Being a mom is a wonderful gift. It's also stressful and nonstop and there aren't any paid vacations. But even if you're lucky enough not to be the main earner in your family, you might find yourself needing to drum up some extra cash without having the lack of flexibility of a nine-to-five.

Having a job can feel rewarding too and offer you a chance to talk to other adult humans or flex your creative muscles. With that in mind, we collected the top jobs that are flexible enough for moms that can also get some extra money in your pocket fast. Most of them allow you to set your own schedule and won't require endless amounts of time and effort.

More: 5 Signs You Need to Quit Your Job ASAP

Take a look and see which of these would fit your life best.

1. Realtor or appraiser

Real estate agents set their own schedule but typically must be available on nights and weekends. This is ideal for women who have husbands who work 9 to 5 and do not want their children in day care. An appraiser determines the value of a property based on comparisons of similar homes and an evaluation of the property itself. Though both jobs require certifications, both are extremely flexible and offer competitive pay and benefits.

2. Accountant

Ideally, you’ll need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting but can always start out as an assistant to someone first. A career in accounting is one of the most-stable careers you can have — which is a top consideration for working moms. With accounting, you can work for yourself (for example, preparing clients' taxes), work for a company, freelance or work part time.

3. Hair dresser or makeup artist

Since beauty likely won’t ever disappear, there’s always going to be a need for beauticians (hair dressers, makeup artists, aestheticians and more). Beauticians can work from home, work out of a salon, take time off when needed, set their own hours and work as much or as little as they’d like. They can also specialize in weddings or other formal events, which typically pay higher rates than strictly working out of a salon.

4. Server

Maybe you’re looking to get out of the house for a bit and earn some extra cash. If so, consider being a waitress or bartender. Both make money instantly in tips, and the pay is significantly higher than minimum wage. Also, most restaurants are always in need of weekend servers, so you can plan on being home with your family during the week and picking up shifts on the weekends.

5. Virtual assistant

Have serious organizational skills? Consider being a virtual assistant. Tasks can include sending emails, organizing travel and other administrative tasks for entrepreneurs and executives. Pay varies and tends to average around $15/hour.

Next: Retail associate

A version of this article was originally published in January 2014.

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6. Retail associate

Maybe, as a mom, you just need to get out of the house for a few hours per week. Sometimes, a short break every now and then is just what we need to parent to the best of our abilities. If this is you, consider getting a part-time job in retail. You can work for a small candle shop, a jewelry counter in your favorite department store or at a local coffee shop, for example. Though the pay isn’t necessarily the best, the flexibility and the time away from home may be priceless.

7. Fitness instructor

If working out is one of your top priorities, consider becoming a fitness instructor. You can teach as little as one class per week or become certified in a specialized field, such as Pilates, and teach private lessons along with group classes. Group instructors can average $20 per hour, and private instructors can charge significantly more per hour depending on credentials, location and types of clients.

8. Small business owner

Are you crafty and have a passion for baking, making jewelry, or blogging? Zone in on your talents, and open up your own small business out of the comfort of your own home. Etsy, for instance, lets you create your own little handmade shop on the worldwide web. You can also sell your services via a personal website, advertising and referrals.

9. Tutor

Whether you do it locally or remotely, tutoring can be a great way to earn extra cash. There are several places you can tutor online, including Chegg, K12 and Tutor.com. Tutors earn anywhere from $10 to $20 an hour.

More: 5 Below-the-Radar Resources Every Job-Seeker Should Tap

10. Nanny

If you’re at home with your own kids all day (and love it), consider being a nanny for someone else’s kids or starting your own at-home day care. Both options allow you to stay with your own children and bring in some additional income as well.

11. Freelancer

Freelancing goes beyond writing or editing, which are what most people think of when they hear the word "freelance." Freelancing is simply working for a company without a long-term commitment. Basically, you work as an independent contractor, usually from the comfort of your own home. You may be hired on temporarily to complete a project, assist in grant writing or bookkeeping and more. While it isn’t the most stable of jobs, it is one of the most flexible, and freelancers often make more than $20/hour.

Those who pay close attention to Anderson Cooper on Twitter may have noticed something a little out of the ordinary: Cooper's account replying to a Donald Trump tweet in a, um, not-so-professional way. That tweet has now been deleted, and both Cooper and CNN are saying the account was hacked.

More: A Roundup of Anderson Cooper Laughing on Camera Because We Love It So Much

After Roy Moore lost the Alabama special election, Trump tweeted about it, noting he had originally endorsed a different candidate than Moore (though he definitely endorsed Moore).

"The reason I originally endorsed Luther Strange (and his numbers went up mightily), is that I said Roy Moore will not be able to win the General Election. I was right! Roy worked hard but the deck was stacked against him!" Trump wrote.

Cooper's account replied to that tweet with, "Oh Really? You endorsed him you tool! Pathetic loser."

This morning, Cooper's tweet was quickly deleted, and he tweeted again, saying the rude reply was the result of a hacker.

More: Anderson Cooper Reacting to Trump's North Korea Comments Is All of Us

"Just woke up to find out someone gained access to my Twitter account. I have not sent a tweet in days or replied to any tweets. We are looking into how this happened," Cooper wrote.

CNN, the network that employs Cooper, tweeted the same explanation.

"This morning someone gained access to the handle @andersoncooper and replied to POTUS," read a tweet from CNN Communications. "We're working with Twitter to secure the account."

More: Anderson Cooper Shows Us How He Really Feels About Kellyanne Conway

Since Cooper tweeted from the account himself, clearly whoever hacked him didn't shut him out of the account. Whether the hacker still has access to Cooper's Twitter remains to be seen.

We've all been there: You leave a warm and toasty location, step out into the cold and your nose starts running uncontrollably. If this is the case, you're not alone — 50 to 90 percent of people experience this condition known as "cold-induced rhinitis."

In an article for CNN, Dr. David King, a senior lecturer at The University of Queensland, wrote about this annoying medical phenomenon.

