Who'd expect an actress to major in anthropology? Very cool. During breaks, she still found time to pursue acting and that turned out to pay off as it's keeping her family fed.

SheKnows goes Rogue>>

What's she up to now?

Newton has a lot on her plate. She doesn't just play Grace, the main character in her new show, Rogue. She also had a full-time job as the mother of two daughters, Ripley,12, and Nico, 8 . She also recently went from screen to London's West End stage to star in Ariel Dorfman's Death and the Maiden.

After all that, Newton still finds time to work with the V-Day Foundation, an organization that helps women who have been victims of sexual violence. What an awesome cause to support! It sounds as if, just like her character, Newton's got her hands full! We're sure she can handle it, though — she's one major alpha woman!

To catch Newton in her newest role, tune in to Rogue on April 3 at 9/8c on DirecTV's Audience Network.

Image courtesy of DirecTV

Bleacher buffs: Celebrity fans

With March Madness right around the corner, famous college basketball fans like Ashley Judd are likely already plotting this year's brackets. See how Snoop Dogg and others show support for their top picks.

As perhaps one of the Kentucky Wildcats' most vocal fans — celebrity or otherwise — Ashley Judd rarely misses an opportunity to cheer on her alma mater's team. Gearing up for March Madness in 2012, Judd appeared on Anderson Cooper's talk show to discuss brackets and even shoot hoops in honor of the tournament. She gets so into the competition, she told USA Today, that she fills out two bracket cards: "One that I think will happen and one that I hope will happen." Her devotion to her team during March Madness doesn't stop there: She has cooked for her boys in blue and covered the tournament for a Kentucky newspaper.

4

John Mellencamp

An Indiana boy through and through, rocker John Mellencamp's got nothing but love for his Indiana University Hoosiers. Not only does he follow his favorite team during March Madness, but he also had a hand in the Hoosiers sharpening their skills leading up to the tournament — he donated a sizable sum to the school for the funding of the Mellencamp Pavilion, a 100,000-square-foot facility the athletes use as a training ground year-round.

5

Jason Sudeikis

March Madness is no laughing matter to funnyman Jason Sudeikis. He's known to be a die-hard supporter of the Kansas Jayhawks — eight-time defending Big 12 champions. Jason's family holds season tickets, which Jason takes advantage of when not filming. For his part, the comic actor supports the team by showing up at as many home games as possible, often with his now-fiancée Olivia Wilde in tow . He's also been spotted in the stands with fellow Jayhawks fanatic Paul Rudd, who famously sported a Kansas University hat in his cult hit Clueless.

Images, top to bottom, courtesy of Mr. Blue/WENN.com, WENN.com, Matthew Hynes/WENN.com, WENN.com, Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

There is just something about a fresh loaf of bread baking that makes us happy. Warm, fluffy and delicious, when we make it we are lucky if there is any left for sandwiches or snacking. We took this basic recipe and made it more interesting by adding fresh tomatoes, rosemary, fresh Parmesan cheese and a little bit of caramelized onion for sweetness. Simple as that! Just try not to eat it all in one sitting.

Focaccia with Parmesan sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary recipe

Inspired by Allrecipes

Ingredients:

• 2 -3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup caramelized onions
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 cup water
• Jelly roll pan or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl add the flour, sugar, salt, yeast and herbs and mix to combine. Add in the olive oil and the water and mix by hand until a soft sticky dough is formed.
2. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead the dough until it's smooth and elastic. Cover the dough with a damp cloth either in an oiled bowl or right on the floured surface and allow to rise about 30-45 minutes or until doubled in size.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Once the dough has risen, punch it down. On the parchment-lined pan or cookie sheet, gently press the dough out creating a rectangle shape. With your fingertips, make indentions over the surface of the dough .
4. Generously spread the caramelized onions over the top. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Allow to cool and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

More homemade bread recipes

Irish soda bread two ways
Sugar-free banana bread
Chocolate chip oatmeal quick bread

Owner of the trendy Los Angeles and Japan based MARS the Salon, Hiroko Fujikawa confirmed the new go-to look for nails this season by giving us a few tips and tricks on keeping our nude manicure red carpet ready. Pair Fujikawa's nail expertise with a SheKnows tweak, and your nails will be as stylish as ever!

Pick your perfect polish

Choosing your nail polish is going to be the make or break step for your manicure. Depending on your skin tone, personal style and daily schedule, you will want to pick a nail polish that suits you best. Fujikawa's top three favorite nail polishes for a nude manicure are Essie polish in Allure, Essie polish in Fed Up and OPI Samoan Sand. We couldn't agree more — these colors are too cute!

