According to People, 17-year-old singer Jessica Sanchez will be featured in two episodes of Glee this season, including the season finale.

"I'm playing a student from a rival school who is supposed to be a legendary diva — a powerhouse singer," the Season 11 American Idol contestant told People last week.

Do we sense a regionals competitor that will give New Directions a run for their money?

Missed a few episodes of Glee? Catch up with the recap >>

We're keeping our fingers crossed that the show will somehow make a duet between Sanchez and Rachel possible. Both ladies have that knack for those incredible ballads.

It will also be interesting to see where this guest spot could lead for Sanchez. If you'll remember, last season's Wade "Unique" Adams started out as a member for a rival school's glee club Vocal Adrenaline. He befriended Kurt and Mercedes and eventually joined McKinley High and New Directions. Unique is now a regular cast member. Could the show be setting Sanchez up for a similar transition?

"It's going to be a very busy month for me," Sanchez told reporters. "I'm very excited because I've never acted before. I really want to meet [Naya Rivera]. She's got that attitude and I love it."

Sanchez will begin filming her Glee episodes in April. The first will air May 2.

What is Dianna Agron up to these days outside of Glee? >>

In addition to her role on Glee, Sanchez is keeping busy with acting and dance classes. She will also release her debut album Me, You and the Music on April 30. The single from the album titled "Tonight" is a duet with Ne-Yo and has already been released.

Glee is on a short hiatus right now, but new episodes of the show will return April 11.

Images courtesy of Fox

Pie does not just have to be sweet! This delicious pie gives you the best of both worlds! A little sweet and a little savory! It's the perfect combination of pears, Gorgonzola cheese and crunchy walnuts. This is one dessert you won't want to stop eating!

Pear, Gorgonzola and walnut pie recipe

Yields 4 miniature pies

Ingredients:

• 1 store-bought pie crust, uncooked
• 3 Bosc pears, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 ounce Gorgonzola cheese
• 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Cut dough into four pieces and press into 4 miniature tart or pie pans. If the dough does not fit perfectly just press in any cut-off overhanging dough.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together sliced pears, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cornstarch. Fill each tart with an equal amount of filling.
4. Sprinkle Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts on top of the pies.
5. Cover the pies loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees, then decrease the heat to 375 degrees F and bake for another 30 minutes. Halfway through the 30 minutes remove the foil so the walnuts have a chance to toast.
6. Serve warm or room temperature with ice cream if desired.

More pie recipes

Bacon apple pie recipe
Simple s'mores pie recipe
Mini cranberry apple pie recipe

Justin Timberlake's hiatus was a tragic waiting period for fans everywhere. But when he came back with "Suit & Tie"— a single that I must admit had to grow on me before I was singing along — I had no idea he would come back with such a vengeance. Perhaps it's the Jay-Z affiliation, or the Kanye West jab, but he was charming his way back into my good graces.

Justin boosted Saturday Night Live ratings>>

And then he released the video for "Mirrors."

He blew in like a hurricane, and that aforementioned "waiting period" was just the eye of the storm. He's back with a more mature look, and a heartbreakingly beautiful tribute to his grandparents.

Justin wanted to honor his grandparents' love. They were married for 63 years, and their names adorn the opening credits. The video is a short film revolving around a couple who met back in the day, and as time progresses, so does the good and the bad. In between the smiles and the laughs you see tears and pain. The couple is so intertwined that the symbolism leads us to believe they end up mirroring each other in old age.

The most striking scene occurs when the old woman takes off her wedding ring, signifying what I presume to be the death of her husband. She drops it and Justin catches it. This then prompts a dance set and a contemplative Timberlake grappling with what the song means to him. It's epic, it's tragic, and it's absolutely 100 percent art.

Did Justin regret his love affair with Britney Spears?>>

He sets the bar high and leaves you feeling low, especially if you haven't found a love like that yet. His grandparents make you envious of how their love overflowed for one another, and he makes you jealous of him for having grandparents like that.

How much does Jessica Biel love Justin?>>

The video was directed by Floria Sigismondi, and it's one you cannot miss. Check it out below and leave a comment on how it affected you!

Photo courtesy of Brian To/WENN.com

Need something else to watch? Check out our other editor's picks:

Kip Moore "Hey Pretty Girl"
Daley feat. Marsha Ambrosius "Alone Together"
Kelly Rowland "Kisses Down Low"

If you haven't had a chance to recover from this year's awards season, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is here to remind you that another ceremony is just around the corner. Today, they announced the dates for the 2014 and 2015 Academy Awards.

This is an unprecedented move for the Academy, which usually takes each Oscar season year by year. However, in an attempt to assert their authority of other awards shows like the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards, they showed them who is boss.

Catch up with Oscar noms on DVD >>

Next year's show will fall a week later than the usual last Sunday in February date because there is a global event finishing up — the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in Sochi, Russia. The ABC network certainly doesn't want to compete for an audience on that night with NBC. There are too many advertising dollars at stake.

So, the ceremony moves to Sunday, March 2, 2014. This also changes the voting schedule for Academy members who complained about the shortened timeline for the 2012 movie season. It gives them an additional 10 days to see movies that are released closer to Christmas.