What happens

When it's cold out, it's your nose's job to warm up the air you breathe in before sending it down to your lungs so they don't get irritated.

More: Science Weighs In on Whether the "Man Flu" Is Real

"Cold, dry air stimulates the nerves inside your nose, which send a message through your nerves to your brain," King writes. "Your brain then responds to this impulse by increasing the blood flow to the nose, and these dilated blood vessels warm the air passing over them."

On top of that, the nose secretes extra mucous in order to add moisture to the cold, dry air coming in. This results in an estimated loss of up to 300 to 400 milliliters of fluid through your nose.

Heating the air in the nose means that the mucous that lines the nasal cavity becomes cooler than your body temperature while water evaporates to make the air you breathe in moist. As a result, your nose gets colder because water evaporation uses up a lot of heat. Blood flow to the nose then increases to help it stay warm.

More: How to Tell If You Have a Common Cold or a Full-Blown Case of the Flu

"When the compensatory mechanism is a little too overactive, moisture in excess of that needed to humidify this cold, dry air will drip from the nostrils," King writes.

Those who have asthma, eczema and hay fever tend to experience cold-weather runny nose more, King writes. And the cold weather can trigger nasal congestion and sneezing.

Because this is weather-related, it's not something that needs to be treated with medication — just don't forget the tissues.

Most of us have made it onto a roller coaster at one point or another, even if it was a kiddie ride at the local fair. What most of us haven't done is pushed our adrenaline levels to the absolute max on the scariest coasters in the country.

If you'd like to dip your toe into the life-flash-before-your-eyes terror of some of the most intense roller coasters ever to be designed, this is the list for you. From spiraling monstrosities to dropping hundreds of feet to coasters that reach speeds of 120 miles per hour, these rides are not for the faint of heart.

1. The Voyage at Holiday World

Image: Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

In Santa Claus, Indiana, Holiday World is home to some seriously quirky rides. Family owned and operated, the park's themed areas celebrate four major holidays, including Thanksgiving. The Voyage is a relatively new wooden coaster with a surprising theme — the voyage of the pilgrims. Pilgrims aside, it's a major thrill thanks to record-breaking air time that leaves you grabbing your safety restraints in terror.

2. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure

Jackson, New Jersey, is home to the world's tallest roller coaster. Ride trains are launched using a breathtaking hydraulic launch system to a mind-boggling height of 456 feet before plummeting back to the ground. You'll want a souvenir photo after you take this tiger on.

More: 5 of the Best Amusement Parks Europe Has to Offer

3. The Intimidator 305 at King's Dominion

Themed after NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator 305 is a steel coaster with a toe-curling drop of 300 feet. One of only a handful of U.S. coasters reaching such heights, it draws thousands of coaster enthusiasts to King's Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

4. Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point

When it comes to coasters, there's no better destination than Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. This thrilling park is home to several record-breaking coasters, including Top Thrill Dragster, which reaches speeds of up to 120 mph. Though Kingda Ka surpassed it in height, the Dragster is still one of the most-terrifying rides in the United States.

More: How to Be a Better Mom: Vacation Without Your Kids

5. El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure

Though nearby Kingda Ka towers over it, El Toro provides its own charm and thrills. Built in 2006, El Toro is a record-breaking wooden coaster with a massive drop that will have you screaming before you're halfway down. As a newer wooden coaster, it's a smoother ride than what you'll experience on vintage coasters.

Up next: 7 More scary roller coasters in the United States

A version of this article was originally published in January 2014.

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6. SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Tampa, Florida, is home to SheiKra, one of the world's largest steel dive coasters. The floorless coaster dangles riders at the top of a 200-foot drop before plummeting them down at a 90-degree angle. The heart-pounding wait before dropping gives you plenty of time to wish you were back on solid ground.

7. Diamondback at King's Island

Thanks to innovative stadium seating, every passenger on Diamondback at King's Island in Mason, Ohio, has a stunning view throughout the ride. With 10 drops and a thrilling splashdown finale, this is a coaster that leaves you breathless.

8. Millennium Force at Cedar Point

Millennium Force is a steel roller coaster that resides in Sandusky, Ohio. The creation of Millennium Force led to a whole new classification of roller coaster: the giga-coaster. With speeds of up to 93 miles per hour, this ride will definitely blow your hair back.

9. Manta at SeaWorld

Manta, built in 2009, features one of the most-innovative train styles on steel coasters today. Riders are angled at a prone position, mimicking the gliding stance of a manta ray in the ocean. Each dip and loop is taken face first, making Manta in Orlando one of the scariest rides to handle in the front row.

10. Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure

Thanks to a simple lap-restraint system, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure offers one of the scariest plummeting experiences. At 230 feet, it's not a record-breaking coaster, but it's enough to send you right back to the beginning of the ride to take on the terrifying drop again.

11. Cannibal at Lagoon Amusement Park

We get butterflies in our stomach just thinking about the Cannibal's 116 degree vertical drop, so imagine what actually experiencing it can do. With a max height of 108 feet and speeds up to 70 miles per hour, this ride (located in Farmington, UT) will eat you alive from the inside out... hence the name.

12. Skyscraper at Skyplex Orlando

This new polercoaster isn't scheduled to open at Skyplex until 2019, but when it does, it will be the scariest roller coaster ever. It takes a bit of time to climb to the top before the big drop, and the anticipation just might kill you.

More: 8 Things Your Money-Savvy Friend Wants You to Know About Vacations

If you haven't learned it by now, make sure you never forget that when Jada Pinkett Smith fires off a Twitter thread, you sit down and listen. Chances are, she's about to deliver some truth bombs to us all. That actually happened on Tuesday, Dec. 12 when Pinkett Smith decided to air her grievances about the very blatant exclusion of Girls Trip (an undeniable summer hit) and the outstanding comedic performance of breakout star Tiffany Haddish, who was snubbed for the Best Actress in a Comedy nomination.