Because skin tone will play a key part in picking your go-to polish, we have put some of our favorite polishes into categories to make choosing a little bit easier.

Fair skin

Out of Fujikawa's top nude nail polishes, we are going to vote Essie polish in Allure as our number one color choice for fair skin. This polish has an elegant look that is definitely going to pop against a lighter skin tone. Essie Mademoiselle is another awesome color for fair skin nude manicures. The pink in the polish will keep your nails looking sleek!

Medium skin

OPI Samoan Sand is another of Fujikawa's choices and would be absolutely perfect for medium skin tones! This color is soft and chic but has a slight pink undertone that will definitely stand out. OPI and Mariah Carey partnered to produce a nude polish with a hint of sparkle, OPI A Butterfly Moment, and it's our top choice for anyone with an olive or medium skin tone.

Darker skin

Another one of Fujikawa's favorites, Essie polish in Fed Up is the perfect color for those with darker skin complexions. The color is very soft and will give a chic look for a darker skin toned person's nude manicure. OPI Tickle my France-y is a nude polish with an awesome color effect. This color is sure to give a bare look and complete any nude manicure on dark skin tones.

More ways to keep your nails red carpet ready

French manicure steps
Nail design tutorial
Maintain beautiful nails on the go

Photo credits: Apega/WENN.com, Brian To/WENN.com

Social media have officially taken over. Yesterday, I got a friend request from my grandmother. Suddenly you can keep in touch and track of friends far and near — not to mention make new ones in the process.

Social media could have health effects?>>

Perhaps you've met a few people online, but have you ever thought of forming a band online? AlunaGeorge was already two steps ahead four years ago. While you were updating your profile with the latest glitter gifs , they were set on a collision course for an exothermic musical explosion.

Aluna Francis and George Reid met through Myspace in 2009, the Guardian reports. Reid had remixed her single, "Sweetheart," it garnered attention, and the rest was history.

As far as their future goes, I want to claim they're destined for stardom. This British duo is raging with creativity for their genre "hip pop." The first video I fell for was "Your Drums, Your Love," because their energy is so smooth, it's as though their music was effortless. Fans have tried to describe them and their attempts range from "creepy" to "genius." Their sound is not normal, but it should be the new normal.

What other British band has set its mark for a musical invasion?>>

Aluna's high-pitched voice is unusually sultry and it's set against video game-like beats. Their music is slick and their contrast strange, but it leaves you wanting. I know their music opened my eyes to this genre. If we can love house music and love dreamy R&B vocals, why not have them together? It's the PB&J of music!

Which R&B crooner may be cast as Daddy Warbucks?>>

While I leave you now to enjoy their basslines on repeat, it must be noted that their baseline of music is what other artists could consider their best. Mark my words — this a band you want to follow! Oh and Sugababes fans? Do you feel like Aluna sounds like a long lost member? Comment below! Their latest release, "Attracting Flies" is for your viewing pleasure below.

Photo courtesy of Lia Toby/WENN.com

Check out these other new artist profile:

New artist profile: Allison Weiss
New artist profile: Twenty One Pilots

Ryan Gosling recently told Huffington Post that he's taking a break and, obviously, we're not happy about it.

"I've been doing it too much," he told Huffington. "I've lost perspective on what I'm doing. I think it's good for me to take a break and reassess why I'm doing it and how I'm doing it. And I think this is probably a good way to learn about that. I need a break from myself as much as I imagine the audience does."

Ryan Gosling: Mama's boy>>

Um. No?

No, Ryan, we don't need a break from you. We promise. We feel like you're breaking up with us. This sounds very much like one of those, "It's not you, it's me" lines. Are you breaking up with us, Ry? Is there another woman? This is just so devastating!

On the bright side, Ryan's still got two movies queued up for release. First up, there's a Place in the Pines, by the same director who did Blue Valentine. In Pines, Ryan plays a tatted up motorcyclist who travels around with the circus. There's also Only God Forgives, which is due in May. After those, he's doing a stint behind the camera, making his directorial debut with How to Catch a Monster, which will star his girlfriend Eva Mendes.

Maybe by the time he gets done with all that, he'll be willing to return to us.

Ryan Gosling's day as a cookie salesman>>

In all fairness, we understand. Our love of stars and celebs puts a lot of pressure on them to be perfect. Especially in Ryan's case. While many other guys made a name for themselves with the ladies by being a bad boy, Ryan solidified his place in our hearts by being a much more sensitive and decent character . That must be a lot of pressure to try to hold onto that romance. We understand... but we'll still miss him while he's away.