Bradley Cooper didn't want to win the Oscar >>

The whole scenery changes for 2015 though. The Academy has been making noise about shortening the entire awards show season by having the Oscars at an earlier date. They made a power move by announcing the date almost two years ahead of time. The 2015 show will take place on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

By making the show even earlier than tradition dictates, it is going to force the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes to rethink their own timelines for their shows. It will probably also force an announcement of their 2015 dates sooner than later.

Why Anne Hathaway wore Prada to the Oscars >>

Will a compressed timeline in 2015 make things easier for nominated films, journalists and voters? Or will a shortened season makes things more hectic for those involved with the awards shows?

It remains to be seen, but for right now, the Academy wins the battle.

Image courtesy of Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.

We all want to protect our families. It’s part of being a parent, this desire to take care of our kids for as long as we possibly can. We worry about our kids while we’re alive and yes, we worry in advance about them if something were to happen to us.

Protect your family

Life insurance is, in most cases, intended to ensure that your family has the resources it needs to survive if something were to happen to you and/or your spouse. It’s not pleasant to think about but realistically, most of us don’t have a nest egg sufficiently large enough to provide ongoing financial support for our families if we were to pass away.

Life insurance can, for a modest investment, help families pay off bills and keep going after a parent dies. Buying a policy isn’t terribly complicated . But figuring out your beneficiaries can be.

Here’s a quick rundown of common beneficiary designations that might not be so desirable:

This tends to be the default on insurance policies because it feels simple but the result is anything but. Minors cannot, by law, control their own property — and that includes money. If your minor children are the direct beneficiary of a life insurance policy, it will be necessary, in most instances, to name a guardian to manage the proceeds even if the child’s other parent is still alive. This can be time-consuming and costly.

Assuming that your child is no longer a minor, there are no legal impediments to naming your child as a beneficiary but there are some practical ones. Chief among them: Young adults may not be prepared for the responsibility of taking care of a lump sum of money. Even worse? There might be other folks in the child’s life who might not have their best interest at heart whispering in their ears.

It might be tempting to name an adult as the beneficiary and have a side agreement for the adult to take care of the child with the life insurance proceeds. There are real dangers, however, with this kind of arrangement since the adult is under no legal obligation to use the proceeds for the benefit of the child.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s important to communicate your specific needs to your financial planner and/or estate and tax attorney in order to find the best fit.

When minor children are involved, a trust is often a good idea. A trust can easily be named as the beneficiary of life insurance proceeds. You can structure the terms of the trust to provide for your children in the manner and timeframe that you think best. Trusts, when drawn properly, can be used to offer creditor protection, asset management options and in some instances, a trust can also be used to move funds out of your estate for federal estate tax purposes.

While life insurance is not taxable to a beneficiary as income, that’s not to say that there won’t be any tax consequences. Any interest, dividends or other income attached to the death benefit will retain their character, for tax purposes, in the hands of a beneficiary — and that includes a trust. You’ll want to check with your tax advisor for the best advice on how to structure your trust for income tax purposes.

Of course, it’s important not to forget about your spouse. If your plan is to leave enough insurance to provide for your spouse during his or her lifetime, don’t skip the spouse altogether and leave the proceeds solely for the benefit of the children. If you want to include the spouse, consider naming him or her as the beneficiary or create a “sprinkle” trust that allows for the benefit of your spouse and children.

Don’t get too carried away on the estate planning document side: Your will does not control your life insurance policy. To ensure that your wishes are carried out, work with your attorney and your life insurance agent directly to complete and submit change of beneficiary forms. Simply referencing your beneficiary inside of your will or trust will not direct the proceeds where you want without a specific beneficiary designation on the life insurance policy.

Finally, be sure and follow up. The funny thing about kids is that they won’t stay little forever. They grow up and become — we hope — responsible adults. As their needs change, your plans should change. Be sure to check in regularly with your financial advisors, including your attorney and your insurance agent, to make sure that your plan makes the most sense for your family.

More about family finances

Creating accounts for kids: Practical and tax consequences
Claiming dependents on your taxes
Tax consequences of gifts to kids

Nashville and Charitybuzz have teamed up to give one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime, while helping an important charity along the way. The show is auctioning off a visit to the set of Nashville to meet star Connie Britton, with all proceeds benefiting Planned Parenthood LA.

ABC's Nashville planning concert tour>>

Check out more information from the Charitybuzz website:

Visit the set of ABC hit new series Nashville on location in Nashville, TN and meet star Connie Britton!

During your set visit you'll see filming and be given access to see all the behind the scenes action. The show follows chart-topping Rayna James who is a country legend who's had a career any singer would envy, though lately her popularity is starting to wane. Fans still line up to get her autograph, but she's not packing the arenas like she used to. Rayna's record label thinks a concert tour, opening for up-and-comer Juliette Barnes , the young and sexy future of country music, is just what Rayna needs. But scheming Juliette can't wait to steal Rayna's spotlight. Sharing a stage with that disrespectful, untalented, little vixen is the last thing Rayna wants to do, which sets up a power struggle for popularity. Could the undiscovered songwriting talent of Scarlett O'Connor be the key to helping Rayna resurrect her career?