More: Jada Pinkett Smith Is Slowly Changing Hollywood — & Her Own Career

It's tough to find fault with Pinkett Smith, previously an outspoken critic of Hollywood award shows' lack of diversity. But also, once you've read what she has to say, there is only one appropriate reaction: praise hands.

"I have so much to say on why @TiffanyHaddish was not nominated for a Globe... but I won't," she began on Tuesday afternoon.

More: Jada Pinkett Smith Is Distancing Herself From Leah Remini & Scientology

Oh, but she did. And thank the Golden Globes gods she did.

As you can see, Smith is alleging that not only did Girls Trip, which was loved by critics and has a nearly 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, not get a nomination, but was not even screened for consideration. Seriously?

More: 9 Times Will Smith Was the Most '90s Ever

Those who follow Smith will know this is not the first time she's taken on Hollywood's racism during award season. In 2016, she was part of a group of prolific actors and directors, including her husband, Will Smith, and Spike Lee, who boycotted the Oscars to protest the lack of diversity in the nominees.

2017 has been an eventful year, and Google's just-released Year in Search roundup highlights all the highs and lows.

Here are the top five searches of the year:

1. Hurricane Irma
2. Matt Lauer
3. Tom Petty
4. Super Bowl
5. Las Vegas shooting

More: How 5 Women Stand Up to the Type of Sexual Harassment That Got O'Reilly Fired

Now, 4 out of 5 of those searches are pretty grim. (And even the Super Bowl was a sour note if you weren't a Patriots fan.) They tell of a year shrouded in scandal, natural disaster and man-made disaster, though it is surprising that Matt Lauer beat out Harvey Weinstein for the top spot. It tells a tale of people betrayed by someone they brought into their homes on a daily basis, albeit through a television screen.

But there is hope to be found in the sad tale of 2017 that is this list: People want to get involved. People seek information. The public wants to inform itself. The conversations about change and moving forward are happening. In the wake of sexual assault scandals, we banded together to protect the workplace. After the Las Vegas shooting took the lives of 58 people, gun control and mental health were debated. Hurricane Irma spurred us to educate ourselves on different cultures and help those in need.

More: Robert De Niro's Hotel Was Destroyed by Hurricane Irma

There is still much change to be made, of course. But the important takeaway from this list is that people weren't ignoring these big topics. People wanted to face them head-on. These topics weren't being ignored, which means the future looks brighter.

Check out the full Year in Search from Google over on Google Trends.

According to Us Weekly, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons are expecting a baby. The couple has made no official pregnancy announcement; however, if the rumors are true, this will be the first child for both stars.

As for Dunst, the actor has never shied away from discussing her motherhood aspirations. During an interview with the U.K.’s Red magazine, Dunst was vocal about her desire to become a mother in her 30s. "Thirty-three is a good age to have your first baby," she said.

At the time, Dunst was 32 (she's now 35) and in a relationship with fellow actor Garrett Hedlund. In the same interview, she admitted she'd caught the baby bug from her peers. "I'm in baby mode because two of my really good friends are pregnant right now,” she said. Eventually, Dunst and Hedlund split after dating for four years.

More: Kirsten Dunst Shuts Down Sofia Coppola's Request That She Lose Weight for a Movie

She and Plemons began dating after starring together as fictitious couple Peggy and Ed Blumquist on the hit FX series Fargo. Thankfully, their real-life relationship is much more low-key (and far less dramatic). Yet, throughout the years, you'd better believe Dunst still had kiddos on the brain. “It’s time to have babies and chill,” she said in an interview with Marie Claire U.K. this July. Well, the "chill" part might be wishful thinking with a newborn on the way, but a girl can dream!

More: Dwayne Johnson & His Girlfriend Reveal They're Expecting a Baby Girl

Earlier this year, the two confirmed their engagement; they reportedly plan to wed in Texas this spring.

“I never thought I was that person who’d have a Pinterest board," Dunst said during an appearance on Live with Kelly & Ryan. We're surprised too, Kirsten. "I like doing all of that pinning things. It’s really fun, and because we create it together from the beginning, it’s a really nice thing to do together. It’s going to be so personal and fun. We’re having a really good time.”

A wedding and (possibly) a baby in 2018? Who says life doesn't come at you fast?

There's yet another voice being added to the chorus of horrifying stories about Harvey Weinstein. Salma Hayek, in an op-ed penned for The New York Times, described years of abuse she suffered at Weinstein's hand that ultimately culminated in a nervous breakdown on the set of her Weinstein-produced film, Frida.

More: Ben Affleck Didn't Realize Women Were Going Through "Ugly & Disturbing" Things

"When so many women came forward to describe what Harvey had done to them, I had to confront my cowardice and humbly accept that my story, as important as it was to me, was nothing but a drop in an ocean of sorrow and confusion," she wrote. "I felt that by now nobody would care about my pain — maybe this was an effect of the many times I was told, especially by Harvey, that I was nobody."

Early in her career, Hayek wrote, she idolized Weinstein, who was leading a new wave of risk-taking and original films. Hayek had her idea for Frida, and she was desperate for Weinstein to take it on. Due, she speculates, to her friendship with Weinstein's then-wife, he did.

"I did not care about the money; I was so excited to work with him and that company. In my naïveté, I thought my dream had come true. He had validated the last 14 years of my life. He had taken a chance on me — a nobody. He had said yes," she wrote. "Little did I know it would become my turn to say no."

She continued, "No to opening the door to him at all hours of the night, hotel after hotel, location after location, where he would show up unexpectedly, including one location where I was doing a movie he wasn’t even involved with. No to me taking a shower with him. No to letting him watch me take a shower. No to letting him give me a massage. No to letting a naked friend of his give me a massage. No to letting him give me oral sex. No to my getting naked with another woman. No, no, no, no, no …"

More: Matt Damon & George Clooney Reveal What They Knew About Harvey Weinstein

What was worse than having to say so many nos, Hayek wrote, was how angry it made Weinstein.