We need a drink. Or a nap. Or both.

Photo credit: WENN.com

by Kerry Hubbard
as told to Julie Weingarden Dubin

I never pictured myself as a truck driver but I love it and there’s no turning back. In July of 2011, I decided to combine my creativity with my love for cooking and started a mobile food truck business, Taco Mama.

I had experience catering and I thought this would be a great way to still do what I love — cook — but with the flexibility to make my own hours. I do all of the cooking, booking of events and truck driving.

There’s a huge mobile food trend happening in the Detroit area right now. I knew I wanted to get into the business but was a little intimidated. Finally I thought, "If I don't do it, someone else will!"

I bought my truck and I was lucky enough to find one already set up with everything I needed, although the maintenance is ongoing. The most challenging part of launching the business was obtaining all of the permits and licensing to get started. It took a lot of persistence and still presents its challenges in certain cities.

The food is cooked to order — fast. I’ve tried to branch out and be different than some of the other taco trucks by putting some different things on my menu. This includes my "Twisted Tacos” line. The “Rueben” taco, “Jerk Chicken” and “Philly Cheesesteak” tacos are a few of the customer favorites.

Being a mother is my No. 1 job and will always come first and foremost in my life. But my boys are proud that I created Taco Mama and I believe that what they’re learning from this whole experience is invaluable. They see that hard work pays off and you really can do whatever you set your mind to.

My husband, Matt, a marketing executive, loves all the hype surrounding the food truck scene and enjoys helping out on the truck when he has free time.

Motherhood has changed me in so many ways. I am constantly learning from my kids and their needs come first. Sometimes I find myself scrambling trying to find babysitting and activities to keep them busy while I'm working and I worry that I'm not giving them my time. But they always reassure me that they think what I'm doing is cool and they’re completely fine.

I love when I bring my work to my kids’ school. The students recently held a fundraiser and the class that raised the most money won a lunch from Taco Mama. I’m grateful that I can give back to the community and see my kids so excited when my truck pulls up to their school. My boys love helping out where they can. They see how much time goes into the business and they’re learning what it means to work hard at something you’re passionate about. Taco Mama’s been a great adventure so far and I'm so excited to see where the future takes us!

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These are as easy as they are cute, and take less than five minutes to assemble. Plus, you can top them with your favorite egg toppings, like mayo or horseradish! Not only are these tasty appetizers, they make perfect place settings for your table as well. Edible and cute, what's not to love?

Savory eggs in a nest recipe

Yields 12

Ingredients:

For the nests: 

• 12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
• 12 puff pastry shells
• About 3 cups baby arugula
• 1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Mayo or horseradish

For the dressing: 

• 4 tablespoons horseradish
• 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 4 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Add frozen puff pastry shells to the cookie sheets. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed. Gently remove the lid of the puff pastry and save for later.
3. Mix the dressing by whisking the horseradish, white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, olive oil and salt and pepper. Dress the arugula with the horseradish dressing . Save remaining dressing for later.
4. Place about 2 large spoonfuls of dressed salad into the bottom of the nest. Top with 1/2 teaspoon shredded cheese. Add egg and top with remaining cheese and salt and pepper.

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Jimmy Fallon will for sure take over the Tonight Show when Jay Leno retires — at least, that's what pretty much everyone but he and Jay Leno are saying.

The rumors have been out there for a while but have only heated up since NBC's ratings went in the toilet during last month's sweeps. The New York Times' TV reporter Bill Carter broke it down.

"The idea that Jimmy was getting the show was kind of out there, because Jay's got one contract that he's working on, and he's 62, so there was an expectation that he would be leaving soon, if not this contract, then maybe another year," Carter said. "So Jimmy getting the show was kind of expected."

When it happens — rumored to be the fall of 2014— viewers can expect a move from Los Angeles to the show's original home in New York City.

"There's a lot of reasons for it — I think they all feel that the energy of New York helps Fallon," Carter said. "But also you have Lorne Michaels, who's the producer of [Jimmy's] show, and has always been close to Jimmy and he's of course New York-based. And then you have the band, The Roots, and The Roots are a Philadelphia-based band, and some of the guys I think still commute to New York, and they're very important to that show and I don't think they wanted to lose them."

Lorne Michaels says it's a definite go. "I'm not allowed to say it — yet," he told GQ. "But I think there's an inevitability to it. He's the closest to Carson that I've seen of this generation."

Fallon himself lightly touched on the rumors during his monologue last night, joking about the 11:30 p.m. time slot, "as my parents call it, 'It's still too late!"

"Actually the rumors are true, NBC is turning it into a diving competition — so exciting," he said.