Must be scheduled prior to the wrap on or before April 17, 2013.

It sounds like it could be a really fun day for a fan of the show and a great opportunity for someone either living in the Nashville area, or someone who would like to visit the city that is the home to such amazing landmarks as the Grand Ole Opry.

Nashville recap: Goodbye, brother>>

For your chance to bid on the Nashville set visit with Connie Britton, be sure to visit the auction page on the Charitybuzz site.

Image courtesy of ABC

What do you think, Nashville fans? Are you willing to put up some cash for a good cause and get the chance to meet one of your favorite stars of the hit series?

Kim Kardashian's pregnancy days continue to roll right on by, as the mom-to-be's shape transitions into full bloom. Naturally, her famous figure is changing and she's gaining weight — but not as much as some headlines tout!

Responding to weight gain speculation, Kim K told Extra over the weekend, "There are maybe two or three covers just this week that say I am 200 pounds. I'm like, 'You are 60 pounds off here!'"

"It wouldn’t even bother me if I gained all the weight," she went on to insist, noting that pregnancy cravings haven't been much fun to indulge in as she's dutifully taking it easy. "I have the biggest sweet tooth and I love junk food. Being pregnant I don’t like any of it."

"I'm waiting for the moments when someone's like, 'Let's go to McDonald's and Taco Bell!'" she joked. "That's not happening for me and I'm kind of sad about it."

"I'm not going to lie and be like, 'Oh, it's been amazing and I've adjusted great,'" Kim went on to share about coping with her harder-than-expected pregnancy. "At the beginning it was tough for me when your body changes so much, but once you kind of grasp that and embrace it, it's amazing."

Kim Kardashian insists she really loved her ex>>

Curious to find out if the parents-to-be will keep up with the Kardashian "K" name trend?

"I think it would be really cute because Kanye [West] and I are both K's, but half the names on our list aren't K's," Kim, seen here in Los Angeles on Mar. 22, explained.. "We still have time, [so we'll do] whatever feels right… Kanye being the father wants something that's unique."

Like North , perhaps? We think that would qualify!

Kim Kardashian's vampire facial looks way painful>>

Still, the weight gain speculation undoubtedly strikes a nerve for the reality star, who vented on a recent episode of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami she fears she's ruining Kanye West's reputation when she lands on a worst-dressed list.

"It’s part of my job to look chic at all times," the 32-year-old explained while cameras rolled. "And as if Kanye has the time to dress me every day… I feel bad that Kanye gets the bad rap for dressing me. It's so rude."

What advice would you give to Kim Kardashian while she's under weight gain scrutiny?

Image via WENN

After much speculation and endless gossip, it seems Ann Curry's ousting from TODAY can be boiled down to a simple lack of chemistry between the much-loved newbie and morning show veteran Matt Lauer.

In an in-depth look at NBC's drama, Joe Hagan explains in a piece for New York magazine that if hosts can't get along convincingly, one of them simply has to go.

"Everybody at NBC, everybody at the Today show, everybody understood that Ann was kicked out of her position because Matt didn't want her there," a prominent NBC staffer told Hagan. "That's why it was so personal between Ann and Matt."

Ann Curry's emotional goodbye on TODAY>>

Don Nash, executive producer for TODAY, concurred, explaining, "You can't fake it for very long that early in the morning. I think viewers have a sixth sense about all that. If your two anchors don't like each other off the air, they're not going to be fooled if they love each other on the air."

Though there doesn't seem to be an exact reason 56-year-old Ann Curry and Matt Lauer failed to spark, their awkward relationship dates back to day one.

"Off air, Curry and Lauer had no relationship and barely spoke," Joe Hagan wrote in the piece published Sunday. "When she started, Curry had asked Lauer out for lunch to get advice, but Lauer seemed to drag his feet scheduling it and Curry felt he didn't offer much… with Curry, who threw off his rhythm and also threatened his dominance of the hard-news stories, he could often look sour."

Comcast sick of Matt Lauer fallout, censors Chelsea Handler>>

It seems Curry's role on the show could have been saved if Lauer had stuck to his plans of "downsizing his work life, playing more golf, spending more time with his kids in the Hamptons." However, the 55-year-old ultimately decided to stay, snagging "a reported $25 million a year to work four days a week."

That's essentially when Ann Curry lost her job.

"At the moment when he had maximum leverage with NBC, Lauer, as the multimillion-dollar megastar, could easily have saved her — but he didn't," Hagan explains. "To the contrary, in signing a new contract to remain at the show for at least two more years, he tacitly ratified the plan to remove her."

"It was a hard time for everybody," Matt Lauer commented previously of the drama surrounding Ann's leaving. "I don't think the show and the network handled the transition well. You don't have to be Einstein to know that... We were seen as a family, and we didn't handle a family matter well."

Do you believe Matt Lauer deserves blame for Ann Curry's firing?

Image via WENN

The MTV Video Music Awards are on the move. For the 30th anniversary of the pioneering awards show, the music channel is moving them back to the East Coast. It's not going to be in Manhattan though, the show will take place in Brooklyn.