"I don’t think he hated anything more than the word 'no,'" she wrote. "The absurdity of his demands went from getting a furious call in the middle of the night asking me to fire my agent for a fight he was having with him about a different movie with a different client to physically dragging me out of the opening gala of the Venice Film Festival, which was in honor of Frida, so I could hang out at his private party with him and some women I thought were models but I was told later were high-priced prostitutes."

Once, after being turned down, Hayek said Weinstein threatened to kill her.

After years of such abuse, Hayek says Weinstein, in a last-ditch attempt after so many attempts to kill her film, told her it would only go forward if she, as Kahlo, acted in a sex scene with another woman. She agreed, she wrote, only to save her work and the work of the other actors and writers attached to the film.

"I arrived on the set the day we were to shoot the scene that I believed would save the movie," she wrote. "And for the first and last time in my career, I had a nervous breakdown: My body began to shake uncontrollably, my breath was short and I began to cry and cry, unable to stop, as if I were throwing up tears."

Hayek says the scene gave her a full nervous breakdown. She had to distance herself from Frida's post-production. She was unable to celebrate when it became a box office and critical success, earning award nominations. All she could think about was Weinstein, who she said had become her "personal monster."

Hayek credits her friendships with A-listers like George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino as the only reasons Weinstein listened to her refusals and never raped her. It's a sobering thought, and even more sobering when you consider how many women have accused Weinstein of rape.

More: All the Celebrities Who Have Accused Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Misconduct — So Far

The good news is that Weinstein's career appears to be over. The flood of accusations against him appears to have ensured he's out of Hollywood for good. No one wants to be associated with him anymore, so maybe now, women are safe from him. The bad news is Hayek will surely not be the last woman to come forward with a heart-wrenching story like this one.

For women, many biological milestones revolve around pregnancy and childbirth (think puberty, periods, birth control, fertility issues). Most start regular visits with an OB-GYN in their teens to make sure everything is in order. But what about those who have already gone through menopause? If reproduction is no longer on the table, should they still visit the OB-GYN?

Absolutely. In fact, according to Dr. G. Thomas Ruiz, an OB-GYN at MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, California, “It is just as important to see your OB-GYN after menopause as during the childbearing years.” Changes in a woman’s body related to a lack of estrogen can affect bladder control, vaginal function, bone density, temperature control and emotional lability, he says. Not only that, but breast, endometrial, ovarian and cervical cancers occur commonly in women over the age of 50 — another reason for an annual checkup.

More: Male Gynecologists on How They Chose Their Speciality

“The average age of menopause is 51 years old, plus or minus six years or so, that is still a very young woman,” says Dr. Jocelyn Craig, a urogynecologist/OB-GYN and the medical director of the Center for Women’s Pelvic Health at Long Beach (California) Medical Center. “When regular periods stop, irregular or abnormal uterine bleeding can still occur, and your doctor needs to know about that. Bleeding after sexual intercourse is also not normal, and you would want to discuss this with your doctor.” 

Dr. Yen Tran, an OB-GYN at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, advises that if a woman experiences vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, itching in the vaginal or vulva area, lesion or discoloration in the vaginal area, pelvic pain or painful intercourse, they should visit multiple times each year to monitor the symptoms. In addition, current recommendations indicate that women should get Pap smears every two or three years, even after having a hysterectomy if they have history of moderate or severe cervical dysplasia — even if they are above age 65, Tran says.

More: Too Young for Hot Flashes? It Could Be Perimenopause

So what does a postmenopausal visit to the OB-GYN entail? The exams typically include checking for early signs of vaginal atrophy, vulva lesions, lichen sclerosis, precancerous cells in the vulva regions or early signs of bladder or rectal prolapse, Tran says.

Additionally, Dr. Mary O’Toole, an OB-GYN at MemorialCare Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Laguna Hills, California, says she also addresses menopause symptoms, osteoporosis/bone health, aging, sexuality and anxiety/depression with her patients as well as making sure they are up to date with their mammogram, bone density and colonoscopy.

But for a lot of women, their annual visit to the OB-GYN is more than just a pelvic exam: For many, it’s their only routine medical appointment each year, O’Toole says.

“As a patient ages, other health issues may arise, such at elevated blood pressure, heart disorder or diabetes, so I recommend also establishing care with an internist/family M.D,” O’Toole explains. “I still recommend regular GYN visits because a woman’s internist may not feel comfortable... [performing] breast exam[s] and/or pelvic exam[s].”

A urogynecologist is another option for those with pelvic health issues. According to Craig, urogynecology is a fellowship-recognized hybrid specialty because physicians who train in this fellowship must first be board certified OB-GYNs or urologists.

Urogynecology addresses both surgical and nonsurgical issues of bowel, bladder and female pelvic organs, Craig explains, including urinary or fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, painful bladder syndrome (also called interstitial cystitis), chronic bladder infections and pelvic or sexual pain issues. While the majority of patients who see a urogynecologist are postmenopausal, it’s not the case across the board, Craig says.

More: How My Body Tricked Me Into Thinking I Was Going Through Menopause

But while a urogynecologist may be helpful for some postmenopausal women, it’s typically only necessary after a referral. In fact, often an OB-GYN will still manage annual female exams and issues of breast, bone and menopausal symptoms and then refer the patient to a urogynecologist for other specific pelvic health issues, Craig says.

“Seeing a urogynecologist is OK, but most women have established relationships with their OB-GYNs and feel a lot more comfortable in discussing other issues like low libido, hot flashes… and other psychosocial issues affecting their well-being in addition to the pelvic exam,” Tran adds.

So, ladies, continue to book those yearly OB-GYN appointments, even after menopause. No one is a fan of the stirrups, but it’s an important part of your health maintenance.