Oh, and as for who will replace Fallon in his Late Night time slot? We hear Howard Stern wants the job.

Tell us: Would Jimmy Fallon be a better Tonight Show host than Jay Leno?

Photo credit: WENN.com

We may all be seeing Adele in a vintage-inspired wedding gown mighty soon: Us Weekly reports that the "Rolling in the Deep" singer is planning a "top-secret" wedding with partner Simon Konecki.

Konecki, of course, is the father of Adele's 5-month-old son Angelo.

If the wedding rumor is true, it would hardly be a surprise if Adele wanted to keep her nuptials on the down-low. She's famously secretive about her private life, refusing to reveal Angelo's name for months, and cutting her father out of her life after he spoke about her to the press.

Nonetheless, Us Weekly quotes a source that says the wedding will happen "in the summer or fall," and that Adele has "been planning it for a while and is very involved."

Where would such a wedding take place? Perhaps amongst the bright lights of Adele's native London; or perhaps in Brighton, England, the seaside beach town where Adele moved to be closer to Konecki, who has a young daughter from a previous marriage there, Us Weekly reports.

"Simon is the perfect partner and Angelo is just her life," a pal told Us Weekly. Aww.

Friday Fashion Fails: Adele and Florence Welch>>

Adele has been quoted as saying she would never write another breakup record — 21's heartbroken songs were supposedly inspired by a previous amour.

It was reported in August of 2012 that Konecki and Adele were already married; she denied those rumors on Twitter.

A former Eton student and investment professional, Konecki is from a rather posh background that contrasts sharply with Adele's upbringing with a single mum in a deprived area of London.

From heartbreak to radiant love with a moneyed man, plus a child to love, it's all rather fairy tale-ish, isn't it?

Photo credit: WENN.com

Young kids have short attention spans during a regular dinner, so we can't expect them to sit still for the Seder. But with a little creativity, you can create a Seder that even the youngest will enjoy while keeping with the Passover tradition.

Save your sanity
this Passover

Every spring, Jewish families around the world celebrate Passover, an important holiday that commemorates the Jews being led out of slavery in Egypt, and their exodus to Israel led by Moses. Passover lasts for eight days, but the first night is very special because of the Seder.

The Seder is a traditional ritual that is followed by a meal. Families read from a Haggadah, a book that tells the story of how Moses led the Jews' exodus out of Egypt. Traditional, by-the-book Passover Seders include 15 different parts to the story and can last up to an hour or even much longer — not ideal for very young kids.

Learn how to host a Passover Seder >>

There are many ways to create a shorter Seder. Here are some ideas from moms who have done it:

Plan ahead with your kids' help

Ellen Zimmerman of Jewish Holidays in a Box says, "Before the Seder, the leader should go through the Haggadah and mark the parts that make sense for your family/crowd, paring down to what seems right for you. One other tip to help the [Passover] Seder go faster, but hit all the key points, is to build a mini-seder plate for each person with all the symbols that we eat on it, including some charoset, maror and parsley. On ours, we also put a few munchies that help children make it through."

Learn the meaning behind the Passover Seder plate >>

Make your own Haggadah

Judy Nolish wrote her own kid-friendly Haggadah. She says, "I wrote the Haggadah so everyone had something to read and do." If you're not up to writing your own Haggadah, a quick internet search will bring up plenty of templates for DIY seders as well as pre-written, shorter Haggadahs perfect for kids.

Nolish didn't let her creativity stop with her Haggadah — she also incorporated fun ways to tell about the plagues, an important part of the Passover story. She explains, "Some of the people put colored round stickers on their arms for boils. Bulk plastic frogs, flies, farm animals to tip over when the cattle died and best of all — lots of mini marshmallows for hail which we threw all over the room. Everyone loved that, especially the dogs. I spent a lot of time thinking of how to represent the parting of the Dead Sea and the killing of the firstborn. I took 9-inch white paper plates and glued on three long blue crepe paper streamers and glued the plates on paint sticks. When the sea was to open everyone flapped the plates. I then used black marker and on the back of the plates, I drew an unhappy face."

Ditch the table

Nolish says, "We had the Seder in our living room with everyone clustered around the coffee table."

Leah Aharoni suggests taking things a step further. She says, "Drape the couches with quilts and bedspreads. Kids will have a ball reclining on prettily covered mattresses with pillows. Set the 'table' on crates, night stands, or a combination of the above, covered by a tablecloth. If you are uncomfortable eating the meal this way, consider the arrangement for the reading of the Haggadah and move into the dining room for the actual meal. Added bonus, kids can doze off without leaving the table."

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