In an announcement on Monday, the network decided that having the first major awards show in Brooklyn, at the new Barclays Center, is fitting for their big anniversary year. The event will take place on Sunday, Aug. 25 live from the outer borough.

Stephen Friedman, President of MTV, said in an official statement, "From a vibrant musical scene for up and coming artists to epic concerts by today's biggest stars and the triumphant return of pro sports to the borough after nearly 60 years, Brooklyn has re-emerged as a cultural capitol where music, sports and entertainment history is made every day. We can’t wait to help write the next chapter on August 25th, when one of the biggest nights in music happens in Brooklyn… for the very first time."

Rebel Wilson let her girly parts hang out at VMAs>>

The borough has become a central hub for artists and sports after Jay-Z helped champion the site as the perfect location for his basketball team, the Brooklyn Nets. Barbra Streisand also made a triumphant return to her neighborhood on her recent concert tour.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is excited by the attention the MTV show will bring.

He said, "From hip-hop to hipsters, JAY Z to MGMT, Brooklyn musicians have a long history of dominating the 'spotlight' on MTV. Brooklyn is a cultural Mecca—the hippest, coolest place for young people across the country, and has played a crucial role in the careers of some of 2013’s biggest bands, like Fun and the Lumineers. Bravo to MTV on a decision that hits all the right notes and strikes all the right chords."

MTV's 2012 Video Music Awards: The awards you didn't see>>

The last time the city of New York hosted the VMAs was in 2009 when it was held at Radio City Music Hall. The last three years, the show has been held in LA, either at the Staples Center, last year's location, or the nearby Nokia Theatre.

Hopefully, a change of location will reenergize the show which suffered a huge ratings drop in 2012. That's what the network is hoping for, while New York is thrilled to have the show on the East Coast because it provides a large revenue boost to the city.

However, do young fans even know that MTV once played music videos 24 hours a day?

Image courtesy of MTV Networks

There's nothing not to love in this Greek salad verrine. It's a quick and healthy salad that doesn't require cooking and takes zero effort to prepare! The delectable combination of flavors is accentuated by feta cheese.

Greek salad verrine recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 3.5 ounces feta cheese, diced
• 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1.4 ounces olives
• 2 teaspoons capers
• 1/4 cup bottled roasted peppers, chopped to bite sizes and drained
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Pinch dried oregano
• Fresh oregano for garnish
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Soak the capers in water for 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze out the excess liquid then set aside.
2. In a small bowl, prepare the vinaigrette by whisking the balsamic and white wine vinegars, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and dried oregano. Adjust the taste according to your liking. Set aside.
3. In a bigger bowl, combine the olives, tomatoes, peppers, feta and capers. Pour the vinaigrette and mix well with the salad.
4. Divide the salad in two glasses.

Other Mediterranean recipes

Greek spinach veggie burgers recipe
Mediterranean tapenade spread
Vegetarian Mediterranean salad

We love The Voice! We like the blind auditions. We enjoy the chemistry between coaches. We adore the set-up on the knock-out rings. We appreciate the chance to mock Carson Daly. And, yes, we mostly love to just spend a solid hour staring at the man candied Adam Levine. Some of our reasons may be shallow, but that doesn't make our love unreal. So, you can imagine our excitement over tonight's return.

What CeeLo thinks of The Voice's new season>>

We're, of course, going to spend a second mourning the absence of our favorite Dirrty girl, Xtina. And, fine. There will be far less "WTF moments" without CeeLo around. But, in general, we're still pumped. Why? Because it's The Voice!

Of course, the opening number with all four coaches will be awesome. We can't wait to see how country cutie Blake and Latin diva Shakira meld their styles. Will Usher out-falsetto Levine? What song will they sing? We may very well keel over in anticipation.

Remember last season's winner?>>

From the sound of things, this year's collection of coaches will take no prisoners. Adam and Blake spent a lot of time duking it out over singers. The new kids, Usher and Shakira, apparently just fit right into the mix as well. During the blind auditions, The Hollywood Reporter claims Adam said Shakira was "ready to bust some heads." Meanwhile, Blake says they replaced the laidback CeeLo with Usher, who just happens to be his polar opposite. Uh-oh! Sounds like the battle rounds might just be happening in the chairs instead of on the stage!

Are you ready for all the action ? The Voice premieres tonight, Monday on NBC at 8/7c. Enjoy!

Image courtesy of NBC

We have good news for fans of the Cul-de-sac Crew. TBS has confirmed that Cougar Town has been renewed for a fifth season. The Bill Lawrence and Kevin Biegel comedy is currently in the middle of its first run on the cable network.

Cougar Town gets new season, new network>>

Cougar Town originally aired on ABC for its first three seasons. It was a cult hit but failed to muster up huge ratings. After dwindling on the schedule for months on end, TBS took it off ABC's hands. It made its cable debut Jan. 8 and has been a strong performer ever since.