Feel like there's no end to your Pinterest searches for the best holiday recipes? We feel you. We did the digging for you so you can put together a classic and delicious holiday feast for everyone you love. Whether you've got vegetarians or total traditionalists, this is a list that will please almost everyone.

1. A great green bean casserole

This green bean casserole is made from scratch and absolutely delicious. We especially love the "fried" onions, which are plentiful in this recipe.

More: 12 Stiff Cocktails to Get You Through the 12 Days of Christmas

2. Dry turkey brining

Don't have it in you to soak a turkey in saltwater? This dry brine will make the skin extra crispy while keeping the meat moist.

3. Beef tenderloin

If you're going with a tenderloin instead of a bird, we highly recommend this garlic-rosemary beef recipe.

4. Absolutely incredible mashed potatoes

In case your family's handed-down mashed potato recipe feels a little lacking, this recipe will make the creamiest, most delicious spuds you've ever tasted.

5. Old-school sweet potato casserole

If sweet potato casserole is a must-have on your holiday table, this recipe will help you make it perfectly.

6. Pie

Everyone has their favorite pie, but we're especially fond of this cranberry-pear option. Seasonal but still a bit surprising, just the way we like it.

7. Hot cider

This cider is everything you need to warm everybody up before or after dinner. Want to make a boozy option for the grown-ups? We've got recipes for that too.

8. Eggnog

Making your own eggnog is so much better than the store-bought version, and this recipe shows you how. Want even more variety? We've collected all the best eggnog recipes.

9. Cranberry-apple sangria

Something pleasant to sip on while you're finishing up dinner or keeping the guests entertained, we love this festive sangria.

10. Plant-based holiday dishes

Will you have some vegan or vegetarian guests? No problem. This mushroom Wellington is a delicious main course, and we've got even more vegan holiday recipes that everyone will enjoy.

A version of this article was originally published in December 2008.

Award season 2018 has gotten off to a rip-roaring start, with both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards making their nomination announcements during the second week of December 2017. While there have been some surprises and snubs in regard to who exactly got nominated, there's one big piece of award season news that is hard to argue isn't actually a great thing.

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the 2018 SAG Awards would have an all-female presenter lineup, which is a major step forward and a major first in award show history. A move of this kind certainly sends a strong message about the vision this award show has for the new year, but it also shows those behind the scenes are dedicated to giving women in Hollywood a true spotlight and not one that's given away half-heartedly. Hell, yeah!

More: The SAG Awards Just Recruited Kristen Bell, & It Was the Best Decision Ever

According to the official statement released to THR from SAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell, "Beginning with the Women’s March in January, it’s been the year of the woman. [Having presenters all be female] is a unifying salute to women who have been very brave and speaking up."

This conscious effort to let women's voices be heard not just in acceptance speeches but also while presenting the awards is certainly unique, and it's really, as previously mentioned, an unprecedented move. Much like MTV's decision to create gender-neutral award categories at the 2017 MTV Movie Awards earlier this year, the 2018 SAG Awards are actively reminding us that it's not just a man's world and honorable events like awards show should be emblematic of that.

More: The SAG Awards Nominees Are in, & It's a Big Change From the Golden Globes

"How many times has a woman walked into a room of predominantly men? We thought, maybe for one night, it’ll be more than 50/50 [onstage]," Connell noted to THR in regard to the importance of giving the focus to women. She did also acknowledge that she hopes there aren't any bad reactions from the men involved, going on to say, "We don’t want to slight the men who have given great performances this year — knowing our membership, I’m sure our men will embrace the opportunity to honor women."

Sadly, we have no idea which women have been selected to present at the 2018 SAGs, although there is some promise that those in charge of choosing presenters will indeed have their eye on a broad range of women. This is evident from the fact that Kristen Bell has been snagged as the show's host (another first for the historically host-less event!) and it was only women — Niecy Nash (who stars on TNT's Claws) and Olivia Munn (best known from her work on HBO's The Newsroom and X-Men: Apocalypse) — who announced the nominees early Wednesday morning.

More: The 2018 Golden Globe Nominations Are Full of Surprises & Snubs

Connell's official statement closed out on a hopeful note, and it's one we should all keep in mind while we celebrate this exciting news. "It’s still an awards show and a celebration — we’re not here to preach to anybody. To me, just having some of these fabulous women onstage sends its own message."

OK, so, 2017 has been a weird, heartbreaking and thoroughly tiresome year, right? Like, I can't be the only person who is fast approaching Dec. 31 quietly muttering, "2018 can't get here soon enough," am I? Perhaps one of the many contributing factors to my fatigue (and likely your fatigue too) with 2017 is the fact that it felt like everyone was breaking up this year. A ton of solid, "They'll never split up!"-level couples suddenly pulled the rug out from under us over the course of the last 12-ish months, and honestly, it feels like we all got betrayed in a major way.

More: Chris Harrison Details Exactly Why Ben Higgins & Lauren Bushnell Split

Well, we can now relive that sadness all over again as we pore over the top 10 most Googled celebrity breakups of 2017. It was among the various and sundry most-Googled lists that came out earlier this week, and it might be one of the most depressing. That said, I'm pretty sure you're not going to be able to guess who took the top slot.

No, seriously; go on and guess. No? Can't think of who it might be?

Well, it turns out former Bachelor Nation sweethearts Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins were the most Googled celebrity breakup this year. Just crunching the numbers, folks across this great land were more confounded and curious about this split than Anna Faris and Chris Pratt, Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney and even Aaron Rodgers and Olivia Munn. Bananas, right?

More: Chris Pratt & Anna Faris Are Breaking Up, & We're Emotionally Breaking Down

The official top 10 list, courtesy of Us Weekly's dutiful reporting, is as follows:

1. Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins
2. Malika Haqq and Ronnie Magro
3. Dutchess and Caesar
4. Olivia Munn and Aaron Rodgers
5. Kylie Jenner and Tyga
6. Lindsey Stirling and Ryan Weed
7. Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
8. Vanessa Grimaldi and Nick Viall
9. Amy Schumer and Ben Hanisch
10. Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney

More: Lady Gaga Reveals the Real Reason She & Taylor Kinney Split

I know it's still pretty early in the day, but I think I might need a little wine to wash down this very sad reminder that some of my favorite (and likely your favorite too) couples called it quits this year.