Busy Philipps is sick of ABC pushing around Cougar Town>>

According to EW, the show "has averaged 2.8 million viewers, 1.7 million adults 18-49 and 812,000 adults 18-34 on TBS. It ranks among TBS’ top original primetime series ever with adults 18-49 and total viewers."

Cougar Town keeps hope alive>>

"Cougar Town has been everything we hoped it would be: a smart, big-hearted, laugh-out-loud comedy that shines a bright light on the TBS brand," said Michael Wright, TBS president of programming, in a statement. "This season, the brilliant cast and immensely creative production team on Cougar Town have crafted their best episodes yet, and we couldn’t be happier inviting them back for more."

Cougar Town stars Courteney Cox, Josh Hopkins, Christa Miller, Busy Philipps, Ian Gomez, Brian Van Holt and Bob Clendenin. Season 5 will premiere in 2014 and consist of 13 episodes.

Cougar Town airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on TBS. Its Season 4 finale airs April 9.

Are you happy Cougar Town is here to stay?

Photo credit: WENN

Gwyneth Paltrow seems to be following in her BFF Beyoncé's footsteps by becoming quite the entrepreneur. Paltrow recently made headlines for her expensive spring wardrobe selections on her website Goop. Now, she's teaming up with her hair and exercise pals to get you ready from head to toe.

The actress is working with hairstylist David Babaii and her trainer, Tracy Anderson, to open David Babaii Blow Dry Bar in Brentwood, an upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles. The hairstyling location is set to open April 4.

Babaii told People, "It’s not just going to be a blowout bar. It’s going to be 'Hey, why don’t we do this with style your new body? It’s more about your lifestyle. There’s no judgment."

The location is opening in the trainer's new workout facility in the neighborhood. Clients will be able to tone their body, then hit Babaii's salon to get ready for a night out.

Since all three of the partners in the business are believers of an all-natural lifestyle, consumers will be able to buy hair care products from the stylist's line, too. There are 14 different products that eliminate chemicals like parabens, sulfates and petrochemicals. The line has not been tested on animals either.

Paltrow's dramatic diet to keep her family healthy>>

Babaii continued, "It’s all about healthy ingredients, healthy products. And not getting something that you can do at home. It’s going to be a feel good bar. It’ll be cool. If you want that sleek, straight Gwyneth look, great! If you want the Kate Hudson bohemian waves, great!"

Yes, Kate Hudson lives a Goop lifestyle, too. Not only are the two actresses friends, but they share the same hairstylist and a trainer.

It's good to be rich and blond in Hollywood!

Image courtesy of Michael Carpenter/ WENN.com

Last week started off with a rather entertaining test shoot called "What's In My Bag." We were each given a bag with either something personal or something random. We then had to explain to Jennifer Peros of Us Weekly what the item was and why we were carrying it.

Stephanie definitely won for most embarrassing item. She pulled a condom out of her bag and went on to answer every single question Jen threw at her, instead of opting for the "that's personal" option. Either way, Steph handled it really well and her reactions were wildly entertaining. I could not stop laughing. Ebony also received a condom in her bag, which is something she probably does carry around with her. I believed it when she said any chance her and her boyfriend have to get away from the kids, they go at it.

I pulled a pair of boxers out of the purse, which did not belong to my boyfriend, by the way, but I thought I articulated a pretty good answer on the spot. When Karolina asked who my celebrity crush was, it was honestly a no-brainer. However, Jen did not seemed impressed with my answer about how I would react to Jared Leto hearing he was my crush and then seeing him on the red carpet a week later. Maybe I should have said, "I'd probably faint if I saw him on any carpet, anywhere," instead. Oh well, hopefully Jared watches the show, then all of that would be worth it. Zi Lin ended up winning the challenge with her Chinese charm. Good on her!

Next up was the campaign. We were to walk a red carpet in gowns designed by Guido Maria Kretschmer, while talking to fans and the paparazzi. First off, let me just say I died over everyone's gowns. They were all SO beautiful, I truly wanted to steal mine. I was in love with that black beaded masterpiece. Devyn and Zi Lin also had really amazing dresses.

Team Coco went first. I felt really confident about my performance on the red carpet. I think I carried myself gracefully, I engaged with the fans and my answer to Jennifer Peros' question on the red carpet was spot on as a spokesperson for Ulta beauty. Stephanie did a fantastic job being her bubbly self, she was engaging with the fans and had no problem acting quirky on the red carpet, but I knew she would do well.

Stephanie and I were both up on our talk shows, so we both greeted Wendy Williams with a big, "How you doin'?" Wendy cut straight to the chase and asked me why I should be the face of Ulta beauty. It honestly took me a second to gather my thoughts because no one likes to talk themselves up. It's uncomfortable and almost always comes off as disingenuous so I basically said I am always willing to learn and grow as a model, and that I just want to get better.

I now realize that totally didn't answer her question but I'm happy with that over something like, "because I'm beautiful and makeup looks really good on me,"cough, Jocelyn. Stephanie went next and being the eloquent speaker that she is, answered her questions very well and I thought Team Coco might just have a chance at winning this one.

Karolina's team went second. Devyn looked absolutely radiant on the red carpet and Ebony's smile shined brighter than the sequins on her dress. Wendy asked Ebony some VERY personal questions about her children and their fathers, but Ebony answered with poise and class. She did an amazing job.

When it came to Devyn, Wendy asked how she felt about working as a black model and Devyn responded with, "I don't really see myself as a black model." I think we were all a little confused by her answer but Naomi was outright shocked. She said Devyn was black and what she said was a disgrace. Devyn quickly clarified her statement by saying she felt like she has an "international look". Naomi still didn't seem satisfied with her answer in the end. It was not looking good for Team Karolina.

Keep reading to find out who was sent home >>

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Team Naomi went last. Both Jocelyn and Zi Lin looked stunning on the red carpet. Zi Lin really worked her Guido Maria Kretschmer gown. Wendy asked some pretty invasive questions regarding both of the girls' boyfriends, and more specifically if Zi Lin was a virgin. Zi Lin was doing really well with her answers until she was asked the name of the eye shadow she was wearing. She stumbled with the answer, saying she likes to wear purple because her name means purple in Chinese and if she could, she would name the lipstick, "Ulta Special Purple". A simple, "I don't know" probably would have been a better answer but better for Team Coco I suppose. Jocelyn was a little more reserved giving short diplomatic answers to each of Wendy's questions.

Later the coaches met with the judges, William Norwich and the legendary Pat Cleveland, to discuss how each team did. They had amazing things to say about all of us but in the end Team Karolina ended up winning. That meant all four us — Zi Lin, Jocelyn, Stephanie and I — would have to face Karolina in the elimination room.

Karolina first addressed Zi Lin and Jocelyn. Zi Lin gave a convincing argument as to why she deserved to be the face of Ulta and then Karolina went on to ask Jocelyn why she should be the face of Ulta, to which she responded with, "I can speak." A blatant personal dig at Zi Lin, but not enough to sway Karolina's opinion that she didn't really want to win it.

Next Karolina asked Stephanie why she should stay and Stephanie gave an eloquent speech about how she's a fast learner and did really well with the last couple of challenges that have required more personality and speaking skills. Karolina then asked me why I deserved to stay over Stephanie and I told her that Stephanie came here to learn how to model and I came here to win, which is the truth.

Public speaking can be learned quickly, it's a very popular fear among people, but modeling is something that takes time and practice. You have to go to photo shoots and castings and get comfortable with the whole business. It takes a lot of time and work and that's my honest opinion. Ulta needs the whole package but they need a model first. Stephanie is an amazing, sweet, girl who is very good at speaking but she still has a lot to learn about modeling.

Karolina apparently agreed with my thoughts, saying Ulta needed someone who was ready right away, and chose me over Stephanie. She then chose Zi Lin over Jocelyn. Walking back in to the loft I could already tell Naomi was not happy. Continuing the trend of butting heads, Naomi told Karolina how big of a mistake she made yet again and Karolina calmly replied that she wanted the best girls to stay. Making the honorable notion that to be the best you have to beat the best.

Margaux made it to the final four! Get to know her even more >>

Naomi, who's always looking out for number one, felt the need to tell Coco and I how uninspired she was by how our team has performed the entire competition and Coco fired back something along the lines of, "at least my girl didn't lie." Naomi lost it and said "Do not say my girl lied... check your lipstick before you come and talk to me, because you're wearing it." Coco's face was priceless and the show ends with her saying, "I did check my lipstick and it's called Margaux is going to win."

Tune in to watch the finale March 26 at 9/8C on Oxygen and find out if I am The Face!

Photos credit: NBC

Don't forget to check out Margaux's other blogs before the finale airs!

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

The Face's Margaux blogs: Christy should be ashamed to call herself a model

The Face's Margaux blogs: Working with "The Wicked Witch"

Iron and Wine, better known as indie-folk singer Sam Beam, is out with a new record in April, and this time, he is in a very different place in his life. Fans can expect a completely different album than the band’s last record, 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean.

New: Mumford and Sons "Whispers in the Dark" video>>

"The last record was a fairly angry record," he told Erik Hayden with the Hollywood Reporter.

But for this album, Beam said that he attempted to stay hands-off in the recording process by writing the lyrics and playing a little guitar, but otherwise letting the other musicians do what they do best.

“Honestly, I didn’t play a whole lot," he said. "But we had people come in who could actually play. And I literally just sat in the booth and sang for most of the session. I felt like Sinatra or something; it was hilarious."

Beam brought in a multi-instrumentalist who added new sounds to his songs. He told Hayden that Rob Burger added brass and strings, something Iron and Wine fans may not be used to.

David Bowie returns with new album, The Next Day>>

"I had never fooled with the strings section before," Beam said. "What’s going on is complex, but it comes across as relaxed and sophisticated."

The musician said this was almost a theme album, and it helped him understand the flow.

“The album follows the central conceit of a couple ['Mot necessarily the same couple,' Beam notes] that appears throughout the 12 songs and serves to provide narrative cohesion,” said Hayden.

You may remember Iron and Wine from his song "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" as the "wedding song on Twilight.

"At least for me, it was a way to tie the songs together; it was a way to think of the record as a whole piece instead of these disparate group[s] of songs," Beam said.