The View is not a show that shies away from emotional moments, and this morning's episode was no exception. Former Vice President Joe Biden was a guest, and he and host Meghan McCain had a touching moment talking about how cancer has affected both of their families.

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"Your son Beau had the same cancer that my father was diagnosed with six months ago," McCain told Biden of her father, Sen. John McCain. Biden's son Beau died from the aggressive form of brain cancer in 2015.

"I think about Beau almost every day," McCain continued. "And I was told that this doesn't get easier, but you cultivate the tools to work with this and live with this. I know you and your family have been through tragedy that I can't even conceive of. What would you say to help people?"

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Then crying, McCain shouted, "It's not about me. It's about everyone with cancer."

"No," Biden said as he walked around the table to hold McCain's hand. "It is about everyone, but look. One of the things that gave Beau courage was John. Your dad took care of my Beau. Your dad became friends with Beau. And Beau talked about your dad's courage. So there is hope. And if anybody can make it, your dad can."

He continued, "Her dad goes after me hammer and tong. We're like two brothers who were somehow raised by two different fathers or something because of our different points of view... But I know, if I picked up the phone tonight and called John McCain and said I'm at Second and Vine and I need your help, he'd get on a plane and come, and I would for him too."

More: Heartfelt Reactions to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Cancer Diagnosis Pour In

By then, McCain was laughing through her tears, and the touching moment truly showed what a stand-up guy the former vice president is.

I have a confession to make. It's something that when I tell people for the first time tends to elicits gasps, pearl-clutching and insistence that I never had a real childhood. Here it is; are you ready?

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I've never seen Star Wars.

Nope, not a single one. And you know what? At this point, I just don't think I'm going to. Everyone who hears this fun fact is sure they'll be the one to show me the error of my ways. "We have to have a movie night and watch them!" says everyone.

But I'm sorry, a movie night? Fam, do you realize how dang many of these movies there are now? At this point, there are eight films. Not a single one of them is under two hours long. Their total combined run time, provided I didn't miss any of them when I added this up, is a truly astonishing 17 hours and 54 minutes. That is 18 hours of Star Wars. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Listen. I'm a girl who waffles on where to go to dinner on any given night. Ask me my favorite ice cream flavor, and the pressure will be too much for me. Commitment is a real struggle. And watching 18 hours of Star Wars is one hell of a commitment. I'm sorry to say I'm just not ready for that. It's not you, Star Wars. It's me. It's definitely me.

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Sure, I could get around this by just watching one film, but there are a couple of problems with that. First, every single Star Wars fan has a different opinion on which one a first-timer should watch first. Ask five fans, and you'll get five different answers. At that point, I think I'm just gonna go watch Love Actually again instead.

Second (and far more important), I just don't see the appeal of a world where people fight with laser swords and blow up entire planets and hang with robots and a giant furry animal that "speaks" in truly obnoxious gurgle roars. I'm not a fan of movies that glorify fighting and war, and if there ever were a movie franchise that tries to make a giant intergalactic war look cool as hell, it's Star Wars. Nope. I'm a lover, not a fighter.

And you know what? I'm OK with this. The pop-culture references that come from Star Wars are so commonplace in our vernacular at this point, I don't feel like I'm really missing out. I can rattle off a "Do or do not, there is no try," or a "Luke, I am your father," just as easily as anyone who has seen the source material. I'm glad there are people out there who love and connect with Star Wars, but I just don't really see myself being one of them. I don't feel like there's anything missing from my life because Star Wars has never been a part of it.

More: 11 Times Princess Leia Was the Embodiment of Resistance Goals

And as long as I never see a single Star Wars movie, I will always win at two truths and a lie. That's an added bonus I'm not ready to give up.

If you think about who has provided "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment," one name should definitely come to mind: Oprah Winfrey. She's a mogul in every sense of the word, and at this year's Golden Globes, she'll be honored for her contributions with the annual Cecil B. DeMille Award.

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Previous winner Morgan Freeman made the announcement on Wednesday.

Recent winners of the award include Freeman (2012), Meryl Streep (2017), Denzel Washington (2016), George Clooney (2015), Woody Allen (2014), Jodie Foster (2013), Robert De Niro (2011), Martin Scorsese (2010), Steven Spielberg (2009) and Warren Beatty (2008), so Winfrey is in some pretty solid company here. And obviously, she deserves it, because, duh, she's Oprah.

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"As a global media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress, she has created an unparalleled connection with people around the world, making her one of the most respected and admired figures today," Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Meher Tatna said in a statement. "For generations, Oprah has celebrated strong female characters on and off screen, and has been a role model for women and young girls for decades. Holding titles such as Chairman, CEO and Founder, Oprah is one of the most influential women of our time, and this honor is well deserved especially in this 75th anniversary year of the Golden Globe Awards."

Oprah is the chairman and CEO of her TV network, OWN. She starred on The Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years. She's won countless Daytime Emmys and NAACP Image Awards, been nominated for Golden Globes and even won a Tony for her role in The Color Purple. In short, we can't really think of anyone more deserving of this award.

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Congrats to Winfrey, who will be presented with the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the live Golden Globes broadcast on Jan. 7.

Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes haven't "officially" confirmed their relationship, which means there's some tiny chance they're not actually a couple, but let's be real: We all kinda, sorta, totally know they're a couple. In fact, they might just be our favorite secret couple, and thus, it's always a treat to see them when they kinda, sorta surface in the public eye together.

More: Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx Take Their Love to the Beach

Take, for instance, when Holmes may have low-key helped Foxx ring in his 50th birthday this week, even though neither one of them is admitting it. Honestly, why won't they just come clean already?