Besides following the couple through the record, Beam said it will also follow them around cities of the U.S., including Milwaukee, South Carolina, New Orleans, New Mexico and even Barstow, California.

"This one is almost like a travelogue," he told Hayden.

According to Hayden, the album continues to take Iron and Wine further away from the “sparse-sounding” 2004 album Our Endless Numbered Days and the multi-instrumental sound is proof of that. But the musician continues to write music that is who he is.

Music review: 30 Seconds to Mars "Up in the Air">>

"I try to write songs that pertain to us on a human level, and tools are part of it, but not the core of us; they’re just an extension, they’re part of the scenery," Beam said.

Iron and Wine’s new album, Ghost on Ghost, is out April 16.

Photo courtesy WENN.com

Actor and perpetual 20-year-old Jared Leto took his love of hipster fashion to an all-new — and disgusting — level this week when he told a British radio show about the weirdest gift he ever received from a fan.

"Someone cut their ear off once and sent it to me, that was very strange," Leto told Xfm host Phil Clifton.

All together now: Ewww!

That's not all, though.

"The Van Gogh move," Leto added. "The note just said, 'Are you listening?' I never knew who it was, who's missing their ear out there."

So, did he alert the cops in case someone was unwillingly mutilated or murdered for the body part? Nope: He just ran a string through it and wore it as a necklace.

Clifton later said he thought the 30 Seconds to Mars frontman was joking, but he definitely wasn't. Leto posted a photo of the disgusting accessory to his Instagram account with the caption "ARE YOU LISTENING?"

Leto probably thought he was being super-hilarious, but we definitely don’t think this is funny.

And, oddly enough, the actor's ear tale isn't the only one this week. Game of Thrones actor Clive Mantle had one of his ears bitten off during a hotel dispute in Newcastle, England, earlier this week.

Luckily, he was able to have it reattached through surgery.

"You don't expect this kind of thing to happen in a hotel," his spokesman said. "The part of the ear that was bitten off was found and sewn back on. Mr. Mantle said the police, ambulance and hospital staff were amazing."

Let's all leave ears — both others' and our own — alone, OK?

Read on for more Jared Leto

Music review: 30 Seconds to Mars "Up in the Air"
Jared Leto slims down Matthew McConaughey-style
Jared Leto was 2011's worst dressed celeb

Photo: WENN.com

If you are a lover of seafood, this pasta dish is probably one of the best that you can create with mussels. Mussels cooked with white wine then combined with a tasty tomato sauce makes a meal that's rich in color and character.

Spaghetti with mussels in tomato sauce recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2.2 pounds mussels
• 14 ounces bavette or any long pasta
• 1 cup white wine
• Fresh parsley, chopped finely
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 chili, seeds taken out and chopped finely
• 14 ounces canned datterini tomatoes
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, saute 1 crushed garlic clove with extra-virgin olive oil. When the garlic changes color, discard it.
2. Drop the mussels in the saucepan. After 2 minutes, add the white wine.
3. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the mussels are completely open. Discard the ones that did not open. Transfer the mussels to a bowl and separate the broth.
4. Filter the mussel broth with a sieve to take away the sediments. Save the broth in a bowl for later use.
5. Take away the mussels from the shells. Set aside.
6. In the same saucepan where you cooked the mussels,  wipe away any sediments left with a paper towel. Add extra-virgin olive oil.
7. Over medium heat, add garlic and chili. When the garlic changes color, discard it then add the tomatoes. Cook for 10 minutes over low-medium heat.
8. Add 1 cup of mussel broth. Cook for another 10 minutes.
9. Add the mussels. Season with salt and pepper then cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off fire.
10. In a big saucepan, boil a lot of water over high heat for the pasta. When it boils, add some salt then drop the pasta. Cook the pasta for one minute less than the number of minutes indicated on the package. Drain but leave one cup of water in case it is needed for the sauce.
11. Over low heat, warm up the sauce then add the cooked and drained pasta. Mix them both well for 1 minute. If the sauce is too dry, pour a little bit of the water that you set aside from cooking the pasta. Just the amount you need, not everything.
12. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley. Serve hot.

Other mussel recipes

Creamy mushroom and pancetta mussels
Steamed mussels in pastis recipe
Mussels with white bean stew

These days, schools are using student assessment data not only to evaluate the children's performance, but also to change the way teachers teach and assure that the students get help where they need it most.

the power of assessment data

Contributed by Holly Bremerkamp

Like most parents, I spend a considerable amount of time thinking about how my child is performing in school and all of the things I can do to make sure she’s excelling. At night, I sit at the kitchen table with her and look over her homework to make sure it’s complete. I encourage her to ask questions when she’s in class and comes across something that she doesn’t understand. I try to expose her to technology that can open up new learning experiences. In short, I’m leaving no stone unturned. This might sound familiar to you.

Much of what I know now as a parent I learned during my 10 years as an English teacher, when I would spend days and nights trying to figure out what my students needed to succeed and how I could help them get there. Through my later experience working for the school district in St. Louis and now for CTB/McGraw-Hill, I’ve come to understand the value of one particular tool in helping students develop academically — and it’s one you might not expect: Assessment data.

Testing and assessments

If you’re around my age, your vision of assessment probably involves having to memorize a lot of facts sitting at a desk with a No. 2 pencil. In most cases, the tests you took served only a few purposes: To determine your grade in a particular class, which classes you might be placed in the following school year, or perhaps even whether you were able to graduate.

Some tests our children take today not only look very little like the ones from when we were growing up, they’re used in totally different ways. Pencils and paper have been replaced by computers and adaptive learning systems. And now schools are using student assessment not only to evaluate performance, they’re using it to change the way their teachers teach by identifying the areas where their students need the most help.

The very process of assessment has changed, as well. Schools no longer wait until the end of a marking period to administer assessments; they do so earlier and more frequently in an effort to pay close attention to how each student is progressing academically and give teachers the feedback they need to tailor their instruction to meet those students’ unique needs.

How parents can use assessment data

Teachers aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of assessment data. Many schools also make this data available to parents, who can use it to monitor the areas where their child may need extra help. This may seem like a complicated process, but it isn’t meant to be. Student assessment reports are designed to be easily interpreted, primarily by teachers but by parents, too.

Once parents have used the assessment reports to figure out where their child needs to improve, they can talk with their child’s teacher about the best way to drive this improvement — whether through a tutor, additional homework assignments or more intensive instruction. Assessment can also be used to highlight a child’s strengths. If parents know where their child is particularly strong — and sometimes it may surprise you — they can work with their child’s teacher to select enrichment activities that further build on areas of strength.

Student assessment data is a powerful tool that parents should be aware of and harness as they work to make sure their child is developing the skills he or she needs to be successful. Simply put, I’ve found that looking at my daughter’s assessment data gives me far more insight into how she’s performing and where she needs to improve than a simple letter grade ever could. I encourage all parents to shake off their preconceptions about assessment and begin having conversations with their child’s teachers about how they can use data to help their child develop academically. I know my daughter’s education wouldn’t be the same without it.

More about education

Tutoring and test prep: What parents of teens need to know
What to do if your child is struggling at school
5 Questions to ask your potential tutor

Some of us love whipped cream while others can't eat it. Here we share a wonderful recipe for coconut whipped cream using a can of coconut milk. This recipe is super easy and is ideal for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan since vegans consume no animal products such as milk.

Coconut whipped cream recipe

Yields approximately 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 can full-fat coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons organic powdered sugar
• Hand mixer

Directions:

1. Place the unopened can of coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Open the can and spoon the top layer that has formed into a mixing bowl. Add the vanilla and the powdered sugar and beat on high until the mixture is fluffy and frothy just like real whipped cream.
3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

More recipes using whipped cream

Strawberry whipped cream
Chocolate pudding shots
Summer citrus bars with fresh whipped cream

Wife #1: Karla James

There exists little information in circulation about Jesse’s first wife, Karla James. We know they were married from 1991–2002. We know they have two children together: Chandler and Jesse Jr. Other than that, we’re reduced to the old cliché of judging a book by its cover. Karla, who is likely in her 40s, makes for one hot-bodied mama — something that appears could possibly be attributed to a "mommy makeover" .

Wife #2: Janine Lindemulder

Jesse didn’t waste much time finding his next Mrs Right . The same year he split from Karla, he made Janine Lindemulder his wife. Superficially, Janine bears a slight resemblance to Karla — they are both leggy blondes with big racks. That, however, is pretty much where the similarities stop. While we don't know for sure what Karla does for a living, if she shared Janine's profession of stripper/porn star, we're pretty sure we would have heard about it. In 2003, Janine was arrested for beating Jesse with a flowerpot . A year later they divorced, but they've been duking it out over custody of their daughter Sunny ever since. At the moment, Jesse has full custody… Janine resides in an Oregon halfway house.

Wife #3: Sandra Bullock

When Sandra Bullock took her 10-year-old godson to tour the Monster Garage set, she never expected to meet her future husband. But that's exactly what happened and Sandy married Jesse in 2005. The odd couple seemed truly happy — Sandy even took to caring for Jesse's kids as though they were her own. Then scandal broke five years into their happily ever after when several women came forward claiming affairs with Jesse. When he copped to an 11-month affair with a tattooed lady by the name of Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, well, that was the stripper that broke the marriage's back . How does Sandy — America's sweetheart — fit in with Jesse's other lovers? Uhh… she doesn’t.

Wife #4: Alexis DeJoria

After the dust settled on Sandy and Jesse's divorce, Jesse moved on to a high-profile relationship with LA Ink’s leading lady, Kat Von D. Like Jesse's former wife Janine, Kat Von D sports some serious tattoos. But, despite being engaged to him as recently as late 2011, Kat Von D didn't tie the knot with Jesse. Rather, they broke things off and Jesse popped the question to professional drag racer Alexis DeJoria a year later. She's brunette like Sandy and has tattoos like Janine, yet seems a bit incongruous with his "trophy wife" style. But who knows? Maybe the fourth time will be a charm.

Image courtesy of DJDM/WENN.com