Foxx celebrated with a party at The Highlight Room in Hollywood, and his two daughters, Corinne Foxx and Annalise Bishop, were definitely there. They posted some photos to Instagram showing the cake they had made for their dad featuring a throwback photo of him and the message "Happy 25x2!"

More: Katie Holmes Celebrates 5 Years of Divorce From Tom Cruise With Jamie Foxx

In some of the photos, they also posed with friends, but Holmes was nowhere to be seen in any of their snaps (of course).

Foxx also posted a birthday message on his own Instagram, thanking the family and friends who "have done so much" for him, but obviously not specifically mentioning Holmes.

It's like these two think they're being sneaky. They're not being sneaky. Someone tell them.

More: Jamie Foxx & Katie Holmes Are Doing Really Great

They did make one big mistake at Foxx's birthday party, though. They allowed paparazzi to get a clear shot. Photos show them getting into a car together at the end of the night, and we all know what that means. The jig is up! Now if only they would realize that.

Just in time for the onslaught of holiday parties and family gatherings, the first family of reality television is giving all the families of normals out there something to talk about. Thanks to the Kardashians, we no longer have to actively avoid discussions of politics and even religion when gathered around our latkes or Christmas goose (do people eat that?); all anyone will be able to discuss is the fact that Khloé Kardashian apparently finally officially announced her pregnancy.

Us Weekly reports that in a new mid-season teaser trailer for Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the whole Kardashian crew gets together for what looks like a major family gathering and an equally major announcement.

More: Insiders Close to Khloé Kardashian Reveal the Sex of Her First Baby

Though the clip doesn't technically contain the announcement, it does string together all the reactions. Naturally, family matriarch and manager Kris Jenner is the first to respond with a very shocked "What?!" and tears already forming in her eyes as she let the news sink in.

"Did you not know?" sister Kim Kardashian West responds. Whatever's being announced, it's a shock to everyone, but it's also clear that it's good news. Could it be anything but a pregnancy? Guesses welcome.

Though Kardashian has kept mum on the matter, sources such as People have reported she's expecting her very first child with her boyfriend, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson.

More: Did Kris Jenner Confirm Khloé’s & Kylie's Pregnancies on Instagram?

People adds that Kardashian's news isn't the only thing set to make headlines when KUWTK comes back with new episodes; little sister Kylie Jenner's pregnancy may get confirmed too. Though news of both Kardashian's and Kylie Jenner's pregnancies has been swirling around for what seems like months now, the show hasn't addressed either yet. It looks like momager Kris Jenner (along with the show's production team) was looking to put together the perfect moments so fans could all share the good news together. And from the looks of this particular get-together, this one's gonna be good.

Ah, Christmas. It's a time of love and joy. It's a time of peace and warmth. It's a time when, during every trip to the grocery store, you risk hearing one of your least favorite songs of all time blasted over the speaker system in all of its holiday cheer.

Let's face it: Most Christmas music can be hit and miss. And a lot of it is really, really weird if you stop to think about it. While some corny holiday songs have a special place in my heart and others I like despite myself, there are a few that get worse and worse and worse with every listen. And worse and worse and worse.

Here's my definitive list of Christmas songs I never want to hear again, accompanied by a mini-rant about each one.

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"Santa Baby" by Madonna

The original version of "Santa Baby" is pretty great. Recorded in 1953 by singer and comedian Eartha Kitt, the song is a tongue-in-cheek plea to Santa to bring Kitt an increasingly hilarious list of holiday gifts (from a convertible to a platinum mine), ostensibly in exchange for some female attention. Kitt does a perfect job of delivering the song in a perfect tone, right down to asking Santa for "duplex and checks," followed by a ring — yes, she wants Santa forever, all to herself.

But, oh God, the 1980s version of the song, covered by Madonna in her heyday, ruins anything redeemable about the original. Madonna begins her ruination of the classic by singing in a cutesy Betty Boop voice that not only destroys the tone of the lyrics but is also just plain unpleasant to listen to. She also absolutely devastates the humor in the song, turning it into something like "Material Girl" Part II instead of what it is supposed to be: a funny joke. The only thing I want from Santa this year is for this song to be forgotten by society — and I'm willing to do anything to Santa that you can think of to get it.

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid

I understand that this song was written, recorded and distributed with good intentions. Unfortunately, everything else about it is absolutely terrible.

In case you aren't familiar, this song was recorded in 1984 to aid the famine in Ethiopia. It starred a number of pop icons of the time, most notably Bono, Phil Collins, Sting, George Michael, Chris Cross, Bananarama and Duran Duran. It's also been re-recorded, just as painfully, three other times since the original.

There is so much bad stuff going on in this song that we're just going to move to bullet format for a minute: 

• Um, it is not really about Christmas.
• Yes, people in Africa probably know it's Christmas, no matter their current situation. Because about 45 percent of Africans are Christian and probably know about the major holiday, and another 40 percent are Muslim and don't really celebrate the holiday.
• The lyrics are so terrible, in that they are both culturally offensive and poetically offensive. My least favorite lines: "Where a kiss of love can kill you, and there's death in every tear / And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom." Yikes!
• The charity drive didn't even work. While the song has raised millions of dollars, the effort to get food to Ethiopia was a disaster in which much of the food rotted and warlords profited.
• The charities picked since the original have just been super ignorant. For example, in 2014, the re-recording was to raise money to fight Ebola, even though an aid worker pointed out that many, many more thousands of people in Africa die from diarrhea. Of course, no one wants to sing for diarrhea relief — yucky!
• Even Bob Geldof, who wrote the song, hates it and cringes every time he hears it. He openly admits that he's responsible for writing two of the worst songs ever written: "Do They Know It's Christmas" and "We Are the World."

This song is such a shining example of charity (and music) gone terribly wrong. Please stop.

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"Little Drummer Boy"

Pah-rum-pum-pum-pum: are these the dumbest sounds ever uttered? I think so. This Christmas staple emerged from the depths of hell (we assume) in 1941 and rose to popularity (somehow) when it was recorded by the Trapp Family Singers in 1951. Since then, this garbage tune has been covered by a dizzying array of pop singers, including but not limited to Bing Cosby, the Supremes, Joan Baez, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, the Jackson 5, Ray Charles, the Temptations, Bob Seger, New Kids on the Block, ABBA, Neil Diamond, RuPaul, Kenny G, Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Bright Eyes, Jessica Simpson, Justin Bieber and the Wiggles. I can only assume it's a music industry inside joke played on the entire world.

What is so terrible about this song? I think the No. 1 problem is the tempo, which is so slow that, let's face it, we are not on the little drummer boy's side by the end of the song. Secondly, Mary has a baby, and the first thing you do is bang your drum around it? That baby needs to sleep, and we're guessing that Mary does not want to hear your noise. You should have given the baby a gift the family could really use, like a gift certificate to some restaurant that does delivery.

This song is so bad that there is actually a game in which the participants try to make it as far as possible into the holiday season without hearing it. It's a noble but usually impossible pursuit.

"Christmas Tree" by Lady Gaga

I love Lady Gaga. I think she's probably the most talented pop star working today and that everything she does is gold, from her early singles to her stunning latest album, Joanne. I have been with Lady Gaga through every controversy and rift and downturn and meat dress, at her side always. But: she is responsible for one of the worst Christmas song ever recorded: "Christmas Tree."

You would think that, since the song is just two minutes long, you could get through it without being scarred for life, but you would be wrong. The train wreck of terrible music and terrible lyrics will have you wanting to live inside a soundproof box for the rest of your life. I think the song is supposed to be kind of sexy and filled with double entendres — and it's ostensibly just about having sex around the holidays? I really don't know, but "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was bad enough. We really don't need an R-rated version of it. Worst line: "Here here here / The best time of the year / I'm taking off my stockings / And spreading Christmas cheer."

If I had a time machine, I'd go back and assassinate Hitler. But also I'd go back to 2010 and warn Lady Gaga not to record this song.

More: Nine Secretly Creepy Christmas Songs

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"

This is the worst Christmas song ever written and recorded. Why? Because the main thrust of the song is about a woman trying to leave a man's apartment, but he protests like a million times, arguing that she should stay the night (for sex) because of the weather. No. No. No.

There's been a new hot take this year claiming that this song is not as terrible and offensive as we've recently realized, what with our growing awareness of sexual assault by acquaintances and the importance of consent. This hot take says that the song, at the time, was more about how the woman would be judged for not going home and how she really does want to stay. It's actually pretty feminist in context, they say.

My response to that is: Sorry, but when you listen to the song, in the present day, it still sounds like a man not listening to what a woman is saying and pressuring her into doing something physical she doesn't want to do. In fact, he tries to argue her out of it 31 times over the course of a couple of minutes. In the #metoo world of 2017, we do not need a song that repeatedly doesn't take a woman's protests seriously, even if, in the context of 1944, it went over a bit differently. Honestly, I'd rather listen to every cover of "Little Drummer Boy" ever recorded.

Did I miss your most hated Christmas song? Or do you love one of the songs above?

Queen Elizabeth and Buckingham Palace don't really do anything haphazardly, let's be real — but their 2017 Christmas decorations have reached next-level elegance. Suddenly, that snowflake projector I got for the front of my house seems kinda lame.

The palace shared a photo of the queen at Windsor Castle, complete with all the lights, a Christmas tree and even festive-hued roses billowing from the fireplace and mantle.

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It's also hard to miss the photos of Prince Philip strategically placed around the room. One shows Prince Philip alone while the other is of the queen and Prince Philip together. I can't help but think this is a strategic move after Season 2 of The Crown was released on Netflix. The rough patch in Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's marriage was highlighted in the storyline — memories that I'm sure the queen and palace weren't keen on revisiting along with the rest of the world.

The palace also tweeted a video of the decorations around the property.

Aside from the decorations in the queen's photo, the palace video reports a 15-foot Nordmann fir tree from Great Windsor Park has been displayed in the palace's Marble Hall, and two smaller trees, which are adorned with fairy lights and crowns, adorn the Grand Entrance.

More: Goal: To Look Half as Good at 90 as Queen Elizabeth II Does

The video also shares some fun facts about Christmas, like the fact that the Christmas tree was popularized in the 19th century by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and that the Christmas Tree was introduced to Britain in the 18th century by Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III.

It ends, of course, by wishing everyone a happy Christmas. Hey, if nothing else, the royals continue to give us more life aspirations, this time in the form of #HolidayDecorGoals.

Now that Omarosa Manigault is out of the White House, there's one person we're pretty sure won't miss her. Good Morning America cohost Robin Roberts gave Manigault a less-than-kind farewell on the show Thursday morning, ending with a "Bye Felicia" toward Manigault.

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Roberts' quip came after an interview with Manigault and GMA host Michael Strahan aired on the show. During it, Manigault said she has "quite a story to tell" about her time working in the Trump White House.

"When I have a chance to tell my story, Michael, I have quite a story to tell," she said. "As the only African-American woman in this White House, as a senior staff and assistant to the president, I have seen things that made me feel uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally. That has affected my community and my people. And when I can tell my story, it is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear."

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Upon hearing that, Roberts clearly wasn't convinced Manigault's motives here were pure. She deadpanned to the camera, "I'm sure she'll sell that story," before dropping a reference to "Bye Felicia," a meme based on a line from the movie Friday that's used to show the person making the dismissal cares nothing for the person on the receiving end of said infamous phrase. It's a pretty shady insult to lob, and even though Roberts is regularly outspoken about her views on GMA, this was still pretty surprising to hear from her.

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Now we just sit back and wait for Manigault to clap back. If what we know of her after three stints on The Apprentice tells us anything, it's that she will clap back.